"These things they are real and I know
How you feel
Now I must say more than ever
Things round here have changed"

Come on Eileen
By Dexys Midnight Runners (1982)

Tina's party is everything you would expect from a high school party. Booze, Cigarettes and loud music filled Valerie's senses as she approached the house that had teens spilling out of it and onto the lawn. Most were drunk as they danced or made out with the people beside them as Girls on Film by Duran Duran blasted out. "The party started an hour ago, how are people drunk already?" Jonathan asked as the two walked up the footsteps to the front door. Valerie laughed as she stepped into the house, Jonathan stepping in behind her. Jonathan didn't really go to parties much, this was sort of a first for him as he followed behind Valerie who looked as if she was in her element. She was the freaky girl but she still got invited to all the parties.

"You should know that the young and the reckless waste no time in getting absolutely smashed when presented with the opportunity of free booze and no parents." Valerie walked forward until she reached the bar, only to notice Jonathan had disappeared and was not behind her. She walked back towards the door only to be stopped in the hallway by an outstretched arm in front of her face. "Well, well, well. Hello again." Billy stood in front of her with his shirt hanging open, his torso drenched in cheap booze, a cigarette hanging loosely from his mouth.

"Goodbye again." Valerie groaned as he put his hand on the other side as she tried to get around. His smiled grew with amusement whereas Valerie became increasingly pissed off. She just wanted to hit this fucking creep. "Whoa, whoa. Hey, you just got here. Where are you going?" Valerie turned around away from him only for his hand to grip hers and slam her against the wall behind her. "I always get what I want." Valerie knew she wasn't in a position to mock but she couldn't help but scoff and chuckle at the macho man in front of her.

"What's so funny?" Billy's face turned malicious as she smiled at him. "Make this the only thing you know about me." Valerie put her head next to his ear and softly whispered so only he could hear her next words. "I'm no damn damsel in distress and you most certainly aren't going to get what you want." And just like that, Valerie brought her knee up into his crotch causing him to double over in pain as she raced through the front door with a smile on her face which quickly vanished as the realization that she had no way of getting home except for walking.

"Fuck it." Valerie decided to walk and stared her journey down the road leading away from Tina's house which was surrounded by woods which considering a year ago, should have freaked her out. Just as she went under a lamp post, she heard the engine of a car slowing down next to her causing her to quickly glance over, hoping to every god that it wasn't Billy. "Val?" Valerie smiled as she saw Steve look at her with wide, slightly bloodshot eyes causing her to become concerned.

"You need a lift?" Valerie quickly nodded before hopping into the passenger's seat, Steve driving almost immediately after she got buckled in. Valerie couldn't help but notice his demeanor as soon as he put his foot on the gas. He seemed hurt. "Thanks. Wait, where's Nancy?" Steve's jaw clenched at the mention of her name and he felt tears gathering back into his eyes. Valerie watched his eyes and although she knew she shouldn't, she kept her gaze on him. "I don't wanna talk about it." Valerie's gaze softened as he sniffled and wiped a tear quickly from his cheek, in hopes that she wouldn't notice.

"Why were you walking alone?" Valerie tore her eyes off of him before letting out a small chuckle. "Jonathan gave me a lift here and I kinda kicked someone and long story short I didn't want to stick around and I didn't think it through." Steve chuckled at her before silence took over again as they neared her street. Valerie smiled as she looked at the dwindling kids going back home with buckets filled with candy and smiles on their faces.

"Nancy said that we were pretending that we didn't kill Barb and that she--she didn't love me." Valerie's heart broke as she listened to his heart broken filled words. She noticed a tear slip down his cheek as he sniffled, wiping his jacket sleeve under his nose. "I'm sure she didn't mean it. She was drunk so--" Valerie tried to defend her best friend but to no avail. "Being drunk doesn't make you lie. She was telling the truth, I could tell." Steve stared straight ahead as they came to a slow stop next to her driveway before she turned to him.

"Steve, just talk to her tomorrow. Okay? Thanks for the lift." Valerie didn't know why she did this. Maybe she was feeling emotional, but Valerie leaned over and gave him a hug. At first, Steve froze under her arms but soon wrapped his arms around her torso slowly before she got out of the car.

"Have a good night, Steve. Call me anytime if you need to talk." Valerie slammed the door shut before she started walking up to her driveway, going towards her car to talk a breather. As she leaned up against her car and took a breath of fresh air, Dustin walked up in his Halloween costume with a sack full of candy. "Hey Dust, how was trick or treating with the boys?" Dustin came and sat on the hood of her car next to her and gave her a 3 Musketeers candy bar.

"Mad Max came and we had fun. Mike was being annoying because he's just like that and Will had one of his episodes so they went home early whilst Lucas, Max and I carried on. It was totally tubular." Valerie laughed at his last comment before she was interrupted by a chirping and growling noise coming from the trash can. "Oh, Mews." Valerie whistled before the trash can thudded really loudly, causing the siblings to jump back and slowly creep towards it.

"Dust, stay behind me." Valerie pushed her brother behind her before picking up a stick and taking slow steps to the bin with Dustin holding up his ghostbusters gun up behind her. "Ahhh," Valerie screamed as she quickly ripped the lid off to see a green and purple slug-like creature in it, happily eating a twinkie. "Dear God." Valerie looked at the creature in shock and froze as Dustin quickly picked it up and placed it in his ghost trap with the twinkie. "Dustin! No." Valerie shouted as the boy picked up his sack and walked towards the front door.

"I have never seen a lizard like that. We just discovered something!" Before Valerie had time to protest, Dustin walked into the house with her hot on his heels as they slowly walked towards their rooms. "Dusty! Dusty, how was it?" Their mother raced towards them wearing cat ears and a smile on her face. "How was what?" Valerie sighed at Dustin's stupid question but smiled at her mother in hopes she wouldn't ask too many questions. "'How was what?' The greatest night of the year, of course." Mews trailed around Claudia's feet, eventually rubbing her soft hair on the back of Valerie's feet, making the girl feel comfortable at the familiar feeling.

"Oh. Oh, yeah, it was.......It was, uh, tubular." Dustin stuttered as he held the gripped the trap in his hand. "What's wrong with you?" Claudia asked, slightly concerned as she looked between her two kids who were acting weird. "Oh, he's just had a long night. We should really get to bed." Valerie let out a quick fake yawn whilst slowly guiding her brother away from the living room. "You're acting weird." Say what you will about Ms. Henderson but she was very persistent.

"I am not acting weird." Just as he shouted that, a thudding sound came from the box in his hand causing the whole family to stare at it. Valerie gulped as she became increasingly nervous."Whoa! - Ah! Awesome, right? Yeah, I rigged the trap with, uh, a motor to make it look like I caught a ghost. Just like the movie." The family burst into fake laughter as the trap kept moving, wildly. Valerie continued to laugh along with her mother, quickly leading her brother back to his room as their mother quietened down. "Dust. Take care of it. I will check on it tomorrow." Valerie warned before walking into her room and collapsing face first on to her bed. She was over this shit.

TWO UPDATES IN ONE DAY. Let's just all pat us on the back. Okay, but that scene when Nancy and Steve were in the bathroom KILLED ME. I honestly felt so bad for Steve and even worse as the season progressed because DAD STEVE is so nice. Also, I am really enjoying finding early 80s songs to put at the start of every chapter. I bloody love 80s music.

Thanks, Queenie.

(EDITED)