(Ep. 6: The Spy)

Steve followed the siblings as they left trails of raw meat on an abandoned railway. He hadn't spoken a word to Gwen since last night. Not even a simple 'good morning' or a quick rundown of the plan. He was still angered by her late night visitor that he couldn't bother to look at her.

So the day consisted of Dustin venting his troubles about Max and the needed advice he hoped both of them would provide. Especially now that everything has gotten more complicated with a demogorgon on the loose.

"All right, so let me get this straight," Steve began. "You kept something that was incredibly dangerous in order to impress a girl who... who you just met?"

"Alright, that's grossly oversimplifying things," Dustin said.

"I mean, why would a girl like some nasty slug anyway?" he questioned.

"Because it's awesome," Gwen chimed in. "If you ignore the whole eating your cat thing and trying to kill you."

Dustin's eyes lit up as he pointed agreeingly at her, "Exactly! Who wouldn't want to see an interdimensional slug?"

Steve picked up the pace and caught up to them. Only he was still refusing to walk alongside her so he let Dustin walk in between them, "Well, even if she thought it was cool, which she didn't, I just... I don't know. I just feel like you're trying too hard."

"Well, not everyone can have your perfect hair, alright?" Dustin pointed out with a small hint of envy in his voice.

"Hair doesn't matter," she noted, bringing everyone to turn to her. "If they're total assholes, appearance is the least of their worries."

Steve felt this personally. Not that he would admit how great his hair is, but the asshole part, that's definitely him.

He nodded and said, "Hate to say it, but she's right. It's not about the hair, man."

Gwen started watching him with interest. Maybe Steve could offer some helpful advice that a sister isn't able to.

"The key with girls is just... just acting like you don't care."

And there it is. The hope that he could provide anything helpful had now disappeared at the worst advice being given.

She frowned and shook her head in disbelief, confused on why he believed that to be true and wondered what poor girl managed to fall for those schemes. She became tempted to call him out, but she was curious on what more idiocy would escape his mouth.

Doubtful on the efficiency of this technique, Dustin questioned, "Even if you do?"

"Yeah, exactly. It drives them nuts," he told him.

She refused to listen to more of this. She walked forward, leaving them alone but not too far to where she wouldn't be able to hear them.

"Then what?" he curiously asked.

Steve continued, "You just wait until, uh..." he turned back to toss another piece of meat. "Until you feel it."

Interesting choice of words.

"Feel what?"

"It's like before it's gonna storm, you know? You can't see it, but you can feel it, like this, uh... electricity, you know?" Steve looked ahead at Gwen, the person he felt this electricity with last night. He wanted to express everything he felt, but words wouldn't be enough to convey the power of it.

"Oh, like in the electromagnetic field when the clouds in the atmosphere-"

"No, no, no, no, no. Like a... like a sexual electricity."

His eyes grew wide while nodding his head, "Oh."

Gwen smiled, entertained at this 'great' advice that was tempting her to keep listening, but if she continued to hear anymore of that crap, she would go insane.

"Okay enough with this!" she exclaimed and marched in their direction. "Are you seriously going to take advice from him? He can't keep a girlfriend even if his life depends on it." Steve's mouth hung open as he was ready to interrupt but she just kept going, "For the record, girls don't want to waste time on a guy who doesn't show that they care for them. That's the first step to losing them so if you want to get the girl, show them how much you care. Don't be a complete jackass like this idiot right here."

Nothing but deafening silence overwhelmed the wooded area. Dustin looked over at Steve while trying to refrain from bursting out in laughter. Steve stood completely still as for the first time, he couldn't provide a simple remark. His mind turned blank as all he could do was just keep walking in hopes none of this would be brought up again.

"But by all means, keep going with that terrific advice, Harrington," she told him sarcastically and kept walking.

He stopped in place, swaying the bucket back and forth while harshly tossing the meat to the ground. Dustin walked over with a wide grin and elbowed him, "Seems like you're good with the ladies."

"Shut up," he snapped and kept walking, but the youngest Henderson refused to let this go.

"Let's say I ignore what my sister said, what other advice do you have up your sleeve?"

Unwilling to continue, he shook his head in disagreement, "Just forget it."

"Oh come on. You're really about to let my sister shut you up? Thought you were king Steve," he remarked from remembering that even in his school, Steve was notorious for his high status and reputation.

"Not sure about the king part, but fine. What else do you want to know?"

"What happens after I feel the electricity?"

Steve focused on choosing his words wisely as he was now worried Gwen would come over and voice her opinions like always. Can she not keep them to herself? If others can, why can't she?

"Well, you feel that and you make your move," he said, still looking at her as she was now far ahead that he was certain she wouldn't be able to hear.

"So that's when you kiss her?"

"No, whoa, whoa. Slow down, Romeo," Steve dismissed his misunderstanding.

Dustin mumbled, "Sorry."

"Sure, okay, some girls, yeah, they want you to be aggressive," and boy does he know some. "You know, strong, hot and heavy, like a..." he looked around trying to come up with the right words, "I don't know, like a lion. But others, you gotta be slow, you gotta be stealthy, like a... like a ninja."

"What type is Nancy?"

"Nancy's different. She's different than the other girls," he tried pushing all the memories of their past year to the back of his mind. Even if they didn't end on the best terms, Nancy would always be important to him. She saw through the whole King Steve facade and told him off whenever he was being an asshole. Now that their relationship had ended, he was certain he'd always cherish their time together, but was just not sure if he could ever return to her.

Being with Nancy felt wrong, like they weren't meant to be. For starters, he didn't feel the electricity anymore. It wasn't the same as last year and a part of him blamed all the events that occurred, but he knew it was something more. Something had changed between them and while it hurt the way things ended, he would forever be grateful for receiving the biggest thump on his head.

Now he could move forward and maybe, it could lead him to much better things. 

"What about my sister?" Dustin questioned, fully determined to get some answers on those suspicions he's been having. From what he's seen, he's not sure there's just "hate" between them considering he's caught them many times staring at each other without the other knowing.

However, Steve was surprised at the question. It seemed strange her brother was asking him about her since he surely must know of the rivalry between them, so why would this question need to be asked? He started walking at an even quicker pace, leaving the young boy behind with an even clearer sight of what's happening.

"Why are you running away, Steve?"

"What?" he avoided his accusing eyes, shaking his head disapprovingly as he continued tossing meat behind him. "I'm not running away."

Dustin rolled his eyes and started walking in front of him with his back facing his sister, "Yes you are. Why are you avoiding my question?"

"Because it's a stupid question," Steve retorted, kicking a few rocks to the side as he tried walking past him.

"Just answer it and I'll leave you alone."

Of course he wouldn't, but he had to make him believe it just so he'd answer.

Steve frowned and formed a gruntled sound. He placed the bucket to the ground and finally said, "Your sister is... different. She's unlike anyone I've ever met."

"And?"

Steve remained still and became focused on Gwen, who had gotten so far ahead that she was resting against one of the trees. He felt his heart skip a beat as he became overwhelmed by a sensation he couldn't put into words. Just admiring her thrilled him and made him forget all of his worries.

"Gwen is unlike anyone I've ever met. She's incomparable beyond everything. No one will ever be able to match up to her," the words poured out with ease, almost like the water running down a cascade.

"So, she's special," Dustin smiled, knowing he was right in believing there was more than they let on. He might be younger, but he knew between hate and love, there's almost no difference.

Of course she is, Steve thought, but would never admit it out loud.

Instead, he simply said, "Sure, why not?"

Dustin let it go knowing how hard it must be for him to admit this. Steve was clearly interested in her and now he needed to know how Gwen felt for him, which he was certain he'd be able to figure out by the end of the day.

"Can you guys hurry up? We don't have all day!" she yelled from afar, making them jog in a hurry to continue to their destination.

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Nothing but beat up cars and an old school bus laid in front of them as they memorized the place they would spend the majority of their day in. Dustin suggested the place knowing no one ever comes here so if Dart were to show up, there'd be no risk for anyone.

"Oh, yeah. Yeah, this will do," Steve said while removing his shades, impressed by Dustin's choice of scenery for this mission. "This will do just fine."

Never in a million years did Gwen imagine she'd be monster hunting with Steve Harrington. Let alone witness him and her brother form a bond. Out of everything that's happened, this has to be the most surprising.

He led the way to the center of the junkyard, leaving behind more pieces of meat before they heard Lucas yell, "I said medium-well!"

All three looked up, surprised to see Max was with him, but concerned that another innocent person had become involved in this mess.

"Who's that?" Steve asked, but soon realized the redhead is the girl Dustin told him about. He turned to Gwen, who was now by her brother's side trying to comfort him as he was clearly hurt that he had lost his crush to Lucas.

"Are you okay?" she softly asked.

He nodded, "Yeah, but I just don't understand why he brought her here."

"Is this some sort of monster hunting club?" Max questioned with her arms crossed while looking over at Lucas.

Steve took the lead in this and joked, "We prefer the name of The Scooby Gang."

Gwen playfully rolled her eyes and laughed, "Only if you're Scooby Doo."

He turned his attention away from the kids to her. "Then that makes you Shaggy," he smiled before jokingly shoving her as he parted from the group.

Gwen pursed her lips and handed the bucket to a confused Lucas, "If anything, I'm more of a Daphne!"

Steve turned around with a wide smirk and raised his arms into the air, "Then that makes me Fred!"

Lucas pointed to the pair, "So, does that mean you're together now?"

Giving him a whack on the head, she ignored his remark and started searching for things to board up the bus. Max went with her and left the two boys alone, who had gone off to discuss private matters.

The two girls boarded up the bus with metals and drilled them onto the yellow surface. Max watched her curiously as Gwen did her best to avoid looking at Steve - who wasn't doing a great job in hiding his staring. Right as the redhead met eyes with him, he sharply turned in the other direction, praying another kid wouldn't use this against him.

"Is there something going on between you two?" Max asked, studying her closely to get a better read.

The metal board that was once in her grasp fell, forming a loud crashing sound that caused everyone to turn their heads. Gwen quickly picked it up and forcefully laughed, "Of course not. I'm with your brother, remember?"

"And why exactly?"

Ignoring the speculative eyes of the redhead, she continued nailing the board and shrugged, "I guess it's... complicated."

"Like you and Steve?"

Gwen groaned in annoyance, "Look little red, there's nothing complicated with Steve because there's nothing going on between us."

"I'm 13, okay? I'm not stupid. I can see that there is, so if you want to dump Billy for Steve, I wouldn't blame you for leaving him."

Gwen had no response. She tried ignoring her comment knowing there was some truth behind it and if she continued having this conversation, she'd reconsider ending things with Billy to face her conflicting feelings for Steve.

She didn't want to admit that Billy was just a distraction. While he could be fun in some ways, she only viewed him as a fling. Nothing serious could ever happen between them and all the times that she's used him against Steve, it was only to get a rise out of him.

It was obvious that Steve disliked Billy, which was why she figured attacking him with her "boyfriend" seemed like a good idea. Only now, she's starting to regret ever returning to someone as terrible as Billy freaking Hargrove.

"I see what's happening," Max told her and raised a skeptical brow while handing her more boards. "Your silence is saying a lot."

"And according to you, what is my silence saying?" Gwen challenged her while trying to ignore the fear that someone was noticing what she's been trying to hide for a while now.

Before Max could start speaking, the sound of Steve hitting the car the boys were hiding in interrupted her. "Hey! Dickheads! How come the only ones helping me out are Gwen and this random girl? We lose light in 40 minutes. Let's go," he waved his arms to follow him, but wasn't satisfied by their relatively slow speed. "Let's go, I said!"

"Alright, asshole! God!"

"Okay! Stupid."

Steve ignored the kids' complaints and started bringing more junk towards the bus. Ignoring Gwen's tempting presence, he rushed his way past her. Now that Max appeared to have noticed something, he was determined to keep his distance to avoid any repercussions.

__________________

Nightfall had approached. The temperature dropped drastically causing a sinister fog to cover the entirety of the junkyard. The vibrant grass was no longer visible and only the top of the rusted cars could be seen.

Lucas kept watch on top of the bus with his binoculars as he hid behind a stack of tires while the others waited impatiently inside. Dustin paced back and forth in front of Max who was keeping a close eye on Gwen and Steve as they had seated themselves as far as the bus allowed. She wondered if Dustin's suspicions were right or if everything was all in his head just like she believed this monster mess to be untrue.

No one said a word for a while. They paid close attention to the silence hoping that at any moment, their trap would be proven to be successful.

Steve took a quick peek at Gwen, who was resting her head against the wall. Her arms were around her knees as she counted the cracks of the roof. Her eyes wandered the bus as she drew circles around the base of her knee while tapping her foot gently on the floor.

He knew she was nervous just from that quick look. He wanted nothing more than to comfort her like he had last night. To hold her under his embrace under their companionable silence. A silence that wasn't uncomfortable, a quietness that would never turn awkward as no words would be needed to know they're safe together.

Max interrupted his train of thought, "So you really fought one of these things before?"

The older teens nodded their heads, soon returning to their positions as Steve turned his lighter on and off.

"And you're, like, totally, a hundred percent sure it wasn't a bear?" she asked again.

"If only," Gwen replied as she stretched her legs out.

Her question made Dustin stop his pacing as he put on the most hostile expression and said, "Shit. Don't be an idiot. Okay? It wasn't a bear."

His aggressive response caught Max, Steve, and Gwen by surprise. Especially Gwen since she knows her brother is never this rude to anyone, even when some deserve it.

"Why are you even here if you don't believe us? Just go home."

"Geesh. Someone's cranky," Max got off from her seat and started climbing up the ladder. "Past your bedtime?"

Steve waited until she was out of sight to say, "That's good. Just show her you don't care."

"Are you being serious right now?!" Gwen kicked his foot out of her way as she reached her brother, annoyed Steve's finding this outburst to be anything but wrong. "What was that?"

Dustin shrugged and resumed his pacing. It seemed like he had chosen Steve's advice over hers. "Who cares?" he mumbled.

"I do!" she exclaimed and grabbed his shoulder to stop him. "If you were trying to impress her then all your chances were ruined by being a complete jackass!"

"For fuck's sake, I don't care," he flatly said when he noticed Steve winking at him. "Why are you winking, Steve? Stop."

Gwen stared in complete bewilderment at him. Steve automatically looked away and started to nervously play with his lighter again.

"You spent one day with him and you've shaped him into a mini version of you. You're seriously worse than I thought," she snapped, growing more frustrated when he kept turning his lighter on and off. Quickly, she reached down to snatch it from his hands, earning a frown from him as he stood up with an offended look.

"Oh yeah? Well my tactic managed to get me tons of women. I just wanted to help a friend out so if that's a crime, then sorry but not sorry."

She viciously smiled and took a few steps forward, "I truly believe your technique only worked because of your pleasing smile and perfect hair, but nothing else."

He smiled at her sneaky compliment, "Ahh, there it is again. You find my smile pleasing and now you've admitted the perfection of my hair."

"Wow, you really have a high opinion of yourself, but remember that your methods are as deficient as your ability to keep the love of a woman."

His jaw was left wide open as she took over Max's spot and stared with a satisfied grimace. She folded her arms across her chest and leaned back when he said, "Why do you keep throwing that to my face? Are you glad that my relationship with Nancy didn't work out?"

She nodded, "I'm glad for her. She deserves someone worthy."

"Damn," Dustin blurted out, immediately covering his mouth to refrain from saying anything more.

"Someone like who? That freak Jonathan Byers?"

That struck a nerve. She quickly got up from her seat with clenched fists and was about to finally punch him in the face when a sudden screech caught their attention.

They rushed to the windows and focused their eyes to the distorted view of the exterior. The fog was making it incredibly hard to notice anything that all they could do was just wait for anything to pop up.

Dustin crept up behind his sister and asked, "Do you see him?"

Steve answered instead, "No."

"Lucas, what's going on?" Dustin asked, growing frustrated at the silence.

"Hold on!" he yelled back as he adjusted his binoculars for a better view. "I've got eyes! Ten o'clock! Ten o'clock!"

Steve and Gwen adjusted their focus and scanned the entire perimeter when finally, the demo dog made its appearance. She felt shivers run down her spine on the overwhelming sense of deja vu this caused and pointed where the demo dog is so they could get a better look.

"What's he doing?"

"I don't know."

They continued to watch attentively, feeling their nerves consume them as the seconds felt like hours. There was an eerie silence that allowed small footsteps and growling to be heard, but the question is, when would it fall for the trap?

"He's not taking the bait. Why is he not taking the bait?" Steve mumbled more to himself than to the others.

Dustin still answered, "Maybe he's not hungry?"

"Or maybe he's only hungry for cats," Gwen sarcastically said while laughing out of nervousness.

Steve turned to her with a dubious look before returning his focus to the monster. The wheels in his brain started running until he realized, "Maybe he's sick of cow."

He started backing up from the window as he realized what he had to do. Clearly this thing wasn't taking the bait from probably getting sick of eating it all the way here. It wanted something more. Something fresh. Something alive.

The siblings turned around when hearing shuffling from behind them. Steve had decided he was going to be the bait himself. He picked up his bat and started heading for the door.

She started panicking once she understood his plan, "What are you doing?! You're not going out there!"

His gaze softened as he abruptly dropped the bat and reached her. "Just stay here and get ready for anything."

"I'm not getting ready for anything because you're staying right here. We spent all afternoon nailing heavy shit so we wouldn't have to go out there, and you're thinking of doing the opposite?!" she didn't intend on raising her voice but his plan was just too ridiculous that it was impossible not to yell.

"Just get ready," he prayed she would listen for once, but knowing how stubborn Gwen is, she's probably going to defy his orders.

She abruptly turned the other way from deciding that he wasn't going out there alone. Not if she can prevent it. She gave a simple nod and grabbed her bat that had barbed wire around it and started heading to the exit.

"Gwen? Gwen, what are you doing?" Dustin questioned, walking towards her.

"I'm not letting him be the hero so I'm going out there as well."

Steve shook his head vigorously and did everything he could to shove her away from the exit, but despite how small she is, her strength exceeds it.

"No, no, no, no, no! This is not happening! You're staying and that's my final decision," he exclaimed.

She rolled her eyes and ignored him, "Oh yeah? Watch me."

The door swung wide open and off she went. Steve's chest heaved in panic as he quickly grabbed his bat and hurried after her. Not before tossing his lighter to Dustin, "Get ready."

Dustin stood in complete awe just watching the two people he looked up to endanger themselves. He pressed his face closer to the window, feeling his heart race like never before as he hopes nothing happens to them.

Despite putting on a brave front, Gwen was terrified. Her rush of courage had only come from the intense worry that Steve would get hurt and she'd be a witness to losing him. If there was anything she could do to protect him, you bet your ass she'd do it.

"You're insane," he whispered to her while they stood back to back.

She smiled, "Says the one who wanted to come alone."

Their eyes wandered around the yard past the fog and slowly began to separate from each other. Steve whistled, trying to catch the monster's attention while Gwen banged her bat on one of the rusted hoods of a car.

Max immediately went back inside, "What are they doing?"

Dustin didn't turn to look at her and responded, "Expanding the menu."

"They're insane."

Dustin smiled, "They're awesome."

Swaying their bats like a pendulum, they took one last glance at each other until the demo dog finally reached them.

Her breath was sucked right out of her body. This monster was similar to last year's but instead of resembling a humanoid figure, it took the shape of a massive dog. Only this dog wasn't cuddly and friendly, it was hungry. Hungry for fresh meat. For them.

Lucas had remained on top of the bus keeping watch. He turned his attention from the older teens and started scanning the area, when he noticed it wasn't just Dustin's monster pet. Dart had brought his friends along with him.

He screamed, "Steve! Gwen! Watch out!"

"A little busy here!" Steve yelled back.

Gwen turned around and was met by the sight of two demo dogs creeping around them. She gripped her bat tighter and ignored every ounce of fear as she had three kids and Steve to protect.

"Three o'clock! Three o'clock!" Lucas screamed again.

Steve soon realized they were surrounded by other creatures. Panic started to set in as they started getting closer. Both stood completely still, wondering in which direction to hit first. If they attacked the two monsters in front first, the lone one would take advantage and attack them.

Dustin hurried to the door and yelled, "Gwen! Steve! Abort! Abort!"

Hearing his screams alerted the demo dogs to attack. A loud screech escaped them as they charged at the two teens at full speed. Nearly missing an attack, both of them were now on opposite sides before the dogs continued their hunt.

Gwen took a harsh swing at the thing in front, injuring it as much as she could. Its agonized shrieks only made it angrier as it started surrounding her. The creature gnarled its teeth, drooling in hunger before launching itself at her once more.

She swung the bat with full force and stepped forward cautiously. From the top of another car, another demo dog was about to jump over her, but she was able to sense it and struck it right in the face.

Steve turned to her and noticed the amount of creatures starting to surround her. Cold sweat started forming as he jumped over one of the cars and stood protectively in front, swinging his bat against the two in front while she took care of the others.

The kids watched in amazement and horror. Their faces nearly pressed against the cracks when Lucas was able to notice one creature about to leap onto Steve. He was too busy with the other dogs to not notice and Gwen was occupied fighting two more.

"Watch out!"

Only Gwen heard him and realized the attack about to happen. It would for sure be the end of them, but Steve would get it worse from how close he was. She gripped her bat tighter and injured the remaining two before launching herself protectively in front of Steve.

Right as she was about to swing her bat, the claws of the demo dog dug deep into her arm. She bit the inside of her cheek to prevent screaming in pain and ignored the piercing claws to begin using every ounce of strength against it.

Steve grabbed her from the wrist and dragged her back to the bus when realizing fighting with the demo dogs was of no use and they were only getting themselves tired.

They sprinted to the open doors, hearing Max, Lucas, and Dustin hollering at them to hurry inside. They practically jumped in when Dustin closed the door just in time as the creatures pounded against the metal.

All five gathered in a huddle and prayed their barricades would work. The bus was shaking from the harsh shoves and jumping that the fear of dying a gruesome death crossed all of their minds.

"Are they rabid or something?" Max asked in disbelief.

"They can't get in! They can't!" Lucas reassured the group but more himself while staring at the door that appeared to be losing resistance.

The creatures clawed at the windows, the walls, everything in sight in determination to hunt their prey. With every hit given, more screams were released.

Nearly a second later, a demo dog had managed to get inside. Steve and Gwen used all of their might to kill it but the thing was adamant on acquiring its meal.

Dustin reached for his walkie talkie and tried calling for help, "Is there anyone there? Mike? Will? God! Anyone!" His panic increased at receiving no response, "We're at the old junkyard, and we are going to die!"

"Not helping!" Gwen yelled through the loud shrieks and continued hitting the creature with as much force until it was dead.

The bus turned silent, but not the comforting kind as they knew this fight was far from over. They could hear light scratches at the top of the bus, making them stay in place to not make a noise.

Max looked up at the open exit, checking to see if any creature was there. To her misfortune, a demo dog looked right at her with a loud screech.

Gwen grabbed her hand and pushed the rest of the kids behind her. As much as she wanted to help Steve, she found her energy had been drained.

"Out of the way! Out of the way! You want some? Come get this!" Steve aimed the bat at the monster, but before it could enter the bus, its head turned in another direction. Almost if he had been ordered to stop and head back, the creature retreated to the forest and took his friends with him to follow some unknown call.

No one said a word as they slowly walked to the windows to try and get a better sight of what happened and what could have possibly caught their attention.

"Holy shit, Gwen! You're bleeding!" Dustin pointed out and automatically went to check where the blood was coming from.

She had forgotten all about the scratch as all she wanted was to get them out of there and back to safety.

Dismissing him, she simply said, "It's nothing. It's just a scratch."

Steve's head shot up in a quick instant and he quickly shoved her brother out of the way while ignoring the curious looks from the rest of the kids. He couldn't bother to care for what anyone was thinking as he had to make sure Gwen wasn't badly injured. He needed to make sure she was safe and out of harm's way.

His heart pounded against his chest and he could feel a wave of unease wash over him. Seeing the high amount of blood escaping her arm sent a terrible sensation that her injury was much worse than she let on and he was terrified on not being able to do anything to help her.

Despite her attempts at pushing him off, he remained adamant on checking her injury. It was a small scratch on her upper arm that was deeply scarred and seemed to be burning with every second going by. He looked up at her and from the way she was biting her lip and wincing slightly, Steve's certain this hurt a million times more than she let on.

Without thinking, he reached for the bottom of his shirt and ripped a large piece. He ignored the way his chest was starting to heave uncontrollably and the way his vision was becoming clouded. It sure didn't help that his mind was torturing him with the worst images possible on seeing her collapse and never waking up while he stands there feeling completely useless on not being able to do anything about it.

"You're okay," he assured her, but mostly said it to himself. "You- you have to be okay. You have to be."

"Let me go, Harrington," Gwen complained and continued trying to shove his hand off her, but he remained firm and determined on taking care of her. "I can handle this so just-"

"Are you sure this is it? Do you feel any other pain? Can you breathe?" Steve questioned, running through his words that made it harder to understand.

Gwen stared at him, brows cinching in confusion and lips curving into a frown, "I'm one hundred percent sure it's just the scratch, and obviously I can breathe."

She didn't understand why he was acting this way. He never bothered to show this much attentiveness before, so why in the world was he being a pain in the ass now?

Steve took deep breaths while applying pressure to her arm. Just as he made sure the bleeding stopped, he grabbed ahold of her hand and glanced up to stare into those alluring blue eyes of hers. "You have to tell me if anything hurts. Maybe you're in shock and not realize you're more hurt than you think."

Gwen rolled her eyes and harshly shoved his hand off. She glanced down at her arm and felt immense gratitude to have escaped this ambush with just a scratch. After last year's encounter with the demogorgon, she was relieved to have escaped with only this small of an injury.

"I'm not in shock. Now can you please move away and get yourself back on track?"

"Are you sure?" he asked, slowly taking a few steps back when feeling his breaths become heavier and head start to spin uncontrollably. "Please tell me you're absolutely certain."

Before she could answer, Gwen finally noticed the worried look on his eyes. The sheer terror that was consuming him and making him start to hyperventilate.

"Steve?" she whispered, striding a couple steps forward and reaching for his hands.

Could it be that he's actually worried for her?

"Don't move," he ordered, "You have to take it easy. Those things hurt you and I- I don't know what I'd do if-"

"I'm perfectly fine," she reassured him in a gentle voice as she cupped his face. Their breaths pressed against each other and they could feel the tips of their noses touching. "It doesn't hurt. This is just a scratch, okay? I'm alright."

Gwen had never seen him this way, so afraid, so worried, so... vulnerable. She felt confused, unsure of why he was worried when they've done nothing but show detest to one another.

She held a firm grasp of his trembling hands as their foreheads were pressed against each others, only opening up the realization that she couldn't hate him anymore. He was worried for her, even when they do nothing but disagree. How can she continue disliking him?

Steve became focused on her eyes. On the way they reflected a serenity and his haven. Just staring at her made him forget the whole world.

Slowly, his eyes came down to her lips, the ones he's been dreaming of for quite some time. He was relieved when seeing she was also doing the same, which only made it easier to lean closer. He could feel the heat radiating from her skin as their lips were just mere inches from touching. That is until Lucas' binoculars dropped and made them separate from each other.

Gwen could feel her heart beating against her chest. It was threatening to explode at the intense frenzy he was causing. She wasn't sure what to do or if she should say anything. This was not the way she envisioned this ending, but oddly enough, she was disappointed to have been interrupted. She tried saying something, but the words vanished on her lips.

Steve ran his hands through his hair in frustration and took a few steps back. He leaned against the wall and tried avoiding her gaze as he was certain he wouldn't be able to resist any longer.

He started scolding himself for nearly kissing the girl he hated. The girl who's done nothing but make his life a living hell, the girl who's always disagreeing with him and always frustrates him with every little thing she does, but now there was something else. The more he tried convincing himself of disliking her, he realized he couldn't anymore. He couldn't hate Gwen Henderson as it would be impossible to do so.

He watched as she hastily reached down for her bat and headed for the exit. She looked back at them and now avoided his gaze, "Let's go."