chapter seven
let it go, harrington

Later that night, James sat at home, catching up on some school work when someone knocked on his door. The boy furrowed his eyebrows as he sat up, jumping off his bed and making his way to his front door. He opened the door, coming face to face with Steve, a saddened expression across his face.

"Steve, you alright?" James greeted, confused.

Steve didn't say anything for a few moments, simply looking around before he sighed. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah sure." James moved to the side, letting Steve in.

The Harrington boy walked straight up to James' bedroom, having spent enough time there to know exactly where it was. He sat on James' bed, placing his head in his hands.

"Do you think Nancy's the cheating type?" Steve wondered suddenly.

"Um, I'm not sure. I don't know her well enough, but, uh, she doesn't seem like it no." James answered unsurely, Steve nodding slowly at his response. "Why?"

"No reason." Steve shook his head this time. James made a face, raising his eyebrows at his friend. "I went to check on Nancy, but I saw her with Jonathan in her bedroom. They... they just looked... close."

"I don't think Nancy will cheat, she seems to like you." James reassured the boy. "Not that I understand why."

Steve laughed slightly, James turning to his fully. "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah I just need to get my anger out before I can see her you know." Steve shrugged, standing up and going towards the door. "You coming for a drive?"

"With who?" James asked.

"Just me and you, like old times." Steve stated making James nod.

"Let's go."

————————————

Avery huffed as she served another table in the dinner, her eyes narrowing at Robin and Daisy, who stood laughing in the corner. The brunette plastered on a fake smile when another person called her over, quickly moving over to their table to serve them. By the time the fourth person had signalled for her to come over when she wasn't supposed to be working, Avery huffed angrily, walking over to her friends.

"I'm leaving, have fun." She threw her apron towards Daisy.

Avery walked out of the diner and out of the mall, grabbing her bike and making her way towards her house when the theatre sign caught her attention. The brunette stopped cycling, rereading the sign once more it stating the name of the movie playing before someone had spray painted in red 'starring Nancy the slut Wheeler'.

Jumping off her bike, Avery caught sight of Nancy angrily marching towards an alley-way, quickly following after her and Jonathan to see Carol, Tommy, Steve, James and Nicole.

Tommy was spray painting on the wall, Carol making fun of him when Nancy huffed, marching over to the Harrington boy.

"Aw, hey there, princess!" Nicole laughed.

"Uh-oh! She looks upset." Tommy commented.

Nancy suddenly slapped Steve, everyone gasping except Avery, who tried to stifle her laugh.

"What is wrong with you?" Nancy seethed.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?" Steve asked, raising his eyebrows at the girl, scoffing. "I was worried about you. I can't believe that I was actually worried about you."

"What are you talking about?" Nancy shook her head, confused.

"I wouldn't lie if I were you." Carol stepped forward, Avery stepping towards Nancy, "You don't want to be know as the lying slut, do you?"

Avery raised her eyebrows, stepping towards Carol and pushing her backwards, "No need for name calling now, Carol. Leave her alone."

"And what are you gonna do about it?" Carol asked, tilting her head to the side.

Avery laughed slightly, running her tongue over her teeth but before she could do anything a pair of arms wrapped around her waist pulling her backwards. Avery turned to see James behind her, rolling her eyes as she pushed his arms off of her.

"Speak of the devil." Tommy gestured to Jonathan as he finally got close enough to be part of the conversation.

Nancy turned to see Jonathan before spinning back to Steve. "You came by last night?"

"Ding ding ding!" Carols smiled sarcastically, Tommy placing an arm over her shoulder. "Does she get a prize?"

"Ima smack her." Avery narrowed her eyes.

"Don't." James warned her quietly.

"Look, I don't know what you think you saw, but it wasn't like that." Nancy tried to explain.

"I told you Steve, so just let it go." James tried to reason with the boy, who shrugged him off.

"What, you just let him into your room to... study?" Steve suggested, looking between Nancy and Jonathan.

"Or for another pervy photo session?" Tommy added, laughing.

"I could take him." Avery muttered, James shaking his head from next to her.

"We were just—"

"You were just what?" Steve interrupted, stepping closer to Nancy. "Finish that sentence. Finish that sentence."

Nancy stayed quiet, her chest heaving up and down as she tried to come up with an answer. When he didn't get a response, Steve scoffed.

"Go to hell Nancy." Steve stated.

"Come on, Nancy, let's just leave." Jonathan grabbed Nancy's arm, the two walking away when Steve spoke up again.

"You know what, Byers? I'm actually kind of impressed." Steve walked towards the two as they walked away. "I always took you for a queer, but I guess you're just a little screw-up like your father."

"He is not being serious." Avery's eyes widened as she watched Steve hit Jonathan in the shoulder once more.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah that house is full of screw-ups. You know, I guess I shouldn't really be surprised. A bunch of screw-ups in your family." Steve continued.

"Jonathan leave it." Nancy told the boy when she noticed the halt in his movement.

"Steve." James warned the boy.

"I mean, your mom..." Steve trailed off. "I'm not even surprised what happened to your brother."

"Steve, shut up!" Nancy exclaimed.

At the mention of the young Byers boy both Avery and James stepped towards Steve, James grabbing his shoulder to pull his back.

"Steve leave it." James ordered.

"Let it go, Harrington." Avery spoke up.

Steve ignored them, carrying on speaking instead. "I'm sorry I have to be the one to tell you, but the Byers, their family, it's a disgrace to the entire—"

Steve was cut off when Jonathan turned, swinging his fist into the boy's face. Steve then lunged at Jonathan, hitting him into the car before throwing his to the ground. The two jumped up, Tommy trying to get involved but Steve stopped him.

Eventually Jonathan got the upper hand, punching Steve over and over as he straddled him. James tried to pull Jonathan off, Tommy doing the same but Jonathan wouldn't budge. The sound of police sirens filled their ears as a police car came around the corner.

The two policemen jump out of the car, one trying to grab Jonathan but he elbowed the man, not realising who it was. The other policeman finally pulled Jonathan off of the boy, them all jumping up and running away. James followed after, helping Steve as he did, quickly turning around to send an apologetic look towards Avery.

"Get back here! Get back here, you little punks!" The policeman shouted.

Avery turned as the other officer arrested Jonathan, huffing when another car arrived. A man hopped out of the car, looking at the two officers.

"I've got this one." He spoke.

The two nodded, going back to their car as the man turned to Avery and Nancy.

"Hey dad." Avery greeted, a smile on her face.

————————————

Avery sat in her dad's office, Jonathan outside with Nancy while they waited for Joyce to arrive.

"What happened?" Theo asked.

Avery sighed. "Steve thought Nancy was cheating on him and he and his friends graffitied the theatre sign and Nancy confronted Steve, who said something to Jonathan."

"What things?" Theo pressed, raising his eyebrows.

"He just said something about Lonnie and Joyce and... Will and Jonathan snapped." Avery shrugged.

"Oh." Theo stated.

"Oh. What do mean 'oh'?" Avery questioned.

"Just I never thought of Steve as the type of person who would say things like that." Her father explained, making her scoff.

"Well then you obviously don't know Steve 'the hair' Harrington, King of Hawkins high." Avery pulled a face as her dad laughed. "I'm not joking."

"I believe you." Theo smiled.

"Where's you partner?" Avery looked around the station, not seeing Jim Hopper anywhere.

"He's out searching for signs of Will with Joyce I believe." Theo explained.

"Right." Avery nodded. "I hope he's okay."

"Me too." Theo agreed.

"They've been investigating together a lot lately, hey?" Avery smirked slightly.

Her father's face dropped slightly. "No."

"I didn't say anything." Avery made an offended face.

If there was one thing to know about Avery Monroe was that she loved to play cupid, be a matchmaker between people she cared for. She saw the way Jonathan and Nancy stuck up for each other, knowing they one hundred percent liked each other, she noticed the way that Robin and Daisy were definitely in love even if they hadn't admitted it, and she would do anything in her power to get them together, and any other couple she had in mind.

"You are not playing cupid again." Theo stated.

"Oh that's no fun." Avery pouted. "Can you at least agree with me that they are getting close? They are so going to be together in the next few years."

"I agree with you." Theo gave in after a few moments of hesitation.

( 💌 ) Isobel's notes
some cute background javery moments
while steve is being a horrible person :)
theo and avery father daughter duo gives
me life... too bad i'll ruin it eventually
see you next time