Nancy and Laurie, hand in hand, run through the unknown forest calling out for Jonathan. "Jonathan! Jonathan!" Both girls scream out as their voices echo through the air. They're covered in goo, but it's the least of their worries as they try to keep away from whatever monster they saw earlier.

The girls can hear Jonathan's voice in the distance like an echo. "Jonathan, where are you?" Nancy screams while tightening her grip on Laurie's hand. Heavy breathing is the only sound besides the girls calling out for the Byers boy as they look around but do not stay in one place too long.

"Nancy, Laurie! I'm right here! Just follow my voice." His voice is very distant, but the girls follow the voice as they continue to call out his name. Laurie looks over into an opening of trees and sees a monster looking over at her. She squeals before running in the opposite direction with Nancy right by her side.

The girls hide behind a large tree. Their breathing is shallow and quiet as they wait for the monster to walk past. Laurie holds her breath when she hears it getting closer and squeezes her eyes shut, praying this is all one big nightmare. Jonathan's voice is the closest, and it's coming from the tree across them.

Before they can even think of moving, the monster growls again. Once the monster walks away a bit, they sneak over to the opening. "Go, go." Laurie whispers to Nancy, but the Wheeler girl shakes her head no, "You go. I got you in this mess." The two girls have a small stand-off before Laurie pushes Nancy's arm through the opening. "Laurie!" She screams but gets pulled through the other side, hopefully by Jonathan.

She looks over her shoulder to see that the monster has stopped. It slowly turns to her, then roars. "Nancy, Jonathan!" she screams as she tries to go through the opening, and it's tight. She feels two pairs of hands pull her through, and she lands on the forest floor, panting hard.

Nancy pulls her into a hug as some tears fall. Both girls sit there in each other's arms as they let the whole situation process. They went into some unknown world, got chased by a monster, and now are back home. "Let's go home," Laurie whispers against Nancy's hair.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Once alone in her room, the oldest Henderson sits on her bed with her knees to her chest as Def Leppard plays softly on her record player. Since she's been home, the last few minutes have been a silent cry fest. She's never been this emotional before, but it seems as if being in a life-or-death situation makes her tear up a bit.

She could have died, and her best friend could have died. That monster didn't know sympathy, pain, or any human emotion, maybe anger. Her holder of daggers is hung up next to her jacket. Her eyes don't leave them as she starts to berate herself. She should have used one or two back there! That's why she brought them, but she was too scared. She was a wimp.

Laying her forehead against her knees, she sighs softly. If you had told her three months ago that this would be her life, she would think you needed to see Eddie Munson and join his Hellfire Club. But, instead, it's something straight out of D&D or some fantasy novel her brother tried to get her to read.

A knock comes on her window, and she jumps like a cat. "Who's there!" She calls out, running to grab a dagger before slowly making her way to the window. Pulling the blinds open, a wave of relief fills her when she sees that it's Steve and not some interdimensional monster. "What's with the knife?" He asks when she opens the window. "It's a dagger, and it's a long story." He slides into her room better than he did earlier today. She looks out her window to see Carol and Tommy in the car, waiting.

"I guess this isn't a long visit, huh?" She tries to joke until she notices his body language. "Something wrong, Harrington? You seem upset." His eyes are full of different emotions; sadness, anger, and regret. "Has Nancy said anything about getting close with Byers?" Her brows pull together in confusion, "No. Why?" He shakes his head as he runs a hand through his hair. "Nothing, it's just, she's been acting distant lately. Has she said anything to you?" A slight shrug from her shoulders is the most he gets. "I'm sorry, Steve. She hasn't told me anything." Okay, yes, she's lying but not completely. Nancy only told her that she didn't know how she felt about Steve. So, not a complete lie.

"No, no, you're good. I'm just worried about her. I should get going; I'll see you later." He pulls her into a tight hug that says more than he probably meant.

Once he slips out of her room, a heavy weight is felt on her chest. "Please don't hurt him, Nance."

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The following day, Jonathan, Nancy, and Laurie head to the Army surplus store to stock up on some supplies. "Hey, Nance." The girl looks over her shoulder, curiosity in her eyes. "Yeah, what's up, Laur?" The Henderson girl doesn't say anything for a minute as she looks through some things before putting them in the basket. "Did you talk to Steve last night?"

A slight head shake confirms her suspicions, "No, why? Is something wrong?" She shrugs before turning to look at her, "He came by last night, not too long after we got back. He seemed upset and was asking about you. I wanted to know if something happened."

"I haven't talked to him since yesterday. He seemed fine then." Laurie nods, accepting Nancy's words as they walk over to a couple of bear traps. Jonathan notices and walks over. No words were spoken, but it was agreed to get the traps.

After paying for all their weapons, including some newer and sharper daggers for Laurie and Nancy telling the shopkeeper that they got everything for monster hunting, they take all their stuff to Jonathan's car. "Monster hunting?" Jonathan teases, a slight smirk on his face as Laurie lets out a small laugh. "You know, last week...I was shopping for a new top I thought Steve might like. It took me, Barb, and Laurie all weekend."

"Don't remind me." She cringes at the memory; her feet and legs were sore almost all week. Nancy laughs softly when she sees her face before continuing, "It seemed like life or death, you know? And...now–"

"You're shopping for bear traps with Jonathan Byers and your best friend." A small smile itches onto Laurie's face at Jonathan's comment. Maybe the dude isn't so dull after all. "Yeah," Nancy sighs, almost as if this is the first time the reality hit her. "What's the strangest part?" He closes the trunk and then looks at the girls, "Me or the bear trap?" Both girls give him a reassuring smile, "You." Nancy's tone is humorous, "It's definitely you." Laurie's voice holds the same manner, and the three teens smile for a minute. It's a nice moment where it seems they're having a regular silly conversation as kids.

The moment is broken by a car honking its horn at them, "Hey, Nance. I can't wait to see your movie." A jock from school says menacingly. Anxiety blooms in Laurie's chest when the words sink into her head. "What the hell was that?" Jonathan asks as Nancy and Laurie look at each other confused. Nancy turns around before heading into the center of downtown. Jonathan and Laurie are still confused but follow her, calling out her name.

Sad whimpers can be heard from Nancy, and Laurie's stomach drops as they get closer to the movie theater where the sign saying what's showing is graffitied. At the end of All the Right Moves says 'Starring Nancy "The Slut" Wheeler.'

"Oh my god, Nance," Laurie whispers to her best friend as both girls look at it in shock. Who the hell would do this? The sound of a spray can and laughing comes from the theater's alleyway. "Wait," Jonathan says as Nancy heads for the alleyway. "Jonathan, come on." Laurie scolds while following the girl, and he follows right after her.

Laurie and Nancy stand at the end of the alleyway to see Tommy, Carol, Nicole, and Steve. Marching over to the group, Nancy's determination is enough for Laurie to follow behind her. "Aw, hey there, princesses." Carol condescends when she sees the two girls. Nicole makes sad faces at the girls as Nancy walks right in front of Steve. Laurie sends a death glare to the girls and Tommy, "Uh-oh, she looks upset."

Nancy slaps Steve without a word, taking everyone by surprise, "Shit, Nancy!" Laurie whispers in shock, "What is wrong with you." She asks Steve with venom dripping from her voice. The boy is unmoved, "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you? I was worried about you. I can't believe that I was worried about you." He scoffs, and Laurie's blood starts to boil. "What are you talking about?" Nancy's voice raises an octave, "I wouldn't lie if I were you. You don't want to be known as the lying slut now, do you?" Laurie's fist tightens as Carol condemns Nancy, and it's the last straw.

"Oh fuck off, Carol. If any here is a slut, it's you. Don't act like you don't sleep around even if you are 'committed' to Tommy. He does the same thing." The redhead looks at her, offended but doesn't do anything because she knows it's true. "Speak of the devil," Tommy says, looking over their shoulders, and Jonathan is there. "You came by last night?" Then, looking between her best friends, it starts to click.

"Steve, why didn't you mention that last night? I could have told you that was nothing." Steve turns his attention from Nancy to Laurie, but it only makes him angrier. "Why? So you could cover for her again? I don't know what has gotten into you lately, but all the time now, it seems as if you have every excuse for what's going on with Nancy." His voice gets louder and louder as he continues to talk. Laurie starts to freeze up. He knows that she hates to be yelled at. "Steve, please." She whimpers instead of defending herself.

"What did she just let him in her room to...study?" His voice lowers when he notices her reaction before turning back to Nancy. "Or for another pervy photo session." Tommy says, "You have no part in this conversation, Tommy." She bites, looking over at the boy. "We were just–" Nancy starts but is cut off by Steve. "You were just what? Finish that sentence." He takes a few steps closer to her. "Finish the sentence." He warns Laurie keeps an eye on the boy. He's not acting like himself.

When Nancy doesn't answer, she sighs, defeated, "Go to hell, Nancy." Steve's words are simple and effective. "Come on, Nancy, let's just leave." Jonathan grabs her arm and pulls her away with her hand in Laurie's. "You know what, Byers? I'm actually kind of impressed. I always took you for a queer, but I guess your just a screw-up like your father."

"Steve! Stop it! Let it go!" Laurie warns, only to be ignored, "Oh, yeah, 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." Laurie looks at him, astonished, "What the hell is wrong with you, Harrington? He didn't do anything!" Steve continues to ignore her.

"I mean, your mom...I'm not even surprised about what happened to your brother." That's what broke Laurie, "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 is cut off as Jonathan punches him in the face, and it starts an all-out brawl between the two boys.

Nancy and Laurie try to break up the fight while Steve's friends encourage it. The girls can't do anything more than watch and try to calm the boys down, but it doesn't work. "Jonathan, please. He's being an asshole; he didn't mean it! You're both going to hurt yourselves!" Laurie shouts, trying to get their attention, but it only makes Jonathan angrier.

"God, Steve. Why couldn't you have just kept your mouth shut?" She mumbles to herself, watching the boys fight. Sirens wail in the background; the cops are coming. Callahan and Powell pull into the alleyway as everyone tries to get them to stop. Finally, Tommy is able to get Jonathan off of Steve and run away with him, "You go with them. I'll stay with Jonathan." Nancy says to Laurie. She quickly ran to catch up to the group wherever they ran off to.