↣ 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘢𝘴

Although she knew her father better and knew he would worry, she had left a letter stating that she was heading to the mall. She pondered how she got into this predicament in the first place and whether there was a way out as she put her head on the chilly table in Scoops Ahoy's back room.

Dustin pacifies the space. As she watched him, it was making her feel pretty lightheaded. "That key card opens the door,but unfortunately,the Russian with this key card also has a massive gun.Whatever's in this room,whatever's in those boxes,they really don't want anybody finding it." He said.

"But there's gotta be a way in." Robin continued, her eyes resting on the ice cream scooper she was holding. Steve was fumbling with his cap and making faces. Looking at the whiteboard, Kathleen hoped she would wake up soon and questioned whether this was a dream.

"Well, you know..." As Steve spoke, Kathleen sat up slightly as a result of his closeness.. "I could just take him out." She laughed out loud. It must be a nightmare when Steve Harrington does well in a fight.

"What? I sneak up behind him,I knock him out, and I take his key card. It's easy." Steve defended himself.

"Did you not hear the part about the massive gun?"

"Yes, Dustin, I did. And that's why I would be sneaking." Kathleen regarded Steve weirdly as he began to mimic someone walking with his fingers.

Dustin looked over at Steve. "Well, please, tell me this,and be honest, have you ever actually... won a fight?" He asked. Steve retreated a little bit into his chair as he tried to completely avoid the subject.

"Okay, that was one time—" Despite his glares, Kathleen continued to chuckle as soon as Steve started. Because she had never heard the girl laugh so loudly, Robin just stared at her, which caused her stomach to flutter with butterflies.

"Twice. Jonathan. A year prior?" As if to remind Steve, Dustin corrected. As Kathleen continued to giggle, her eyes closed. Robin observed her as she made the decision to weigh in with her own opinion. Kathleen admired her cousin, and Robin watched how her eyes would light up at the mention of him.

All eyes were on Robin as she walked out the door as she abruptly stood up., "Hey, what— what are you doing?" Steve asked, Kathleen only heard some of what robin said, but it evidently needed all of the tip money. Kathleen noticed a cherry in a bowel and decided to take a bite out of it.

"Not bad, pretty sweet." she smiled, taking another bite.

𐬽𐬼𐬽

"I think you would look amazing fully blonde." As she braided Steve's hair, Kathleen remarked that it had taken a lot of cajoling before she was allowed to touch his hair. Dustin was chatting about summer camp while Steve was seated between her knees with his back to her. Everyone found it boring to wait for Robin.

"You think so?" Steve asked, a blush creeping across his cheeks.

Before Robin stormed into the back room, Kathleen nodded and was just ready to say something. She covered the table with a number of papers. Kathleen discovered they were plans of the mall as they gathered around her. Steve exhaled a startled puff.

"It is fascinating what 20 bucks will get you at the County Recorder's Office. Star court Mall.The complete blueprints." As they studied the designs, Robin said. In shock, Kathleen gave the girl a cursory glance. "So, this is us, Scoops." She pointed at the room. before running her fingers over to another room. "and this is where we wan.t to get."

"But how do we get in, without any suspicion?'" Kathleen inquired. She smiled a little as Dustin nodded in agreement.

"I mean, I don't really see a way in." Steve said, as Robin peeled away the blueprint to reveal another sheet.

"Turns out, this secret room needs air just like any old room. And these air ducts lead all the way..." Dustin handed Robin a marker which she grabbed, outlining a pathway from scoops ahoy to the secret room. "here."

Kathleen stared at the prints. "Are any of us really that small?" she inquired.

Dustin assisted Steve in grabbing the ladder. He started unscrewing the vent as everyone watched. "Flashlight." He received a flashlight from Dustin. Kathleen lean against the table, her arms crossed. awaiting a response.

"Yeah, I don't know, man. I don't know if you can fit in here. It's, like...super tight." Steve said as he down the ladder. A little smile appeared on Kathleen's face as she turned to glance below. Steve became concerned as Dustin began to smile.

"What?"

"I'll Fit." Dustin said, which caused them all to look over at him. "Trust me. No collar bones, remember?" He seized the flashlight and up the ladder in place of Steve, who only appeared to have been struck by recognition.

"Oh, he's, uh...Yeah, he's got some disease. Chry, uh... It's chrydo, um...Something. Yeah, I dunno. He's missing bones and stuff. He can bend like Gumbo." Even though Steve tried his best, the girls were more perplexed than ever.

"You mean Gumby." Robin made an effort to improve things.

"I'm pretty sure it's Gumbo." Steve responded, as he made an effort to either justify himself or make himself appear even more foolish.

"Steve, just shut up and push me!" Steve went to Dustin's aid after hearing him cry that half of his torso was protruding from the vent.

"I'm not playing, I have terrible footing."

"I'm gonna just shove you, ready?"

The two girls started laughing, and Kathleen had to lay her head against Robin's shoulder to keep from falling over. When Robin became aware of this, she flushed pink all over her freckled cheeks. "Ahoy, sailors! All hands on deck!" Along with the bell, Erica Sinclair's voice resounded across the space. As Robin continued to look at the vent, a thought began to form. Perhaps a terrible idea. Nevertheless, an excellent one.

𐬽𐬼𐬽

Erica stepped off the ladder as Kathleen observed her. She turned and everyone waited for her response. "Yeah, I don't know."Without being troubled by anything or anyone, she simply responded.

"You don't know if you can fit?" Dustin asked

"Oh, I can fit. I'm just not sure if I want to."Everyone sighed in response to her reply; it was obvious that this arrangement was failing.

"Are you claustrophobic?"Robin inquired. Dustin, Steve, and Kathleen all exchanged glances. If Kathleen had to crawl through it, she could get a little anxious.

Erica just snickered at her words. "I don't have phobias." The way she phrased it reminded Kathleen of someone, she just can't figure out who.

"Okay, well, what's the problem?" Steve questioned. He tried to sound as sincere as possible, but it really wasn't working for him.

Erica leaned forward. " The problem is, I still haven't heard what's in this for Erica." She spoke her sass thickened, Kathleen nodded in fairness. The kid was starting to grow on her.

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Author's notes

Told you we were gonna have Erica join the story soon, her and Kathleen's relationship is very sweet and I love building relationships with other characters instead of just the love interest.

Shout out to my favourite people.norasnetflix RuffieRoseStories arsvenal kiesluverr KleeAlise11 andorss

Well that's all from me. I hope to see you in the next update