MELANCHOLY [S.T. B. Hargrove]

18

"Racquel?" Dustin asks.

Lucas turns around with his slingshot pointed past me. I scoff a laugh.

"He's not here," I inform.

Lucas takes a breath and puts down the slingshot.

"Racquel?" Steve asks, leaning against Billy's car door.

"God, you even sound like shit," I tell him.

"What are you doing here?" Max asks, opening the trunk.

"We're a part of this now, right?" I ask her. "We gotta see it through."

Max looks at me. Then, she sighs and extends a bandana and set of goggles to me.

"How'd you catch up so fast?" Lucas asks.

"I hotwired Steve's car," I point back to where I parked the vehicle.

"You what-ed my who?" Steve slurs.

"Can we please talk and go at the same time?" Dustin asks.

"We can," I agree, putting the goggles on.

"This is the hole Hopper dug," Lucas informs as he, myself, Max, and Mike walk forward.

"And you have the map to the thingy where all the thingies meet?" I make sure.

"Right here," Mike holds up a map.

I hold my hand out to stop Lucas from going down the hole. "Me first then lower the gas cans."

I glance back to where Steve and Dustin were still talking. I could tell Steve was trying to talk Dustin out of this.

I get on the ground, then slide down enough to stay halfway up. The kids pass me the gas cans and I lower them down before helping the kids get down one by one. Finally, Steve is the last one in.

once the rules are established and Stee and I take the map to lead and keep the kids guarded, the realization creeps up on me.

"Hargrove dump you?" Stee asks.

I shine my flashlight directly in his eyes.

"Geez! Sorry," he waves to try and get the light out of his face.

"Can't dump someone if you never started dating," I remind as we continue walking.

"You so went on dates. I thought we established that already."

"Whatever," I roll my eyes. "I left him on the side of the road."

"Oh, so you dumped him."

"Steve," I warn.

"Look, I'm sorry. Really."

I sigh. "No.. I'm sorry. I should've done more to stop him and redirect him so he didn't find us. It's my fault your face is busted open like a Michael Myers victim."

"Michael who?" Steve asks.

I throw a look back to Max. "Nothing."

"Well, whoever that is.. It's not your fault. None of us could've predicted he'd pop in like that. Threatening Lucas, hitting me, and all."

"What did you see in Nancy?" I wonder.

"What?"

"I mean.. she's badass and pretty. But, shit.. All she did was make me confused and question my life."

Steve snorts a laugh. "Yeah.. She has that effect."

"I never looked at him like that. But.. Nancy made it clear. She opened my eyes. Now.." I exhale a deep breath. "Now, things will never go back to the way they were."