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It wasn’t like Lucas really wanted to go to this party his team kept talking about but he knew all the rest of the Party was busy and he didn’t want to intrude on whatever their plans were or seem too clingy. Even worse, he didn’t want to be alone which is why he was riding backseat of Brandon’s car while he, Trent, and Scott were trying to give context to Lucas and the other freshman, Doug.
“These parties used to be legendary!” Trent slapped Brandon’s shoulder in agreement.
“All out party-“
“Best babes, shittiest booze-“
“Absolutely no parents or cops to bust it up.”
Brandon laughed as he took a turn too quickly causing Doug’s elbow to dig into Lucas’ gut.
“I think they actually paid off the cops to never visit.” Scott theorized.
“Whatever, I never thought I’d get to go to one like this again, but thank God!” The older boys cheered. They all really needed something mindless after the “earthquake” and bullshit of Hawkins.
Lucas hadn’t even had a beer yet but Brandon’s horrible driving was going to make him sick. That was probably the reason when Brandon parked and the guys scrambled out it took Lucas a moment to recognize the familiar location.
Steve’s house.
Something sunk in Lucas’ stomach but he couldn’t say why as he followed the Senior he rode with up the hill and into the house. Lucas could hear the music blasting from outside. At least he would know someone else at the party, Lucas hoped. It wasn’t that Steve wasn’t allowed to throw parties, it just feel different from the Steve he knew, but then again a lot of people had returned to Hawkins after things had begun to settle after the earthquake and Steve’s old classmates and friends should also be in town.
A red solo cup was thrust into Lucas’ hands and Lucas was about to say thanks to whoever handed it to him when he realized he was alone in the throng of partiers. There were a couple guys doing keg stands in the kitchen and Lucas began roaming around to find someone to talk to or even find Steve. Maybe Robin was here too, Max and Robin had become close lately with their shared ability to call everyone around them dingus and shithead and say what was on their mind. Usually, Lucas would be practicing basketball drills with Steve while the girls chatted and insulted them nearby.
Lucas roamed to see if he knew anyone else but a lot of them seemed older than him and some were wearing college gear, Lucas assumed to show off what they had been doing since graduating Hawkins.
He walked past the dining room the Party had just eaten at last week and now watched a group taking shots while others - oh God were snorting coke. If Lucas’ mom knew he was in the same room as coke he wouldn’t make it to his next birthday and not even El and all her powers would be able to save him from his mom.
Lucas quickly rushed away and almost collided with a couple making out against a wall, but thankfully they were too out of it or into what they were doing to yell at him. Lucas moved outside to maybe see if there was more room and sanity out there. No such luck. People were everywhere and in the pool - some in just their underwear. There was a guy passed out on the lawn chair, thankfully in recovery position, Lucas noted. Someone cannonballed into the pool and nearly soaked Lucas as people cheered.
He turned back inside, maybe he could find Steve.
Wham! blasted from the speakers and Lucas moved through the house. The sinking feeling in his stomach grew at Steve’s house being overrun by strangers. Lucas knew this house better than anyone else here, he guessed, and felt irritation rising. It felt like when Erica used to break into his room and mess with his stuff. But this was Steve’s house and if this is what he wanted to do then he was allowed to. It’s not like he told any of the Party he’d be having a house party. Steve would kill any of them if they were within 10 miles of something like this.
Lucas couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Maybe it was because this was Steve’s house and he couldn’t find Steve and none of this felt like it would be ‘Steve approved’. Lucas saw one of his Senior teammates chatting with a group of girls and walked over.
“Hey Jer, you seen Steve around here?”
Jeremy looked way too drunk to understand. “Who?”
“Steve? Harrington? The guy hosting this party?” Still nothing. “King Steve!” Lucas snapped.
One of the girls put her hand on his shoulder and answered in a nasally voice. “Stevie’s in the Study with Tommy and Carol.”
Lucas felt himself bristle at the answer and quickly thanked her before speed walking towards where he knew the Study would be. Lucas had never been in the Study and even Steve said it was off limits. The one time Mike had tried to go in Steve had gotten honest to God mad at them.
What if Steve was possessed with the same shit Billy was? What if Vecna returned? Lucas held his breath as he approached the Study.
But,
There was Steve, sitting on the couch between Tommy and Carol, Lucas assumed. Lucas had heard stories from Will who heard from Jonathan about Tommy and Carol. Even Steve had mentioned them in passing, and the Hellfire Club had shit on them.
“You lost, little boy?” Carol asked as she glared at him and drank from her cup.
“I-I came looking for Steve.” Lucas stood straighter. He had faced worst things than them.
“Well, you found him. Now scram.” Tommy gave a wicked smile.
Lucas couldn’t help but stare at Steve, who had not seemed to even realize anyone was there. Steve’s head lulled to the side and his eyes seemed to struggle to open, but there were clearly some bruises on his face.
Lucas’ heart raced as he wondered who had hurt Steve.
Tommy’s hand was wrapped around Steve’s shoulders and Carol seemed to be threading her fingers through Steve’s hair.
“Is Steve ok?” Lucas asked and glanced at both of them.
“We’re taking care of him. He’s fine.” Tommy spat. “Get the fuck out of here before I kick you out.”
“Not until Steve tells me he’s fine.” Lucas challenged.
Carol whispered something in Steve’s ear.
“‘M f’ne.” Steve mumbled trying to move his head. He looked in Lucas’ direction for a moment - no clue Lucas was there.
Steve was clearly not fine.
“See, he’s fine.” Carol cooed and continued to stroke his head. Steve seemed to wilt to the side until he was resting on Tommy’s shoulder, clearly unable to hold himself up any longer.
Tommy moved his hand to rest on Steve’s head and patted it. ”Let his friends take care of him.”
Lucas bristled and turned on his heel. Yeah, he was going to make sure his friends would take care of him.
———
Lucas stomped through the house and up the stairs until he entered Steve’s room where he found a couple making out on Steve’s bed.
“Get out!” He snarled.
The couple scrambled and left the room. Lucas slammed the door and locked it. He began frantically looking for Steve’s walkie. Where the fuck was it?
Under Steve’s pillow apparently.
Lucas pressed the button and began to speak into the Party’s open channel, hoping anyone would hear him.
“Hello? Anyone there? It’s Lucas. Over.” Lucas paused waiting for any response.
“Code Red. I repeat Code Red. Over.” Lucas squeezed the walkie. He knew everyone was busy but every also should have had their walkies on them.
“This is Lucas calling for anyone - Code Red. Over.”
“Answer!“
“What do you want, nerd?”
Lucas has never been so relieved to hear his sister’s voice.
“Erica, I need you to call Robin.”
“What’s in it for me?”
“Erica please!”
“Bye.”
“No, Erica wait! It’s about Steve!” He tried. There was a pause and Lucas hoped she hadn’t turned off the walkie yet. Lucas wasn’t sure what it was but Erica seemed to tolerate Steve which was miles above her relationship with anyone else.
“Fine, but Steve is buying my ice cream. Again.”
“Thank you. Have her call me on channel 3.” Lucas felt himself sag. He had faith in his sister to deliver the message and pester until she did. Lucas tapped his feet as he sat against Steve’s bed waiting for an answer. It felt like forever later when someone clicked through the walkie.
“Lucas?”
“Nancy?”
“Yes, hey, Erica said you needed Robin, but she’s out of town visiting colleges with her parents.” No wonder she wasn’t here or at home. "Is everything ok? Erica said you said it was about Steve?”
Lucas felt like there was something in the bro code about not tattling to your friend’s ex, but this wasn’t something Lucas was capable of handling and if there was anyone who could shut this down it would be Nancy Wheeler.
“I don’t know,” Lucas admitted. “I was invited to a house party with some of my teammates and turns out it was at Steve’s house. This isn’t like any party I’ve been to and it feels weird it’s at Steve’s house cause it’s Steve. So I tried to find him and he was in his dad’s Study which no one is allowed in and he’s with Tommy and Carol, apparently, and they wouldn’t let me check on him and Steve had bruises and it was like he had no idea what was going on and I don’t know what to do and I’m scared.” Lucas rambled. There was no response. “I didn’t know what to do so I came up to his room for his walkie. I thought Robin could help but…” Lucas trailed off. What if Nancy thought he was being ridiculous? ”Nancy?”
“Stay in his room.” Nancy’s voice was steel. ”I’m on my way.” Nancy is going to murder Steve and Lucas even though he’s an innocent bystander.
“I- Nancy - I don’t think it’s Steve’s fault.” With how Steve looked there’s no way Steve was aware of anything that was going on.
“Steve’s bat should be in his closet. Stay in his room.” Lucas heard Nancy click off.
Lucas moved to find Steve’s bat exactly where Nancy had said and held it as he tried to listen for any changes or even demobats.
“Hey Lucas!” Mike’s voice buzzed through the radio.
“Mike?”
“Nancy just ditched ‘family time’ and said you and Steve called needing help.”
Lucas wasn’t sure how much he should tell. ”There’s a party at Steve’s house and -“
“Steve’s having a party! And he didn’t invite us?!” Dustin cut in.
“Dustin?”
“Nancy looked like she’s going to murder someone,” Mike exclaimed.
“She made Jonathan leave too.”
“Will’s there too!” Lucas snapped. “Where were you guys when I was calling for Code Red!”
“My mom and I were watching Star Wars!” Dustin shouted.
“We’re having dinner together as a family,” You could hear Mike’s annoyance at the idea. “since Nancy and Jonathan are dating and back in town.”
There was some rustling in the background. “Will and I are on our way over to Steve’s place so we’ll see you there.”
“Wait! I’m coming too!” < i>Dustin added.
“I don’t think that’s smart.” Lucas thought of how Steve looked and didn’t want anyone else to see him in that way.
“You said it as a Code Red.” Lucas could hear Mike peddling and the wind in the walkie. “We’ll be there soon.”
———
A bang made Lucas jump and clutch the bat closer. Then there was the faint sound of Nancy yelling. He heard a faint “Get out now.”
Lucas tucked the bat back in the closet and slowly opened the door. He carefully crept out and hear Nancy again. “Leave before I call Chief Hopper!” Since Hopper’s return to Hawkins Lucas had even heard his teammates gossiping about how the FBI or CIA or some theory of their small town Chief being recruited as a spy or leading a squadron of cops for something or other. Even if their theories were outlandish (but nothing as outlandish as the truth) they all had more reason to fear their police chief.
People were quickly making a mass exodus and Lucas took the chance to walk down and see Nancy and Jonathan herding people out. Once she saw everyone gone and she and Jonathan cleared the backyard she finally took notice of him after a few minutes and she looked pissed.
“I thought I told you to wait in Steve’s room.”
“Mike, Will, and Dustin are on their way.” He answered sheepishly, fearing her wrath. Nancy scowled and watched the last of the stranglers leave. She glared ready to fight anyone in her way. “Mike and Will saw you leave and Dustin heard my Code Red.”
“Nance,” Jonathan tried to calm her. She whipped her glare on him causing him to raise his hands in defense.
“Where is the Study?”
Lucas swallowed and motioned to the other side of the base of the stairs tucked away from the rest of the house.
Lucas carefully watched as Nancy slammed the Study open and spotted Steve passed out still sandwiched between Tommy and Carol as they drank and talked. Upon Nancy’s grand entrance both Tommy and Carol jumped and Carol screamed in shock.
Steve didn’t move.
“What the fuck, Wheeler!” Tommy shouted.
“Get out.” Nancy seethed.
“This isn’t your place!” Carol challenged.
“I will call Chief Hopper.”
Carol and Tommy scowled and Tommy pulled Steve’s hair to show poor condition. ”And get Stevie in trouble?”
Nancy stepped further into the room followed by Jonathan while Lucas watched from a safe distance.
“You brought the freak!” Tommy spat.
“I said get out.”
Lucas heard Dustin and Mike calling from the porch and running into the house. He quickly turned to quiet them down and pointed into the Study.
“They’re in Steve’s dad’s Study?” Dustin hissed and was quickly shushed by the other boys.
“We’re going to stay right here, Wheeler, since Steve invited us. If you call Chief Hopper we will explain that you and the freak broke in uninvited.” Will tensed at the insult to his brother.
“Even Hopper knows you don’t give a shit about Steve and we care do.” Nancy motioned to herself and Jonathan. ”He’ll see the red flags in your story.”
“We’re his real friends.” Carol continued to pet his head while Steve groaned.
“Bullshit.” Nancy snapped.
Tommy started to laugh and bent over as he continued laughing. “That seems to be your favorite word. Bullshit.”
Nancy then tensed up and Tommy straitened up and met her eyes as he continued. “Oh yeah, Stevie told us all about how you called him and everything else bullshit.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Nancy ground out through clenched teeth. They knew nothing about Steve and how much he had changed. They had no idea who he is now only who he was.
“We’ve been friends since elementary school.” Tommy looked between Nancy and Jonathan. “That’s why he came to us.” Tommy’s grin brightened at their shared looks of confusion.
“What is he talking about?” Dustin whispered only for all three boys to shush him again.
“I don’t know if you heard but the Harringtons just passed through town.” Nancy and Jonathan didn’t seem to react to that news.
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about, Wheeler.” Tommy stood up and placed his hands in his pockets and leered at them. Carol maneuvered Steve so he was now resting on her chest as she continued to stroke his hair. “His parents were in town and you don’t give a shit.” Tommy walked closer to Nancy and Jonathan put his hand in front of her ready to push her back to protect her.
“Every time we hear the Harrington’s are in town we at least try to check on Stevie.” Tommy was radiating anger. “This time must have been worse than usual because he actually let us in.” Carol was biting her lip as she continued to hold Steve.
“What are you saying?” Nancy asked.
Tommy scowled. “I guessed you two would have figured it out. Especially you, Byers.” Tommy looked over at him. “You’d know all about parents like that, wouldn’t you.” There was something angry in Tommy’s eyes. Will meanwhile reached out and clenched his hands in Mike’s shirt causing the other to wonder what he was missing.
Jonathan shook his head. “Shut your fucking mouth.” He glared back.
“You beat him up didn’t you!” Dustin burst in confused, angry, and tired of the older kids speaking in some cryptic code.
“Dustin!” Nancy and the Party scolded him.
Tommy rolled his eyes. “What’s with the fucking audience?” He looked Dustin over and glanced at the other three boys next to him then back at Dustin. “I know you - you’re Stevie’s shadow.”
“Just admit you did that to him!” Dustin waved at Steve who had barely even moved this whole time.
Tommy laughed at the accusation. “You may act like you give a shit, but when push comes to shove Steve chose us and we’re helping him.”
“By drugging him!” Nancy accused, pushing past Jonathan and getting in Tommy’s face.
“He asked for it!” Tommy fired back and that shocked all of them. Everyone seemed to hold their breath as Tommy panted out his burning rage. He took a deep breathe and ran his hand through his hair in the same way Steve does. “I don’t know what happened since he’s starting spending his time with you, but you don’t know shit.” He sucked his teeth before continuing. “I haven’t seen Steve like this in years.” Tommy seemed to look back at Steve as if to make sure he was still there.
“If you know so much about Steve why don’t you tell us.” Nancy felt bile rise in her throat as she asked.
“Do I have to spell it out for you?” Tommy rhetorically asked. “John and Betty did that to him.” Tommy spat. Nancy sharply inhaled and Tommy’s eyes darted to her and everyone else waiting for their reactions. Waiting for any of them to try and say anything against Steve or in denial. "It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last.” He backed up until he was sitting on the couch again next to Steve and rubbed his back which actually made Steve release a pleased hum.
“Why haven’t you called the cops?” Dustin stared at Steve.
Something in Tommy seemed to deflate as all the fight had left him. “We’ve been trying since he was 10.” Tommy kept staring at Steve and Carol let out a soft sniffle. “The cops really are paid off and Steve hides it or denies it. Fuck, even my parents and Carol’s dad know and can’t do anything.”
“10?” Nancy whispered. Jonathan grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.
Tommy wiped his nose and looked at them with watery eyes. “Just fucking leave already. I told you that you don’t know what the fuck is going on.”
“Why do you care?” Mike accused. “I heard you had no issue being a dick to him and now we’re supposed to believe you suddenly care?” His anger was festering at the injustice of it all.
“I don’t give a shit what you think. Even when Billy was King we still tried to check on Stevie when his parents had been in town. All that high school shit doesn’t matter.”
“Then why have this house party if you care so much?” Nancy asked not ready to give up her anger.
Tommy shrugged. “We’ve been doing it for years. Steve feels alone after so we had parties. People assumed everything was alright with him and his family and didn’t give a shit about anything else. And when Steve wants then us three just lock ourselves in a different area and everyone is too wasted to realize they never actually saw us.” No one seemed to have a sassy remark or accusation, not even the Wheelers.
“Stevie also asked us for drugs,” Carol admitted and filled the silence.
“And you gave it to him?” Jonathan rhetorically asked.
Carol never looked away from Steve. “He’s only ever asked once before. And it was bad but - but not like this. We were - are scared for him and he asked us for help so we helped where we could.”
Tommy swallowed. “We just gave him some downers to help him calm down and sleep. We were keeping an eye on him.” He wiped his nose again and glared at Nancy. “Go ahead and call whoever you want. All you’ll do is scare Stevie and he won't talk. At least this way he’s getting some rest and is letting us take care of him.”
Steve let out a small whimper and his breath hitched but Carol began to comfort him and whisper reassurances too softly for anyone but Steve to hear.
Tommy looked away from Steve and back at the others. “Listen, if you really want to help then you’ll forget this ever happened and never mention it to Steve.”
The kids began to protest but Nancy raised her hand and efficiently silenced all of them, even Mike though he didn’t like it. “You know we can’t do that.” Nancy reasoned.
Tommy seemed to expect that answer. “Steve’s going to hate anyone found out. Especially his little kids-“
“We’re not kids!” Mike argued.
“Shut up, Mike.” Nancy bit out.
“Steve doesn’t want anyone to know.” Tommy continued. “So the best thing you can do for him would be to let it go. If he finds out you all know he may not forgive us and ice us out again.” Tommy looked at them like he was ready to fight though he remained seated with a hand on Steve. “Despite everything, Steve is still our best friend and he let us help him. Carol and I are going to do everything to make sure he keeps letting us help him.”
Dustin piped up from behind Nancy and Jonathan. “Steve can be as mad as he wants, but we’re not going to ignore him even if that’s what he wants.”
Jonathan smiled at Dustin knowing he and Steve were especially close. Steve might be the most hurt that Dustin saw him this way. He looked at Steve who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, despite everything going on around him, then back at Tommy. “I think what he means to say is that we’ll also do everything we can for Steve and to keep him safe. Even if he’s mad at us.”
Tommy nodded at that and the strange truce that had been formed. Carol grabbed his hand from where it was resting on Steve and squeezed it giving him a meaningful and hopeful look. Maybe Steve actually would get help, or at the very least other people to help him.