𝐄𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐔𝐄! ✽ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

36

𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐗𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐎, steve helped sheridan throw away everything. all of her alcohol, her tray, grinder, her weed, her brand new pack of malboros: all in the garbage. and afterwards, he treated her to a greasy burger at their favorite spot in town.

but after that, steve had hardly talked to the girl. he'd make minimal conversation with her as he accompanied her to class—things your distant relatives talk to you about when they see you for the first time in years over thanksgiving dinner—and that was it. no meeting in the other's car before walking into school, no hanging out after sherrie got off of work. it was the longest they had gone without truly speaking to one another. but when you're friends with steve harrington for this long, you quickly realize that whatever he wants to tell you, he will in his own time. sheridan knew better than to pressure him. but god, was she dying to see him again.

the red-headed girl couldn't wait to get home and give steve a call to figure out just what in the hell was going on with him. she had her coat on and keys in hand before bob had even gave her the go-ahead to clock out.

as she stepped inside, the announcement of her homecoming had been cut short by a crayoned trail of reds and blues spanning the entirety of her house. sheridan's eyes widened as her keys fell from her hands with a jingle. "woah," she whispered. the notebook paper wound atop furniture and their windows; there were even a few sheets on the other side of the door she had just entered through. it all appeared to be connected, like the board of candyland or chutes and ladders.

joyce came around the kitchen's corner. her daughter noticed another scribbled, blue piece to the puzzle in her hand. "dani," the woman breathed out. "something's wrong with will. h-he keeps drawing these scary pictures, a-and he's absolutely cold to the touch, a-"

sheridan took her mother's arms in her hands. her jacket was covered in slivers of tape. "mom, calm down," she insisted. had she really been so absorbed in her own problems with work and steve, that she neglected to realize that will was also facing his own challenges? challenges that were much more life-threatening than hers? "i-i'm sure everything's gonna be fine." dani stumbled over her words; words that she didn't even believe herself.

as her daughter attempted to console her, joyce had been glancing around the home for the barren spot in which the paper in her hand would need to be placed. she'd pulled herself away from sheridan's grasp and began to tape up the drawing. and as sherrie continued to gawk at the enormous system of vines that lay in front of her, she knew that now was a better time than ever to give steve a call.

the girl sat on her bed, anxiously bouncing her leg and picking at her fingernails. she hadn't even changed out of her work uniform yet. "hello?" steve questioned on the other side of the telephone.

"steve," sheridan breathed out with relief. her leg instantly stopped in its tracks.

"god, sherrie, i've been meaning to call, i've just-"

"don't apologize," she asserted. "i get that you're busy with nancy and everything, seriously don't worry about it; i... i just wanted to call and make sure you were alright, is all." her words came out quickly, dumping themselves from her mouth.