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Steve absorbed the information that was being relayed to him, or at least he tried, the group was going to split up. Their smaller sub-groups mostly remained intact, with Steve going with Nancy, Robin, Eddie, and Dustin into the Upside Down to distract and stir up trouble.
Dylan, who he couldn't stop stealing glances at, was to remain with her California Crew, assisting in something a lot more technical that Steve knew nothing about. It wasn't that Dylan wasn't smart, he would never say that, but she was never interested in anything STEM-related. Jonathan was explaining something to her lowly, a hand placed at the small of her back, most likely for comfort or reassurance—it had the opposite reaction in Steve. He didn't like the patient display of Jonathan guiding and teaching Dylan things Steve knew nothing about and would never understand.
He wasn't confused as to why he felt this way, he'd always been insecure of his intelligence and purpose. It's why he overcompensated so much by being a total douche in high school. He'd also always had an inkling he'd been in love with Dylan, from a young age, he'd just never put it tangible thoughts and words until senior year—the big rejection. The pain of such had dimmed since Dylan's return, and he could hardly remember the sting of rejection at all. It was debilitating almost not knowing which memories of his were real—the rejection, the ring?—and what memories were curated by someone messing around with his brain.
He was hopeful things would resolve themselves, especially when Dylan had so willingly aligned herself to him. She would do the spell if he did, even with all the risk involved. That had to mean something surely?
Jonathan had told them to sleep on it but Steve wasn't sure how much actual sleep they'd be getting ahead of their battle scheming.
He didn't need to sleep on it, he knew what he was going to do.
"I'm going to get washed up," Dylan told him. He had been so lost in thought he hadn't even seen her leave Jonathan's side. "Not that it makes any sense, since I'm going to get all dirty again. But I've been driving for days, I think I just need the moment to relax."
"Dirty again?" He questioned. "Aren't you doing all that science-y telepathy stuff with your gang of stoners and hippies?"
Dylan laughed and shook her head. "I discussed the plan with Jonathan, it makes more sense to join your scrappy posse. I'm more brawn than brain."
Steve cocked his head to the side, still questioning. "You're a twig who spent the four years of high school skipping PE to make out with whoever was your boyfriend of the month in the locker room."
Dylan laughed again, hitting him playfully but narrowly avoiding the bandage on his exposed chest. "Anyways," she said, "you probably should think of getting cleaned up, too. Not sure you should go to battle with an open wound."
