Don't Blame Me ➵ Steve Harrington

ten

CHAPTER TEN

"WHY COULDN'T WE JUST TAKE MY CAR?" DYLAN QUESTIONED FROM THE BACKSEAT. "Why did we have to add felony to the list of things we've done today?"

Max eyed Dylan from the rearview mirror. "You drive a mom car. It's just not as cool."

Dylan narrowed her eyes at the younger girl. "It is not a mom car. I happen to like my car."

"Whatever you say," Max said unconvincingly. "And besides, without his car—Billy can't come after us."

"Everything you say sounds like a lie," she grumbled, sinking back into the seat. "But fair enough."

I should have just stayed home, she thought to herself. It would be a trillion times safer. Fighting the demodogs again would probably be safer than letting Max drive but somehow she was suckered into agreeing to that.

She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the hum of the radio instead of Max's swerve-filled driving. Steve stirred, groaning under his breath. He grabbed Dylan's wrist and pulled it away from his face—she must have absentmindedly began to play with his hair. His eyes flickered open and he looked up at her curiously, loosening his grip on her wrist. Instead, he reached up to the ice pack laid on his forehead, throwing it off and trying to pick at his cuts and bruises. Dylan swatted his hand away.

"Don't touch it!" She and Dustin warned.

"Dylan, wow," he said hazily. He turned to look the other way. "Nancy?"

Mike scrunched up his face, disgusted. "Uh, no."

Steve didn't seemed affected by Mike's reaction, glancing back up at her. "You still mad at me, Dyl?"

"Yes." Dylan said coldly, hiding her amusement at his groggy state. "I am."

"That sucks," he said bluntly. "First Nancy, now you—its not my fucking day, hey?"

He tried to sit up and Dylan pushed him back down. "Oh my god, are we in a car? Who's driving?"

Max glanced over her shoulder and Steve struggled against Dylan's grip, attempting to get up. "You let them leave and you let her drive? Dylan!"

"They're persuasive kids! Max has driven before," Dylan defended herself. She didn't miss Mike's in a parking lot comment and hit him in the chest. "And I didn't make a deal to protect them like you did—I don't care what Nancy thinks or Joyce or Hopper—I want to burn this place down. For Barb."

"Well, you couldn't at least drive?"

"No," she said simply. "They wouldn't let me."

"They're kids!"

"They're thirteen, Steve," Dylan corrected. "Or at least that's what the keep telling me. I don't know why."

"Nancy is going to kill me. She's going to murder me."

Dylan scoffed. "Can someone knock this guy out again? He's been awake for three seconds and I want to run him over—"

"Where's Billy when you need him, hey?" She joked and none of the others laughed, instead they all turned to glare her way. Except Dustin. He let out a small chuckle.

"Oh my god, oh my god." Steve muttered over and over.

"God, we should have left him on the floor next to Billy."

"I told you he'd freak out!"

"Shh," Dustin cooed. "I promised you'd be cool."

Max put the pedal to the mat and Steve's mumbling got louder and more annoying.

"Stop the car! Slow down!"

"Can everybody shut up!" Max shouted. I'm trying to focus!"

"Make a left!" Lucas yelled over her.

Steve screamed at the large swerve and Dylan and Dustin held him down as he squirmed.

Max came to a rocky stop, throwing them back into their seats.

"Oh, hello!" Steve shouted one final time and Dylan laughed.

They all piled out of Billy's car—except for Steve who stood on wobbly legs and could hardly move without gripping onto the car. He continued to moan as he tried to catch up with them.

"Hey—where did you think you're going?" He called after them as they prepared themselves for the Upside Down. Mike handed Dylan some extra goggles, a scarf, and a can of gasoline and pointed her to the hole.

They collectively ignored Steve.

"Hellllo?" He continued. "We are not going down there right now—I made myself clear!"

"There is no chance we are going into that hole." He protested. "This ends now!"

"Steve," Dylan grabbed him by the shoulders, steadying him. "While you were knocked out I became head babysitter by default and I say we're going into the hole! So grab some gear and c'mon!"

Dustin nodded. "I know you promised Nancy you'd keep us safe," he threw a rope into Steve's chest. "So keep us safe."

They headed into the hole and after a pathetic power-struggle, Steve led them through the darkness. Dylan tried not to focus on the raunchiness of their current habitat: the slime, the squishy ground, etc. But it was an uphill battle. She was happy for the gloves, the goggles, and especially the scarf as the tunnel smelt like absolute death.

They reached the end of the tunnel and they gathered around each other. "Ready?" Said Steve.

They nodded simultaneously. Mike poured the gasoline and Dylan reached into the pocket of her denim jacket for her matches, striking one, and letting it fall.

"Alright, let's go! Lets go!"

The six of them stumbled back through the tunnel, swiftly, in an attempt to beat the flames.

While Steve took the lead, Dylan hung back to make sure they had everybody. A growl startled her and whipped around to realize she was just inches away from one of the demodogs they were trying to kill.

"Guys—"

"Dart." Dustin said quietly. He took a step forward, toward Dylan. Dylan gripped into his hoodie before he took another step.

"What are you doing?" She hissed.

"Just trust me. Please."

Dylan let the red fabric slip through her fingers and watched cautiously as Dustin slowly approached the creature.

"Hey buddy. Will you let us pass?" Dustin greeted the thing like an old friend. 'Dart' opened his mouth completely, roaring at him.

"Sorry about the storm shelter—I know it was pretty douchey thing to do. You hungry?"

Dylan kept her eyes trained on Dustin and the demodog, her hand on the broken pipe that was attached to her belt in case there were any sudden movements.

"I've got our favourite," Dustin continued to talk to the creature. "Nougat."

Dart slowly inched forward as Dustin laid the candy bar on the ground and began to pick at it. Dustin signalled then to leave but Dylan lingered behind Dustin, waiting for him to move too.

"Goodbye, buddy." Dustin said solemnly and Dylan felt a tinge if sadness for him, knowing it had been his pet for a short time.

Dylan squeezed his shoulder. "Come on," she said. "Let's go."

He nodded and Dylan threw an arm over his shoulder, guiding him through the tunnels. "You did good—scared me—but you did good."

Dustin gave her a grin but it didn't reach his eyes.