𝐥𝐚𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 ˢʰ

xiii. i'm gonna live forever

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐭
part two

𝐀𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, the two of them were sat at opposite ends of the couch in the Andrews' living room. Despite Steve's protests, Lily had persuaded him to watch her favourite show, Fame. She wanted to pull him from the bad mood he was settling into, so she'd begun to cheerily sing along to the opening titles.

Steve on the other hand, didn't seem impressed, "Do you seriously watch this every week?" He grumbled.

"Yeah" She nodded, "And I'm not gonna miss it just cause you're round. You're not that special" She added, jokingly, and despite his scowl, she carried on singing quietly.

"You know, you should really consider pursuing a singing career after we graduate" He said, dryly.

She smiled sweetly, "You read my mind, Stevie boy".

"Please quit calling me that" He frowned, "Knowing what you're like, you could have the whole school in on it".

"Now, that is tempting" She smirked.

He glared at her, "I'm being serious, knock it off!"

Taken aback by his expression, Lily looked startled, "I was kidding" She scoffed, "You don't have to be so cranky".

"Sorry" Steve sighed, "It's just, there's something up with Nance, for sure. Maybe the funeral isn't why she can't see the movie tonight. Maybe she's hiding something".

"Hiding something?" Lily repeated, "Like what?"

Steve paused for a moment, "Do you think she could be seeing someone else? I know it's a total stretch, but it would explain why she's been acting so strange".

This time, Lily decided she ought to tell Steve about what had happened in the developing room, "So, I wasn't gonna tell you this yet" She began, truthfully, "But I saw Nancy and Jonathan together yesterday-"

"Nancy was with Jonathan Byers?" Steve interrupted.

Lily nodded, "Yeah, in the developing room after school. Nancy said they were doing an assignment, but then I overheard them saying some weird stuff about Will and Barbara, so I don't think they were".

"After school? Why didn't you tell me yesterday?" Steve asked, disregarding the part about Will and Barbara.

"I didn't think it was my place to. I presumed if it was something, Nancy would have told you herself" She replied, "But now you've said she's acting weird, maybe that has something to do with it" She guessed, cautiously.

Steve fell silent and from his furrowed brow, Lily could tell he was thinking. She left him to his thoughts for a while, then cleared her throat, "You okay?" She asked.

He nodded slowly, "I'm sure it's nothing" He shrugged, although he looked uncomfortable, "And like you said, if it was something, she'd tell me, right?"

"Yeah, I bet she would" Lily reassured him, starting to regret putting the idea into his head, "But you're probably right, I bet it's nothing. It's Nancy Wheeler, she's as good as girls can get" She joked, "Apart from Cindy".

He managed a small smile, "Yeah, I suppose so".

Neither of them said anything else for a while. Steve continued to furrow his brow in thought, while Lily mulled over the possible connection between the creature in the woods and seeing Nancy and Jonathan together. She had considered telling Steve what she'd heard about Will and Barbara being alive, but she figured there was no point while his mind was preoccupied.