Eight. No Sleep For Pretty Girls

           Pretty Girls don't sleep. Especially when their best friend is dead, dead, dead!

    Sleep is for girls who are sane. Vera Stonem did not fall into that category. She sat up in bed for ages, clutching the smallest of stuffed bunnies in her right hand. Her left hand stayed pinching her bare calf. This is real life? Chrissy is dead. Crescent moons cutting up her freckled skin thanks for her pink faded nails. She never did call Steve, she was too hurt to speak out loud. But, she spoke to him in her head—he didn't hear her. Obviously. It's a thing crazy people do, apparently.

    She'd been staring at her closed bedroom door for the last thirty minutes, just move. Do something. Say something. With a lilac sigh the girl pulled herself from silk sheets, dropping the stuff animal. Bare feet cold against the wooden floorboards. Her soft, loose shorts rose up with every step she took. Oversized shirt covering all the skin the too short - shorts were showing.

   Her door creaked. She nearly cried at the noise.

    The stairs were even colder, and the house seem to shake with every step she took. So quiet. It wasn't until she reached the final two steps, the eerie silence of the home went away. Diane Stonem was laying on the couch, the light from the TV lit up the dark room. There was no wine in her hands. Interesting.

   "I knew you couldn't stomach a good nights' of sleep." Vera did not need the faux sympathy from her mother. The girls jaw clenched, moving towards the kitchen. Diane still carried on, eyes locked on the television—not daring to move away from the pixilated screen. "That boy of yours called a few hours ago. Sounded real worried about you."

   Vera's eyes screwed shut as she chugged a glass of water. "I know.." Diane's eyes left the screen, "and you didn't come and pick up..?" I did, Daughter. I, Mother, picked up the phone on your crazy tired boyfriend.

   "I'll see him tomorrow.. It's fine." Nothing about any of this was fine. Diane hummed, shuffling on the couch. She let the controller slip onto the carpet with a soft thud. "You alright?"

    No. "I'm fine."

   Diane nodded gently, even though Vera couldn't see her. Her back was to her. "You can come sit.. If you want." This was a hiccup in her chest, her hand so tight around the glass she swore it could break and tear apart her skin. Vera looked over her shoulder, gaze on her quick aging mother.

    Vera's hand left the glass.

   Her back was to the counter, arms wrapped around herself—the women were having a staring contest. "When did you get like this?" The question made Diane wince, Vera pretended not to notice. "You wanna elaborate?"

   The girl sighed, shoulders sagging as her hips shifted. "Why are you like this? Deadly drunk? A brut? Heartless? Sharp edged? How— How can you even still afford this house! You.. Don't even work anymore!" Diane's face didn't change in smugness, she wasn't phased. On the outside. The inside was a whole different story.

   "He sends money every month."

    Vera's lips parted, eyes widened slightly. "What?" Diane's eyes flickered back to the near silent television, "you never asked questions like this. Why are you now?" Vera pushed herself off the counter, moving towards the carpeted living room. Diane looked towards the girl now that she was closer.

   "My best friend is dead." I need answers.

   Diane hummed, eyes squinting in a glare. Vera sent the woman a fake smile as she slumped into the rose patterned couch, farthest from her mother. Like if she got too close she would get burned. "Dad.. He sends money?" Diane nodded, fingers tapping at the couch's arm rest.

   "Yep. Isn't he caring? He leaves you the money cause he cares. If he cared, he would've taken you with him in the first place."

   Vera's insides bubbled. She cleared her throat gently, shuffling in her position. "How come I don't get this money if it's sent for me?" Diane's head lolled over to her daughter, smile on her lips. It wasn't sincere. "Momma's got to eat."

   Vera's jaw clenched. "Momma has to drink."

    Diane's eyes stayed burning into her daughter. Her throat was scratchy, but Vera would never know that. "You better call that perfect rich boy of yours. Bet he'll take care of you till the day you die. He's rich."

   Vera scoffed. "He's Steve." I don't care that he's rich.

  Diane smiled. "He's rich, baby. Rich boys love taking care of little girls. Your dad did."

   Vera was suddenly pushing herself from the couch, eyes glaring bullets into her mother. "That's the thing, you weren't little. He was."

   Diane's lips parted, the careless façade finally falling. "You watch your words with me, Veralin Elodie Stonem—" Said daughter ended up at the phone on the wall, clutched in her hand. She looked over her shoulder at her mother. "What are you gonna do, mom? Hit me?" Again?

   Vera watched her mother's fist clench. The woman clumsy pushed herself from the couch. "I'm going to bed." Vera didn't peep a word as her eyes followed the woman up the stairs, bedroom door slamming shut. Vera smiled.

   "H-Hello?"

  The voice on the other line was muffled and groggy. "Steve, it's me.." It was silent for a moment, before there was a bunch of shuffling. "Vera—Hey! H-Hi, baby.." She could hear the boys sudden yawn. The girl sighed, slipping down the wall until her lower half was meeting carpet. Head leaning into the pale phone. "I'm sorry I woke you.. I felt like I couldn't talk earlier.."

   "S'okay.. It's pretty late, you, like, okay?" I know your best friend is dead, but besides that, what's wrong? The girl sighed, eyes falling shut. "Can.. Can you come over? Can you come and stay, please?"

   "Give me five minutes, V." I love you.

    Five minutes was actually seven. And Vera waited outside on the front porch all those seven minutes, she watched the lights from Steve's car flicker on from across the street and down. He didn't get in the car though. He jogged over with a bag from his car, it was only five houses away.

   He hadn't even reached the white picket fence before Vera was pushing herself up, hurrying over to the boy as she sunk into him. Melted. Second skin. He held her tightly, arm around her as the other had a hand cupping the back of her head. "Hey, pretty girl."

   She smiled faintly into his chest. "M'sorry I didn't call you earlier."

   "It's okay, V. Let's get inside, yeah?"

The quietness of the Stonem home was back, and not only did it freak out Vera—it was freaking out Steve. "Your mom is here?" The girl nodded gently as he followed her up the stairs, hands locked together like they couldn't let go.

Vera's room was oddly cold.

Shivers lacing her skin as she closed her door. Steve toed off his shoes, gently placing down his duffle. He leaned back against the girls bed, body slouched, eyes locked on the back of Vera. The girls head was leaning against the white door, hands shaking at her sides. Steve frowned as she shuffled over to the girl, warm hands gently taking her cold arms. His arms snaked around her, his cheek pressed to her own. It was damp. She was crying and she was clutching onto Steve Harrington like a vice.

"C-Chris is dead."

Steve squeezed the girl tighter, eyes screwed shut and he tried not to cry at the sound of her cracked stained glass voice.

"I'm so sorry, V.."

He really was. I swear I won't let anything happen to you.

             Steve seem to be doing this thing now, trailing behind Vera like a lost puppy. He was frightened she'd collapse and he wouldn't be there to catch her. She hadn't slept last night, even with Steve there. She just couldn't. He didn't blame her.

     One of his fingers was looped in the jean loop of Vera's overalls, her own fingers skimming the different boxes of cereal—looking for Eddie's request. "Found it.." The boys eyes flickered away from Vera's butterfly clips holding back the front pieces of her honey gold hair. Vera was smiling gently at the boy, Steve's eyes landing on the box of cereal. "That's the plainest shit ever."

   The girl stifled a laugh, "s'what Eddie asked for."

   Steve nodded with a gentle smile, taking the box from her hands. She watched him move towards the register of the connivence store. She watched him round up everyone else as they all spilled items onto the counter. Vera Stonem could watch Steve Harrington for the rest of her life.

     The car ride to Reefer Rick's was horribly quiet. Dustin couldn't even find it in himself to say something that everyone would crack a smile at.

    Everyone seem to be aware of Vera's ashes filled heart, so they all stayed silent—observing her. She could feel their eyes, she just chose to ignore it.

     When they arrived at the boathouse Eddie was scared breathless as Dustin shouted out, "delivery service!" The Munson boy sighed, gaze falling on the couple before him as Vera and Steve both sent the boy a wave.

   The food was spilled out to Eddie, and he took it with greedy hands. Stuffing away cereal into his mouth, swigs of chocolate milk after. "So we got, uh, some good news and some bad news. How do you prefer it?" Eddie wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, nodding at Dustin. "Bad news first, always."

  "All right. Bad news. We tapped into the Hawkins PD dispatch with our Cerebro, and they're definitely looking for you. Also, they're, uh, pretty convinced you killed Chrissy. Like, 100% kind of convinced."

    Eddie frowned, Vera's heart burned for the boy. "And the good news?" Robin then stepped in. "Your name hasn't gone public yet. But if we found out about you, it's a matter of time before others do. And once that gets out, everyone and their shallow-minded mother is gonna be gunning for you."

    Eddie scoffed, jaw clenching with stressed heartbreak. "Hunt the freak, right?"

    "Exactly.." The boy sighed, running shaking hands over his stressed features. "Shit."

     "So, before that happens, we find Vecna, kill him, and prove your innocence." Eddie gaped at the freshman boy, "that's all, Dustin? That's all?" Dustin smiled small, "yeah, no, that's pretty much it."

   "Listen, Eddie, I know everything Dustin is saying sounds totally delusional, but we've actually been through this before. I mean, they have a... a few times, and... and I have once. Mine was more human-flesh-based, theirs was more smoke-related, but bottom line is, collectively, I really feel we got this."

  Eddie looked around at the group, they all sounded crazy.. but I'm sure he did too. Max smiled small at the older boy. His eyes lingered on Steve and Vera after. Steve sat on an empty crate, Vera sitting on his lap, her head resting on his shoulder. Eddie watched the way Steve's finger gently ran through the girls wavy hair. Vera's quietness reminded him of Chrissy, and it made his stomach turn—he pushed away the cereal.

   Steve nodded at the older boy, "We usually rely on this girl who has super powers. But, uh, those went bye-bye, so.." Vera nodded gently, pushing herself up from her slouched position—finishing Steve's words. "So we're technically in more of the... Kinda... Brainstorming phase."

   Eddie's lips parted, jaw nearly dropping. "Brainstorming?" Dustin sighed with the stutters, "there... there's nothing to worry about. We got this." Eddie scoffed at the boy, but they all fell silent at the sound of sirens wailing. "Shit!"

   "Tarp. Tarp. Tarp!" The Munson boy disappeared. And Vera, Steve, and Dustin ran towards the window. "What is it?" Max called out from behind with Robin.

   Vera's eyes watched the ambulance and cop cars fly by, Dustin looking over at the two older teens. Steve sighed, clutching his keys— "We gotta go. C'mon."

    Steve followed after the vehicles like some type of Nascar Driver. Robin and Vera sharing blooms of nerves. "Steve, slow down! We're never going to get there if we're dead!" Robin yelled out, the driving boy rolled his eyes.

   Vera's heart picked up as she realized where they were at. Streets away from the trailer park, Forest Hills. "Look.. It's Nancy!" Robin called out, and all eyes flickered to the Wheeler girl standing in front of cops. She looked like she'd seen a ghost.

   The group pushed themselves from Steve's car, Nancy's face relaxing at the sight of her friends. They sent the girl waves, with she returned with a tired smile.

     Fred Benson, a friend of Nancy's dead. Same way as Chrissy.

   Vera's glossy eyes looked around the quiet trailer park, her eyes locking on Eddie's. Her best friend was in there a day ago, and now she was gone.

   "You're saying that this thing that killed Fred and Chrissy, it's from the Upside Down?" Dustin nodded at Nancy's words, "if the shoe fits. Our working theory is that he attacks with a spell or a curse. Now, whether or not he's doing the bidding of the Mind Flayer or just loves killing teens, we don't know. All we know is this is something different. Something new." Nancy sighed, her nails stabbing into the wooden picnic table they sat at. "Doesn't make sense."

   Dustin nodded. "It's only a theory."

   Nancy shook her head gently with a small smile. "No, it's a good theory.. Just, Fred and Chrissy don't make sense. I mean, why them?"

   "Maybe they were just in the wrong place."

   "They we're both at the game. And near the trailer park." Steve's lips parted, looking around the area—and he couldn't help his hand slip into Vera's. Fingers locking like tied shoe laces. The action made her smile. "We're at the trailer park. Uh, should we maybe not be here?"

   Nancy huffed. "There is something about this place. Fred started acting weird the second we got here."

  "Acting weird as in...?"

    "Scared, on edge, upset. Max said Chrissy was upset too." Vera's gaze moved away from Eddie's trailer, gaze looking at Max. "Yeah, but not here. She was crying in the bathroom at school." Vera's lips parted, "she's been acting off for a couple days now.. She was having nightmares or something.." The group seem to take Vera's words in.

   "Serial killers stalk their prey before they strike, right? So, maybe Fred and Chrissy saw this Vecman.." Dustin raised a brow at Robin, "Vecna." Robin rolled her eyes.

   Steve sighed, squeezing Vera's hand. "Dunno about you, but if I saw some freaky wizard monster, I would mention it to someone."

   "Maybe they did." Max's gaze moved to Vera, "I saw Chrissy leaving Ms. Kelley's office. Was she seeing her?" Vera nodded gently, "yeah, she was.."

  "If you saw a monster, you... you wouldn't go to the police. They'd never believe you. But you might go to your.."

   "Your shrink."

   The group took their splits. Nancy and Robin off on another lead, Steve and Vera stuck with the kids. They were in front of Ms. Kelly's house, Max tucked away in the house.. trying to get some information on anything that could help.

   Steve and Dustin were locked in their own conversation. Vera was tuning it out, gaze locked on Ms. Kelly's door. She jumped a little as Max raced out, "here she comes!" Steve and Dustin's heads turned at Vera's call out.

  Max slipped into the car quickly. "What'd she say?" Max sighed, a key clutched in her hand. "Nothing, just drive."

   No one seem to move. Max groaned, "Steve, drive!"

   "Okay!" They we're heading to the school, to break into Ms. Kelly's office. Fun.

   Durning the drive the small group finally seem to hear from Lucas. "Dustin. It's Lucas. Do you copy? Dustin." Dustin raced towards the walkie, "Lucas? Where the hell have you been?"

   The other boy on the line spoke up. "Just listen. Are you looking for Eddie?"

   "We found him, no thanks to you!"

   "You found him?"

   "A boathouse on Coal Mill Road. Don't worry. He's safe."

   "You guys know he killed Chrissy, right?"

   "That's bullshit. Eddie tried to save Chrissy."

   "Then why do all the cops say he did it?"

   Steve and Vera shared a look, Steve shrugged gently. Dustin continued his conversation only to be cut off by Max. "Lucas, you're so behind it's ridiculous, okay? Just meet us at school. We'll explain later."

   "I... I can't. I think some real bad shit about to go down."

    "What are you talking about? What bad shit?" The walkie went silent after that. Dustin's eyes wide as he tried again. "Lucas! Lucas, what bad shit! Hello?"

   There was no reply.