CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
JUNK-YARDS

The group soon arrived at the old junkyard, Steve sighing and looking around with a look Aaron couldn't quite decipher.

"Oh, yeah." Steve nodded, taking off the sunglasses he had put on about an hour before and walking away from the three stood next to him. "This will do just fine. Good call, dude."

Dustin smiled proudly at Steve's words, rushing after the older boy.

Aaron watched the two from where he stood next to Kimmy, he and the girl beginning to follow the two just much slower.

Aaron wondered how Steve could be so open minded when it came to Dustin - a boy he had only just properly met that day. Quite honestly, it frustrated the younger boy.

The blond had literally spent years fighting to get Steve's attention and only now was he beginning to get a fraction of it. But Dustin walked up and suddenly it was as if all Aaron's work was down the drain.

Aaron honestly didn't know what to do anymore to get his brothers attention, he had done everything he could think of already. Aaron and Dustin were the same age, had the same interests, in the same friend group, everything. Steve seemed so set on helping out Dustin when he had asked for advice but whenever Aaron went to Steve for help he was either pushed to the side or ignored, insisting he didn't know how to help without ever actually knowing what Aaron's problems were.

The boy hated the strong feeling of jealousy that tugged harshly on his stomach as he watched the two talk and joke with each other.

What had helped Aaron work through his previous issues with his brother was by him reminding himself that Steve was like that with everyone. He thought he was too cool for everyone, it wasn't just Aaron.

But after being with the group today, Aaron began to think that maybe it was just Aaron. Maybe it was as simple as that Steve just didn't like him.

Just as Kimmy and Aaron caught up with the two boys talking, there was a voice yelling at them from a close distance just where Kimmy and Aaron had just been.

"I said medium-well!" Lucas yelled jokingly, laughing as he waved at the group.

Aaron waved back at him, suddenly relived that he wouldn't have to put up with Steve and Dustin bonding any longer knowing that Lucas would probably find it stupid and joke about it.

Max was also stood laughing next to Lucas, Aaron noticed that Kimmy seemed to perk up upon seeing her friend, the twos girls waving to each other.

"Who's that?" Steve asked Dustin, looking confused.

Dustin didn't answer, although Aaron didn't think Dustin had heard him. He was looking at the two with a saddened expression, and Aaron knew it was because he got the impression that maybe Lucas and Max were closer than he was too Max. Steve seemed to notice Dustin's expression too, frowning slightly at him.

"Alright, come on." Steve spoke abruptly in order to change the topic, motioning to the junk scattered all over the ground. "Let's clear this shit up."

Kimmy and Max did as they were told, instantly falling into conversation and soon after the two laughing with each other.

Dustin was talking to Lucas where Aaron had once stood, but Aaron was walking away from the two and towards his older brother.

"Steve," Aaron murmured quietly, catching the older boys sleeve to grab his attention. "Can I talk to you?"

Steve turned to see his older brother with a tired look on his face, as if he was itching to clear up the trash on the floor as quick as possible.

"Yeah," Steve muttered, placing a hand on his hip as he spoke. "What?"

Aaron tried to push down the feeling inside him telling him he was a bother. He felt slightly disheartened to see that Steve was clearly much happier talking to Dustin than he was talking to Aaron.

"Um, do you think after all this you could... help me with something?" Aaron asked, referring to the conversation the group had earlier. "It's okay if you can't-"

"Look, Aaron," Steve interrupted with a sigh. "I don't know what to tell you. I'm kind of busy right now-"

"But," Aaron began, scrunching his nose up as he spoke, trying to hold back showing his brother how bothered he really was that he didn't want to help him out. "Dustin didn't even ask for help and you gave him it. You don't even know him and I feel like you'd rather talk to him than me-"

"Don't start, Aaron." Steve shook his head, turning away from the boy. "What do you expect me to do? I don't even know what you need help with."

Aaron took a shaky breath, deciding on whether or not he should reply to his brother or not. He really hadn't meant to cause an argument, he just wanted some help from his brother.

"I don't mean to start an argument, Steve." Aaron replied quickly, not wanting to make his brother angry at him. "I just want advice, I don't know what to do or anything. I don't know about stuff like... that like you do."

"Stuff like what?" Steve asked curiously, turning to face his younger brother again with a perplexed expression.

"Like... I don't know." Aaron trailed off, suddenly embarrassed at what he was trying to say. Aaron paused for a moment, taking a pause before rushing out the next words in such a rush he was surprised Steve could hear him. "How do I get a girl to like me back?"

Aaron began to panic as he watched Steve's eyes widen, the younger boy biting his cheek nervously as he waited for his brothers response.

"I don't know, we'd have to talk about it when we're home. Can't really talk here." Steve answered after a moment of silence. Aaron could tell his brother felt weird talking to him about stuff like this, but Aaron assumed since he'd been so quick to help Dustin he'd do the same for him. Aaron was glad that Steve was trying. "Who do you like anyway?"

Aaron hesitated, not really wanting to scream about it especially when the girl he was referring to as well as his friends were not too far away.

Aaron stuck his hands in his pockets, not saying anything as he looked to his brother with an expression of slight fear.

Steve looked behind him where Max and Kimmy were talking amongst each other while clearing the trash out of the way. The older boy pointing behind him with his thumb as he turned back around. "Her? The one with the brown hair? What's her name again... Kimmy-"

"Scream it why don't you!" Aaron hissed at his older brother, shutting him up.

Steve rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest as he scoffed at his older brother. "Why are you so stressed, Aaron? You like a girl, big deal."

"Um... it is actually a big deal to some people." Aaron scoffed trying to make his brother treat his issue seriously. "Please, okay, just help me out here."

Steve looked down to Aaron with a blank expression before it caved and he sighed. "Okay, fine-"

"Do any of you intend on helping us out?" Max yelled at the four boys, cutting Steve off in the process. "Or will it just be me and Kimmy doing all the work?"

Dustin and Lucas seemed to break away from their heated discussion, reluctantly walking past Aaron and Steve towards the two girls to help.

Steve went to do the same, but Aaron once again caught his sleeve before he could.

"Don't tell anyone." Aaron stressed, not wanting Steve to blurt it out thinking it was no big deal. "Please?"

"What you mean no one knows you like her?" Steve asked looking taken aback. "You didn't even tell your friends?"

"No, I didn't." Aaron answered instantly. "And I don't plan to so please just keep it to yourself."

Steve seemed to hesitate, rolling his eyes as he caught sight of how anxious Aaron seemed to look over the entire matter. "I won't say anything."

Aaron let out a breath and nodded, following his brother as the two walked over to the rest of the group.

...

Hours later and the group were sat in an old van, waiting for Dart to make his sudden appearance. Lucas had climbed up to the roof with his binoculars a few moments ago to check if the creature had appeared.

Steve was repetitively flicking his lighter, and quite honestly, the noise was beginning to irk Kimmy.

"So," Max began from her spot next to Kimmy, looking directly at Steve as she spoke. "You really fought one of those things before?"

The older boy only nodded in response, acting as if it was no big deal. Both Kimmy and Aaron looked to Steve in surprise, mouths dropping at how casual the conversation had been brought up.

Max had told Kimmy that Lucas had more or less filled her in on the events of the year prior, leaving the red haired girl with a mountain of questions.

"And you're, like, totally, one hundred percent sure it wasn't a bear?" Max asked again, sounding incredibly suspicious.

"Shit, don't be an idiot, okay?" Dustin blurted angrily, taking everyone sat in the van by surprise. "It wasn't a bear. Why are you even here if you don't believe us? Just go home."

Kimmy looked to Dustin with a shocked expression, wondering where the hell this was all coming from. Dustin had been nothing but nice to the girl before this.

Max looked surprise too, her brows raising as she stood from her seat and made her way to the small ladder in the middle and climbed up to the roof where Lucas was.

"Someone's cranky." Max scoffed as she left, sounding offended. "Past your bedtime?"

Kimmy pursed her lips, clasping her hands together as she stood too, making her way over to the empty seat between Aaron and Steve so she wasn't the only one on the other end of the van where she could hardly hear.

"That's good." Steve nodded with a smirk, looking proud of the boy. "Just show her you don't care-"

"I don't." Dustin cut off with a shrug, still sounding pissed off as he paced around the van.

Steve winked at the younger boy, sending him an encouraging glance.

"Why are you winking, Steve? Stop." Dustin snapped quietly, a look of confusion and discomfort taking over his face.

Steve shrugged, looking away from the younger boy and flicking his lighter on and off again like he had been doing previously.

Dustin turned away, moving to sit away from the other three at the other end of the van so he couldn't hear or talk to them.

"Sorry," Kimmy murmured to Aaron quietly, the boy looking to her with a confused look. "You know, about Max and Lucas."

"What?" Aaron asked, both looking and sounding more confused than ever as he spoke.

"Well, you like her don't you?" Kimmy asked awkwardly in a small whisper, her face scrunching up as she spoke. "That's who you were talking about in the woods. Just like Lucas and Dustin?"

Kimmy couldn't deny the feeling that took over her when Aaron had asked about the girl he liked, obviously assuming it was Max. It did not do good things for Kimmy's already low confidence to know that almost her entire friend group liked the other girl in the group. Making Kimmy feel as if it was the most ridiculous thing on earth that she could be viewed that way. Making her feel... ugly in a way. Although, she could never blame Max for that.

It wasn't Max's fault that Kimmy wasn't as confident as she was. Max didn't bother Kimmy anyway, she was glad to have her as a friend.

Steve snorted loudly at Kimmy's words, the girl looking to the boy on her left with a confused expression.

"No," Aaron answered instantly very obviously embarrassed, Kimmy could see his cheeks turning red even in the dimly lit van. "I do not like her like that."

"Oh." Kimmy muttered, feeling stupid for bringing it up.

Suddenly, there was a  loud growl outside, catching the attention of all in the van. The four standing instantly as they rushed to look out the small window.

"Do you see him?" Steve asked Dustin hesitantly.

"No." Dustin replied quietly, his voice shaking with nerves. The boy turning to yell up the ladder to get Lucas' attention. "Lucas, what's going on?"

"Hold on!" Lucas yelled back, sounding equally as stressed. "I've got eyes! Ten o'clock!"

Kimmy squinted her eyes to see, but couldn't see anything. Steve suddenly gasped from next to her, sticking his finger out to point out the window. "There."

"What's he doing?" Aaron asked hesitantly from next to Kimmy, tensing in fear.

"I don't know." Steve replied quietly, each of the four as stressed and fearful as the next. "He's not taking the bait. Why is he not taking the bait?"

"Maybe he's not hungry?" Dustin offered weakly, but obviously he didn't even believe the words.

"Maybe he's sick of cow." Steve replied after a moment of silence, moving back from the group and grabbing his bat before heading for the door.

"Steve, what are you doing?" Aaron asked worriedly, moving to follow his brother. "Steve? Seriously, what are you doing?"

Steve turned to face the group, throwing Dustin the lighter that had been in his hand. "Just get ready."

"Steve," Aaron stressed, too far gone to be brought back down to calm. "Do not go out there, Steve, seriously!"

The older boy didn't listen to his brother pushing the door open and motioning for the three to be quiet. "Just stay quiet and wait for the signal, it'll be fine. I know what I'm doing."

With that, the older boy left, leaving the three inside the van, each terrified as the rushed to look out the window once more.

...

Wasn't going to post this but decided to since it's Christmas tomorrow!!!!

Not much to say but hope you enjoy this chapter, I'll be back posting after Christmas!!!

- AJ :)