25| PARTY AFTERMATH

[ Chapter Twenty-Five ]

❝Please. I don't want her to know that it almost happened again.❞

[S2:E2: Trick or Treat Freak]

TW // drugs, alcohol, SA mention/attempt. Read at your own discretion. 

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Steve wrapped his arm around Beth's waist and pulled her arm around his shoulders, supporting her as he headed for the backdoor, so she wouldn't be seen like this by the rest of the teenagers, although most of them probably wouldn't remember anyways.

Steve unlocked his car and opened the passenger seat door before helping her in, "You're not going to throw up, are you?"

"Honestly I hope so." Beth groaned, leaning against the window.

Steve ran around to the other side and got in the driver's seat, "I'd rather you didn't."

"I feel like shit." Beth said as Steve started the car and drove to her house. She glanced at Steve, "Shouldn't you be fixing things with Nancy?"

Steve looked over at her, "What do you mean?"

"I figured you fought when you stormed out of the bathroom earlier." Beth said slowly, "Is everything okay? What happened?"

"Don't worry about it." Steve shook his head, "It's nothing."

"You can tell me you know. I'm not going to spread rumors or anything." Beth said.

"I think we might have broke up or something." Steve said.

Beth's eyes widened, "What?"

"I don't know. She was drunk and mad." Steve shook his head.

"I'm sorry." Beth said and she honestly meant it.

"Yeah. Thanks." Steve said, looking over at her, meeting her eyes before looking away.

Beth was silent for the rest of the ride, keeping her head on the window, sneaking glances over at Steve every now and then, but he kept his eyes focused on the road until he pulled up outside of the Byers house.

"Your mom's home." Steve said, nodding to Joyce's car being outside in the driveway.

"Yeah." Beth muttered and turned to face him, "Don't tell her what happened tonight."

"Why not?" Steve asked, "Maybe she could help. Go to the police about it or something."

"Steve. Please. I don't want her to know that it almost happened again." Beth begged, her voice turning to a pleading whisper.

"What do you mean, again?" Steve asked, his brows furrowing in concern.

"Never mind." Beth shook her head, "I didn't mean to say that."

"Beth. You can tell me." Steve said, turning off the car engine and turning in his seat to face Beth.

"Um. In freshman year I went to a party with my then boyfriend, Ben. You might know him. He was on the basketball team. Rich family. Nice to everyone. Well, thats what he seemed like at least. Anyways, when we went to the party, I had had maybe two drinks. Nothing to get me blackout drunk. But I must have been drugged because I was dancing with Ben and the next thing I knew, I was on my back on one of the beds and Ben was on top of me and um-" Beth swallowed, looking down at her lap.

"Beth-" Steve started.

"And I couldn't get him off of me until he was done." A tear slipped down Beth's cheek, "Then he left me there and Nancy found me and cleaned me up and took me home. I didn't really know what had happened and when we got home, Jonathan opened the door and I told him everything that I knew once I was coherent enough. I made him promise not to tell my mom. The next morning when I went to school, Ben acted like everything was normal, like he hadn't just assaulted me in someone else's bedroom while I was practically unconscious. I told my mom that evening and she went with me to the police. The police didn't believe me at first and said I was drinking and must have imagined it. My mom threatened them and they brought Ben in. But he didn't get in trouble, past getting expelled and transferring schools. He got let off and I have to live with this for the rest of my life."

"Beth. I-" Steve paused.

"This is why I don't go to parties anymore Steve. It brings up bad memories. You don't know what it's like to trust someone completely and then when you're drunk and vulnerable have them completely take advantage of you."

"I didn't know." Steve says.

"How could you? Everyone made it seem like it was my fault for drinking underage even though he was the one who should be blamed." Beth started sobbing.

"It isn't your fault Beth. He's a piece of shit." Steve reaches for her hand, "You didn't deserve that. Fuck. He should be locked up. They both should."

"The system was made for people like them." Beth said, "It's fucked up but there isn't really anything we can do about it. I don't know why I told you any of this. Only my family and Nancy even know. Please, don't tell anyone."

"I won't. Do you seriously think I would tell someone? Do you seriously think I would do that to you?" Steve asked.

"I don't know Steve. I honestly don't know." Beth said.

"I won't tell anyone. I promise." Steve said, "But are you sure you don't want your mom to know?"

"No. I mean I got out before anything happened. I just don't want to worry her." Beth said, wiping her tears from her face, "Just pretend I'm normal drunk and you took me home."

"Okay." Steve answered.

Beth opened her door and Steve immediately ran over to help her out of the car, wrapping his arm around her waist to help her walk over to the car.

"When is this going to wear off?" Beth asked as she stumbled slightly up the stairs to her door, leaning heavily against Steve as she fished the key out of her pants and handing it to Steve to open the door.

"I don't know." Steve shook his head and opened the door.

He held it open as she crossed into the house, following her over the threshold. Beth stopped short in the living room seeing Bob and her mother on the couch.

Joyce turned around to look at her, "Beth? Honey what happened?"

"I-" Beth stuttered, considering telling her mother everything that had happened, however, Bob was also on the couch and Beth didn't know if she was comfortable with him knowing all her problems as well.

"Sorry Mrs. Byers. I'm just taking her home." Steve interrupted.

"Just partied a little too hard." Beth sighed, "Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

"Sure sweetie." Joyce looked concerned but let Steve take Beth to her room.

Steve sat on her bed as she went to the bathroom to scrub her makeup off and change.

"Um, are you okay?" Steve asked.

"Yeah." Beth said as Steve stood up and Beth got into her bed, curling up in the comforter.

Steve went to the door but Beth stopped him.

"Steve. Um this is weird but can you stay? Until I fall asleep." Beth asked, quietly.

"What about your mom?" Steve asked.

"I'll deal with it in the morning. Please?"

Steve nodded and sat down on the other side of the bed. For some reason, having someone else in the room helped her calm down and the last thing she felt before she fell asleep was Steve gently brushing a few strands of her hair from her face.

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Word Count: 1233

Hey everyone! Only a couple more chapters until we get to the good stuff. 

(The gif at the top was made by me. Please do not steal it.)

What did you think? This was another heavy one and I apologize but it's all integral to her character and development.

I love you all and will see you soon for chapter 26!

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6. 25. 22