THE INSIDE OF THE BUS SMELT LIKE RUST AND DAMPNESS. It was too cold for Sara's liking and she'd drawn her knees up to her chest and pulled her sweater down over them. The girl was currently in a ball of yellow curled sitting on the seats, leaning her head on Steve's shoulder. She was tired, and every now and then her head would throb with pain again.

They'd executed the rest of their plan, dousing gasoline right up to the door of the bus like the plan from last year. Night had fallen quickly on them. The bus had been heavily fortified so there were about two layers of junk metal on either side, and Sar had no doubt it could hold out a baby demogorgon. "You really fought one of these things before?" Max asked them. She was sitting across from them by the window, eyes squinted, despite how much Sar had urged Lucas to take her home. Steve nodded, staring at his lighter as he flicked it on and off. Sara raised her head at the question, looking over at the young girl.

"It was bigger. Much bigger. On two legs. Almost got us," Sar told her, nodding dozily. She still seemed to be fatigued after pulling herself into Will's mind. "I hit it with an axe." Max seemed confused at Sar's random final contribution and Sar realised she really did say random stuff when she was exhausted. She just held her own axe in the air for a point.

The red-head shook her head, looking doubtful. "And you're like, totally 100% sure it wasn't a bear?"

"Bear's faces don't open up," Sar supplied helpfully.

Max scrunched her face. "Well, maybe—"

"Shit, don't be an idiot. Okay?" Dustin interrupted. "It wasn't a bear. Why are you even here if you don't believe us? Just go home." Sar's eyebrows shut up at Dustin's outburst, blinking in surprise. Max mirrored the same expression as she stood.

"Yeesh. Someone's cranky. Past your bedtime?" Her lips were flattened in irritation as she climbed the ladder to the roof, where Lucas was keeping an eye out. Sar watched her disappear before turning back to Dustin with her mouth slightly open.

"That's good," Steve said, giving Dustin a grin. "Just show her you don't care." Sar turned to Steve and raised her eyebrows.

Dustin gave him a look. "I don't." Steve gave him a wink and Dustin threw down his arms. "Why are you winking, Steve? Stop." Steve just shook his head and shrugged, returning to flicking the lighter cap.

Dustin moved to pace at the opposite end of the school bus while Sar just observed the interaction curiously. She bumped her shoulder against Steve's. "You give the worst advice, you know that?" Sar whispered, out of hearing of Dustin.

He narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What?"

"'Show her you don't care'." She put up finger quotations. "That's total bull." She saw him wince slightly at the word and she touched his elbow comfortingly. "Sorry. What I mean is, girls care if you care. That 'King Steve' shit may work in driving random girls crazy, but it's not what girls who are really into you want. Think of Nance, yeah? They want boys who will care for them." She shrugged after a moment, turning her eyes away. "I know you know how to do that." She thought about the hour earlier. "Just, stop giving the kid bad advice. Max doesn't want someone who doesn't give a shit about her." She looked back over at where Dustin was slumped grumpily against the bus window. Sara shrugged again and slid back down against the seat. "Just some advice." She closed her eyes, resting her head against his arm. Steve watched her thoughtfully as the girl started to drift off. The girl shifted closer, curling up against his warm side. She really did want to stay in his warmth forever.

•°•☆•°•


A ROAR SOUNDED FROM OUTSIDE THE SAFETY OF THE BUS. 

Sara jolted awake suddenly. She hit her head on the hard seat behind, hissing out in surprise. Steve instantly shot his hand out to her, to make sure she was okay. They leapt up, rushing to the side of the bus. Sar pressed her face against the dusty window. Steve's shoulders pushed against her's as he joined her, both of them peering through the sheets of metal. Mist had crept across the clearing, curling like living snakes around the broken cars.

"You see him?" Dustin whispered.

Sar shook her head. "No."

Dustin turned and faced the opening to the roof. "Lucas!" Dustin called. "What do you see?"

"Hold on!" Lucas called back. Sar stayed knelt on the seat, eyes darting across the junkyard. Her heart was hammering unsteadily in her chest. She fucking hated these demogorgon things. "I've got eyes! Ten o'clock! Ten o'clock!"

Steve pointed between the bars. "There."

Sar's eyes moved and spotted the hunched beast among the mist. Its growling rumbled in the back of its throat. "Shit," she said, and wished that Dustin had just killed the stupid slug.

"What's he doing?" Dustin asked.

"I don't know," Steve murmured in reply. It wasn't moving any closer towards the bait they'd placed, rumbling in silence. Mist curled around it.

"It's not taking the bait. Why is he not taking the bait?" Sar whispered. She could feel Dustin's bristling nervousness beside her.

"Maybe he's not hungry," Dustin suggested.

Steve raised his eyebrows. "Maybe he's sick of cow." That was a more morbid thought that Sar winced at. Steve moved back from the window, causing Sara to straighten and turn. He seemed to think for a moment before walking to grab his bat. Sar stood immediately.

Dustin seemed panicked too. "Steve? Steve, what are you doing?"

"Hey, Steve," said Sar. "You're not going out there. It's a freaking baby demogorgon. Steve!" She rose her voice as he ignored her. "This is stupid. Are you a fucking idiot?" Steve paid no attention to her as he moved forward to open the sliding door. A moment of panic hit her like a solid blow to the gut. Her hand darted out to grab his arm. "Steve," she said, softer the time, pulling him back from his grip on the door. He turned to face her, eyes searching her face as if asking 'what else are we supposed to do?' He wore a determined, steely face but she could see the worry that flickered beneath. "You're not going out there," Sar said. She sounded so sure of herself that Steve wondered how she could be so sure about everything.

He gave her a helpless look. Dustin watched them with curiosity. "It's not going to walk into the trap. And if we leave it longer, it'll leave and grow again," Steve said. Fear radiated off him, meddling with her mind. His thoughts were so clear, but she didn't want to reply—all she could feel from him was fear and thoughts of her.

Sara was still holding his arm but she paused, concentration passing over her face. Her eyebrows crinkled, leaving a divot between them. Her lips were pursed but her eyes watched him with desperation. "Look, I can lure it into the trap," she said after a minute, face only relaxing as she looked at him with urging eyes.

"You're not well enough," Steve said, and placed a hot hand against her cheek. Her skin buzzed under his touch, as if a raging fire was blooming beneath. Pink touched her ears. "You're still fried after Will." She swallowed, jaw clenched. This was stupid, stupid. But still, she didn't say anything. "Okay?" He didn't move. "Keep them safe," he told her. His fingers were warm against her cheek as they stood inches apart. She opened her mouth to protest, but found no words to say. It was like the time they'd fought that Demogorgon. One of his fingers was twisted in her loose blonde hair.

For a second she thought he might kiss her.

Then he moved away from her quite quickly, hand leaving her face. He cleared his throat. "Just be ready," he said, chucking her the lighter. She caught it in quick hands.

"Steve!" she yelled after him, but he didn't look back. "Shit." For a second she stood in the open doorway, hand surrounding the axe jolting as she thought. Then she stepped back into the bus, letting the doors slide shut. Shit, shit, shit. 

Like an idiot, she let Steve go.

•°•☆•°•

I watched the episode for this chapter again and Steve's face is just flawless, I just wanted to let everyone know, thanks.