chapter six
Barb

IT had been a couple of days since the body of Will Byers was found. Aries was up and getting ready early for school. Since Jonathan wasn't picking them up today she had to take her bike.

Aries entered Madison's room seeing her sister still laying down in bed. She was cocooned in her blanket and it was obvious she didn't want to get up.

"Hey Maddie, dad said you can stay home if you want. Told me to tell you" Aries mumbled leaning against the door frame.

Madison looked at her sister and nodded before turning around. Aries frowned to herself, closing the door.

She grabbed her lunch and ran outside jumping on her bike in fear of being late. Could she take her car? Yeah, she could. Would she though? No, absolutely not. She didn't want to have a Dustin 2.0 incident and with her luck it'd probably be Dustin again.

Just as she arrived at school basically tossing her bike she checked her watch seeing she had at least ten minutes to get to class.

Now that she wasn't so stressed she decided to take the long way to class. She needed a moment. She walked through the field getting ready to go through the alleyway. As soon as she turned she immediately stopped seeing Nancy and Steve. She quickly hid behind the wall before they could see her.

While Nancy was talking a gush of wind blew in Steve's face and the familiar smell of Vanilla hit him. He turned his head quickly to see Aries hide behind the wall. He smiled to himself focusing on Nancy.

Aries couldn't make out exactly what they were saying but she could hear something about Nancy thinking Barb was missing and wanting to involve the police. Which Steve wasn't very thrilled about. Being the asshole he is he gave asshole responses to Nancy's worries of her best friend.

Once she could hear Nancy angrily walking away and Steve calling out for her she sighed in relief waiting for Steve to walk off now. She peaked her head over and screamed seeing Steve right in her face.

Steve in response let out a slight scream "what?! What?! What?!" He yelped in confusion looking around.

Aries placed a hand on her heart panting heavily, "your— your face" she laughed. She saw an opportunity and she took it. Was it stupid? yeah, but would it annoy Steve? one hundred percent.

Steve rolled his eyes scoffing, "you're the one stalking me!" Steve spat.

Aries walked past him shaking her head. "No I was just trying to get to class and didn't want to disturb your conversation with Nancy" Aries shrugged looking back as Steve trailed behind her.

"Aw you care about me" Steve teased nudging Aries shoulder.

"Definitely not you" Aries smiled nudging him right back. "Now that I've unfortunately run into you. Meet me at my house tonight at 6 so we can study" Aries said as Steve groaned running his hands down his face.

"I thought you'd forgotten" Steve whined.

Aries tried her best to not turn around and shove him into a wall. "Fine if you want to fail, then I'll forget" Aries shrugged making Steve groan even louder.

"Okay, okay fine. I'll be there by 6 and I'll bring snacks. You're so boring so I need something to keep me occupied" Steve was grinning ear to ear waiting for Aries reaction.

She knew he wanted a reaction so she kept a straight face, "like you're anymore interesting" Aries replied flatly.

Steve stopped in his tracks disappointed he didn't get a reaction out of her. She continued to walk not looking back once to check if he was still following.

Aries and Esme sat in class huddled together behind a book. The two were speaking on how they were going to meet Jonathan to help pick out caskets. He'd called a wrecked saying his mom left him to do all the hard work and couldn't do it alone. They had yet to see him since the photo incident and jumped the moment he said he'd needed them. They were best friends after all.

The door opened and the principal walked in. "Aries Hopper, Esme Lana. I need you to come with me."

Both Aries and Esme looked at one another confused. They hesitantly sat up following after the principle. She guided them to a room and they both froze seeing two officers.

Esme was panicked unsure what this was all about. "Is this about what happened in the bathroom? Cause if so I payed you guys back and I did my community service hours" Esme rambled.

"It's not about that Esme please take a seat" she responded.

A weight had been lifted from Esme's shoulder but Aries seemed to get heavier. She knew what this was about. She'd heard Nancy and Steve earlier.

Aries cleared her throat sitting down.

"Hey Aries and Esme sorry we had to drag you out of class" officer Callahan said.

"Don't apologize thank god! I was literally about to fall asleep" Esme chuckled leaning against the table. Both officers looked at her unamused and her smile fell as she sat back.

Esme shot up in her seat remembering what this could also possibly be about. "Is this about how we ran over Henrietta?!" Esme gasped. "Aries didn't see her, we didn't know" Esme's voice cracked.

Both officers froze looking up at the girls concerned. Aries sighed shaking her head.

"Henrietta is a bird. We ran over a bird" Aries corrected.

Both officers exhaled in relief shaking their heads.

"No Esme this is not about the bird. We just wanted to ask you a few questions about Barb from the night you went to Steve Harringtons house" Officer Powell was pulling out his notepad watching the girls.

"Uh it was pretty fun, we got in the pool and talked. Um— barb was really quiet most of the night. I left before her" Esme added in.

Aries stood quiet fidgeting with her fingers. Even though she'd done nothing wrong she was nervous. She couldn't imagine how Nancy was feeling. Her best friend going missing. Aries would go insane if Esme ever went missing.

As Esme spoke to officer Callahan and Officer Powell their voices began to fade and Steve's entered. How he told Nancy to not saying anything about the drinking and the smoking.

"Aries?" Officer Powell called making the girl snap out of it.

"I'm sorry what?" Aries asked clearing her throat.

"We asked when was the last time you'd seen barb and what you were doing" officer Callahan chimed in.

Aries readjusted herself nodding. "Well I was soaking wet from the pool so I went upstairs to the bathroom and after that I went downstairs to leave and she was just standing there. I said hey then I left. I hadn't spoken to her the whole night so I don't really know much" Aries answered.

Esme noticed Aries hand shaking from under the table and she quickly held onto it squeezing her hand comfortingly. Aries immediately relaxed watching the officers speak with one another.

"Okay so Esme left alone and you two arrived together so how did you get home?" Officer Powell asked.

Aries immediately froze. If her dad found out a boy drove her home let alone stayed in the house for a bit he'd kill her. "You can't tell my dad please" Aries begged as the two sighed.

"Is it incriminating?" Officer Powell asked crossing her arms.

Aries quickly shook her head as Esme groaned tossing her head back. "No absolutely not my dad he's just— he'll go crazy if he finds out a boy drove me home and stayed for a bit so please! Don't say anything" Aries begged.

Officer Callahan chuckled to himself knowing very well that Hopper would lose his mind.

"Alright fine, who was this boy?" Officer Powell asked as Aries smiled in relive.

"Lorenzo Wheeler" aries responded.

"Nancy Wheelers brother?" Officer Callahan asked.

Esme's face dropped furrowing her eyebrows at him. "Yeah no shit who the hell else would it be?" Esme scoffed.

"Hey! You will not—" before officer Callahan could finish officer Powell placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Esme relax with the side comments or I'll have no choice but to inform your mom of this whole situation" Officer Powell said as Esme smiled to herself shrugging.

Esme and Officer Powell knew of one another very well. He has been with her mom for over six years now. Esme was still not use to her new Step-dad.

"Okay are we done? Now I really want to get to class?" Esme asked standing up.

Officer Powell sighed flicking his head to the side signaling for the two girls to leave. Esme practically yanked Aries up and the two stumbled out the room.

"Why do you hate him so much?" Aries asked as Esme shrugged.

"Because he's too nice. Sent my little sister to this one of a kind art school just out of the kindness of his heart? No way" Esme scoffed.

Aries didn't want to say anything else on the topic. Whatever she said Esme wouldn't listen to her. She'd know officer Powell for most of her life and he really was just a sweet man. When he wanted to be of course.

Esme and Aries arrived at the funeral home to see Jonathan inside already talking to someone. Both girls rushed up to him throwing themselves at him. He stepped back in shock before relaxing and wrapping his arms around them. Now that they were here he felt a bit better. Just knowing that after everything he still had his best friends.

"How you've been?" Aries asked grabbing ahold of his face and wiping away his tear.

"Managing" Jonathan shrugged.

Aries smiled sadly patting his cheek before letting go. "Well we're here to help with anything" Esme said softly as Jonathan nodded sniffling.

After half an hour of talking and deciding Jonathan still couldn't figure out which casket. Aries and Esme could tell he was still in shock.

Aries turned seeing Nancy Wheeler walk through the door. Jonathan was the first to walk forward and they spoke in almost a whisper. Esme and Aries stood behind him watching carefully.

"What's she doing here?" Esme asked glaring at Nancy.

Aries nudged her, "she's probably here to send her condolences. Trust me she's not like Steve and his army of rats" Aries said making Esme snicker.

Esme still didn't fully trust Nancy. She'd have to see it to believe it. Jonathan and Nancy both looked back at the two and they immediately stiffened.

Aries politely waved at Nancy and she smiled back quickly looking at the ground. Jonathan approached the two with his hands in his pocket.

"I'm gonna step out real quick to talk to Nancy can you guys just wait here... I don't want you to leave" Jonathan whispered.

"We'll stay Johnny don't worry" Esme nodded.

Jonathan smiled at the two and turned around heading out the door with Nancy. Esme turned around looking over at the caskets.

But Aries kept her eyes on Johnathan and Nancy. She smiled to herself seeing some sort of tenderness between the two. It was cute.

"What do you thinks going on with them?" Esme asked standing beside Aries staring at the door.

Aries smiled to Esme, "I think Jonathan is making a new friend."

The thought of Jonathan making a new friend scared Esme. Would he leave Aries and her behind? Was Nancy more interesting then them? She began to grow uneasy noticing Aries in complete support. Now she for sure wasn't gonna say anything.

Aries checked her watch seeing it was already 4, she had to meet Steve at 6 at her house so she had some time.

Jonathan and Nancy walked in and a look of unease was written on their face. "Esme, Aries. I need to tell you something but you can't freak out. I know it's gonna be hard to believe but please just trust me" Jonathan pleaded as both girls walked forwards concerned.

"What's going on?" Aries asked glancing back at Nancy who was looking down at her feet.

"We think something took barb" Jonathan was watching waiting for their reaction. Both girls glanced at each other then Jonathan confused.

"Like by someone?" Esme asked.

Jonathan sighed shaking his head unsure how to explain to his best friends he and Nancy thought there was some sort of creature on the lose.

"No, something. Like a creature not human. I know it sounds crazy but just come with us and I can prove it. I saw something when I went to Steve's house to check for barb and it wasn't human" Nancy finally spoke up.

Aries heart began to race still very confused. "Monsters aren't real" Aries furrowed her brows crossing her arms. "Nancy are you fucking with us? Cause now is literally not the time" Aries spat.

"She's not! I saw it too. That night I took the photos I caught one on camera you can barely see it but we need to go to the red room so I can enhance it and that'll prove it." Jonathan was now pleading with the girls to believe him.

"I believe you" Esme said breaking her silence.

Aries looked at the girl confused. "I saw it too. In the woods at Steve's. I thought I was high cause it looked like it had no— face" Esme said as Nancy and Jonathan nodded.

"We saw the same thing. See Aries please just trust us. We're not crazy something freaky is going on here" Jonathan reached out for Aries arm.

Aries was now mega confused. They'd all seen this creature. They all seemed scared. Esme was deathly quiet. Something wasn't right. But how could monsters be real? Especially in a town like Hawkins.

Aries nodded looking at the three. "Alright okay, I believe you. Let's go" Aries said as Jonathan and Nancy smiled relieved.

The four rushed out the funeral home on their way to the school.

The car ride was silent for Aries. Jonathan and Nancy reassured the girls that they had proof but Aries was praying they didn't. If they had proof then Aries had no choice but to believe monsters were real. That scared her. She'd always been a 'chicken' especially when it came to horror movies and the supernatural. She was more of a romcom kinda gal. Something sweet but it also was funny. Something that could make her sob real tears and tears of laughter. But monsters... no.

Jonathan almost seemed to slam the breaks as he slid into a spot. Once the car was stopped all four teens rushed out and into the school. The red room wasn't far from the entrance so it didn't take the four long to pile in. Esme was the last one in so she made sure to shut the door and shut off the lights. The three girls watched as Jonathan arranged all his stuff mumbling the steps to himself.

Nancy approached his side hovering over him. Aries and Esme were sat on an empty desk waiting.

"Did your mom say anything else?" Nancy asked crossing her arms. Aries and Esme's head immediately perked up interested in the conversation.

"No, just that she saw something coming out the wall" Jonathan said focusing on his photo.

"What?!" Esme yelled.

Jonathan flinched back from his hunched over position. "Esme don't scare me I gotta focus!" Jonathan whisper yelled glaring at Esme.

"Sorry but how am I supposed to have a normal reaction to this! We didn't just make this up in our heads, an actual adult saw something freaky too!" Esme exclaimed.

Jonathan scoffed turning around to work on the photo.

The screws in Aries head began turning understanding what this whole proving a monster was real situation. "So you think whatever this thing is that took Barb... you think it took Will too?" Aries asked pushing herself off the desk and walking towards Jonathan.

Jonathan stiffened feeling Aries approach him. He sighed shutting off the machine. He straightened up turning to Aries. He knew Aries was a practical girl so he knew she was trying to imply that he was trying to find reasons Will still might be out there. They'd been best friends for a long time, and just as good as Aries could read him. He could read her.

"Yes Aries, Something is not right about this whole situation and you know it. You're just too scared to find out what's really going on" Jonathan shrugged his shoulders making Aries furrow her brows.

"I'm not scared Jonathan this whole thing just seems unreasonable. You can't just expect me to believe in monsters cause you say you saw one" Aries tried to hide the attitude in her voice knowing Jonathan was going through a lot.

"It wasn't just him, it was all of us that saw it. That's gotta be some proof" Nancy chimed in.

Aries eyes travelled over to Nancy, "you guys were drunk and high! Esme literally said she was, maybe that's just it."

"Let's stop arguing about it and wait for the photo to develop. Please" Jonathan begged.

Aries scoffed looking at Jonathan's pleading eyes. "Fine" the girl shrugged walking back over to Esme. Aries pulled herself up onto the desk and leaned her head against Esme's shoulder.

"It's okay if you're scared Aries. I know you don't like stuff like this." Esme began to play with Aries hair comfortingly.

"Well let's see if I have something to be scared of" the girl mumbled. Aries eyes began to flutter shut.

Esme watched as Nancy and Jonathan whispered in a corner. She couldn't hear them but just by the expressions on their faces she already knew where this was all heading. She smiled to herself. Was Jonathan Byers finally gonna get the girl?

Her smile dropped seeing them stare down at the photo frightened. "What?" Esme asked getting up.

Aries gasped catching herself mid air so her head wouldn't slam on the table. "Holy shit, it's that!" Esme panicked. "Is that...?" Esme trailed off. Jonathan, Nancy, and Esme slowly looked over at Aries with a look of concern.

Aries squinted her eyes trying to readjust them. She couldn't see their faces but she knew they were looking at her. Before she could get off Jonathan was rushing towards her. "What?" Aries asked as Jonathan practically pulled her off the desk and dragged her towards the photo.

Once in front of it she blinked down a few times trying to see. Her heart dropped seeing the monster. The monster they were all talking about. Her eyes continued to scan the photo, she landed on a figure. It was her. She was faint and to the side but you could clearly tell it was her.

She stumbled back confused. "No, no way. I didn't even get out the car. That's not possible" Aries rambled confused.

"Enzo said he could hardly remember the drive. The only thing he really can is you guys getting to your house. What if... what if something happened" Nancy said making Aries heart beat even faster.

Not only did she not like monsters but she hated forgetting things. How could she forget something as big as going into the woods in the middle of the night.

"My mom... I thought she was crazy when she said it wasn't Will's body. That he was still alive." Jonathan mumbled in shock.

"And if he's alive..." Nancy's head immediately turned to Jonathan.

"Than Barbara"Jonathan finished.

Aries was still frozen in shock. How could she been in that photo. There's no way.

"We need to get you home" Jonathan said placing a hand on Aries shoulder.

"This makes no sense how am I in that photo? Did you even see me?" Aries asked confused watching Jonathan and Nancy collet their things.

"I don't know but we'll figure it out. And no I didn't see you. Like at all." Jonathan spoke as he swung the door open and the four stormed down the hallway.

"Don't get too scared yet Aries. We don't know what any of this means, maybe that's not even you" Esme reassured.

As much as Aries wanted that statement to help, it just wasn't. Her brain was scrambling trying to remember anything weird or off about the drive, but nothing came. All she could remember was Lorenzo.

"Esme's right, maybe it's just a shadow or the lighting. It's probably not even you" Nancy joined in.

Aries stood silent as the four entered the car. They spoke amongst each other trying to plan everything out. Trying to piece it all together.

Aries sat to the side in the back staring straight ahead at Nancy's head rest. Esme was wedged in the middle talking about theories with the girl.

Jonathan glanced at the review mirror keeping an eye on Aries. It was then he realized this thing was so much bigger than he thought.

————

Aries was dropped off first due to her request. She just wanted to get home and sleep. As soon as she walked in she realized she was the only one home. Her father was no where to be seen so he was probably working or he was drunk somewhere. Madison was at Mikes house and would be dropped off around 9. She called Mrs.Wheeler to confirm as soon as she noticed her sister missing.

Aries figured that Madison wanted to stay over with her friends. They had just lost a big part of their group.

All showered and dressed for bed Aries got prepared to lay down. She was a little scared. It was 6:30 so it was getting dark and she was home alone. After finding out she'd been spotted in a photo by a monster that she has no memory of.

She walked towards the window getting ready to lock it and close her curtains. A sudden face popped up and out came Steve Harrington from the shadows jump scaring her.

Aries screamed jumping back in horror as she covered her face. Steve furrowed his eyebrows confused at the over reaction. Aries grabbed ahold of her chest that was rising up and down so quickly.

Steve slid up the window tossing a bag of snacks and his bag into the room before climbing in. "What's up with you?" Steve asked standing up straight.

For a second seeing him climb into her window reminded her of middle school. How Steve always use to sneak in on Friday nights just so they could talk without the judgment of others.

"You scared the hell out of me! What are you doing here?!" Aries yelled grabbing a sweater off her chair. Steve scoffed walking around the girl to sit on her bed.

"We have tutoring... did you forget Aries?" Steve perked up analyzing the girl. Her pajamas were on, the lights were off and the only source of light were the twinkle lights that were hanging from her walls. Her hair was tied back into a low bun and she had on fuzzy socks. She definitely forgot.

"Did the Aries Hopper, girl who's never unprepared and always on track forget that I was coming?" Steve taunted leaning back on her bed.

Aries rolled her eyes turning on the light. "No!" Aries snapped. She definitely forgot, she would never admit that to him. "You were late so I figured you were ditching so I was getting ready for bed." Aries crossed her arms shrugging her shoulders.

"Bed at 6:30?" Steve asked.

"I had a long day and I'm tired. This is not a peculiar time to go to bed" Aries scoffed grabbing her Notes to help Steve.

"You're such a grandma" he groaned tossing himself back.

"And you're an idiot" Aries smiled shoving him over so she could sit. "Why didn't you knock on the door like a normal person instead of creeping at my window?" Aries asked flipping to her page.

"I didn't know if your dad was home and I know he doesn't like me so... I figured why not just sneak in." Steve grinned leaning down to pull out his book.

"You know you're late so we have to end later" Aries smiled twirling a pen between her fingers.

"I lost track of time, won't happen again" Steve sighed sharply like something was bothering him.

Aries watched as he stared down at his course book utterly confused. She grabbed the book from him which resulted in a yelp and him glaring at her,

"These aren't so hard... at least once you get to understand it. Geometry can be tricky but if you have the right teacher then it's as easy as it can get" Aries mumbled examining the questions.

"Is my teacher any good?" Steve scoffed with a low mumble.

Aries glared up at him tossing the book in his lap. "You saw my test, and we saw your test. I'm pretty sure you're in good hands dumbass" Aries scoffed pulling out her red pen.

"Hey I'm not dumb I'm just... shit at math" Steve shrugged with a slight smile.

"You're shit at everything" Aries mumbled under her breath.

"Oh please, the only thing you're good at is school" Steve spat.

Aries rolled her eyes scribbling down a demonstration. "At least I'm good at something" Aries smiled.

Steve stood silent, he was used to the constant banter and deep down he knew none of them meant what they truly said. He watched her intently as she read the question, he could basically see the calculations floating above her head.

"Okay so for this first question we have to determine the value of x of the parallelogram. We have some numbers her to help us determine the value" Aries spoke slowly as she circled them. "In order to solve it we have to use the equation to find x. But you must remember in parallelograms the adjacent angles are complimentary so they add to 180°" Aries looked up watching as Steve looked at her dumbfounded.

"I have no clue what you're saying at all" His face was blank and there wasn't a single thought behind his eyes. "If this is one of the easiest questions I'm so screwed" Steve sighed rubbing his temple.

Aries huffed exhaling sharply. She didn't know how she could teach him this stuff. It was complex at first but once you got it, it was pretty easy. "Okay how about this. You're probably more of a visual learner so I'll answer the question, explain to you each step I'm doing and why I'm doing it." Aries suggested.

"Yeah sure" Steve nodded.

Aries spent the next thirty minutes solving equations and watching as Steve slowly picked up on it. They went back and forth answering questions and Steve asked more questions than there was on the test. This was probably the only time they weren't arguing.

It was calm. It felt as if she was talking to the old Steve again. The Steve that was her friend. But every now and then when he'd say something slick it brought her back to who he really was now. He wasn't the same boy she knew in middle school, but she was the same girl. It was as if she were frozen in time.

"Okay I kinda get it now. After an hour I think I know something" Steve said unsure.

"Try the first question we discussed and I'll get us something to drink" Aries said standing up. "Water fine?" The girl asked opening her door.

Steve looked up at her nodding. She walked out the room needing a break from Steve Harrington. Steve watched Aries from his spot on the bed. The kitchen and Aries room was right there so he could see everything perfectly. The way she readjusted the hair that fell in her face as she grabbed a pitcher from her fridge and filled the cups up. He could tell she was tired, so after this last question he'd make up some excuse to go.

Aries window slid open making Steve flinch. Enzo stood frozen like a deer in headlights as he stared at Steve Harrington sitting on Aries bed.

"What're you doing here?" Enzo asked stepping into the room.

"What're you doing here?" Steve asked standing up from the bed.

"I'm here to see Aries" Enzo said looking around the room for the girl.

"Yeah well we're studying, are you guys friends?" Steve asked placing his hands on his hips. He knew the answer to that. He also knew there was something more going on.

"Yeah something like that" Enzo shrugged making Steve furrow his brows.

"Okay I added ice because I ha—" Aries nearly dropped the cups seeing Enzo now in her room.

"Enzo... hey! What's— why're you here?" Aries asked placing the cups down.

Enzo shrugged shoving his hands in his pockets. "Nancy told me you were having a rough night so I decided to keep you some company" Enzo said with a soft smile.

Aries couldn't help but blush, the moment was quickly ruined when Enzo awkwardly glanced at an obviously annoyed Steve.

"Oh yeah! I'm tutoring Steve so that's why he's here" Aries almost shouted her words. She wanted to get the point across that whatever Enzo was thinking cause it was obvious he was thinking WRONG, wasn't true.

"Yeah, can we get back to it?" Steve asked rolling his eyes.

"Yeah sorry, I'll go. I'll uh— see you at school" Enzo said flatly.

Aries watched disappointed. She wanted him to stay but for some reason her mouth wasn't moving. Every bone in her body was telling her to say stay but she just couldn't.

She watched sadly as Enzo climbed out her window and disappeared into the night. Once he was gone she groaned glaring at Steve. "Why are you such an asshole!" Aries spat sitting down on her bed.

"What?! I didn't even say anything rude" Steve defended.

"Your face said it all Steve, you made him feel unwanted" Aries shot back.

"Well he was" Steve shrugged.

"Alright stop being a dick, no he wasn't. I wanted him to stay but you had to be here" Aries scoffed rolling her eyes.

Steve watched as the girl visibly got upset. For a moment he could feel his heart hurt knowing that Aries would rather have Enzo's company than his. It shouldn't have hurt, he couldn't tolerate the girl. She couldn't tolerate him. So why did it hurt.

"Thanks for the session" Steve scoffed grabbing his books and shoving them in his bag.

Aries squinted realizing Steve was mad. Why was he mad? She should be mad, he ruined her moment with Enzo.

"Why are you upset?" Aries asked standing up.

Steve laughed to himself pulling his bag onto his shoulder. "I'm not Aries. If you wanna hangout with your boyfriend go ahead. I'm not gonna be in the way to stop you" Steve finally made eye contact with the girl. He stared down at her giving her the most nonchalant look. Trying to contain it. But she saw right through it.

"He's not my boyfriend" Aries corrected.

"Uh yeah he is. If he's sneaking through your window to comfort you because he knows you had a rough day, that's your boyfriend" Steve scoffed.

"What does it even matter?! He's my boyfriend, he's not my boyfriend who cares?! That doesn't explain why you're mad" Aries yelled.

"I'm not mad! Enzo and you are just not right together!" Steve shouted back.

Aries scoffed slamming his bag of snacks into his chest. "You sure seem mad to me. We're not friends, you shouldn't be concerned on who I'm seeing, it's none of your business."

The room was silent as the two angrily glared at one another. They didn't break eye contact for a second. Steve was the first to break it, "you can't be mad at me because he left. You could've told him to stay, kicked me out instead. But you didn't, not you couldn't... you didn't" Steve mumbled.

Aries eyes widened for a moment at the statement. He'd caught onto it too. Her face quickly snapped back to cold. "I take tutoring seriously. I'd have done the same thing for anyone else. You're not getting in my head again so just get out please" Aries spat.

Steve scoffed ruffling his hair. "Fine!" Steve yelled storming out her room. Aries stood in her room waiting to hear the door shut. As soon as she did she stormed out opening the door.

"Fine too!" Aries yelled watching Steve pull open his car door.

"You're aggravating Aries Hopper!" Steve yelled getting in his car and slamming the car door shut.

"You too!" Aries yelled watching his car speed away.

She watched until his car disappeared. Her eyes landed on her car. If Steve was parked out front he knew Hopper wasn't home.

Had he climbed through her window for old times sake and made up some excuse to not look like he cared.

It didn't matter to her. Regardless if he'd somewhat missed her or their friendship it was over. She could never and would never trust him again. She wanted nothing to do with him.

authors note.

Yes I'm back from the dead, no I cannot promise frequent updates IM SORRY. Although I have finished the entirety of season one, I haven't re read them and gone through each chapter to see if I like certain plot points or dialogue so that make take me awhile to confirm. I'm sorry!!! I hope you guys enjoyed!!

All the love, RINA!