chapter seven
love makes you crazy

Aries stood silently next to Esme and Jonathan as the pastor spoke over Wills casket. Aries arm was looped in Jonathan's and Esme's was looped in her free arm. A funeral wasn't a fun place, but with the possibility that Will was alive it wasn't as sad. Aries finally believed. If she couldn't believe in monsters she had to believe in Jonathan.

Aries eyes moved up and she landed on Lorenzo. He smiled softly at her and she returned it. They hadn't spoken much since Enzo caught Steve in her room.

Once the surmount was over Aries and Esme gave their condolences to Joyce and Lonnie together. Joyce said few words while Lonnie did most of the talking.

Aries trailed over to Madison, Dustin, Mike, and Lucas. She smiled approaching the four and patting each of their heads. In response all four of them tried slapping her hand away.

She knew that will was possibly alive but they didn't. At least to her knowledge. So they must be sick with sadness she thought.

"I'll pick you four up Monday morning and we can get Ice cream before school" Aries suggested.

"Yes please!" Lucas and Dustin cheered.

She smiled nodding. "Dustin why would you agree to get in a car with her when last time she almost ran you over" Madison spat.

"Because last time I was outside the car I had nothing to protect me. This time I'll be in the car with a handy dandy seatbelt" Dustin bobbled his head making Madison flick him in his forehead.

"Sounds nice Aries but we might be busy" Mike spoke up.

Aries raised her brow confused. "Busy on a Monday morning? Before school?" Aries dryly laughed.

All there faces went white. "Sounds good Aries I'll make sure they're up on time!" Madison cleared the air trying to guide her sister away.

"What?" Aries asked confused as Madison pushed her away from the boys. "I'm gonna stick with them. Why don't you go home and check on dad. He was knocked out cold when we left" Madison suggested.

Aries nodded oblivious to what Madison was trying so hard to hide. "I'll see you later. Try and get a ride home it's dangerous here" Aries said.

Madison was now the one looked at Aries confused. Madison knew it was dangerous, but how did Aries.

Aries caught on to Madison's look of confusion. "We still don't know what really happened to Will... right" Aries shrugged trying to play it off.

Madison nodded remaining silent. "Okay bye!" Madison quickly hugged her sister then ran off to her friends.

Aries turned seeing Esme, Jonathan, and Nancy huddled in a circle. "What's going on?" Aries asked approaching the three.

"We got a plan to try and catch this thing. We think we might know where it is so meet at Nancy's around 2" Jonathan explained quickly and then he rushed off.

Nancy smiled awkwardly at the two girls. "Okay well, I'll see you guys soon" Nancy said rushing off.

Esme rolled her eyes and placed an arm around Aries shoulders. "I'm gonna head home try and take a nap. See you, Ries" Esme mumbled placing a kiss on her cheek and walking away.

Aries stood dumbfounded, what was going on with everyone today.

Aries made it home quickly, with no almost accidents which was a new record. She approached her trailer and saw Officer Powell and Callahan getting into their car.

"Hey Aries" they said in unison.

"Hey guys" Aries mumbled. She practically ran into the house to be sure that her father hadn't found out about Lorenzo Wheeler.

Once she entered her mouth immediately dropped seeing the house a complete reck. Their items littered the floors, the lightbulbs were torn out of their sockets, things were flipped over, and the couch was torn up. It for sure didn't look like this, this morning.

"Dad! What the hell!" Aries yelled.

Hopper stumbled out of his room zipping up his uniform pants. "What happened?!" Aries eyes scanned the trailer and she just got madder and madder.

"I can't explain right now but I'll clean it up when I get back. Also can you get a new phone on your way home if you go back out!" Hopper yelled from the door.

Just as he was about to leave he turned around and pulled his daughter in a hug. She stood still in the hug surprised by it. "Love you kid, I'm so sorry" Hopper mumbled placing a kiss on her head and running out.

Aries stood frozen in her living room trying to process what just happened. Her dad hugged her, said he loved her, kissed her, apologized, and made a TOTAL wreck of the house.

What the hell was going on and what made him so on edge.

Aries jumped over glass and garbage that littered the floor into her room. As soon as she entered she'd noticed her lightbulb was pulled from the lamp as well. Her father was a cop so she knew what this was all too well. He was scared that someone bugged the house, but why would they bug it? And who would? She mentally took notes of everything so she could discuss with Nancy, Esme, and Jonathan.

This had to have been something with Will, right?

The girl quickly changed out of her funeral dress and placed on denim jeans with a random top she grabbed from her draw. Slipping on her boots and shrugging on her jacket at the same time she almost tipped over. She wanted to get to Nancy's a little earlier to discuss what she found out. If anyone could piece it all together Nancy was the girl.

She grabbed her keys and ran out to her car. Nancy's house wasn't too far so the drive wasn't bad. Once she arrived she quickly got out the car and sped walked towards the house. She stopped mid way seeing Steve walking out from the side.

Steve froze in place looking at Aries. Her cheeks were red from the cold but her demeanor and the look she was giving him was just as cold, if not colder.

"What're you doing here?" Steve asked approaching the girl with his hands shoved in his coat. Part of him feared Aries would tell Nancy all she knew about him, Nancy would never look at him the same. She'd probably look at him the same way Aries did now.

"I'm here to see Nancy?" Aries said trying to walk past him. Steve furrowed his brows a bit confused.

"Since when are you and Nancy friends?" Steve asked following after her.

"None of your business" Aries replied trying to rush past him.

Steve scoffed grabbing her arm and spinning her around. Aries quickly swatted his arm off glaring at him. "What's the big deal with me and Nancy being friends?!" Aries yelled.

Steve stared at her for a moment, trying to think of something clever. "Just thought you'd be here to see her brother. Since you know, you're screwing him now" Steve whispered leaning in closer to her face.

Aries breath hitched as she stared at him. She was angry at his statement but she was nervous because he was so close. If she leaned in just a little bit their lips would be touching.

She watched as his eyes flickered down to her parted lips then just as quickly back to her eyes. A grin plastered his face making her grow more angry. "Fuck you" she seethed.

"What? Aren't you screwing?" Steve asked with a slight smile.

Aries rolled her eyes pushing him back. He laughed as he stumbled back. "We're not screwing you dick. Not everything is about sex for some people!" Aries spat making Steve flinch.

A wave of guilt washed over his face and he stepped closer to her.

Enzo walked by the window and stopped seeing Aries standing outside with Steve Harrington. His eyes narrowed watching them very close. His head perked up seeing the two argue as Aries shoved him back.

Concerned he walked out the house. "Aries?" Enzo called out confused.

Aries turned around smiling with relief as she saw Enzo. As soon as Steve noticed him he rolled his eyes. He'd never had a problem with Enzo, in fact he thought Enzo was a pretty solid dude. But now for some reason Enzo's very presence was starting to bother him. "You okay?" Enzo asked walking towards them.

"She's fine Wheeler" Steve mumbled looking over at Aries. Her eyes were now completely fixated on Enzo as he approached her side.

"Are you here to see Nancy, Steve? Your girlfriend" Enzo emphasized.

"Already did. I was just leaving" Steve's voice was laced with annoyance. "I'll see you Thursday for tutoring. My house this time, 6 o'clock" Steve said looking over at Aries waiting for her to look at him.

Her gaze stood down as she mumbled an mhm. He stood there for a moment waiting to see if she'd look up at him. But she didn't.

"Screw this" Steve scoffed storming away.

Once he was gone Aries immediately looked back at Enzo. She gave him a reassuring smile but she could tell he wasn't impressed with it.

"Aries— what's going on? I know you and Steve have some sort of History but that's my sisters boyfriend and you're—"

"No— it's nothing like that I promise Enzo. It's just, ever since I've had to tutor Steve things are just getting more heated between us since I have to see him more often. We don't like each other even in the platonic way. I'm just trying to get over this year so I can be done with him. That's it. He just— he makes it way more complicated than it needs to be" Aries explained.

Enzo's features softened as he nodded. He leaned in placing a kiss on the girls cheek. "He looked a little jealous to me?" Enzo said.

Aries quickly shook her head, "He's not. He just likes to make my life a living hell." Aries scoffed as Enzo nodded wrapping an arm around her.

"You wanna watch a movie?" Enzo asked leading them towards the house.

Aries stopped walking midway remembering why she was here. "I actually can't now. I'm here to see Nancy." Aries smiled.

Enzo furrowed his brows. "Nancy? Since when did you two become friends?" Enzo asked.

Why was everyone asking that? What was so shocking about Aries Hopper and Nancy Wheeler hanging out and being friends?

"It kinda just happened." Aries shrugged.

Enzo nodded with a smile, "okay, well she's in the garage. But after you're done with your little girls day. I'd like to actually take you out on a date... if you'd let me?" Enzo asked nervously.

Aries smiled feeling her cheeks heat up even though she was cold. "I'd love that" Aries smile.

"Yeah?" Enzo asked grabbing a hold of her hand.

"Mhm" Aries mumbled excitedly.

Enzo grabbed ahold of her face and quickly leaned down placing his lips against hers. She knew it was coming but it still surprised her. His lips were soft and he tasted like he'd just eaten a bag of cherries.

She loved cherries.

Aries pulled away her eyes fluttering open as she smiled up at him. "I'll see you soon" the boy blushed. He leaned down placing a quick peck against her lips before walking away.

Aries stood frozen for a while watching Enzo disappear into his house. She was overall shocked but pleased with where this was all heading. If you asked her a week ago how she felt romantically about Enzo she would've laughed in your face and said it'd never happen.

But something changed. She didn't know when in the span of a week it changed but it did. And she didn't know why it changed either.

Aries collected herself pulling out her gloss and quickly reapplying it while she headed over to Nancy. She tucked the tube in her purse but froze midway seeing Nancy swinging a bat back and forth.

Nancy had yet to notice her.

"Nancy" Aries called out making the girl flinch. "What the hell are you doing with a bat?" Aries crossed her arms examining her.

Nancy's face turned red as she let the bat hang from her hand. "Practicing... I mean— with this thing out there we have to be prepared for anything, right?" Nancy asked.

Aries nodded agreeing with her.

"I mean especially you— since Y'know the whole you being in the photo thing" Nancy laughed awkwardly.

Aries grew visibly uncomfortable. She tried to forget about it. She got too scared every time she remembered. She often did that with a lot of traumatic things, forget they happened. Like her mom leaving her and her sister dying.

Things she'd forget but would only be reminded of whenever she saw a mother interact with their kids. Likes Mrs.Wheeler or Esme's mom, or Joyce. So really there were constant reminders everywhere.

"Yeah... you're probably right. I should get like a knife or something" Aries shrugged.

Nancy eagerly nodded glad that she didn't piss Aries off. "Or a dagger! Might be easier to throw" Nancy chuckled making Aries smile. "Um— why are you here early? You don't have to be here for another like 15 minutes?" Nancy asked placing the bat down.

"Yeah can we talk? Something happened when I got home and I figured if anyone knew how to piece it all together... it'd be you" Aries said fidgeting with her fingers.

Nancy smiled, she was admired that Aries thought of her. "Yeah follow me" Nancy waved her hand over.

Aries trailed behind Nancy into the house and past the living room where Enzo sat eating a sandwich. He looked up smiling at Aries mid-bite as they walked past.

"Should we tell him?" Nancy asked as they went up the stairs.

"Definitely. I feel like the more people we have that believe us the better" Aries exhaled a breath she didn't notice she was holding.

"What about Steve?" Nancy asked as the two walked into her room.

Aries fell silent but she immediately shook her head. Nancy tilted her head confused at the immediate response.

"Why not?" Nancy asked plopping on her bed and patting the spot beside her.

"I mean— Steve is impractical. He doesn't believe anything that's out of the ordinary. Even if you hold the evidence in his face. He's incapable of accepting something that's different than what he imagined" Aries groaned sitting down beside the girl.

Nancy's face flashed with sadness and confusion but it quickly disappeared. "What's that all about? With you guys? Carol said you guys use to be friends, why'd it end?" Nancy asked curiously.

Nancy truly wanted to know. She was starting to pick up clues and signs that whatever was going on between them was much more than Steve let on. Maybe Aries would tell her the truth.

Aries frowned lifting her shoulders. "I mean... people grow apart. We're not the same people we originally were when we became friends. At least he's not. I just don't like the way he does or thinks about certain things. We clashed too much towards the end of our friendship." Aries sighed heavily.

For some odd reason she knew Steve didn't want her to tell Nancy why their friendship ended. So she didn't. She unknowingly still had some loyalty towards him.

"Steve can be a jerk but he's kind. At least what I've seen. I just think he tries to fit in too much. He isn't really himself." Nancy said making Aries nod in agreement.

"Exactly" the girl huffed patting on her knees awkwardly.

Nancy examined the girl noticing how she got all jittery and awkward whenever Steve was mentioned. The same exact thing Steve does when Aries is mentioned. She wasn't stupid she knew something was unresolved there.

Nancy perked up suddenly thrilled to change the topic. "So what did you want to tell me?" Nancy asked abruptly.

"Oh yeah!" Aries perked up pulling a light bulb out from her purse. She handed it to Nancy.

Nancy looked at the bulb confused then up at Aries who was just staring at her blankly nodding. "What about it?" Nancy laughed.

"Right! So I came home from the funeral and my dad's deputies were out in the front of the house so I went inside and the whole house was torn apart. Stuff was flipped over, the couch was cut up and all the lightbulbs were pulled from their sockets like my dad was looking for a bug. I just don't know why anyone would bug the house. He was acting so different and I just thought maybe this had something to do Will or Barb" Aries rambled.

Nancy's eyes lit and she shot up. "Maybe that's it! Maybe this creature was created by some sort of scientist or government official and your dad was so close to finding out the truth they bugged the house to see what he knows" Nancy said pacing around her room.

Aries narrowed her eyes watching the girl confused. Her face suddenly dropped remembering something. "Hawkins laboratory there's always rumors about weird stuff going on in there. Maybe that's what they're doing. Creating monsters" Aries was now stood up and the two girls were staring at each other proudly.

"We make a good team" Nancy smiled holding her hand up for a high five. Aries happily accepted it. "We have to make sure this theory is right though. We can't go into it blind" Aries said making Nancy nod eagerly.

"Try and get more information out of your dad and I'll do some more research on the laboratory" Nancy said as Aries nodded.

"Aries! Esme's on the phone for you!" Mrs.Wheeler yelled.

"Coming!" Aries yelled back walking out the room and down the steps. She placed the phone to her ear, "hey" Aries said adjusting the phone.

"Hi, look I can't go tonight. Ayri and Dakota broke up again and she's having a hard time. Do you want to flake with me and just hangout and try and help her feel better?" Esme asked.

Aries gnawed on her lip thinking. "Yeah sure, why not? I don't want to third wheel with Nancy and Jonathan" Aries shrugged.

"Okay see you soon" Esme said hanging up.

Aries rushed up the steps and into Nancy's room. "Minor crisis, Esme and I have to ditch tonight. Her sisters going through something and we need the whole firing squad" Aries joked grabbing her things.

"Oh no, is Ayriela okay?" Nancy asked concerned.

"Her and Dakota broke up so she's not too good right now" Aries frowned.

Nancy's face fell. "They were dating..." Nancy mumbled.

Aries stared at Nancy like she had two heads. "How did you not know? They make out everywhere and anywhere!" Aries exclaimed in disbelief.

"They do?!" Nancy gasped. "How did I not know this? Oh my gosh" Nancy exclaimed placing her hands on her face.

Aries laughed placing a hand on Nancy's shoulder. "Since you didn't know they were dating you probably didn't know they break up at least once every couples months but get back together in like a week. They're too in love with each other to stay broken up forever" Aries said as Nancy let out an exhale of relief.

"Thank gosh, now that you said it I'm starting to realize they're cute together" Nancy said as Aries smiled. "If they're so in love why do they break up all the time?" Nancy asked

"I guess love can make you crazy" Aries shrugged.

"Right... well come by tomorrow morning, Jonathan and I will fill you guys in on whatever we discover" Nancy said.

"Okay, also don't forget to tell Enzo I'm too scared to see his reaction so let me know how it goes" Aries smiled waving bye to Nancy and rushing out the home.

Enzo was no where to be found when she left so she didn't get the chance to say bye. On her drive to Esme's she wondered why she'd always ran to Ayri's beck and call even though the two didn't really like one another.

Maybe it was because she mattered to Esme so she had to matter to Aries.

authors note.

Okay I lied, here's a double update since I haven't updated in a bit 🤭Kinda a filler chapter not much going on! We did get to see some of Nancy and Aries dynamic when they're alone so that will evolve in time but as always pay attention to these interactions they'll come in handy later 🤭 also a little more of a look into Aries and Steve. AND ENZO MY LOVE!!