Steve let out a sigh, stopping in front of the Newby's house before realizing there wasn't anyone at home.

"Shit." He looked around, wondering where Armani's dad could be. Steve looked down, seeing keys in Armani's open bag. Taking the silver, he stepped out of the car. The sky was dark, the only signs of life at this hour seemed to be seven crows, standing on top of the power line.

He walked towards the house and attempted the keys, "Yeah okay, Steve. Great Idea. Help your drunk..friend. Into her house huh? This is technically breaking in. Her dad's not even home. She could get kidnapped. She could die! She could–" the crows rang simultaneously, their wings flapped and Steve flinched. "Shit!" he yelled, finally opening the door and turning on the light to the house, it wasn't nearly as torn as the Byer's, but definitely not the Wheelers, or his, house.

He went back to the car, picking up the sleeping girl and carrying her inside.

Steve looked inside the living room, which had RadioShack boxes sprawled all over the couch, he turned into the hallway and looked through the doors before finally finding Armani's bedroom.

He set her down and covered her with a blanket, only a street light through the window illuminated the room, casting shadows on the sleeping girls face. It was the first time in a while the boy actually looked at her with full attention, no distractions. He seemed to get lost in his own thoughts, realizing everything about her that he never noticed before.

Steve's attention moved from the girl before his mind consumed him and, with peaked interest, he glazed around her room. It was an azure color, trinkets and decorations gave way to her hobbies. He knew from the year before that Armani was into photography, so it wasn't a surprise for him to find pictures she had taken of people she cared about.

He approached the wall where pictures hung from a string, eyes bouncing from one to the next. An abundance of pictures with Sage and Bob in them. He found a couple that he was in, but he looked younger. They were taken before he was subjected to the truth that was the upside down, before he and Armani seemed to part ways. There were plenty more, but he saw three sprawled on the floor that seemed to draw his attention towards them.

The first one, a picture of Armani by herself, she held a sunflower in her hands and a big smile on her face. Under the film was written in messy handwriting 'before.'

The second picture was one of Barbara, Armani, Sage, Jason and himself, on the day of his party last year. It had a stain like she had spilled a drink on it, the marker was hardly legible, it read 'last one.'

The third photograph was one just Armani again, but it wasn't taken by the same camera, it wasn't film either. It had been developed. It was at an angle he recognized, and taken in his backyard, by Jonathan Byers no doubt.

Armani seemed scared, she was looking behind the pool and into the woods nearby. On the back was written, 'after. Find Barb'

Steve dropped the photos back down, after the Upside Down thing last year, he had left most of his old friends, only relying on Nancy. "Shit" he whispered, realizing that Barbara's disappearance had not only hurt Nancy and Barb's parents, but Armani too. It made sense that after losing her mother the girl wouldn't want to lose anyone else.

Steve sighed, looking back to the sleeping brunette before crawling into bed with her, he didn't want to leave her alone, and it would be weird if he stayed in a guest room and the couch was full to the brim with boxes. He covered himself up and faced the opposite direction, before turning over and falling asleep.

—

""

Armani's voice caused the boy to stir, he opened his eyes and sat up, an alarm clock sat on the bedside table ringing a sharp tune.

"Shit" he looked over at Armani who held a hand to her head. "Hey. Mani. Um, funny story" he turned and shut off the loud alarm

"What the hell are you doing here? Why am I at my house?" The girl stood up quickly, causing her head to spin and pain shoot through it.

Steve's brows furrowed, "what do you mean? Aren't you supposed to be at your house?"

"No! Oh shit" she looked around the room quickly, slipping off her shorts and on a pair of jeans. "My dad's gonna kill me!" She muttered, finding a pale yellow graphic tee, she unbuttoned her costume shirt and put on the other one.

Steve's eyes were wide, he hadn't expected her to change infront of him, he sat on the bed, motionless until Armani looked up at him. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"What the hell are we doing here?" She asked, checking the time on the clock as she slipped on her socks and shoes.

"Hey, hey. Hey. Armani. Hey. Slow down" Steve stood up, placing his hands on her shoulder. "Listen. You got too drunk at the party, remember? I brought you here before you got hurt. Remember last night?" he said softly, their eyes connected and her breath hitched.

"I-I remember Billy" she lifted her bruised arm, "and, uh, dancing. Yeah. Then I think I went to talk to Jonathan but I thought he took me back to his home. That's were dad and I were spending the night" her voice tremulous as the pain pounded her head.

"You were uh- having a bad talk with Jonathan. I took you here, why would you go home with him?" Steve asked.

"Dad, he wants us to be a real family with th-" she was beginning to explain before hearing a horn honk outside the house.

The two teens looked out the window, eyes wide as Jim Hopper stepped out, followed by Bob Newby.

"Fuck" she turned to the mirror and combed a hand through her hair before turning to Steve. "Listen. Go unmake the bed in the guest room. Come downstairs but go along with me," she said before rushing through the hall as the knock on the door rang through the house.

"Hi dad.." Armani grinned through the pain in her head as she opened the door, only to meet two unhappy men on the other side. "Listen, I know what you're about to say. Why am I here instead of at the Byers, right? It's a really funny story actually" she said in nervous laughter, Steve walked into the living room, a weak smile on his face as Bob and Hopper's eyes widened.

"You!" Hopper boomed, "what are you doing here, Steven?!" Bob asked, the two men walking past Armani and up to a nervous Steve.

"Woah woah. Hey guys, listen. I know what this looks like but I promise you it's not that." Steve looked past them to Armani, who stepped up.

"Y-Yeah. I got my arm slammed on the car door infront of the Harringtons house while the kids were trick or treating! I let Jonathan go on with Will and his friends, Steve offered to help me!" She lifted her arm up to show the bruise.

Bob turned around "Armani I was worried sick! Joyce and I called the cops! Why didn't you come home after you got your arm fixed up?"

"Dad, I did come home, that other house is not my home. I'm sorry I felt like I was intruding into you and Joyce Byer's personal time"

"So what? You, You come back here with a guy I didn't even know you talked to anymore? Steven Harrington of all people? Why did he have to stay the night?" The middle aged man's eyes were tired, his tone exasperated and worried, with no hints of anger.

Steve stepped forward, "I'm sorry Mr. Newby, I saw that no one else was home, what happened to Barb last year.. I thought it would be best for me to atleast stay. I don't think either of us wanted you to be worried" he motioned to himself and Armani.

With a deep sigh, Hopper gruffed, "Alright, I think i'm done here." He left the house, only turning once he had reached the door.

"Thank you, Jim." Bob gave him a weak smile.

Hopper only nodded, "I'll pass by Joyce's work and tell her the girl's fine" he said, closing the door behind him and leaving the three alone.

"Dad, I'm fine. I'm sorry you got worked up" she hung her head low, looking at the ground as the adult sighed.

"It's fine. You're okay, that's all that matters" he stepped closer and encased his daughter in a hug. "I've got Will in my car, I'm taking him to school after this."

Armani pulled away, looking past the window to the car. "Go ahead. I'm not even ready to go yet. I don't want him to be late"

"i'll take her" Steve offered, a small grin on his face as Bob seemed to ponder the idea.

"Yeah, okay. just don't be late" he added, giving his daughter one last peck on the forehead before turning to Steve. "Thank you. For taking care of her, i mean"

Steve's face seemed to turn an almost unnoticeable shade of pink, but Armani's father noticed. "Y-Yeah. No problem. It's no problem, Mr. Newby."

Bob's face spread into a mischievous smile, "call me Bob" he patted Steve on the back, turning to his daughter, "i like him" he nodded, giving a last wave to his daughter before heading out the door and into the car.

"He likes me" Steve said in mock cockiness, Armani rolled her eyes.

"yeah" she turned and found her bag, stuffing a couple folders into it before she finished readying herself.

"I think we have alot to talk about, Steve Harrington" the girl inquired.

Steve gave her a nod, "Barb. Last night. Everything else. Yeah, we do" he agreed.

The two left the house, climbing into his car they made their way to the school, the silence filled with Steve's explanations.

✧ ✧ ✧