.

Nancy couldn't believe that after all this, Tommy and Carol would still be bugging poor Jonathan. She meant what she had said. Sure, he had taking those photos, but that was i the past. Nancy has forgiving the guy a long time ago. Looking at him now, her old feelings for him suddenly washed in over her, like a warm wave. She quickly tried to dismiss them; it was always the same thing she said to herself, she was with Steve now, a popular, handsome, good guy, she had a good reputation with him. But she loved Jonathan still.. She was quite sure of it. But they could never be together, could they? Jonathan wasn't popular like Steve, but he was a wonderful person. Sure, he was shy and a bit anti social, but that was one of the many things that she loved about him. But no.. She was quite sure that it would be best for them both to keep their feelings for each other hidden. Who said that Jonathan felt anything for her anymore? After what she did, going back to Steve? No, being with Steve was playing it safe, and playing it safe was what Nancy Wheeler did.

Nancy was about to turn around and walk away, after Tommy and Carol had just left- she figured they didn't want any trouble with her boyfriend, Steve, when a quiet voice she knew so well, said "Thanks"

She smiled at him and left, her chest aching.

"How was your day?" Nancy's mother asked.

"It was okay, we had a history test, but it went well" Nancy said.

"That's great, honey. What about you, Mike.. What did you do?"

"Dustin fell and hit his head, so an ambulance had to come and get him" Nancy's little brother, Mike said.

Mike had had a hard time last year as well. His new best friend, Eleven had vanished. Maybe she was dead, but Nancy didn't dare tell her brother.

"Oh no, honey, that's awful.. Is he ok?"

"Yeah, we'll play with Lucas and Will later tonight, they're coming over. That's ok, right?"

"Of course. What about you, Nance? What are you gonna do?"

"Steve's coming over, if that's ok?"

It was okay with Nancy's mother. Steve used to crawl in Nancy's bedroom window, but now that Nancy's mother knew that Steve was her boyfriend, it was ok for him to come in through the front door, like normal people.

"Hi, Nance" Steve said and gave Nancy a lingering kiss. She loved kissing him, but lately, when they kissed, she tried hard not to think of someone else's lips; Jonathan Byers' lips.

"Hi, Steve. Let's go upstairs to my room" Nancy said and gave him a sweet smile. Why was it that today of all days, she couldn't stop thinking about HIM?"

Nancy and Steve were lying on Nancy's bed. Nancy just wanted to talk, but like always, it seemed that Steve had other things on his mind. Nancy wasn't in the mood.

"Quit it, Steve. I wanna talk"

"Okay. What about we take some clothes off, and then we talk afterwards?" He said and smiled. He was charming, he really was.

"I just don't understand why Tommy and Carol keep bullying Jonathan. He's been through enough don't you think? You should have seen his eyes today" Nancy said, and sighed, suddenly afraid that her emotions would betray her.

"Well, we can't really do anything, Nance. He is a weirdo, you know"

"Steve! Shut up! I don't want you talking about him like that!" Nancy said.

"What? Why not? He is!" Understanding showed in Steve's eyes.

Nancy knew what was coming now.

"You like him, don't you? That's why you're like this. You have a crush on the guy! God, I can't believe I have been this blind. All along it's been him, hasn't it? You don't care about me!"

Steve looked really hurt.

"That's not true, Steve and you know it. I love you! It's not like that. I like Jonathan, yes, but as a friend" Nancy hated to lie, but she didn't know what to do. She did love Steve, but she also loved Jonathan.

"Go to hell Nancy" Steve said and left. Nancy didn't go after him, cause she knew now that there was nothing to do. She had screwed up, she had screwed it all up.