Sorry I’m Late Sweetheart

Update Schedule: Once A Week✨

Part 1: Late for What?

Part 2: City of Love

Part 3: Reviews

Part 4: A Little Treat

Part 5: Mr. Popular

Part 6: Places of Peace

Part 7: Swoon Worthy

Part 8: Good Hands

Part 9: Civil extra: Harry’s convo with Niall here

Part 10: Smells Good

Part 11: Bad Energy

Part 12: It’s Just Cake

Part 13: Comes in Waves

Part 14: I’m Just a Librarian

Part 15: Don’t Ruin It

Part 16: Hand Flex

Part 17: If I Was A Worm?

Part 18: Disagreement

Part 19: Welcome Home

Part 20: Not Going Anywhere

Extras:

Fan, green juice and Patrick the Pillow

Father’s Day

“And for the lady…” He starts, digging through the truck before he hops back out. He holds up a large container of cheese puffs.

Huh?

“I didn’t ask for those…?” Your statement sounds more of a question.

“Oooouuu!! Cheese puffs!” Steve exclaims, reaching a hand out to grab them. Murray slaps his hand, “They’re not for you. Y/N, I strongly suggest you take these.”

Realization finally hits you, the two of you sharing a look before you snatch them. You say a quick thank you before running inside.

You place the container on the counter, looking back to make sure nobody was coming inside before shoving your hand inside to go hunting.

Almost immediately, your hand feels a plastic box. You check one more time to make sure everybody was still outside before pulling it out.

Unopened, it came with two sticks and a long list of instructions. Pee on it, wait ten minutes, then come check on it.

One line = Not pregnant.

Two lines = Pregnant.

You stare at the box like it might explode.

Your heart is thumping so loudly you’re sure someone could hear it through the walls.

A month since you and Steve crossed that line you’d spent weeks pretending you hadn’t crossed. And now the evidence sat in that box, in form of a thin plastic test.

You set the test on the counter.

Maybe you’re just stressed? Maybe that’s why you’re late? Maybe it’ll come tomorrow? Or tonight?

In the distance, you hear Murray’s voice through the cracked window. Probably teasing Steve about something. It makes your stomach clench. Will he be happy? Sad? Mad? Will he just leave you?

You shove the box in your pocket, not bothering to clean up the cheesy, powdery snack. You make your way to the bathroom, softly closing the door behind you. You face the mirror.

Please be negative.

Please, please, please, please, please.

You peel the cardboard open like it’s sacred, eyes darting towards the door every few seconds. You pick one of the sticks up. It feels heavy in your hands, too real.

Taking a deep breathe in and holding it for a few seconds, you finally let go and open the toilet seat.

After you’re done, you put it on the bathroom counter upside down. The bathroom feels too quiet, too small, too restricting.

You sunk down, back against the door as you brought your knees up to your chest. You were shaking, a million thoughts running through your head.

Ten minutes suddenly feels like a lifetime.

A knock rattles the bathroom door.

Your heart launches in your throat. You launch up, hiding the test.

“Hey,” Steve’s voice comes through, soft and concerned. “You okay in there? You kinda just ran off.”

You swallow hard.

“Uh— I-I’m fine.” Your voice cracks. “I just needed to use the bathroom!”

“Are you crying?” Steve’s voice is closer now, even more concerned.

You can’t tell him.

Not yet.

“I’m fine.” You barely managed to say.

It’s quiet. You can tell he knows you’re lying. He could always read you like a book.

“Are you sure?” He says, this time his hand was on the doorknob.

“Y-yes!” You say, quickly putting your weight against the door so he couldn’t come in.

He hesitates, letting go. “Okay. I’ll be right out here, okay?” He speaks softly. “Take your time.”

His footsteps fade, but your pulse doesn’t.

You grab the test from where you hid it, putting it back on the counter.

Six more minutes.

You pace once.

Twice.

Your nerves buzz under your skin like electricity.

A slow, dreadful six minutes go by. Slowly, very slowly, you flip it over.

You squeeze your eyes shut.

Just look.

Just get it over with.

Just—

Your eyes snap open and the world stops.

Two lines.

Two pink, undeniable lines.

You blink a few times, rubbing your eyes to make sure they weren’t playing tricks on you.

Nope.

Maybe if you shake it?

Nope, still nothing. Just the same two lines.

The air rushes out of your lungs all at once. You stumble back, hitting the wall as the test drops.

Two lines.

Holy fuck you’re pregnant.

A tear slips down your cheek before you even notice it, then another, and another.

Steve.

What are you going to tell Steve? What about the group? Nancy? Robin? Joyce? Hopper? The kids? Dustin—

Another knock interrupts your thoughts, “Y/N?”

That wasn’t Steve.

“There’s a crawl tonight. We need you.” Nancy says, knocking again.

Shit.

-

The lights flicker on, “So, all in all, signs point to another successful crawl.”

There’s an awkward silence.

Nancy frowns, crossing her arms. “Is there a problem?”

Jonathan looks at the trio sitting by the table: Robin, Steve, and Y/N before looking back at his girlfriend.

“Uhm…” He hesitates, “No, no, I mean, I think it’s all good.

Steve talks, “Yeah, yeah, it’s good. It’s really good… it’s just uhm..”

“Zone G1 is not that exciting or Venca-y.” Robin interrupts him. “What does it have? A Circuit City, a couple of houses, and a Big Buy?”

Nancy looks offended. “Doesn’t matter. We stick to the plan and…”

Her voice keeps moving, focused and filled with words you’ve already heard what is it, 30 something times before— “pattern”, “radius”, “30 miles only”, “dont mess this up”, “more than enough time”, “staying focused”.

But it all turns into static in your ears.

Your eyes stay locked in your lap. The image of the two lines popping in your head.

Your stomach churns and all of the sudden, before you know it, you are running to the nearest trashcan and throwing up.

“Woah- woah- hey, you’re okay. You’re okay.” You hear his voice. Steve’s hand, wrapping around your hair to hold it back. The other hand rubbing up and down your back.

You hear feet shuffling, getting closer and closer. “Nervous?” Robin speaks, handing you napkins.

You wipe your mouth, still trembling, the sour taste still lingering on your tongue.

“Thanks,” you mutter, embarrassed. Everyone is staring now. Jonathan was in a different spot now, closer to offer help but not close enough to see the waste. Nancy was in the same spot, blinking like she’s mentally calculating twenty different explanations for what just happened. Robin is looking away, trying not to gag and Steve, he looks like a kicked puppy. Eyes wide as saucers as he scans you to make sure you’re okay.

“You okay?” He speaks, his hand hovering near your shoulder like he’s scared to touch you. “Is it because of the shitty plan?”

“It is not shitty!” Nancy snaps, eyebrows furrowed but then they soften when she looks back at you. “Is it?”

“N-no… It’s just those dang cheese puffs. I ate too many.”

Your excuse hangs in the air as everyone exchanges looks.

Robin squints at you. “Okay but like… you’ve eaten way more disgusting things than that before. Remember those nachos Dustin made?”

“You’re gonna make me puke again…”

“Robin.” Steve hisses, glaring at her.

“What? I’m just saying—“

“I’m fine.” You cut in quickly, forcing a small smile. “Really I’m fine.”

Nancy’s brows pinch. “You barely ate any of those,” She says carefully, suspicious.

Jonathan shoots her a look.

Nancy rolls her eyes but lays off. She wasn’t annoyed at you or because of you. She was annoyed that everybody was so oblivious. Obviously, something was going on with you.

And she was going to find out.

-

“Where’s Henderson?” Steve asks over the radio.

I look over to Mike, he shrugs.

“Anyone heard from Inspector Gadget?” Hopper asks, in full gear. He was standing next to Joyce, waiting for Dustin.

When it comes to Crawls, Steve and Dustin are in charge of keeping in touch with Hopper while he’s in the Upside Down. Steve drives, Dustin listens to the frequency. They carefully follow Hopper by his frequency, ensuring he’s safe. Sometimes you tag along, riding next to Steve or laying in the back of the van.

Everybody shakes their heads. I sigh, talking into the walkie talkie, “He’s not here.”

“Well, how am I supposed to drive and listen?”

Will immediately cuts in, hopeful. “I can do it! Right, mom?”

Joyce immediately frowns, “No.”

“But— but I know how to! I helped Dustin put togeth—“

“No! You’re not going, it’s too dangerous.” Joyce quickly dismisses her son. “Jonathan, you can do it?”

Will’s face falls. He looks at Jonathan, eyes pleading to at least try to change her mind. He doesn’t though.

“Yeah… I think I can.” He mutters.

“You think? Or you know? I can’t die out there.” Hopper asks.

Jonathan swallows, nodding before answering. “Yes. Yes I can.”

You talk into the walkie talkie, “Jonathan is gonna help you.”

A groan erupts from the other side, “Really?”

You roll your eyes, not bothering to respond. Steve and Jonathan don’t like each other. They haven’t for a while. It all started when Jonathan was taking pictures of Nancy, Steve’s girlfriend at the time. Steve broke Jonathans camera, Nancy got closer to Jonathan, and well you know the story. Although Steve was very much over Nancy Wheeler, he still held a grudge against Jonathan.

You feel a hand tap your shoulder lightly and it makes you jump. It’s Jonathan.

“Uh… Y/N?” He asks quietly, “Do you know where Nancy went? I want to say goodbye before I go.”

You look around the room quickly, confused. Nancy had been the one leading the plan, but now… she’s nowhere in sight.

“C’mon kid. We gotta go.” Hopper says, rushing him.

“I’ll find her so she can say bye over the talkie. I promise.” You say. You wish everybody a safe journey before asking Robin if she’s seen Nancy.

“Uhm…” Robin thinks for a moment. “I think she went to the bathroom?”

Your throat tightens. You can’t speak.

What if she finds the pregnancy test?

You buried it deep, deep, in the trash in a rush because of the crawl. But what if it wasn’t deep, deep? What if it was poking out and she saw it? What if she went through the trashcan? What if I didn’t hide it? What if it was just sitting on the counter?

You take off running to the bathroom, not a word to Robin. You begin knocking like a crazy woman.

“Mike! Hold on—“

“It’s Y/N.”

She stays quiet.

She knows.

She definitely knows.

Can the ground just open up and swallow you whole?

The door opens, and she stares at you. A sympathetic look on her face. That’s all it took for you to burst into tears.

Nancy’s face softens instantly. She doesn’t hesitate, softly grabbing your shoulders and pulling you inside. She closes the door.

“Hey, hey… it’s okay. It’s okay Y/N.” She whispers, even though neither of you believed that.

You’re already shaking your head, tears flooding down your cheeks. “Nance— I— I didn’t want anyone to know, I swear— Steve doesn’t know and now he’s gone—“

Your breath hitches, your words collapsing into a sob.

Nancy grabs the rag hanging off the hook, dabbing your tears away. “Hey, hey. Look, it’s okay. You’re not alone.”

You squeeze your eyes shut, “I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“Y/N… we all would’ve helped you and supported you. We love you.”

Her gentle words make you cry even more, heart beating fast. “Please don’t tell anyone. Please.”

She nods. “I won’t.”

“I just— what am I supposed to do? I can’t have a baby. Not now— with Vecna out there? With the quarantine? I can’t— I can’t—“

Then the lights start flickering.

The both of you freeze, staring at the lightbulb in the bathroom.

The lights die all at once.

Nancy’s grip tightens around your wrist. She says your name, barely above a whisper. You nod even though she can’t see you, your pulse pounding violently.

Then—

A scream.

Nancy reacts first, yanking the door open. You stumble out with her.

Will Byers is on his back, his mom behind him and comforting him. She’s whispering sweet nothings as he’s shaking violently, sweat forming on his forehead. The only source of light coming from Robin’s flashlight.

“I saw it.”

Joyce furrows her brows, “Saw what?”

“The Demogorgan.” Will says, a shiver going down his spine.

Joyce looks even more confused.

“It’s coming. It’s coming for them.” He sobs.

Joyce grabs his face, “For who? Who’s them?”

Will slowly turns, still shaking. His eyes land on Nancy.

Nancy goes pale instantly.

-

The car rattles as Nancy speeds down the road, knuckles white around the wheel. Eleven is sitting in the passenger seat, her hoodie on so she doesn’t get spotted. You’re in the back, curled forward, hands shaking around your belt.

The Demogorgan was going after the Wheelers.

Nancy keeps glancing at you through the mirror. Every time you catch her, she looks away. She’s trying not to panic, you can tell.

Turning onto the Wheelers house street, you can see the lights flickering in the house.

Eleven suddenly sits up straighter.

“It’s here.”

Nancy pulls into the side of the house, slamming on the brakes. You all rush out, Nancy holding a shotgun and you holding Steve’s bat.

Eleven swings open the door with her powers. You all walk in, making sure to be quiet but fast.

The house is eerily silent.

“Mom?” Nancy chokes out. She’s shaking. She’s trying her best not to, but she can’t even hold the gun right. You touch her shoulder softly causing her to jump. You give her your best, “It’s going to be okay look”.

It seems like she didn’t really appreciate that because instead of smiling or saying a thank you, she looks grossed out and scared all in one.

What the hell did you do to this bitc—

Nancy shoves you out of the way, landing to your knees. You can barely process what happened before a shot is sent and your ears are ringing.

You fall onto your back, blood turning into ice when you hear that all too familiar growl.

That tall, impossibly tall, figure steps out of the shadows and pushes Nancy away.

You scream, grabbing the nailed bat. You swing at the creature, only hitting it once before it slapped the bat away. Eleven shouts, using her force to push the Demogorgan away. She rushes to you, trying to help you up. Nancy is near the doorway, her arm is cut up pretty bad from the claws. She still tries her best to load the gun anyways.

She holds the gun up, aiming.

It’s quiet once again.

Too quiet.

Then there’s a crash above your head and before you know it, the creature has you by your leg.

You claw at the floor, nails scraping the wood.

Nancy grabs your arm, trying to pull you back, “ELEVEN!! STOP IT!”

The monster yanks and the force sends Nancy on her back.

Your body is dragged across the floor, you’re trying everything you can to get out. Clawing at anything.

The last thing you hear is Nancy sobbing your name.