Work Text:
Nancy Wheeler was pretty sure Chrissy Cunningham hates her.
Honestly, she has no idea as to why Chrissy has been looking at her like she killed someone’s dog, but for the past week or so, since the latest Upside Down debacle, hateful eyes have made its way onto Nancy’s back during every passing. Whispers too. Especially from Chrissy’s gang of cheerleaders, who Nancy has no doubt was roped into Chrissy’s plans. They congregate, surrounding the lockers by Nancy’s, just…whispering. Probably about her, as the stolen glances, looking her up and down seem to indicate.
It's honestly really odd. They stand like that until Nancy shuts her locker to go to her next class, linking arms with Jonathan as they make their way down to Ms. Click’s. The whispering stops, and all the cheerleaders stare silently as the two walk away. Nancy finds herself clutching Jonathan’s arm, the boy looking down at her in worry as they make their way down.
“You ok?” He asks, patting her arm in comfort.
“...yeah.” Nancy said, glancing back down the hallway. She makes eye contact with Chrissy, who narrows her eyes and sets her jaw in response. Nancy turns hurriedly back around, avoiding Jonathan’s worried gaze. “Totally.”
—---------------------
The stares and gossip just don’t stop in the halls. They follow her all around school. Jennifer and Ashley sit behind her in Mr. Morrow’s class, the two whispering back and forth so often that Mr. Morrow ends up scolding them for their disruption of class, something they glare at Nancy for, as if she had been the one to tell on them.
Denise gives her a side eye as Nancy washes her hands, her mouth upturning in a sneer as she adjusts her makeup. From the sidelines, waiting for Denise to finish, is Tiffany and Megan, who stare nastily at Nancy. She’s never washed her hands so fast in her life, rushing out of the bathroom without even drying her hands.
All these eyes on her are unnerving. And Nancy just knows that Chrissy Cunningham is the ringleader behind it.
But why?
—---------------------
Nancy’s walking down for lunch when she stumbles into Steve, who’s putting something in his own locker. He slams the door shut, making sure it's locked before he turns to Nancy, a small smile making its way up his face.
“Hey Nance.” He says, giving a small wave. “Heading to lunch?”
“Yeah.” Nancy said, returning the greeting. “Want to join us?”
Word has made its way around Hawkins about how Billy beat Steve up last week, the former ‘King’ of Hawkins High being removed swiftly from his throne. Steve has the matching scars and bruises to match the story, and no one tries to protest otherwise. Even Steve, who seems content with his new situation, even though he’s been subject to ridicule since he came back to school.
Steve’s eyes widen at the question, his face twisting, for a second, in silent shock, before it returns to normal. The same old cocky smile he always has ingrained on his face. “Sure Nance. Join you and Jonathan, right?”
Nancy nods, and the two make their way to the cafeteria in silence.
—---------------------
As they walk into the Cafeteria, they find themselves stalling. Nancy scanning happily for Jonathan, the events of earlier long forgotten. Steve on the other hand, was looking in a tense motion, scanning around the area to try and spy Billy, or Tommy, or any of their douchebag friends for that matter,
Spying Jonathan, she waved at him, and he returned the wave with a big smile, motioning at the table beside them, filled with other journalist club members. Nancy tugged on Steve’s sleeve, snapping him out of his moment. He waved at Jonathan, to which the boy returned the sentiment, albeit less enthusiastic.
Nancy and Steve had not even made it five steps towards the table when none other than Chrissy Cunnningham stepped in their way, hands on her hips and a defiant look on her face.
“Stevie! Wheeler.” She greeted, her face lighting up when she greeted Steve and darkening at Nancy’s. She looked Nancy up and down, a cold glare beginning to form on her face. Despite being shorter than Nancy, Chrissy really knew how to intimidate a girl. Nancy found herself self-consciously picking at her sleeves, trying to place her mind anywhere besides this moment.
“Chrissy.” She returned.
Chrissy smiled. A fake one, the light not really reaching her eyes. Seemingly reveling in Nancy’s discomfort.
“So Stevie. Come sit with me and the girls.” Chrissy said, an actual, real smile finding its way towards Steve. “We’ve saved you a seat.”
Steve opened his mouth slightly, looking for an answer to give to her. He glanced towards Nancy, seemingly asking her for assistance, to which Nancy averted her eyes. No way was she getting more involved with Chrissy than she had to be.
Steve sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Ok Chris. Lead the way.”
Chrissy beamed, skipping over to the table with Steve in tow. “See ya later, Nance.” He called out. Chrissy only stared.
Nancy found it crazy how she could slip between the two emotions in an instant.
—---------------------
“What was that?” Jonathan asked, watching as Chrissy and Steve walked off to sit by the other cheerleaders, who surrounded him in a protective bubble. They kept on sneaking glances towards Nancy and their table, and embarrassed, Jonathan averted his eyes only to be met with Nancy’s troubled face.
She slammed her lunch on the table, ignoring how Fred jolted up from his book upon hearing it. He and Jonathan shared a look, slowly watching as Nancy’s face went from troubled to frustrated.
“...You ok?” Fred tentatively asked, putting down the book in his hands.
“Yeah.” Nancy said. “It’s just… I think Chrissy has something against me. All day she and her little posse have been giving me side eyes and whispering about me.”
“What?” Jonathan said right as Fred nodded. “Yep. I’ve been hearing about that.”
“Huh?” Both Jonathan and Nancy responded, turning their faces to stare at the young boy. “You have?”
“Yeah.” Fred replied. “They’ve been upset about you breaking Steve’s heart or whatnot.”
Nancy scoffed. “It was mutual.”
Nancy rolled her eyes, busying herself with eating her lunch.
Whatever. Chrissy didn’t even know the full story anyways.
—---------------------
After school, Nancy found herself in a rare state of idleness. She had finished the latest layout for the school newspaper, and until Jonathan finished up taking the photos, she was set. So, Nancy decided to walk out and wait for Jonathan by his car. As the norm since the two had gotten together, he would drive her home every day until she finally managed to get her license.
Nancy navigated the grey concrete, making her way down the lot, when she spotted Steve standing by his car. Probably waiting for someone too. She froze as none other than Chrissy Cunningham herself walked out of the gym doors, probably just getting done with cheer practice, and made her way towards Steve. The two were very clearly close with one another, Chrissy laughing at something Steve said as he grabbed her bags. As Steve loaded them up, Chrissy turned, smile dropping as she made eye contact with Nancy.
And in an action that seemed to become a habit since Nancy had arrived back to school, she ran.
—---------------------
Smoking, swirling black smoke climbs into the air, ash falling amongst the dying embers of the Starcourt mall fire.
Nancy leaned on Jonathan, holding on tight to his hand. Yet another year, yet another ‘tragedy’. Her mom had just finished fussing over her, ruffling her hair and yelling at the EMTs before she moved on to torture Mike, who was trying in vain to comfort a sobbing El.
The atmosphere was so grey, so bleak, that Nancy couldn’t have missed when the bright red hair of Chrissy Cunningham stormed onto the scene.
Of course.
She marched up, fists clenched, to the ambulance where Steve and Robin were being evaluated. They talked for a short while, Chrissy seemingly emphasizing something about Steve’s injuries before she gave up and visibly deflated.
A couple of minutes later, Chrissy somehow managed to get Steve out of being held by the EMTs for other lasting injuries. They walked across the lot, Steve leaning on Chrissy for support, as they made their way to the girls car.
Steve mentioned something to Chrissy, and she scanned her eyes across the area, her gaze resting and tensing for just a moment too long on Nancy, before they were back looking around.
“ROBIN!” Chrissy yelled, causing the girl to jolt up in surprise. “GET IN.”
Chrissy waved Robin over, who excitedly took up the pair on their offer, all but launching herself into the back seat.
That was…odd. Nancy never knew that Chrissy knew Robin.
Did that mean that… Robin was like Chrissy? In that they hated her?
—---------------------
Three weeks after the Starcourt Mall fire, Chrissy Cunningham cornered Nancy Wheeler in aisle nine of Melvald’s general store.
“Wheeler.”
“Cunningham.”
“So what brings you here?” Chrissy asked, a mean smile growing on her face. “Hanging out with that stupid boyfriend of yours?”
“Why do you even care?” Nancy said. “Jealous?”
Chrissy laughed, running a hand through her hair that subtly reminded Nancy of the way Steve did the same action.
Odd.
“Like hell I am.” Chrissy said. “I’m just… interested.”
“Interested in what?”
“Why a girl like you decided to cheat on Steve for…Jonathan Byers, of all people. A nobody. A creep.”
“He’s not a creep.” Nancy tried to defend.
“Really? And did he not take unconsensual pictures of you while you were at a party?” Chrissy asked, an eyebrow raising.
Nancy crossed her arms. “...he had his reasons.”
“Sure.” Chrissy said, rolling her eyes and grabbing a roll of tape off the shelf. “Sure.”
“Is this really why you’ve been sending your teammates after me? Cause you upset that I dumped Steve? Our breakup was mutual.” Nancy said.
“I wouldn’t call saying that Steve’s bullshit a ‘mutual breakup.’” Chrissy said, doing air quotations to match her words.
Nancy’s heart dropped. Did Steve seriously tell Chrissy about what had happened?
“Did he tell you that?”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Chrissy mused. “The fact of the matter is that I know, Wheeler. And I’m not one to let go easily.”
Nancy scoffed. “Well you better. I think you need to get over this stupid idea. Steve and I are friends now, and I don’t need some wannabe girlfriend tormenting me when the man himself has already accepted it.”
Nancy stormed by, smiling slightly when Chrissy bristled as she passed.
That’ll show her.
—---------------------
Wannabe girlfriend? God. Wheeler did not get it at all.
—---------------------
Ever since her sophomore year of high school, Chrissy Cunningham has hated Nancy Wheeler.
But now she was here, face to face with her and her little troupe. And if Chrissy wasn’t now fated to die by some sort of interdimensional space wizard, she would have booked it out of there. Escape the problem before she starts a fight again.
But she can’t do that. So Chrissy can only glower, shooting the occasional glare at Nancy.
Great. What a spring break.
—---------------------
“Ok.” A small child with curly hair, Dustin, Chrissy believed to be, said. “So, we have our superpowered friend El, who was a lab experiment but now lives with the Byers, but she’s in California.”
“So we’re kinda on our own for this one.” A young redhead girl pointed out. Max, if Steve’s stories were anything to go by.
Beside her, Eddie nodded rapidly, absorbing every possible piece of information he could. His eyes, despite the dire situation they were in, sparkled with delight. It cracked a small smile on Chrissy’s face, which she quickly hid away before anyone could notice.
“And then there’s the Mind flayer, who’s like the big bad of it all.” Dustin continued.
The words registered in her already distracted mind (Curse you, Eddie Munson), and before Chrissy could stop herself, she blurted out: “Oh, like the one that attacked you in the mall?”
The other kids froze, Chrissy recognizing her mistake. Whoops.
“What…how?” Dustin sputtered, his hands waving around in shock.
“How do you know that?” Max continued, picking up the slack for her friend.
Chrissy noticed out of the corner of her eye as Nancy appeared to have an epiphany, slowly turning her head towards Steve, a menacing expression on her face. To Steve’s credit, he tried his best to cower beside Robin, but it did not work.
“Steve.” Nancy stated. “Did you tell her?”
“WHAT?!” The kids exclaimed, their voices quickly filling up the shabby remains of Reefer Rick’s shack. “YOU TOLD–HOW COULD YOU–THE PARTY RULES–STEVE THE RULES–CMON MAN.”
“Yes.” Chrissy said, trying to take the eyes and yelling off of him. “He told me. We tell each other a lot.”
“Why would he do that?” The other young boy, Lucas, asked. “No offense Chrissy, just wondering.”
Chrissy shrugged. “None taken.”
Nancy rolled her eyes, shooting a side eye at Steve once more. “Probably because they like each other.”
“WHAT?!” Dustin exclaimed. “Steve why didn’t you tell me! I would’ve stopped egging you to get together with Robin if I had knew.”
Steve pushed a hand through his head, ruffling his hair. He turned a pointed look at Dustin. “Dude. First, you should stop that anyways. Me and Robin are platonic.”
“With a capital P!” Robin exclaimed.
“Exactly. And secondly, Nance, me and Chrissy don’t like each other in that way.”
“Then tell me why she literally called me out in the middle of Melvalds for dumping you.”
“God Wheeler.” Chrissy argued back. “Still don’t think you were in the wrong, do you.”
“And you aren’t for siccing your cheerleader pals on me?”
“I merely told them the details. They did the dirty work.” Chrissy said, a sneer on her face. “Besides, what do you care that Stevie tells me stuff? Jealous of me aren’t ya?”
“I swear to god Cunningham if you weren’t targeted by Vecna right now.”
“I could beat you any day, Wheeler.”
Steve and the others' eyes flew back and forth, watching as the two girls duked it out. Max looked up at Steve expectantly, as if urging him to end the fight before something drastic happened.
“OK!” Steve yelled, holding out his hands to stop the bickering. “Let’s get this straight. Nance, I had every right to tell people about our breakup, especially Chrissy, my cousin.”
“You’re what?”
“Yep!” Chrissy assured, another lazy grin spreading across her face. “Stevie’s my cousin. So of course i’m protective over him, especially over the bitch who decided to dump him for another man.”
Ha. Take that Wheeler.
Nancy, for one of the first times in her life, was at a loss for words. Cousins? They were cousins?
Nancy Wheeler, detective extraordinaire, was dead wrong.
Maybe she owed Chrissy an apology…just maybe. But with that blasted smirk on the girl’s face, Nancy was sure Chrissy would probably never get it.
—---------------------