CARLA HAD NEVER WISHED THE SCHOOL DAY WAS OVER AS MUCH AS SHE DID TODAY.

She wouldn't have to deal with the glances everyone was giving, or the whispers and pointing fingers. She wouldn't have to twist and turn corners just so she didn't have to run into her sister and Steve.

It still hurt, what she'd told Steve. God, why did it hurt so much? She hadn't talked to her ex since the break-up and had been living her life without him for a while now, but letting him go again hurt. It really hurt.

Maybe it was because Carla Wheeler was dumb enough to believe she could actually be friends again with Steve Harrington. That she'd be able to ignore her romantic feelings and turn them into platonic, to look at the boy without feeling some pang of wanting.

Turns out, she couldn't.

Going to the party had been a stupid decision. Whether or not she needed the small breather, it was wrong. If she hadn't gone to the party, she wouldn't have been tossed in the pool, meaning she wouldn't have needed the change of clothes. The kiss would have never happened and she wouldn't have had to say goodbye.

But, it was too late to change the past. Now, Carla would have to deal with the consequences of the future because of it.

Currently, the Wheeler found herself exiting the school building, hoping that she'd find Jonathan Byers waiting in his car for her. He'd left at lunch once more—more than likely to check on his mother, who she'd heard had gotten slightly worse. More hysterical, claiming she'd heard Will in the lights.

It was all a little crazy sounding, but honestly, Carla wasn't so hesitant that what Joyce was saying was entirely a lie. Maybe she was being crazy too, but after her nightmare......she felt like maybe the whole Will situation was more than just a missing case. That maybe, something had really happened, something that maybe caused him to talk it lights.

Yeah, Carla was definitely a little crazy.

Following other teens out the front door, the brunette is quick to scan around the parking lot for the 1971 Ford Galaxie 500 she'd grown accustom too. The girl was quick to find the vehicle, but was also quick to spot the group of five staring down the owner, something that Carla did not like at all.

Jonathan Byers had been the target of bullies since day one. His family was poor, and he was known as the school-wide freak. Carla knew this and while she was always at his side to defend him....she knew he'd always have the reputation.

His main bullies happened to be the popular kids—the rich kids, who lived in the Loch Nora and didn't have to work late night shifts to support themselves. Kids like Steve Harrington, Tommy Hagan and Carol Perkins.

So, when Carla noticed said teens—as well as Nicole, and her sister—standing across from the Byers' boy, she was quick to storm over to her friend. Even if she was slightly upset with him about the whole 'stalking' situation, she wasn't about to let him get bullied. Carla wasn't that person.

Walking towards the teens, her eyes quickly widened when she noticed what Steve Harrington was holding in the palm of his hand; Jonathan's camera—his most prized possession.

Six hours ago, Carla was saddened by the boy, but now, she was just pissed off at him. Steve had no right to take the Byers' camera.

"Hey!" the Wheeler called out as she approached, looking between the loner boy and the popular teens. She didn't know what was going on, but clearly, Jonathan was being ganged up on. Eyeing Steve, she asked, "What the hell is wrong with you? Give the camera back."

Steve continued to grasp the item, replying with, "I thought we weren't on speaking terms. Either way, why should I listen to you? You're a stranger."

Sure, she had stated that it would be best if they were strangers, but honestly, she didn't care about that right now. All Carla wanted was for Steve to just give the goddamn camera back. "Give the camera back, Steve."

Tommy let out a sneer, "And why would we do that, Carlie?"

"Because it's not his to play around with!" the Wheeler exclaimed, sending glare towards the boy holding the item. She then looked around at the group, who all seemed to be on Steve's side of whatever argument had happened. They didn't seem to care whether or not Jonathan got his camera back—even Nancy. Tommy and Carol had changed her for the worse.

Carol let out a laugh, "Like, you?"

"Leave her out of this." Jonathan spoke up, not wanting to involve his friend in the mess he'd made. She didn't know he'd taken photos of the night before, and had never planned on anyone finding out he had.

Steve gave a dry laugh, "Why? Because you don't want her to know you were taking pervy photos of her last night?" His words caused the Wheeler girl to turn towards her friend with her mouth slightly ajar. She knew he'd seen everything but....he took photos too?

As Jonathan turned away in shame, not wanting to meet his friends gaze, Steve continued, "See, you can tell he knows it was wrong, but....Man that's the thing about perverts. It's hardwired into 'em. You know, they just can't help themselves."

Carla let out a huff. She was upset with Jonathan to do such a creepy thing—watching them was one thing, but taking photos was another—but she was also still mad at Steve for taking the camera. "Steve, just give him the camera back and go."

"I think you're gonna change your mind after you see the photos your creep of a friend took last night." the Harrington takes the pile of photos from Carol's hands and hands them over to the Wheeler. The brunette takes her time, examining each one.

The first; her standing in front of the pool, the light casting a glow over her features. The second; her coming up from the pool, Tommy laughing. The third; her and Carol playing a game of chicken.

Carla skimmed over a few more, each of them a different moment from the party until finally finding what Steve was talking about.

Carla's mouth went slightly ajar as she looked over the images. There was one of her undressing in front of Steve's window, her figure being covered by nothing but her bra and underwear—another showing her putting the t-shirt over her head.

These were bad. Skimming past them, she could see similar photos involving her sister, which made Carla Wheeler more upset. Jonathan hadn't just taken vulnerable photos of her—he'd done it to Nancy too.

But, she was soon to learn that those weren't the worst of it.

Feeling a slight nudge, Carla looks up from the photos to see Steve in front of her. He then pulls another picture from his pocket and hands it over, watching as her breath hitches at the sight.

Jonathan had taken a picture of their kiss. A picture that everyone could have seen. God, Carla prayed that Steve had been the first to shuffle through the photos—that he'd shoved this photo in his pocket the minute he'd noticed it.

Looking back up at the boy, the two shared a small glance before Carla screwed her eyes shut. Shoving the photos into Steve's chest, she muttered, "Just—just give the camera back."

"I disagree." Steve replied, arguing against his ex. He held the camera out slightly, one wrong move away from dropping it. "My solution.....we're just gonna have to take away his toy."

Nancy finally spoke up with a small mutter, "Steve...."

"No, please, not the camera." Jonathan cried out in desperation. He knew that Steve wouldn't take this lightly, but he really cherished that camera—hell, he hadn't even been the one to buy it. Carla had gifted it to him the year prior. "Please, Carla got me that—"

The Byers boy stepped forward to try and grab his camera back, only to get stopped by Tommy, who came forward, keeping the boy from stealing it back. Carla watched, lips pursed. She knew she shouldn't just stand by, but she wasn't quite over the fact that Jonathan had taken photos of everything. Did he deserve to get let go so easily?

"No, no, wait, wait....Tommy, Tommy." Steve stops the Hagan, the boy moving to the side to allow his friend through. The Harrington does so, stepping forward with the camera outstretched to Jonathan, as if he were going to return it. "It's okay. Here you go, man."

The Wheeler crosses her arms over her chest, watching with an unsure expression. There was no way Steve was actually going to give Jonathan the camera back—not after making such a scene about the pictures. It wouldn't be very top dog of him either.

And, she was right. When Jonathan reached for his camera, Steve let it fall from his grasp—the item rolling off of his fingers and on to the ground, pieces of the device breaking as it hit the pavement.

Jonathan's face fell as he heard the small clink. There was no way he'd be able to pay for it to be fixed—let alone buy a new one. He'd have to work more shifts than he could manage to even get close.

"What's wrong with you?" the Wheeler girl exclaimed, looking at Steve with clear frustration. She knew it was wrong of Jonathan to take the photos, and sure, breaking the camera ensured he wouldn't be able to take any more but....Carla knew how much loved the thing—the bone crushing hug he'd given her that Christmas coming to mind. "You know he can't buy another one. Wasn't calling him out enough? Or do you need to boost your ego even more?"

"You think there's something wrong with me?" Steve fired back, growing slightly upset that she was still defending the Byers boy. "I wasn't the one taking pervy photos of us! But, then again, I'm not surprised you're defending him. You two have always been rather close."

Carla scoffed, "Is all that hairspray causing you brain-fog? How many times do I have to go over the fact that me and Jonathan are friends. No wonder all your friends are more like fucking-followers—you don't understand the concept of friendship."

"At least I have more than just the freak as my friend." the Harrington retorted.

Before she could even stop herself, Carla snapped, "I'd rather be friends with him than anything with you."

Steve's expression only faltered for a moment before he spat back, "And I'd rather be with Nancy than you. At least she knows how to say I love you."

"Steve—" Nancy reprimands, a frown on her face.

"No, it's okay, Nance." Carla tries to keep her expression unwavering, but as she speaks, her lip slightly trembles, "I'm glad we're on the same page, Steve, because let me tell you, as of now, you are nothing to me. That—" she jabbed a finger at the photos in his hand, speaking on the photograph, "—was nothing more than a drunk mistake. It meant absolutely nothing and never will."

The Harrington boy scanned over his ex's face before bottling up his own feelings. If she wanted to play this game, so fucking be it. Instead of retorting, he looked to the ground and muttered, "Come on, let's go. The games about to start."

"Boo." Tommy laughed at the Byers boy before following after his friend.

Carol gave a fake frown towards the Wheeler, who was sending a glare to the back of the Harrington boys head, "Tough."

"Shut the fuck up, Carol." the brunette spat, causing the redhead to send another look before walking off herself.

When only the Wheeler sisters were left did Jonathan finally drop down to his knees to salvage what he could of his camera. Surrounding him were shredded pieces of photos which Steve or someone must have ripped up before Carla arrived.

"I'm sorry, Carla." Nancy muttered, a frown etched upon her face, "That was really out of line for him to say—"

"I don't want to hear it." Carla replied, coming down beside her friend to help him pick up some remnants of the photos he took. The other Wheeler sighs, turning around before suddenly dropping down to the black-top, a certain image catching her eye.

Carla watches as the girl snatches a picture of Barb sitting on the diving board to Steve's pool—as well as the pieces that went with it—before joining her boyfriend, the boy calling for her to hurry up.

As Nancy walked away, the two left-over teens continued to pick up the mess that had been made. Pieces of pictures were shoved into Carla's bag, Jonathan holding the broken pieces of his camera. All in silence.

It was all silence until the Wheeler girl got tired of ignoring what had happened and spoke up, "Taking these photos was wrong, and honestly kind of uncomfortable. Knowing you saw what you saw was one thing, but having pictures of it—of me and Nancy in nothing but a bra and underwear—is kind of fucked."

"I know." Jonathan muttered in response.

"But, I know you know what you did was wrong and I can see you regret doing it so, uh, I forgive you."

Jonathan took her finishing as his time to apologize for the actions, "Carla, I promise I wasn't trying to be a creeper or a pervert. I-I was looking for Will and I heard a scream and it led me to the party. You were happy and you were smiling and I really haven't seen you having so much fun in a while, and I knew you'd want a photo of it." He paused, "I didn't mean for it to get to that. I shouldn't have stayed for so long....I just—I want you to know that I never intended on keeping the pictures and exploiting you or Nancy. It was never the intention."

"Good to know." Carla nods, happy the boy had apologized, "Just don't do that again, okay? To me, or Nance, or hell, even Carol. Or don't expect me to be hanging around your ass anymore, yeah?"

Jonathan gives a nod, and the Wheeler girl manages a weak smile before the two finish picking up the mess and head into his car.

"I know I asked you this earlier but now that you've forgiven me......what was the kiss between you and Steve?" Jonathan asked quietly from the drivers seat, sparing a glance at his best friend before adding, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to though."

Carla decided she might as well should. "I don't know. After the party he offered me some dry clothes and I followed him into his room.....Nancy stayed back to talk with Barb. He said some things and then all of the sudden he kissed me. And I deepened it because, well, I wanted it to go further. I thought I was over Steve, but...."

The Byers boy nodded, staying quiet, "So, um, what's gonna happen now?"

"Well, after I left you in the hallway this morning, Steve found me and we talked. I eventually decided that it would be better if we weren't friends, if we didn't talk at all. I mean, I want to be close with him again but...." she trailed off, "After whatever this afternoon was, I don't think we're going to be anything."

Jonathan changed the topic slightly, "He shouldn't have said the comment about Nancy. It's not your fault that you can't—"

Suddenly, a scream took both teens from their conversation, looking forward, seeing none other than Joyce Byers coming to a halt in front of the vehicle. As the car's headlights shone over her features, Carla couldn't help but notice how petrified she looked.

Jonathan quickly slammed his foot on the break so he didn't hit his mom and exited the car, having noticed her expression too

"Mom?" the brunette boy asked, the woman letting out hysterical whimpers, "Mom, what happened?"

Carla ran forward, coming to the woman, "Mrs. Byers, what are you doing out here? What's wrong—" she was quickly cut off as the older woman wrapped her arms around the Wheeler, letting out a sob.

What the hell had happened for her to get so worked up?

The Wheeler didn't pester and instead showed her support, holding on to the older woman as if she was the mother. She turned her head to look at the woman's son, who didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Joyce too, confused.

The three simply embraced as police sirens echoed from behind them.

mara's misc!

i definitely edited the small fight between starla....it was actually very fun. i'm turning carla into a more sassy and fiery gal then before and its very enjoyable. she was lowkey bland in the og....but i'm also the author and am judging myself.

also, jonathan taking the photos is the no.1 reason why i hate him. in the og carla legit just didn't care but here she does. while i think the camera was a little far, steve was right for being upset. he was just trying to protect his gf (and carla in this case) and people def don't hate on jonathan as much as they do steve in this situation. 

hope you enjoyed <3 see you back with chapter 8!