Chapter Text
It was Christmas Eve 1991 and that means it’s also the last day of school before Christmas break. Steve’s last class of the day was a little unruly, but that’s to be expected on Christmas Eve especially since they had a snow storm overnight and there was plenty of freshly fallen snow just waiting to be made into snowballs and snowmen once the bell rang.
Steve didn’t even bother teaching for the last half of class. He handed out candy canes to all the kids and asked them about their Christmas plans and just let them talk to each other.
All the kids were practically bursting with excitement. All of them, except for George Brady.
“Everything okay there, George?” Steve asked him as he placed a candy cane on George’s desk.
“Yeah.” George said looking away from Steve and rolling his pencil on his desk. “I’m okay.”
When the bell rang all the kids ran out of the classroom except for George, who stayed behind.
“Mr. H?” George asked hesitantly.
“Yeah George, what’s up?” Steve waited patiently for the boy to tell him what was wrong.
“My sister Hannah, she didn’t come home last night and my Mom thinks something bad happened to her.”
Steve was not expecting that. “Did your Mom call the police?”
“Yeah, but they said she probably just ran away or she’s with a secret boyfriend somewhere.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“She took me home from school yesterday, and right after dinner she said she was going to her friend Emma’s house, but Emma told my mom that she was never there and no one has seen her since.” George said, as his voice cracked and his eyes watered.
“I’m so sorry George.“ Steve said, feeling for the boy. He remembered when he was in high school and Barb went missing. No one took it seriously, except for Nancy and well, that didn’t turn out so good. Steve didn’t want anything like that to ever happen again, so he did something he probably shouldn’t have.
“I’ll see what I can find out okay. I promise.”
“You will?” George asked surprised as his tears finally started falling from his eyes.
“Yes.” Steve said with determination.
George threw his arms around Steve. “Thanks Mr. H.” George cried.
Steve hugged the crying boy back, wondering where to even begin searching for the missing teenager by himself. He wondered if Nancy made it home for Christmas.
Steve called the Wheeler house as soon as he got home.
“Hello, Wheeler residence.” Holly’s jolly voice stated over the phone.
“Hey Holls, it’s Steve.”
“Hi Steve! How are you?”
“I was hoping I could talk to your sister. Is she home yet?”
“Nope not yet. She should be home soon though. Do you want me to tell her to call you back later?”
“Yes please. Thanks Holly. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas. Bye.”
***
Nancy landed in Indianapolis at 4:30 p.m. Her flight had gotten delayed due to the storm in the area. It was going to be a white Christmas this year.
Cabs were scarce because of the weather, but she managed to get one quickly. As she watched Indianapolis fade in the rearview mirror, she thought about the small town that raised her and realized she already missed Boston.
By 6:00 p.m. Nancy finally walked into the house, which was already in full chaotic holiday swing. Her mother was cooking and yelling at Mike, who was washing the dishes and was apparently not doing a good job. Holly was setting the table and singing, or screeching in Nancy’s opinion, to “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany. Her father’s snores could be heard all the way from his recliner.
“Nancy, finally! You’re late.” Her mother said, relieved.
“I know, I’m sorry. The stupid snowstorm delayed me.”
“We’re running a little late anyway.” Karen said, as she went over and hugged Nancy and kissed her on the cheek. It’s good to have you home.”
“You’re washing every dish after dinner Nance!” Mike shouted from the kitchen.
Nancy rolled her eyes at her brother.
“Hey Nance.” Holly came over and hugged her sister hello. “He’s been such a party pooper all day.” Holly complained.
“What else is new?” Nancy asked with a smile and a shake of her head.
“Oh, Steve called for you earlier. He wanted to talk to you.” Holly informed her.
Nancy hadn’t spoken to Steve in a few months. She wondered what he could possibly have been calling her about.
***
Steve slammed the phone down in frustration. The Baileys would never cooperate with him. He decided to try calling Emma Langston’s house. She was Hannah’s best friend so she could probably tell him more than Hannah’s own mother anyway. The phone rang twice and on the third ring Mrs. Langston answered.
“Hello, this is Steve Harrington. I’m a teacher at Hawkins Middle School. I am just trying to find out information about a missing student, Hannah Brady. I know your daughter is best friends with her so I would love to get your daughter’s help in finding out what happened to Hannah…”
The line went dead.
“Hello? Hello?” Steve sighed. “This is hopeless.”
Steve made himself a small, kind of pathetic Christmas Eve dinner consisting of frozen hamburger patties and some French fries.
After he ate he decided he couldn’t just sit around wasting time so he got up and headed for the door. He slammed the door shut just as his phone started ringing. Nancy was trying to call him back, but he didn’t hear it.
Steve found himself in front of the Wheelers door at 6:30 p.m. He knew they were in the middle of dinner. He felt like an inconsiderate jerk but little George’s crying face gave him the courage to knock on the door. Nancy was his only hope.
Ted Wheeler answered looking annoyed. “Hello Mr. Wheeler, uh, Merry Christmas. I’m so sorry to interrupt your dinner, but I need to speak with Nancy. It’s an emergency.”
“Steve, it’s Christmas Eve.” Ted complained.
“I know and I’m sorry. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”
“Come in.” Ted muttered as he backed away from the door letting Steve in.
“Who is it?” Karen asked walking out of the dining room and stopped when she spotted Steve.
“Steve? What are you doing here.”
“He needs to talk to Nancy.” Ted explained in his monotone voice.
“Nancy’s eating dinner. It’s Christmas Eve you know.”
“I know, I’m sorry but…”
“Steve?” Nancy asked from behind her mother. Holly and Mike were right behind her eavesdropping.
“Hey Nance. Welcome home.” He said awkwardly with a little wave. “I really need to talk to you about something important.”
Everyone else looked annoyed but Nancy looked concerned. She knew he wouldn’t be here unless it was something important.
Nancy nodded. “Let’s go upstairs.”
Her parents were annoyed but didn’t say anything about Nancy going to her room to talk with Steve in the middle of Christmas Eve dinner.
Once they were both in her room and the door was closed Steve sighed in relief and Nancy turned on him.
“What the hell is going on?”
“I’m sorry, but you’re the only person I know in Hawkins that could help me.”
“What’s wrong?” Nancy stood there with her arms folded.
“ One of my students told me his older sister disappeared last night. She said she was going to her friend’s house, but she never made it there. The police think she ran away, but George said they’re not taking her disappearance seriously.”
Nancy knew what it was like to be 16 with her best friend missing. She made up her mind in that moment to find Hannah Brady.
Steve was pacing now, not even looking at Nancy. “I promised George I’d look for her, but her parents wouldn’t let me in the house and neither would the Langstons. I have no idea what I’m doing.” Steve said running a frustrated hand through his hair.
Nancy didn’t say anything. She got her snow boots out of the closet and started putting them on.
“So you don’t think I’m crazy for looking for her myself?”
She looked up at him with that determined Nancy Wheeler look in her eye. “Of course not. It wouldn’t be the first time the police in this town ignore the disappearance of a teenage girl.”