Chapter Text
Nancy scans the small parking lot, looking for a familiar face. The sun is high, but doing very little to warm her in the New York winter. The breeze ruffles her curls and makes her shiver. It's bitterly cold, but she's hardly paying attention to it.
She begins to reach into her pocket for her cell phone when she hears her name from a little ways up ahead.
"Nance!"
Nancy looks up and smiles, spotting the woman with short red hair behind a gate with a sign that reads, "Movie Set: Do Not Pass." Nancy walks quickly to reach her, a mix of excited and nervous butterflies in her stomach. This isn't her first time on a set, but this is the first time where it's felt as big as this. This movie hardly got announced, and the press is already pushing it up, saying it will be a blockbuster hit, and Nancy gets to be a part of it.
"Hi, Barb!" Nancy says happily, waiting until her best friend unlocks and opens the gate. She steps forward and hugs her tightly, hearing the gate close behind them with a soft click. Barb hugs her back just as tightly, her embrace feeling familiar in such a new place.
They've been best friends since they were eight, and Nancy's mother forced her to join ballet, inseparable ever since. But with Barb living in New York and Nancy moving around for different roles, it's hard to make time to see each other as often as they'd like.
Barb still looks so much like she did last time Nancy saw her. Her ginger hair is short and styled. The only difference being that it's more curly than before. She's dressed in jeans and a button-up shirt, same round glasses on her face. She's taller than her, but Nancy wasn't exactly expecting that to change.
"I've missed you so much. Thank you for this." Nancy pulls away from the hug, seeing that Barb is smiling just as much. If it wasn't for her, Nancy wouldn't have the opportunity.
Barb is a script writer, and this is the first big film she's gotten the chance to work on. So when the director was looking for newer faces to lead, Barb suggested Nancy Wheeler. She doesn't have a big filmography, mostly short films and a couple of guest stars, but he was impressed and wanted more.
Nancy was, and still is, shocked about it. Jim Hopper is a big name as a director. Almost all of his films are incredible, especially in recent years, and he wanted her. She got the role and dropped everything to come to New York City, rent an apartment, and do this movie. She knows this is going to change her career completely and might just be the big break she's always dreampt of.
"Of course, Nance. You deserve a chance like this, and I know you're going to make the most of it." Barb says, pulling another smile from Nancy. She's excited about this opportunity, but she's also worried that she won't be enough, that she bit off more than she can chew with this. All she can do is hope that she's wrong.
"Not everyone is here yet, so let me show you your trailer." Barb pulls her out of her doubts. Nancy nods and follows Barb towards a line of trailers waits. She's glad Barb is here. Usually, writers are hardly on set, especially before production starts. But Barb was able to take some time to be here and get Nancy settled, which means more to her than she could ever really understand.
She wraps her coat tighter around herself, looking around at the surroundings. There's not much for a few acres, a fence going around the perimeter, and trailers lined up against one edge. There's a large building, with more behind it that she can't quite see, and she knows these are the stages. She can hear the distant sound of construction, even though she can't tell where it's coming from.
Nancy matches Barb's stride with confidence, even though the new surroundings hold so many unknowns, almost like walking into school for the first time. She almost doesn't notice when Barb stops in front of a trailer.
On the door is a sign that reads 'Betty', which is her character's name, and underneath is her own name. A surge of excitement washes over Nancy. Barb reaches for that handle, but before she can click it open, the trailer next to them opens.
Nancy's stomach flips when she sees the woman who opened it. She's tall, wearing a Star Wars t-shirt with a long sleeved undershirt. Her jeans cuffed around her ankles, Doc Martons on her feet. Her gorgeous face is framed by brown hair that goes down to an inch or so past her chest.
She has freckles, seen because she's not wearing any makeup, and even from where she's standing, Nancy can see that her eyes are blue. She's holding a can of soda with a hand covered in rings and has a single airpod in her ear. Nancy doesn't recognize her, but she's really pretty.
The brunette's eyes widen when she notices the two women, possibly starled by their presence. She takes the airpod out, putting it in her jean pocket. She smiles awkwardly, holding out her free hand for Nancy to shake once the pieces seem to click.
"Hi, I'm Robin Buckley. I play Danielle." The woman says as Nancy takes her hand. She recognizes her name. Barb told her that a fellow new face got cast as her onscreen friend. She didn't ask much at the time, not really feeling the need to and far too distracted by her own excitement, but now, she wants to know more.
"I'm...I'm Nancy Wheeler. I play Betty." Nancy replies, motioning in the direction of her own trailer. Robin nods, her smile seems genuine, and lets go of Nancy's smaller hand. She waves at Barb, introducing herself again, but Nancy isn't listening. She can't stop thinking about the way Robin's hand felt in hers. It felt so warm.
Robin's eyes move over both of the women again, lingering on Nancy for a moment longer before popping her airpod back into her ear and beginning to walk away.
"Bye, Nancy. I can't wait to start working with you. Nice meeting you both." She calls, her expression kind. Nancy breaks out of whatever weird fuzz she is in and responds with a tiny, shy wave.
"Bye! You too." Nancy wants to say more, but the conversation is over, and Robin is already walking away. She lets out a breath, looking after her until she hears Barb open the trailer door, continuing to what they were doing before Robin came along. But Nancy's focus is split now.
Barb shows Nancy her trailer. It's nicely sized with a wall of mirrors. There's a green couch on the other end, a soft rug on the ground. A mini fridge, a small table with a fake plant, and a set of small shelves. It's cozy, and with a few personal touches, Nancy's sure it will be a great place to spend her time between filming. But her mind keeps going back to her neighbor, and she can't help but let her curiosity slip.
"Do you know what Robin has been in?"
Nancy's question is out of left field, but she's trying to sound casual. She wants to know more about Robin since she'll be acting beside her and knowing what her costar's experiences look like. Barb stops from making tea, meeting Nancy's eyes with curiosity and a little surprise.
"Not exact names, but I think she was in a couple of sitcoms. Why?" Barb questions, picking up one mug of tea and holding it out towards Nancy. The brunette takes the mug, hands being warmed by the heated beverage. She shrugs, blowing on it to cool it off before taking a sip.
"I guess I just want to know. She seems nice." Nancy thinks about Robin again and the way she didn't even take a second to introduce herself, the warmth of her hands, and the kindness in her eyes. Nancy pushes the thoughts out. Those aren't important right now, not when she's finally with Barb again after so long.
"I can just Google her, doesn't matter. What does matter is how you are." Nancy switches the topic, sitting down on the soft couch and sipping on her tea. Barb adjusts her circular glasses. They're the same frames she's had since high school. She joins her on the sofa.
"Things have been good. Work has been better than I ever thought, I'm already working on my next script. My apartment is great, and... I even met someone." Barb says with a newfound smile.
Nancy, at first, feels a bit surprised. Barb hasn't mentioned a partner any time they've talked on the phone, but then it fades into genuine happiness for her best friend. She lights up, and before she can even ask about who she's seeing, Barb starts speaking again.
"Their name is Cam. They're so thoughtful, and they make me happy. We're not super serious yet, but I can see it getting there. I-" Barb suddenly stops speaking and fiddles awkwardly, her lips forming a thin line.
"Sorry. Bad timing." Her voice is quieter, and at first, Nancy is confused at Barb's tone change. But then she remembers, and she smiles reassuringly.
Less than a year ago, right before she decided to move away from Hawkins for good, she broke up with her long-term boyfriend, Steve. He wants children and a housewife, staying in their small town, and not understanding how important Nancy's career is to her.
He questioned the longevity of acting, even after Nancy started getting roles, and he didn't like being away from her so long whenever she traveled to shoot. It was suffocating. Nancy hasn't loved him for a long time, and looking back, she's wondering if she ever really did.
They started dating in high school when Nancy was 15, and he was about to turn 17. He was the king of their school, and Nancy, along with Barb, was honestly a bit of a nerd. She kept to herself, so when Steve "the hair" Harrington started pursuing her, she let him, liking the attention.
He was an asshole at first. He got over that, but she still never loved him in the way that she probably should've. They argued a lot, and she never enjoyed his affection. She felt confused and apprehensive any time he talked about wanting children with her. It was never going to work, not in the way everyone, including Barb, assumed by looking at the surface.
"Barb, it's okay. I'm happy for you. I'm long over Steve. Cam sounds like a really nice person, and I hope I get to meet them one day." Nancy replies. Barb lets out a visible breath of relief. As long as Barb is happy with Cam, Nancy is happy for her.
"You will, one day. They're looking forward to meeting you too, i just want to wait a little bit longer." The genuine joy in Barb's face and the love in her eyes warms Nancy's heart, but it also makes her feel a bit envious. And that is confusing.
She has no problem being single. She can take care of herself just fine, and it gives her time to focus on her career, but she does get lonely sometimes. It would be nice to be loved, to love in the way Barb seems to love Cam. Steve loved her, but she never loved him, and his compliments never made her flutter, and thinking about him never made her glow. She would be lying if she said she never wanted to experience someone making her feel that way.
Robin's smile flashes in her mind, and she shakes her head, taking another sip of tea to get the image out of her mind. She listens to Barb talk about Cam, asking a few follow-up questions so she knows she's listening. But to be honest, she's not fully present.
She's filled with confusion, wondering to herself why she can't keep Robin out of her mind. She tells herself she's only worried about working beside her. Meeting new costars is always nerve-wracking, never knowing what to expect, and she definitely wants to get to know her more. She wants to be her friend.
"Sorry. What?"
Nancy didn't realize she zoned out until Barb said her name. Barb is looking at her, an amused smile on her face.
"I asked how you like New York so far." Barb repeats her question, making sure Nancy hears her. The brunette feels a rush of embarrassment. She sips at her tea again, pushing Robin out of her mind completely. It's not fair to Barb for her to be distracted.
"It's good. I like it a lot. My apartment is nice, I think I'll settle in quick." Nancy replies.
Originally, before coming here, she lived in Boston. She loved Massachusetts. It was beautiful, especially in the summer, and she liked the life she built there. But there weren't many acting opportunities, and she spent more time traveling than in the city. New York is different, and she can already tell she finally found where she belongs long term.
"I'm thinking about dying my hair, too." She adds, watching Barb's eyebrows shoot up. It's been a while since Nancy's ever felt the need to change her hair. It's been the same curly brown since junior year, the length being the only thing to change, but she's itching for something new.
"Really? What color? Hopefully, it's not neon green. I'll still love you, but it might be hard to get you another job after this." Barb jokes, making them both giggle, but there's genuine curiosity there.
"Blonde. Betty is blonde, and they said they could do a wig, but I want to dye it. I'm just...craving something new, a fresh start." Nancy explains, tracing the rim of her mug. Barb nods understandingly.
"I think you'll look great, Nance. I could help you if you'd like." Barb offers, Nancy smiles.
"I'd like that, thanks. Maybe Saturday? We could order Chinese, like we used to, and you can tell me more about Cam." Nancy really likes the idea of being able to spend some time with her best friend again, to hang out, like they used to. Barb seems to like it, too.
"Perfect. It'll be so much fun!"
Nancy chuckles her agreement, feeling a happiness settle over her heart as she thinks about the upcoming plans.
They keep talking for a little while longer, finishing their tea and telling each other stories about what they've been up to recently. Nancy gets introduced to a few of the other writers and the producer, but they don't need her for long.
Barb walks back with Nancy to the front gate, where they met up. Nancy was hoping to see Robin, but she guessed the other woman had already left by now.
They hug, once again confirming their plans for Saturday, and then part ways. Nancy walks to her car, zipping up her coat. More clouds have appeared in the sky, and she wouldn't be surprised if it snowed. She's sort of looking forward to her first snowy day in New York.
As she walks, she thinks about the day and smiles to herself, feeling another wave of excitement at the thought of what this all means. She's in New York, casted in one of the most anticipated movies, and with fellow actors that she can see herself getting along with.
It really does feel like a fresh start. A new role, a new apartment, a new city, new people to meet, and soon, new hair. She doesn't have a boyfriend holding her back or the pressure of a competitor. She's at the start of something different, new. She's imagined getting opportunities like this since she was young, and now she has it.
This is a new chapter, and Nancy wishes she could somehow see what it holds for her.