#or b) continue to work curstomer service jobs in an attempt to become financially independent and buy an ever shittier appartment he'd share

[the-lark-ascending69]

Like are you telling me Nancy could realistically go to Steve's house, spend the night there and sleep (figuratively or literally) with him in his bed and be perfectly fine? Even if they did make a good couple in isolation (they don't) she's clearly not in the right place to be with him again. Barb died because Nancy chose Steve (or at least that's how she sees it). Barb died in Steve's house, and Steve is not nearly as moved by this reality as Nancy is. One of the reasons Nancy bonded with Jonathan as she did is that, at least during S1 and S2, they understood each other, but I don't think Steve ever understood Nancy, and I don't think Nancy ever cared too much to understand Steve (which I don't blame her for - she just didn't love him).

When Nancy falls into the Vecna trance and sees Barbara's dead body, and starts to have flashbacks, it shows me EXACTLY why she can't be with Steve

Steve will always remind her of the death of her best and (before Robin and Fred) only friend

She loved Barbara, much more than she "loved" (if she did) Steve, their relationship is just a reminder of a piece of her she lost, in many ways