jinxyvvrites

[jinxyvvrites]

As a fic writer, i need every reader to know that:

I don’t care if your comment is coherent. I know what you mean and i love you

I don’t care if you ramble. I read every word and i love you

I don’t care if you leave a comment on a fic from four years ago or leave comments/kudos on like ten of my fics in one go. This isn’t IG, pls stalk my AO3. I love you

I don’t care if you mention the same thing in your comment that four other people have already mentioned. It’s actually really useful to know what resonated with people and I love everyone who takes the time to tell me they liked a particular turn of phrase

I don’t mind if your comment is super long or just a couple of sentences, i love them all

I love you

[jinxyvvrites]

Every unhinged fic writer needs an equally unhinged friend who "yes ands" their ideas and encourages them to write all their most far fetched and insane stories.

[jinxyvvrites]

-- summer of 85 [ act iv ]

Warnings.

Writer's own interpretation of canon characters + total absence of sci-fi / upside down elements. Billy Hargrove being.. Billy. The worst parts, that is. Body fluids - saliva, ya'll calm tf downnnn. A kind of intense little moment involving sunscreen because summer, ftw. Swearing. Jealousy. Eventual filth, mentions of drugs -weed, alcohol and lame ass teenager-y bullshit like house parties, sneaking out/in, etc. Meddling best friends, meddling kiddos, you name it. Angst. Lots of fluff. A little Carol-bashing, not v. often though because writer happens to kinda dig her. Billy gives stalker here and there, lowk.

Reader is heavily personified -and she's/you're giving girl next door with a lil wild streak, the following traits are non-negotiable, they're now part of the lore, babes.. Reader is shorter than Tommy, think like.. 5'2ish, reader is sunshine / fearless flirt to Tommy's storm cloud / strong silent type, reader has long and curly hair -think 90's Mariah Carey but with volume to the moon, reader is a cheerleader but she/you is/are v. anti-popularity, reader loves fashion/makeup but honestly, doesn't feel like getting dressed to the nines all the time -she's lazy af, reader is a cheerleader, reader is v. into dance and plans to be a dancer or choreographer at some point in adulthood. Reader's sister was a teen mom and reader's father cheated then split, moved out to have a whole new family and was a lousy father to begin with. Reader has an adorable niece that will be featured in the story. Reader's mom is hinted at possibly dating Bob Newby -because Sean Astin, duh. Oh and.. reader is a metalhead not a pop princess girly pop.

If any of the above bothers you or isn't your cup of tea, this is NOT the fic for you. I repeat.. If the above is something that's a hard no, do not read this fic.

Word Count.

2.7k

Pairings.

( you'll notice I've made changes. totally understand if you choose not to read further after this.. )

Reader x Tommy, past / present.. but complicated.. to eventual endgame.

Robin x Vickie, one-sided crush, pining.

Robin x Nancy, eventual endgame

Previous Parts.

can be found here.

Summarized.

“Pixie, you’re gonna fucking burn.” Tommy’s voice is quiet. A hint of amusement in his tone when you jump a little and the dirty book you’ve been chewing your bottom lip off over for about fifteen minutes now settles on the ground. 

The heat of an afternoon sun is beating down on you as you lounge poolside at Hawkins Pool. Your skin is hot, it’s a little sweaty, curls drip-drying from your dip in the pool about an hour ago.

Metallica plays faintly, your headphones are down over your ears and you’ve got yourself a nice -read, dirty, thick book, which you’re sprawled on your stomach to read. You’re so involved in the current scene in said book that you don’t realize he’s wandered over and seated himself on the edge of the plastic lounger until you can feel your left earphone being gingerly edged away from your ear.

“Pixie, you’re gonna fucking burn.” Tommy’s voice is quiet. A hint of amusement in his tone when you jump a little and the dirty book you’ve been chewing your bottom lip off over for about fifteen minutes now settles on the ground. 

Tommy picks up the book, holding it out to you as he snickers at it’s title. “Lucky Hand?”

“Give me that.” you practically snatch the book, dog-earing the page as you sit it to the side and yawn. “It was getting boring anyway.”

Tommy gazes at you, disbelief in dark brown eyes. “Now I think we both know you’re lyin, you were squirming around when I walked over.”

Your entire body is on fire now. He’s leaned so that an arm is over you, caging you in as he feels around for the bottle of sunscreen he saw sitting below your chair, ignored.

“I’ll be tan in the morning.” you scoff as he finds the bottle, his arm momentarily rested against your bare skin as you roll over onto your back and suck in a sharp breath at the way burned skin feels making contact with anything. Tommy isn’t listening, he never listens, you think to yourself, a little smile because you know it’s his way of showing he cares.

As he works the creamy liquid into his hands, you stare up at him. One of your legs raises, bent at the knee. There’s a bead of sweat rolling down the bridge of your nose. The sun makes your faint freckles more clearly defined.

“Tom–” you’re about to insist that he doesn’t have to rub you down, pouting at him as you stare, but Tommy’s firm look has you falling silent, his name dying on your lips.

“It’s either this or you actually blister and burn, pixie. Because we both know you’re lying to yourself when you say you’ll be tan in the morning.” he pauses and now he’s kind of leaning down, dangerously close to your face, your mouth and this makes you swallow hard, he smirks as he continues, “You’ll be burnt until about Thursday, miserable and whiny about it.”

,, oh bite me.” you think, a little too easily impressed by the fact that even now he still remembers the little things like this. You flip him off and roll your eyes. “Fiiiine. I suppose if it bothers you that much,” you’re holding his gaze and smirking up at him, “ I guess you can put that gross crap on me.” you wrinkle your nose.

“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Tommy mutters. And he’s staring right back. Locked in on the way your tongue darts out, drags across your lips to outline them. As he starts to work the lotion into your skin, you shiver.

“You coulda warmed it up first.” you complain.

“I did.” Tommy insists. “You’re just bein’ a baby.”

You pout at him and blow an escaped curl away from your forehead. Before he can stop himself, he stops what he’s doing, brushes the curl away and chuckles quietly, shaking his head.

“What? It’s the humidity, Tommy.”

“It’s cute.” Tommy blurts out, face turning as red as the bikini you’re wearing today, “I meant the way you’re all pouty and shit.”

You raise a brow as you stare up at him.

A throat clears nearby and Tommy’s head snaps up. When he spots Billy leaned against the chain link fence and glaring with his arms folded, he grumbles under his breath.

“You still want Hargrove t’ fuck off?” Tommy asks, tearing his angry gaze off of Billy, softening eyes as he looks down at you. You glance up and give Billy a cheeky little half-wave. “Take a picture, idiot. It’ll last longer.” you grumble, a little loud but unfortunately not so loud that he’ll hear you.

You look up at Tommy. “Yes, ugh, his lurking crap is so weird.”

Tommy nods. “It’s annoying as hell.” he agrees, keeping silent that he’s already warned Billy a thousand times that you’re off limits but Billy clearly seems to think otherwise, despite the way you always make an excuse to leave the second he shows his face.

You study your former best friend carefully. There’s something hidden in his statement, you can see it in the way his eyes almost go black with anger and the way he accidentally squeezes the shit out of your body where his hand had been hovering.

You glance down at the way Tommy’s hand is squeezing your side. “Are you okay?” you ask, soft giggle slipping out. Tommy nods. He’s back to glaring at Billy all over again. “Mhm.” he answers, going quiet for a second. “Play along, pixie.. I mean if you really want Hargrove to fuck off.”

Before you get the chance to answer, Tommy motions for you to sit up and turn around, facing away from him. You sit up and Tommy takes the lotion, squirting some into his hands. As he works it in his palms to warm it up, he smirks at Billy.

Billy’s jaw flutters and he rolls his eyes.

“Fuckin’ amateur.” he grumbles, watching to see if Tommy is actually gonna use the accidental foot in the door he’s earned himself to his advantage or fumble it, the same way he did the last three times they both had a thing for the same girl.

To his surprise, Tommy starts to massage the lotion onto your skin all over again, rough hands and cool liquid making you gasp before you can stop yourself as your head falls to one side and Tommy pushes hair away from your neck while moving so that he’s straddling the seat and sitting as close to you as he can get.

Billy rolls his eyes. “I can do better, Hagan.” he mouths, but Tommy mouths back, “Try it and I’m gonna fuckin end you.”

His hands work across your shoulders and at first, he’s massaging way too hard, too clumsy and it kind of hurts a little. Then it doesn’t. And Tommy’s hands start to move slower. Further down, just above the flimsy tie to your bikini top. You squirm a little, body immediately on fire. “Sorry.” you mumble. Tommy chuckles against the shell of your ear, “ ‘S okay, pixie. Keep forgettin’ how ticklish you are.”

“Yeah.” you agree a little too fast for your own liking as you look over your shoulder at him, “Ticklish.”

“Yeah.” Tommy smirks. “Your back.. Your stomach.. Your feet… that one little spot at your hips…” he’s staring at you hard. You gulp and nod. “Mhm.” you’re staring right back and staring so hard that you lose track of what he’s actually saying until he brushes a hand up against the small of your back and starts to spread the lotion outward, massaging it into your hips with a hand on either hip.

You take a ragged breath.

Billy’s been gone at least two or three minutes by this point, but.. He’s not stopping. He doesn’t care.

You’re not about to stop him because this is something you used to fantasize about, back when that silly little girl crush took a bit more of a grown-up turn when you were both in 8th grade, the summer before 9th.

The summer it all imploded.

He motions for you to turn facing him and you gulp again because you realize this will put you body to body with him and there’s something about the way he’s touching you, it feels.. Way too intimate to simply be applying sunscreen. Your legs settle over his thighs, feet dangling from either side of the chair.

“I warmed it up.” he comments when you squirm a little as he starts to spread the lotion across your shoulders and collarbone, leaning in closer as he works his hands up the column of your neck. You giggle at the way he's super focused, tongue jutting out between his lips. “I think my neck will be fine.” you mumble. Tommy stops applying the lotion to your neck and stares at you for a second or two. He wants to tell you you're beautiful, he really wants to kiss you and maybe that's why he stares at your lips hard enough that your own begin to tingle.

Then he takes a dot and smears it on your nose, so you stick out your tongue and pout. “Hey!” you protest and he pauses, staring at you for a second or two. “Do it again. I dare you, pixie.” he smirks as he says it because he thinks he's called your bluff.

“Y’know how I respond to dares, Tom-Tom.” you mumble, lost in his eyes. You stick out your tongue and he leans in even closer putting the two of you chest to chest as one of his hands settles on your neck, thick strands caught between your skin and his hands in the process. 

His heart is about to explode, he's almost sure of it. You're leaning in closer, pretty lips taunting him because no matter how hard he tries, he's just too scared to go for it. 

But you aren't backing down, your lips brush against his and you have the nerve to giggle. “Or what, Tommy? Because I'm doing it, just like you told me to, hm?” you taunt playfully, daring to do it a second time because you just can't resist.

,, shit.” He feels cornered, a little frantic but above all, determined. He leans in and he meets your mouth, tongue darting out. Rolling over the outline of your lips. Tasting cherry flavored lip balm. Groaning at the taste as he pulls you up higher into his lap and his hand leaves your neck to tangle up in your hair and tug at thick strands. As the kiss deepens, you end up shifting around in his lap which rubs you right against him and makes him squeeze your hips, holding you at least a little still.

You're breathless, too stunned to speak. Desperately trying to process what's just happened but not so dazed that you don't immediately get greedy, gripping his shirt as you raise up a little and pull him into another kiss.

“Fuck.” he groans against your mouth, his hands on your hips as he pushes on them, pushing you back down into his lap. He forgets himself and bucks up into you, a needy whine bubbling up, swallowed by his hungry, devouring mouth.

His mind is blown. Kissing you is everything he ever fantasized it might be and then some. And he doesn’t want to stop now that he’s done it. 

Across the pool, Billy Hargrove is glaring daggers. Plotting the imminent death of one Tommy Hagan. Because there’s no way in hell he’s about to fade quietly into the background. 

,, Kinda sucks. I actually liked being friends with you, shitbird.” Billy thinks to himself as he watches the way Tommy Hagan is kissing you. Watching the way you melt into Tommy, tugging at his hair, even deepening the kiss.

When his little stepsister starts to laugh, he gives her a warning glare. “Shut the fuck up, Max.”

“At least it’s not you, Billy.” Max smirks as she says it, quick to get a wide berth between herself and him as soon as she does. “I’m not sorry, either.”

“You’re gonna be you little fuckin’ twerp.” Billy warns. Max takes off, pushing through other kids, stopping to look back and flip him off. “Gotta catch me first, shithead.”

Billy’s off his chair in seconds, shoving through the other kids, trying to catch up to Max. But she’s gone.

Billy swings at a fence post and swears under his breath and then lights up a cigarette.

“This is gonna end with me.. Gettin’ the girl.” Billy vows as he lights his cigarette and takes a long drag while he plots just how he’s going to go about doing it…

–

The two of you pull apart to breathe and Tommy’s holding your face in his hands, his forehead pressed up against yours as he grins at you, just a little too smug.

The anger in those dark brown eyes is gone for now. He looks almost as happy as he used to back when you were both kids, before everything imploded.

And you.. You’re not entirely sure how you feel.

You’re in a daze, still not entirely sure that what’s just happened actually happened. The sparks are still very much lingering, the kiss only further igniting all those old pesky stupid feelings you’d been trying to bury down deep.

“What’s that look for, hm?” you mumble, your soft lips brush up against his as you speak. Tommy chuckles. “You.” he answers simply, letting you melt into him.

You pull away a little, brow raised as you point to yourself. “What about me, hm?”

Tommy shrugs. “Just you.” he trails off. He's dying to ask if you felt anything, at the same time he’s entirely too scared to hear the answer. You’re still melted against him, the blinding brightness of an afternoon sun making you seek out relief by burying your face in his neck. He can't stop the groan that comes as you do it so he doesn't even bother trying.

You want to ask him if kissing you meant anything or if it was just for show. Just a friend helping a friend out of a situation. 

You can’t, though because whenever you make an attempt to, the words catch, hang in your throat. 

You are aware enough that you attempt to untangle yourself from his body, but as soon as you try, he’s pulling you back, both hands on your hips to hold you in place where you sit on his lap. His thumbs roll over your soft skin and your breath catches. 

“Wow.” he chuckles after what feels like forever, “that felt..”

You’re afraid he’s about to tell you that the kiss was a huge mistake and it needs to be forgotten. But he’s stumbling over his words, chuckling to himself. “Better than I imagined.” he admits, going quiet.

You’re stunned. Nodding in agreement, those butterflies in your tummy kicking into high gear all over again. 

“Hey pixie.” he starts, going quiet for a second or two.

“Yeah?”

“You wanna get outta here?” he asks, biting his lip as he stares at yours. You nod. Smiling soft. “Yeah.. I’d like that.”

“C’mon.” he stands, not even giving you a chance to untangle yourself from his body. You’re laughing, the two of you walk past a glaring Billy Hargrove, you’re wrapped around Tommy’s waist, he might as well be wearing you like an article of clothing. “We can go back t’ my house. Watch your stupid show.”

“It’s not stupid.” you argue, sticking your tongue out.

Tommy and Billy lock eyes as Tommy’s about to push open the chain link fence. Billy glares. Gaze lingering a little too long on you for Tommy’s liking, that possessive and protective side kicking into overdrive real quick.

“Asshole.” he mutters.

“Huh?” you ask, looking up from the way you’re toying with the neck of his white tanktop. Tommy chuckles. “Hargrove, pixie. He’s pouting.”

You roll your eyes. “Ew..” you mumble, “Anyway.. Maybe don’t let him bother you, Tom-Tom?”

“Oh, he’s not gonna be able much longer if he keeps lookin’ over here like he is.”

“No fights, Tommy.”

“I’m not makin’ any promises. I don’t like the way he’s always lurkin’ around you. Starin.”

“Me either, but that’s beside the point.”

“No, that is the point, pixie. He’s gonna fuckin stop, one way or another.”

 And the way your stomach flutters at the tone in his voice.

[jinxyvvrites]

so.. i -well Tommy bc the bastard keeps hijacking every goddamned chapter i try and write, have decided that summer of 85 is gonna be Tommy x reader.

Sorry if this disappoints or anything. It's just the more i write, the more I feel like this has him written all over it. But no worries, I've got a few things in mind for my beloved steve..

[jinxyvvrites]

-- desire [act iv, m]

Warnings.

Minors, DNI.. Filth ahead, including but not limited to, pinv-unprotected, oral - female recieving, petnames -ya'll let me have this, i left her vague/unnamed for ya'll, bodily fluids, writer's less than satisfactory attempt at dirty talk.. Ohhh yeah.. lowkey hinting at writer's own personal theory that Top has himself a bit of a breeding k!ink. Das it. Das all.

As per usual, writer's own personal interpretation of canon characters / Topper Thornton. Vague reader - nothing beyond reader being female + John B's baby sister is really mentioned. Overprotective older brother antics, eventually. Angst, mostly of the mental variety this time. Fluff. This.. will not be following OBX canon for the most part and when it does, only v.v loosely. If any of this bothers you, don't bother reading. I repeat.. if anything I've mentioned here bothers you, this is not the fic for you.

Word Count.

2.4k+

Pairing.

Topper Thornton x Female!Routledge Reader

Previous part.

can be found here.

Summarized.

“You still want this..”

“Yes.” you answer, arching up into him and trying to get as much friction going as you can.

“You’re sure.. right?”

“Topper, please..” you whine out, “Need you. Want you.”

Butthead → get home. Now.

Butthead → look.. I’m worried sick about you. He’s only letting you stay because he thinks he can get something outta you. 

Butthead → you’re smarter than this.

You roll your eyes and put the cell phone back on the nightstand, curling yourself back into Topper, slipping your leg between his. Your other leg settles over his hip and even though he’s sleeping, his hand settles on your thigh.

As you burrow down, burying your face in his chest, he starts to wake up. Stares down at you while you’re drifting off, not looking at him. 

,, I wish I wasn’t already getting used t’ this.” the thought comes before he can stop it and it’s a dangerous one. Not so dangerous that he tries to untangle his body from yours, of course, but dangerous enough. It’s just sitting there, taunting him. Daring him to just do something. Just go for what he really wants, what he’s wanted for a while now.

“Turn off th’ sun.” you mutter as it seeps in through the crack in his curtains. Topper chuckles quietly. “If I could, I would.” he answers. You look up at him, stifling a yawn. The sound of your stomachs growling has both of you laughing quietly. As blue eyes fix intently on your lips, you can feel them start to tingle. You’re dying to kiss him again, just not sure if it’s okay -or even a good idea.

You raise just a little as he happens to lean his face down towards you. Your lips brush and it’s soft. Sweet. He bites back a groan and the hand on your thigh squeezes it. He stares at you for a few seconds like he wants to ask you something, he just can’t.

He doesn’t dare. 

But what he wants to ask you is if the way you keep kissing him is because you want to or because you feel like you have to. Because he’s not the most secure person, he needs reassurance. He’s dying for a sign. Any kind of sign.

“Top?” you say his name quietly, a yawn slipping out. He blinks, dragging himself out of the war he’s got going internally. “Yeah?” he asks, his voice thick with sleep. Gravel and the smoothest silk and foreign to his own ears.

“N-Nothing.” you were about to ask him if you could kiss him but you can’t make the words come. You’re staring at his chest, he grabs your chin gently and makes you look him in the eyes instead. “What’s up, ___?”

“I..” you stammer. Taking a deep breath, you try it again. “I wanna kiss you.”

“I’m not stopping you.” Topper answers quietly, heart about to leap right out of his throat. The hand squeezing your thigh squeezes just a little harder. Somehow, you’ve gone and managed to melt into him even more when he didn’t think it was possible.

“C’mon.” he mumbles. Pleading, even though -thankfully, it doesn’t come out that way. 

You raise a hand, resting it across the back of his neck. Fingers drag over his hair, tugging at it as best as you can as you pull his mouth down against your own.

Another text rolls in.

Butthead → if he hurts you, i’ll kill him. You’re my little sister.

The phone goes ignored. Topper tries not to, but he can’t fight the urge to let his hands wander and roam as your tongue splits his lips, dragging against his own. At first, his hands are on your thigh, caught against the side of your face as he strokes your cheek with his thumb. But then the hand on your thigh ventures up, finding your hip. Squeezing it. He’s bucking himself against you as best as he can by the time the kiss breaks and you pull away to breathe, mouths still connected by a thin string of saliva that breaks in a split second. 

When he pulls you so that you’re on top of him, straddled over his hips, you whine out. You can feel the outline of his cock, pressing right up into your throbbing cunt. The sounds that are coming out of this boy’s mouth are unholy, groans and even a growl or two. You whine as his hands settle at your hips and he’s guiding you back and forth over the way he’s hard against thin boxers. He’s staring up at you, you’re staring right back down at him.

Your hands grab at his chest to keep yourself steady.

“Oh shit..” he hisses, eyes heavy-lidded as his cock twitches, getting even harder, “Fucking hell, princess.”

Your head falls back as you start to rock over him faster, pussy dripping. He can feel you leaking down onto those thin boxers. Suddenly there’s entirely too much keeping you both apart and all he can think about is that one text he saw you send your brother in the heat of the moment, the one about you, running away with him.. Letting him knock you up. Over and over again.

And it’s literally everything he wants.

And as the shock wears off, once he’s embraced that one undeniable truth,  that last thin thread of self-restraint snaps.

“Fuck.” he groans out, staring up at you as your head falls back and your eyes flutter. You’re too far away,he pulls you down and into him but that’s still not enough. You wind up pinned below him so fast you don’t even know - or care, how it happened. “Wanna fuck you.” he groans out against your mouth as his own crashes against it. 

“Please.” you whine, your voice shattering the early morning silence. “Need..” you pant as his hand dips down, massaging your throbbing cunt with the heel of his hand, “Need you.” you gasp out at last when you’re able to form words just enough to say it. 

“I’m gonna be s’ good t’ you, angel.” he’s staring down at you, fingers slipping up and down your wet slit,making you shiver below him. “Top..” you moan even louder. It’s one hell of an ego boost. You’re so responsive to every single touch, it’s driving him insane. 

He needs to be inside you. Buried so deep that he can’t tell where you end and he begins. He dips his head down, lips latching against your soft skin, nipping his way down your neck.

His fingers work you open. Scissoring. Pumping in and out. You’re rocking yourself up, pussy clenching around thick digits. Your arms settle over his shoulders, nails digging against his skin, leaving crescents against his shoulder.

As he works the  shirt you borrowed from him up and out of the way, he works his mouth down your body, starting with the way he focuses on your nipples, first one, then the other. You’re squirming, digging your toes against his sheets, dragging your nails over his back because you've never been on the recieving side of foreplay. As he squeezes your tits, tongue circling until he's teased each nipple to a point, you’re whining, moaning his name. The more your body responds and the wetter you get, the more he bucks himself against the bed and your thigh. 

His mouth starts to work down lower, tongue circling your navel as he stops to look up at you. Bucking himself against his mattress all over again at the sight of you dangerously close to coming undone. 

,, I can’t believe this is happening.” - the thought has him staring at you in awe, committing every inch of your body -and the way it responds to him, to memory. 

You lift a hand, let it settle in his hair. Guiding him down lower as you rock your hips, fucking yourself onto his fingers as they work you open and stretch you out. 

“You’re gonna ruin me.” he growls out against your thigh as he licks his way upward, “Fuck.” - its a groan against your skin. “ I'm so fucking hungry, love.”

He works his way back up your body, pulling you up to pull the shirt off of you because he can't take it another second, he needs your skin on his,  your soft little body pinned below him. 

You toy with the waistband of his boxers because you’re dying to feel him -actually feel him, without a layer of clothing in your way. He obliges, pulling himself away from you just long enough to tug down his boxers and kick them free at his ankles. They settle on his bedroom floor, the shirt he’s taken off of you following suit right after. Then he’s kissing his way down your body all over again, determined this time. Heart racing. Every cell in his body is humming and electric because this is real, it’s happening and the best part of it is that it’s happening with you. 

As his fingers work to stretch you so you can take him, he hooks an arm beneath, spreading you open. Growling as soon as he sees the way your thighs glisten even more, wetter already. He knows he isn’t going to last long, it’s been a very, very long time. 

He’s determined to get you off. As many times as he can.

He’s dying to feel you clench around his cock the way you’re clenching around his fingers. 

Lost in the whole thing, just as his tongue drags slow over your throbbing slit, you shiver. Rock yourself back and forth over the fingers buried deep in your cunt. You're moaning his name over and over like a prayer and he’s dumb, drunk on the way it feels, your juices coating his fingers and filling up his mouth. “You gonna come for me, princess?” The question muttered lazy against the soft of your thigh as he really presses himself down onto you, fucking you with his fingers while his thick tongue drags against the inside of your thigh, pushing up against your super sensitive sex as he pulls out his fingers to lick them clean and slips his tongue inside, buried so deep you’re almost riding his nose.

You're almost crying, every nerve in your body is begging for your release. “Fuck.” he growls against your mouth as his own crashes against, “You’re the sweetest fucking thing I've ever tasted.” and quieter, as the kiss breaks, “That’s it, I'm keeping you here forever.”

You're not so dumbed by the way that hes getting you ready to be fucked that you don't immediately remind yourself you cannot, under any circumstances, get used to this. To him.

Because sooner or later, you think, he's gonna get bored… or the court of public opinion will get to him or Sarah, what about her, huh? You're such an idiot for this, he has a whole entire girlfriend.”

He picks up on the tension. Fingers slow to a stop and he stares down at you, caressing your face with his free hand.

“You still want this..”

“Yes.” you answer, arching up into him and trying to get as much friction going as you can. Because you were on the edge when your own mind got the best of you and you want to come so bad it hurts.

“You’re sure.. right?”

“Topper, please..” you whine out, “Need you. Want you.”

You almost blurt out that you love him but… at least if you don't, when it is over and he is done with you, you'll have a little dignity left.

He can't take it, there's this look in your eyes as he stares down at you, nearly all fucked out for him and he’s only used his fingers and mouth.

He reaches down between your body and grabs his cock, dragging it between slick and throbbing lips. He lets you take the tip and its like you come alive, pussy clenching around it.

,, probably not smart t” let him have me, not raw like this..” that thought is pushed right out of your brain as he slips in deeper. Going still as every thick inch stuffs you and overfills.  The way your pussy clenches him is so tight that he just has to lie still, kissing on you, marking you up as he gives himself time to get used to the tight squeeze, the way it feels so damn good to fuck you bare.

Nothing in the way, he can feel your slick coat him, he can feel each tight clench, all of it. He starts to move a little again, slow and deep drives.

You're moaning, pulling at his hair with one hand as you eagerly meet his thrusts, dragging your other hand down his back.

He tries to stop himself but you start to thrust against him more frantically, your legs squeezing his hips when he tries to pull out a little. 

“Oh you want me to fill up your sweet little pussy,” he groans, a quietly gasped  “fuck. “  as soon as he realizes this is it, there is no chance of him holding off a second longer. His hands are squeezing your hips tight as he pistons in and out, skin slapping against skin with each long thrust, “ ‘S like you were made for me, love. I'm keeping you.”

And the scary part is that he means it. He's secretly hoping he does somehow manage to fuck a baby into you, as stupid as it is, at least this way you can't just forget him after you’ve gone back to your side of the island.

“Top oh – oh fuck,” you cry out, begging him to let go in your next breath. And he does, brightly colored dots dancing behind his eyelids as they flutter closed for just a second because he comes so hard that he's dizzy.

He falls against the mattress beside you, you curl into him and place a little kiss against his mouth.

The little kiss isn't enough, he’s parting your lips with his tongue, hes got his hands all over you and the end result is you, getting hauled up on top of him, his arms locking around you to hold you there as he peppers kisses against your lips, cheeks and forehead.

“Wow.” one of you says it and both of you nod, a lazy yawn coming from you as he chuckles. “Sleepy?”

“Your fault, Top.” you reply, burying your face in the space between his neck and shoulders.

Meanwhile, your phone is going off again and you just don't care to answer it, any of it.

Because it's peaceful being all tangled up in bed with him.

[jinxyvvrites]

.. girl dad steve's got me feeling some kinda way... hmm.

[jinxyvvrites]

-- too sweet [ m ]

Warnings:

Minors DNI. This is filth. 18+ only.

Writer's own interpretation of Gareth Emerson. A whopping whole one year / grade age gap between reader and Gareth. Swearing, pinv unprotected, fingering, neighbors to lovers is taken literally here, body image issues to an extent, biting / marking, dry humping. Filth in the summer.

Word count:

uh its like.. 6k+

Pairing:

Gareth Emerson x female!reader

Previous part:

nada. this is a one and done type thing.. for now.

Snippet:

“Hm?” he questions, the kiss deepening as his hands really start to wander, squeezing. Groping every inch of skin he can get his hands on. He bucks himself against you and you whine, the needy sound of it cutting through the air.

“I said.” you breathe out, crashing your lips against his all over again as you pull him completely on top of you and wrap your legs around, “Maybe I wanna..”

“Fuck.” he groans against your neck as his lips stray from yours to latch against soft skin there, “You sure about that?”

“ The air conditioner is broke… again.” you’re so hot that forming words is even too much, the effort it takes has you falling across the Emerson’s sofa after you’ve kicked off your favorite flip flops and shed the oversized flannel that you stole from your best friend Gareth years ago.

Gareth nearly chokes on the drag he’s taken off his cigarette as baby blue eyes fix on you and suddenly, he’s actually seeing you. Not as the chubby cheeked little girl who has always kind of followed him around since you were kids, not as the best friend you turned into somewhere around your eighth grade year and his freshman year, but… he’s gawking.

You notice and raise a brow, wandering over to stop in front of him, raising a hand to place the back of it against his forehead. “You feeling okay, Gare?”

“Y-yeah.” Gareth manages to stammer out the word. Your hair is dripping on his mom’s floor and he nods to the water droplets. “You’re dripping everywhere.”

“Duh. I dragged myself down to that stupid pool to at least attempt cooling down.” you shrug it off, side-stepping him. He leans against the kitchen doorway to brace himself and pull himself together for a few seconds but then he happens to look over and you’ve got his mom’s freezer open and you’re digging around in it, a smile of sheer joy when you come up with one of those bomb pops  his mom always keeps handy for his little sister and her endless string of friends as they come in and out.

You peel off the wrapper and hoist yourself to sit atop the deep freeze you’ve just shut, groaning at the way it feels under your ass as the first bite of your bomb pop slides down your throat.

Gareth is hard, hot and bothered. His cock is pushing against thin denim as he wanders over and digs through a cabinet, finding himself a glass.

Like drinking water is going to help his current internal struggle.

You swing your legs around. You must’ve asked him a question because you clear your throat, fix your eyes on him expectantly.

“Huh?” he asks, shaking off the daze he’s been in since you walked in. 

“I asked you if that stupid grad party was as good as you hyped it up t’ be, Gare..” you repeat yourself, tongue rolling over the length of the bomb pop. Gareth’s eyes fix on the motion and he takes a big sip of the water, promptly managing to swallow it wrong.

“It sucked. Hopper and his buddies crashed it barely thirty minutes in. We didn’t even get t’ play one full song.” Gareth finally answers. You take a bite of the bomb pop and nod, laughing softly. “Yeah, I kinda heard. Did you at least get paid?”

Gareth smirks.

“Eddie made sure of it.”

“Good.” you go quiet. Your eyes settle on his lips as he raises the cup in his hand to take a sip. You’re staring way too hard but for the millionth time, you’re wondering what it’d be like to just be brave, kiss him until neither one of you can breathe or think straight. You shake your head, quickly attempting to shove down that thought -and the mental images it brings along with it.

He stops in front of you and thick digits circle your wrist as he raises your hand to his mouth. When he licks your popsicle, you glare at him and try to yank it back. “Hey! Mine!” you complain through a mouthful, “Get your own, dammit.” 

You jump a little as you remember why you walked over to his house in the first place. “You’re comin’ with me tonight.”

“Where?”

“Don’t worry about that.” you answer, giving him a little shrug. “Just be ready to go around like… 9.”

“Where?” he repeats himself. Firmer.

You pout a little. “Okay, alright, fiiiiiine. Since you absolutely must know, I wanna see the new Jason Voorhies fic and my friends are being babies about it. It’s ‘too scary’ and ‘gross’.” you air quote, blowing at sticky bangs as they flop down and right into your eyes.

 ,, this is as close as I can get to asking you on a date. I’m sick of you being too oblivious to take subtle hints.” - the thought comes and brings electricity with it, racing through your veins. You’re nervous as hell, this is the boldest thing you’ve done yet to clue him in on your little crush. ,, I’m running outta time here, he’ll be gone in like.. Two weeks?” - the desperation you feel has you up in arms. You’re so tortured by the thought of the boy next door leaving before you finally get to confess your feelings that you’re a breath away from just going for it, kissing him til he’s stupid.

“It’s gonna be stupid as hell.” Gareth argues. “Do you really wanna waste your money? You can wait, rent it when it comes to Family Video around September.” he’s staring at your lips, the blue tint the popsicle has given them. He can’t help but wonder what they’d feel like, pressed against his own.

“Oh come on!” you whine, begging him with your eyes. Slipping off the deep freezer you were sitting on to step into him. You walk your fingers up and down the front of your shirt. “What if I get scared, Gare..” you plead in a softer tone because if there’s one thing he’s always eaten up, it’s that.

What you don’t realize is the way you’re touching him and the way it feels to have you pressed right against him in the middle of his mother’s kitchen are only further opening his eyes.

And now that he’s starting to realize what he’s starting to realize, he’s about to crawl right out of his own skin, these long dormant urges keep pushing up from deep inside him.

Like the way his hand ends up raised, pushing your hair back out of your eyes as he stares at you solemn and quiet. His breath is caught in his throat. You can feel… something in the air, but you’re totally sure it’s got nothing to do with whatever weird mood Gareth is in currently and more to do with the fact that it’s so hot even something simple as breathing is too much to do.

“It’s opening weekend. Y’know how full it’s gonna be, right?” Gareth asks, shocked at the way his own voice sounds like the voice of a stranger to him when he speaks.

You nod. Gulping a little. “It’ll be okay. I’ll manage.”

“You hate crowds, though.” he insists.

The last place he wants to be is in a crowded theater, in the dark. With you.

Because he’s not entirely sure he can trust himself not to do something stupid as hell right now.

“You’ll be there.”

He rubs a hand over his face because he can see that he’s not getting out of this. You’re fully prepared to stop at nothing until he says yes. 

“Okay, alright. Fuck.. I’ll go with you t’ see this dumb movie.” he relents and you’re so happy, so thrilled that you’re finally about to be in the perfect position to make your move that you lose your filter and fling yourself at his body, wrapping your arms around his neck.

As Eddie Munson clears his throat from the doorway of the Emerson kitchen, the two of you spring apart.

Gareth is so red in the face that it’s all Eddie can do to keep himself from doubling over in laughter. “Am I interrupting something?”

You stick out your tongue and flip Eddie off.

,, no but I swear to God you almost were. I was about to say screw it and just kiss him already, fucking jerk!” the thought comes and you’re so frustrated you can feel your whole body when it clenches.

Gareth’s go-to-Hell glare has Eddie raising a brow.

As you slip past Eddie in the doorway, you pause. “9 pm, Gare.”

Gareth laughs quietly and gives you a mock salute. “Okay, alright. I can’t believe you’re dragging me through this. It’s gonna be pure shit.”

“You’re the sweetest.” your grin as you look back at him is enough to make Eddie’s resolve not to laugh shatter as you wander out the front door of his best friend’s house.

“I’m gonna say it again, Emerson.” Eddie looks up at Gareth between laughing fits, “She really wants you. You need t’ just do something about it already.”

Gareth flops down into a chair at his mom’s dining table, staring at the glass of water he sat down and forgot thirty minutes ago as if it holds the answer to all of life’s little mysteries.

“I think I love her, man.. Somethin just like… clicked when she wandered in here without even bothering t’ knock, Munson. It’s like..” Gareth struggles with what he wants to say, frustration pursing his lips. 

Eddie sits down in the chair next to Gareth after turning the chair so that the back of it’s pressing against his chest. “Yeah?”

“It’s like I noticed all these little things, man.. All at once.” Gareth tugs at the front of his t-shirt. “I mean I know she’s hot. I know that, man, it’s just like… She’s always just been my best friend. I guess I just kinda forgot?”

Eddie’s doubled over laughing again, tears rolling down his cheeks at this point. “What finally got t’ you, huh? Because man..” he tugs at the front of his Hellfire t-shirt and laughs immediately at the way Gareth’s knee-jerk reaction is the same as always, to glare and clench his fists.

“I’m just sayin.” Eddie trails off, taking a sip of water and wiping his mouth, “If it were me, man.. I’d have already had this little moment you’re having like… years ago, man.” 

“Fuck you, Munson.”

“You realize the only reason none of us ever really made a move when we all had our own crushes on her is because we all knew she was your girl.. Right?” Eddie asks, genuine curiosity lighting his eyes.

“Huh?”

“Well, Jeff wanted t’ ask her to the Spring formal. And he didn’t dare.” Eddie trails off, quick to speak up, “As friends, man.. Remember? You had that dumb distraction of a crush on Chrissy’s friend Lily? She got pissed about it and started comin’ around less? They kinda got close.”

“Yeah.” Gareth mulls it over. Grimacing. Because when he finally managed to get himself a date with Lily and they kissed, it was… Nothing. No sparks, no magic. It was more awkward than anything. Enough so that both of them immediately realized that they weren’t anything more than friends. 

“Shit.” Gareth is really thinking hard now. “Maybe that’s why every single fuckin’ time I think I wanna be with a girl, it always feels all wrong.”

“Well duh.” Eddie answers, giving his clueless best friend a calm shrug. “You’ve always been in love with ___, you just did a damn good job at burying it.” Eddie chuckles, gazing at his best friend thoughtfully as poor Gareth has his mind utterly blown.

“Except this one time. We were all high. You went on a twenty minute rant about how much you wanted her but you couldn’t ever be with her because it’d be weird and it’d ruin your friendship.”

Gareth rubs a hand over his face, cringing because he does remember bits and pieces of the rant in question.

“What the hell do I do, man?” he asks, looking up at Eddie expectantly. “You’re the one with an actual dating history that doesn’t involve your hands.” 

“Go for it, man.. Because she’s giving you all the signs. She always has, dude.” Eddie shrugs as he says it, as if it’s the simplest thing to do.

“It’s not that easy.”

“But it is, Emerson.. How the fuck do you think I ended up dating Chrissy -or any of those other girls?” Eddie points out calmly.

“You’re you..” Gareth points to himself. “No girl has ever looked at me and gone totally dumb over all this.”

Eddie’s doubled over laughing for a third time, he can’t believe his best friend is this clueless.

It’s endearing but it’s also hilarious.

“You don’t have a tenth of a clue, do ya?” he asks, a more serious look in his eyes as his laughter dies off and he locks eyes with his best friend. 

“Are you finally going to do something?”

Chrissy’s question has you pausing, your curling iron frozen in your hand in mid-air. “Huh?”

“About your huge crush on Gareth Emerson? You’re lucky he’s oblivious, __.” Chrissy gives you an almost sheepish smile when she says it. You feel like your heart has just dropped to your stomach. “You knew?”

“Mhm. It’s kind of obvious.” Chrissy smirks, nodding at the plaid shirt you stole from Gareth years ago and wear everywhere, especially to places or events you feel less confident or overwhelmed by. Like the fragment of his scent that still clings to the shirt is just enough to help you struggle through whatever it is you’re dealing with, even when he’s not there.

You stick out your tongue at her and sigh.

“He doesn’t.. Like… are you sure he hasn’t figured it out?” you ask, cringing as you wait for her answer.

Chrissy laughs softly and shakes her head. “He doesn’t have a clue. If he did, he’d have definitely picked up on the shift in your attitude when he took Lil out on that date around Halloween.” 

You let out a ragged breath.

Your hands have been shaking all damn day, since you lured him into agreeing to see the newest Jason Voorhies movie. Now it feels like there’s a swarm of bees in your tummy.

“Yeah.” you mutter quietly as you step away and look yourself over inher bedroom mirror critically.

“Would you relax? He’s wrapped around your finger.” Chrissy stops behind you, her chin on your shoulder. You laugh and roll your eyes. “Mhm, right.. Suuuure.”

“I’m not kidding.” Chrissy insists, groaning as she palms her face and looks at you. “You’re just as clueless as he is, y’know that?”

“He’s not into me. I’m just the annoying little shit next door.” you insist.

“Maybe when we were all in middle school, yes.. But it hasn’t been that way for a long time now. Trust me.”

And you want to because God knows, if anybody has dating experience under her belt, it’s your new best friend Chrissy, but there’s a part of you that thinks she’s just screwing with you, she’s gotta be.

“We’ll see, I guess.” you cross your fingers as you grab your keys and wander over to your bedroom door, hand hesitant on the knob.. “Wish me luck?” you laugh nervously.

“Whatever you two end up doing, make sure you name it after me or Eds.” she calls out after you cheekily, you flip her off as you make your way down the stairs of her father’s house. 

It’s 9:15 when he finally spots you rushing through the food court towards him. And when he sees you, he’s being slammed into the wall all over again, his stomach flips lazily, he can feel himself getting tense all over and he doesn’t even want to think about what the sight of you in what you're wearing is doing to certain parts of his anatomy at the moment.

You’re wearing a sundress. A short one, too.. Usually, if you bother with the formality of clothing, it’s cutoffs or this one pair of jeans that cling to your body like a second skin.. He’s never actually seen you in a dress, let alone a cute little short one like the one you’re wearing.

You’re laughing as you come to a halt in front of him. “Sorry! I swear to God, I lost track of time in that new store they just opened.” he finally notices the bags in your hands.

One of them has the branding of the new lingerie store on the front and this almost makes him swallow his own tongue while trying not to picture what you may or may not have just purchased.

You raise a brow, tilt your head to look up at him because he’s giving you that look again, the one from this morning. And he’s staring really hard. His eyes dart up and down like he’s taking you in.

Like he looked at Chrissy’s friend when he had a crush on her.. As soon as this thought surfaces, you shove it down. Because there’s no way Chrissy was right earlier. There’s no way it’s that simple.

Not with the way you’ve been sitting on your feelings for literal years at this point.

You step up into him as the crowd around you waiting in line for tickets seems to triple. You’ve always hated big crowds, he knows it like the back of his hand. He slips an arm around you, out of habit. Only now, he’s nervous as hell and he’s not sure if putting his arm around you is a good idea or if he should take it down.

You snug yourself against him and your hand curls against the front of his shirt. “So..”

He jumps a little, he’d been thinking way too hard. “Yeah?” he asks.

“We should uh..” you’re having a problem forming coherent sentences and you want to punch yourself in the face because of it. You cringe at how awkward you’re being and take a deep breath, nodding to the lines up ahead when you finally give up on words forming.

“Oh yeah.” he chuckles. His voice is deeper. Almost gravel and satin as he mumbles against your ear while smirking down at you, “You’re not startin’ to rethink it now..” as he nods to the huge crowd waiting in line for tickets to the movie you begged him to see.

Deep down he’s hopeful that you are.. Because he’d rather be somewhere a little more quiet and one hell of a lot more private with you. The thought has him stunned when it comes.

Eddie’s speech from earlier comes rushing back, repeating in his head. Taunting him. ,, One of you needs t’ do somethin’ already, man.. You two are kinda givin’ th’ rest of us blue balls, dumb fuck.” 

A girl walks past and she’s complaining about how cheesy the movie was. Meanwhile, her best friend looks like she’s just been to war and seen some serious shit. You gulp as your eyes dart back up and you find yourself locked into a stare war with Gareth.

He steps into you completely, using every inch of his height to tower over you just a little. He’s dominating the space between your bodies and the rush of heat that settles between your thighs has you squeezing them tight. “I’m gonna ask you again.. Last chance t’ back out, lil bit.”

You swallow hard. Your eyes are glued to his mouth and you stop yourself just as you feel the warmth and wetness of your own tongue, dragging the outline of your lips.

But he’s locked in, watching as your tongue traces the shape of your lips. Swallowing hard because all he can think about right now is just going for it. Kissing you to see if that mushy bullshit he’s always read in his mom’s cheesy books is even real at all.

To see if his own theory is right and it has been you all along.

“It does look kinda crowded.” you cringe a little and sigh. You’re losing your nerve. Your shoulders slump just a little and you can’t hide the pure defeat as it plays at your lips in a weak frown.

Gareth clocks it, a rare occurrence.

“We can do somethin’ else.. If you really want to see a horror movie, lil bit..” he suggests, a mild shrug as he pauses to stare down at you and let his hand settle against your hip, pull you close because you’d started to drift away from him, “We can always go t’ Family Video and grab a few.”

You feel like all the air has been sucked out of the space between the two of you. You blink in surprise. “Y..You don’t mind?”

Gareth chuckles quietly and shakes his head. “I missed you.” he’s being completely honest. He has missed you, and he doesn’t want you to keep drifting farther and farther away.

Watching horror movies together on a muggy summer night is something that always used to happen not so long ago.

You grin. “Okay.” you nod, heat searing your face as soon as you realize that he’s kind of holding you against him and this only makes you squeeze your thighs tighter, his finger is circling against the fabric of your little sundress lazily as he stares down at you.

“Whenever you’re ready.” he smirks, nodding to the way the mall is getting even more crowded. You nod, swallowing hard. “Let’s go. It’s too people-y in here.”

The two of you are back in his bedroom, cool air blasting from a fan set on top of his dresser. The dim light of the television set is the only light in the room and while you’re staring a hole through the tv, he’s staring at you.

Willing himself to go for it. To do something before there’s no time left for it.

He gets his chance when the waterbed scene comes up during Nightmare on Elm Street. You’re not expecting it, so you jump into his lap and bury your face in the space between his neck and shoulders instead. 

Gareth bites down on his bottom lip hard. Harder still when your legs end up around his waist and he realizes that you’re sitting completely in his lap.. As in, you can probably feel the way he’s strained against his jeans. For a second or two, his hands linger awkwardly next to either one of your hips and he takes himself a deep breath. He tries not to think about the way it feels, the softness of your panties pressing right against the front of his jeans. The way your legs are squeezing the shit out of his hips currently or the way your deep breaths against his neck as you try to pull yourself together are both cute and not helping anything about his current situation.

“You coulda warned me.” you whine, your voice muffled by his skin. As you speak, your lips graze against his pulse. He can feel his heart about to beat right out of his chest and it almost feels like it’s coming up and any second, he’s gonna choke on it.

“It’s just a movie.” he mutters, chuckling quietly. You pull away and pout at him. “I just watched a guy get murdered by a waterbed, Gareth.”

“Shh.” he raises one hand, lets it settle against your face, “If it’s too much..” he’s challenging you, you can just look at him and tell.

If only you had a clue at all.

You lean in closer. Your lips bump against his. You can smell the popcorn you’ve been sharing. See the greasy sheen butter left behind as it coats his lips.

As his eyes settle on your mouth, he licks his lips. His other hand finally finds a resting place against your hip, squeezing at it lightly when he can feel you start to squirm. 

“Was tonight supposed t’ be a date?” he asks.

You swallow hard and your eyes dart down, settling on the way your bodies meet as you sit in his lap. You laugh softly, a little too embarrassed to look up at him. But then he grips your jaw and makes you. “Was it?”

“Well, yeah.. I was just..” you trail off, smack his chest a little in frustration. “You’re gonna be gone soon and I’m so tired of feeling the way I feel but being too scared t’ act.” you breathe it out in a rush. Gareth blinks, shock widening baby blue eyes. “Wait..” he points to himself as he frantically tries to put two and two together. “How do you feel, hm?”

“Remember when we were kids and I punched Tommy Hagan in the mouth after he tried t’ kiss me?” you ask, tilting your head a little. Focusing on the front of his t-shirt, playing with the fabric to distract yourself. Gareth snickers. “Yeah. The poor bastard got a bloody nose later.” he admits, going quiet.

You look up at him, brows knit.

“Anyway,” he coaxes, “What’s that got to do with this?”

You cringe a little. “If you kissed me right now, Gare.. I guarantee you won’t get punched in the mouth.” you mutter, a whisper by the time your words trail off.

“I wouldn’t, huh?” he asks, gripping your jaw. Making you look him in the eyes again. You’re burning hot all over and it’s not because of the muggy night heat.

“Nope.” you stumble over the word. Try to hold his gaze and pray to whatever God happens to be listening that your heart doesn’t beat so hard that it explodes.

Because it feels like it’s going to.

He loses control of himself entirely. Rocks up into you as his mouth moves in closer to your own. You end up laid back against soft and lumpy mattress and Gareth’s body has your body pinned beneath his own. You whine and arch yourself up against him because the way you’d been getting friction up to this point was to squirm in his lap now and then. Feel the way his cock pressed up into your dripping, throbbing cunt.

“Good t’ know.” he mutters as his mouth latches against your bottom lip, teeth tugging until he can feel it swell under pressure. You rock up into him again and he can’t stop the growl when it comes. Warning in a whisper against your mouth as his tongue slips in to find yours, “Easy, lil bit.. You’re gonna start somethin.”

“Maybe I wanna.” you mutter, making him pause. Stare at you intently, fucking you with his eyes. “Hm?” he questions, the kiss deepening as his hands really start to wander, squeezing. Groping every inch of skin he can get his hands on. He bucks himself against you and you whine, the needy sound of it cutting through the air.

“I said.” you breathe out, crashing your lips against his all over again as you pull him completely on top of you and wrap your legs around, “Maybe I wanna..”

“Fuck.” he groans against your neck as his lips stray from yours to latch against soft skin there, “You sure about that?”

“Please?” you beg, one of your hands untangling from it’s rest against his neck to trail down, tug at the button on his jeans as you stare up at him.

That pretty little begging pout. The one he’s never been able to refuse.

The one that’d get him to do anything, no questions asked.

His head drops, resting against the swell of your breasts as he tries to stop himself because he thinks he hears someone standing outside his bedroom door. He’s dancing his lips over soft skin, staring down at you with lust-black eyes. 

“I..” you trail off. Because you’re afraid if you tell him you’ve never actually done it before, he’s going to back out. And you want him to be your first. It has to be him, you made up your mind a long time ago.

You can’t imagine your life without Gareth Emerson in it.

“Yeah?” he mutters, softly pecking you on the lips.

“I haven’t ever like..” you can’t just say it and it’s frustrating. You feel like an actual child, the way you’re hot all over, embarrassed heat burning at your skin. “I haven’t ever done it with anybody, Gare. I was um...” you take a deep breath or two and grumble about the way words always seem harder before speaking up again, "I was waiting on... you.."

Gareth groans, ruts himself into you all over again, immediately going still when again, he thinks he hears someone standing out in the hallway. He’s staring at the door intently, wishing that locking it didn’t mean he had to pull himself off you.

This is beyond every single one of his wildest dreams. He doesn’t want anything to happen and ‘wake him up’. Because he has to be dreaming right now, he has to be.

You’re pouting. Trying to rub against him, your lips pressing against his neck to mark him up. “Why’d you stop?”

“Thought I heard somebody.” Gareth tears his eyes off the door and looks down at you, giving you a little peck on the lips as he pries himself away from you. He opens his bedroom door, peeks out and closes it, satisfied that he’s just hearing things.

Then he’s wandering back over to the bed. Pushing you flat against his bed all over again as he settles himself on top of you again. “I haven’t either... because I was hoping..” he admits quietly, his lips pressing against the bridge of your nose as he rubs himself against you clumsily. One of his hands creeps up the bottom of your dress and you whine out quietly. He stops, looking down at you. “Are you sure?” he asks, taking a few deep breaths.

“Please?”  you whine out as you arch into him because you can feel his hand settle against your throbbing cunt. “Gare, just..” your eyes flutter open and shut as your head falls back and he starts to rub a little harder, the clumsiness in his touch fading fast, “love you.” you gasp, a coil building in your tummy, “Need you, Gare.”

“Fuck.” he groans, rocking himself against you, his hand rubbing a little faster as his lips latch against your neck, sucking at skin harder. Determined to leave marks behind. “Need me, huh?” he mutters, chuckling quietly. “Gonna make you feel so good.” he promises, slipping his fingers into your panties.

As they curl inside of you, you whine and dig your nails into his shoulders. There’s too much keeping you apart. “Baby, I..” you choke out as his fingers strum against a spot that sends you arching up into him, “I wanna feel you..”

He wants to die right there, he realizes that he’s so focused on getting you ready for him that you’re both still wearing all your clothes. You slip a hand between your bodies, tugging impatiently at the belt loop of his jeans. When your fingers graze against his stomach as they work the button on his jeans free, he whines helplessly. You’ve freed the button and you’re tugging down the zipper. He wants the dress out of his way. It’s pretty, you look so goddamn gorgeous in it, but he needs to see you.

Naked. Pinned beneath him with your hair all fanned out on his pillow. 

He stops working at your cunt to slip his hand out of your panties and tug them down. His jeans are slipping down and you whine, blowing at hair as it falls in your face because you’re frustrated. You want his boxers out of the way. His shirt off.

You go for the hem of his t-shirt and he hesitates. This is met with you tugging harder while giving him that pleading little look. And Gareth is nothing if not nervous as hell. What if you get a look at him naked and it’s enough to completely kill the mood? What if you’re turned off by him?

“Babe.” he complains.

“Gare, pretty please?” you beg against the shell of his ear. “If it’ll make you feel better I’ll let you undress me first..”

He swallows hard, staring down at you when he’s got the nerve to look at you again. Peppering your face with little kisses. “Really?”

“Gareth, I want you. Just like you are. Don’t you want me?” you question, the pleading look in your eyes growing even more. “Fuck yeah.” he answers, zero hesitation.

“You really want me to–.” he nods down to the dress currently in his way. You laugh softly and nod. “You always think too much. I said it was okay.”

He starts to push the dress up, easing himself off you a little so you can sit up and he can pull it over your head. It settles on his bedroom floor. Your hands are shaking a little and your first instinct is to throw an arm up and attempt to cover your chest but he pushes your arm down, staring.

Gaping.

“You.. there wasn’t a bra under it?” he questions -the way he gapes at you makes  you snicker quietly, slowly working his shirt up over his head. It falls from your fingertips onto his bedroom floor and you’re too impatient to keep waiting, stripping off his jeans and boxers almost immediately after, not giving him even a second to protest.

 You gently shove him against his mattress and he groans, bucking himself up into you. When your hand captures his hands and holds them against his pillow, it’s all he can do to keep from getting too loud. “C’mon, no fair.” he pleads, pushing himself up to a sitting position and smirking as he does it. 

“I wanted to touch you, damn it.” he’s pushing you back against the mattress now, staring hard at your naked body. Taking it in. Because he can admit now, he dreamed about this very thing on more than a handful of occasions.

But it was a dream. This is very much real.

It's happening.

And as his mouth finds your mouth again and you whine and whimper, finally managing to get a hand free from the way his hands caught against yours to hold them still, you slip it down between your bodies, circling his thick cock.

You’re clumsy, uneven with your strokes and not squeezing him like he can feel your pussy squeezing his fingers as he slips them back inside you deep, working you until you’re dripping all over them again. “ ‘S okay, babe.” he coaxes. “You can squeeze a little tighter.” he bucks himself against your hand as it circles his cock tighter. Staring down at your as your eyes flutter open and closed each time he pumps his fingers into you. He can’t wait to feel you wrapped around his cock, squeezing the same way you’re squeezing the two fingers buried inside you right now. You’re so wet there’s a puddle forming below your body on his bed, making the navy color of his comforter a wet black.

Your pussy vises around his fingers as he finds that spot all over again. You’re digging your toes into his mattress, arching up into him, helpless. 

“You’re gonna feel s’ fuckin’ good f’ me, pretty girl.” he groans, rutting himself against your thighs.

You whine out louder, he buries his mouth against yours, kissing you to at least make an attempt to keep anyone from figuring out what’s going on in his bedroom right now. 

“Shh.” he cautions as the kiss breaks so you can both breathe, “Gotta be quiet.”

You nod but the faster his fingers work away at your cunt, the harder you suspect that’s going to be. When he brushes against that spot deep inside all over again, you bite down on his shoulder a little and he almost can’t stop, he almost blows instantly.

“Jesus.” he groans out, staring down at you with a red face and hints of a cocky smirk, “you’re real needy f’ me, huh?”

“Gare.” you whimper, tears of frustration pooling at your waterline. You’ve been so close, literally right there, at least three times now and every single time, he’s backed you down from going over the edge. You’re shaking. And all the teasing has you aching. 

“Last chance t’ change your mind, pretty girl.” he mumbles, lips nipping at your earlobe as he slips his fingers out of you and lines his cock up, dragging it between swollen wet lips, teasing at entry. All you can do is beg. Plead with him.

He stops when he feels you tense up. Kissing on you until he can feel you relax and start trying to rock your hips against him, your legs falling open wide.

He can’t stop staring down at you, taking everything about you in.

“Jesus.” he growls against your skin as he sinks in deeper and his hand grips your hip, angling it, “You’re fucking squeezing me.”

You’re pinned below him, fucked out gleam in your eyes, tears dripping down your cheeks because you’re frustrated. Dying for your first orgasm.

“Give it t’ me, pretty girl.” Gareth coaxes, dragging his finger over your bottom lip, leaving it quivering. “C’mon, fuck.. I need it.” 

You come apart, Gareth fucking into you, fucking you right over the edge as you shake and cling to him while you come undone. “So fuckin pretty.” he mutters against your skin softly. “Mine. All mine.” he’s squeezing your body with his hands, bucking into you fast enough that the headboard of his bed is now hitting the wall quietly. He raises an arm, grabbing at it to keep it still and hopefully, make it quieter. “Wanna cum s’ bad.” he mumbles.

“Wanna..” you whimper, back arching as his cockhead strums against your spot all over again, “Wanna feel you, please..” you’re begging for it, it’s the hottest thing he’s ever heard. It pushes him straight over the edge and he’s slamming into you, your tits bouncing, the chain around his neck banging against his skin with every single thrust into you. You raise a hand and curl your finger in the chain, using it to tug his mouth back down onto yours and this is it, he can’t take another second.

He melts himself down into you, lips everywhere, hands all over you as he fucks into you clumsier, slower and his kisses are sloppier. Messy and wet on your mouth as his hot release paints your insides. 

He falls into bed beside you, spent. Breathing hard and fast. But he can’t take the absence of your skin against his so he pulls you on top of you, letting you settle there, draped across him.

All those fireworks he’d never seen any other time?

Exploding in bursts of color behind his eyes as he closes them. His arm snakes around you and his hand drags up and down your spine gently.

“Wanna stay like this.” you both yawn out at the same time, eyes heavy.

[jinxyvvrites]

[jinxyvvrites]

We’re fanfic writers. We have no self-control, have 32 unfinished WIPs, and an have an emotional attachment to scenes that don’t even exist yet. 🥲

[jinxyvvrites]

-- summer of 85 [ act iii ]

Warnings:

Writer's own interpretation of canon characters. Absence of sci-fi / Upside Down + integral canon events -this is more a slice of life type thing, I do not fear. Teen dramatics, swearing, angst here and there, topics like teen pregnancy / affairs, etc mentioned. Kissing, eventually. Eventual filth -assuming I don't get bored of this and just stop working on it entirely, boys (billy and tommy, ofc) being kind of douchebags, tommy being a little jealous / v. possessive, steve's kiddos playing matchmaker with awkward and/or hilarious results, etc.. Nicknames and petnames galore. If I'm leaving her unnamed for ya'll -because trust, I almost made reader an oc.. - at least let me have nicknames/petnames.

Warning about reader/you: The reader for this is very, very specific and detailed. If this puts you off, please do yourself a favor and don't read this. The characteristics I've given reader/you are non-negotiable and as follows:

Reader is female. Reader is shorter than Steve/Tommy, think like.. 5'2 ish. Reader has long and curly hair -think 90's Mariah. Reader is a cheerleader but Reader is very much anti-popularity. Reader recently went through what others see as a 'glow-up' but Reader doesn't really acknowledge in anything beyond sarcasm / insecurities that have now stemmed from that. Reader has an older sister -the teen pregnancy mentioned vaguely in previous chapter, and an adorable lil niece named Ruby. Reader is a child of divorce / cheating - her father had an affair and is noted to be not such a good and hands on father -spoiler alert, he wanted boys, lol- Reader loves shopping and fashion and makeup but she's too lazy to make an effort most of the time. Reader wants to be a dancer / plans to make this a career. Reader is maternal af. Reader goes by 3 nicknames -eventually 4, but that last one is a good way off.. Those nicknames are teeny, tiny and pixie. Pixie is specific to Tommy only.

If any of the warnings here bother you, this is not the fic for you.

Word Count:

4.2k+

Pairings:

Mike x Will, endgame

Eleven x Max, endgame

reader x tommy, past - hints of present.

reader x steve, eventual endgame

robin x vicky, crushes, one sided

robin x nancy, eventual, endgame

Previous Parts:

act ii

Snippet:

“I thought Steve liked Robin.” “He does.” Eleven answers, glancing over at where the three of you are sitting, further up the row. She happens to catch him looking from you to Robin and then at the screen as he shakes his head and laughs at the way the two of you are tossing popcorn into each other’s mouths. “Wait..”

“Yeah? You saw the way he looks at _ too?” Max asks, grinning. Eleven nods. “I think he likes them both.”

You know your mom’s talked to your father when you step into your house after a long day at cheer practice to hear Silver Springs blaring from the stereo in the kitchen.

She’s angry baking again, you sniff the air, stomach growling at the scent of her homemade brownies.

“Ma?” you call out, hoping she hears you over the music playing full blast.

Your mom lowers the radio and calls out to you. “Teeny? Are you home?”

You saunter into the kitchen and grab a cup, running cold water into the tap. “Yeah.” you flop down into one of the brightly painted ladderback chairs.

“Your father wanted t’ know if you want to come for Christmas this year. We were figuring out the visits..” she looks so sad. She always looks sad after she’s had to deal with him.  “He’d really like it if you did.”

You roll your eyes. “Riiight. Sure he would. So he can trot me around with his new family, pretend to be the perfect father.”

“Sweetie, he is trying harder.”

“He should’ve tried before he fucked his secretary, ma.” you don’t mean for it to slip out quite so blunt, but you still can’t just get past it. You don’t intend to, either. You are firmly on your mother’s side.. Because it wasn’t like he was actually involved as a parent before he walked out anyway, you think, why’s he wanna start now?” 

“Will you at least think about it?”

“Nope. Not interested.” you answer after not even half a second. You take a few sips of water and after the silence gets too much, you clear your throat. “I’m sorry, I just can’t, ma.”

“I wish you’d try. He is your father.”

You shrug. “Maybe if he’d bothered acting like it with me and Dawn before, I’d be bothered t’ spend time with him now.” you mumble. Your mom nods. “He was taking care of us.”

You snort in laughter. “He was using work as an excuse to not be around, ma. I really wish you’d see that. I wish you wouldn’t defend him. He doesn’t deserve it.” 

“Sweetie, you don’t understand the whole situation.”

“I understand that he said for better or for worse and then he bailed.” you shrug, going quiet. “Can we just not talk about this, ma? It’s kinda been a long day.”

Your mom nods. “It has. I’ll tell him you’re not coming next time he calls.”

“Better yet, let me.” you smile at her. “I’ll be th’ bad guy, ma.”

“Sweetie..”

“I know what you’re about to say. This is a bridge I think I wanna burn.” you insist. “I don’t care how much money he sends. I don’t care how many vacations or holidays he invites me to, it’s not gonna change the fact that you’re my ma. He’s just.. Half of my genes. He never bothered gettin’ t’ know me or Dawn. I really don’t think he even liked us, ma.”

“Sweetie..”

“But it’s fine. I’m dealing with it.” you insist. Your mom studies you quietly.

After a second or two, she scowls at the ringing landline. “That’ll be your father or that little jerk Joey.”

“Got it.” you smirk and she laughs softly, shaking her head. “One of us has gotta be rude, ma.” you shrug as you slink over, picking up the phone.

It’s Joey.

You wander out into the hallway, leaning against the wall. Waiting until he reaches a stop in his speech.

“I’m still done with you.” you speak up, calm and firm. “I told you I wasn’t ready, asshole. You kept pushing me. I told you t’ knock it off, you didn’t. This is where we are now.”

“Aw, c’mon, babe.. I can’t help you went an’ got all hot on me an’ I couldn’t keep my hands off ya.”

You roll your eyes. “Yeah, well.. No is a full sentence, asshole. Just for the future, idiot.”

“Ice queen.” he grumbles. “Y’know, teasing a guy isn’t right. It’s not fair.”

“The fact that you think I was teasing you to begin with just shows me how stupid you are. If I wanted you, asshole, you’d have known it. Don’t call here again. We’re done.” 

You laugh bitterly and slam the phone back down onto the hook just as he’s getting all worked up all over again, pleading for you to at least think about giving him a chance. Your mom is watching you when you wander back into the kitchen and flop down into your chair, you can tell she’s been listening at the doorway.

“Do you wanna talk about it, teeny?”

You shrug. “I had one boundary, ma.. The jerk couldn’t be bothered to stick by it. It’s over.”

“But you’re hurting.”

“And I’ll survive.” you mumble, sighing as you shake your head. “Just once..” you trail off.

“Yeah?” your mom sits down, taking a sip of her long-forgotten glass of tea.

“I’d like t’ meet a truly decent guy.. Y’know, one who listens.. Who respects my boundaries and stuff. Who actually wants me for me, not because I’m supposedly hot now.” you roll your eyes and laugh. “Can’t trust any of ‘em, huh?”

“One day you will, sweetie.” your mom coaxes. You laugh, the laughter dying away when you realize that yes, she does still somehow have a shred of hope left. 

“I mean.. Even the boy I used t’ love so much in middle school and thought would never turn into an actual shithead turned into one, so I’m kinda having a hard time believing that.” you admit quietly as you finish off your glass of water. 

“I promise.” your mom gives you a little smile. “I might have.”

As her eyes light up, you giggle. “Okay, I’ll bite..”

“Bob… That sweet man who owns Radio Shack?” your mom goes quiet, grinning like an idiot. And it’s the first time you’ve seen her this happy - at least not romantically, in a long time.

You’re trying to remember who she’s talking about. You grin.

“No way! I thought I picked up on a lil flirtation between you two when you went to take the toaster in to be fixed.” your hand goes to your mouth and you laugh softly. “Okay, I need to hear everything, ma. Now.”

Your mom smiles and shrugs. “We’ll see how it goes.”

“Moooooom.” you whine. “No fair!”

“A lady never kisses and tells.” your mom answers, making you pout at her.

“Not even to her daughter?”

“Especially not to her daughter.” your mom laughs and shakes her head. “Were you still going to meet Robin at the mall later?”

“Mhm.”

“Maybe you could invite Tommy..” your mom ventures and you shake your head. “I really don’t think that’s such a good idea, ma..” you go quiet. She frowns. “But you two were starting to get close again at Ruby’s party this weekend.”

“We are, I just… I love Robin, okay? She’s not comfortable around new people.”

Your mom smiles and nods, opening her arms for a hug. “Such a sweet girl I have.”

You laugh. “Y’know some people might disagree with that.”

“I don’t care.” your mom smiles at you as the hug breaks. “I’m proud of you and your sister. I think I did a damn good job.”

“Love you, mama.”

“Love you too, teeny.”

You wander into Scoops and get in the line behind a group of girls decked out in leotards and legwarmers. As they whisper back and forth amongst each other about how low King Steve has to have fallen, working at an ice cream parlor, you roll your eyes. You instantly recognize Nicole, one of Carol’s airheaded friends.

“It’s your turn, bimbo.” you cut into their conversation, rolling your eyes as you nod to the counter. “Can you order and get the hell out?”

Nicole’s hand settles on her hip as she looks you up and down. “Did you seriously just..?” she pops a bubble with her gum.

“Yeah.” you laugh. “I did.”

“Nic..” Tina goes quiet under her warning glare. Nicole rolls her eyes. “Screw whatever Tommy said, I still don’t like this little bitch. I’m not gonna be nice to her, either.”

You yawn. “The fact that you think I give a flying fuck is amusing.” you shrug as you say it. “I don’t care. I’d rather you stick to what I’m used to.”

“Good.”

“Great.” you fold your arms over your chest, scowling at her as you shoo her, hoping she’ll turn around and order the ice cream she came for, get out of the way so you can get your ice cream fix for the afternoon.

Up at the counter, Steve’s overheard most of the little confrontation. And he can’t help but chuckle to himself as he listens to you putting Nicole in her place.

Oh, it’s not the first time, not by a long shot. You’ve never had a problem speaking your mind. Not even a little. There’s never really been a shy bone in your body.

,, it’s actually kind of hot.” he thinks, pausing as he turns, sits down the scoop in his hand and holds out Erica’s daily free ice cream. “Your orange dreamsicle, kid.”

Erica smirks. “Thank you.”

As she makes her way past, you laugh softly.

Nicole, Tina and the rest of their little group takes their turn, catty muttered comments about how pathetic Steve Harrington has truly become under their breath the entire time.

“At least he’s doing something productive. Unlike you airheads.” you mutter, hoping to hell it’s loud enough that at least one of them hears you because honestly, you’re just over the little group being in your presence.

Your turn finally comes.

Steve is chuckling as you stop in front of him. “You’re a little hothead, y’know that?”

“They bring it outta me, Steve.” you bite your bottom lip as your eyes fix on his mouth for just a second or two too long for your personal liking. You shake your head and laugh softly. “Is Robbie around?” you ask, bursting at the seams to tell her who your mom has apparently been on a few dates with while you were at your grandparents.

“She’s in back.” Steve nods towards the back of the parlor. “I can go get her?”

“Nah, it’s fine. I’ll catch her in like an hour.” you smile at him but he shakes his head at you. “No, I’ll go get her. It’s my turn t’ take a break anyway.”

As he takes off his apron and the stupid sailor hat, you lick your ice cream cone, reading off the three new flavors they’ve added to the menu. 

Robin wanders out, putting back on her apron. As you flop down into a chair nearby, she nods to your damp hair. “You must’ve gone to the pool.”

“Mhm. I left because that idiot Hargrove wouldn’t take a hint and leave me alone.”

Robin laughs. “Most girls would kill for that.”

“I’m weird though, remember? I like my space. He had the actual nerve to grab my sunblock, Robbie.. Then he starts trying t’ put it on me? Like..” you take a few licks of your melting cone, “Excuse me, man? Did I ask you t’ touch me?”

Robin snickers quietly.

“ I heard the new cheer coach is a real battle axe.” Robin sits down across from you, resting while there’s nobody in the little shop.

“Ugh, I swear to God.. If I weren’t so locked in on being a dancer, I’d walk. Zero hesitation.” you take a few more licks. “That woman had the audacity to tell me I need to drop five pounds.”

Robin gapes. “Ew!”

“Yeah. I told her not a fucking chance. If I stay on the squad past camp I’ll be surprised.”

“You could just take dance lessons.. They opened that studio the next town over.” Robin muses. You shrug. “I’m thinking hard about going that route.”

“So do it.” Robin encourages. “Don’t spend another second miserable.”

“I’m trying not to be a quitter. But I swear to God if she doesn’t breathe down someone else’s throat, I’m done. Because it’s like you said.. Why be miserable? That’ll just make me hate dancing.”

Robin nods. “Exactly.”

“Speaking of camps… Did you talk to you know who yet?” you lean in, giggling softly as you ask the question. Robin cringes. “An attempt was made.. A bad one, but an attempt all the same.”

“Robbie, that’s so badass! I told you it wasn’t that hard!” you’re loud and enthusiastic, grinning brightly at your best friend. Robin is beet red, sticking her tongue at you. “I didn’t say it was a good attempt.”

“Oh no.” your face falls. “What happened?”

“I opened my mouth and instead of words, I squeaked.” Robin hides her face and shakes her head. You laugh softly. “Aww, this is so damn cute.”

“Okay, what about you, hm? I heard a certain freckled prick was over at your house on Saturday?” 

You shrug. “We talked. We kinda had to.. Was Ruby’s party, remember?”

She nods. “Just like.. Don’t trust him, okay? Steve says he’s full jerk, no hint of this so-called sweet side you keep insisting he has.”

“You and Steve talk a lot.” you’re teasing her gently. She shrugs, glancing back at Steve as he peeks around the corner. “Maybe he’s not as bad as the rest of ‘em..”

“Girl.”

“What? I just said maybe he’s not that bad.”

“That’s a doorway though.” you mutter, making her laugh at you as she shrugs. “He asked me to come with him, he’s taking these kids he babysits to see a movie later. I feel soooo bad.. Like.. If I were as bold as you I’d think he was into me and he’s so barking up the wrong tree.. But he’s been through it and I don’t wanna add to that.”

“He’s strong. You can let him down easy sooner or later. I think he is into you. I know he is, actually.”

Robin gapes.

You shrug. “You’re hot.” you smirk, staring her down. “If I were into girls I’d have locked it down when we were in like… 9th grade. We’d totally be married by now.” you make her blush and she’s laughing, it’s the cutest thing. You smile at her. “I’m not lying, either.”

“You’re full of it.”

“Am not!” you insist, staring her down. As melted ice cream rolls down your arm, you raise it and lick it off. “Anyway, yeah.. When you do have to let the big idiot down, just be easy. I agree with you. He kinda went through it, what with Billy knocking him off his throne and Nancy Wheeler ditching him.”

Robin nods and sighs. “I’m dreading it.. I mean, if he actually is into me.”

You smile, nod at her. “I know. It’s not fun. Like, not at all.”

“Hey… he did say you were cute.”

“Uh uh.. Nope.” you shake your head. “I’m committed to myself right now. Until I figure out who I can actually trust and who is only into me because I suddenly and supposedly got cute. Which I still don’t see, by the way.” you shake your head. 

“Oh come off it. You’re hot, okay? Like.. Super hot. If I knew you were into girls..” Robin laughs softly.

“We’d be married.” you answer, giving her a wink.

“I better go, let you get back to work.” you stand, stretching. Grimacing at the way your arms ache from working them all day. Robin notices and gazes up at you in concern. “You okay, tiny?”

“Yeah, just sore as hell. The coach decided she was going to work our asses off. Apparently, we’re all lazy or something.” you shrug.

Robin laughs softly. “Hey.” she stops you as you turn and start to head out of Scoops, “You should come with me? If I go with the dingus and his children..”

You raise a brow. “I dunno, Robbie..”

“Aw, c’mon.” Robin pleads. You rub your forehead. “What time?”

“9.”

“What if Steve doesn’t want me around though? I feel like I’d be third-wheeling you guys..”

Steve speaks up, smiling at you. “It’s fine. I don’t really mind. The more, the merrier.”

You give him a little smile that Robin clocks, files away to tease you about later on. As you tilt your head to look up at him, your stomach does this weird little flip.

“Cool. I’ll meet you guys at 8:30. I’m gonna do some more retail therapy.”

Robin snickers. “Good grief, woman.”

“I haven’t spent the old man’s lousy dad tax yet. I don’t want it sitting around, Robbie. It’s only fair, right?”

As you slink out, Steve chuckles.

“She’s.. Interesting.”

Robin laughs softly, shaking her head while Steve is still kind of staring at the door. “She’s a handful, that’s what she is.”

“Yeah, I kind of picked up on that.” Steve muses, blowing out a breath as he finally takes his eyes off the door, thick digits raking through shaggy hair.

“What the fuck? Why is she so freaking stupid, ugh!” -your little exclamation draws a glare from Nancy Wheeler’s little brother and Lucas snickers to himself. Steve can’t help the snort when it escapes and Robin nudges you, leaning in.

“Bet you twenty dollars that she ends up dead by the end of this scene.”

“Why are we betting, Robbie? We both know it’s inevitable at this point.” you’re scowling at the screen, “I just need her to be smarter. She's truly an idiot..” you go quiet, shoveling popcorn into your mouth as you fix your eyes on the screen.

 As Robin looks up right around the same time the killer bursts through the door with his axe, she jumps, hand flying to her eyes as her popcorn flies off her lap.

Steve looks at her in genuine concern and as you watch the two, you can’t help but feel angsty about it. 

,, He might seem sweet but..” your mind insists. This thought is overshadowed by the next one, ,, Poor guy.” because any idiot can look at him and see just how down bad he is for Robin.

And on a deeper level, yes.. Maybe you’re feeling just a little bit of the old green eyed monster. But you bury it and you bury it quick, reminding yourself that you’re perfectly fine doing your own thing. That you need to have time to yourself, that you made yourself a promise not to jump from the frying pan back into the fire.

Because you’re sick and tired of the disappointment that always seems to come right along with it.

At one point, the girl with red hair nudges you.

“Yeah?”

“Hey.. It was cool when you told my stepbrother to get bent earlier. He’s not a good guy.”

You nod. “Yeah, I kind of picked up on that. He’s not familiar with the word no, I take it?”

Max shakes her head, laughs softly. “He’s never heard it.”

“Yeah, that tracks.”

“Just don’t let him win.. Please?” Max asks, looking at you in concern. You nod and smile. “Oh trust me.” you lean in to whisper, “I don’t think you’re ever gonna have to worry about that one, cherry.”

She laughs. Smiles at you. And as she turns her attention back to the screen, she happens to catch Steve looking away from you. She raises a brow and shakes her head, nudging her girlfriend.

“I thought Steve liked Robin.”

“He does.” Eleven answers, glancing over at where the three of you are sitting, further up the row. She happens to catch him looking from you to Robin and then at the screen as he shakes his head and laughs at the way the two of you are tossing popcorn into each other’s mouths. “Wait..”

“Yeah? You saw the way he looks at ___ too?” Max asks, grinning. Eleven nods. “I think he likes them both.”

“Yeah.” Max agrees, stealing another look. Now the two of you are tossing popcorn into Steve’s mouth, the three of you laughing.

“But which one does he like, like.. Like, y’know, seriously?” Lucas wonders as Mike hisses at all three of them. Lucas flips Mike off, scowling at him. Dustin glares at Mike and leans in, muttering quietly, “He kinda told me earlier that he really likes Robin but he thinks ___ is kinda cute. I’m trying to get the idiot to ask Robin out on an actual date.”

“I dunno.. I kind of feel like maybe ___ is more the one he should ask. I just don’t think he’s Robin’s type…” Max muses, earning her a glare from Dustin which she shrugs off. “Besides that…I like her, alright? And Steve needs a challenge. He needs a little frustration in his life. I’ve seen her around, trust me.. She’ll keep him on his toes.”

“Okay, fine.. You guys play matchmaker your way, we’ll play ours.” Dustin, Mike and Lucas smirk as they say it. Will, Eleven and Max smirk right back at the three. “Fine. Game on. I’m telling you, you dorks are wrong.”

“Maybe none of us are right.” Will muses, shrugging. “If we butt in, we’re kind of taking the choice out of his hands.” he points out, stealing some of Mike’s popcorn. Mike scoffs. “You’re not wrong, but.. If we leave it up to him,” Mike nods, “He’s gonna make the wrong one and then the idiot will get hurt and we’ll have t’ deal with mopey Steve all over again.

“I just don’t know that it’s a good idea, Mikey.” Will argues, pulling the popcorn they’re sharing back into his own lap as he looks over at the three of you, “But I get it.. I mean, kinda.”

“We’re still going to meddle.” Max states, looking at her friends hopefully. “C’mon, me and Eleven are bored, we need some excitement.”

“Okay.. We can meddle a little. At least try to figure out which girl Steve really likes.” Will mumbles after thinking it over. “We can at least nudge him in the right direction if we figure it out.”

Mike snorts and rolls his eyes. “Steve likes anything with tits and an ass, duh. I don’t think the idiot actually has a type.”

Eleven shrugs. “I dunno.. I think he does but he doesn’t even know what that is yet.”

“Yeah, well.. He’d better not even think about it with my sister again.” Mike grumbles. 

Will rolls his eyes. “Nance and Steve are done, stop being a baby.”

“Yeah but how do we know that?” Mike asks, pouting at his boyfriend. Will laughs, reaching out to pat Mike on the head. “Just trust me, Mikey.. They’re done.”

Tommy peeks through his bedroom curtains. 

There’s still no sign of your car in the driveway. He grumbles to himself and makes himself step away from the window just as bright white headlights cut through the darkness.

He can hear Motley Crue playing for just a few seconds, the sound of an engine idling. He’d been tensed up, he relaxes a little. He knows it’s you and you made it home because you’ve been listening to the same Motley Crue cassette since your cassette player ate it at some point just before you left for your little trip to Florida.

Despite the fact, he wanders back over to his window, flopping down on the sill. He reaches out, grabs his pack of cigarettes and the lighter, carefully easing the window open.

You’re just getting out of your car as he looks down and takes a drag. If your outfit is anything to go by, he has to assume you just got back from a date and this thought doesn’t sit right with him, the jealousy starts to rise within before he can stop it from happening and it brings a renewed sense of desperation right along with it.

Dark brown eyes settle on the swimsuit calendar tacked to the wall above his old desk in the corner, the date he has to leave town for college is circled in red permanent marker.

“I gotta do something, this is gonna drive me crazy.” he mutters to himself in the darkness. 

When he looks back down, you’ve gone into your house. A quick glance upward shows that you’re in your room. There’s a hazy glow inside, your frilly sheer curtain and the tapestry you tacked over the top of it are pulled out of the way and you’re wandering around, a pale pink phone cord winding itself around your pretty little body with every step you make as you pace your messy bedroom and talk to someone on the phone.

You stop in your window, hand pressed against the glass. As he stares at you, he gets the feeling that you’re  staring right back. This is confirmed when you give him this little wave. He leans his head back against the wooden frame behind it and exhales, a plume of smoke dissipating into the darkness.

And for the second time in fifteen minutes, he reminds himself that he needs to do something. He can’t leave town with everything so unfinished between the two of you because it’s been eating at him for a while. 

“Tomorrow. I’ll start tomorrow. I can just go over, ask if she wants to hang out with me all day.” he tells himself as he puts out his cigarette and flops across his bed after closing his curtains just a little bit better.

[jinxyvvrites]

-- summer of 85 [ act ii ]

Warnings:

Writer's own interpretation of Tommy Hagan, Steve Harrington, Robin Buckley, Billy Hargrove + Steve's kiddos and others tbd. No sci-fi / upside down. Angst - a lil bit, Awkwardness of two former best friends 'reconnecting'. Swearing. Mentions of alcohol, drinking, house parties. Eventual filth -if I don't get bored of this and just stop working on it. Mentions of an affair -reader's father / teenage pregnancy -reader's older sister, in this chapter.

Heavily characterized / self-inserted reader, to an extent. These characteristics include but are not limited to: Reader is female. Reader is shorter than Steve/Tommy - think like.. 5'2 ish, Reader has long curly hair -think 90's Mariah curls, Reader is a cheerleader but she is v. much anti-popularity and a bit of a social butterfly. Reader is interested in dance and wants to make it a career path in the future... For now. Reader is v. maternal. Reader also likes makeup/shopping but is far too lazy to make any real efforts to look good most of the time. Reader is Tommy's former childhood crush/best friend / first love / neighbor across the street. Reader has a cheating father who rarely contacts her + an adorable little niece who will be a star in this + an older sister that is hinted to have gotten pregnant before finishing high school. Beyond this very specific description, the rest is up to you babes.

If any of the above is going to bother you, this is not the fic for you. I repeat.. if anything I've warned about above is a no from you.. Do not continue reading.

Word Count:

3.6k+

Pairing(s):

Reader x Tommy, mostly past-tense unless I decide to dabble here and there.

Reader X Steve, endgame, eventual

Robin X Vicky, crush / one sided

Robin X Nancy, endgame, eventual

Previous Parts:

right here

Snippet:

“I just want us back, pixie.” he goes quiet, staring down at jean-clad legs.

You take a sip of your cherry Coke.

“Me too, Tom-Tom… Me too.” you finally admit, going quiet.

( TWO )

The line of cars parked at the curb in front of her house had Tommy peering out his bedroom window. 

“What the hell is goin’ on over there?” he wonders to himself. 

He’s a little worried, he overheard you telling that chick Robin -or was it Barb, the know-it-all pain in the ass?- that your grandpa wasn’t in the best of health and that’s why you’d gone to spend part of the summer in Florida.

He reaches for the cordless phone on his  desk, just about to call you when his mother knocks lightly at his bedroom door.

“Thomas?”

“Yeah, ma?”

“Are you busy, son?”

“Not ‘til 10, why?” Tommy asks, grumbling to himself. He steps over to his bedroom door and pulls it open, leaning in the frame.

His little sister is standing on the other side with a huge brightly colored gift bag.

“Will you take Mari over to little Ruby’s birthday party, sweetheart?” his mother asks, giving him an apologetic smile. “You shouldn’t have t’ stay terribly long if…” she trails off. Mutters something about not understanding why he’s no longer friends with the pretty little girl next door who always used to come over and Tommy tenses up. “Ask her, ma.” he mutters quietly, giving a shrug.

“Can you pretty please take me, Tommy?” his little sister asks, grabbing onto the leg of his jeans dramatically. “Pretty please with cherries on top?”

He swallows down the lump in his throat and nods. “Yeah. I’ll take y’ over, short stuff. Go grab some shoes, I’ll be down in a second.”

He just needs… A few minutes.

To get himself together. To make himself seem nonchalant, unbothered by the fact that the girl he’s always considered his girl, hasn’t spoken to him in years and suddenly, he’s gonna have to show up at her niece’s birthday party and somehow, he’ll have to be okay.

,, shit.. Guess I better find somethin’ else t’ wear.” - dark brown eyes catch on his reflection in the mirror and he drags a hand over his head, blowing out a breath.

He strips off the muscle shirt and old oil-stained jeans he’d been wearing earlier to go out and work on his car, and he digs around in the hamper frantically. After tossing several articles of clothing onto the floor, his older sister Sage finds him sifting through a pile of clothes he hasn’t looked twice at, let alone bothered to wear.

She laughs softly, slinking into his bedroom.

“What?” Tommy asks, giving his older sister a dirty look. She nods to the clothing pile. “Hot date, Thomas?”

“Told ma I’d take Mari over t’ that kid Ruby’s birthday party.”

Sage gives him a knowing smirk. “And ___, she’ll be there, yeah?”

Tommy flips his older sister off. “Yeah. And?” he snaps. “It’s not cos of that, Sage.”

“Riiight.” Sage rolls her eyes. “Sure it’s not.”

The silence settles in and Sage speaks up quietly. “Wear the white t-shirt and the darker blue jeans.”

Tommy rolls his eyes but grabs the shirt and jeans his older sister is talking about. As he’s about to step into his bathroom and change, his sister clears her throat. “Y’know.. If you’d just confront her about ditching you back then you’d feel a lot better… Right?”

Tommy mimics his sister. “Yeah, well.. I’d really  rather not.”

“Chicken.”

He shrugs it off. “Fine.. Since you’re gonna keep on my ass about it, I’d rather leave it all hangin than have it be…” - he hesitates on the word over, because he can’t even wrap his head around his life without her in it, even if she’s just.. Kind of lurking there. Perpetually out of his reach and orbit.

Just knowing she’s around if he wants to reach out, that’s kept him going this long.

“At least think about trying to talk to her, Thomas.” his sister suggests before slinking out of his bedroom, letting the door bang shut softly behind her.

Tommy raises his middle finger at the closed door and takes one last look at himself in the mirror.

“ This is gonna have t’ work. I’m not a fuckin’ prettyboy like Hargrove or Harrington.” he mutters, slipping his feet into a pair of Converse.

He hesitates at his bedroom door for a few seconds to try and pull himself together. A deep breath or two later, he wanders down the stairs and into the living room, flopping himself onto his mom’s sofa.

“You ready, Mari?”

His little sister nods. “Can ya put my bow in straight, Tommy?” she asks, holding out a bright red hairbow to her big brother. Tommy takes the bow and grabs the hairbrush sitting on the coffee table, nodding to the floor in front of him.

“How about this, short stuff? Let’s fix your ponytail first, hm?” he asks, pulling the elastic out of her hair, clenching it between his lips as he works his little sister’s long, dark hair up into a slightly less crooked ponytail. As he finishes re-twisting the elastic into thick strands, she reaches down, grabbing her bow to hand to him.

Tommy fastens the bow into her hair and she spins around, throwing little arms around his neck. “Thank you!”

Tommy chuckles. “We should probably get goin, huh?”

“Mhm.”

He stands and his little sister climbs up onto the couch, grabbing hold of him so that she can climb onto his back. Tommy grabs the gift bag and they head out the door. 

“ Don't freak out..”

Nothing your older sister has ever said ends on a good note when she's leading with that. You put down your lip balm and spin around in your chair, brow raised. “Yeah?” 

“Mom and Mrs. Hagan were talking earlier and…” your sister grimaces and pauses for what feels like a lifetime. In the meantime, your stomach is doing flips and you’re getting a strong feeling you know exactly what your sister is about to tell you. “Okay?” you question, tapping your fingers against the top of your vanity desk, “Are you actually gonna tell me or make me–” you trail off as it clicks. “She didn't."

“Ruby and Marisol are friends…”

“So he's gonna be here.. like.. at the party?” you ask, rubbing your forehead as you mumble and complain about the way your mom likes to butt in.

“Maybe he won't show up.” your sister coaxes. 

“Maybe not. A little kid birthday party isn't exactly his scene these days..” you eye your reflection in the mirror critically, shaking your head. “Can't risk it, I'm gonna chang–” you're grabbing up a swimsuit top and shorts that make you feel less…exposed, your sister stops you, shaking her head. “Wear it! It's cute and Ruby is wearing the same color, she'll be sad if you change.”

“I dunno.”

“I thought you didn’t give a shit what anybody thinks anymore, hmm?”

“Fiiiine, but if my tits pop out or aunt Sandra says one word about my cute little tummy, I swear to God I'm haunting you when I die of embarrassment.”

“Fair enough.”

Your mom peeks into your room grinning. “Guess who came to see you, Teeny?”

“I see him standing behind you.” you give Tommy a little wave. Your mom is grinning ear to ear. “We'll just leave you two alone.” she nods to your older sister who smirks at you on her way out.

Tommy lingers in the doorway, arms folded.

“You can come in.” you're standing in front of him, head tilted slightly as you look up at him. He fills the doorway, making himself taller, with an arm raised. “You sure?” he finally asks as soon as he realizes he's staring too damn hard and drifting too damn close to you. You step a little closer, grimacing as you look up at a fading black eye.

“The other guy looks worse.”

“Mhm.” you mumble. The air is thick, tension so high you can almost hear it hum in your ears. When your fingertips graze against bruised skin, he swallows hard, trying to rid himself of the massive lump that's formed in his throat all of a sudden. 

“What happened?” you ask, pulling your hand away.

“Hargrove wouldn't shut his fucking mouth earlier.”

You raise a brow. “Oh.”

He steps closer to you. Gives you an awkward smile. “Bet you're glad the braces finally came off, huh?”

You laugh quietly and you nod. “Yeah, having a mouth full of metal really bites.”

The shared laughter dies and even though you don't want to, you step away a little, pulling him into your room. The door bangs shut behind him softly and Tommy’s eyes dart around as he acquaints himself with your room all over again.

He spots a stuffed black cat he won for you at a carnival back in 7th grade as he’s looking around. He wanders over and picks it up, turning it over in his hands. “You still have this?” he asks, looking up at you as you apply your mascara.

You meet his gaze in the mirror. You smile and nod. “Duh, was I gonna just throw away a perfectly snuggly stuffed animal, Tom Tom?”

The old pet-name slips out before you catch it. You cringe a little, laughing softly at yourself. “Sorry..”

Tommy grins a little, shrugging it off. “It’s not a big deal, pixie.”

He says it’s not a big deal. Then he goes and uses the nickname you haven’t heard -or allowed- anybody to use in literal years. While he’s stood in your bedroom, all freckles and dark,deep eyes.. Broad shoulders and that fucking smirk.

You feel like you’re going to melt inside.

You take a second or two to pause before you apply another coat of mascara because there’s this little shake to your hand and you don’t trust yourself not to mess it up.

“Y’know you can sit down.. Right?” you finally speak up just as the tension is reaching a fever pitch and you can’t take another second of it. 

He eyes your bed with it’s rumpled leopard print sheets and pink comforter for a few seconds. You’re staring so hard that you see the smallest bob of his throat as he swallows hard.

You laugh and shake your head. “Or just stand there. It’s not gonna take me much longer.”

Instead of flopping down on your bed, he wanders over. Stops behind the pink velvet covered chair you’re sitting on with one hand at the top of the back of it. “Y’know you don’t need all this crap..” he gestures to your makeup, “Right?”

“No,but..” you smirk as you lock eyes with him in the mirror, “I like it.”

“Just seems like a hassle t’ me, pixie.” he’s close enough that the warmth of his breath tickles your neck, staring at the two of you in the mirror. You shiver a little and he chuckles quietly. “Everything okay?”

“Y-yeah.” you answer quick. Maybe a little too quick. “Just peachy, Tom-Tom.”

The scent of cologne, his apple shampoo and the faintest trace of cigarette envelopes the space between the two of you and you want to punch yourself right in the face because it practically has you swooning.

,, I have got to get a grip. I know how he is now, he’s not the same Tommy anymore.” - the thought prompts you to steel yourself.. Or at least do a little better job attempting to. At least you’re trying until the other side of your mind weighs in, ,, But what if he is. What if he’s just buried it? What if..”

You finish your mascara and stand because you have to get out of your room. The walls feel like they’re about to close in on the two of you and the air is way too heavy. There’s too much silence, too many things you want to say but are afraid to.. 

He isn’t expecting it so this puts you body to body with him as soon as he’s stepped away from the back of your chair. His hand grazes your hip, your eyes dart down when he doesn’t drop his hand.

And then he does and while he’s not paying any attention, you’re pouting to yourself about it.

“We should uh.. Probably get downstairs.” you manage to mumble, Tommy nodding in agreement as he walks over, opening your bedroom door and motions to the hallway. “After you.”

As the two of you make your way down the stairs and out into your backyard, you can just feel that tension multiplying.

It feels like there’s not enough air in your lungs.

“Do you think they talked?” your mother asks your older sister as soon as she catches sight of you and Tommy. Your older sister shrugs. “You do realize that people grow and change, right, ma?” 

“I know, it’s just they were always so cute together and Rosalie and I both feel…” but your sister is already shaking her head. “She’s gotta find her own person, mama. If it’s Tommy, great. If it’s anybody else, that’ll be fine too.”

“I know, it’s just.. We know Tommy. He can’t be as bad as Joey.”

“Or that little prick Dante, remember him?” your aunt Marlene speaks up, sipping on a mojito. She’s gazing in your direction, watching the way you and Tommy interact with each other like a hawk.

“Mom, she’s a kid. We make mistakes, remember?” your sister points out. Your mom sighs. “I know, I just don’t want her t’ end up like me..”

“Or me.” your sister gives your mom a wounded look as she takes a sip of her drink. “You were thinking that, right?”

Your mom shakes her head. “Sweetie, no.. absolutely not. Paul is a sweet man.”

“But I did everything backwards.”

“But it works for you.” your mom smiles and your sister relaxes, even if it’s only a little.

She glances over at you and Tommy, currently sitting on the grass. Neither of you seem to be talking. There seems to be a little awkwardness.

“I don’t think they talked.” your sister tells your mom and your mom frowns. “I just wish I knew what happened, why they stopped being so close.”

“Diane Perkins daughter happened, Ma. That’s precisely what happened to them. Tommy had a crush on Carol, Teeny had a crush on Tommy, when he started dating her, Teeny just backed off. And honestly, that’s not a bad thing.”

“But to throw away a whole friendship?” your mom questions.

“Because she didn’t want to be forced to watch him change, ma.” your sister mutters and your mom sighs, shaking her head.

She shares a laugh with your aunt. “I certainly don’t remember it being this complicated when we were kids, do you?”

Your aunt laughs softly. “It had its moments.”she admits, going quiet.

“I bet our moms arranged this.” Tommy’s thought shatters the current silence between the two of you. You gaze over at your mom and shrug, laughing. “Most likely.”

“I’m pretty damn sure mine did.” Tommy admits.

“I won’t disagree in the case of mine, either.” you mumble. “Tommy, I–..” you trail off, a soft Nevermind tacked onto the end of what you’d been about to say.

“What?” Tommy asks, turning slightly so that he’s facing you.

You shrug. Pick at the pink polish on your nails. “ I miss being friends.”

Tommy nods. Clearing his throat.

“Me too.”

It stings a little because like always, he wants to be so much more than just your friend. It’s the whole reason he's made himself believe choosing Carol was the right way to go. Fear held him back. It still does, otherwise he'd be going for it right now, while he knows he has your attention.

Truthfully, he thinks to himself, it was the easier way to go. Instead of trying, instead of taking the risk of losing the girl I really liked, I took the easy way out. And it hurt like hell in the end because now I kinda don't have either one of em.”

“So..” you mutter. There’s even more tension between the two of you now and you can’t just sit next to him in it. It’s got you on edge, almost folded into yourself.

“So..”

The two of you laugh quietly and you scoot a little closer before you can stop yourself.

“How’s it feel to be done with Hawkins?” you ask, going quiet. Tommy shrugs. “Just gotta get through college now.. Then it’s off t’ flight school, I guess.. Or the Marines, haven’t decided yet. My uncle and Tony both went that route.”

You swallow hard, nodding.

He chuckles.

“How’s it feel t’ know you’ve still got one more year left, little girl?” he’s teasing you, you roll your eyes and pout. “I am not a little girl.” you assert, flipping him off jokingly. You go quiet and then you shrug.

“I guess it’s not so bad. It could be a lot worse.”

“Gonna miss your face next year, pixie.” Tommy blurts it out before he can stop himself and there goes that swarm of butterflies in your tummy all over again.

“Gonna miss your face next year too.” you admit, going quiet. He’s moved closer to you, you’re watching your niece and his little sister play with all the other little girls that your older sister invited for Ruby’s birthday. 

“Remember when we were that little?” you ask, nodding to the little girls. Tommy snickers quietly. “Yeah.”

“It’s so easy for them now.” you muse, shrugging. 

“Sweetie!” your mom calls you over and you pull yourself up off the grass. “Yeah, ma?”

“Why don’t you and Tommy go and see if there’s any ice cream at Big Buy?” 

You glance up at Tommy. He shrugs, grinning a little at your mom. Your sister smirks, looking from you to Tommy. “Maybe let Tommy drive, sis? There’s way too many cars parked at the curb to risk you behind the wheel.”

“Bite me, sis.” you roll your eyes.

Tommy’s staring down at you, amused.

���She almost made Coach Keller piss himself, actually.” Tommy admits, laughing. You pout up at him and he chuckles quietly.

“I’m not that bad.”

“You almost hit the curb this morning, woman!” Tommy laughs, teasing gleam in his eyes when he says it and you raise a brow. He chuckles. “I saw you earlier, trying t’ pull in after cheer camp.”

“Oh haha.” you pout.

As the two of you wander back into the house to grab your keys, Tommy’s staring at you and he can’t stop himself from smiling.

Maybe this afternoon won’t be the hell he’d been thinking before coming over.

,,Maybe, he thinks, if I play my cards right, I can get the nerve to do.. Something.. Before some asshole like Hargrove or Harrington beats me to it..”

The adults are still downstairs, the group of little girls attending your nieces party have all crashed into a pillow fort Ruby begged you and Tommy to build for them. The two of you retreat to your room and you flop across your bed, reaching for the TV remote.

As the Miami Vice theme song starts, you can feel him staring.

“Not a word, Tom Tom.”

He shrugs beside you, chuckling, grumbling under his breath about you and your daddy issues. You roll your eyes and turn slightly, giving him a dirty look.

“Ha ha ha.”

You stick out your tongue and the way it rests against your lips has him staring super hard for at least five seconds. To a point where you giggle all soft under your own breath and roll your eyes yet again. 

“Stick it out again, pixie.” Tommy warns, holding your gaze intently. “I dare you. Go ahead.”

You swallow hard because suddenly it feels like all the air in the room is gone and you can’t breathe. You laugh and shake your head. “Now why would I wanna go and do a thing like that, hm?”

Tommy shrugs. “I thought you were the wildest girl at Hawkins High, though.”

“Meh.. Depends on the situation.” you shrug and laugh, reaching out to grab the television remote from between the two of you. Tommy sits there quietly, staring at the tv set as he wraps his head around how not horribly the day has gone so far.

And he can’t take another second, he’s gotta know. He’s gotta know why you stopped talking, stopped coming around back in 9th grade. 

He reaches out, prying the remote from your hand.

“Why’d you ditch me?”

You flinch just a little. Sighing as you take a few seconds. You need to choose your words wisely, you know this. After a long pause, you finally turn so that you’re sat facing him.

“Because I loved you way too much t’ end up losing you. I knew that was what was going to happen because Carol and her friends, they’re…” you rub your face. “They’re the worst. They taint everything.”

Tommy nods,mulling over your answer. Then the fact that you said you loved him hits and his mouth drops open.

“Whoa, wait.. You..” he has a hard time getting words to come until finally, they do, “You loved me?”

“With every cell in my childish body, Tom-Tom.” - what you’re not saying is that to an extent, you still feel something. It’s not clear and it’s not the same as before, but you never actually lost feelings for him back then.

You’d just had your family torn apart by your father’s affair.. You couldn’t stand to stand back and watch your best friend, the boy you were in ‘love’ with at the time twist himself inside out to fit in with Carol and the rest of the cool kids. You didn’t want him to feel like he was forced to keep you in his life, either.

You accepted it at the time as two people growing. Changing.

“Loving somebody isn’t childish, though.” Tommy mutters. You nod. “I just want us back, pixie.” he goes quiet, staring down at jean-clad legs.

You take a sip of your cherry Coke.

“Me too, Tom-Tom… Me too.” you finally admit, going quiet.

[jinxyvvrites]

-- summer of 85

Warnings:

Writers own interpretation of canon characters ( Steve, Billy, Robin, Tommy and Steve's newly adopted kiddos, plus others as needed ), mutual pining /angst and eventual closure (Reader/Tommy), Billy Hargrove is an unapologetic douche nozzle, Tommy is a huge dickhead in parts of this, swearing, house parties, coming of age teenage drama type stuff, absolutely no sci-fi or upside down in the plot everything is normal here, hints of Steve's canonical crush on Robin, Steve being an adorable single mom, steve being an adorable awkward dingus without his king title, that goddamn sailor uniform, eventual filth -if i make it that far without getting bored of this, kissing, jealousy, making out, house parties... Eventual boy falls first/hard but girl falls harder, steve/reader endgame ( golden retriever! Steve and lowkey black cat!reader, she gives black cat to me idk why)..

Anyway. Now for the important warnings. Heavily characterized 'reader'.. If you're not cool with that, this is not the fic for you. I am trying to leave her/you as vague as I can, but the things listed below are absolutely non-negotiable.

Reader is heavily characterized for the most part, these characteristics include but are by no means limited to: female with long and curly hair, shorter than both Steve and Tommy ( the two lead males for this, shit.. i hate using that because poor Tommy is not gonna win this one like.. not even a little bit. ), she's Tommy's neighbor across the street/former best friend in the world, she's mouthy, a little antagonistic and sarcastic, a bit of an airhead at times, she's very anti-popularity despite being a cheerleader, there are hints at an ugly duckling past for her, maybe a little lacking in the confidence department, she's oblivious as fuck sometimes, very much maternal, she loves dancing and wants to be a famous dancer / choreographer when she graduates, reader has an adorbs lil 3/4 year old niece who will be a staple in this story, reader also doesn't give a flying fuck about fashion itself but she absolutely loves to shop, she loves makeup though.

If any of the above warnings are not it for you, this is not the fic you're gonna enjoy reading. I repeat, if you're not okay with the detailed warning above, you shouldn't read this. I'm not kidding.

Word Count:

7.5k+

Pairings:

past Tommy/Reader and a lil hint of present Tommy/Reader

Robin / Vickie - flirtation, one-sided crush.

Robin / Nancy - endgame, eventual.

Reader / Steve - endgame, eventual.

Previous parts:

None yet. If I get enough reaction / reqs to write more than this I'll throw the links here.

Snippet:

You glance down at the ice cream as soon as you realize honey colored eyes are a definite trap and as you study the various tubs lining the cooler between the two of you, he chuckles.

“You live on Elm,  right? Across the street from Tommy?”

You nod. “Yeah.” you laugh softly. “Haven’t seen you around in a while.”

Steve shrugs. “Kind of not talkin’ to Tommy anymore.”

You look up, glancing back at Tommy and Billy. They’re having a heated discussion in line a few people behind you and you sigh.

“Yeah, he’s gone and gotten himself a real class act.” you roll your eyes and Steve snickers quietly.

“Not a member of the Billy Hargrove fan club?”

“Not even a little.” you admit, glancing back at the two.

The sound of the Hagan’s lawnmower draws you out of bed and over to your bedroom window just in time to watch Tommy peel off the t-shirt he’s wearing. As he tosses it onto the paved walkway nearby, you bite your lower lip and try to look away.

You’re frozen in place. Staring way too hard.

He’s oblivious, locked in and focused on the task at hand, pushing the mower in a line down the strip of lush grass close to the curb.

You haven’t spoken to Tommy in years. Unfortunately, this doesn’t stop you from being painfully aware of him. Unfortunately, this does nothing to kill the stupid, hopeless and very childish crush you’ve always had on the slightly older boy next door.

And as you stand in the window of your bedroom watching him, you’re just a little more annoyed at yourself because you can’t seem to shake him.

Tommy stops to take himself a break and wanders over, falling out onto the paved walkway, guzzling down a bottle of water. And then he does something you’re not expecting.

He looks up. Right at your bedroom window.

In a blind panic, you fling yourself away and out of view, settling haphazardly into the velvet covered chair in front of your vanity table. As you try to pull yourself together and tell yourself that he wasn’t looking right at you, that he  didn’t just catch you staring at him like a little creep just then, your stomach twists.

Because you saw the little smirk, the nod he gave you.

Oh, he saw you alright.

“Great.. Now I gotta spend my entire summer hidden in my bedroom.”

Your sister clears her throat from the doorway of your room. “Why?” she asks, stepping inside. Letting the door close behind her as she leans against it.

“That freakin’ prick next door just saw me staring at him.”

Your sister snickers quietly. Grimacing a little as she flops onto your bed and sends at least four of the stuffed animals lined up neatly on the end of it flying into the bedroom floor. “Tommy?” she questions, the smirk she gives you a knowing one.

“Yeah.” you mumble.

“You’re not over him already?” your sister questions, a brow raised at you as she asks. You flip her off and shake your head. “Unfortunately, no.”

“Didn’t he just graduate?”

“Well, yeah.” you answer, going quiet as it sank in, you wouldn’t see him around anymore. Rumor had him going to play basketball at a college upstate, and if he hadn’t changed his mind since the two of you were kids, he’d be heading out to basic training.. Or he’d end up working at his father’s car dealership in Michigan.

You shrug, staring down at your bare feet. “If you’re gonna tell me how stupid or babyish it is, I know.”

Your sister shrugs. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You don’t have to, Allie.” you answer, glancing up at her. “I just need t’ get over him already. He’s got a girlfriend, he’s gonna leave in the fall, he’s supposed to be going to State on a basketball scholarship. Besides,” you sigh and laugh as you shake your head, “We haven’t spoken in years. Me pining away for him is kind of pointless.”

“Not really.”

You look over at her, brow raised. She laughs softly. “When you two were little, you were like this.” she crosses her fingers and holds them up, “and the heart wants what it wants. I was kinda surprised when I came home that first winter break and you weren’t going to your little Snow Ball with him.”

You cringe.

“Yeah, well.. I was gonna just go for it and ask him but Carol asked him first. And he was so happy, I just kinda..”

“Stepped back and let her win.” your sister finishes for you. And you’re angry at yourself all over again for just giving up back in middle school.

Now you’re going to go through life wondering what if you hadn’t. And it’s too little, too late to rectify the situation.

At least you think it is.

Your sister smiles at you softly. “The best way to get over him is t’ just live your life. Pretend like he doesn’t exist. Then maybe it won’t hurt so bad when he leaves in the fall.” she offers, pausing for a second or two. “Or… hear me out.. You could finally be brave. Use this summer to at least try to reconnect as a friend. Because trust me.. That’s better than nothing at all.”

You laugh.

“That won’t happen. Trust me. He’s all ‘popular’ now. He barely even looks at me.”

Your sister shrugs. Studies you for a few seconds and laughs softly as she shakes her head. She could tell you that she caught him watching your bedroom window from his own when you were  gone out with friends the night before and she came in to raid your closet but she knows how stubborn you are. She knows you won’t believe her.

“I thought he broke up with Carol.”

You shrug. “I wouldn’t know.”

“Leanne said they broke up on graduation night. There was a big fight at her sister’s stupid little party and Tommy took off with Steve Harrington and Billy Hargrove.”

“I wouldn’t know. I went to that party out in Becker’s field. Tina’s party was invite only anyway.” you roll your eyes. “Her parties are always so lame, it’s not like I missed anything.”

“Apparently you missed that. Because even Donna confirmed the breakup. Just food for thought.” your sister slips off your bed and wanders over to your closet, digging through it.

“You have your own clothes, bimbo.” you point out.

“Yeah but those are in Ann Arbor right now. We’re the same size. And your clothes fit better.”

“Yeah, maybe because you have th’ body t’ fill ‘em out.” you grumble. 

She tosses a pair of cutoffs and a cropped Coca Cola shirt at you. “Get dressed and downstairs in ten.”

“Do I look like I wanna go anywhere before noon? I’m goin’ back to sleep, Allie.” you’re starting to get comfortable again, reaching for the book spread open on your nightstand.

“Did I ask you if you wanted t’ come?”

“No, but you’re not the boss of me, either.”

“Get your ass up.”

You know your older sister well enough to know that she’s not going to leave you alone. “Fine, okay, alright.”

Your little niece rushes in, lunging into bed with you. “Please, please will y’ come t’ the park an’ play with me? AND AND..” your little niece claps her hands together excitedly, “Mama said she take us to th’ mall!”

You laugh softly and nod. “Yeah, I might as well. I’m awake now.”

“Good. I’m tired of seein’ you all sad.” your niece beams up at you and your older sister laughs. “See? Even Ruby’s over you moping over a boy you really didn’t even like.”

“I did like Joey.”

“Not as much as Tommy.” your sister argues. Your niece turns to look at you, giggling.

“You like him?” her eyes are as big as saucers when she says it. “His little sister is my friend!”

You shoot your older sister a dirty look, mouthing “Gee..thanks. She can’t keep a secret t’ save her little life, Allie.” as your older sister shrugs it off. 

“Ten minutes, ___. If you’re not downstairs, I’m coming back up t’ drag you down.”

Tommy’s staring at your bedroom window. He can’t seem to stop himself lately, there’s this itch to go over, confront you about the way you just stopped talking to him at all back in middle school.

He’s so caught up in staring, imagining what might’ve been if he hadn’t just given up back then. He completely misses the fact that Billy’s Camaro comes to an abrupt stop in the driveway behind his own car. Billy slams the door and wanders over, flopping down onto the walkway next to him.

“What are we starin’ at?”

Tommy nearly jumps out of his skin and he whips around to look at Billy, glaring. “Do y’ have t’ slip up on me like that?”

“Like you didn’t hear my car.”

When  Tommy gives him a blank look, Billy snickers quietly. “You were zoned out.”

“I wasn’t.” Tommy argues, but he’s already staring up at your bedroom window all over again. You start to peel off your shirt and Tommy bites back a groan.

Billy lets out a low whistle, nodding to where you stand in the window as he grins. “Do we know her, Hagan?”

“She used t’ be my best friend..” Tommy goes quiet for a second or two. “She kinda stopped talkin’ to me at all when we hit 9th grade.”

“Damn shame.” Billy mutters, nodding to the window again, “You coulda introduced me.”

The look Tommy gives him is angry, jealous enough that just this once, Billy realizes Tommy Hagan has one very firm boundary.

That boundary is you.

“C’mon, man. We were gonna go check out Starcourt. I heard Harrington got a job there or some shit.. Don’t you wanna go make his life a living hell?”

“Okay, alright, fiiiine.” Tommy grumbles even though going to Starcourt Mall is the absolute last thing he feels like doing.

Just like you figured, Starcourt Mall is packed. Everybody in town is here for the grand opening. You give your older sister a dirty look as you climb out of the passenger seat of your mom’s old station wagon.

“Ugh.” you grumble. “There are so many people here.”

“Mhm.” your sister teases, grinning at you, “It is kind of the grand opening, sis.”

“I wanna go to the toy store!” Ruby chimes in, grabbing hold of both your hands as the three of you hurry across the parking lot.

You spot Tommy and Billy Hagrove and for a second, you’re frozen. Staring at him like an idiot.

Your sister rolls her eyes and laughs. “C’mon, space cadet. We’ve got shopping t’ do.. Paul gave me his credit card before he went back to Ann Arbor on Saturday.”

You laugh and roll your eyes. “He trusted you with his American Express?”

“Well duh… I do have t’ get our house ready to move into.”

“It must be nice, the whole trophy wife thing.” you mutter, giving her a teasing smirk. Allie laughs and shrugs. “Look, I can’t look at bare walls and shitty secondhand furniture another second, okay?I will lose my mind.”

“Fair point.” you muse as the three of you wander into the mall. You spot the ice cream shop at the same time as your little niece.

“Mommy! Ice cream!I want one, pretty please?”

You spot your best friend Robin inside. “I can take her over. I wanna say hey to Robin. Give her hell about her stupid uniform.”

Your sister pretends to think it over. “Okay, alright. I’m gonna go find Paula and Leanne anyway, they’re supposed to meet me here. We’re gonna be in the Wicks N Sticks, I think.”

“Want me to keep little bit?” you ask and she smiles gratefully. “Yeah, I don’t want her to see her D O L L H O U S E and B A R B I E S before this weekend.” your sister spells out your niece’s birthday present and you roll your eyes, laughing. “We can meet up in the Food Court in like.. Two hours. I wanted t’ go into a few stores since we’re here.” you shrug.

“Be good for aunty, lil bit.”

“Promise.” Ruby grins brightly. As your older sister wanders off to meet up with her old high school friends, you pick up Ruby.

“Okay, ice cream first.” you smile and laugh when Ruby nods her head vigorously. “I want butterscotch.”

You laugh. Tap your lip thoughtfully. “Gee, I dunno,Ruby.. What if they don’t sell that?”

The two of you walk right past Billy and Tommy and as you do, Tommy’s gaze settles on you, lingering. Billy bites his lip, doing his own staring as you disappear into the crowded ice cream parlor.

“If you’re gonna keep being a little bitch, Hagan.” Billy chuckles as he starts to follow you into the ice cream parlor, “I’m gonna go for it.”

Tommy swears under his breath and catches up to Billy, grabbing him by the back of the faded orange button up shirt he’s wearing. “Not gonna happen, Hargrove.”

Billy smirks. “You really think you’re gonna stop me, Hagan?”

“Nope.” Tommy makes himself taller, stepping up to Billy calmly, “I know I am.”

“Right.” Billy sneers. “We’ll just see.”

With the battle lines drawn, the two of them wander into Scoops,getting into line right behind you and Ruby.

Robin spots you and tosses her apron onto the counter, slipping out from behind the counter. Steve glances up from making Erica Sinclair her second caramel vanilla cone of the day and watches as Robin slips up on you, lurking behind, slipping her hands over your eyes.

You shriek and whirl around, glare softening as Robin grins.

“You’re out of bed early.”

“She’s gonna take me to th’ toy store!” Ruby exclaims. “You can come too, Robbie!”

“Lil bit, she can’t.” you laugh softly, “She’s working right now.”

Robin speaks up quickly. “But I totally can later.”

“Yay!” Ruby claps chubby little hands together. She’s starting to get a little heavy but you don’t dare put her down, she’s at the age where if she sees something she wants to look at a little closer, she’ll dart off with no hesitation.

You settle her onto your other hip and she leans her little head against you.

“Girl..” Robin gives you a once-over and pretends to tug at the collar of her shirt. “You’re actually kinda hot.”

You can feel heat rising to your cheeks as she says it and you laugh, shaking your head no. “Am not, oh my god.”

“You are.”

You roll your eyes. “Nope.”

“Vickie was just in here.” Robin mentions casually and you tap your foot, impatient to hear more details. “Well?”

“I was giving her the change back for her sundae and I couldn’t even form a sentence!” Robin grimaces, shaking her head. You laugh and smile. “First of all, you gotta relax, Robbie. I mean, I get it..” you’ve just caught sight of Tommy and you’re staring just a little.

Robin notices and wrinkles her nose. “Oh no. Nope, absolutely not. That guy is a jerk.”

You sigh and nod, agreeing. “I know, I know.” you mumble. You turn away from him and happen to glance at the menu above the counter. Snickering quietly as you catch sight of Tommy’s former best friend all decked out in the same ridiculous uniform that your best friend is currently wearing.

“Harrington works here?” you ask, gaze lingering on the broad-shouldered boy’s turned back for a second or two. “I thought his parents were like.. Loaded.”

“His father got him the job, I think. He’s old friends with our boss.” Robin shrugs. “He’s such a dingus. I thought he’d actually be like.. Cooler? Since he’s King Steve?” she air-quotes the words as she laughs and shakes her head, “He’s bombed out with sooooo many girls, he’s so cheesy.”

“Interesting.” you mutter, tearing your gaze off of Steve for a few seconds. You shift Ruby back to your other hip and tap your lip thoughtfully. “I think I’m gonna get the strawberry shortcake ice cream, lil bit.”

“Oooh.. I want it too!”

Robin laughs. As her name is called, she rolls her eyes and blows at a strand of blonde. “Guess I have t’ actually get back over there and work.”

You nod. “Hey.. Wanna meet up later? We can go to the pool or something, I don’t know.”

“Yeah!” Robin smiles, nodding. As she disappears behind the counter and ties back on her apron, you and your niece get back into line behind Tommy and Billy.

When Ruby grins brightly up at you, your stomach churns. “Ruby, no.”

“But..”

“No, Ruby.” you shake your head firmly. “Not a good idea, lil bit.”

,, I am not..Nope, I’m not gonna deal with either of them being a prick when she’s being all sweet and trying to talk to them and they’re jackasses about it. Because they’re popular and that’s what all the popular kids seem t’ do.” you think to yourself.

But Ruby is just barely 4, it’s not like she can even begin to grasp that concept just yet.

And this is precisely why when she taps Billy on the shoulder, you tense up all over. Billy whips around, the glare on his face melting off, turning into an almost sleazy grin as his eyes flit over you.

Tommy swallows hard, locking eyes with you.

“Hey kiddo.” Tommy gives your little niece a less than enthused smile and fixes his gaze on you intently. “___. Hey.”

“Hey.” you mutter, struggling with the word for just a second or two and in that second or two you manage to beat yourself up a thousand times over it.

Ruby grins. “I like your earring, sir!” she’s all grins as she’s talking to Billy.

Billy’s caught off guard. He chuckles. “Thanks.” his gaze settles on you. “Tommy’s an asshole, I guess he’s not gonna introduce us. I’m Billy.”

You want to roll your eyes. You almost do but you stop yourself. You nod. “We had Creative Writing together, actually.”

Billy chuckles. Stares at you a little harder. “Yeah, I remember now.”

,, ugh, he’s such a sleaze. Tommy’s his best friend…” - the thought comes and you shove it down because you refuse to believe that Tommy, your Tommy has changed so drastically that he could be like that now too.

Tommy’s tensed all over, a jaw clenched so tight that it flutters. He’s glaring daggers at Billy while Billy is in charmer mode but it’s like he’s invisible.

,, just like always,” Tommy thinks, ,, this prick knows what I said and he’s still gonna go there.” - the thought prompts him to clear his throat. “Are we gonna get our ice cream and piss Harrington off for the day?” he asks, giving Billy a pointed glare.

Billy glares right back, making himself taller. Sensing the silent warning in Tommy’s words and deliberately going against it. “I’m kinda talkin’ here, Hagan.”

“Me and Ruby need t’ go.” you can’t take another second near Billy, it’s a combination of the aftershave - or the way he also reeks of douchebag, another second. “Mind if we just scoot in real quick, Billy?” you use the fact that he’s being a creep to your advantage, flashing him what you hope is your best sweet smile as you step around the two and up to the counter.

Robin nudges Steve and nods to you. “Hey, you’re up, dingus. I got the last six people. I’m on a break right now.” she slips off her apron and lays it down on the counter, giving you a playful wink as she disappears into the back of the store.

“Hey, I’m Steve, I’ll be your captain today.” by the time he’s said this, you’re snickering. You can see exactly what Robin means by her earlier assessment of working with King Steve thus far.

“I’m Ruby.” your little niece introduces herself and grins. You laugh softly and shake your head.

,, yep, you think to yourself, my niece is definitely her mother’s daughter.” 

Steve grins at the little girl with the crooked and messy ponytails. And then he glances over at you. 

He knows exactly who you are. You’re Tommy Hagan’s neighbor. You used to be his best friend and at one point, Steve suspected that Tommy might’ve had a thing for you.

“Hey.” he’s not as boisterous as he was just a few seconds before. You smile and laugh softly. “Hey.” 

You glance down at the ice cream as soon as you realize honey colored eyes are a definite trap and as you study the various tubs lining the cooler between the two of you, he chuckles.

“You live on Elm,  right? Across the street from Tommy?”

You nod. “Yeah.” you laugh softly. “Haven’t seen you around in a while.”

Steve shrugs. “Kind of not talkin’ to Tommy anymore.”

You look up, glancing back at Tommy and Billy. They’re having a heated discussion in line a few people behind you and you sigh.

“Yeah, he’s gone and gotten himself a real class act.” you roll your eyes and Steve snickers quietly.

“Not a member of the Billy Hargrove fan club?”

“Not even a little.” you admit, glancing back at the two. Steve notices how your gaze lingers on Tommy and he almost feels bad for you.

Tommy’s a jerk now, he thinks, I hope she realizes it before she gets too attached or anything.

You roll your eyes when Billy looks up and right at you. This is enough motivation to get you turning around. You smile at Steve. “I think we’re gonna get strawberry shortcake cups.” you glance at your niece as she nods her head and laughs. “I want strawberry!”

Steve chuckles. “She’s a little cutie.”

You smile softly at Ruby. “Oh trust me, Steve.. She’s fully aware of this. Uses it to her advantage.” - you're teasing, hugging Ruby a little bit as you smile at her. “She’s gonna be my little buddy today, my sister ditched us.” you roll your eyes, glancing back at Steve. “She’s got my brother-in law’s credit card.”

Steve chuckles. “That sounds awesome.”

You smile and nod. “It is. I’m gonna take her shopping.”

Ruby squirms around in your arms excitedly. “Barbies?” she asks hopefully. You laugh. “We’ll see, lil bit.”

“Two strawberry shortcake cones, comin’ right up.” Steve scoops the ice creams into your cones and holds them out to you. You take yours and hand your niece her cone.

“Don’t get that all over me, lil bit.” you tease gently as you take a lick and groan. “Ooh, this is so good.”

Steve’s eyes linger just a little too long at the way your tongue moves over the icy treat. As you wander over to pay at the register, he tugs at the collar of his uniform.

On the other side of the counter, Tommy clears his throat. Chuckles as he gives Steve a firm warning look. “Do you really think she’s gonna go for some loser in a sailor suit?”

But there’s pleading in his former best friend’s eyes. Silent begging because deep down, Tommy isn’t as secure as he seems. Steve shrugs. “Did I say I was interested, Hagan?”

“Looked like you were tryin’ t’ flirt just now t’ me, Harrington. She’s off limits. We talked about this already, man.”

And as he says it, Steve feels this surge of annoyance. It prompts him to smirk as he meets Tommy’s gaze. “You don’t own her, man.” 

Billy smirks. “You couldn’t handle her, Harrington. Trust me when I say this.” he nods to you, licking his lips. “She’s not th’ little prisses you’re used to. Stick t’ those.”

Steve rolls his eyes. “Asshole.”

Billy shrugs off the name. “Just bein’ honest, Harrington.”

“He’s not wrong, Harrington.” Tommy gives Steve a solemn look. “Didn’t you fumble Nancy? Didn’t she break up with you for that weirdo Byers?”

“Fuck you.” Steve scowls, giving Tommy a wounded look. “Didn’t Carol dump you for some asshole in a fraternity, though?”

Tommy's entire body tenses. His jaw clenches tight. As the anger clouds dark brown eyes, he smirks. “She’ll be back. She always comes back, Harrington.”

Steve laughs and rolls his eyes. Because he’s spoken to Carol lately and he knows Carol is gone for good this time. That she’s been messing around with this new boyfriend for at least three months behind Tommy’s back.

Because she’s gotten sick of the way Tommy acts lately too.

You’re just wandering past Scoops Ahoy for the second time when Robin spots you.

“I told you he was a dingus.”

You laugh and nod. “I’m actually kinda underwhelmed.. He was seriously the king of Hawkins High? I mean.. The way all the girls have always swooned, I thought he was a golden god.” you shift your Lovelace Lingerie bag from one hip to the other. 

“Oh my god!” you remember the swimsuit you bought yourself on a whim just now, “I’ve gotta show you my bikini, Robbie!”

Robin laughs and takes some of your other bags as you dig through the pile of lacy and frilly bras and panties to pull out a blinding pink swimsuit with a high cut bottom.

Robin tugs at the collar of her sailor suit. “Holy hell.”

“You gotta go check them out. They’re practically giving their stuff away, there’s some grand opening sale.”

Robin snickers quietly. “I thought you didn’t like shopping, though.”

“Yeah, when I’m broke. My father sent his annual ‘guilt money’ last week.” you laugh and shrug, the laughter dying off as you go quiet. “At least he still does that.”

Robin slips an arm around you.

And then she remembers her own little juicy gossip.

“Oh my god, you missed it earlier.. The girls from that Jazzercise studio came in, right? Steve made such an idiot out of himself. I could’ve peed myself laughing. It was so ridiculous.”

You laugh and nod. “Oh I bet. Did he use the whole ‘captain’ spiel? Because he used it on me and lil bit earlier. I would’ve laughed but it was kinda cute. I mean, corny but kinda cute.” 

Robin notices that Ruby isn’t with you anymore. “Where is little bit? I was gonna tell her that they have fairy wings at Claires.”

You grin. “She already found ‘em. Immediately hit me up for a pair. And a little matching tutu.” you happen to catch sight of Tommy and Billy nearby, standing in front of the movie theater. You turn away quickly when Billy gives you that sly grin and stares just long enough to make it uncomfortable. “Ugh, what do girls even see in that creep?”

Robin follows your gaze and shrugs. “I’m guessing it has something t’ do with the fact that if you squint he looks like a generic Val Kilmer? Or Rob Lowe?”

“Yeah, that tracks.” you laugh and shake your head. “I swear he’s been popping up all day, it’s weird.”

Robin grips your forearm dramatically. “Oh god, this is it. This is how they suck you in and turn you into a pod person overnight!”

You laugh, snorting as you do. “I’d honestly rather die than be popular. I truly would. It seems like way too big a hassle. Then I’d actually have t’ give a shit about how I looked or what anybody thought and.. No. Nope.” you shake your head as the laughter dies away and the two of you straighten yourselves up, “Not worth it. Not at all.”

“Not even a little?” Robin asks, eyeing you skeptically. “Didn’t you try out for cheer at the end of the year though?”

“Yeah because they cut funding for my dance team.” you frown and roll your eyes. “Only because Mrs. Cunningham is on the board and her stupid husband owns the half of town our slimeball mayor doesn’t own. She can’t parade her precious daughter around like cattle if there’s no award winning cheer squad now, can she?”

Robin laughs, shaking her head.

“It’s whatever. I know the dance team was better anyway. But if I wanna be a dancer or a choreographer one day, I can’t lose my edge. Cheering is better than nothing, I suppose.”

“Until they turn you into a pod person.” Robin is teasing but you can just look at your best friend and tell she’s a little scared. You shake your head.

“Not gonna happen, Robbie. You’re stuck with me, remember? We’re blood sisters.”

“We were like ten.”

You scoff at her and clutch at your chest dramatically. “You mean you don’t think our pact was for all eternity?” you laugh softly and bite your lip as you step closer to her. “I’m not goin’ anywhere, okay?” you mutter. “I promise.”

Robin nods, a little relieved.

“When’s the week of sheer hell start?” you ask, referring to band camp.

“Next Monday. I am… so not looking forward to certain parts of it. What about airhead camp?” she asks, smirking at you. You grimace. “Ugh, you had t’ fucking remind me I have stupid cheer camp bright and early starting Monday.”

“At least we’ll be together.” you both say it at the same time and laugh. As the laughter dies away, you move to sit closer to her on the bench, leaning against her side. “I can’t believe we’re almost free.”

“I can’t wait. It’s gonna be so nice not to wake up and be forced to go sit in a glorified snake den all day every day.” Robin sighs dreamily. “I’ll be in college. Maybe I’ll even be brave enough to finally talk to her.”

“I’ll be going to every audition I can go to. Working. We can hang out every weekend and I finally won’t have the ridiculous 10pm curfew.” you smile, soft and faraway. “We just have t’ survive this crap one more year.”

Robin laughs and nods.

“What are you doing later?” she asks, scooting away and turning to the side to look over at you. You shrug.

“Before or after my show?”

“After.” Robin teases gently, “What kind of animal would dare come between you and drooling over Don Johnson?”

You playfully swat at her arm. “Nothing.”

“Wanna come over? We can rent some movies, have a sleepover.”

You smile and you’re already nodding before she finishes pitching the idea of a sleepover. “Oh my god, always! Hey, maybe we can finally figure out how you’re gonna make your move with you know who.”

Robin laughs and shrugs. “You know it’s not as easy as you make it sound… Right?”

“It is, though?”

“Not all of us are totally fearless like you, midget.” Robin reminds you. You laugh and smirk at her. “Yeah, well if she doesn’t see how great you are and how lucky she’d be, she’s clearly an idiot and you don’t need her, woman.”

“It’s still not that easy. Y’know how close-minded people in this dump are.”

“Trust me.. I know. I don’t give a shit about them or their shitty opinions, but I know.” you nod, going quiet for a few seconds. “Look, either way.. You could start t’ get to know her. Make friends with her at band camp. That’s easy, right?”

“If I can ever get up the courage to not choke on my words around her, yeah.”

You give Robin a thumbs up. “So do that.”

“And what about you, huh?” Robin asks, giving you a pointed look. You shrug and after a few seconds, you sigh quietly. “What’s the point?”

Robin rolls her eyes. “Duh, I want you to be happy too.”

“And I am.” you insist. “Just can’t be bothered to like.. Have a crush on anybody.”

“Except the one prick you shouldn’t. I’m telling you, ___.. This is the summer you need to get your closure and get him out of your system. He’s a real jerk now.”

You steal a look at Tommy, giving a stunned little wave when you catch him staring at you too. You look away and nod, swallowing hard. “You’re not wrong. I know he’s a jerk. But I know that deep down in there somewhere, he’s still the same sweet boy who used t’ walk me t’ the bus whenever Mae and Jenna were being mean to me. He’s the boy who always stood up for me when I was too afraid to do it.” 

“People change, ___. I’m just worried that if you don’t do something or just get over Tommy, it’s gonna wind up hurting you more than he’s even worth.”

“Yeah.” you nod. “I know. Trust me, I know.”

“What about Steve?” Robin speaks up, making you gape at her. “What do you mean, hm?”

“Well.” she ventures carefully, staring down at the chipped polish on her nails as she tries to figure out a way to suggest what she’s about to, “He’s not such a prick.. And he’s totally not one of them anymore, he loathes Billy. We had a whole thirty five minute conversation about it earlier… After they all got into it for some reason.”

You glance over at her, a brow raised. “Tommy and Steve are best friends.. I mean, they were.” you remember Steve mentioning that he hadn’t been around Tommy’s much lately because they weren’t exactly speaking. You rub your forehead and shrug. “What the hell were they all arguing about?”

“I dunno but Steve was pissed when they finally left Scoops. Something about if Tommy were gonna take the low road then he’d drag them both to hell.” 

You laugh and roll your eyes. “And they say us girls are the drama queens. It was probably over some stupid girl or something.”

“Yeah, probably.” Robin agrees. She reaches out, prying your orange smoothie out of your hands to take a sip. “So we’re on for tonight?”

“Duh!” you laugh and grin at her. “I’ll pick you up from work. I finally got my car fixed.”

“Oh shit.. Somebody better warn everyone. Curbs and gas station poles aren’t safe any longer, I fear.” Robin teases, a smirk on her face.

You flip Robin off as you pout. “My driving isn’t that bad.”

“You had our drivers Ed teacher so terrified that the man nearly peed on himself, woman.”

“I did not!” you stick out your tongue and hold out your cup to her. “You want the rest of this? I’m over it.”

“Yeah. It’ll keep me going until I finally get the hell away from here. I’ll see you around 8:30?” she asks as she stands, starting to wander back towards the ice cream parlor. You give her a thumbs up and smile, calling out to her as she goes, “Hey! Wanna grab some pizza or something before we go?”

“God, yes. I’m dyingggg.”

You slink away, walking right past Tommy and Billy. Arguing in hushed tones. As you just barely make it past them both, Billy calls out to you.

“Hey, didn’t you make cheer?”

You roll your eyes. “Unfortunately.”

“I knew it! The hot chicks always do.”

You laugh and point to yourself. “You need an eye exam, dude.”

As you wave off what he’s just said and slink away, Tommy gives him a hard shove.

“I’m gonna beat your ass in th’ ground, Hargrove.”

“She’s gonna be my girl if you don’t grow a pair, Hagan.” Billy retorts calmly, giving a shrug. “Girls like me, man.”

Tommy doubles over laughing.

Billy glares, arms folded over his chest. “What the fuck is so funny?”

“Trust me, man.. She is not interested. Not even a little.” Tommy pats Billy on the shoulder. “I never thought I’d see it. One girl in this whole damn town who somehow isn’t throwing her panties at your face. It’s hilarious, Hargrove.”

Billy’s jaw clenches. “Whatever, man. I’m gonna fix that. Trust me.”

“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.” Tommy’s laughter is gone and he’s making himself taller. “I’m gonna tell you the same thing I told Harrington when he thought he might be interested. Try it. Go ahead.. But I’ll beat your fucking ass in the ground. I’m not about to let you have her.” 

“When I take her, you’re not gonna have much of a choice, now are ya?” Billy sneers as he says it. Tommy gives him a shove. “You really think I’m kidding.”

“You really think I’m scared.”

“You’re both fucking dumb.” Steve speaks up, rolling his eyes at the pair. “She’s not a possession.”

“True, but she’s gonna be my girl.”

“Not when I put you in the fuckin’ ground, Hargrove.” Tommy growls out the words. Steve rolls his eyes. “You’re both kinda wasting your time anyway, trust me.. She doesn’t really like either of you.”

He could’ve easily given Tommy a shred of hope. A crumb. He could’ve told him that of the two, you’d probably choose him over Billy.

But he chose not to. After all, that’s something a friend would do. And Tommy Hagan?

No longer Steve’s concern. Or even remotely close to being a person Steve wants to be friends with.

“Fuck off, Harrington. She’s not gonna go for a loser like you anyway.” Tommy taunts. “You couldn’t even hang on to Nance.”

“And? It’s not like you hung onto Carol, either.” Steve retorts, shoving between the two of them to make his way to the box office up front.

“I need to purchase tickets for the 8 o’clock showing for Day of the Dead?”

“Yeah, how many?” the girl on the other side of the glass asks.

Steve looks down at his hand, counting up the number in his head. “Six.”

“That’ll be twenty bucks.”

“Perfect.” Steve whips out a twenty, passing it through the glass. “Here ya go.”

“Babysitting again tonight, loser?” Tommy calls out after him as he shoves between the two of them on his way to leave.

Steve turns, a hand caught in his hair. “What if I am, Hagan? What are you doing tonight, huh? Getting wasted at some stupid fuckin’ party?”

“Like you’re really above all that shit. You’re only bothering with those damn kids because you think it’ll make Nance want you back.” Tommy smirks. “It won’t.”

“I’m hanging out with them because they’re not full of shit.” Steve asserts, glaring at Tommy as he clenches the fist on his free hand. “Unlike you two idiots.”

“You’re not better than us, Harrington.” Tommy chuckles as he says it. “You can pretend you are all day long, man. You’re not. And this whole good guy act?” he shrugs as he searches for the wounded look he finds in Steve’s eyes, “Sooner or later, you’re gonna realize it’s not gonna bring her back, man. Then you’re gonna ditch those stupid kids. Disappoint them though, man.”

Steve flips off his former best friend. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, Hagan.”

[jinxyvvrites]

-- tag games

share the first 10 songs in your ✨on repeat✨ playlist!

i was tagged by @4everdweeb , thank you sm! I don't really know anybody to tag tbh so I'm gonna throw out a no pressure tag to anyone following me who wants to play. Again, absolutely no pressure, babes!!!

Silver Springs - Fleetwood Mac

DJo- End of Beginning

Desire - Meg Myers

Zach Bryan - Nine Ball

Stick Season - Noah Kahan

Zach Bryan - Pink Skies

Too Sweet - Hozier

Metallica - My Friend Misery

Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue

Ice Nine Kills - Funeral Derangements

Bonus Track:

Meant To Be Yours - Heathers Musical

[jinxyvvrites]

[jinxyvvrites]

-- someone that you're with [ act iii pt i ]

aka, Because the angel on my right ain't hanging out with me tonight ... part 1.

Warnings:

Writers own interpretation of Gareth Emerson, i see him as strong and silent and grumpy af, sorry not sorry.. . Reader is: female, shorter than gareth - self inserting here, wild and loud, the rocker's girlfriend type to a T, anti-clothing with a dirty mouth ( loads of swearing / dirty humor to come ) and a few definite... quirks. Kind of a fast paced slow burn. Swearing, mentions of smoking, horror movies, Jason Carver being a clueless bag of dicks, a little angst and a lotta (friendly) fluff in this chapter. If any of this bothers you, maybe don't read this fic. I repeat.. if any of the stuff I've warned you about here is gonna be a problem, maybe don't read this.

Word Count:

4.3k+

Previous Part:

[ here ] - act II

Pairing:

Gareth Emerson x Wild&Sassy!Female!Reader

Snippet:

“You wanna come in? Might take me a while, I’m gonna take all this fucking war paint off my face too.”

Gareth looks from the house and back at you, his mouth opens, then it closes again. You laugh. “It’s a simple question, Gare.”

“I guess I can.”

Your nose wrinkles and you tense all over as you pull to a stop in front of the massive ivory brick building. Gareth is already annoyed, the two of you haven’t even gotten out of the car yet, let alone stepped inside the building.

“Five minutes.” you mutter as you reach down and kill the engine. “That’s all I have to do is make it look like I bothered showing up for five goddamn minutes.”

Gareth nods. “Okay.”

Baby blue eyes rake over your body real slow for the thousandth time since you picked him up. The dress you’re wearing fits like it was made just for you, a cream color with a fitted bodice and a knee length skirt. The way it clings to your body is somehow modest and risque all at once. You’ve been tugging at it and grumbling under your breath about it since you got in the car.

“So… ready t’ go be bored out of our skulls for a few minutes?” you ask, turning so that you face him completely. 

He looks handsome, it’s almost pure devastation, a nice white t-shirt and a pair of brighter blue jeans, maybe some that he’s only worn a time or two. You keep circling back to the way he looked when he answered the door at his parents house, damp hair, his shirt slung over his shoulder.. Exposing a soft stomach. He immediately went red all over and you could feel those damned butterflies in your tummy again, getting restless as you stepped entirely too close to him in the open doorway and tilted your head, forcing yourself to look him in the eyes just so you didn’t gawk like an idiot.

Gareth is staring right back at you and he’s just thinking how odd the two of you have to look together. He’s questioning why you constantly seek him out, why he gets the distinct impression you’re flirting with him and despite what you’ve openly claimed at least fifteen times since your whirlwind meeting only the week before, it isn’t just to piss off your stepmother.

But he doesn’t dare hope, either.

He clears his throat and nods, pulling himself out of your pretty eyes to answer a quiet “Yeah. Might as well get it over with, right?”

“These people are like fucking vipers. If you think they’re being nice, Gare, they aren’t. Just.. trust me.” you mumble as you force yourself to get out of the driver seat, shutting the door to your car with your hip. Gareth gets out, wanders around to meet you. You squish yourself into his side like usual, only this time, it feels desperate. Like you’re trying to will yourself invisible as you tug on the dress and grumble again about feeling like you’re in a coffin. Or the way your panties keep lodging themselves in your ass and you’re sure you’ll have brain damage somehow by the end of this.

“We don’t have t’ go in.” Gareth’s words stop you just a step or two shy of the front door to the posh dining hall of Hawkins Country Club and Golf Course.

He’s not wrong.

And in that second you’re torn. Glancing from him to the door and back again. That is, you’re torn until a throat clears and you turn to find yourself being scrutinized by Jason, the creep your stepmom has been trying to marry you off to since the move.

“We were just about t’ leave.” you mutter, shoving past Jason as it all becomes just a little too overwhelming, between the dress so tight you can barely breathe and the crowd of people inside, your deep seated hatred of crowds in general, you just can’t.. And you’re grabbing Gareth by the hands as you practically take off in a rush.

Jason calls your name and you stop to look back at him. He nods to Gareth, sizing him up. Gareth makes himself seem taller, glaring openly with his arm around you. “Y’know he’s a creep..”

“Funny, I thought that was your thing.” you retort, rolling your eyes. “Did you stand me up for this freak?” Jason asks.

Your brow raises.

“No, I came with Gareth. I’m leavin’ with him too. Whatever Sharon promised isn’t gonna happen, asshole.” you answer, grumbling under your breath as soon as you piece it all together, the sole reason Sharon insisted you show up here tonight.

She needed you as an offering. To buy her way back into the lifestyle she’s so used to.

“That bitch.” you’re tempted to storm into the fancy building and really show your ass but you know how it’ll play out and that keeps you from doing it. Gareth digs around in your pocket and holds out the keys of your car to you. You take them, your hand engulfed by his for seconds that last too long and somehow, don’t last long enough.

“Is there anything t’ do in this shithole?” you ask quietly, glaring down at the dress practically painted onto your body. “I mean, after I’ve gotten the hell out of this fucking thing, of course.”

“Not really. Not after 8, anyway.” Gareth answers. 

“Figures.”

“Munson is havin’ movie night.” Gareth offers, trying to sound casual. He shrugs and you mull it over. “Movie night, huh?” you mutter quietly. “Like.. what kind of movie?”

“Horror, mostly.”

You’re not the best at horror movies, the jump-scares and the gore never sit well with you. It’s a way to spend more time with him. - this thought is what drives you to grin and nod. “Count me in.”

“We gotta stop at that gas station on th’ way.. It’s my turn t’ bring drinks.”

You nod, smiling. “Not a big deal. I might grab some candy or something, dunno yet. First, though.” you look down at the dress as you scowl, “To get this stupid fucking thing off.”

Gareth chuckles.

“The sooner y’ actually drive away, th’ sooner it’s off.” he points out, his sarcasm making you flip him the bird as you laugh. You’re adjusting the dial on the radio, cringing hard when a pop station comes through loud and clear amidst the pop and hiss of heavy static. 

He chuckles and reaches out, tuning the radio to the station he usually listens to. Bon Jovi is playing and you raise a brow.. “Okay, but this is better than that bullshit that was playing, yeah?” Gareth asks and you sigh, laughing softly as you bring your car to a stop and turn on the blinker.

“Slightly, Gare. Only slightly.” you stick out your tongue as you say it and he laughs quietly. “What do you listen to, then?”

“Metallica, Fleetwood Mac, Motley Crue..” you trail off, a brow raised at the way his jaw drops just slightly.

“One of these things is not like the other.” Gareth taunts, referring to the fact that you name-dropped Fleetwood Mac as a favorite band. You shrug, coming to a stop beneath one of three red lights in the entire town. The longest one, at that.  “Yeah, well.. Ma listened to ‘em.. And Sabbath, Zeppelin. I mean, she did when Nicholas wasn’t around.”

“Nicholas?” Gareth asks, studying you quietly.

“My father.” you roll your eyes. “He’s always been an uppity prick. Tried t’ make Ma into one, when that didn’t work, he just refocused.. Worked on finding himself a replacement.”

“Ouch.” Gareth grimaces and shakes his head. “My dad’s an asshole too. Patrick though.. He’s decent. He makes my mom happier than I’ve ever seen her.”

You smile and nod. “That’s great. Your mom, she seems real sweet, y’know.” 

The light turns green and the conversation dies away a little. You try tuning the radio again and this time, you happen to find a Ratt song playing. As you drive through the sleepy little town, you hum along. 

Gareth watches you out of the corner of his eyes. Staring while he’s got the chance to do it and you’re none the wiser.

“That prick.. Why’d he call you that?” you ask, lowering the volume on the radio.

Gareth shrugs. “Because he’s a shitbird.”

“I mean, duh.. I knew that.” you ask, curious. You turn down the street the two of you live on and he rubs his hand over his face. “Because to the rest of this town, we’re the outcasts. You’ll figure it out in a week.. When we’re all back in school.”

You pull to a stop at the curb in front of your house. And you sit there quietly, soaking in his statement. Then you burst out laughing. “Thanks for the heads up. Now I’m definitely gonna make it my life goal t’ avoid that prick and anybody who even slightly likes him at all costs.”

“Most girls lose their minds over him.” Gareth states, going quiet. “Especially now that his girlfriend is gone and he’s single again.”

“And they can all fucking have him. I, however, have no desire to end up on a missing person’s file someday. He just..” you mull it over, the best way to explain what it is about the guy that’s creeped you out since day one.

“Y’know that old guy from Children of The Corn? The one who looks like he’s being eaten alive from the inside out?” you ask. Gareth snorts, laughter and a smile replacing the grim set of his jaw. “Why?”

“Because.. That guy, Jackass.. He looks like he’s gonna turn into that one day. Or somethin’ worse.” you mutter. “Either way, I want no fuckin’ part of it.” you trail off, nodding to your parents house. “You wanna come in? Might take me a while, I’m gonna take all this fucking war paint off my face too.”

Gareth looks from the house and back at you, his mouth opens, then it closes again. You laugh. “It’s a simple question, Gare.”

“I guess I can.”

The two of you make your way up the stone walkway and you feel around under the welcome mat at the door until you find the spare key, pumping your fist in victory. 

You unlock the door and step inside and Gareth’s eyes dart around. Lingering on old pictures of you, all chubby cheeked with chocolate pudding all over your face when you were three, another when you were ten and you were doing a handstand in the grass outside your old house. The family portrait on the end catches his eye and he nods to it. “That’s your mom, huh?”

You smile and nod, stopping in front of the portrait to drag a finger over her face. “Mhm.”

“She’s pretty.” Gareth mutters quietly, adding in his head, you look just like her. Maybe prettier, though. 

You’ve started to slink up the stairs, disappearing through a door left partially open. Gareth makes his way up, stepping into the absolute chaos that is your bedroom, from the tarot card tapestry tacked over the window and dangerously close to falling off, to plants potted and sitting in a line on the window sill, your lumpy mattresses on the floor just below, overfilled with an army of stuffed animals in every shape and size. There’s a vanity and dresser by the door, one is overloaded with books and the other is overloaded with perfume, a jewelry box that’s bursting at the seams and the little makeup you own scattered around. But the candles.. There are so many. There’s an old strand of christmas lights tacked up around the top of your wall. Several velvet posters, a few torn pages from Rolling Stone and an easel in the corner.

He nods to the easel. “You paint?”

“Every now and then.” you mutter as you step up to the closet and try pulling out a Black Sabbath shirt, only to pull out three other shirts along with it. You flip off the little pile in the messy bedroom floor and then run a hand over your face when the sagging rod holding up all your clothes inside the closet chooses that exact moment to come crashing down underneath all the weight.

Gareth snickers quietly, his eyes settling on you all over again. “Maybe if you didn’t have s’ much shit in there, woman..”

“I’ll have you know I need all this ‘shit’.” you retort, airquoting shit as you say it. “I’d apologize for the mess but I’m really not sorry. This is me, man. A huge freakin mess.” you’re laughing but there’s this look in your eyes that gives away the fact that you’re only parroting what other people have probably said to you in the past.. That maybe it bothers you. He makes a note not to say anything like he just has again.

Because it hurts you and this is the last thing he wants to do.

“It’s not s’ bad.” he speaks up after a few seconds, a brow raised at the cover of the book he’d idly picked up, quick to place it exactly where he found it. “It’s got character?”

“Yeah,” you laugh,give him one of those cute little smiles that make your eyes brighter as you nod to the mess you stand in, “That’s one way t’ look at it.”

You grab a pair of black dolphin shorts with white piping and you turn to face him, swallowing hard when you find yourself body to body with him. “I’m gonna go uhm.. Change. I’ll be right back. Just get comfortable. There’s candy in the top drawer of the dresser!” and she’s gone, the door banging shut softly behind her. Gareth sinks down onto the bed and stares at his hands as they rest on his thighs.

And he tries not to imagine you, changing down the hall..

He’s still processing the little bits you felt comfortable enough to confide earlier. Trying to figure out just what that means and then getting annoyed with himself as he reminds himself he doesn’t have to have an answer for everything.

You slink back into the room, laughing as you crawl up behind him on the bed and cover his eyes with your hands. Pressing into him just a little because you can’t help yourself, the urge to touch him is driving you crazy. “Boo.” you mutter next to his ear and he jumps just a little. “Hafuckingha.” he grumbles, raising his hands to pry away your own, “So hilarious, you little shit.”

“I think so, yeah.. C’mon.” you’re bouncing impatiently. Ready to get out, away from this stupid house.

He chuckles. You press your keys into his hand and curl your hand around his to close them in. Your touch lingers as you look up at him and smirk. “Since you know where this Munson guy lives and I don’t.”

He nods. Swallowing down a lump in his throat as soon as he realizes just how close you’re standing to him.

“You want me t’ drive?”

“Well yeah, duh..” you mumble, licking your lips as you stare up at his, “I gave you my keys, Gare.”

“Okay.” he chuckles, deep down inside though, he wants to kick himself. Way to be the single most awkward fucking person on the planet, Gareth. Way to go. When she ditches you, this is gonna be one of the thousand little reasons why.

“C’mon, grumpy. Let’s go already. I hate spending time here unless I absolutely have t’.” you mutter, getting a little distracted, a little lost in the way he feels all pressed against you, the deep baby blue of his eyes, the way that one stubborn curl likes to flop down into the middle of his forehead.. The way you want to kiss him but you’re determined not to cave in and just do it because you’re scared to death at the same time.

“Race you down the stairs.” Gareth speaks up quietly, snickering as you take off at a run but he manages to pass you up by the middle of the staircase. The two of you spill out into the yard and rush over to your car. You get into the passenger seat and Gareth gets into the driver seat, snickering as he adjusts it for him because you’re practically sitting up straight, the seat entirely too close to the wheel.

“Hey!” you flip him off and pout as he grumbles, “Some of us have little legs.”

And he could argue that no, you have long legs, but he doesn’t. “You’re just a little shit, that’s all.” he laughs as he says it and you scowl at him. “How’s the air up there, giant.”

He really laughs at this because he’s the shortest person he knows. If anyone is a giant, it’s Munson.And as he’s telling you this, you shrug. “You’re taller than me though. I know you. I don’t really know this Munson guy.”

“He’s like 6’2.” Gareth shrugs as he puts the car into drive and pulls away from the curb. You’ve slipped off your shoes and your feet are up on the dash as you rest your head against the seat. Gareth turns on the radio again when it feels like the silence is getting thick.. Dangerous.

As the city limit sign disappears behind the two of you, you glance over, a questioning look.

“The trailer park is right outside of town. Near that other gas station I’m gonna stop at.” 

You nod. Smile when he’s not looking, when he’s so focused on the road that it looks as if he’s trying to will it to set on fire. 

“So.. when you said horror movies.. What were you talking, hm? Like.. cheesy or gory as hell?” you ask. Gareth chuckles and shrugs. “Tonight was Jeff’s turn t’ pick. Probably gory as hell.”

“Awesome.” you mutter, swallowing hard, “I suppose this isn’t a good time t’ tell you I uh… I don’t do well with blood.. Or body parts coming unattached.”

“It’ll be fine.” Gareth glances over at you, chuckling. “It’s only movies.”

You nod, give him a weak attempt at a brave smile. “Right. Yeah, you’re right.”

He pulls to a stop in the empty parking lot of an old brick building, neon flickering in the window. “Wanna come in with me?” he asks. You nod and get out, squishing yourself into his side all over again. It’s second nature at this point, you don’t even bother attempting to stop it from happening.

Gareth slips an arm around you lazily after he’s held open the door and the two of you are inside the little gas station. You bite back a soft whimper and steal a look up at him, smiling softly to yourself.

Despite the way your night started, it’s already so much better.

–

“Where the fuck is he?”

Eddie’s torn away from fuming at Gareth’s absence as Jeff clears his throat and nods to the window he’s been peering out of for about ten minutes, waiting. “Guess who made it..”

“No shit? Finally?” Eddie asks, glancing at Wayne’s old clock. “We don’t have much time t’ go make our movie selections.”

As he wanders over to the window and peers out, his jaw drops. He watches as Gareth gets out of your driver seat and grabs the drinks he stopped to buy, then makes his way around, opening your door for you. Eddie chuckles. “Lucky little oblivious bastard.”

“We’re given him shit tonight, right?”

Eddie gives Kevin a warning glare. “That’s exactly what we’re not gonna do, idiot. We’re not going to ruin this for him, man. Do y’ know how long it’s been since I’ve seen any kind of behavior from Emerson that indicates he’s got a spine, Turner?”

“And?” Kevin shrugs, glaring at the door. “We know it’s only gonna blow up, soon as school starts. Do you really see a girl like her, stickin by freaks like us?”

The door to the trailer bursts open and the two of you wander in, arguing loudly about whether HoHos are better than Twinkies. Eddie snickers and takes part of the drinks out of Gareth’s arms as the two share a look. You wander straight over to Wayne’s ancient card table in the center of the kitchen and open your arms, letting all the candy and snack cakes you brought spill out. “Behold.” you nod to the overfilled table, “A feast.”

“Your random can of ravioli, weirdo.” Gareth tosses you the can of ravioli you insisted you needed back at the gas station and you turn to Eddie, a hand on your hip. “You got a can opener anywhere, man?”

Eddie digs through a drawer and holds it out to you. You set to work opening your can and once your done, you rifle through the box of disposable silverware until you find a fork. You’ve got the piece of pasta pressed against your lips when you realize that everyone in the room is looking at you.

“What?”

“We have a stove, weirdo.” Eddie nods to the can in your hand and you raise a brow. “It’s already cooked.” you pop the piece of sauce covered pasta into your mouth as you chew and Eddie grimaces. “What?” you ask again, sticking out your tongue at the group of boys, “It’s been fully cooked, sheesh.”

“So the can says.” Gareth grimaces, shaking his head. “We goin’ to Family Video? Steve’s not gonna hold the place open for us much longer, man. Y’know how high up his ass my cousin’s got the stick.”

“He will if it’s me.” Eddie smirks, staring Gareth down. As you’re sitting on the counter, swinging your legs and digging into your cold pasta, Eddie nods to you and leans in, chuckling. He starts to hum the wedding march and Gareth rolls his eyes. “We’re just friends.”

“Yeah..Right.. Tell that t’ somebody who doesn’t see the way you both act around each other.” Eddie points out calmly. “I don’t think you called dibs this time, Emerson.” he taunts, nodding to you as you plop another piece of pasta into your mouth and glance around the crowded living room, “I think she might’ve called dibs on you, you’re just too dumb t’ see it.”

“Right.” Gareth laughs, shaking his head. “I’d never get that lucky.”

“But you did, Gareth the Great.” Eddie argues. “Where the fuck were you anyway, hm?”

“She had t’ go t’ some stupid thing. She blew it off before she even made it inside.” Gareth shrugs. “And you volunteered to go?”

“She asked me.” Gareth answers. Eddie rubs his hand over his face and chuckles. “Oh, she definitely called dibs, idiot. Wake up.”

“Nah, man.” Gareth dismisses Eddie again, “She didn’t. She couldn’t have.”

“If she did, you’d never know. You’re kinda clueless, idiot.” Eddie chuckles as he says it and Gareth gives him an annoyed shove.

He shoots a glance in your direction to find you sitting on the counter, engrossed in a heated debate with Jeff and Kevin. And he tenses slightly. Just enough to make Eddie snort in laughter. “Jealous?”

“No.” Gareth is lying through his clenched teeth. Eddie knows it, he knows it. Especially when Gareth makes his way straight over to you. What Gareth doesn’t pick right up on that Eddie does, is that when you realize he’s standing there, you tilt your head and scoot closer, resting your head against his shoulder.

“If he were any more blind he’d be that Milsap guy my uncle listens to…Stevie Wonder has better sight than Emerson when it comes t’ some stuff, I swear to God.”

From beside him, Mike and Dustin speak up, chuckling. “You’re not wrong,man.” Mike nods to the two of you, wrinkling his nose. “I thought we weren’t inviting outsiders.”

“She’s gonna be around a lot, kid.. Better get used t’ it.” Eddie states, giving Mike Wheeler a warning look. Dustin snickers quietly. “She’s kinda cool.”

“She’s gonna end up turning into one of them when school starts back, man.. Remember that girl you thought you liked?”

Dustin scowls. “Asshole.”

“It’s the truth.” Mike shrugs and Will elbows his boyfriend in the ribs. “What’d we say about thoughts that need t’ stay in our heads, Mikey?”

“Yeah, I know.. Just don’t wanna deal with him when she breaks him because he’s a grumpy enough asshole now.”

“Maybe she won’t, though.” Will points out calmly.

“Maybe.” Dustin muses. Grinning a little as he watches you with Gareth. “She’s not like other girls though, man. I mean she listens to the same music as him. She’s letting him teach her to play drums too. And she doesn’t dress that preppy.”

“Are we gonna go or not?” Mike asks, annoyed.

Eddie clears his throat.

“Everybody in the van. We gotta go pick our movies.. Jeff has the floor first this time.” he claps a hand down on his bandmate’s shoulder as he smirks, “Don’tcha, birthday boy?”

Jeff smirks. Gareth speaks up.

“Don’t go too gory, Anderson.”

“Me? A bloodbath?” Jeff taunts, laughing as he shakes his head. “You know me too well, dude.”

“She’s not good with blood n’ guts, idiot.”

“It’s fine, Gare. It’s just a movie, right?” even as you say it, you can feel your stomach flip just a little and you swallow hard, holding his gaze. “I’ll be fine. I mean it.”

“Yeah, I mean it’s not like you’re not here, Gare.” Eddie is being a shit-stirrer and Gareth flips him off. “Yeah, true.”

“Okay, let’s goooooo.” you kick your feet impatiently before hopping down from the counter.

“It’d kill her if she had t’ sit still, I think.” Dustin snickers and Eddie chuckles as he nods his head in agreement. Everyone piles into the van and heads over to Family Video, you wind up sitting in Gareth’s lap for the ride over because there are so many of you packed into the rusty old van.

You melt back into Gareth as he slips an arm around you to keep you from being tossed out of his lap on a really sharp turn that Eddie makes. As you do this, Gareth bites back a groan, his entire face turning red.

“Sorry, he can’t fuckin’ drive t’ save his life.” Gareth mutters against your ear and you laugh softly, whispering back, “Yeah, I’m definitely starting to realize that.”

[jinxyvvrites]

do fic readers know that their comments actually influence the course of the story sometimes? i don't mean in a "you need to write it this way because i say so 😡" type of comment, i mean when people are asking questions or really engaging with the plot and the themes in the comments they sometimes bring up things that i didn't even think of, or dig into parts of the story that i've overlooked, or get really interested/fixated on something i was going to just kind of glance over--and it has me going 'oh wait that's actually really interesting, that's a good point' and fully adding or tweaking or changing things about the story going forward. i'm literally adding an entire additional chapter to something right now because someone's comment had me like "oh i didn't dig into that as much as i could have." you have impact!

[jinxyvvrites]

-- someone that you're with [ act ii ]

aka pretty little missy is a friend of mine

Warnings:

writers own interpretation of Gareth. reader is: female, a bit of a handful, the drummer's girlfriend to a T, metalhead, shorter than Gareth -because self indulgence,anti clothing, has slight issues with a stepmom who is barely older than her and a fearless flirt. Beyond these traits, reader is yours to imagine. Heavy sexual tension.. Gareth being a little bit of a brat wrangler, cutesy older brother Gareth, swearing, innuendo if you squint, i do not fear that Gareth comes off a bit grumpy / strong, silent and cocky when I write him.. oops? It isn't specified but.. This is set in the same timeframe as s5 just with no mentions of sci-fi past or present.. Seriously though, if anything you're being warned about here is gonna get your panties knotted, do not read. I repeat.. if anything in these warnings bothers you, this is not the fic for you.

Word count:

1.7k+

Previous parts:

[ here ] .. there will be more to this, pretty babes. stay tuned.

Pairing:

Gareth Emerson x Female!reader

Snippet:

“Hey.”

Gareth whips around as you say it, this is how he winds up body to body with you again. You have your colorful tapestry wrapped around you like a cape and the sight of it makes him chuckle quietly.

His hand raises, resting against sweaty hair. You're staring up at him, he's staring down at you, neither one of you is saying a word at first.

“Nice blanket.” he chuckles, reaching out to touch it, soft and velvet against his fingers.

It's not as soft as he imagines your skin would feel but he tries hard to bury that thought when it comes.

You're lounging on the front lawn when you hear a lawnmower attempt to  start up. You raise up, propped on your elbows, watching as Gareth, the boy next door, sends up a string of profanity so eloquent that you're impressed and you clap quietly.

The sun is hot, sweat beading on your skin, rolling down. Gareth lights a cigarette and leans against the side of his mom's station wagon, glaring at the lawnmower like it's personally assaulted him.

You give a little wave. He waves back as he takes another drag of his cigarette before thumping it out onto hot asphalt. 

You pull yourself off the grass and pick up the woven tapestry you use as a blanket, making your way over to him just as hes turned his attention back to the mower, pulling and yanking at the cord to start it.

“Hey.”

Gareth whips around as you say it, this is how he winds up body to body with you again. You have your colorful tapestry wrapped around you like a cape and the sight of it makes him chuckle quietly.

His hand raises, resting against sweaty hair. You're staring up at him, he's staring down at you, neither one of you is saying a word at first.

“Nice blanket.” he chuckles, reaching out to touch it, soft and velvet against his fingers.

It's not as soft as he imagines your skin would feel but he tries hard to bury that thought when it comes.

“It was my ma's.” there's a sad look in your eyes when you say it and Gareth feels like shit. “Sorry.”

“It's not like it's a big deal,” you're lying, of course, both because you want to seem tougher to him and because lying to yourself is just easier than dealing with the way she died so suddenly.

Gareth can see right through the little act but he keeps it to himself.

“Sweetie!”

Your eyes darken when you hear your stepmom call out to you. “What the fuck does she want?” you grumble under your breath and Gareth chuckles, nodding to his house. “You can hide if you wanna.”

“Please?” you tilt your head, looking up at him as you play with the front of his shirt. He looks down, watching the movement of your fingers against fabric and he swallows down a lump in his throat. “If you're goin..” he mutters, clearing his throat as he nods to the house.

“Yeah.” you reluctantly step away from him and rush inside, propped against his front door.

The curvy woman slinks over, clearing her throat. The first thing Gareth notices is that she’s barely older than you or him. And it hits him that at least half of your problem with your stepmother is most likely due to the fact. He glances back over his shoulder at the house just in time to see you peeking out the partially cracked front door, giving him that little begging look. 

“Have you seen a girl about your age? She's my daughter, I'm trying to get her home to get ready for a dinner party.”

“Nope.” Gareth lies. “Just cutting my grass.”

“If you happen to see her, tell her she needs to come home..try on the dress I went to all the trouble to buy her.” as Sharon says this, she stares intently at the front door, repeating herself loudly enough that Gareth knows damn well that she knows you’re hidden inside his house. She tears her gaze off the door and turns it to Gareth, a look of disdain on her face. “Let her know that, please?”

“Yeah, okay.” he doesn't bother hiding annoyance in his tone as he waits for your stepmom to leave. Once she's safely inside the house, he chuckles to himself, rolling his eyes.

“The wicked witch of West Texas is gone.” he smirks as he says it, peeking into the house, “she wants you to try on some dress.”

“And she can fuck off.” you answer, eyes darting up to the way he's leaning in the door frame, filling the space.

 Christ, you think, I really can climb him like a tree.  His hands raise over your head, settling against the top of the frame. This causes the hem of his faded gray t-shirt to jump up, giving you a glimpse of soft stomach, sparse hairs marching from his belly button downward. You gulp. Your fingers itch to drag over the strip of exposed skin. To pull him closer by the belt loop on his jeans.

The shit-eating smirk he's giving you on top of it all has your brain going empty. I need him. Like air. 

“She wants to drag us all to some stupid thing at the country club. She practically had to beg for an invite.” you mumble, lost in the blue of his eyes to a point where you forget where you were going with the conversation. Gareth chuckles to himself and the way your face flushes just so when you get angry is enough to warrant him taunting you. “It could be fun.”

“About as fun as a dentist trip.. hey..” you're only half kidding when the idea presents itself, “since you think it'll be so fun,” the sarcasm drips from your voice like honey and he's already shaking his head no. 

You pout. “Aw, c'mon.” you plead, “who's gonna protect my virtue? If you don't go she's liable to try marrying me off to some creep…You can’t possibly want that on your conscience,  right big guy?”

Gareth grumbles.”Not gonna happen.”

He falters slightly, his firm no isn’t as firm as he wants to think it is. You don’t see through it, but he does and he’s telling himself that it’s pathetic, the fact that all you have to do is ask in that sugary sweet tone, look up at him with those big pleading eyes and he’s putty in your hands. He knows falling is a very, very bad idea and yet, he thinks, here I am.. I’m the definition of a pathetic idiot because once school starts back and she actually sees her other options…

 “We don't even have to stay the whole time. Aren't you a rockstar?” you're challenging him when you say it and he knows it.

He snorts. “I’m in a band, yeah. Can’t call yourself a rock star til you’ve played an actual venue and not some shitty dive bar..”

“Rock stars are supposed t’ live for pissing off parents, Gare.” you're pouring it on thick, the pleading look, playing with the front of his shirt, standing as close as you can to him, the whole 9 yards. 

“Pretty please? I need you there, okay?” you beg, nevermind the fact that it's the truth. It makes him puff right up, standing tall enough that he really towers over you as he snickers quietly. “Fine.” he relents, “but you owe me, holy shit, you owe me.”

“Anything you want.” you promise, meaning it with every cell in your body, “Anything.”

Gareth chuckles. Stepping closer to you before he can stop himself. “Anything, huh?”

You nod, eyes big and pleading. “Anything.” you repeat. “I-I mean it, Gare.”

“I’m gonna remember that.” his voice comes out huskier. Quieter, his words hanging in the air between you. You tilt your head slightly, staring up at him. Dazed by bright blue eyes. Parts of you are wondering what he means by that -and why you have the feeling he already has some ideas, but parts of you are too hyperfocused on ooh he’s so fucking pretty, to really give too much deep thought to it.

Those damned butterflies are loose, fluttering like crazy in your stomach again.

“I should probably go, try on this stupid fucking dress.” you manage to force yourself to step away just a little, just so you can breathe and function properly and Gareth’s hand shoots out, gently grabbing hold of your wrist to stop you.

“I need t’ know what time.”

You laugh softly. “I think she said it’ll be around 6.”

“What do I need t’ wear to this bullshit?” he asks, feigning sheer annoyance. Forgetting momentarily that he already has plans, it’s movie and poker night at Munson’s. 

You shrug. “Whatever you want.. Do you really think I give a shit to impress these assholes?” you ask, making him laugh. Pouting as you step up to him again because you missed the warmth, the scent of sweat and his cologne and the way it envelopes you like a strong hug. He shakes his head. “Good point. So jeans and a t-shirt?”

“Mhm. And if Sharon doesn’t like it, she can die mad about it.” you reach up, giving his nose the smallest of boops.

“I’ll see ya at 6, Gare.” you smile, eyes bright as you look up at him and reach for the doorknob, stepping out into the hot summer afternoon…

Gareth leans back against his front door as he’s closed it, fanning himself with the front of his t-shirt. His oldest younger sister peeks out, a brow raised. “What was that about?”

“Nothin, okay?”

“Didn’t look like nothin.” Rosie taunts, smirking. “Ooh, is she Princess Butterfly?”

Gareth gives his sister a blank look until it hits him.. His journal. His D&D code name for you, the one he wrote in the damn thing. “Goddamn it, Rosie, you been snooping through my room again?”

Rosie shrugs. “Maybe.”

“I told y’ to stay outta there!”

“Oh come on! I just wanted t’ borrow Lord of The Rings! I can’t help it you rearranged your entire stupid bedroom and I couldn’t find it!” Rosie pouts and Gareth takes a deep breath, rubbing a hand over his face. “I told y’.. Byers has it right now.”

“Oh.. Right.” Rosie giggles. “Guess I forgot.”

“Mhm.” Gareth grumbles. “Sure ya did.”

“Do you like her, Gare?”

“I dunno what t’ think about her, honestly.”

“Well, I think she likes you. A lot.. Even Deanna said..”

“Deanna?”

“Yeah.. Me and Holly’s friend, remember?”

Gareth nods. “What makes y’ think that?”

“Just the way she acts. Holly says that Nance acts like that all the time whenever she’s with Jonathan.”

Gareth files it away, dismissing it. “That all you three do is gossip?”

Rosie giggles, ducking out of the reach of her brother’s wiggling fingers as he tries to chase her down to tickle her.