#Steve Harrington x original female character

[werdlewrites]

masterlist - ao3 - twitter @ djomamma

summary: “Do you do that a lot?” Dr. Owens questions, briefly resting his chin in a curled fist. “Do what?” She says with the click of her tongue. Her stubborn attitude keeps a grin on the man's face. A look of genuine entertainment no matter the softened glare in her eye or bitterness in the tone. She knows what he’s asking, yet dives out of fire and deflects with sarcasm. A behavior Jim Hopper had warned him of. “Avoid a challenging situation with humor. We all know why you’re here–why you came back for another session. But you,” he takes a pause as his fingers flick through the air in gesture. “dance around the topic.” wc: 2,672 warnings: therapy, hallucination, denial

It’s December twenty-first, and the air has grown colder. The snowfall was heavier - collecting on the ground and piling up against the windows. There’s laughter in the air. It’s heard throughout the small town of Hawkins as she passes them by in the early morning. There’s a lack of empathy - but more so, envy. The teenage girl expects to find her burden lifted - space given up and freed for more joy, rather than sorrow. Yet, despite last night's confessions, there’s a shocking lack of relief. A soul that aches and pleas beneath the ticking of the clock. The race of an anxious heart as she stares out at the white expanse, searching for what she longed for.

A moment of peace.

His voice is buried by her thoughts. Muffled questions eventually come to a halt as he takes notice of her attention elsewhere. He even spares a glance toward that same window, finding nothing of importance. The doctor is patient and kind. Holding out a hand to stall the officer at the other end of the room, who was prepared to break the spell. Dr. Owens simply lets her be. Let her wallow in it until she’s ready to come out from hiding all on her own.

Like a wounded dog reaching out to a hand of kindness. It’s frightened expression finally fades as it pokes its head out from the comforting shadows. Timidly accepting the gift of love when trust was hard to find.

Or, a lost child. Standing on two weak legs with only the company of tall trees. Finding safety in their shade but moving further into nothingness as they wander in hopes of discovering someone to guide them home. Dr. Owens would act as her guide, should she need him.

The girl's statuesque form slowly melts in the passing seconds. A deep breath was seen with the rise of her chest as though she had been suffocating. A sudden blink of her eyes in sudden awareness before they fall on her therapist. “D’you say something?”

He could become frustrated by her drifting attention span, yet all he can do is smile kindly. “I was asking about the beginning.”

It's with those few words that her demeanor changes. She’s slumped in the seat with arms crossed over her chest, chewing at her bottom lip with a leg swaying back and forth. It’s a topic of discomfort - hell, this entire session and the ones to follow were nothing short of fearful. Addressing the already known and digging at the roots, hoping to bring light to an unknown darkness.“The beginning?”

He only nods in reply, still wearing that same grin while her focus veers off in thought. Her answer does nothing to sway him. Instead, the look of amusement grows. “Roughly four billion years ago. But, who’s t’say there was nothin’ before dinosaurs? Everyone has different opinions.”

The sheriff’s disappointed sigh is painfully audible as all falls into silence. Even without his presence, you could envision fingers pressed deep into tired eyes out of frustration. Teenagers - especially stubborn ones, were a challenge on an entirely new level. One neither man had experience with.

“Do you do that a lot?” Dr. Owens questions, briefly resting his chin in a curled fist.

“Do what?” She says with the click of her tongue.

Her stubborn attitude keeps a grin on the man's face. A look of genuine entertainment no matter the softened glare in her eye or bitterness in the tone. She knows what he’s asking, yet dives out of fire and deflects with sarcasm. A behavior Jim Hopper had warned him of. “Avoid a challenging situation with humor. We all know why you’re here–why you came back for another session. But you,” he takes a pause as his fingers flick through the air in gesture. “dance around the topic.”

Her gaze flickers between an opened notepad with its pen resting at the hinge, to the recorder just at the corner of his desk. She wonders about the emptiness. The long spans of silence she allows and if you could picture a cold stare matched with the response. “I don’t know when it really began. It’s all I’ve known.”

Blue eyes cast up toward the ceiling in thought. Lips pursed as a hum rattles within his chest. He’s thinking of where to go next - what to ask. How to keep her on this path without detour. And maybe, for a moment, she finds some sympathy for the man. Autumn had come here willingly, yet refused to chip away at her walls. Ignored the weak spots with purpose - to remain ignorant despite a yearning to know.

“Someone was in the mirror. In the walls.” Her admission is softened and almost shameful. Looking down at her bouncing knees as she feels his focus shift back toward her. “Every mirror. Every wall. I could hear them-”

“Them?” He interrupts. His arms now fallen to tangle together as his torso leans inward, invested. “Multiple voices?”

Again, dull eyes fall on the frosted glass and the snow carried by a gust of wind. “I don’t know,” the teen replies with a heavy sigh. “I can’t remember what it all sounded like. I just–I just remember-”

The faucet was left running. Steam building and rising to ghost along the surface of her reflection. She had lost track of time - gaining a lack of direction when so many fingers pointed back at her. Autumn had never been the ‘new girl’ until now. Unaware of childish behaviors and fears as they dodged her in the hallways. Or the opposite eagerness to steal the open seat at her side, like Steve had, ready to make a new friend.

Autumn simply went elsewhere. Entrapped in old familiarities of her home and the kind words her father gave, all left on repeat to give comfort. It isn’t until the scalding water splashes against her wrist that she’s pulled into the present, hastily turning the nozzle back until the water ceases.

At first, it’s soft. Murmurs that almost seemed like a hushed conversation at her back, hidden behind stall doors. When she looks, there are no small feet in the misty glass. No bookbags to suggest she wasn’t alone.

Then, a fingerprint. A young girl can see every ridge until it fully flattens. The spot is now clear of steam, leaving beads of water to drip and clear the way. There’s no more voice. Only the achingly loud beat of a racing heart echoed in her ears. It carves out a message at a slow pace. Line by tedious line until it reads a simple, “Hello.”

Figures of classmates fill her vision - small and talking with excitement as they enter the bathroom together. One takes notice of Autumn and the look of fright in her eyes, asking if she is okay in a sweet tone. The girl points to the mirror, talking excitedly about something unnatural. And while she sees every letter so clearly, they only see the dampened surface.

That’s when the fear began.

The fear of Autumn Reid.

“What happened?” The Doctor questions. His icy eyes cast downward to his paper, writing every small detail down of a girl's pitiful story as she spirals into psychosis. The way those few girls ran from the bathroom, terror in their eyes. How they confided in some random teacher, who then reported it to higher-ups, dragging the girl to the office so she could wait for her father and address concerns.

A doctor visits their home, though Autumn can’t recall him giving any attention to her ailments, speaking with Ian instead. What’s the worth of a child's word, anyway? Drowned out and small as they stand beneath the shadow of giants.

“I think my medication was increased. Things…sort of fizzled out, after. But never really stayed gone.” Her eyes look beyond the man - to the organized clutter spread out along the table just behind him. The still Newton’s Cradle, stacks of various books on mental health, and the sticky notes that spilled out between pages. And the tall plant that stood in the sunlight. Its plastic leaves shine but never need the life nature gives. For a moment, she sees her father's ugly-colored walls and dark furniture. The file cabinets and cases that lined the walls just before she destroyed it.

Ripped her home apart piece by piece to escape the monster wearing human flesh. Picturing the dirt beneath her nails as she climbed the steps, finding her room and beloved plants flipped and tattered with purpose. It brings about a sudden ache. A strike of lighting to the base of her skull radiates and burns through every nerve as it dances. Autumn suddenly feels too heavy. She allows her body to collapse forward with her palms opened for her head to rest.

“What’s happening?” the doctor questions. His face twisted with concern though it goes unnoticed by the girl as she rubs at her eyes. A pitiful attempt to wipe away the images stained within them. “Nothing,” she nearly spits out. Forcefully prying her head away to meet his eyes, while her arms hang loose between parted knees. Even without seeing the exhaustion in her eyes, by her mere tone he can tell it was a lie. The girl was haunted. You could feel the chill of ghosts that followed her wherever she went. Stuck to her ankles by shackles she had no strength to break free from.

“Are you sleeping well?”

She can’t help the genuine, huff of a laugh that escapes. Not at him - more, the reality of her life. Kids her age sleep soundly, tucked in their beds. Or maybe their insomnia takes hold and keeps them up for late hours - something easily explained. Unlike the horrors that crept through her nightmares. Unlike the demon that wore Steve’s face. A vessel used to incite fear and confusion. “I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night.”

Dr. Owens's chin rests in his palm. Pen tilts upward and dangerously close to marking his skin. But he seems entranced by this new path the pair have wandered down. “Is it because you can’t? Or don’t want to?” Her heavy sigh is all he needs to confirm what he already knows. Not bothering to make small notes as he holds their connection. Full of sincerity. “What are you avoiding? Is it…this feeling of vulnerability? Something you see, perhaps.”

Tired eyes narrow into a glare as she puts her guard back up. Her posture slouched as her back rests against the chair, arms crossed along with a once bouncing leg now laid out over the other. His assumption leaves the teen uncomfortable as it effortlessly hits all of the right notes. As if can see right through her. As if he knows her. “Nightmares?”

“They don’t feel like nightmares. Before, I could just wake up and leave it behind. Whatever I saw. But, I could be here. I could be right here,” her gaze moves down toward her lap. Counting every thread of denim for fear his face will begin to morph into something else, or someone. Her entire life a mere hallucination as reality breaks apart before her. “And then, I’m not. I’m somewhere else. I’m with someone else.”

Dr. Owens remains silent just across from her. Fingers now curled and pressed to his lips as he watches that wall finally crumble bit by bit. In every word, he can hear her dread. The anxiety of simply acknowledging her madness out loud, and what it did to her. What it did to others. He wants to reach for her and offer some comfort but fights back the impulse to stay seated out of fear she may close back up.

“It’s all so real, but at the same time, it isn’t. I–I can’t always tell if I’m really awake. But, the fear-”

“The fear you feel is real,” he interjects. Watching as his words slowly sink in and the way she hesitantly nods in agreement. The subtle movement of her finger as it pulls the sleeve aside to reveal clean skin, before concealing herself once more. He doesn’t question it but makes a quick note with frantic movement.

The clock ticks on and he finds himself taking fewer and fewer notes. Keeping his focus on the girl as she hesitantly carves out every demon to set free. But they linger. Stuck to her like glue and the moment she describes what she’s seen in the night or the light of day, they crawl back into their shell. Forever part of her and unwilling to let go.

Autumn brings up her father's behavior in their final days together. Irritable, and filled with lies. Confrontational and desperate to get a grip on something he was losing. How she doesn’t remember the words spoken in their fight, only of what came after. Almost as if she woke up in the parking lot of that grocery store. The girl says she knows what he was like. How he listened to her troubles with an openmindedness, giving the only advice he felt appropriate.

“Let them in.”

Or the way he pushed and guided her through these changes in her mind. Ways to cope and accept it, rather than shy away from the unfamiliar. He wanted this. So, why did he leave her in the end? When he saw what she could do? Why did he favor his project, while his daughter was achieving the unimaginable?

The session lasts for over an hour - it’s evident in the change of light and the purposeful cough from the officer just outside of the office, in the hallway. Hopper wants it all to move slowly. No pressure, and no overextended visits so her mental health could recover. And she caves to his call as her bag is slung across her shoulder.

“One moment,” Owens states, quick to stand from his seat behind the desk, leaving Autumn frozen in place, watching as he digs through a duffle bag. What emerges is a large box neatly concealed in wrapping paper. The closer it gets, the more she can make out Candy Canes and Christmas Stockings with kittens stuffed inside. And as she holds it, she can’t help but give him a puzzled look.

“I’m sorry about the paper,” he says with a sheepish laugh. “I couldn’t find anything else.” The girl remains quiet. Fingers locked around the smooth edges with a brow raised in his direction, waiting for some sort of explanation. “Tomorrow is your birthday, isn’t it?”

“W–well, yeah. But, this can’t be appropriate, right? You’re my therapist.” Her words seem to ignite something in the bored officer. The rustle of his pants is heard in the silence as he rounds the corner, standing just after the doorway to fully understand what was happening. The doctor merely offers up a hand of peace, smiling.

“It’s really nothing. Please, I insist. Take it as a sign of…trust? Friendship?”

Autumn casts a quick look over her shoulder for reassurance from her guardian, and he gives it with a small shrug of his shoulders. He’d inspect it first, most likely. Deem it safe enough to remain in her possession. No wires or ticks–just a simple gift.

“It’s a game,” he confesses. As if the secret had been bubbling up and he could no longer withstand the pressure of it. “All about strategy. A useful thing to practice, as everything here…can apply to your life. Be aware of your surroundings. Trust in your gut, and make the move. Don’t be held back by your fears.”

Confused, her focus shifts from the heavy box to his face multiple times. Unsure of what to do or say while he seemed so passionate about a gift to a girl he hardly knew. She forces a weary smile as the distance between them grows. His hands clasped before him with a prideful look in his eyes. “Happy Birthday, Ms. Reid.”

[buckysgrace]

Seven

Illicit Affairs Masterlist Professor!Steve Harrington x Fem!OC

Daphne tries to learn more about Steve from their tutoring sessions.

Daphne

Trying to convince herself to get out of bed was hard. She wished she could slip between her sheets and melt into the mattress, hidden and never to be seen again. She was embarrassed, humiliated. She liked disappearing. It was easier to hide away from her feelings. 

She had never thrown herself at a man in that manner before, repeatedly at that. No one had ever caught her interest in such a way, but now she felt like a love sick puppy.And she didn’t even know him. Absolutely nothing. Other than that he was funny and kind. And had really pretty brown eyes. And he was a good kisser. Maybe she knew him a little bit. 

Class had grown worse since that last conversation with him. He completely shut her out, refused to look at her and didn’t answer any of her questions. It was mortifying, enough that she debated if dropping the class was worth it for her own ego. She didn’t want to go to tutoring sessions either, not when he very clearly regretted everything that had happened. It just made part of her die all over again.

Sitting in the front row, only a few feet away from him didn’t help either. She found herself more focused on the way his hands moved, how his hair was styled and the way he stuck his tongue out when he concentrated rather than listening to him talk about the guidelines for the assignment. 

Meeting him privately was even worse. She had a hard time sitting so close to him and often ended up placing her hands underneath her thighs, keeping herself in place so she couldn’t do something dumb. Her mouth, as always, was harder to control.

“You’re not married, are you?” She spit out suddenly, lost in her own thoughts as Steve pulled a pen free from his desk. She blanched, wincing to herself as he looked towards her in surprise. 

“What does that have to do with your essay?” He questioned softly, brown eyes full of amusement as he reached for her paper. It had been shoved in the bottom of her bag, the pages bent and slowly tore from her frustration over it. She missed her science classes. 

“Well, nothing,” She started slowly, “Nothing. You said you were single. I’m just-, yeah.” She gestured towards her head, feeling silly at her thoughts once again. She was trying to work out why he wasn’t interested in her, past her being his student of course. 

“I was married once,” He told her, taking her by surprise, “It didn’t work out.” He shrugged his shoulders as he turned towards her, leaning back in his chair a bit and kicking his legs out. She gulped, trying to pretend like she didn’t notice the way his shoes slid perfectly between hers. 

“How come?” She asked, hanging onto every word as he brought his glasses over his eyes. She breathed in deeply, feeling like it only made him even more handsome. 

“Sadly that story is complicated and does nothing to help your paper.” He grinned as his eyes met hers, making her lips pout out just a bit. He was good about giving her information and then yanking it right back. 

“Do you still love her?” She asked before she could stop herself, wondering if that’s why he didn’t want a relationship. Clearly whomever he had married before must’ve hurt him fairly badly. 

“Daphne.” He tilted his head as he continued to watch her, more stern this time. She traced her eyes over the moles on his cheeks before she nodded her head. Not the time or place.  Not her business either. She could deal with that. 

“Sorry,” She smiled sheepishly, “That was me asking as a concerned student.” She replied to try and make things smooth again, although he didn’t seem too upset. Maybe deep down he liked her being a pest. 

“I’m sure.” He chuckled as he straightened out once again, focusing in on her paper as he furrowed his eyebrows together. She stared at him, unable to help herself as she looked at the way his lips moved as he read the words on her paper. 

She shifted awkwardly, noting how he would stop and glance at her before he started again. She could feel her eyebrows pinching together, her bottom lip stuck between her teeth as she began to pick at her nails. At least they were acrylics so she couldn’t chew the polish off this time. 

“What is it?” She questioned as he roughly exhaled, shaking his head softly before he dropped the paper from his hands. She didn’t think that was a good sign. Not at all. 

“I guess I’m just a bit confused,” He replied gently as he glanced towards her, “Did you use your notes when you wrote this? Or your book?” He asked as he turned towards her, his knees bumping against hers in the process. 

“Uh yeah,” She answered nervously, “I mean not much of the book. It’s hard to read.” More like hard to concentrate on. It was by far the best thing she’d found to put herself to sleep. 

“Right.” He chewed on his bottom lip as he stared at the paper again, tilting his head back and forth like he was unsure of how to tackle it. 

“It’s terrible.” She stated in agreement, exhaling roughly as she thought about how much time and effort she had put into it. Okay, maybe she hadn’t been that serious about the paper but she didn’t want him to know that. 

“No, not terrible,” He mumbled, “It’s definitely not the worst paper I’ve seen. But uh, I’m thinking maybe I need to change the way I do my lectures. You’re missing a lot of stuff that I thought I covered.” He rubbed the pen against the back of his neck, looking just as confused as she felt. 

“Oh.” Was all that left her lips as she thought about hiding once again. She was sure that he had discussed all of the points above, but she had probably been too busy staring at him to really pay attention. 

“I’m not meaning it in a bad way,” He clarified quickly, “It can be fixed.” He pressed his lips into a soft smile, making her heart throb harshly inside of her chest. This was bad. Really dangerous. 

“It’s trash,” She groaned as she covered her face with her hands, “I should just rewrite it.” She grumbled into her palms, thinking about how she’d be behind on all of her sorority tasks. Well, further behind. She hadn’t done anything to help this semester.

“Mhm, I don’t think that’ll hurt it,” He tapped his pen against the paper for a few minutes before he brought it up to his mouth, pulling the lid of it off with his teeth before he began to mark different parts, “All of this is pretty good. You could keep it.”

“Could it be better though?” She asked, trying not to get distracted from the way his fingertips pinched the cap away from his pink lips. She forced her eyes away, reminding herself that school was more important right now. Sorry. 

“No one will ever make a perfect paper,” He explained with a soft smile, “I used to hate school.” He stated, making her blink in surprise. She didn’t think that most teachers hated school. 

“Really?” She asked him curiously. She thought for a quick second about her own experience. She had never honestly hated school, just not enjoyed some of her subjects. Or the people. But she had never hated it, “Why is that? Or is that too personal?” She asked quickly, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. 

“I was a bad kid,” He laughed as he sat back in his chair, “I slid under the radar for dyslexia for the longest time and made it everyone else’s problem too.” She nodded her head slowly, hoping that her paper wasn’t making him suffer in any way. 

“Sounds like they failed you,” She told him as she rested her elbows on his table, leaning over curiously, “Why did you choose to go into education then?” She pondered out loud, sure that she would never want to be in a career that she had hated when she was younger. In fact, she didn’t even hate nursing but she had freaked herself out so badly that most days she felt like she was unable to look in the direction of the hospital. 

“A friend sort of inspired me I guess,” He mumbled as he continued to read through her paper, “And it pissed my dad off.” He added slowly, snorting to himself as she felt herself pep up once again. That was interesting information. 

“A rebel,” She commented, unable to help herself as she burst into giggles, “I like that.” She huffed, blowing her bangs out of her face as she wondered about his relationship with his dad. If he had a mother, siblings. She was already in so deep that she wanted to know it all. 

“Absolutely not a rebel,” He chuckled as he quickly shook his head, “Just uh, yeah. It felt right.” He glanced at her for a brief second, his grin evident before he turned away again. She hid her own smile. 

“Understood,” She nodded her head softly, “So without redoing it, what would my grade be?” She asked curiously, tilting her head at the way he sighed deeply. He sat back again, flicking through the pages once again before he turned towards her.

“Honestly,” He paused for a second, “It would have to be a D.” He pulled his glasses off of his face, looking at her seriously this time. She exhaled roughly. She wasn’t expecting something that low. Definitely a C. But a D? She’d never recover. 

Damn.

“I don’t need my GPA to plummet,” She exhaled roughly, “Okay, so how can I arrange it again?” She asked as she scooted closer, her leg flush with his this time. Perhaps it was too close, but she felt serious this time. She needed to figure out how to fix her essay. And she enjoyed the whiff of cologne that she got from him. 

He guided her through the structure, adding in what he thought she should change and add. What she should go back and read. And reminded her of the powerpoints and the pre-recorded lectures that he had. The only problem with that was that she was certain she’d get distracted by him instead of listening. That seemed to be her issue to begin with. 

“I’ll see you on Thursday?” He questioned once she had her paper secured and bag over her shoulders. She was about to agree but then she remembered her plans. She couldn’t put them off, not without risking getting kicked out this time. 

“Oh, not then,” She made a face as she balanced her weight from foot to foot, “I have a sorority thing.” She wrinkled her nose as she relayed the news. Her paper was definitely more important, but she knew she couldn’t get away with missing another event. Not when she had promised to show up to this one. 

“Thing?” He leaned back in his chair, linking his fingers over his abdomen and kicking his legs out lazily. She dug her fingers into her palms, pretending that her feet were stuck in cement blocks so she didn’t try to straddle his lap. 

“Something dumb with one of our collaborating fraternities for Valentine’s Day,” She shook her head, “Don’t tell them I said it was dumb.” She added playfully, swaying back and forth as his eyes stayed near hers.

“I’m pretty good at keeping your secrets.” He told her, taking her by surprise. She flushed, but was fairly sure that he was flirting. He had to be. Or maybe she was just overthinking everything. It felt good, however. 

“And I’d be good at keeping yours,” She spoke up confidently, grinning at the way his eyes flickered with curiosity, “See you in class tomorrow.” 

“Instead of the eleventh we should do the twelfth,” Jason rambled to her in the last few minutes of class, distracting her from examining the map in her textbook. She didn’t see how ancient locations would help her with anything, but she wasn’t going to complain. She had picked the class, “After six though.”

“That’s so late,” She told him seriously, “It’ll be a Monday. I have class the next day.” She whispered as she glanced towards the front of the classroom at where Steve was speaking, gesturing towards the left side of the map. He looked really good. 

“Sunday would be the exact same situation.” Jason told her in disbelief, apparently having no issue speaking at full volume. She shifted uncomfortably, fully aware that people were glancing towards them. 

“Hm,” She shrugged her shoulders as she thought about it, “I’ll pass it on to Gillian.” She added softly, hoping that was enough to get him to quiet down. She was sure she was the only one struggling in this class. She needed to hear what Steve was saying. 

“I’ll give you my number,” He said quickly, leaning over despite her protests as he scribbled his number down on her notepad, “That way you can text me what you find out.” She stared at the number, trying to think of the best way to let him down. 

“You’re aware that I’m not the one in charge, right?” She looked for clarity, knowing there was no way she could handle running one of these get-togethers. Or any of the small events. In all honesty, she wouldn’t be interested in it either. 

“Yeah, but I’d rather hear from you.” He added, smiling brightly as he ran a hand through his blonde hair. She paused, about to remind him that she wasn’t interested. 

“Carver, can I continue with my lecture?” Steve spoke up, taking Daphne by surprise as she jumped in her spot. Jason reacted similarly, bumping his knees against her desk from how hard he jolted, “Or is there something better you’d like to add?”

“No,” Jason spit out roughly, his face burning brightly as she quickly snapped her attention back towards the board. She smiled sheepishly, not even realizing that Steve had begun to speak again, “I’m listening.”

Steve lectured the remainder of the time, leaving her to frantically write down his words around Jason’s number. She wrote until her hand was cramping, her fingers nearly numb until he ended the class. Fairly aggravated in her opinion.

She packed up slowly, pretending to rearrange her notebooks and her pencils while she watched Jason leave from the corner of her eye. He’d always seemed to have some sort of thing for her, something that she could avoid by reminding him that she had a boyfriend. She couldn’t do that now. 

“You’re friends with him?” Steve stalled her movements as she zipped up her bag the rest of the way. She pushed it onto her shoulders, watching the way he leaned against the desk by using his palms to balance himself. 

“Jason?” She asked curiously, “Oh he’s in one of the cooperating fraternities. He was just running by what time would work for them.” She explained as she shrugged her shoulders, squinting her eyes as she wondered why he was curious. 

“Are you head of your sorority?” He asked as he tilted his head, his hair slightly falling in front of his forehead from his movements. 

“No,” She laughed softly as she dismissed that suggestion, “My friend is so I was going to pass it along to her. It’s all business, no pleasure.” She told him quickly, hoping that he didn’t think anything about it. Jason was not on her radar. 

“I see,” He paused for a moment, “It’s not my business anyways.” He shook his head, looking like he was trying to remind himself as he shifted to pack up the things on his desk. She couldn’t hide the excitement that brewed in the pit of her stomach. 

“Maybe not,” She grinned softly as she balanced on the tips of her toes, “Were you jealous? Totally fine if you were, I can keep that a secret.” She told him, playfully winking in case he needed to be reminded of that. Just in case. He shook his head, laughing underneath his breath. 

“You’re very forward.” He replied as he looked up at her, brown eyes locking in on her. She shrugged her shoulders, hoping he thought it was a good thing. 

“I’m just reminding you that the door is open,” She grinned as she took a slow step towards the door, “Okay, I’m going to go now.” She added, not wanting the situation to get awkward once again. 

“Have a good night.” He added, lips pressed into a grin as she continued her slow steps backwards. She really hated to leave. 

“If you get bored I’ll be selling cookies at the Damen Student Center tomorrow,” She replied as she slowly backed towards the door, “It would help the university and you’d be supporting our special sororities.” She added as she placed her palm over her chest, trying to show that she was meaning it sincerely from the heart. 

“Well I have an opening at three now,” He responded, making her heart thump roughly against her skin, “So I guess I’ll think about it.”

[yelena-bellova]

UNLUCKY: A STRANGER THINGS STORY (OC) - CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Chapter Thirteen: Just Another Day

Series Masterlist l OC Profile

Plot: Nearing the one year anniversary of both Will’s disappearance and Christine’s arrival, life in Hawkins goes on (seemingly) as normal.

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: child experimentation, child a*use, language

A/N: Well, it only took two years but here we are! Switching this story to OC is one of my favorite decisions I’ve ever made. I hope anyone who decides to read enjoys it <3

—————

1977 // Hawkins Laboratory

When raising children, every parenting book advises to keep consistency. In an ever changing word, kids thrive on knowing there are certain things they can depend on. Pizza for dinner every Wednesday night, their favorite cartoon playing on a Saturday morning, a bedtime ritual with their parents.

In the case of Martin Brenner, his children could always depend that when it came to their lessons, he was always on time.

Like an eager schoolboy, he waited, or sometimes even walked them to the training room. He’d never show his glee, but there was a joy underneath that only belonged to the sickest individuals. It took a true sociopath to revel in child experimentation.

On one occasion, it was Thirteen’s morning to spend with Papa. She sat at the metal table in the small room, hands nervously gripping the sides of her chair, knowing what he would ask her to do before he said it.

Brenner leaned down, “Okay, Thirteen. Let’s try this again.”

Thirteen glanced down at the picture in front of her. A man, tall and bearded. The same one as the day before.

She shut her eyes.

Breathe.

Focus.

Find him.

With all her strength, she tried to slip into the darkness and locate him. She could hear his thoughts, his voice, but she couldn’t see him.

Thirteen opened her eyes, tearful, and looked to her Papa.

“I can’t.”

“Try again,” he encouraged.

She was tired. Ever since Brenner had noticed she was unable to locate beings as well as the other children, he’d been working her harder. Pushing her to get the maximum results. It had been three straight weeks of individual sessions.

Thirteen gave a hiccuping little cry, “I can’t find him.”

“Try again, Thirteen,” Brenner pushed.

“I can’t-“

“Try-“

“I CAN’T!”

Brenner and the personnel behind the glass startled. The children were rarely ever so disobedient, particularly Thirteen.

“Alright then.”

A buzzer sounded and the door opened. Two orderlies came into the room and grabbed Thirteen by the arms.

“No,” she cried, her voice raising each time they didn’t listen, “No! No! No!”

They carried her out, lifting her into the air when she tried to drop her legs. She couldn’t go back there.

“Papa, please,” she screamed, “No!!”

Brenner did not watch as they dragged her away. It was for her own good.

Thrown into the room kept for when the children acted up, Thirteen scrambled to her feet. The door was about to close.

“Don’t leave me here,” she screamed as she ran, “PAPA!”

The lock clicked.

Thirteen fell to her knees and wept. She had tried, she had tried so hard. But she couldn’t force what wasn’t there. She could do other things, better than some of her brothers and sisters, but she couldn’t do this.

She curled into a ball on the floor, waiting an undeterminable amount of time for Brenner to let her out. The only condition of her release was the same each day: that she’d do better tomorrow.

—————————

October 30th, 1984 // Hawkins High

A sharp poke to my arm brought me back to reality.

I turned to see Jonathan nodding towards Mr. Davies. I’d completely zoned out. Luckily, our test had been last week and I could afford a moment or two of distraction.

It wasn’t often that I had flashbacks to the lab, but when they happened, they hit hard. It was going to take a lot of work the rest of the day to try and shake it off.

The bell finally rang and the class rose, descending into their own conversations.

“Where’s your head?” Jonathan smiled.

“Lunch,” I replied, trying to move on, “If you drive, I’ll pay.”

Nancy squeezed through the aisle to join us, “Are you guys going off campus for lunch?”

“It’s meatloaf day,” I settled my backpack on my shoulder, “That’s a no-brainer.”

The three of us filed out with the rest of our class. At the door, Tina was handing out bright orange fliers. Nancy and I each took one, but Jonathan swerved around her hand.

“Could I get one more?” Nancy asked, catching up with us and pushing the paper into Jonathan’s hand, “You’re coming to this.”

“‘Come and get sheet faced,’” he read aloud, “No, I’m not.”

“Oh, come on, it could be fun,” I said.

“We can’t let you sit all alone on Halloween,” Nancy went on, “That’s just not acceptable.”

“Well, you can relax,” Jonathan looked between us, “I’m not gonna be alone. I’m going trick-or-treating with Will.”

Nancy was unfazed, “All night?”

“Yeah.”

“No, no way,” Nancy shook her head, “You’re gonna be home by 8:00, listening to the Talking Heads and reading Vonnegut or something.”

Jonathan shrugged, “Sounds like a nice night.”

“Will you help me out here?” Nancy looked over to me.

As much as I wanted a night with both of them, I could never get in the way of Jonathan and Will. I had the same sense of duty, regardless of how secretive I had to keep it.

“I don’t even know if I can go yet,” I replied, earning a groan from Nancy, “Hopper might want me to stay in.”

We stopped at Nancy’s locker. “Okay, we’ll work on Hopper,” she said, “But Jonathan, just come. I mean, who knows, you might even, like, meet someone.”

Just then, a brown haired blur shout out from around the corner, picking Nancy up and spinning her around. I jumped back a little, Steve was anything if not subtle.

“Take those stupid things off,” Nancy playfully smacked Steve’s chest, referring to the sunglasses that were part of their couple’s costume.

“I missed you,” Steve gushed.

“Can you miss her and not give others a heart attack?” I sarcastically smiled. He waved me off.

“It’s been, like, an hour,” Nancy replied.

“Tell me about it,” Steve pulled her in for a deep, almost inappropriately affectionate kiss.

I turned around, ready to make a joke to Jonathan, but was met with empty space. Looking down the hall, I could see his silhouette moving fast. With Steve and Nancy occupied, I slipped away.

Balancing both friendships was tricky. Nancy, Steve and I could be around each other no problem, so could Jonathan and I. But there were all these invisible lines that couldn’t be crossed. I didn’t mention Jonathan much to Nancy or else she got quiet, and bringing Nancy up to Jonathan was just mean. In a perfect world, I could have all the people I cared about together, but there was too much history for it to be that simple.

I slipped my arm around Jonathan’s shoulder, saying more with silence than I could with my words.

As we walked through the parking lot, a car I didn’t recognize was parked close by Jonathan’s. Glancing through the open window, a long haired blonde guy was sitting in the driver’s seat. He was the kind of handsome that every girl but me seemed to find attractive. With a cigarette perched between his lips, he angled his head to examine me. There was something about him that set off every alarm in my body, like smoke before a fire. It didn’t help that he was running his eyes up and down my body. I felt exposed.

Nervously, I averted my gaze and got into Jonathan’s car.

—————————

I had a few minutes after lunch and decided to walk to the middle school. At least once a week, I checked in on Lucas, Dustin, Will and Mike. I felt a protectiveness over them that had only grown over the last year.

When I got up to the schoolyard, the four of them huddled around a trash can. Dustin was wrist deep in garbage, hanging out of the can.

“Hey,” I hesitated as I approached, there was a general chorus of my greetings. “What’s, uh, what’s going on?”

Lucas shrugged a little too casually, “Nothing.”

“Christine!” Dustin was still dangling, “Got it! There we go!”

He pulled himself out of the can, unrolled a ball of paper and the four of them read it aloud.

‘Stop spying on me CREEPS!’

“Well, shit,” Dustin exclaimed,

I picked up the paper and read it, “Do I want to know?”

“It’s, uh,” Dustin struggled, “It’s complicated.”

“Uh-huh,” I raised a brow. For as much as they told me, there was a lot they didn’t.

“William Byers,” we turned to see the principal coming around the corner, “Your mother’s here.”

Will swallowed and looked to us. There was a silent understanding of what was going on. Will attended therapy sessions to deal with the trauma of his ordeal last year. Joyce would pull him out of school on those days to take him the office. It was all going well and he was learning to cope with it all.

That was the version everybody else got.

Those of us who knew Will knew he was being accompanied by Joyce and Hopper to Hawkins Lab to undergo a series of tests. The doctors now inhabiting the place wanted to try and understand what Will had gone through in the Upside Down. The first time Hopper had told me about them, I freaked out. Will couldn’t be anywhere near there. Hopper had reassured me that with Brenner gone, this was an actual research team who wanted to try and help Will. Nevertheless, I’d never been onboard with it.

I smiled at Will, trying to appear encouraging. He’d begun to confide in me about feeling like an outsider. He’d also told me he hated the tests. I tried to be as there for him as I could without triggering my own memories.

I followed the boys around the side of the building. They paused at the front corner to watch Will and Joyce leave.

“You guys think he’s okay?” Dustin asked.

“He’s always weird when he has to go in,” Lucas answered.

“I don’t know,” Mike said, “He’s quiet today.”

“He’s always quiet,” Lucas turned to me, “Has he talked to you?”

I shook my head, “No more so than usual.”

Once their car had pulled away, I looked at my watch. Five minutes to make it back to class.

“Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help, okay?” I offered.

“It’d be a lot easier if Hopper bought you a Supercom,” Dustin dug into the syllables, “Or let anyone into your house.”

Hopper wasn’t the problem. Having any form of communication with the boys would be too tempting for El to resist and naturally, nobody could know where I lived. It was easier to let them think Hopper was just cheap and grouchy.

“Feel free to talk to him about it,” I replied.

Dustin debated internally, deciding going up against Hopper wasn’t worth it. “We’ll call you.”

I smiled before looking to Mike. Out of all of them, I knew him the best purely because I was at his house all the time. Lately, he’d been more reserved. “You good?”

He nodded, somewhere between glum and faking fine. “Yeah.”

“Okay,” I was forced to accept the answer. I now had four and a half minutes. “See you guys.”

“See you,” they all said, heading their own way back to school.

Once I was sat in English class, I felt a sense of dread building in my belly. The same one that had been there for weeks. It was only getting stronger as the days went by.

——————

Before knocking on the cabin door, I made sure the flier for Tina’s party was pushed to the bottom of my backpack. If Hopper saw it, he’d want me to go. I felt I owed it to El to stay in witn her on a day I knew she desperately wanted to be a part of.

I gave the secret knock and the door unlocked, “I’m home!”

El rose from her seat on the couch, leaving her seemingly unbreakable bond with the TV.

“How was your day?” I asked as I gave her a hug.

“Good,” she answered and looked up, “Your day?”

“Good,” I sighed. Her eyes drifted to my backpack. “I checked out a new one for us to read,” I pulled it out, “Little Women. It’s all about sisters.”

El weighed it in her hands and examined the cover. Hopper typically read to her at night but on weekends, the two of us would huddle on the couch with something from the school library.

“Cool,” she nodded and headed back to the TV.

“Hopper’s not back yet?” I went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass.

“No,” she answered.

Hopper and I made a point of not being late to get home. El depended on our routine more rigidly than we did. It was a rare occurrence he wasn’t on time.

“Something must’ve come up,” I filled the glass with tap water, coming over to the couch and flopping down next to El.

She looked across the cushions to me, “Mike?”

My visits to Hawkins Middle School were two-fold. I wanted to check on the boys, but I was also reporting back to El. She wanted to know they were okay, especially Mike.

“I saw him,” I nodded, “He’s fine.”

“Good?”

“Yeah,” I fibbed, “He’s good.”

That was enough for her. She turned back to the TV and watched the infomercial playing. With a closer look, I could see her eyes were glazed over.

“You’ll see him soon,” I reassured, “I promise.”

When I’d started that promise, she’d been wide eyed. Dreaming of reuniting with her friends. Sometime during summer, her responses had gotten tired. Lately, she had barely been acknowledging what I said. ‘Soon’ was starting to lose all meaning.

————

Unlucky Taglist: @lanadelray1989

[sadhours]

just the two (okay maybe four) of us - part four

By the amazing @buckysgrace and I

content warning: 18+ minors dni, polyamory, Steve being kinda gay, masturbation, p in v, descriptions of ffm threesome

read on ao3

Days later, Steve’s sitting on the couch with Gina. No one has mentioned that night yet. In fact, he hasn’t really seen Billy or Tommy since. He knows there’s some fraternity and sorority week thing going on so he assumes that’s why Billy hasn’t been at the girls place. Kim doesn’t seem too bothered, in fact she’s been spending her time with him and Gina. And well, Steve likes it. They have junk food for dinner, a couple of drinks and the three of them cuddle up on the couch for a movie. It kind of feels like Kim’s also his girlfriend, except they don’t kiss and Kim sleeps in her own bed. But she sure does snuggle up to him during movies. She fell asleep with her head in Steve’s lap last night and he didn’t realize but he caught himself playing with her hair.

He can’t spend the night tonight, unfortunately. After the movie he has to head home so he can turn in an assignment before midnight. He’d been putting it off for too long and really, he shouldn’t even stay for the movie. But it’s eight and if he times it right, he’ll have two hours when he gets home to finish and turn it in.

Gina gets up when Kim sits down, a bowl of popcorn in her hands. “I’m gonna take a quick shower,” Gina says before leaning down to kiss Steve’s lips and then Kim’s cheek.

Once the shower starts up and Kim’s picked out some random movie, she places the bowl on Steve’s lap and rests her cheek against his bicep.

“Steve?” she asks, looking up at him with her gorgeous hazel eyes.

“Uh, yeah?” he responds, the skin of his neck heating up.

“Do you think I’m pretty?” she asks, softly,

Steve absolutely does. He catches himself staring at her a little too often. Feels guilty about it all the time. Gina and him are serious. Very, very serious. He’s planning on taking her home for the holiday break. Introduce her to his very judgmental parents. He shouldn’t even be looking at other women. He wonders if Kim’s asking this because she’s lonely with Billy being gone all week.

“What?”

Kim sits up, batting her eyelashes as she pouts, “Do you find me attractive?”

He swallows hard, looking back towards the bathroom door. This feels like cheating. This is cheating. He can’t possibly answer this question without upsetting one or the other women. But Kim’s eyes are wide with what Steve thinks is desperation. He thinks about Billy’s question, if he’d been with two girls at once and he had. It wasn’t a great experience. His last girlfriend before Gina asked if he would be okay with a threesome, she picked the girl and then when it got down to the sex, Steve couldn’t touch and only watch. He was dying the whole time and the process took so long by the time he could fuck his ex, his dick wouldn’t work.

“You own a mirror, Kim,” he whispered back, exhaling a laugh.

Kim whines, squeezing his wrist while she gazes up at him. Her freckles are pretty. Like Gina’s but way more pink. And the shade of her red hair against her pale skin is incredibly beautiful. She’s adorable, displaying her frustration, “Do you think I’m pretty?”

He’s lost. He has to answer her, and truthfully. She’s like a goddamn siren.

“Yeah, Kim,” he mumbles, gnawing on his bottom lip, “I think you’re really attractive.”

She smiles, cheeks flushing as she tucks her hair behind her ear, “Thank you. I think you are too.”

What in the fuck did Steve do to deserve this? Is this his karma for that one time he ripped up a parking ticket? Is God punishing him for something? He smiles awkwardly, “Oh… that’s, that’s nice. Thank you.”

He hears the bathroom door open and he stands up abruptly, looking at Gina exasperatedly. She tilts her head and smiles, “Whatcha doing, Stevie?”

“I gotta go,” he grumbles, “I have that programming assignment due at midnight and I really, really need to work on it.”

Gina pouts but steps up to him and wraps her arms around his neck, “Well, fine. I’ll miss you. Spend the night tomorrow?”

He nods, smoothing his hand over her hip, he just noticed she’s only in her bra and panties and Steve might be making a big mistake by leaving. Did the girls plan this? He doesn’t stick around long enough to find out. Kissing Gina deeply as an apology and he’s out the door.

He finishes the assignment and turns it in by 11:30 and decides he’ll go to bed early. But he’s tossing and turning. Can’t sleep, replaying the moment with Kim in his head over and over. He thinks if he jacks off to some porn, he’ll be able to clear his mind. As he’s about to open safari on his phone, he gets an idea and instead, opens Reddit. He immediately opens the search bar and clicks on r/gonewild. Then he sees it.

Kim. Naked. Cum on her tits and stomach. A lustful look in her eyes, there’s a hand around her neck and a thumb between her lips. Must be Billy. He clicks it, eyes scanning the photo up and down as his dick fills out. Holy fuck. There’s a link to their OnlyFans and he clicks it almost immediately. He makes an account, naming it something inconspicuous and pays the fee to unlock photos. He sees the pair in numerous acts, Billy is apparently rather rough with her. Billy’s dick is definitely huge. A grower for sure because it didn’t look that long flaccid. And it’s even thicker if that was possible. Damn him. Fuck Billy. Oh. Oh, Kim has a perfect pussy. And she has pubes. Neatly trimmed. He thinks about how Gina’s always bare. Shaves it completely. He keeps scrolling. Pays for a video titled Daddy blows my back out. It’s as described, Billy pounding into Kim doggystyle.

Steve rubs his cock through his briefs, hating the way his eyes drag over Billy’s sculpted chest and arms. Fuck, he’s fit. Steve glances down at his own chest and arms. He’s scrawny. Well not totally. He’s got some pretty nice biceps but uh, no pecs and definitely no abs. He realizes what he’s doing is pretty gay and brings his eyes to Kim’s blissed out face staring at the camera. Her mouth hangs open while she moans and holy shit? She’s drooling. She’s fucking drooling. Steve’s dick is aching as he rubs against it harder. She’s a total fucking vision, absolutely made for the camera. Billy grabs her hair and pulls her up. He kisses her dirty. Steve’s seen it before, they kiss like that while dry humping on the couch like Steve and Gina aren’t even around.

He pulls his cock out and squeezes the base, watching as Kim’s smaller, perky tits bounce with Billy’s thrusts. Damn. He fucks her hard. Kim probably can’t help but make the sounds she makes.

“Fuck,” Steve hears himself whine out, still gripping the base of his cock firmly. This is wrong, he reminds himself. He’ll see these two in person soon enough, maybe even tomorrow. He shouldn’t watch them fuck without them knowing. Then again, they posted it and he paid. It still feels wrong.

The video ends and Steve’s been edging himself. He’s got to find the perfect one to blow his load to. And maybe it’s wrong and he shouldn’t do this, but he doesn’t give a shit. He’s too blinded by sheer arousal. His dick is pulsing in his fist.

Then he reads it. Bestie joins daddy and I. Fuck. His stomach drops. Gina. It has to be. Who else could it be? He checks the date. It’s over a year old. Before she met Steve. It’s expensive. Thirty fucking dollars. The previous video was ten. But he has to see if it’s her. He buys the video and it opens.

Gina and Kim lay on Kim’s bed, wearing skimpy skirts and tiny tank tops. They’re kissing. Really, really kissing. Filthy, really. Open mouthed, wiggling their tongues together and Gina is feeling up Kim through her tank top. Precum bubbles out of his slit, dripping down the side and over his fingers. His stomach hurts but he’s so hard it’s painful. He has to keep stroking himself. Billy hoists himself up on the bed, cock bouncing as he does so. Gets in between their faces and they both start licking his shaft.

A pathetic whimper leaves Steve’s throat. He didn’t realize his girlfriend could be so pornographic. Their sex life is pretty vanilla. Almost like they’re married, missionary with lots of eye contact. This is a whole new side of his lady. She already looks fucked out, maybe she’s intoxicated. That would explain this. She’s never said anything about fooling around with Kim and Billy.

Kim licks against Billy’s balls and he groans, jerking his hips forward. Gina wraps her lips around his tip and takes him all the way down. Kim sucks one of his balls into her mouth and now Steve’s stroking his cock furiously. He’s so close so he thinks he should look at Billy’s face. It’s contorted in pleasure, tilted slightly back and hint of smile on his lips. Fuck— Steve cums. A lot more than he has in a while. It won’t stop, he strokes himself through it while he whimpers. Eyes glued to Billy’s face the whole time.

Gay. The word floods Steve’s mind as he comes down from his high. Repeats itself as he pauses the video and drops his phone, sitting up and reaching for his t-shirt to clean up his mess. He settles back into bed, mind racing but he’s curious. Presses play on the video and watches it in its entirety. Billy fucks both of them. Has them on top of each other, shoves his dick in Kim’s hole and then pulls out and penetrates Gina’s. It’s fucking hot. Steve’s dick gets hard again and yeah, he cums again. Stroking himself to his girlfriend’s best friend’s boyfriend fucking the both of them.

—

Somehow, Steve ended up with just him and Billy in the apartment. They’re sitting on the couch. Billy sips a beer while he plays Xbox. Steve watches but they’ve been silent for the past hour. The only words exchanged were about where the girls were when Steve arrived. Grocery shopping is what Billy told him. He can’t get the video of Billy fucking his girlfriend out of his head. Wonders if Gina compares the two of them. Steve doesn’t fuck her that hard and fast. Doesn’t grab her hair. Doesn’t say the things Billy did.

“So… Kim,” Steve clears his throat, “Uh… Kim asked me if I thought she was pretty.”

Billy laughs, glancing at Steve for a second before returning his attention to the TV, “She told me.”

“Oh,” Steve replies, lamely.

“It’s cute. That she thought she should ask,” he continues.

“Yeah, I guess,” Steve shrugs, but he doesn’t really understand what Billy’s getting out.

“Anyone with eyes can see what a fucking smokeshow she is,” Billy snorts, “As if you’d be any different.”

Steve nods slowly, “Do… Do you think Gina’s pretty?”

Billy pauses his game, setting the controller on the coffee table, “How do you want me to answer that, Steve?”

He shrugs, “Honestly, I guess.”

“She’s more than pretty,” Billy replies easily, “And if you ain’t telling her that ten times a day, you’re fucking blowing it, pretty boy.”

Steve compliments Gina. He can probably do it some more. Billy leans back, tips his beer and gulps down the rest of it, “Why? You wanna trade for a night? Or have a good old fashioned orgy?”

The brunette chokes on his spit, like really chokes. Has to sit up straight and hack his lungs out for a second. Billy’s cackling the whole time. Something about Steve’s reactions leave him wanting to tease the brunette boy even more.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Billy pats Steve’s back lightly, though he’s sure that neither of the girls would complain from that thought, “You’re missing out.” He says simply, wondering if he can tempt Steve to take a bite.

Billy drops his controller to his lap, sure that Kim is about to yank him back to her room when she comes stomping out. She’s furiously holding a neon pink bra in her hand, waving it around widely. Billy can tell by the size that it’s not hers.

“Stop using my laundry detergent!” Kim shouts as she pushes Gina’s door open again. She tosses the bra inside, “ And I don’t need your boulder holders in my laundry!” She’s yelling, though she looks like she’s close to breaking down in tears. Billy exhales through his nostrils.

“Yeah, well-,” Gina is poking her head out, always adamant on getting the last word, “Your boyfriend loves my big tits. So fuck you!” She’s shouting even louder before she slams the door shut so hard that it rattles.

Kim turns slowly, her eyes narrowing in disbelief as she looks towards Billy. He gapes, holding his palms up in confusion as he’s not sure how this has suddenly become his fault. He hadn’t said anything.

Steve doesn’t know how to react to that, especially because he knows now. He’d just watched Billy sucking on them last night. And usually he’d be jealous he thinks but he’s more surprised she would say that.

“Babe,” He begins to stand up but Kim is already stomping back to her door, “I love tits no matter the size!” He shouts in his defense, but she’s already slamming the door shut behind her. There’s a pause before Gina yanks the door open and slams it again.

“Fuck,” Billy spits out in disbelief, sometimes wondering if it’s just better to stick to men, “What the fuck crawled up her ass?” He motions towards Gina’s door, thinking that she had been fine before they left. Steve cocks an eyebrow at him.

“I mean,” Steve looks a little uncomfortable as he shifts in the chair, “You guys did sleep with Tommy.” He says at last. Billy knits his eyebrows together.

“So?” He asks honestly, unsure of why that would have anything to do with Gina being upset.

“Tommy is Gina’s brother,” Steve said slowly, like Billy wasn’t comprehending. Billy keeps staring, not getting the point, “Christ, you’re daft.” Steve shakes his head in disbelief, scoffing at Billy’s actions.

“I’m not daft,” Billy corrects Steve quickly, knowing that his grades are far higher than anyone would believe, “I just don’t think it should bother her that I stuck my dick in her brother.”

“You stuck your-,” Steve stops himself, his eyes wide like he’s not the one understanding this time. He gulps hard, his face lighting up before he continues, “It’s friend code.” he says at last, like it should mean something to Billy. Billy shakes his head as he reaches for his keys, knowing that he won’t get anything from Kim in this state.

“Come on,” Billy pats Steve rather roughly on the shoulder, more rough than what he meant, “Let’s get out of here.” He says, knowing that it’s better to let the girls work this out than linger around. He’s unsure if Steve has ever seen them fight, but Billy certainly has and he doesn’t care to hear about them bitching to one another.

“Uh,” Steve is staring at him, brown eyes blown wide like he’s confused, “Where?” He asks at last, a soft flush spreading down his neck. Billy shrugs his shoulders, not caring as long as he’s out of here.

“Do you like wings?” He asks Steve, more focused on getting a beer than eating. Steve glanced back, looking like he wasn’t sure about leaving, “Trust me, you don’t wanna listen to them bicker and bitch all night.”

“Alright,” Steve is still hesitating so Billy walks behind him, giving him an extra push towards the door, “That’s fine I guess.” He mumbles underneath his breath as Billy shuts the door. He’s not even sure if he’ll come back tonight.

—

An arcade is the last place Steve expected Billy to take him. He doesn’t really seem like the type but he’s actually really good at all the games. Steve can’t help but think this feels kind of like a date. They shared a plate of wings and had a few beers, not really talking about much but they kept accidentally making eye contact that gave Steve goosebumps every time. Then Billy got up and wandered over to the kiosk and put money on the game card, Steve just kind of followed.

“How’d you even know about this place?” Steve asks, looking quite frustrated by the score on the basketball game. Billy has managed to beat him every round and he thinks it’s beginning to affect Steve’s performance.

“Max likes it.” He said simply. He’d taken her and Kim here a few different times when Kim had to babysit. Kim sucked at all the games, but he enjoyed wiping the bbq from her face after she’d eaten. She was a messy eater.

“Whose Max?” Steve asks quickly, almost accusatory. Billy cocks his eyebrows but then remembers that he probably thinks Billy is cheating. Billy has in the past, but never with Kim. He’s fairly terrified of losing her forever.

“Kim’s little sister,” He answers shortly, “She’s a little shit.” He says at last, thinking about the many times they end up arguing and fighting. Still, Billy enjoys having her around at times.

“You’ve met her family?” Steve looks a little shocked, like he hadn’t expected Billy to say such a thing. Billy snorts as he flips the end of his tickets over on each other again.

“Yeah,” Billy says a little dryly, thinking about how badly he disliked her dad. Her mom wasn’t too bad, Kim looked just like her, “We’ve been together for like three years.” He thinks off of the top of his head, thinking that they may be going on four years soon.

“That long?” Steve’s brown eyes are wide, looking in disbelief. Billy grins as he leans against the wall. Steve quickly darts his eyes away, like he can’t look at Billy for too long.

“I’ve known her longer,” Billy chuckles softly, knowing that they’d been friends for years and years. He’d always figured that she wasn’t interested in him, “Why do you care?” He crosses his arms, feeling his eyes narrow as he watches him. He’s always on edge, still wondering if Steve thinks he’s better fit for Kim.

“You haven’t put a ring on her or anything,” Steve pauses quickly, looking a little alarmed at his own words, “Just an observation.” He’s still speaking fast, like he’s trying to cover his tracks.

“Waiting until we graduate,” He says dryly again, wondering if Steve thinks he isn’t serious about Kim, “Is that alright with you?” He asks, feeling like he got this question from everyone else. Steve’s eyes are wide again.

“Yep,” He answers quickly, “What are you doing with your tickets?” He asks, looking unsure as he holds his stack in his hand. Billy leans off the wall.

“Probably getting Kim something,” He shrugs his shoulders, “She likes stuffed animals. Dumb stuff like that.” He says, even though he knows that it’s not that dumb. He enjoys the way her eyes light up and how excited she gets over the smallest things.

“I better get Gina something,” Steve confirms, “Do you think they’ve made up?” He glanced towards Billy, looking down like he was waiting for his reaction. Billy shrugs his shoulders, knowing that they’d get over it eventually.

“I think she’d like that,” Billy says briefly, unsure of why Steve is watching him in such a manner. He looks over the stuffed animals, his eyes landing on a yellow star.

Steve is unsure what to get Gina. She’s not really a collector of stuffed animals. For her birthday, Steve bought her a cactus. She liked plants and clothes and music so when it came to a prize center at the arcade, he was kind of lost. He settles on a little air freshener for her car that looks like a tiny record player. Then he wanders back over to Billy, watching him curiously as he picks up the stuffed yellow star.

He can still feel Steve’s eyes on him as he speaks again, “Watch any good porn recently?” He looks towards Steve, his lips turning into a smirk as the brunette boy finally snaps his head away.

“No,” Steve’s tone is rough and harsh, like his throat was dry. He quickly cleared his throat as he held his fingers together, looking a bit bashful, “Nothing too interesting.” He tries again and Billy snorts, not believing him. He hopes that he found Kim’s nude and had a little crisis of his own. It makes Billy good to think about other guys being jealous because of the babe he got to bang whenever he pleased.

Steve’s worried the whole drive home that he and Kim can somehow tell Steve is subscribed to their OnlyFans. It seems unlikely that the website would share his bank information with the couple but he’s still freaked out. He can’t even look at Billy anymore, guilt swirling around in his gut. He knew it was a bad idea to watch them. He was sure this would happen, that he wouldn’t be able to look them in the eye again.

—

“You alright?” Billy peeks his head into the room and confirms that Kim is indeed not alright as she pokes her head out from under the blankets. Her hair is messy and her cheeks red from crying.

“No,” She sobs pitifully. He feels a bit guilty for skipping out, but also knows it would’ve done no good to stick around, “She’s being mean.” She replies dramatically as she tosses her arms back onto the mattress. Billy steps forward.

“I got you this,” He holds a soft grin on his lips. He holds it out on his hands, bouncing it back and forth as she looks up curiously, “Thought it might help you feel better.” He offered, really hoping that it might put a smile on her face.

“It’s cute,” She sniffles, scooting forward so she can place it in her hands. She hugs it tightly to her chest as he slides into the bed, knowing her meltdown was probably almost over, “It’s a cute star.” She nods her head, still looking upset.

“I’m glad you like it,” He says softly as he pushes her messy hair from her face, “Because you’re my little star.” He says cheesily, feeling relieved at the way she begins to grin. She snorts as she moves closer to him, looking like she’s a little more at ease.

“You know, it’s not fair,” Kim spits out, sniffling as she curls up to Billy’s side, “She didn’t even say anything at the bar.” She cries out in dismay as she wipes at her red cheeks again. Billy sighs as he pats her back.

“Well,” He really doesn’t know what to say to comfort her, “Maybe Gina is just jealous of Tommy?” He offers, furrowing his eyebrows as he’s unsure of why Gina would be so upset in the first place.

“Jealous of what?” Kim asks seriously as she’s shaking her head, “I mean it’s not like she doesn’t-,” She pauses again as she inhales sharply, looking like she shouldn’t have said anything, “I don’t like when she’s mad at me.”

“I’m sorry,” He really means his words as he speaks. He knows how shy Kim is, how she’s had a hard time making friends in the past, “Gina will get over it. Just give her a few days.” He leans forward to kiss her wet cheek, hoping that soothes her a bit.

Kim sniffles deeply again and nods her head. She tucks her hair behind her ears before she’s turning to look at Billy, batting her eyelashes towards him, “I don’t suppose you’d get me a glass of water?” She asks, sounding a little hopeful.

If it was anyone else, Billy would simply laugh and tell them to get it themselves. However, it’s Kim. Her and Gina being in a fight irritates him, but he has a deep desire to make her feel better too. He nods as he stands from her bed.

“Be right back.” He says briefly, his own lips curling up to match the smile she sends him, “I’m getting you a snack too.” He says pointedly, knowing that she probably hasn’t eaten since he’s been gone. He figures that she’s just too damn cute to say no to. He walks out into the hallway, expecting to stumble in the pitch black but is pleasantly surprised to see that Harrington is already at the fridge.

Billy grabs Kim’s yellow tumbler cup that’s decorated with sunflowers, glancing over as Steve is working furiously at pouring a box of juice into a cup. Billy mutters an excuse, gripping a hold of Steve’s waist to push him out of the way. His fingers press lightly into the brunette boy’s hips, just enough that Billy can brush up from behind him to open the freezer. Steve freezes, stills against his touch but Billy is too distracted to notice the look he sends his way. He fills Kim’s cup clear full of ice, knowing that she likes it better that way.

“Shit,” Steve squeaks out, the liquid pouring over the rim of the cup as his eyes are darting around wildly. Billy looks at him curiously for a second, noticing how flushed he looks suddenly, “Fuck, sorry.” Steve spits out quickly, searching around desperately for something to wipe it up with.

“S’alright,” Billy reaches forward to hand him one of the dish towels. He reaches into the fridge and pulls out the water pitcher while he pours it into Kim’s cup, “Happens to the best of us.” He reassures Steve, unsure of why the brunette boy is suddenly so on edge. He almost feels bad for the poor guy.

Meanwhile, Steve’s having a full blown sexuality crisis. It was fine when he got back, he could forget that he’s literally cum while staring at Billy’s face. But then the fucker touched him like that and it was… delicate and now Steve’s dick is stirring in his pants. From Billy barely touching him. Gina telling him Billy was bi was bad because Steve is completely tempted to grab onto Billy’s collar and kiss him. Gay.

Goddamn it. That word has been popping into his head so much. Most of the thoughts he’s having are gay so well, it makes sense.

“Uh, yeah… I guess,” Steve clears his throat and moves to clean up the spilled juice, making sure he doesn’t turn around. His cock isn’t fully torqued but it’ll be pretty fucking obvious that he’s aroused if Billy sees. His dick bulges in his jeans without being hard, so when he’s rocking a half chub it’s even more apparent.

“Think they’ll make up soon?” Steve asks, wiping the counter even though it’s already cleaned up.

Billy nods, “Yeah, I’m sure. They usually kiss and make up pretty quickly .”

Steve heaves a big sigh, “Good. I don’t know how much more of this I can take.”

“What? Gina can’t take out her anger on you? Ya know, sexually?” Billy snickers as he twists the lid on Kim’s water closed.

The brunette turns to him with a bewildered look, “I doubt she’s in the mood. Does Kim uh… take her anger out on you?”

Billy frowns, “I probably won’t get laid tonight either.”

For a split second, Steve considers proposing that they could get each other off instead but he’s way too nervous. Besides, it seems like the openness of his and Kim’s relationship is more of a group activity. And Steve isn’t sure Billy would even be interested. He does call him a pretty boy a lot but it seems like more of a way to get under his skin than an honest comment.

“I’d honestly go home and work on schoolwork if Gina wouldn’t get even more pissed off,” he chuckles, “She’s uh… ranting and raving. Telling me every single thing Kim has done that’s pissed her off the last ten years.”

“Jesus Christ,” Billy exhales, “Kim’s just in there crying.”

Steve purses his lips, “How could we like… mediate this?”

“I know a way,” Billy wiggles his eyebrows, “But I doubt you’d go for it.” He slaps Steve’s back and saunters back into Kim’s room.

Steve stands there stunned for a little bit before he walks back into Gina’s bedroom. She’s sitting on her bed, scrolling through her phone with a scowl on her face. As Steve sits beside her, he sees that Gina is looking at her and Kim’s shared TikTok account.

“I just don’t get why they had to fuck Tommy,” Gina grumbles. “Like, now whenever I see him, he’s not gonna shut up about it.”

“Yeah,” Steve wraps his arm around her waist and rests his chin on her shoulder, “He can be pretty disgusting.”

“I mean, I’m glad you guys are friends and all because that’s how we met but I really hate how like entwined our lives are,” Gina complains, “I understand we’re twins and everything but sometimes I just want my own set of friends that are like off-limits to him. I was really trying to keep him and Kim separated. My whole life, I tried to make it so they never saw each other, because Kim’s mine. I didn’t want him to come between us.”

“You’re letting him now,” Steve observes, looking at Gina’s thick eyelashes. He’s still got a semi from Billy touching him and looking at his girlfriend is making it harder.

“I guess,” she sighs, locking her phone and setting it on her nightstand. “Distract me,” she pleads, laying back and pulling Steve on top of her.

Hell yeah, Steve thinks as he gets between her legs. He inches his fingers up her shirt and dances them across her breasts, pressing his lips to hers. Gina hums softly, kissing him back while she grabs onto his shirt. Steve pulls away so he can litter her neck and jaw in kisses. She gasps softly, spreading her legs as she pulls him closer. He sucks a bruise into the sensitive skin of her neck, grabbing a handful of her breast and squeezes. Gina cries out, arching her back as her fingers thread through Steve’s hair. He can’t help but roll his hips into the mattress. Desperate for even a tiny bit of friction.

“Oh, Steve,” she whines out.

He lifts her shirt over her head and continues licking and sucking down her neck until he’s at her chest. He cups both breasts in his hands before wrapping his lips around one of her perked nipples. He’s gotten pretty tired of his hand, so he’s eager to get his dick inside her tight, warm pussy. Gina tugs at his hair, tilting her head back while the sweetest sounds fall from her lips. He could listen to her all day.

“Fuck, baby,” he groans against her skin, “I’m so hard.”

“Yeah?” she purrs, “Did you miss my pussy? It’s been forever.”

It’s been three days. Definitely feels like forever.

“Uh huh,” he pants, lips swollen as he looks up at her, “Wanna fuck your tits, though. Can I?”

“You can do whatever you want to me,” Gina gushes, stars in her eyes as she looks back down at Steve.

“Christ,” Steve props himself up so he can push his sweats down, his hard cock pops out and he wraps his fingers around the base. “You’re so fucking perfect,” he tells her, eyes blown with lust as he stares down at her tits.

Gina giggles, cupping her own chest and licking her lower lip, “Need you so bad.”

Steve groans as he fumbles to get closer to her, straddling her middle while he rubs his leaking tip against her nipple. He watches the string of precum that connects them and it makes his whole body feel hot.

“God,” Gina moans, “I fucking love when you do that.” Her eyes are trained exactly where Steve’s are. “Feels so filthy.”

“Yeah? You like it filthy, don’t you, you fucking slut,” Steve groans out, like something’s possessed him. It’s unlike him to talk to Gina like that. A week ago he wouldn’t even dream of calling her such a degrading name.

“Oh my god, Steve!” Gina squirms, eyebrows knitting together as she looks up at him, clearly aroused by what he’s said.

“Answer me,” he demands, slapping his cock against her tit, which wasn’t as threatening as he imagined but Gina plays along anyways.

She gasps, “Yes! Yes!”

“Why?” he presses, swirling his tip against her nipple again.

“‘Cause I’m a slut,” she whines out, writhing beneath him.

He maintains eye contact, “Who’s slut are you?”

“I’m your slut, Steve,” she exhales, blinking up at him.

“Yeah, you are,” he breathes, “Maybe I should use that pretty mouth of yours.”

She nods, “I’ll do whatever you want.”

His hips jerk at that and he’s fucking pissed because he almost cums just from hearing her say that. He grunts, squeezing his base, “Actually… think I’m just gonna take that pussy.”

Gina moans, still squirming underneath him, “Please!”

Steve moves, a bit awkwardly, down and pushes her legs open more. He lets go of his cock as he pulls her panties off. She lifts her legs to help, spreading them an instant later. Gina is absolutely soaking. He’s never seen her so wet, it’s fucking dripping down her thighs. He laughs, can’t help himself. It sounds as surprised as he feels, he slides his fingers against her thigh, gathering her slick and brings them up to her mouth. Gina opens her mouth and Steve shoves his fingers inside. She sucks them, blinking rapidly as she gazes up at him. He has the sudden urge to slap her face but he doesn’t do it. Thinks that might be too much.

“Ugh,” he groans out, “Good girl.”

She moans around his digits and bucks her hips up, obviously appreciating the praise. Steve wonders if the couple in the next room can hear them and it makes his dick ache even more.

He can’t wait any longer, grabs a hold of his dick and likes his tip with her pulsing hole. He slams inside and Gina cries out, grabbing a hold of his shoulders. Well, they definitely heard that.

“Fuck yeah,” Steve groans out, grabbing onto Gina’s hips and angles them up, “Take that cock like the slut you are.”

He has no idea where this is coming from. The words just flow from him, easy. Gina whimpers out, fingernails digging into his skin as he pumps in and out of her. He fucks her hard and fast, these high-pitched cries erupting from Gina with every thrust. She’s so fucking wet that he can hear it, squealching around his cock. He wishes he knew Gina liked this earlier. He would’ve gladly indulged her if she had told him.

“Such a good little slut for me,” he pants.

Gina’s eyes roll back, sounds he’s never heard from her filling his ears. God, this is otherworldly. Steve’s a fuckinf new man. He pounds into her so hard that her headboard is slamming against the wall and he doesn’t give a fuck. She yelps from a particular hard thrust. Sometimes Steve goes too deep and she makes that sound. Usually he checks on her. This time he doesn’t, he grins instead. He grabs the back of her thighs and holds her legs up, using the leverage to hammer into her g-spot. Gina is practically screaming, tears falling down her cheeks and she’s scratching down his back. Sure to leave marks.

“Stevie…” she babbles, “I’m gonna fucking cum!”

“Yeah, baby,” he groans, “Cum all over my cock.”

The sound she makes when she does is… earth shattering. Steve shoots his load when he hears it, drilling into her as deep as he can. And it’s then that he realizes he didn’t even put a condom on. He collapses on top of her, wrapping his arms around her tightly while she sobs.

“Baby, baby,” he whispers as he pulls back a bit, “I… oh, God, I’m sorry. I was too rough—- I, fuck…”

“No,” she gasps, wrapping her arms around him tightly, “No… I just… came so fucking hard. I don’t… oh my god.”

Steve pushes her hair away from her sweaty forehead, “Really? I didn’t hurt you?”

“God, no,” she pants, “That was so good. Fuck, I love you.”

Steve smiles then and breathlessly tells her, “I love you, too.”

[august-grey]

I don't need your closure | chapter 13

read on ao3

masterpost

July 1986

This was it. This was how Alice was going to die. Not at the hands of evil Russians miles below a shopping mall or torn to shreds by one of the multitude of monsters that plagued her little town. No, she was going to go out in the passenger seat of he mother’s Volvo, knuckles white around the handle on the door, foot punched down the invisible brake pedal. 

Fighting the urge to squeeze her eyes shut, Alice contemplated the choices that led her to this moment. How had she gone from taking Dustin to an orthodontist appointment to fearing for her mortal wellbeing in a mostly empty strip-mall parking lot with her 15-year-old brother behind the wheel of their mother’s car? 

Alice looked over at the boy in question, his eyes wide and laser-focused on the pavement, and reminded herself why she was doing this. 

“So, I’m taking driver’s ed next year.” Dustin piped up from the passenger seat, his lisp a little more pronounced after getting his braces tightened.

“Oh yeah?” Dustin gave a grunt of affirmation. “Mr. Paulson still teaching that?”

“Uh-huh, I heard he’s brutal.” Alice nodded emphatically. That was putting it lightly. Dustin continued, “Lots of kids…they’re getting practice over the summer…just to get a head start, y’know? Mike’s and Lucas’ dads have taken them out a bunch. Mike’s even been on a real road already.”

“That’s not a bad idea, extra practice would definitely help. Paulson flunked me twice before I finally got my license. Just never really got a chance to practice after dad left and everything. Has mom taken…” She trailed off, a sudden realization dawning on her. No. Of course mom hadn’t had the time to take Dustin out to drive. Their mother barely had time to take care of herself let alone teach her anxious children to maneuver a vehicle.

Not for the first time, Alice found herself cursing her father. Don’t get her wrong, Alice was glad that her parents were divorced. Michael was a piece of shit who didn’t deserve anything her mother had to offer. She’d always known that her mother was too good for that sorry excuse of a human. Alice just wished he had found a scrap of humanity before abandoning his family, leaving them with nothing but a forwarding address and a promise to see his children at Christmas.

Alice hadn’t been surprised in the slightest when Christmas came and went without even a phone call, but Dustin…Dustin had been heartbroken. For months afterward he waited for their father to simply return. To change his mind, realize that he had made a mistake and come home to his family. The brief phone calls from Michael yielded empty promises of going for ice cream or baseball games, leaving Dustin disappointed again and again as plans fell through. 

Anger festered inside Alice, finally bubbling over one day as she sat with her little brother as he watched the sky darken out their front window, waiting for their father’s car to pull into the driveway for a belated birthday visit. Dustin’s thirteenth birthday had been three weeks prior, and the bastard still couldn’t be bothered to even give his son this small gift.

Down the hall, Alice heard her mother leave yet another message for her ex-husband. He wasn’t coming, Alice had a feeling from the beginning. Knowing this didn’t make the situation any easier. A small shake of their mother’s head when she returned to the living room was all it took for Dustin’s resolve to crumple. Running into his mother’s arms, he buried his face into her chest, shoulders heaving with silent sobs. 

Alice needed to hit something. Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms. She wasn’t going to let her father get away with hurting her brother like that. Not again. While the rest of her family was distracted, Alice smuggled her mom’s car keys out of her purse and drove the three hours to their father’s new bachelor pad, stopping only to grab a birthday card from a random drug store. 

Michael could only stare at his daughter, open-mouthed, as she shoved the card into his hands, demanding he sign it for Dustin. He did so, hastily shoving a few twenties in the envelope for good measure. Then he had the gall to ask Alice how she was doing. Ignoring his question completely, Alice simply told her father to either make a real effort to have a relationship with his son or to leave them the hell alone. 

She couldn’t remember the half-excuse he had spluttered out as she left him in the doorway, but she did remember crying the entire ride home. She remembered the look on Dustin’s face as she pressed the card into his hands and being grounded for a week for disappearing with her mother’s car for seven hours on a school night. She remembered being the one to step up in her father’s place. Taking Dustin to school and to extracurriculars, helping her mother with home repairs, picking up extra chores around the house. 

And now, she supposed, she was going to have to teach her father’s youngest how to drive.

***

“Okay, now slowly—“ Dustin slammed the brakes at the edge of the lot, jolting Alice forward in her seat. She took a calming breath before gently correcting him as he turned the wheel, taking the car down the row of shopfronts. “Try to ease into the stops, Dusty. Gently press the brake as you’re coming up to the—oh Jesus.”

“Sorry, sorry!” He exclaimed, shifting the direction of the car after coming a little too close to the curb. “This is awful, how do you do this every day without feeling like you’re going do murder someone with this death-machine?”

“You just have to…I don’t know…give it time and you kinda become one with the death-machine?” Her brother shot her a quick, bewildered glance. “Does that make sense? It gets easier with practice, I promise. Just…try to relax.”

“That’s not going to happen.” He groaned miserably, braking a little too hard again in the back corner of the lot. Fumbling around the console in a panic, he flipped on the turn signal, then the windshield wipers. “At this rate I’ll never be comfortable behind the wheel and I’ll never get my license and...and— Alice, how do I put this stupid thing in park?!”

“Calm down, you’re fine.” She reached over, moving the shifter into park and turning off the ignition. As soon as he was able to release the brake, Dustin threw himself from the Volvo. Alice rolled her eyes at his dramatics and exited the vehicle herself. “You’re not going to be amazing right away, Dustin. It’s going to take time. We’ll go out more once I get my car back and you’ll be a pro by the end of the summer. Paulson won’t know what hit him.”

Dustin didn’t look convinced. He leaned against the hood of the yellow Volvo and buried his face in his hands. Alice felt a little out of her depth; she was usually the one freaking out in every situation. Her brother was normally overly confident in nearly everything he did. He’d thrown himself into countless dangerous situations without a second thought; seeing him freak out over driving of all things was disconcerting to say the least. 

“Are you hungry? We can stop for burgers or something?” Food. If there was anything that could distract Alice from an anxiety spiral, it was a good, greasy meal. Surely that would work on her brother, too.

He shook his head glumly, looking forlornly across the parking lot. “Nah, my mouth is still sore from the orthodontist.”

Alice sighed. She didn’t like it, but she had one last idea that could bring up his mood, even just for the moment. 

“You wanna stop in RadioShack before heading home?” That got his attention. Shooting Alice a Cheshire grin, Dustin took off across the pavement toward the electronics store.

She trailed behind him, shouting, “You have twenty minutes! Any longer and you’re walking home!”

***

RadioShack had been a mistake. Sweat dripped down her neck as Alice glanced down at her watch; Dustin had been in the shop for nearly 45 minutes and she was slowly losing her mind. By the time she popped into the shop, Dustin had already been neck deep in whatever gadget he needed for his project of the week. 

Deciding she didn’t want to get roped into a one-sided conversation she couldn’t keep up with (she wasn’t feeling that generous), Alice picked up a small pack of batteries for her Walkman and left her brother muttering to himself over a display of tiny voice recorders. 

Five minutes. She’d give Dustin five more minutes and then she’d go in there and physically drag him out if she needed to. The midday sun emerged from behind a cloud, shining through the windshield and effectively blinding Alice. Make that two minutes.

“Alice?” Jumping at the sound of her name, Alice scanned the parking lot for a familiar face. The lot had become considerably more full than it was during Dustin’s impromptu driving lesson, but it didn’t take long to find the source of the voice before they flung themselves halfway through Alice’s open window, obscuring her vision with a mop of messy brown hair.

“Jesus, Robin, back up would ya?” Alice grasped her assailant by the shoulders and gently shoved her out of her personal bubble. Robin dropped to a crouch next to the car, so she was level with the open window, eyes wide and panicked.

“Thank god you’re here. Wait…why are you here? Y’know what nevermind, I’m in a crisis and I need you to talk me down.” 

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Reaching for the handle of door, Alice gave the seemingly innocuous plaza a once over, searching for anything out of the ordinary or potentially dangerous. Robin rested a hand on her arm, drawing Alice’s attention back to her.

“No, no. Nothing like that.” Robin took a deep breath, opened her mouth to speak again, and…stopped. Alice furrowed her brow and waited for the girl to speak. After a few long moments of silence, Alice gestured impatiently for Robin to continue. 

“I’ve been invited to a party.” She finally blurted out, expectantly looking to Alice for advice. 

“Okay.”

“By a girl.”

“Okay?”

“A specific girl.”

“…okay?”

“…a specific redheaded clarinetist with incredible taste in movies.”

“Oh! Oh my god, okay! When did this happen?”

“Just now, in the Rite-Aid tampon isle.” Robin stated miserably, popping up from her position by the door to pace the pavement. “So you see my problem, now!”

“Uh no, am I missing something?” Taking her chances with the angry July sun, Alice exited the blessed cover of the car as she watched her friend frantically pace the length of the adjacent parking space. “You like Vickie. This is good news, Robin!”

“No, Alice, this is an absolute nightmare!”  Robin stopped to run both of her hands through her hair, making her bangs stick up in perfectly odd angles to add to the slightly manic aura she was giving off. “Before this moment, Vickie had been purely a hypothetical. I could daydream all I want, but now, now…this is real life. She asked me to a party. And what’s going to happen, huh? I’m going to make a fool of myself and word vomit all over her and she’ll be horrified and I’ll be arrested for…for something. I’m sure I’ll deserve it at that point.”

Alice shook her head in disbelief. What was up with everyone today? First Dustin with his driving lesson, now Robin was having a complete meltdown on her watch. It was only a matter of time, she supposed, seeing as both Robin and Dusin had dealt with their fair share of Alice’s neuroticism. The least she could do was return the favor.

“Well, we can’t let that happen, can we? You’re not cut out for prison, no offence.” Alice stepped forward, reaching up to smooth Robin’s hair back to its normal state of messiness. Once she was satisfied, Alice settled her hands on the taller girl’s shoulders. “You just need backup, a wingman. We can make it a group thing. You, me, and Vickie.”

“That’s not a group, that’s you getting drunk and awkwardly chaperoning me like some sort of messed up, regency-era courting ritual, all while I desperately try not to make a fool of myself in front of a cute girl.” Robin mumbled through pursed lips. Though Robin wasn’t wrong, Alice didn’t exactly enjoy being reduced to nothing more than a bumbling overseer. As much as she wanted to help Robin, third-wheeling all night wasn’t necessarily Alice’s idea of a good time. 

She had an idea; whether it was a good one or not was the nagging question in the back of her mind. Briefly, Alice considered the last disastrous party she’s attended in Hawkins. It had been the precursor to what was possibly the worst night of her life, if you don’t take all of the the literal horrors and death she’d experienced over the past few years into account.

The night she was sure she’d lost her best friend. For good.

It’s different now, she reasoned with herself. She and Steve were on good terms; well on their way to friendship again. And though she didn’t yet have the full story of what had happened that night…or what had led to it, Alice could at least hope it wouldn’t happen again. There was only one way to find out, she supposed.

“I can, uh, askstevetogo.” Alice mumbled, half-heartedly tossing out the thought before she could stop herself. It wasn’t as if she was looking for an excuse to see him or anything, it just made sense. They are all friends. Friends go to parties together. As friends. “Then it’ll be a real group. Make things less weird, y’know?”

Robin’s eyebrows disappeared into her bangs as she shimmied out of Alice’s grip. “Oh, no, no. You can’t just say something like that and not elaborate. Did you and Steve make up?”

“Kinda? We’re…talking. It’s not a big deal.”  Robin seemed unimpressed, to say the least. Alice knew the girl wasn’t going to let her get away with that bullshit answer, and with a sigh, launched into an abridged version of what had happened with Sudsy. How she and Steve had ended up babysitting together, how Alice had emotionally blown up and confronted him, and then the subsequent, tentative makeup.

Obviously, making up with Steve was, in fact, a big deal to Alice. The past week had been the happiest she’d felt in months, and as much as she hated to admit it, that had a lot to do with Steve Harrington. True to his word, Steve hadn’t pressured Alice into anything since their conversation the previous weekend. To no one’s surprise, especially Alice’s, it took less than a day before she found herself eager to see him again. 

So, after harassing Dustin for Steve’s new phone number, she called him. He sounded pleased, but genuinely surprised to hear from her so soon. The palpable fondness in his voice combined with the itch to be within arms reach of him again, was how she found herself inviting Steve to take a walk with her. 

For safety purposes, of course. 

You see, Alice had a new client. A big, goofy Great Dane, who needed to be walked while her human worked overnights. Normally Alice wouldn’t think twice before declining the job; she and the dark didn’t really get along after everything she had been through. But this particular client had offered double her regular fee just to feed the dog dinner and take her on a quick walk before bed.

Alice couldn’t refuse the easy money, but that still left the problem of having to be outside. In the dark. Alone. She sucked it up the first night, walked the half-mile to the clients house, took the pup around the block while her nerves spiked, and finally ended up sprinting home after making sure the dog was safely in bed, the plan to call Steve already on her mind.  

As she predicted, he eagerly agreed to accompany her the next night. And then the next, and the next…until they fell into an easy, somewhat familiar, routine. Steve would pick her up at 8:30 on the dot, they’d take care of the dog, and then just sit and talk until Steve had to get himself to bed for work the next day. Sometimes Dustin would join them, if he wasn’t off galavanting with his Dungeons and Dragons club or messing with machines in his bedroom. But, mostly, it was just the two of them.

He followed her lead at every turn. Never pushing for anything more than what Alice was comfortable with giving, keeping a respectable distance. Alice, on the other hand, was having an incredibly hard time sticking to her own boundaries. Despite her reservations, Alice physically couldn’t keep herself away from Steve. It was like that night babysitting Holly had broke open a dam in Alice’s brain. 

Steve Harrington loved her. 

Just the thought alone was hard for Alice to wrap her mind around. Truthfully, she was scared. Hell, Alice was terrified. And still justifiably angry on top of it all. Months of convincing herself to turn her hurt into hate couldn’t be washed away so easily. No matter how badly she wanted to believe that Steve was truly repentant and wanted to make things right with her, Alice couldn’t shake the feeling that although everything between them was going well now didn’t necessarily mean it wouldn’t go to shit just as quickly. 

But in spite of it all, it was just so easy to fall back into an familiar rapor with her former best friend. It was a more than little unnerving how effortlessly Steve had fit back into her life and, even moreso, how badly she wanted him to stay there.

***

“So, yeah. We’re talking. That’s it.”

“Oh my god.”

“I know.”

“Steve’s in love with you.”

“Apparently.”

“You’re in love with Steve?”

“I…yeah. I guess am.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea.”

“Shit, Alice.”

Alice couldn’t agree more; shit.

***

Alice’s mother dropped her off at Robin’s house a full two hours early, at the younger girl’s request. Well…it sounded more like a panicked demand over the phone than a polite request, but Alice was willing to overlook that tiny detail. Either way, she was grateful for an excuse after Claudia had offered to drive the girls to the party itself. As much as she loved and appreciated her mom, that simply wouldn’t do.

“No, seriously, it’s okay, Mom!” Alice attempted to dissuade her mother. “It’s only a ten minute walk from Robin’s. You don’t want to drive all the way back out here in just to drive us less than a mile up the road.”

Reluctantly, Claudia agreed that the girls could take care of themselves, and left Alice and her overnight bag at Robin’s. She waited until her daughter was safely inside before waving and backing out of the driveway. 

In the time it took for Alice to arrive, Robin’s bedroom had descended into absolute chaos. Ninety percent of the time they had before the party was spent digging through the chaos that was Robin’s wardrobe, piecing together the perfectly casual, but not too casual because “then what if Vickie thinks I’m a slob! Don’t give me that look, you’re just as much a mess as I am,” outfit.

The other ten percent was taken up by relentless, teasing back-and-forth from both girls. It had started off with Alice clearly having the upperhand; gently mocking her friend as she tried on article after article of clothing. Alice was quite enjoying herself. That is, until it came time to talk to Steve about the party.

 In the end, it had been Robin who had called to recruit Steve as a secondary wingman and a ride home. It was stupid. The phone had been in Alice’s hand, she had dialed his number. His new number. The one for his fancy, independent, adult apartment. The first ring in her ear sent her stomach fluttering and her heart pounding, resulting in the phone being flung into a bewildered Robin’s hands.

Cooly recovering from Alice’s sudden panic, Robin had managed to convince Steve to meet them at the party. Alice hovered over her shoulder, ears straining to hear the other side of the conversation and chewing her pinky nail down to the nub. 

What was wrong with her? Alice chastised herself. She’d spoken to Steve on the phone quite literally hundreds of times. At least thrice that week alone. 

Inviting him to a party, though, somehow felt too much like she was back in middle school asking Matthew Miller to the Snowball, only to spend the night sulking on the bleachers after being stood up.

So, in true middle school fashion, it only made sense that she make her friend ask Steve, instead. Not that she thought Steve would stand her up. Because it wasn’t like this was a date or anything. This was merely a group outing with a couple of pals.

She’d never hear the end of it from Robin. 

***

The party itself was a docile thing, despite being packed with a couple dozen band nerds. The music was decent and the drinks were surprisingly good for a questionable concoction thrown together by a teenager. 

Robin zeroed in on Vickie the second they stepped through the door. When the redhead greeted both girls with a hug, Alice was impressed by how quickly Robin recovered from the close contact. 

As the night went on, much to Alice’s delight, it seemed that Robin’s initial apprehensions about the party were proving to be completely unnecessary. And though she was having a good time and was always glad to spend time with Robin, it really seemed like Alice’s presence was barely needed. 

It may have been the effervescent lighting on the dance floor or maybe the faint buzz of alcohol in her system, but Alice could swear Robin practically radiating confidence as she danced with the girls she had been pining over for months. Ever the dutiful friend, Alice swayed to the music with them, overthinking about what the correct amount of respectable distance would be. Not so close to the couple that she was invading their bubble, but not too far away to be unable to participate in conversation or miss any distress signals from Robin. 

Luckily for her, after some subtle comments from Robin, followed by a not-so-subtle elbow to the ribs, Alice finally took the hint and excused herself. She counted this as a victory in staying firmly in wingman territory. There would be no outdated chaperoning tonight. 

Not quite sure what to do with herself after leaving the one person in the house she actually felt comfortable spending time with, Alice wandered through the festivities, stopping to chit chat with old classmates every so often. She certainly wasn’t looking for Steve. Not really. Was she disappointed he wasn’t there yet? Maybe, but mostly Alice just felt overwhelmed without someone to anchor her. 

In the end she parked herself on a couch in the den, only returning to the party proper to replenish her drink. It was quieter in there, and much less crowded than the main living areas. There were a few people playing scrabble at a card table in the middle of the room as movie played softly in the corner, a couple boys sprawled out on a rug in front of the the television, watching intently. This was definitely more her speed tonight. 

Unfortunately, despite being a refuge from the chaos, this was also how Alice found herself three and a half drinks deep, getting her ear talked off by goddamn Matthew Miller. Yes, that Matthew Miller. She had cursed herself by thinking of him earlier. It seemed Matthew had conveniently forgotten his eighth grade indiscretions. Sadly for him, Alice was excellent at holding a grudge, even through the pleasant, fuzzy haze of drunkenness. 

“Anyway, you’d be surprised by the kind of stuff you could get away with in college. No one cares, Henderson, you could do whatever you want.” Matthew had his arm stretched across the back of the couch, fingers lingering dangerously close to Alice’s shoulder. She clenched her plastic cup in her hand and stared straight ahead, willing someone, anyone, to save her from this conversation. Where the hell was Robin when she needed her? “And the girls, man. They’re nothing like high school chicks; everyone is just so open minded, y’know?”

“Mmhm.”

“Most of the them are just there looking for husbands, anyway, so it’s easier. That’s what Trevor says, anyway. You remember Trevor, right? He was french horn in high school, but we were roommates last semester, too. Anyway, it’s true though. These girls are just looking for someone to settle down and have babies with.”

Okay, that was quite enough of that. Alice threw the rest of her drink back, grimaced and finally turned toward Matthew with a withering scowl, preparing to lay into his insufferable, sexist ideas about women as a whole.

“First of all, you misogynistic prick, that’s—oh! ” Alice’s speech was slightly slurred, but not enough to hide the venom behind her words. Words that were all too suddenly cut off by the aforementioned prick making a bee-line for Alice’s lips, his eyes closed and mouth horrifyingly open. She threw herself backward into the arm of the couch at the last second, simultaneously pushing Matthew back into the cushions opposite her. “Oh, no thank you!”

The boy was clearly taken aback, or at the very least, not used to being turned down. “Are you sure? I thought we were having a moment!”

“What part of... of that ‘conversation’” Alice emphasized the word with some sloppy air quotes. “Made you think we were having a moment?! I might be drunk, but I’m not, like, random, regrettable hookup drunk, Trevor.”

“Matthew.” The boy corrected her with a glare. With practiced ease, he shifted his face into cool disinterest before plucking Alice’s empty cup from her hand. “I’m going to get us a refill. Maybe you’ll be a little nicer when I get back.”

Frowning deeply at his retreating back, Alice knew this was her chance to make a hasty departure. She just needed to get up. Which was easy, so easy. Or at least it would have been two drinks ago. The liquor had settled into her limbs, weighing her down like sandbags. It was fine, though. She just needed to flag down Robin to pull her out of the quicksand-like cushions that were sucking her deeper and deeper into the couch with every passing minute.

But where was Robin? Alice squinted her eyes, trying to find a familiar face in the crowd through the open doorway, but failed to spot either of the girls she’d been with earlier. This was also fine, surely someone had to know where they had disappeared off to. Triumph shot through Alice as she successfully caught the eye of a friendly face. She beaconed the familiar, fluffy-haired girl over.

“Kate. Kate listen, where is Robin?” 

“Hey Alice, you good?” Kate smiled down at her, amusement glinting in her eyes, before helpfully taking a quick look around the room. “I don’t really know, I’m sorry. I think she and Vickie were in the kitchen earlier, do you want me to go check?”

“You’re an angel, Kate, truly. A tumpeteer from the heavens.” The words tumbled from Alice’s mouth without filter. The lack of control should have mortified Alice, but she was well past the point of actually caring. Kate just chuckled, patted Alice on the head like a puppy, and made for the kitchen. 

No sooner did Alice’s ally disappear through one doorway, did her adversary emerge through another, a fresh plastic cup clutched in each hand. 

Shit. The time for games was over. Gathering every speck of willpower she possessed, Alice pushed herself up from the cavernous couch. Bad idea. Awful idea. She clutched the arm of the couch as the room moved around her, swaying and spinning like a carnival ride. Her stomach churned slightly. Don’t puke, don’t puke, don’t puke.

A hand appeared on her arm, steadying her. Instinctively, she swatted it away. Unfortunately, the sudden movement tipped Alice off balance just enough to send her falling back into the accursed couch. She glared up at her assailant, ready to lay into Matthew about touching her without consent. Oh. Not Matthew, then.

Steve, her knight in shining polo, loomed over her with bemusement etched into his features. A flash of annoyance coursed through her; where had he been an hour ago, before her night had started to go downhill? However, the feeling was quickly overshadowed by dread when she caught Matthew’s garish, caution-sign yellow t-shirt from the corner of her eye.

“Listen, I’m sorry I’m late, but you’re not going to believe the breakthrough I’ve had with Gladys—“

“Sit down,” she whispered to Steve, cutting him off as Matthew drew ever closer. Without a second thought, Steve slid into the seat next to Alice, side-eyeing the approaching figure. Alice clutched his arm, pulling him close like a human shield, as if she could camouflage herself with Steve’s considerably larger stature. “Pretend you’re talking to me.”

“Pretend to—we were talking, Alice. Until you rudely interrupted me.” Alice laughed loudly, tossing her head in the direction of where Matthew awkwardly hovered nearby, his shins bumping on the corner of the crowded coffee table. Steve snuck a peek, taking in the boy fumbling with the red cups in his hands, and nodded to signify he understood the situation. 

“Ah, I see. Okay, what angle are we going with here? The usual?” 

“Nuh uh, our moms work together. Dead grandma isn’t going to work.”

“What about my dead grandma?”

“Maybe. Can you even pull that off?”

“You underestimate me, Henderson.” Alice bit back a smirk as Steve took the challenge to heart. Without any sort of preamble he turned and pressed his forehead into her shoulder. Sliding his hand into hers, he gripped her fingers tightly and put in his best effort into looking the part of a grief-stricken man.

Alice froze.

For the first time, Alice was thankful for the alcohol that dulled her senses. Her heart fluttered as she tried not to think about the way his breath felt on her neck as he buried his face into her shoulder. Or the way the hard plane of his torso pressed into her own, or how it nearly took her breath away. 

Alice took a second to compose herself. You’re a goddamn professional, she scolded herself. This was a tried and true act, one that she and Steve had played out at least half a dozen times before to get out many an awkward encounter, though it was usually her amping up the dramatics. The proximity meant nothing, and Alice had better remember that. After all, it wasn’t as if they’d never been that close before. Closer, she recalled, heat pooling in her stomach. 

It had just been so long. 

But she could think about that later. Instead of lingering on feeling the heat of his skin on her body, she focused on the performance at hand. 

“What’s wrong with him?” Matthew finally piped up after what felt like an eternity of fake-comforting Steve as he fake-cried into the light cardigan she’d thrown over her tank top earlier in the evening. Alice glowered at him incredulously as she rubbed a comforting hand up and down Steves back. He was good, maybe too good. A wicked thought crossed her mind. Lets see how well he could do with this one.

“Shh, his guinea pig just died.” She hissed. Steve stiffened a bit, thrown off by Alice’s plot twist. She bit the inside of her cheek, keeping cool. “Show a little respect, Miller.”

“Damn, Harrington, I’m sorry man. Here,” Matthew deposited both cups of god-knows-what concoction, on the table before them.  “Have a drink for…for—“

“Henrietta.” Alice supplied, helpfully. 

“For Henrietta.” Matthew nodded and clapped Steve on the shoulder before hurrying away as quickly as his feet could take him. Once he was safely out of sight, Alice couldn’t hold back the peals of laughter. Steve took the moment to collect himself, smoothing back his hair and wiping the non-existent tears from his face. 

“Guinea pig?” Steve spluttered, shaking his head in disbelief. 

She shrugged helplessly. “You were so convincing, though, Steve! Why didn’t you ever try out for the school plays? We never had enough boys, they would have eaten you up.”

“Just another one of my many unrealized talents. Come on, lets go find the lovebirds. They’re around here somewhere.” He chuckled, rising from his seat. Offering a hand to Alice, he pulled her up with minimal effort. She felt steady enough on her feet to follow him through the house, but not before swiping her drink from the coffee table. 

 ***

“And then! After giving me all this bullshit about how these college girls are all so eager to throw themselves at him, he decides its a perfect time to go for it. Mouth. Wide. Open.”

“Please, tell me you’re kidding.” Robin and Vickie sat shoulder-to-shoulder on one of the few lounge chairs scattered across the backyard, twin expressions of disgust etched across their faces. Alice was sprawled across the foot of a shared lounge chair herself. Steve had somehow managed to fold himself onto a tight ball of limbs on the other half, leaving plenty of room for Alice to gesticulate wildly as she recounted every gory detail of her run-in with Matthew.

“I swear he like, unhinged his jaw or something.” Alice cackled, shifting her body to lean more of her weight onto Steve’s bent legs. At this point, she was sure he was the only thing keeping her upright. To his credit, he merely shifted to accommodate her, untangling himself slightly so that he could sprawl his legs out on either side of her. Alice took the opportunity to claim space of her own, scooting back to nestle her shoulder against his chest, while keeping her body angled to carry on her conversation. 

Sober Alice would have never, not in a million years. But drunk Alice was an entirely different story. She reveled in the easy way Steve slipped an arm around her waist, hooking his thumb through the belt loop on her hip. The action didn’t go unnoticed to the girl across from her, either. Robin caught Alice’s eye and gave a wink. Alice tried, and failed, to hide a grin. 

“Anyway, then Steve finally showed up, but Henrietta died and he started crying, which we all know is the ultimate boy repellent, so s’all good now.” 

“Wait, who’s Henrietta?” Vickie piped up, looking concerned by the mention of someone dying. 

“Steve’s guinea pig.” Alice yawned behind her hand, before resting her head on her folded knees. “But don’t worry, I’m not even a hundred percent sure she even existed.”

“She definitely never existed, you nerd.” Steve’s chest rumbled as he spoke, chuckling softly. 

The conversation drifted to movies and Alice’s altered state-of-mind had a hard time keeping up with titles and actors. Despite her lack of ability to make a mental contribution, Alice was overjoyed to see Robin so open and totally herself around Vickie. If anyone deserved to be in a happy relationship, it was Robin. Alice knew she couldn’t come close to understanding the nuances of being in Robin’s shoes, but she certainly knew the sting of unrequited love. 

Though, she supposed, her’s wasn’t really unrequited, now was it? Did it still count as unrequited if the feelings had actually been requited all along, but the other party had chosen to be an ass about them for the better part of a year instead of talking about said feelings? Either way, Alice felt a strong kinship with Robin in the whole romance department. 

Head swimming, Alice decided that last drink had been a bad idea. To her credit, she’d only drank half of it before a moment of clarity had her switching to bottled water, but it was enough to push her just a bit too far over her usual limit. Enough to completely disregard any and all inhibitions, but also, as it turned out, enough to make her very, very sleepy. 

The fourth time Alice’s head slipped from it’s perch, Steve let out a heavy sigh, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her tighter into himself. Alice gave up trying to keep herself up and settled fully against his chest, letting her eyes drift shut. 

Everything about this was against Alice’s better judgement, and yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of how right it felt. The buttons of his shirt digging into her cheek, how his breath ruffled her hair as he dipped his head to whisper in her ear.

“Maybe it’s time to get you home, huh?” Alice’s eyes snapped open and forced herself upright. Absolutely not; there was no way she was about to cut Robin’s night short because she got a little too drunk and couldn’t keep her eyes open. 

“Nope, can’t go home.” She mumbled sleepily, pulling the front of her cardigan to wrap around her body a bit tighter to ward off the chilly night air.

“…why not?”

“Two reasons Stephen,” Alice held up a lazy finger, ticking off the first. “Number one; look at Robin.”

Steve grumbled but did as he was told, fixing his gaze on Robin, who was now visibly uncomfortable with the sudden attention Alice brought to her.

“When was the last time you saw Robin have a good time at a party?”

“I have tons of fun at parties all the time, Alice!” Robin protested from her chair. 

“Exactly. I’m not going to make her leave a nice time just so she could lay in bed listening to me snore all night.”

“I can take Robin home later.” Vickie nervously interjected, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. “If that’s what you want, I mean. No pressure, it’s just…I’m having a nice time too.”

Robin visibly lit up at the prospect of actual Alone Time with her long-term crush. She nodded enthusiastically, a blush creeping up her neck. Alice flashed her what she hoped was a subtle thumbs up, which in hindsight was maybe a bit too subtle even for its intended recipient. Embarrassed, she tucked her hand back into her sweater.

“Oh, perfect. That problem was solved…quickly. Anyway, third of—“

“Second?”

“Second of all…I can’t go home drunk. My mom will cry and it’ll lead Dustin down a…a dark path of drugs and alcohol. You guys know the kid, there very impressionable at that age.” 

“That doesn’t seem likely.”

“You don’t know that. I just…I don’t like them seeing me like this. So I can…I’ll sleep it off on this lawn chair, I guess. If you don’t mind scooting…” She leaned forward as far as she could, giving Steve a chance to get up. He swung his long legs over the side of the lounge and hesitated, a brief flash of inner conflict crossed his face as he considered something.

“Or…”

“Or?”

“Or I can take you back to my place and you can sober up there.”

Alice clapped a hand over her speeding heart, face heating to what was sure sure to be a low-grade fever. What was this kid playing at? 

“Mr. Harrington, I think we’ve established I’m not that kind of girl!” She managed to choke out after her pulse calmed. 

“Jesus Christ, Alice, not like that!” He spluttered, taking a few steps back as though to put some distance between himself and Alice. Robin dissolved into a fit of mad laughter, completely ignoring the icy glare Steve shot in her direction. He placed his hands on his hips, looking absolutely exasperated by both girls. “I just figured my couch would be a hell of a lot more comfortable than a hard plastic chair, but if that’s what you’d prefer then by all means—“

“No, no! That’s…that’s actually super nice of you, Steve.” Alice tried to recover, feeling a small pang of guilt through the alcohol. She had misunderstood, of course Steve was just trying to help. That’s just what they did; they took care of each other. 

“Listen, don’t feel obligated or anything, it was just a suggestion. I can just as easily let you sleep right here, or take you to Robin’s, or to back to your house to corrupt Dustin. Just wanted you to have options, is all.” Steve rambled as Alice leant over to fish her purse from underneath the lounge. Stumbling clumsily to her feet, she looped her arm around Steve’s to regain some balance.

“Do you have snacks?”

“Ok, I’ve changed my mind. You’re not allowed in my home.” 

“Can we stop somewhere to get snacks?”

“Will you behave yourself if I say yes?”

“I can’t make any promises.”

[gryfflepuffinthetardis]

Prologue — 1979

Warnings: Implication of discrimination and discrimination by association

"Be a rebel. Be wild, child. Never settle. That's not your style."

Steve Harrington and Cassandra Henderson—best friends since diapers. Their fathers were friends in high school when Pan and Claudia Henderson still lived in Hawkins but not anymore because Steve's dad is an asshole. But they moved a few towns over when she was two until Dustin Henderson was born when she was four and then her parents got divorced... one would say because of differences but one could also say because they shared one specific similarity in which case they would then get a punch to the face if that said that to Cassandra's face. Cassandra moved back to Hawkins with her dad where she was reunited with Steve Harrington who was now five, but they acted as if there was no two-year time span of not seeing each other. When she was about eight, she started to get into a rebellious phase and when she was eleven, she gained the nickname "Cassie Dare" from how daring she was, as a play on "Cassandra", known by the school, most of the teenagers, the police, and pretty much anyone who happened to meet her because she usually left an impression. Despite this, most just called her Cassie as when people properly met her, they found that it was a bit awkward to say every time.

Her father knew she meant no trouble, in fact, he implored it as long as she kept her morals and the ones he taught her.

1) Never sell or betray out a friend or family

2) Never steal from small, independent businesses but from big chains (they can afford it, small chains cannot.)

3) Always show a man that you can be as sweet as candy and deadly as ice.

4) Be a rebel, not a criminal.

5) Do as much good as you can with your rebellion. Be like Robin Hood, angel.

6) Have fun and be happy.

And she did, she toed the line between "rebel and "criminal" despite many of the judgemental residents of Hawkins, decalring her to be a "criminal", a "born deviant" (to which she would point out meant she just deviated from social norms so she absolutely was that sometimes that wasn't what they were going for and Cassie was fully aware of this), a "miscreant", a "delinquent", a "hoodlum" or whatever word judgmental people for in or before the fifties threw around at those who acted out of what was considered normal, including Steve's parents after they "cut ties" with Pan Henderson, however this was only one reason she was heavily scuritnied by the older close-minded residents of Hawkins.

Some however, knew she was good at heart. She was always unwaveringly kind if you actually thought about her actions, she was selfless and always gave people a good story to tell after. She never tried to manipulate others into her rebellious acts, she looked out for what was best for other in their own self-interest.

Then she turned twelve and Steve Harrington had dared her to go into the mysterious Hawkins Lab on April thirteenth of 1979.

She just smirked at her thirteen-year-old best friend, "Is that really a challenge, Harrington?" She smirked, the mid-April wind blowing her auburn hair.

"Then impress me, Henderson." He smirked back.

Cassie scaled the fence, her feet just being small enough to fit into the holes in the fence before propping herself on top of the fence and looked back at Steve on that hill, giving him a thumbs up before dropping and landing on her feet, the force making her crouch down and touch her fingertips to the ground before swiftly standing up to her feet, her auburn locks bouncing before she pulled her black hoodie over her head and walking towards the wall to press herself against it and she disappeared from Steve's sight.

--

Steve Harrington didn't see her again for three weeks, no one saw her for three weeks. Three weeks of blaming himself.

Benny, an old school friend of Pan Henderson, took the trash out on May fourth when he heard a twig snap and he looked into the woods to see a shivering twelve-year-old girl with auburn hair and hazel eyes he recognized as his old school friend, Pan Henderson's daughter despite how pale and sweaty she was.

"Cassandra?" He asked as she stared at him as if she were doped up, her skin was pale and she was layered in sweat, she was swaying as if she were unable to see straight, disorientated and lost her coordination, her sclerae were bright red and glazed over, her breathing was deep yet shallow as blood-tinted tears fell down her face; then she collapsed.

When she awoke a few minutes later, she was deeply hungry, digging into a hamburger despite her being a vegetarian. Though she abandoned it halfway through after realizing it and switched to French fries after running to the bathroom to vomit it up out of guilt.

"ANGEL!" Pan shouted when he burst through the door albeit more dramatically than what was needed, ignoring the deputies behind him, protesting that they go first, having given them the middle finger while screaming curses at them.

"Daddy!" Cassie sobbed out, speaking for the first, she got up and ran to her father, sobbing into his chest as they hugged.

"Shh, shh, shh..." Pan shushed his daughter, soothingly, caressing the back of her head as she sobbed, "it's okay. You're safe now."

"Ma'am, I am sorry but we need to ask you some questions." The chief said, prompting Pan to turn abruptly to him and shout dramatically at him.

"WE ARE HAVING A MOMENT HERE!"

--

The official story was that Hawkins Lab had been oblivious to Cassie's breaking and entering until she had been “violently and recklessly” exposed to a chemical that had endangered her life and they couldn't risk anyone breaking in to get her without it contaminating them or worsening her condition so they lied when they asked if she had been seen.

The recently transferred and depressed Hopper had thought was just a bunch of bullshit as he gave them a deadpan look but the chief bought it so Hopper couldn't make a big stink about it even with the sympathy he was given even though they had lied to federal officers and if she had been exposed to a chemical why was she still in the same clothes. And why was there blood on her clothes?

Pan Henderson also called bullshit as he narrowed his eyes as the representative of Hawkins Lab, Mister Brenner with his arms crossed, glaring daggers at him like nothing could give him greater pleasure than for his snake rings to come to life and squeeze the life out of him, right here in the hospital where she had been sent due to starvation and exhaustion.

"I hope we can put this matter to rest." Brenner told Pan.

"To rest? You kidnapped my child and kept her in your lab for three weeks!" He shouted with cold fury in his brown eyes. Pan Henderson may have looked silly with his silly walk, red hair, and constant sunglasses but messing with his kids was a sure-fire way to get an oncoming storm coming your way.

"She broke in, we could sue." Brenner said, flatly.

"I don't think you know who I am." Pan growled.

"I know exactly who you are, Pan Henderson. And you do not want me as your enemy." Brenner said.

"And you don't want me as yours." Pan challenged.

--

Pan showed a much softer side when Cassie woke up, her hazel eyes looking exhausted but relieved.

“Hey, angel,” He smiled, having nothing but fatherly love in his brown eyes.

“Daddy.” She sniffled, “Where… where am I?”

“Hospital. You fainted from exhaustion.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know.” He said, stroking her hair, gently, “But I’m going to find out even if it kills me.”

Steve Harrington burst into the hospital brought by his asshole father who was clearly not happy with how much his son cared for his female best friend.

When she thought back to the lab, she could just barely remember, she saw flashes of tiled walls and then flashes of a young girl around eight years old with a shaved head, and blood... lots and lots of blood, and then... pain. If she tried to remember too hard it hurt her head so badly that her vision would blur and would disorientate her.

Even though she had forgotten, she wasn't the same as she once was. Her smiles were no longer genuine, always hiding pain with jokes and smiles.

A few weeks later, her dad’s ambition to find out what happened got really serious to the point that she had gotten accustomed to waking him up because he had stayed up so late, trying to figure out what happened.

Then she had woken up in the middle of the night when the door slammed shut.

She ran out to see her father, sinking against the door, sobbing with his hands in his hair.

“Dad? Daddy?” She asked, running to him.

He looked up at her with illuminated brown eyes and he pulled her into a hug, tightly as if he were scared she’d disappear again.

“Daddy, what’s wrong?” She asked.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you or Dusty,” He cried, “Never ever.”

“Daddy…”

He shook his head, holding her tightly as his body near racked with tears.

When her brother and mother moved back to Hawkins and her father moved to Indianapolis, she stayed with her brother. She felt she needed to be in Hawkins for him. And she was right, four years later.

*Get ready for many David Tennant gifs. I know he's usually a love interest on this show but he has a really good dad energy to me. Like a fun but protective dad type.*

[allyricas]

Broken (but not beyond repair) pt. 1

Author's notes: Pairing: Steve Harrington/Original Female Character any romantic pairings will be 18+ and I will tag for any warnings/ratings. There will be eventual smut. Also, Eddie is OFC's ex-best friend and not the nicest originally. He will eventually be the Eddie we know and love, but it's gonna take awhile. I haven't decided about whether to make this a steddie/OFC yet. I've named the character, but kept it vague as far as skin color and appearance for the readers. Not edited by anyone but me, so feel free to let me know about any glaring errors. I haven't written since I was into the teen wolf fandom years ago, so be gentle please. Brief mentions of CSA and abuse. current word count: 3500 whoops.

Summary: After her best friend Eddie breaks her heart, Catarina ends the friendship and moves on. She gets close to Robin and Steve, eventually getting involved with all the danger that Hawkins brings. As she gets closer to Steve and has to learn to fight for what's important to her, what will she do when Eddie is eventually dragged into the danger as well?

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You first met Eddie Munson in the sixth grade. He’d ran right into you outside the school, knocking you both to the ground. He’d apologized and you’d shrugged. You were already used to being bullied. You were overweight and you didn’t fit in with the other kids. Hitting puberty before everyone else just made it all worse too—like did you need to get your period at the end of third grade or have a C cup by fourth? With Jenna Williams and her little lackeys constantly mooing at you, you learned to be quiet and just try and get through the day. They would wait until you were in the bathroom and throw things at you, tell you how ugly you were and that no boys would ever like you. Even the younger kids would bully you. Jason Carver especially seemed to hate you. He would trip you and pull your hair. It was hell, at least until a scrawny, weird kid with a shaved head had nearly given you a concussion when he sent you sprawling into the concrete head first.  

The first words he’d said to you were “oh shit I'm sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going... I’m Eddie Munson. Shit. Shit. Uh, your head is bleeding!” 

You stared at him for a minute, dazed and confused because this boy was talking to you without being mean. He was saying sorry. And then he helped you to the clinic and refused to leave, adamant that he would stay with you until your mom came to pick you up. And then he never left your side. You became best friends. You’d race home to do your homework so that you could go ride bikes to the quarry with him. He showed you all his metal and you showed him all your books. It turned out you really didn’t care for most of the heavier metal, but he loved fantasy and science fiction. You both loved campy horror movies and Halloween. You both knew what it felt like to have shitty families and trauma from abuse. You both knew the pain of being different and hated by your peers.  

And God, did Eddie make it easy for you to care about him. His adorable doe eyes, and warm laugh. The way he would hold your hand or gently tug on your hair. How he would always get tapes for you from the music store even when it was music he didn’t like. You knew about his dad and all the things he went through before moving in with his uncle Wayne. He knew about your dad and the abuse and the bullying. He stood up for you when Jenna or Jason would say things to you in the hallway. You would seethe at anyone who called him a freak for wearing nail polish or liking metal. You were each other’s safe haven until you weren’t anymore.  

You knew you loved him. Nearly right away he’d stolen your heart. Eddie Munson had wormed his way right into the essence of your soul. There was a part of you that simply belonged to him and always would. As you both grew older and Eddie became less of a boy and more of a man. A very handsome one, with long hair and stupidly sexy hands—tall and beautiful. His voice was no longer higher pitched, but deeper in a way that felt dangerous. He’d speak to you and sometimes, you felt it everywhere. But you knew Eddie didn’t see you that way. You saw the way his eyes followed the cheerleaders. You saw how he’d stare at Jenna or her little underlings. He stared the most at Chrissy Cunningham even though she was a few years younger than you both. She was beautiful and thin with long blonde hair. She always had a placid smile on her face, hand in hand with Jason Carver of all people. And yet, you watched Eddie pine after her. It didn’t worry you too much but it certainly hurt.  

When Eddie started dealing, you didn’t judge. He needed the money and besides, it meant you could smoke for free. Word spread and by senior year, Eddie was the dealer. He went to the parties and all the popular kids suddenly noticed him even if they still called him a freak. You still felt invisible most of the time. Then you graduated and He didn’t. Then He didn’t again. You managed to stay best friends, even though it would be harder with Eddie was still in high school. You knew Eddie saw you as his best friend, but never as anything else. He had a certain charisma about him though. You saw the other girls notice him. You saw the way they giggled as he strutted by despite his being a super senior—maybe it was like a bad boy type of deal. Between having a band and the best drugs, you knew he was probably hooking up with girls. Regardless of how you felt, you refused to let it affect your friendship. It was on a normal Friday afternoon when everything changed forever. Eddie had been distant for a few weeks, but you knew he was busy so you tried not to worry about it. As you sat on his old couch about to watch a stupid movie, he seemed like he was about to burst with energy.  

“Alright, Ed. What is wrong with you? Did you take something? You are like vibrating dude.” you asked him, a little concerned but trying to play it off. He was acting so strange today. Tense. But excited. “Come on, just tell me. You always do anyways.” 

“Yeah, I need to tell you something. I can’t believe it even happened. I mean, I've dreamed about it, sure. But fuck. Chrissy kissed me. In the woods, at my spot. She came to buy weed and I was flirting a little. Uh, next thing I know, she’s kissing the hell out of me.” Eddie exhaled; eyes wide. You felt your stomach drop and your heart shatter. You knew it wasn’t fair to feel that way, but damn it hurt. And you also knew that Chrissy and Jason were still together. You’d seen them just yesterday at the coffee shop. They’d sat in the corner, laughing and cuddling (not even ordering anything) and you remember thinking they seemed happy. Even though Eddie had been crushing on her for years, you liked Chrissy. She was kind for a cheerleader and she didn’t participate in any bullying directly. She often would scold others quietly if things got out of hand. She seemed a little lost sometimes. Like maybe, she had been through something—you could usually recognize that in other people. You worried she was using Eddie to deal with whatever that something was.  

“Ed. Chrissy and Jason are still together. Is she breaking up with him?” you sighed. You didn’t want to have this conversation but you cared enough to do it anyways.  

“I don’t know. We decided to keep it a secret for now. Jason is a dick. She doesn’t want to deal with the drama of a breakup.” Eddie crossed his arms. You could see his defenses were going up. “I have liked her for years, Cat. I have got to go for it.” 

“She is going use you while she hangs all over Jason. You deserve better than being a dirty secret. You...I …I just." You stopped, your words failing you for a moment. “I think Chrissy is struggling with something and she’s trying to escape and she is trying to use you to numb whatever it is. I know what that looks like. So do you, and I just don’t want you to get hurt, I care about you so much Ed.” 

“You’re just fucking jealous.” he scoffed. His face was red and you noticed his eyes, pupils small and hands shaking.  

“Please don’t be with Chrissy. Eddie, I care about you. Do you understand what I am saying? I would be so happy to show you off to the whole world. I would try to make you happy. You deserve someone who will see you and love you. Ed, I love you.” the words spilled out before you could stop them. Your heart sank because you said the three words you swore you would never say out loud. And you could not take them back now. You had talked to Eddie many times about how you felt like no one would ever want you romantically. That you felt undesirable and unlovable. That it was a big source of anxiety and pain for you. You had cried in his arms, worried that you would always be damaged goods—broken beyond repair. He’d just rubbed your back while you cried and told you that it wasn’t true. That someday you would find someone who wanted you.  

“Um. What do you mean ‘you love me’...like as a friend” Eddie asked, voice lower than you’d ever heard it. He stared, waiting for you to answer him.  

You took a deep breath. There was no going back now. You had to be honest.  

“I love you. Not just as my best friend. I want to be more than friends. I’ve felt this way for a while, but I was scared to tell you. I didn’t want to ruin our friendship.” You were barely able to whisper out the words. You felt your eyes sting and you blinked back the tears.  

“I don’t love you like that. I want Chrissy. I’ve wanted her for a long time. I’m not giving up a chance to be with her over you. You're my best friend, but I could never want you that way.” he replied coldly. His arms were crossed and he was glaring at you. He was now shaking all over. You could smell that he’d been drinking, you hadn’t noticed before being so caught up in the Chrissy revelation.  

“Ed, you’re drunk. Are you on drugs, too?” you asked, hoping this was why he was being so mean to you. It was fine if he didn’t feel the same way. Okay, your heart was broken, but you’d get past it because it was Eddie and your friendship meant everything to you.  

“Catarina, I don’t want you. No one does. You are a great friend, but just not the girl that anyone falls for. Sad truth.” He was trying to hurt you on purpose. He was furious you’d said Chrissy was using him. Furious you weren’t happy for him. Furious he had to deal with this bullshit instead of hanging out with you. So, he dug the knife in deeper. “I don’t want damaged goods. You are broken beyond repair Catarina. I don’t want your daddy’s sloppy seconds, that’s fucking gross.” 

He threw your own words and pain back at you. The part of you that had once belonged to Eddie shriveled. You let all the anger and hurt take over and carved out every single part of your heart that had been infected by Eddie fucking Munson and you burned it. You know he’s lashing out and fucked up on alcohol and drugs. You know he has his own traumas that he refuses to work through, but you won’t ever let someone speak to you this way. Take words you told them in confidence and have them weaponized against you. You were done with him. Not just as the boy you once loved, but as your best friend.  

“Munson, fuck you. Don’t you ever fucking talk to me again. Don’t look at me. Don’t fucking think about me. Go be Chrissy fucking Cunnigham’s slutty little secret and rot in hell.” And you stormed out of his trailer and out of his life.  

The next day he tried calling a few times, confused as to why you didn’t show up to his show at the hideout. You always went. Finally, after the fifth time, you answered the phone. “Hello, Connor residence. This is Cat.” 

“Cat, what the fuck. Why didn’t you come to the show tonight?” Eddie whined. Your head started to spin. What planet is he on?  

“I told you to not to call me or talk to me. Leave me alone. Stop calling me.” You hung up the phone. How dare he call you like nothing happened. The phone started to ring again.  

“What don’t you understand about ‘leave me the fuck alone’ Munson?” 

“Wait, Cat. Don’t hang up. What happened last night? I was so fucked up on pills and I was drinking Wayne’s shitty whiskey. Did I say something to piss you off?”  

“Don’t ever call me again. I don’t want to talk to you. You shattered our friendship and I’m certainly repeating any of the bullshit you were spouting last night. Fuck off.” You hung up the phone, ripping the jack from the wall. You went upstairs and crawled into bed. This was your last summer before community college. You had to work early in the morning. You needed to find new friends. You wanted to move out of your mom’s house and start your life. But tonight, you just needed to cry over the boy you thought would always be by your side and who had broken your heart more than you thought possible.  

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Two weeks after walking out of Eddie’s trailer, you’d walked into the Family Video. Your friend from high school Robin worked there and you needed some human interaction. Your mom had been staying with your grandparents in Florida to help out and it was just you, alone in your stupid house. It had been some time since you’d hung out with Robin as she was a year below you in school thus about to graduate this year with the wonderful, beautiful Chrissy and maybe even Eddie—if he pulled his shit together and actually showed up to class. You looked like total shit, hair a total mess and eyes puffy from crying. You were wearing a ripped Tears for Fears top and pajama shorts with your chucks, and you had not an ounce of makeup on. It wasn’t Robin at the counter though, it was Steve ‘the Hair’ Harrington. You rolled your eyes because of course you look like death warmed over and this handsome fucker is here looking like he stepped out of a gap magazine. You looked at him for a moment longer, noticing that he had clearly put on a bit of muscle and grown out his hair a bit more. He looked even better than he had in high school. You might’ve been in love with Eddie, but even you were not immune to how pretty Steve was.  

“Hello, there. Welcome to Family Video. Do you need help finding a certain movie?” Steve told you, and sadly, it was the first human interaction you’d had in weeks outside of the book store. You just stared, feeling tears sting the corner of your eyes. Fuck, you were not about to cry in front of Steve Harrington. Reel it in, do not do it. “You alright there, pretty girl? If you’re going through a bad breakup, I could recommend—” 

“No, not exactly a breakup.” You felt the first tear escape. You fought the tears valiantly, but they continued. “How about when your best friend of eight years breaks your heart and chooses a pretty cheerleader over you and tells you how awful and unlovable you are?? Oh my god, I am so sorry for the major oversharing. Do you have Grease 2?” 

It was then that Robin (thank God) walked into the store from the backroom. “Cat!! I haven’t seen you in ages. You look like shit? What's wrong?!”  

“I... Me and Eddie. I-” You started to cry in earnest at this point. Robin quickly threw her arms around you. 

“She said he broke her heart, chose a cheerleader over her—that she was awful. Clearly untrue. Eddie Munson is a freak if he thinks she is the awful one. Just saying.” Steve shrugged, helping to fill Robin in on what she had missed as you were sobbing, unable to speak.  

“Thanks, dingus. Eddie has treated you like his own personal cheerleader for years and totally ignored that you were obviously in love with him because he was hung up on Cunningham—who by the way, never knew he even existed until she wanted to start rebelling against her boring little existence. This explains a lot though. They’ve been all over each other at school for weeks. It’s disgusting. If I have to hear her through lunch laughing and sighing ‘oh, Eddie you’re so bad. You're so funny’ I will absolutely vomit all over them. You should see Carver though. Apparently, there was some overlap between them breaking up and Eddie and Chrissy getting together. Oh, the scandal of it all.” 

“Rob, what the hell...I don’t think she needs to hear all of that right now.” Steve interjected, clearly exasperated at his best friend's ramblings.  

“No, I think it helps to know.” you gulped between sobs. You took a deep breath. “Fuck Munson. I don’t need this bullshit. I came to see if you wanted to hang out Robin. I won’t lose the few friends I do have because of Edward Munson.” 

“Right on. You have Robin, and you can have me, too. I mean, if you want.” Steve threw his hands over his face, embarrassed of how that came out. You and Robin both chuckled.  

“I know what you meant, Steve. Of course, I want to be your friend too. It kind of seems like you and Rob are a package deal. How long have you been dating?” You asked, sensing the obvious closeness between them.  

“Oh NO. No, no, no. Eww, no offense. Steve and I are platonic. Capitol P platonic. He’s my bestie, my sweet cheese—totally unromantic.” Robin stuttered, rambling more and more.  

“Gee thanks, Rob.” Steve laughed, “She is right though. We are just best friends. We’ve gone through some heavy shit together, it shows.” 

“Ah, well then. Do you guys want to come over to my house tonight. I have the last of my weed and we can order takeout, watch a movie...or play games? Whatever really.” You offered, praying they would say yes.  

“We get off in an hour, we will bring a few movies. Even Grease 2.” Steve winked at you and you felt your stomach swoop. Shit.  

“I’ll order the pizzas.” you smiled. “But don’t talk shit about Grease 2. Michelle Pfeiffer is a goddess and she is so hot in that movie and the music rocks.” 

Robin stared at you intensely and Steve’s jaw was dropped.  

“You...think Michelle Pfeiffer is hot? Like in a girl crush way? Or...” Robin asked tentatively.  

“Um, in a ‘I’d faint if I ever met her’ kind of way. I hope that’s cool. I kind of thought you were...that you might also think. Um. I like girls and guys. Bisexual. Please tell me that you’re both cool with that.” you heart dropped, why did you always do this? Say too much and ruin things before they even started.  

“I’m a lesbian. Steve knows, he’s cool. Right Steve. But for the record, she’s not really my type. My type is unavailable and straight, apparently.” 

“Yeah, it’s hot. I mean, I’m cool with it.” Steve nodded, enthusiastically while Robin slapped him on the arm, rolling her eyes. 

“So... we’re going to discuss that later, Rob. Yeah?” You responded, hugging her tightly. On a whim, you also threw your arms around Steve. “Thanks for being cool about it, Stevie.”  

Steve flushed red and just patted your back. As you were walking out the door, you heard Robin laughing at Steve, calling him Stevie.  

“I think only Catarina can call me that, sorry Rob. You already call me dingus...”  

You smiled as you drove home. You’d sobbed in front of Steve Harrington, which yes, was mortifying. But you also reconnected with Robin in a whole new way. You were out to two more people. Eddie had known as well, and he hadn’t cared one way or the other since he also liked both. Steve had said it was hot before correcting to that’s cool. The butterflies returned with intensity as you considered the flush on his face as you’d hugged him and called him Stevie. The last thing you needed was to crush on your new friend, but it was impossible not to with Steve. He’d called you pretty girl and said Eddie was a freak for not seeing you. You couldn’t wait to hang out with your friends tonight and help Robin with her crush. This was a new beginning. You could never imagine a life without your old best friend, but what if you’d been so caught up in him that you missed out on getting to know amazing people? As much as losing him hurt, you felt it—that this was a good thing for you. And it meant you got to look at Steve Harrington, that certainly didn’t hurt either.  

[psychotic-nonsense]

In October of 1967, Steve Harrington is born in Hawkins, Indiana.

He's raised there, forced to live under the strict expectations of his parents, Richard and Samantha. Barely escapes their clutches, freedom fueled by the kids and adults that take the role of guardian and family when the time is right. Keeps himself in check with the always impending apocalypses that arise beneath his feet.

In June of 1985 - when Steve Harrington is 18, while Richard and Samantha Harrington are visiting New York for an extended work trip - Veronica Harrington is born.

She was carried and raised in secret from their hometown. They take care of her between their business hours, dropping her in the hands of nannies and babysitters galore. They don't even think of Indiana during Veronica's early childhood, too focused on work and making sure their daughter starts up right.

In October of 1986 - when Steve Harrington is 19, aged further by ending the Vecna War, yet tamed by his newfound love in Eddie Munson - Richard and Samantha Harrington return to Hawkins.

They don't ask about what happened to their son. They don't ask about the town. They don't ask questions, just give responses to them. Sneering at Steve's friends, complaining about the state of the house, commenting at the disfunctional chaos their home has become.

In November of 1986, Richard and Samantha Harrington disown Steve.

They just let him go. They at least give him a folder of his legal documents, but otherwise just tell him to get out of their house and never use their name again. Claiming Steve doesn't need anything from the room because the Harrington's own everything in it. They don't call him son, they don't say goodbye, they don't acknowledge who's actually taken care of the house, they don't admit most of Steve's former room has changed with money Steve earned himself, they don't dare to give him any money or care where he goes. They just say they're sick of dealing with an unworthy mistake of a child, and force him out of their house.

In November of 1986, the Party's adults adopt Steve.

He runs to them first after everything happens. Held himself together at the start, but broke down the second the words were out. While everyone was trying to comfort Steve, Wayne Munson and Jim Hopper were the first to succeed. They know firsthand that this family would never be the same as blood, no matter how much that blood has boiled and burned before, but the love will be stronger and it will be here. When everyone seconds it, Steve finally accepts it. He becomes a child of the Party - he's everyone's son and everyone's brother, taking whatever surname he sees fit.

In November of 1986, Steve Henderson and Eddie Munson leave Hawkins.

Despite all this good, Steve can't bear to stay in this damned town a second longer, where everyone knows who he is and will soon know everything he isn't. And it's not like Eddie was looking forward to sticking around Hawkins either, especially without his Steve. The kids are the first to agree, surprisingly, and the adults promise to find a way for the boys to get out. Later that week, when Richard and Samantha leave the house to prepare for Veronica, Steve and Eddie break in to take everything that's rightfully theirs. While they're there, not sure what prompts him, Steve makes a bag of his clothes with shoes and his wallet tucked within it, shoving it into his closet. Dustin's mom uses an old favor to get the boys an apartment in Chicago, the Party has one last farewell, and the two boys are gone.

From 1986 onward, Veronica Harrington is raised in Hawkins, Indiana.

Richard and Samantha are adamant in their daughter coming out exactly how she should. They steadily convince the town to forget the Harringtons ever had a son and lock the room on the second floor next to the stairs without ever touching the inside. They raise her with formality and pride at the top of their expectations, wanting at least one child to come out right.

But Veronica is the spitting image of Steve's honesty and care. She puts on a facade when needed, but even at a young age, she wants nothing more than to be someone's light in the darkness. She plays with every lonely kid at school, and tries to make people laugh at the business parties she's dragged to. It's not received well by her parents, but Veronica is much too strong willed and stubborn to let it phase her.

In April of 1991 - when she's 6 and they're so much stronger around their hearts - Veronica Harrington meets Steve and Eddie Munson for the first time.

It's the year Erica is set to graduate high school. Steve and Eddie have been making the drive for every holiday this year, ordered determined to give her the best senior year she could have. It's Easter Sunday, and Wayne somehow managed to drag his boys away to church - a Munson custom, as even Eddie insisted they go.

While at the snack table post sermon, a little girl comes up to Steve, mistaking him for her father. He and Eddie gently comfort the girl, introducing themselves and offering to help the girl find her parents. That's when Veronica introduces herself, striking Steve deep in his heart. Still, he keeps quiet, even gifting her a little origami crane made from napkins at the table. He calls her "chickpea" for the color of her dress, tells her to keep the crane secret and safe, "If ever you need to find your way back home, you hold that close, and it'll tell you."

Meanwhile, Wayne has come across Richard and Samantha in the crowd opposite the kids. Exchanging formalities, Wayne mentions his son and nephew are in town, news the Harrington's are surprised at, as Wayne didn't seem like the father type. However, trying to keep face, they remain civil and insist on introducing their daughter.

Cue Veronica running to her parents with Steve and Eddie in tow. Cue Steve calling Wayne dad right to Richard's face. Cue the Harrington's immediate leave from the church, Veronica waving behind her with a crane placed carefully in her pocket.

From then on, Veronica Harrington's life changes indefinitely.

Her parents' expectations grow tenfold. She finds out she's horribly allergic to chickpeas. All of her friends must be approved by her parents, and any that don't fit their image are ordered to leave her.

Veronica takes these changes in stride - is her class's top student, captain of the softball and volleyball teams in junior high, keeps the friends she wants in secret from her parents - but she can't help but keep the crane in a little box in her room. Gets a necklace with a little origami crane pendant, holds it whenever she needs to make a hard choice. Can't help but expand herself in secret, learn things her parents would never approve of - lock picking, other languages, sleight of hand, a clothing style that's nothing like the dark blues of her family, all warmth and light. She explores every room in her house, yet is unable to find her way into that room upstairs next to the steps.

In May of 1998, Veronica Harrington discovers the truth about her brother.

She's about to be a freshman. Her class was touring the high school in preparation, and while passing the athletics hall, her eyes hit the swimming trophies. Each row stuffed with trophies, and each one with a name that stabbed her right in the stomach: Steve Harrington.

After that, she couldn't bear all the secrecy anymore. Late that same night, she finally uses her lock picking skills to break into that room. And though it's devoid of life, it is a bedroom, so evidently lived in. It's frozen in time, twisted sheets covered in dust, old papers crinkled from being stepped on but not picked up, old clean clothes still sitting in the hamper. It's a boy's room, clearly, and Veronica is careful walking around this place of memories.

She does still explore, quietly clicking on lights around the room, too cautious to touch the overhead lights. She looks under the bed, finding a bat and a trash can lid, both embedded with rusty nails. A shirt that still smells like fresh laundry yet has a back stained permanently with long red lines down the shoulders. Dozens of stapled documents labeled NON-DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT, detailing horrific events that each have that same name signed at the bottom.

With shaking hands she checks the closet, and finds it mostly empty. All except for a deep green graduation robe and cap, a cream Hawkins High letterman, and a duffel bag hidden in the back corner. The cap has a 1985 tassel, and the letterman has Harrington branded on the back with basketball and swimming patches galore. And the bag, when she checks it, looks like a survivalist pack someone would make in an apocalypse. At the top sits a wallet, and inside is an ID for a Steve Harrington, who has the same face as the one in her origami memories.

And Veronica is done. She wakes up the next morning and throws Steve's jacket on the kitchen table, startling both her parents mid sip of coffee. She finds herself in a screaming match with her father, demanding them to quit lying to her, begging to know who her brother is.

In a fit of rage, Richard tells her. Tells her everything Richard and Samantha never saw in Steve, about Veronica's secret birth, the disownment, Steve's disappearance from the Harrington house and Hawkins. She's reminded of that one Easter Sunday, and is told how Richard and Samantha faked Veronica's allergy to keep her mind from being tainted by whatever curse befell their bloodline before. Orders her to never say that name again.

In a fit of rage, Veronica bites back. Calls her parents cruel and overly expectant. Comes clean about her secret freedom. Says she'd rather be nothing than ever carry the burden of the Harrington name ever again.

She hides away in her room after the fight. Cries in her closet with her origami box cradled tightly to her chest, begging it to take her home because this place isn't anymore, maybe never was. Cries for the brother she never even got to meet, who went through so many horrible things yet still got put through this same punishment. Cries for the future she won't get to have, losing her hope for a new beginning that will now never be.

At the start of June, 1998, Veronica runs away.

She makes it through the rest of May in near silence. She writes notes for all of her friends at the end of the school year, and one for her parents to inevitably find. Finds 75 dollars in Steve's old wallet, stuffs the duffel bag the rest of the way with her belongings, and says goodbye to Hawkins.

She takes the first bus she can find out of town. Doesn't care that it's going to Chicago, doesn't really care where she's going now. She befriends an old homeless man riding the bus as well, becomes another interesting name in his "Book of Wanders (Pronounced as Wonders)." As Veronica's telling the story about unknowingly meeting her brother, she remembers the crane in her bag. She reaches in to retrieve the little box, then the crane, nearly crying seeing how disheveled and unfolded it is. Broken and doomed, just like her. But looking at it now after so long, she thinks she sees something written inside it. Despite it shattering her heart pieces, she carefully unfolds the little crane.

At its center, in old, bleeding blue text, reads, "Find the Swooping Bat if you've lost your way."

The old man laughs then, taking Veronica's hand and placing it onto her chest, over her heart. "It's fate," he whispers in the dark bus. "There's a place called that in Chicago."

Veronica uses her money to rent them both a hotel for the night, giving the old man a warm bath for the first time in weeks. She gifts him the clothes as well, saying it's, "an honorary thanks from my brother, for helping me get here." They bid each other farewell in the morning, the old man telling her to keep hold of fate.

She finds her way to the Swooping Bat easily, hand on her necklace guiding her way. It's a quaint little diner, popular enough to be comfortably warm when she walks in. A young lady in a wheelchair - Max, says her nametag, with pins saying things like, "Summer work blows" and "USC grad or bust!" resting on her collar - guides her to a booth next to the sunrise.

"Anything I can get you today?" Max asks when Veronica's seated.

Veronica's fully ready to order everything on the menu, what with how delicious this place smells, but then she remembers her funds. 5 bucks, if she's lucky. "Just a chocolate milk, for now. Biggest one you have, please." She somehow plays off Max's skeptical look, her eyes sweeping over Veronica's no doubt disheveled and no-food-in-36-hours appearance.

It somehow works out, and Max is wheeling away. Veronica allows herself a moment to collapse, stomach growling in pain and eyes burning with the realization she has no idea what she's going to do now. She just has this last bit of hope to hold onto, and without it, she'll be nothing but a husk.

She's not sure how long she sits there, staring at the sunrise and letting sound and AC whisk her mind away, but there's suddenly a little knock on her table. Her head snaps up, and there's Max again, setting down a giant glass of chocolate milk... alongside a loaded breakfast plate.

"It's on the house," Max rushes to explain, all fondness when Veronica scrambles to get her wallet. "Courtesy of the owner. And between you and me," she whispers with a wink, "just take the damn food, kid."

Veronica stumbles over herself for a moment, rendered near speechless, before she finally comes back. She begs Max to thank the owner profusely, before rushing to dig into the pancakes before her. She's halfway done dousing the stack in syrup by the time Max wheels away, when there's suddenly someone laughing.

"Of course," says a choked-up voice behind her. "Can't have any chickpeas starving in my booths."

Veronica nearly drops her fork. She turns so sharply she gets dizzy. Seven years can't change a person that much, surely, because though he's bigger in the torso and he has glasses on the bridge of his nose and his hair is cut so close, he still has the same softness in his voice and the same slouch in his stance and the same moles around his eyes and his smile is so bright despite the tears in his eyes, and though Veronica can barely see through tears herself, it's not like she needs them anyway to know it's-

"Steve!" she cries, scrambling out of the booth to meet her brother halfway. The relief of it all working out has the rest of her restraint collapsing, forcing harsh sobs out of her and into Steve's shoulder. The siblings hold each other in the middle of a restaurant, a voice in the background asking everyone to leave them be. Steve doesn't stop whispering, even as his chest heaves with broken gasps between tears, "You're save, Veronica, I got you, I got you, it's gonna be okay, you're safe here, it's okay, sis, it's okay..."

"That you, lil' chickpea?" whispers a different voice once they've calmed down. Veronica reluctantly pulls away and finds a man kneeling beside them, a hand on Steve's shoulder and similar tears in his eyes. His hair and tattoos remind her of the tamed wild from seven years ago, covered in black in the middle of church yet glowing brighter than the stained glass, the one that Steve looks at in past and present with a glowing love Veronica never saw between her parents.

"Yeah," she whispers, wiping her tears away before placing a hand atop her necklace. It catches Eddie and Steve's eyes and make them beam with pride and relief. "Yeah, it's... it's me...."

[xxmayxx05]

Just the Three of us

pairing: eddie munson x fem!reader x Steve Harrington

Contents: Smut 18+, oral (giving/receiving), unprotected sex (Please be safe irl), manhandling, praise kink, pet names, multiple orgasms

a/n: Hi everyone! I hope you guys like this second part of the mini series. If you guys have any recommendations of what you want to see on the third part please comment. Reblogs and comments are highly appreciated, I hope you like it. - May<3

word count: 2,8k

After two hours of hard studying everyone decided that a break was truly needed. Eddie and Steve couldn’t keep their eyes out of your beautiful curves. Robin rolled her eyes when she saw Steve putting a hand on top of your thigh, when you both were talking. Eddies gaze hardened and tried to chime into the conversation and put his hand on your other thigh. 

“I have a question for you y/n” Robin said with a little smirk, she was going to get the boys very riled up. 

“What’s up Robin?” you asked as you looked up at her. Noticing her small smirk, you knew that you had something on her mind. 

“Let’s say that hypothetically, what would happen if two boys that you like and hypothetically they like you back. Per se, what would happen?” she asked while leaning back on her arms and waited for your reply. Eddie and Steve have now sat themselves straight and waited with a lot of anticipation to your reply. 

“That is a very odd question to ask Robin” you said and kept eye contact with her. A burning sensation over came you body when you felt Steve’s and Eddie’s gazes burning through you. “I’m very open minded, if I like both and they like me as well. A trio doesn’t sound bad at all” you said and got up. “Help me serve some lemonade Robin” you said and walked to the kitchen. Hoping that the boys got the hint. 

—-

“Fuck, Harrington” Eddie whispered shouted. He couldn’t believe that you were the kind to be okay with a trio. He was surprised but then again he thought that it would be perfect. Eddie knew that Steve liked you as well but never even thought that there could be a possibility of you three becoming a trio. 

“I know Munson” Steve said quietly and looked at him. “I didn’t think she had it in her” he said surprised, deep inside he felt excited. The though of having you in bed, your body all exposed for him and Eddie. Your back arching and the sound of your sweet moans filling the room while they both made love to you; made him go crazy. 

“I would be okay with it” Eddie said quietly and looked at him. “You like her and so do I. I don’t want to keep competing over her” he said and extended his hand toward Steve. Eddie knew that  he was crazy for accepting to be in  trio but he liked you a lot, ever since he saw you for the first time. 

“Let’s keep this civil Munson” Steve agreed and shook Eddie’s hand. 

Right on time you walked in and handed one glass of lemonade to Steve. 

“Here you go” you said and sat between them again. 

“Here you go dufus” Robin said and handed one glass of lemonade to Eddie. She looked up at the clock in the living room and faked surprised. “Shit, I have to go” she said hurriedly and packed up her backpack. Leaning down quickly she hugged you and said her goodbyes to the guys. 

“Oh yeah, she had to go meet up with Max at the arcade” she said and took a sip of your lemonade and looked at both boys. Hoping that one of them would make a move just like Robin had told you in the kitchen. She plotted a small excuse so that she could go and you three could have some privacy to yourselves. 

Steve and Eddie looked at each other and leaned back against the sofa. The three of you drank your perspective lemonades and sat in silence. There was a lot of sexual tension in the living room and they didn’t know how to break it. 

“So, you are okay with being shared?” Steve asked confidently and turned to look at you. He knew that Eddie was too shy to make a move. 

“Mhm, you only live once” you said and put your glass down between you thighs. “Two is better than one, I guess” saying softly and bit your bottom lip when you felt Eddie put a hand on your left thigh. 

“It’s good to know that you think that way, we both really like you alot” Eddie said quietly and massaged your thigh softly. 

You turned your head to the left and looked at him. He was blushing softly and leaned in to peck you lips. Finally you thought. 

“He is right, love. We wouldn’t mind sharing you at all” Steve said and leaned down. He left small kisses on your exposed neck and smiled softly when you let out small moans. 

“I would love to be with the both of you” you said and leaned your head back in pleasure. Eddie had grabbed the glass between your thighs and put it aside. He leaned down and left kisses on the right side of your neck. Giving a small wink at Steve, both of them left kisses on your neck and massaged your inner thighs. 

“Can we go to my room please?” you asked quietly and caressed both of their cheeks. Leaning in to the right you pecked Steves lips and then to the left pecking Eddies. Both boys nodded their heads and got up. Carefully they helped you get up and you grabbed their hands. Leading them upstairs to your room.

“Sit down” you told them as you closed your door and locked it. Both listened to you and sat next to each other in bed. Walking up to them, you decided to stand between Eddie’s legs. Leaning down you kissed him passionately, a needy moan escaped his mouth. Steve bit his bottom lip at the sight of you both making out. His member was growning within each second and he felt his jeans becoming too tight for his growing member. You heard Steve hissing softly and you leaned back. 

“Are you okay Steve?” you asked innocently and caressed his cheek. Looking down, you saw the outline of his member through his jeans. You stepped back from Eddie and went between Steves legs. Getting down on your knees, you looked up at him and Eddie. “Remove your clothes” you ordered them both. 

They quickly and quietly obeyed your commands. You watched them both remove their clothes and watched in awe at the sight. Steve cock was long and hard the tip was leaking with precum. Eddie’s cock was thick and long. Immediately you became even more wet then you already were. Letting out a small whimper, you brought your right hand to your mouth and spit on it. Bringing it to Eddie’s member, you wrapped your hand around it and motioned it up and down. 

Eddie’s deep breathes escaped his mouth, he felt on cloud nine when he felt your hand wrapped around his needy cock. He moaned when he saw you leaned down and licked Steve’s tip. 

“Fuck baby” Steve moaned softly when he felt your wet tongue lick a small strip from the bottom of his cock all the way to the top of his tip. His fantasy was finally going to come true, he was going to have sex with the girl of his dreams and a threesome. “Oh fuck!” he cried out in pleasure when you wrapped your plump lips around his hard cock and began moving your head up and down. Your mouth felt heavenly around his cock. 

You moaned at the praise and the way Steve reacted to your mouth around your cock. Feeling a lot of pride that you had both boys on the palm of your hand, you looked at Eddie while you kept giving Steve head. Tightening your grip softly on his cock, he moaned at the feeling and looked down at you. He brought a hand to your cheek and softly smacked you. 

“Such a needy slut” he praised your and smacked you again.  Eddie didn’t know what took over him but he needed you to become vulnerable for them both. “Look at you being a needy slut, letting me and Steve use your pretty body from now on” he said and looked at Steve. “We own this slut, Harrington” he said with a smirk. 

“Fuck yes we do” Steve said and gripped your hair. Pulling your it up, you removed your mouth from his cock and gasped to catch up with your breathing. 

“Remove your clothes and lay in bed baby” Steve ordered and helped you get up. Him and Eddie were mesmerized by your body, little by little as your removed the only two pieces of clothing you wore. Surprised that you didn’t wear a bra or panties, both boys were falling more in love with you by the second and they couldn’t wait until they finally had a taste of you. 

You took a small breath and laid down, waiting for one of the two boys to make a move. Steve was the first one to remove his pants and got on top of you. Leaning down he looked down at your plump red lips and caressed your cheek. 

“Are you sure, you want this?” he asked softly and looked deeply into your eyes. Hoping that you wouldn’t regret what was to come later on. 

“I really do Steve” you whispered and removed his shirt. Smiling softly when he brought his arms up, helping you to remove his shirt. You looked at Eddie and chuckled softly when he just stood there with a cheesy small smile. “Join us, Ed” you said and leaned your head to the side when Steve started leaving kisses on your neck. Moaning softly when you felt him suck softly against your soft skin, he was marking you and you loved that. 

“Patience baby” Eddie said and removed the remaining of his clothes. He got on the bed and softly wrapped his hand around the base of his cock. “Open that pretty mouth of yours baby” he said and tapped the tip of his cock on top of your plump lips. Eddie groaned softly when he finally felt your warm and wet mouth around his cock, something that he has dreamt about ever since he met you. 

Steve left kisses all the way down from your neck, into between your inner thighs. He smirked softly when he saw how wet your pussy looked from his angle. Leaning in he gave a soft lick between your wet pussy lips and moaned at your sweet taste. You tasted like heaven, just like he thought you did. He knew that he was going to be addicted to your sweet taste and he couldn’t wait for more. Wrapping his arms around your thick thighs, he spread them about and began eating you out as if he didn’t eat for days. 

You were a moaning mess, around Eddie’s cock. Steve was eating your pussy out in such a delicious way, the sounds of him licking your wet pussy, your sweet moans, and Eddie’s praises filled the entire room. Eddie softly held your hair into a pony tail while he thrusted his cock in and out of your warm mouth, the way he praised you made you fall in love with him even more. Making eye contact with him, you started meeting his small thrusts inside your mouth. Gagging around his cock made him moan loudly and fill your mouth with his cum. 

“Oh Fuck” he panted and he brought a hand to your cheek. “Swallow my cum baby” he cooed softly when he saw how fucked you looked. 

You swallowed and leaned upward to kiss him passionately. Feeling a lot of pride that you had that type of control over Eddie. 

Steve had gotten on his knees and spit on his hand. He loved the sight of you and Eddie making out infront of him, but felt a little jealous at the tiny lack of attention that he was not receiving. Wrapping his hand around his cock, he brought it up and down. 

“It’s my turn baby” Steve said and aligned the tip of his cock against your wet pussy. Smiling softly when you turned to him with a drunken gaze and nodded your head. 

“Please, I need you” you said in a pleading matter. Gasping softly when you felt him insert his tip inside of you. He was stretching you out up to oblivion, and couldn’t control your moans. His hips started gaining control as he slid in and out of you, his fingers dug deep into your hips and thrusted deeper. 

Eddie brought a hand down to your clit and began to rub it fast. Your loud moans became music to his ears, he loved how you were so desperate for him and Steve. Loving the sight of your head thrown back in pleasure, back arched and your breasts bouncing with each of Steves thrust. He knew that this was going to be one of many more nights like this. Leaning down he began leaving kisses on your exposed neck and marking it just like Henderson did. 

“Liking my cock baby?” Steve teased and smacked you softly. You looked like a fucked mess and he loved the sight of that. Loving the thought that you were cock drunk, with his cock.

You whimpered when you felt him smack you. Couldn’t put words together, you just moaned and nodded your head. 

“Use your words, princess” Eddie said and wrapped his hand around your neck. “Behave for him” he said and gripped his hand more around your neck.

“Y-Yes daddy” you gasped for air and let out a scream of pleasure when Steves thrust became harder and faster. With no warning, he cummed and filled you up with his warm seed. 

“F-fuck!” Steve moaned and slowed down his thrusts. The way you called him Daddy was unexpected and made him cum right then and there. Steve loved the way Daddy rolled out of your pretty mouth in such a innocent but dirty way. 

“Eddie, I need you” you said quietly and pecked his lips. 

“My baby didn’t cum?” he asked teasingly and got on top of you once Steve slid out. Eddie didn’t care about the mess that Harrington made inside of you and slammed his cock without any warning. Your moans got louder with each thrust that he made inside of you. 

“D-daddy” you gasped and wrapped your arms around his back. Your nails digging on his back, leaving small crescent moons but you couldn’t help it. Eddie was fucking you so well, him and Steve knew how to fuck very well. 

“Mm cum for me baby, cum around my cock” Eddie praised you as he grabbed one of your legs and put them around his shoulder. Sliding even deeper inside of you. 

“Fuck baby fuck!, you are only ours” 

“Y-yes daddy!” you say moaning loudly. Looking to your side, you look at Steve. Feeling that you needed his approval to cum as well. Once he gave you a small nod, you gave into the pleasure and cummed all over Eddies cock. 

Eyes rolled back and your back arched in pleasure. Tears rolled down your cheeks at the intense orgasm that took over your body, it was all too much for you after a long time of being celibate. 

Eddie kept fucking you into oblivion until he moaned loudly and cummed inside of you. His cum mixing with Steves and your wet juices. 

“Fuck” he panted harshly and carefully brought down your leg from his shoulder. Sliding out carefully and laid down next to you. His orgasm hit him the hardest. 

Steve let you both calm down and went to you bathroom. He grabbed a cloth and brought it to the sink. Wetting it a little, he came back into the room and up to you. Steve carefully cleaned up the huge mess that was between your legs and left kisses around your chest. 

“You did so well for us baby” he praised you softly as he looked at your fucked up state. 

All you could do was nod your head carefully and let him clean you up. 

Eddie got up to clean himself up and looked outside the window. He was surprised that it was night time. After finishing cleaning himself up, he turned off the bathroom light and walked inside your room. Smiling at you fast asleep, cuddling with Steve who was also fallen asleep. Eddie grabbed the blanket from the end of your bed and extended it over both of the bare bodies. Turning off the late of your room, he walked to the other side of your bed and got under your blanket. 

“Goodnight baby” he whispered and wrapped his arm around your bare waist. Letting sleep take over his tired body. Dreaming of what was going to happen next.

[ash5monster01]

Every Thought

Pairing: Steve Harrington x FemReader

Warnings: fluff, language, mentions of childhood trauma, love languages, no use of y/n

Summary: When you casually mention to Steve you were thinking of him the other day he finds that the sentence alone made his heart soar for you and now he wants nothing more than to keep making you think of him forever. (I saw a reblog that @onegirlmanytales made and now I can’t get the idea of Steve being head over heels for someone just because they cared enough to think of him, so this was born)

word count: 1.6k

Masterlist

Normally Steve isn't this quiet. Yet how could he speak when you had just dropped this bomb on him? You said it so nonchalantly, laughing and contuining your story as if those words you had just uttered didn't completley wreck him. 'I was thinking about you the other day' and recalling some story where you had seen a guy struggling to use his walkman. You said it was something you could see him doing. You thought of him because you knew him, you noticed him. Actions and moments in time could remind you of him and the fact he was even on your mind at all made his heart soar.

He tried to determine why the simple action could tug on his heart so badly but then he realized it was because he had been waiting so long for someone to notice him. His parents never paid him any mind and since he had dropped King Steve status none of his peers did either. Even when dating Nancy her mind always seemed elsewhere, like she didn't even hear the words coming out of his mouth. He had gotten used to it, used to being an after thought. He busied himself with helping his friends, the kids, and he no longer bothered with making an impression on anyone because he was just Steve. He was dumb, clumsy, and nothing more than a pretty face. He didn’t have hobbies, hadn't played sports since highschool, and while everyone he knew was in college he worked at a video store. Yet somehow through all of this you had noticed him and the simple mannerisms of a stranger led your mind to think of him. A first thought, something that made you smile.

"Everything okay Steve?" your voice is the one to break him from his thoughts. He had been functioning on autopilot. Driving everyone home, the same route as always, you the last stop.

"Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?" he asked now nervous because it was just you two in the car, and based on the feelings he was holding for you right now he didn’t want to say anything that would embarass him.

"You haven’t spoke all afternoon and your gripping that steering wheel like it called you a mean name" you told him and he instantly loosened his hands, the blood rushing back to his knuckles that had turned white.

"Sorry" he apologized even though he wasn't entirely sure why. Just as he was about to scold himself your soft giggles filled the air beside him and as he looked over at you he swore there was hearts in his eyes.

"That's our Steve" you giggled lightly, as if his unecessary apology was another common thing for him to do. An action that would remind you of him. God he wanted you to think of him after everything you saw. Isn't that was what it was like to be in love? To see a puppy and your first thought to be you want that person to see it too. You see someone do a kind gesture and think that person would do that too. To always have them in your mind at all times. The forefront of your thoughts.

"I'm nothing special" he found himself saying and the gasp that came from you made his heart rate accelerate. He wished you knew he thought of you too. All the time. When he saw girls with your hair color, when someone laughed just a touch too loudly. It was always you and now you were thinking of him too.

"Nothing special? Please, you're Steve. Loyal, strong, smart, generous Steve. Nothing special my ass" and tears stung at the back of his eyes because you had taken qualities he didn't see in himself and labeled him as just those. That was how you saw him. He was afraid to speak, afraid you'd hear the sadness in his voice, but his silence spoke volumes instead. "You don’t believe me?"

"It's not that" he was defending, a soft shake of his head, but you didn't beleive him either. The look in your eyes was one of shock and thought while you tried to see what gears were turning in that head of his. His beautful, big haired head. The one you thought of everytime you saw someone with just as big and gorgeous hair as him.

"It is Steve" you finally settled, realizing that he really didn't think any of those things about himself.

"I'm just Steve though, I'm bullshit" and the words that Nancy had said to him all those years ago rang through his head. He had always known deep down he wasn't anything special but she was the first one to say it to his face. To call him a term he could identify with. He thought he was over it but maybe after all this time he was not.

"Oh shut the fuck up" and the hard language that came from you had him looking at you in shock. You held your ground though, arms crossed over your chest and stern look glaring into his eyes.

"Excuse me?" he asked and you rolled your eyes so hard he swore they could've gotten stuck up there if you weren't careful. Just as he turned onto your road you were shifting in your seat to face him.

"Let's get one thing straight. You are not bullshit, maybe your relationship with Nnacy was, but you? Not bullshit. You're the nicest guy I know and that says a lot considering you were a major dick in highschool. But now, now you help whenever any of us call, you drive us around even if you don't have the time, you make sure all of us are comfortable and safe at all times. You're so loyal to each of us, you fight whenever we need you too, you think quickly under pressure, you'd give the coat off your back if any of us needed it. Maybe you don't see yourself as all those things, but I do" you huffed out, turning back to normal in your seat just as he pulled to a stop in your driveway. Steve took a moment to process your words, the headlights of his car beaming brghtly at your garage door.

"I love that you think of me" he whispered into the dark night air and you were sucking in a sharp breath, surprised by the weight of his words. To anyone else they would sound like nothing but you knew Steve and if you knew him the way you thought he did, he just said I love you. In perfect Steve langauge way. So you took a shot in the dark, literally.

"I love you too Steve" and now he was staring at you with wide eyes but adoration too. Slowly you unclipped your seat belt, ready to grab your bag at your feet and move on now that somehow all of these things you thought about him had been aired out. Yet before you could open the door his arm was stopping you.

"How'd you know?" he asked, and you knew he meant about what he had said. How you knew he was saying I love you without really saying it.

"Because, I know you" and before you could process what was happening next Steve had captured your lips with his own. You sat there wide eyed but the plushness of his pink lips against your own had your eyes fluttering shut and fingers tangling in his hair. Steve kissed you like his life depended on it, firm hand against your back to keep your chest as close to his as possible. You tasted like strawberry lip gloss and orange soda, considering he had just watched you drink one. When you finally broke a part it took a moment for you to reopen your eyes, you were still trying to processs how real all of that had just been.

"Please think about me every chance you get cause God, the idea of you always having me on your mind does things to me I can't even explain" he groaned out, fingers brushing though your hair and you couldn't help but giggle like a little girl at his words.

"I promise, I think about you all the time" you told him and he was grinning deviously before ducking down and kissing you quickly again.

"Good because if you didn't it would be embarassing how much I think of you too" he told you and you were smiling and cupping his face in your hands. Kissing him softly knowing you now would get to do this more often. The kind of kiss you didn't need to rush bcause you had the promise of more kisses to come.

"Did I tell you about the guy in Melvalds with the really tight blue jeans that made me think of you?" you were asking and Steve groaned out, pink dusting his cheeks as you embarassed him.

"No, and I dont want to know" he told you and you gave him a fake surprised look, leaning into him as best you could.

"What, he had a great ass! Just like you" and he was shaking his head, pulling your mouth to his own so he could shut you up. You giggled against his mouth and Steve's heart fluttered at the action. For the first time he had someone in his life who saw him for what he was and he was so glad he got to love you in return.

“Want to go inside so I have something to think about tomorrow?”

[werdlewrites]

masterlist - ao3 - twitter @ djomamma

summary: “Y’know the rules, Harrington.” The teen puffs out his cheeks, blowing a raspberry as he raises a fist and begins to count every finger that extends. “Don’t stay out late. Keep the walkie-talkie on. Don’t talk t’strangers. Don’t do drugs. Always be on high alert.” The two men locked eyes, one almost beaming with enthusiasm while the other seemed entirely unimpressed. “How’d I do?” Hopper says nothing in response to the boy. He takes another sip of his coffee, eyes now on the Autumn as he nods in approval. “Dress warm.” wc: 3,530 warnings: STEVE FLUFF, hallucinations, panic

So, this was 17.

She remembers what it was like to wake up on her 16th birthday. The smell of warmth and cinnamon in the chilly morning as her father plated pancakes for the two of them. A gesture not often shown and accepted with great appreciation. There was an entire day planned out for the two of them. She would unwrap the small presents he’d been collecting over time, learning from hard lessons that he could never shop when time wasn’t on his side. Autumn would wear something new he had gotten her, and they would travel outside of Hawkins to her favorite shop. She spent at least over an hour scouting out various books, crystals, and instruments she had a fascination with. She would pause and stare at something for just a little too long in debate, and he would swoop in to pay the price.

Steve wasn’t in the picture, then. His absence felt like a dagger buried deep in her chest, twisting and pulling until she found herself on Jonathan’s doorstep, ready to continue the celebration with laughter and warmth. But she would lie awake in wonder if he was thinking about her and the smiles they shared, just as she did.

The bitterness of coffee seeps into the darkened wood of the cabin. It bleeds through and pulls her from a quiet night of rest, yet still too lazy to roll out from her bed. There’s no sweet syrup, or the sizzle of batter on a hot pan. Just the gentle thud of his heavy footsteps as he moves down below, trying not to disturb her. No soft sounds from the radio as her father plays a classic tune. Autumn lies there for an unknown amount of time, heavy eyes locked on the beams above and the eyes of nature imprinted through the structure. They stare back. Mocking and pointing out the drastic change in her life in such a short amount of time. How she could no longer recognize the girl she met in reflections.

So, this was 17.

A rumble of hunger has her turning over–inching toward the edge for her feet to rest upon the chilled flooring. Her head rolls from side to side, letting bones crack and settle before her focus shifts to a familiar object across the way. It’s set just by the edge of the attic–tossed aside as she climbed in for bed. The brown wrapping paper was still fully intact, with small animals beckoning for her. She obliges.

The box is carted back toward her bed, illuminated by the glow of morning as she begins to tear at the paper. Slowly, she reveals a checkered pattern along a wooden surface. It’s nearly pristine. Shining beneath the sunlight. She could have mistaken it for something brand new if she hadn’t noticed the small scuff marks along the edges. Or the small loss of sheen as pieces rubbed away at the finish.

It had been well-loved once upon a time. Had this belonged to Dr. Owens? Did he no longer find a use for it, thinking she may give it the love it deserved? It was one of the oddest things been given, for sure. But, she still slides the game board free from the box to peek inside - and her heart slows to a halt.

The girl's veins fill with shards of ice, aching as her body slowly locks up with a mind empty of thought. Unable to turn away–unable to hide from another nightmare as it slips into reality.

Various birds lay in an organized fashion. Perfectly placed and nestled into their felt bedding. She’s seen them all before - in dreams or hallucinations. In that place, she’s constantly pulled back to–the darkness. Where the world peels away little by little - like old, rotten paint falling away to reveal what's beneath. The white walls decorated with the brilliant color of a rainbow and proudly displayed drawings from children.

The voices of people she cannot put a face to yet finds a familiarity with as they go over the rules of the game. Her hands are much smaller compared to her opponent. Small, and frail. She moves every piece to mirror his own, facing down enemies without confidence. But, she finds trust. Piece by piece, they shift. The man acts as a guide at first, letting her find comfort before she moves the pawns across the board, no longer needing his aid.

A small hand raises, finger hovering just over the raven and watching as it begins to slide across the surface with ease, and without contact. “No,” he interrupts. Tiny fingers coil back, hand slipping away with hesitation before the other continues. “You can do better.” And so the hand falls to the girl's lap, fist wound tight against thighs as she stares at the piece - pressure building at the center of her mind until the raven settles in its new square. There’s a breath of relief and a chuckle of approval across the way, “Good.”

Victory is short-lived. A chest swelled with pride deflates the moment a white raven swoops in without mercy. He plucks the girl's piece from the board to set aside with his building collection. “But not good enough.”

A thunderous noise from below shocks Autumn back into the present. Her vision was hazy yet locked in a trance on the checkered boxes. The wooden pieces had been pulled from the depths - by her hand, or something else, she cannot tell. They lay scattered across the board, some rolled off onto the comforter. A lone king remains - a tall eagle entangled in the chains that hold him down. Keep it contained and imprisoned.

It stares in her direction with purpose, bringing attention to the ache in her fingers as they strangle a blackened bird in her hand. Trembling fingers work to pry themselves apart, revealing that same peacock that has followed her through dreams - through another time.

“Autumn?” Hopper's voice rings out, calling to her from the main level and the bird falls from her hand. It clatters along the floor, rolling from her sight as she moves with desperation. The board is pushed back, along with the king and other fallen pieces. They all vanish in the storm that rips through her body. A breath of life finally fills her chest, though it’s panicked. She tugs at blankets until she can no longer see the brown and white squares, shoving at the pieces until they all slip away from her mattress, eager to forget what she’s seen.

“Everything okay up there?”

“Fine!” The lies continue as she calls back. The sound of her voice was shockingly frail and cracked. She stares down at her hands, making sure they are truly…hers. Not of a child, but of someone who’s seen what reckless teenage behavior can do. The small scars from careless actions or the dented nails of anxiety.

“You have a visitor,” his tone is more irritable. A low grumble of something incoherent as he waits at the base of the ladder.

“Tell them t’come back later. I’m not really-”

He scoffs at her response–just barely on the verge of laughing as he pulls away from the wall to move elsewhere. “That’s not likely,” is how he ends it. Leaving the girl in total silence, still struggling to come down from the high of what she’s just seen, and now a budding frustration toward her guardian.

When her chest stills and her mind has cleared itself of fog, she puts on a brave face. Bury the troubles in the corners of her mind like she had always done, so that she could make it through another day. So no one could see the burden she carried. But as she peeks just over the edge of an open attic, the mask slips. A familiar brunette stands awkwardly in the small living room. Hands perched on cocked hips as he sways back and forth impatiently. He’s avoiding the narrowed stare of the chief of police. “Steve?”

Doe-like eyes dart in her direction, curved lips stretching to a soft grin. The boy is unphased by her expression of surprise or the baggy pajamas she still wears. “Want me t’come back later?” he teased, still wearing a look of amusement as she quietly pondered what to say.

She hadn’t seen or spoken to him in days. Not after what happened. Not after she fell into his arms with blinding tears in her eyes. She waits at the edge, convincing herself that this is no hallucination or bad dream. This was the real Steve. His warmth and bright eyes. Nothing like the coldness she had felt in that awful place inside her mind. Hesitantly, she climbs down to meet him with arms crossed over her chest. Remaining cautious and distant.

“What’re you doing here?”

For a moment, his face blanks. Forgetting that things are different - more than just different. More than a reunion between two friends. Her life was entirely altered and off-kilter, not knowing where to stand or where to go. “It’s your birthday.” He states plainly.

Steve finds his spirit lightened when he hears her snort. Lips pulled to a timid smile as she mutters, “I know that.”

“Well,” his hands rub frantically together, the excitement bubbling up until he spreads his arms out wide with a toothy grin. “I’m here t’celebrate!”

The girl's smile falls to a flatline, brows furrow together as she eyes him carefully. Her old friend was not typically the most eager in the morning, especially on a holiday vacation. “Steve, it’s 10 AM.”

The boy's arms fall to rest in a familiar place. One hand raised to confirm the time on his watch, and then he waved her away defensively. “I know. We’re starting late. So, go,” he gestures towards her figure. Fingers twirling midair as the words lodge in his throat, reddening his skin. “Put something on.”

A crooked, disbelieving smirk shines on the girl's face. Neck twisting to catch sight of Hopper's lack of amusement. Steve’s done a lot for the two of them while her world crumbled and slipped through the gaps. He’s provided a helping hand. A shelter when the sheriff couldn’t stand at her back for protection. He’s given comfort and smiles when it is most needed. And despite all he’s done, it gives the older male little comfort in letting her go.

But, he gives his blessing with the tilt of his head and shrugs of his shoulders. “Y’know the rules, Harrington.”

The teen puffs out his cheeks, blowing a raspberry as he raises a fist and begins to count every finger that extends. “Don’t stay out late. Keep the walkie-talkie on. Don’t talk t’strangers. Don’t do drugs. Always be on high alert.” The two men locked eyes, one almost beaming with enthusiasm while the other seemed entirely unimpressed. “How’d I do?”

Hopper says nothing in response to the boy. He takes another sip of his coffee, eyes now on the Autumn as he nods in approval. “Dress warm.”

Attention is locked on the contents of her bag, checking that nothing had been left behind in the diner when she notices the ground is no longer painted in the glow of a setting sun. The light is gone–swallowed up by an eclipse as ash rains down from the sky. It dances through the air with every step, quickly coating the top of her boots and dirtying her jeans. Autumn truly sees the world, then. Buildings collapsed and were pulled into the Earth by living vines.

It’s all so familiar. The cracks of lightning as they whip through the sky, illuminating the nothingness. The rumble of thunder that follows goes unheard, drowned out by a racing heart as it pounds in her ears. It’s a dream–it’s only a dream.

It’s not real.

But his presence is hard to ignore. That same chill radiates from his frozen form as he stands at her back, waiting just outside the now-empty diner. Her eyes close, and she recites the order of events in hushed whispers to herself. She had left that place - it had been days. He reluctantly let her go back to the cabin once her sobs had ceased. The sun had set and risen - she counted the hazy stars. Teeth chewed her lip raw from anxiety as she faced Dr. Owens for the first and second time.

She couldn’t be back in this place.

Not with him–whoever he truly was.

“Autumn?”

She can hear him at her back, his voice soothing and full of worry. The teen can’t help but feel as though it were a trick. Luring her in with familiarities before striking. She knows he’s not really there. Not the boy she once knew. Something twisted and evil lurks in her shadow, waiting for her to accept him.

“I could have saved you.”

Not real.

Not real!

“Aut?”

Focus snaps in the boy's direction, blinded by the sudden light that fills her vision. He’s shed the puffy winter coat, leaving it discarded somewhere in the back. The heat glides along their skin, leaving their cheeks tinted but blissful as it thaws frozen limbs. The run out to his car was short, but the snow had piled high enough to slip inside her boots as they trampled through the path.

Dampened toes curl, brushing up against abandoned boots, reminding her that this was real. His look of concern was real. Not the emptiness the other version of him held. Not the bitterness that dripped from that stranger's tongue. “You with me?” he questions, his eyes glancing from her to the road ahead on repeat.

All she can do is shake away the nerves, urging a smile to the front as she basks in the moment. The words “this is real” loop in her mind. “Yeah, m’good. Just thinkin’ about how long it’s been since we’ve done this.”

Those few words seem to shift the atmosphere by force. Taking hold and twisting it until the boy grows uncomfortable in his seat. “Yeah, it’s long overdue.” There’s visible discomfort in his expression, eyes forward but mind elsewhere as he muddles over the right words to say. A silent battle in his mind while his empty hand grips a denim-clad thigh. The nerves rise with the growing tides until they spill out. “Is this okay?”

Confused, she spares a glance his way. Noting how his eyes dart frantically between her and the journey ahead. “Y’know, this? Doing this? I didn’t like–I didn’t make you feel pressured t’go, right?”

Autumn’s tense shoulders sag, face softening as she watches him come undone before her. His vulnerability was proof enough that this was no dream - no nightmare. Just the same boy who panicked and stumbled over himself. Needing to be accepted by the people he gave his all to. King Steve was dead. Not just the title, but all of the false adopted traits he gathered over time. It was simply Steve.

“I mean, I don’t want t’assume that we’re-I don’t know. I–I just-”

“Steve,” the girl interrupts, eyes unreadable as they connect over the center console.

“Yeah?” he seems almost breathless as he responds. Hoping that in some way, they could just move on. Forget about this moment and how embarrassed his ramblings had made him. Skin flushed with knuckles white as they grip the wheel.

“Shut up.”

The boldness in her reply throws the boy off balance. There’s no more heated anxiety or timidness - just an empty mind as it rings out in his ears. Echoing and filling the gaps. In all of the years he’s known her, he’s always been able to pinpoint when Autumn was full of shit. When she was teasing, being a jerk, or seeming sincere. But now, with time and the erosion of her life, it’s unclear what it all means.

“I’m in your car, aren’t I? Like you said. No one, not even you, can make me do anything.”

It all takes a moment to sink in. A smile slowly inches toward the surface, full of light as he begins to relax in the driver's seat. Aching fingers release their strangled grip, letting the blood flow with ease. She chose to be here–wanted to be here. There was still a glimmer of hope, no matter how dark the world all seemed.

“Where the hell are we going, anyway?”

The pair had driven through town, passing every possible spark of interest for Autumn. Hawk Theater, the library, or even a place of peace and comfort just at the cliff of Lover’s Lake. Admiring the view as sunlight captured the glow of icy water and fresh snow. He wouldn’t spoil his plan–insisting she just sit and be patient. However, his encouragement to wear multiple layers was…alarming.

He had even promised that if she wasn’t happy, they could turn around and find a last-minute movie to enjoy. She spent the entire ride guessing, only to be shot down every time. Eventually, she ran out of ideas. Instead switching the conversation to Nancy, which he immediately began to fumble. His answers were short but honest. They were working on things, yet he was too shy to fully go into the details, unlike his somewhat ex-girlfriend who found confidence in confiding with another girl.

The conversation slowly fades out once his speed reduces, curiosity reaching its peak. He’s pulled into a lot, and it’s packed. Cooled cars sit along the treeline, entirely abandoned or the drivers mingle around with their children as they button up their heavy coats. They all seem to follow after one another - moving towards a park that no one seems to be taking advantage of. And as she spots the multiple, large inflatable tubes and sleds, she begins to understand why.

She calls his name, and all he can do is smile as he finds an empty spot toward the back. Telling her to get her shoes back on before he’s out of the car, jacket in hand as he moves toward the passenger side. Her door opens without thought - like it comes second nature to him. Unphased by her puzzled gaze beneath fallen hair while she forces each foot back into her boots.

“Unless you have a sled in your trunk, I think we’re pretty screwed.”

He scoffs, leading the way toward the snowy field with his fingers fiddling with his wallet. “Don’t worry about it. It’s covered.”

An older man stands with a smile on his face, speaking to parents as they exchange a few dollars for an inflated tube he keeps just at his back. They all move on, preparing their child just at the edge of what Autumn believes is a small hill. Steve does the same, ignoring her words of protest as he forces the handle into her hand.

There’s hesitation as she stands along the lineup of people, staring down a white expanse that is far longer and steeper than she pictured. And Steve can’t help but notice the sudden tension in her shoulders, or clench of her jaw. “What? Afraid of heights now?”

“No,” she bites back. “I’m afraid of what comes after.”

Steve can’t bury the smile so proudly on display, though there’s a teasing look in his eye as he suggests they go together. It’s all for her benefit, so she’s less afraid. But she scoffs at him and slams the object down, her torso pressed to the surface and in a matter of seconds, she abandons him at the top of the hill. She can hardly hear his cries of excitement as the wind overwhelms her senses.

It feels like it did all of those years ago. Careless and free. No longer imprisoned by her mind as it was filled with impossible things or voices from the unseen. Weakened wings were gaining their strength, reaching out to the sun so that she could finally fly. But it’s all over in an instant. She reaches the bottom and her pace begins to slow to a halt, a wild heart rate drowning out the sound of joyful children all around her. Or the hiss of plastic as it grinds against compacted snow, inching closer toward her with every second.

She’s breathless from the sudden adrenaline, aching eyes staring out into nothing until Steve slides into her view, just a few feet beyond her. There’s tension in his neck as he pulls at one handle, trying to shift the tilt before it surrenders and tosses him off to the side. You can hear his body collide with the ground, and a forced “oomph,” before he erupts in a fit of laughter.

“Well,” he grumbles between every huff, now up on his damp knees. “That could have been more graceful.”

The boy notices her intense stare and the quivering twitch of a smile. It all seems to speak for her when the words don’t reach her lips. She’s having genuine fun—excitement flooding through her veins to leave her dizzy. “What?” He asks, mimicking her expression as he finally stands, dusting away the snow.

“I want t’go again.”

[lavendermunson]

state of grace | steve harrington x fem!reader

+18 nsfw. steve calls reader kitten, hickey session sorta, thigh riding, fingering, needy reader. no mention of pronouns, reader has a vagina. no use of y/n.

“Slow down, kitten” He whispers in your ear , your legs are straddling his waist, sitting on his lap with his face buried in your neck giving you kisses and bites all over your delicate skin.

“The yearbook club is going to kill me if i show up for picture day like this”

“Can you please not mention school while we are…”

“I will have to put a lot of concealer on”

“Baby just leave it, let anyone know who you belong to” his calloused fingers hide under the soft fabric of your shirt, he squeezes your breasts as you begin to grind over his leg.

“If i’m showing up like this then you too” you start nibbling on his skin, trying to leave a decent purple mark.

Your kisses go down to his collarbone, where you start to lick his skin like a kitty referencing the pet name he gave you.

“You are so fucking needy my little kitty, i can feel my thigh getting wet already”

You always do it and it kills him, your little tongue presses down wet kisses in the most sensitive parts, his cock gets hard with the feeling “Stevie, shut up!”

He laughs at your words, his giggles come back from the deepest part of his throat giving them a lower tone. The sound invades your ears and you let out a moan.

“Good, good kitten” Steve leans his head to one side while giving you space to kiss his neck more, and more. He notices you eager for friction and he gets comfortable, while the muscles on his leg tighten.

You feel your pussy starting to burn, you search for more friction while he bounces his leg , softly, up and down.

“C’mon i know you want to make a mess on my leg, i can feel it already princess”

A desperate whimper falls from your lips, is the sign Steve has been waiting for. He keeps you steady on his thigh while you grind in it. Pulling you down so your clit can feel more friction.

A hand slides down your skirt, he touches the wet spot between your legs and over your panties.

“I think this has to go” he maneuvers his fingers taking the lace of your panties, his full hand takes a part of them ripping them apart. He earns another whimper from you “I’ll buy you a new pair, baby”

Two of his fingers go easy inside you, he bumps them in looking at the pleasure on your face.

“Can i cum, please please can i cum?”

“Sure thing, kitten. Give it to me” his teeth burry in his bottom lip, your mouth keeps itself in a perfect shaped “O”

While your core starts to feel hotter than earlier, your tummy starts relaxing and letting out sticky cum from your orgasm. You lean your head back, closing your eyes, swearing you can see right now.

Steve’s thigh gets wet and sticky, he doesn’t mind. He smiles while staring at it and his hand travels to your hair.

“You are so pretty” his lips come to crash into yours, a soft kiss while you get down from your high.

“You too, Stevie” you whisper in his mouth, your words tickling his bottom lip “Let me take care of you now”

“Who am i to stop you? Go have your breakfast baby”

You roll your eyes chuckling, he does too.

The yearbook club will have to wait more time to take your pictures.

made this randomly today after work, gooodnight 😵‍💫🤤 REBLOG TO SUPPORT THE AUTHOR

[buckysgrace]

Illicit Affairs

Steve Harrington x Female Original Character

Daphne Williams just spent the past year mourning her failed career choices and past relationship that ended in a way that was anything but pleasant. She’s ready for something different, to drag herself out of her hole of self-pity.

A spark of change comes to her in the form of big, gentle brown eyes and cheesy pick-up lines. For the first time in a long time, she doesn’t feel lost or that she’s not owning up to her full potential. She’s good. He’s even better. Even if they’re not technically together. She’s an adult. She can handle sex with no feelings until she sorts herself out. She’s fine.

Minus the part where he ends up being her professor. That certainly puts a damper on things.

Warnings: Student/Teacher relationship, Friends with Benefits, lots of smut, fluff and angst.

Playlist: TBD

Chapters: 1. One 2. Two 3. Three 4. Four 5. Five 6. Six 7. Seven 8. Eight 9. Nine 10. Ten 11. Eleven 12. Twelve 13. Thirteen 14. Fourteen 15. Fifteen 16. Sixteen 17. Seventeen 18. Eighteen 19. Nineteen 20. Twenty

[floredaqueen]

Under the Mistletoe(2)

Next is Steve and Rebecca! I'd like to think they erre the ones to REALLY show out for this holiday function! These were my favorite to do so far.

Hope you enjoy!!♡

[sadhours]

just the two (okay maybe four) of us - part five

billy hargrove x steve harrington x original f!characters

co-written by @buckysgrace 🩷

contents; 18+ minors dni, f/f smut this chapter hehe, billy and steve start to bond

🔅🔅🔅

“Gina,” Kim felt herself whining as she pressed her cheek against the other side of the door, “Let me in please.” She’s pouting, knowing that she was in the wrong. In her defense, she didn’t think that it would be an issue sleeping with Tommy. Gina had said that she was fully happy being with Steve.

“No,” Gina’s voice rings out from the room, “Go away.” She snaps in return. Kim feels her lips curling down into a frown, hating how hurt Gina sounded. She really didn’t want to upset her friend like this.

“I’m sorry,” She says at last, sniffling as she wipes at her nose, “I didn’t think that I would hurt you. If I’d known that I was, I would've never done it.” She promises the other girl, wishing that she could see her face. She needed some reassurance. She jumps suddenly, looking towards her right as she realizes Steve has just walked out from their apartment.

A minute or two passes and Kim still lingers at the door, feeling quite awful as she hopes that Gina will appear. She playfully claws at the door before she realizes Gina isn’t coming out at all. She quickly rushes back to her room.

“Where are you going?” She questions, looking at the way Billy is sliding his shoes on. He pauses for a moment before he’s adjusting his laces.

“Gonna show Steve the gym I work out at,” He says briefly. She crosses her arms as she watches him, feeling a pout form on her lips. He sighs deeply as he stands up, “Come here.” He walks past her and she follows hot on his trail as he heads back towards Gina’s room.

“What are you doing?” She asks confused and intrigued as she lingers behind him. He glances towards her, a look of irritation in his eyes. She felt a bashful smile forming, knowing that he hated conflict like this.

“Getting the two of you to stop moping,” He says quickly as his fist connects with the door, “Kiss or fuck or do whatever you have to do. Just stop bitching.” He says with annoyance laced in his tone.

“I don’t bitch.” Kim protested, furrowing her eyebrows together as she thought about it for a moment. She didn’t think she did anyways.

“Gina,” Billy knocks obnoxiously loud and long the whole time speaks, “Open the fucking door or I will.” He says, sounding more agitated than Kim had heard in a while. She moves in closer to him, trying to hear if Gina is moving over the sound of his fist connecting to the wood.

“Fuck you!” Is the only response from Gina. Billy stops knocking, making Kim assume that he’d given up as well. It isn’t until he’s turning and his shoulder is smacking against Gina’s door that she realizes what’s happening. She felt her eyes widening as she reached out, trying to grab Billy but it’s no use. The door is plopping open by the second time his shoulder is connecting with it.

“What the hell?” Gina rushes forward, looking at Billy in disbelief, “Are you crazy?” She asks, looking quite frazzled.

“You two are making me feel that way,” He says, sounding just as irritated as Gina. He wraps his fingers around Kim’s shoulders, giving her a few light pushes until she’s standing inside of Gina’s room, “Now makeup so I can stop hanging out with your dweeb of a boyfriend.” He says gruffly as he’s turning away.

“You are so insane, Billy! You can’t just fucking break down my door and act like it’s no big deal!” Gina calls after him, “What the hell is a matter with you?”

Billy rolls his eyes, “It’s a fucking door.” He slams the front one on his way out, Steve must already be in the car. Gina doesn’t really care where he’s at, honestly, too focused on what Billy’s done and the way Kim’s looking at her.

Kim stares forward at Gina’s shorter figure. She tries to take a step forward but Gina steps backwards just as quickly. Kim inhales deeply through her nostrils.

“Please,” She’s speaking softly, sure that she looks just as pitiful as she sounds, “I just want to talk.”

“Your psycho boyfriend just broke my fucking door!” Gina exclaims, motioning to the splintered wood. “He’s gonna replace it!”

Kim sighs, “He will. He’ll fix it. Can we please just talk?”

Gina sits on her bed, still fuming, “Well. Talk, then!” She has a really hard time with anger. Can’t exactly bring her voice down to a reasonable volume when she’s upset. It’s probably genetic, Tommy and her father are also like that.

The redhead fumbles with her fingers as she steps closer, “I’m so sorry. I crossed a line.”

“My brother, Kim! You know how hard I tried to keep him away from you our entire friendship? It’s disgusting. I’ve been so fucking sick to my stomach since it’s happened,” she complains. “Like if it was Steve… I can’t imagine I wouldn’t be included then though.”

“Oh my god,” Kim giggles, “Was Billy right?”

“Huh?” Gina raises an eyebrow, “What did Billy say?”

Kim scoots closer to Gina, pushing her hair over her shoulder, “Billy says you’re probably just jealous of Tommy.”

“I…” Gina swallows hard, now that she’s been caught. “Maybe.”

Kim twirls Gina’s hair between her fingers, “If I eat you out will you forgive me?”

Gina giggles, her thighs heating up at the suggestion, “Let’s find out.”

“Yeah?” Kim bites her lip, scooting closer to Gina and smoothing her hands up her thighs. “Lay back.”

The brunette girl obeys, laying back on her pillows. She watches with dark eyes as Kim pulls her leggings and underwear down. Gina’s already soaking with anticipation, spreading her legs for Kim. She kisses against Gina’s thighs, looking up at her with mischievous eyes.

“Kimmy,” Gina whines, biting hard on her lip.

Kim wastes no time, grabbing onto Gina’s thigh as she gets her mouth on her cunt. A gasp falls from Gina’s lips, staring down at the redhead with lustful eyes. It takes everything in Kim to keep from rubbing up against the mattress, but she reminds herself that this is all about Gina. She flicks her tongue across Gina’s folds slowly before she’s darting it against her pretty clit.

Gina’s pretty moans fill the room as Kim flicks and dances her tongue across her pussy. Her fingers grip around Gina’s thighs, pulling her far apart as she begins to suck on her clit. She muffles her own moans in Gina’s pussy as she feels like it’s been far too long since she’s had her.

“Fuck,” Gina moves her hands down to grip Kim’s hair, tugging on it softly as she grinds her hips up against Kim’s mouth. Kim moans as she moans her tongue down further as she begins to swirl it against Gina’s entrance. She slowly pokes her tongue forward, licking away Gina’s slick as she burrows her tongue inside of Gina’s cunt, “Oh my god!”

Kim moves one hand up over Gina’s up to press down on her clit while she continues to lick and prod at Gina’s hole. Gina is whimpering underneath her, squirming as her grips tightens in Kim’s hair. Kim moves roughly, keeping the same urgency as she feels Gina coming undone underneath her.

“Yes, yes,” Gina is wiggling again, her hips pressing up harder as she cries out, “Fuck!” Kim licks at her cunt rapidly, trying to clean Gina’s cunt up as quickly as she can. Gina whimpers, her body still arched as she begins to relax underneath her.

“Mhm,” Kim giggles as she sits up on her knees, watching the way Gina’s chest is rising and falling, “Tastes good.” She teases Gina as she slowly rolls her over. Gina looks back, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. Kim only grins, knowing that she wasn’t quite finished with her.

“They’ll be back soon,” Gina looked a little alarmed, glancing towards her door that no longer fully shuts, “Kim, I can’t.” Kim leans forward, her hips pressing up against Gina’s spread legs. Gina whimpers, her eyes full of want.

“I told Billy to give us some time,” She reassures Gina as she reaches between her legs to rub at her clit, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of us.” She giggles softly as she settles back down, letting her fingers travel to press against Gina’s wet hole.

She pushes one in first, slowly curling it and pumping it into Gina’s already wet cunt. Kim feels a moan forming on her lips, wondering how Steve ever lasted when Gina was so tight. She allows Gina to adjust, to relax around Kim before she’s pumping in a second finger, then a third.

“Feel good?” She giggles out softly, her teeth grazing against Gina’s neck as she’s sure she already knows the answer. Gina whimpers, grinding her hips back further as Kim curls the three fingers deeper inside of her.

“Uh huh,” Gina moans out, her legs quivering and Kim is sure that she’s pressing up against her bundle of nerves. She presses her lips against her shoulder, then down her back as she remembers that she can’t leave marks on Gina this time, “So good, Kimmy.” She spits out harshly.

Kim reaches another hand down to rub at Gina’s clit, the same way Billy does to her when he’s fucking her in this position. Gina mewls louder, grinding her hips back in awe. Kim feels a whimper forming on her lips, wishing that her strap on wasn’t so far away.

“You look so hot,” Kim moans as she pumps her fingers in deeper, enjoying the way Gina’s cunt is squeezing around her. She grips a hold of Gina’s hair, yanking her back so she can enjoy the way her features are contorted in pleasure. She slowly parts Gina’s lips, wondering if this is how Billy feels when he treats her in the same manner, “You little whore.” She giggles out, feeling like the change in roles was nice.

“Yeah, yeah,” Gina is staring up at her desperately, her lips pressed together like she really wants Kim to kiss her. Kim grins, knowing that Gina would have to be the one to beg for it as she’s spitting onto Gina’s closed lips. Gina moans as she desperately licks it away from her mouth, her eyes looking even darker if possible, “More, more.” She sighs out in bliss as Kim drops her head.

Kim grins again, scooting back enough so she can watch the way Gina’s cunt engulfs her fingers. She presses into her harder, hitting that spot deeply as Gina quivers around her. Kim presses down on Gina’s hip, pushing her down harder until Gina is crying out.

“Fuck, fuck!” Gina exclaims, her hips stalling as she clamps down on Kim’s fingers. She whimpers as Kim continues to finger her, letting her ride down from her high until there’s nothing left to give, “Oh god.” Gina whimpers, spreading her fingers wide across the mattress.

Kim giggles as she slowly removes them, taking slow motions to lick her fingers clean. She moans around her fingers, feeling her own desire building inside of her chest as her pussy throbs with want. Gina rolls over, her cheeks flushed as she stares up at Kim.

Kim moves, sliding her thigh between Gina’s as she’s straddling her. Gina’s eyes are wide as she brings her fingers onto Kim’s slender waist. Kim can feel her shudder from her orgasm.

“Wanna feel your tongue,” She moans out, shamelessly rutting against Gina’s thigh, “Please, please. I won’t tell. Steve won’t know.” She begs, feeling like her pussy is on fire from how good Gina’s skin feels against her clit. Gina moans as their lips brush together, but they don’t kiss.

“Fuck, Kimmy,” She’s whimpering again as she begins to grind her wet cunt up against Kim’s slender thigh, “Okay, okay get on top.” It doesn’t take much convincing before Kim is scrambling to straddle her face. She has full plans on tasting Gina’s cunt again, knowing it could be a very long time before she does so again.

“So pretty,” She breathes out as she rubs her fingers down Gina’s smooth cunt. She slowly pushes her legs apart, giggling as she takes in the desperate way Gina is rolling her hips forward, “Little whore.” She grins, referencing Billy’s words as she’s dipping her head down and slowly licking at Gina’s cunt again.

Kim fights to hold a moan back in her chest as Gina’s tongue descends upon her own wet folds. She moans loudly, deeply this time as Gina presses down against her clit. It feels good, too good and Kim is grinding her hips down to meet Gina’s eager tongue.

She’s licking at Gina’s swollen clit, kissing and sucking as she hides her own moans in Gina’s pussy. Gina’s fingers grip along Kim’s hips, pulling her down tightly like she’s just as desperate to get a taste. Kim moans louder, letting her tongue search and dive in deeper.

“Fuck,” She whimpers out, feeling her stomach muscles tightening together tightly as Gina slides a finger inside of her. She’s grinding back against her mouth harder, basically riding her face at this point. She feels her toes curling, “Gina, feels so good.” She spits out harshly.

“So tasty,” Gina is giggling this time, her hips moving forward as Kim starts to rapidly grind her fingers down across her clit. Gina’s laughter is broken up by moans and both girls are suddenly grinding up against one another, both chasing their high as they come down at the same time, “Fuck, fuck.” Gina whimpers, her cries coming out strained as she coats Kim’s hands again.

Kim cries out as she rolls her hips down against Gina’s tongue, whining as the pleasure takes her over. She sighs harshly, not ready to move yet as Gina’s tongue continues to attack her. She whimpers, rolling off only when it becomes too much.

She lays next to Gina, admiring how both of their lips are coated in slick. She wonders what it would taste like to be mixed together, but decides she won’t do it unless Gina asks. She bends over, licking at Gina’s pretty nipples instead.

“Mhm,” Kim giggles, watching the way Gina’s fingers wrap around her nipples, “Am I forgiven then?” She pouts her lips out, fully determined to go another round if that’s what it takes.

“I don’t know,” Gina hums softly, wanting to go again. She’s missed it so much, they had so much fun together before she met Steve. The reminder of Steve has Gina sit up abruptly, “Oh, fuck, I just cheated on Steve.”

“He won’t know,” Kim assures her, “And if he did, do you think he’d mind?”

Gina giggles, covering her face, “I think he’d be bummed out he wasn’t involved. Won’t Billy be mad?”

Kim shakes her head, “He said to do whatever we needed to make up.”

“He did say that,” Gina remembers, “I know I was drunk when I like, threw myself and Steve at you guys—“

“You didn’t throw yourself,” Kim interjects.

“Okay, well, I was going to,” Gina sighs, “But like, would you guys be open to that? Do you think Steve’s hot?”

“Oh,” The question takes Kim by surprise. She hadn’t ever gotten around to explaining that Steve was certainly her type. Billy had been the only person that she’d ever been attracted to that had blonde hair and blue eyes, “He’s cute.” She says softly, hoping that her face isn’t burning.

“Just cute?” Gina questions, her brown eyes locking in on Kim. Kim presses her lips together as she thinks about the best way to answer Gina’s question.

“He’s attractive,” Kim says at last, thinking that Steve really is handsome, “You’d just have to warm Billy up to the idea.” She says with a smile, knowing that her and Billy share the same type.

—

“I don’t work out much,” Steve admits, putting his wallet and keys in the locker.

“I can tell,” Billy says, slamming his locker shut.

“I mean… I was like captain of the swim team in high school but I don’t like, lift weights and it’s been a while since I actually worked out,” Steve offers as he follows Billy back out into the gym.

Billy scoffs, heading to the bench press, “You wanna spot me?”

“Uh, I guess,” Steve stands by Billy’s head as he lays back. Steve isn’t sure he could be much help once he sees what Billy’s benching. 200 pounds? Yeah, hopefully Billy doesn’t need spotting. “You think the girls will really make up while we’re out?”

The look on Billy’s face makes Steve feel like he’s missing something. Then again, he’s new to this. Kim and Gina haven’t really fought in the year he’s been around. And if Billy’s been around longer then he must know.

“Yeah, they’ll be all chummy when we get back,” he grunts as he does the first rep.

“If you say so,” Steve shrugs. He watches as Billy powers through fifteen reps. It’s maybe a little weird that his eyes are glued on Billy’s biceps as they flex. Steve doesn’t want to think about it too much. He’s been trying to ignore the way he observes Billy’s body because he knows it’s weird. He’s never seen a man as attractive as Billy though so he’s been banking on that being the reason. All men must look at Billy like this. It’s not gay at all. Just one dude admiring another.

“‘Kay. I’ll spot you,” Billy says as he sits up. Steve looks at him alarmed. He’s embarrassed. He’s gonna have to start with like 50 pounds.

“Uh…”

“You don’t have to bench 200, start small,” Billy blinks at him, his voice is the nicest Steve’s ever heard it. Are they… getting along? Like actually bonding? He smiles awkwardly. “Like 100?” Billy offers, by the weights.

“Let’s do 50,” Steve mumbles, cheeks flushing in embarrassment.

Billy laughs, “Oh, come on. You can definitely do 100.”

“Yeah, no,” Steve shakes his head, “You said start small.”

“100 is small,” Billy grumbles as he sets the weights for Steve and stands behind to spot him.

His fingers wrap around the barbell and he lifts it up. It’s easy, he thinks Billy was probably right. He could’ve done 100 but he doesn’t say anything. Does fifteen reps like Billy did and then sits up.

“Okay, now what?” Steve asks.

“Move your ass. 200 was my warm up.”

They grab lunch after. At a burger place that Steve points out. They order their food and a couple of beers. It feels… really nice spending time with Billy. Steve’s never had a friend like him. Not sure he can even call them friends. But whatever it is they have going on, Steve likes. Billy is extremely easy going and actually, pretty funny. Not like most frat guys, no. Billy’s actually witty, has Steve doubling over with laughter.

“God, that’s hilarious,” Steve wipes his tears away, looking at the smug look on the blondes face.

“And you doubted me,” Billy smirks, feeling quite proud that Steve was finally starting to warm up to him, “I told you I was funny.” He tells him, feeling a little smug with himself. Steve rolls his big brown eyes. Billy likes them. They’re not quite as dark as Gina’s, but darker than Kim’s. Although, sometimes he has a hard time deciding if Kim’s are more green or brown.

“Yeah, whatever,” Steve shrugs his shoulders, “Should we take something home to the girls?” He asks suddenly, like he feels bad for eating without Gina. Billy studies him for a moment and wonders if he actually has any friends outside of Gina.

“Kim asked me to DoorDash them some tacos,” He gestures towards his phone, watching the relief crossing Steve’s features, “How do you think they made up?” Billy asks, biting his lip in curiosity. He was fully aware of how they made up as Kim had already blown up his phone about it. He didn’t mind, she was honest. That was part of their rules.

“I don’t know,” Steve cocks an eyebrow, looking unsure as he takes another sip of his beer, “Just talked it out I guess.” He shrugs his shoulders, clearly sitting in the dark. Billy cracks a grin as he brings his beer bottle up to his lips. He hadn’t missed how his words had affected Steve the other day, how he could clearly tell that Steve wanted to see something happening between the two girls.

“Yeah, I bet so.” Billy says simply, reminding himself to have a conversation with Kim when he returns home.

[august-grey]

i don't need your closure | chapter 13

read on ao3

masterpost

July 1986

This was it. This was how Alice was going to die. Not at the hands of evil Russians miles below a shopping mall or torn to shreds by one of the multitude of monsters that plagued her little town. No, she was going to go out in the passenger seat of he mother’s Volvo, knuckles white around the handle on the door, foot punched down the invisible brake pedal. 

Fighting the urge to squeeze her eyes shut, Alice contemplated the choices that led her to this moment. How had she gone from taking Dustin to an orthodontist appointment to fearing for her mortal wellbeing in a mostly empty strip-mall parking lot with her 15-year-old brother behind the wheel of their mother’s car? 

Alice looked over at the boy in question, his eyes wide and laser-focused on the pavement, and reminded herself why she was doing this. 

“So, I’m taking driver’s ed next year.” Dustin piped up from the passenger seat, his lisp a little more pronounced after getting his braces tightened.

“Oh yeah?” Dustin gave a grunt of affirmation. “Mr. Paulson still teaching that?”

“Uh-huh, I heard he’s brutal.” Alice nodded emphatically. That was putting it lightly. Dustin continued, “Lots of kids…they’re getting practice over the summer…just to get a head start, y’know? Mike’s and Lucas’ dads have taken them out a bunch. Mike’s even been on a real road already.”

“That’s not a bad idea, extra practice would definitely help. Paulson flunked me twice before I finally got my license. Just never really got a chance to practice after dad left and everything. Has mom taken…” She trailed off, a sudden realization dawning on her. No. Of course mom hadn’t had the time to take Dustin out to drive. Their mother barely had time to take care of herself let alone teach her anxious children to maneuver a vehicle.

Not for the first time, Alice found herself cursing her father. Don’t get her wrong, Alice was glad that her parents were divorced. Michael was a piece of shit who didn’t deserve anything her mother had to offer. She’d always known that her mother was too good for that sorry excuse of a human. Alice just wished he had found a scrap of humanity before abandoning his family, leaving them with nothing but a forwarding address and a promise to see his children at Christmas.

Alice hadn’t been surprised in the slightest when Christmas came and went without even a phone call, but Dustin…Dustin had been heartbroken. For months afterward he waited for their father to simply return. To change his mind, realize that he had made a mistake and come home to his family. The brief phone calls from Michael yielded empty promises of going for ice cream or baseball games, leaving Dustin disappointed again and again as plans fell through. 

Anger festered inside Alice, finally bubbling over one day as she sat with her little brother as he watched the sky darken out their front window, waiting for their father’s car to pull into the driveway for a belated birthday visit. Dustin’s thirteenth birthday had been three weeks prior, and the bastard still couldn’t be bothered to even give his son this small gift.

Down the hall, Alice heard her mother leave yet another message for her ex-husband. He wasn’t coming, Alice had a feeling from the beginning. Knowing this didn’t make the situation any easier. A small shake of their mother’s head when she returned to the living room was all it took for Dustin’s resolve to crumple. Running into his mother’s arms, he buried his face into her chest, shoulders heaving with silent sobs. 

Alice needed to hit something. Her fists clenched, nails digging into her palms. She wasn’t going to let her father get away with hurting her brother like that. Not again. While the rest of her family was distracted, Alice smuggled her mom’s car keys out of her purse and drove the three hours to their father’s new bachelor pad, stopping only to grab a birthday card from a random drug store. 

Michael could only stare at his daughter, open-mouthed, as she shoved the card into his hands, demanding he sign it for Dustin. He did so, hastily shoving a few twenties in the envelope for good measure. Then he had the gall to ask Alice how she was doing. Ignoring his question completely, Alice simply told her father to either make a real effort to have a relationship with his son or to leave them the hell alone. 

She couldn’t remember the half-excuse he had spluttered out as she left him in the doorway, but she did remember crying the entire ride home. She remembered the look on Dustin’s face as she pressed the card into his hands and being grounded for a week for disappearing with her mother’s car for seven hours on a school night. She remembered being the one to step up in her father’s place. Taking Dustin to school and to extracurriculars, helping her mother with home repairs, picking up extra chores around the house. 

And now, she supposed, she was going to have to teach her father’s youngest how to drive.

***

“Okay, now slowly—“ Dustin slammed the brakes at the edge of the lot, jolting Alice forward in her seat. She took a calming breath before gently correcting him as he turned the wheel, taking the car down the row of shopfronts. “Try to ease into the stops, Dusty. Gently press the brake as you’re coming up to the—oh Jesus.”

“Sorry, sorry!” He exclaimed, shifting the direction of the car after coming a little too close to the curb. “This is awful, how do you do this every day without feeling like you’re going do murder someone with this death-machine?”

“You just have to…I don’t know…give it time and you kinda become one with the death-machine?” Her brother shot her a quick, bewildered glance. “Does that make sense? It gets easier with practice, I promise. Just…try to relax.”

“That’s not going to happen.” He groaned miserably, braking a little too hard again in the back corner of the lot. Fumbling around the console in a panic, he flipped on the turn signal, then the windshield wipers. “At this rate I’ll never be comfortable behind the wheel and I’ll never get my license and...and— Alice, how do I put this stupid thing in park?!”

“Calm down, you’re fine.” She reached over, moving the shifter into park and turning off the ignition. As soon as he was able to release the brake, Dustin threw himself from the Volvo. Alice rolled her eyes at his dramatics and exited the vehicle herself. “You’re not going to be amazing right away, Dustin. It’s going to take time. We’ll go out more once I get my car back and you’ll be a pro by the end of the summer. Paulson won’t know what hit him.”

Dustin didn’t look convinced. He leaned against the hood of the yellow Volvo and buried his face in his hands. Alice felt a little out of her depth; she was usually the one freaking out in every situation. Her brother was normally overly confident in nearly everything he did. He’d thrown himself into countless dangerous situations without a second thought; seeing him freak out over driving of all things was disconcerting to say the least. 

“Are you hungry? We can stop for burgers or something?” Food. If there was anything that could distract Alice from an anxiety spiral, it was a good, greasy meal. Surely that would work on her brother, too.

He shook his head glumly, looking forlornly across the parking lot. “Nah, my mouth is still sore from the orthodontist.”

Alice sighed. She didn’t like it, but she had one last idea that could bring up his mood, even just for the moment. 

“You wanna stop in RadioShack before heading home?” That got his attention. Shooting Alice a Cheshire grin, Dustin took off across the pavement toward the electronics store.

She trailed behind him, shouting, “You have twenty minutes! Any longer and you’re walking home!”

***

RadioShack had been a mistake. Sweat dripped down her neck as Alice glanced down at her watch; Dustin had been in the shop for nearly 45 minutes and she was slowly losing her mind. By the time she popped into the shop, Dustin had already been neck deep in whatever gadget he needed for his project of the week. 

Deciding she didn’t want to get roped into a one-sided conversation she couldn’t keep up with (she wasn’t feeling that generous), Alice picked up a small pack of batteries for her Walkman and left her brother muttering to himself over a display of tiny voice recorders. 

Five minutes. She’d give Dustin five more minutes and then she’d go in there and physically drag him out if she needed to. The midday sun emerged from behind a cloud, shining through the windshield and effectively blinding Alice. Make that two minutes.

“Alice?” Jumping at the sound of her name, Alice scanned the parking lot for a familiar face. The lot had become considerably more full than it was during Dustin’s impromptu driving lesson, but it didn’t take long to find the source of the voice before they flung themselves halfway through Alice’s open window, obscuring her vision with a mop of messy brown hair.

“Jesus, Robin, back up would ya?” Alice grasped her assailant by the shoulders and gently shoved her out of her personal bubble. Robin dropped to a crouch next to the car, so she was level with the open window, eyes wide and panicked.

“Thank god you’re here. Wait…why are you here? Y’know what nevermind, I’m in a crisis and I need you to talk me down.” 

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Reaching for the handle of door, Alice gave the seemingly innocuous plaza a once over, searching for anything out of the ordinary or potentially dangerous. Robin rested a hand on her arm, drawing Alice’s attention back to her.

“No, no. Nothing like that.” Robin took a deep breath, opened her mouth to speak again, and…stopped. Alice furrowed her brow and waited for the girl to speak. After a few long moments of silence, Alice gestured impatiently for Robin to continue. 

“I’ve been invited to a party.” She finally blurted out, expectantly looking to Alice for advice. 

“Okay.”

“By a girl.”

“Okay?”

“A specific girl.”

“…okay?”

“…a specific redheaded clarinetist with incredible taste in movies.”

“Oh! Oh my god, okay! When did this happen?”

“Just now, in the Rite-Aid tampon isle.” Robin stated miserably, popping up from her position by the door to pace the pavement. “So you see my problem, now!”

“Uh no, am I missing something?” Taking her chances with the angry July sun, Alice exited the blessed cover of the car as she watched her friend frantically pace the length of the adjacent parking space. “You like Vickie. This is good news, Robin!”

“No, Alice, this is an absolute nightmare!”  Robin stopped to run both of her hands through her hair, making her bangs stick up in perfectly odd angles to add to the slightly manic aura she was giving off. “Before this moment, Vickie had been purely a hypothetical. I could daydream all I want, but now, now…this is real life. She asked me to a party. And what’s going to happen, huh? I’m going to make a fool of myself and word vomit all over her and she’ll be horrified and I’ll be arrested for…for something. I’m sure I’ll deserve it at that point.”

Alice shook her head in disbelief. What was up with everyone today? First Dustin with his driving lesson, now Robin was having a complete meltdown on her watch. It was only a matter of time, she supposed, seeing as both Robin and Dusin had dealt with their fair share of Alice’s neuroticism. The least she could do was return the favor.

“Well, we can’t let that happen, can we? You’re not cut out for prison, no offence.” Alice stepped forward, reaching up to smooth Robin’s hair back to its normal state of messiness. Once she was satisfied, Alice settled her hands on the taller girl’s shoulders. “You just need backup, a wingman. We can make it a group thing. You, me, and Vickie.”

“That’s not a group, that’s you getting drunk and awkwardly chaperoning me like some sort of messed up, regency-era courting ritual, all while I desperately try not to make a fool of myself in front of a cute girl.” Robin mumbled through pursed lips. Though Robin wasn’t wrong, Alice didn’t exactly enjoy being reduced to nothing more than a bumbling overseer. As much as she wanted to help Robin, third-wheeling all night wasn’t necessarily Alice’s idea of a good time. 

She had an idea; whether it was a good one or not was the nagging question in the back of her mind. Briefly, Alice considered the last disastrous party she’s attended in Hawkins. It had been the precursor to what was possibly the worst night of her life, if you don’t take all of the the literal horrors and death she’d experienced over the past few years into account.

The night she was sure she’d lost her best friend. For good.

It’s different now, she reasoned with herself. She and Steve were on good terms; well on their way to friendship again. And though she didn’t yet have the full story of what had happened that night…or what had led to it, Alice could at least hope it wouldn’t happen again. There was only one way to find out, she supposed.

“I can, uh, askstevetogo.” Alice mumbled, half-heartedly tossing out the thought before she could stop herself. It wasn’t as if she was looking for an excuse to see him or anything, it just made sense. They are all friends. Friends go to parties together. As friends. “Then it’ll be a real group. Make things less weird, y’know?”

Robin’s eyebrows disappeared into her bangs as she shimmied out of Alice’s grip. “Oh, no, no. You can’t just say something like that and not elaborate. Did you and Steve make up?”

“Kinda? We’re…talking. It’s not a big deal.”  Robin seemed unimpressed, to say the least. Alice knew the girl wasn’t going to let her get away with that bullshit answer, and with a sigh, launched into an abridged version of what had happened with Sudsy. How she and Steve had ended up babysitting together, how Alice had emotionally blown up and confronted him, and then the subsequent, tentative makeup.

Obviously, making up with Steve was, in fact, a big deal to Alice. The past week had been the happiest she’d felt in months, and as much as she hated to admit it, that had a lot to do with Steve Harrington. True to his word, Steve hadn’t pressured Alice into anything since their conversation the previous weekend. To no one’s surprise, especially Alice’s, it took less than a day before she found herself eager to see him again. 

So, after harassing Dustin for Steve’s new phone number, she called him. He sounded pleased, but genuinely surprised to hear from her so soon. The palpable fondness in his voice combined with the itch to be within arms reach of him again, was how she found herself inviting Steve to take a walk with her. 

For safety purposes, of course. 

You see, Alice had a new client. A big, goofy Great Dane, who needed to be walked while her human worked overnights. Normally Alice wouldn’t think twice before declining the job; she and the dark didn’t really get along after everything she had been through. But this particular client had offered double her regular fee just to feed the dog dinner and take her on a quick walk before bed.

Alice couldn’t refuse the easy money, but that still left the problem of having to be outside. In the dark. Alone. She sucked it up the first night, walked the half-mile to the clients house, took the pup around the block while her nerves spiked, and finally ended up sprinting home after making sure the dog was safely in bed, the plan to call Steve already on her mind.  

As she predicted, he eagerly agreed to accompany her the next night. And then the next, and the next…until they fell into an easy, somewhat familiar, routine. Steve would pick her up at 8:30 on the dot, they’d take care of the dog, and then just sit and talk until Steve had to get himself to bed for work the next day. Sometimes Dustin would join them, if he wasn’t off galavanting with his Dungeons and Dragons club or messing with machines in his bedroom. But, mostly, it was just the two of them.

He followed her lead at every turn. Never pushing for anything more than what Alice was comfortable with giving, keeping a respectable distance. Alice, on the other hand, was having an incredibly hard time sticking to her own boundaries. Despite her reservations, Alice physically couldn’t keep herself away from Steve. It was like that night babysitting Holly had broke open a dam in Alice’s brain. 

Steve Harrington loved her. 

Just the thought alone was hard for Alice to wrap her mind around. Truthfully, she was scared. Hell, Alice was terrified. And still justifiably angry on top of it all. Months of convincing herself to turn her hurt into hate couldn’t be washed away so easily. No matter how badly she wanted to believe that Steve was truly repentant and wanted to make things right with her, Alice couldn’t shake the feeling that although everything between them was going well now didn’t necessarily mean it wouldn’t go to shit just as quickly. 

But in spite of it all, it was just so easy to fall back into an familiar rapor with her former best friend. It was a more than little unnerving how effortlessly Steve had fit back into her life and, even moreso, how badly she wanted him to stay there.

***

“So, yeah. We’re talking. That’s it.”

“Oh my god.”

“I know.”

“Steve’s in love with you.”

“Apparently.”

“You’re in love with Steve?”

“I…yeah. I guess am.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea.”

“Shit, Alice.”

Alice couldn’t agree more; shit.

***

Alice’s mother dropped her off at Robin’s house a full two hours early, at the younger girl’s request. Well…it sounded more like a panicked demand over the phone than a polite request, but Alice was willing to overlook that tiny detail. Either way, she was grateful for an excuse after Claudia had offered to drive the girls to the party itself. As much as she loved and appreciated her mom, that simply wouldn’t do.

“No, seriously, it’s okay, Mom!” Alice attempted to dissuade her mother. “It’s only a ten minute walk from Robin’s. You don’t want to drive all the way back out here in just to drive us less than a mile up the road.”

Reluctantly, Claudia agreed that the girls could take care of themselves, and left Alice and her overnight bag at Robin’s. She waited until her daughter was safely inside before waving and backing out of the driveway. 

In the time it took for Alice to arrive, Robin’s bedroom had descended into absolute chaos. Ninety percent of the time they had before the party was spent digging through the chaos that was Robin’s wardrobe, piecing together the perfectly casual, but not too casual because “then what if Vickie thinks I’m a slob! Don’t give me that look, you’re just as much a mess as I am,” outfit.

The other ten percent was taken up by relentless, teasing back-and-forth from both girls. It had started off with Alice clearly having the upperhand; gently mocking her friend as she tried on article after article of clothing. Alice was quite enjoying herself. That is, until it came time to talk to Steve about the party.

 In the end, it had been Robin who had called to recruit Steve as a secondary wingman and a ride home. It was stupid. The phone had been in Alice’s hand, she had dialed his number. His new number. The one for his fancy, independent, adult apartment. The first ring in her ear sent her stomach fluttering and her heart pounding, resulting in the phone being flung into a bewildered Robin’s hands.

Cooly recovering from Alice’s sudden panic, Robin had managed to convince Steve to meet them at the party. Alice hovered over her shoulder, ears straining to hear the other side of the conversation and chewing her pinky nail down to the nub. 

What was wrong with her? Alice chastised herself. She’d spoken to Steve on the phone quite literally hundreds of times. At least thrice that week alone. 

Inviting him to a party, though, somehow felt too much like she was back in middle school asking Matthew Miller to the Snowball, only to spend the night sulking on the bleachers after being stood up.

So, in true middle school fashion, it only made sense that she make her friend ask Steve, instead. Not that she thought Steve would stand her up. Because it wasn’t like this was a date or anything. This was merely a group outing with a couple of pals.

She’d never hear the end of it from Robin. 

***

The party itself was a docile thing, despite being packed with a couple dozen band nerds. The music was decent and the drinks were surprisingly good for a questionable concoction thrown together by a teenager. 

Robin zeroed in on Vickie the second they stepped through the door. When the redhead greeted both girls with a hug, Alice was impressed by how quickly Robin recovered from the close contact. 

As the night went on, much to Alice’s delight, it seemed that Robin’s initial apprehensions about the party were proving to be completely unnecessary. And though she was having a good time and was always glad to spend time with Robin, it really seemed like Alice’s presence was barely needed. 

It may have been the effervescent lighting on the dance floor or maybe the faint buzz of alcohol in her system, but Alice could swear Robin practically radiating confidence as she danced with the girls she had been pining over for months. Ever the dutiful friend, Alice swayed to the music with them, overthinking about what the correct amount of respectable distance would be. Not so close to the couple that she was invading their bubble, but not too far away to be unable to participate in conversation or miss any distress signals from Robin. 

Luckily for her, after some subtle comments from Robin, followed by a not-so-subtle elbow to the ribs, Alice finally took the hint and excused herself. She counted this as a victory in staying firmly in wingman territory. There would be no outdated chaperoning tonight. 

Not quite sure what to do with herself after leaving the one person in the house she actually felt comfortable spending time with, Alice wandered through the festivities, stopping to chit chat with old classmates every so often. She certainly wasn’t looking for Steve. Not really. Was she disappointed he wasn’t there yet? Maybe, but mostly Alice just felt overwhelmed without someone to anchor her. 

In the end she parked herself on a couch in the den, only returning to the party proper to replenish her drink. It was quieter in there, and much less crowded than the main living areas. There were a few people playing scrabble at a card table in the middle of the room as movie played softly in the corner, a couple boys sprawled out on a rug in front of the the television, watching intently. This was definitely more her speed tonight. 

Unfortunately, despite being a refuge from the chaos, this was also how Alice found herself three and a half drinks deep, getting her ear talked off by goddamn Matthew Miller. Yes, that Matthew Miller. She had cursed herself by thinking of him earlier. It seemed Matthew had conveniently forgotten his eighth grade indiscretions. Sadly for him, Alice was excellent at holding a grudge, even through the pleasant, fuzzy haze of drunkenness. 

“Anyway, you’d be surprised by the kind of stuff you could get away with in college. No one cares, Henderson, you could do whatever you want.” Matthew had his arm stretched across the back of the couch, fingers lingering dangerously close to Alice’s shoulder. She clenched her plastic cup in her hand and stared straight ahead, willing someone, anyone, to save her from this conversation. Where the hell was Robin when she needed her? “And the girls, man. They’re nothing like high school chicks; everyone is just so open minded, y’know?”

“Mmhm.”

“Most of the them are just there looking for husbands, anyway, so it’s easier. That’s what Trevor says, anyway. You remember Trevor, right? He was french horn in high school, but we were roommates last semester, too. Anyway, it’s true though. These girls are just looking for someone to settle down and have babies with.”

Okay, that was quite enough of that. Alice threw the rest of her drink back, grimaced and finally turned toward Matthew with a withering scowl, preparing to lay into his insufferable, sexist ideas about women as a whole.

“First of all, you misogynistic prick, that’s—oh! ” Alice’s speech was slightly slurred, but not enough to hide the venom behind her words. Words that were all too suddenly cut off by the aforementioned prick making a bee-line for Alice’s lips, his eyes closed and mouth horrifyingly open. She threw herself backward into the arm of the couch at the last second, simultaneously pushing Matthew back into the cushions opposite her. “Oh, no thank you!”

The boy was clearly taken aback, or at the very least, not used to being turned down. “Are you sure? I thought we were having a moment!”

“What part of... of that ‘conversation’” Alice emphasized the word with some sloppy air quotes. “Made you think we were having a moment?! I might be drunk, but I’m not, like, random, regrettable hookup drunk, Trevor.”

“Matthew.” The boy corrected her with a glare. With practiced ease, he shifted his face into cool disinterest before plucking Alice’s empty cup from her hand. “I’m going to get us a refill. Maybe you’ll be a little nicer when I get back.”

Frowning deeply at his retreating back, Alice knew this was her chance to make a hasty departure. She just needed to get up. Which was easy, so easy. Or at least it would have been two drinks ago. The liquor had settled into her limbs, weighing her down like sandbags. It was fine, though. She just needed to flag down Robin to pull her out of the quicksand-like cushions that were sucking her deeper and deeper into the couch with every passing minute.

But where was Robin? Alice squinted her eyes, trying to find a familiar face in the crowd through the open doorway, but failed to spot either of the girls she’d been with earlier. This was also fine, surely someone had to know where they had disappeared off to. Triumph shot through Alice as she successfully caught the eye of a friendly face. She beaconed the familiar, fluffy-haired girl over.

“Kate. Kate listen, where is Robin?” 

“Hey Alice, you good?” Kate smiled down at her, amusement glinting in her eyes, before helpfully taking a quick look around the room. “I don’t really know, I’m sorry. I think she and Vickie were in the kitchen earlier, do you want me to go check?”

“You’re an angel, Kate, truly. A tumpeteer from the heavens.” The words tumbled from Alice’s mouth without filter. The lack of control should have mortified Alice, but she was well past the point of actually caring. Kate just chuckled, patted Alice on the head like a puppy, and made for the kitchen. 

No sooner did Alice’s ally disappear through one doorway, did her adversary emerge through another, a fresh plastic cup clutched in each hand. 

Shit. The time for games was over. Gathering every speck of willpower she possessed, Alice pushed herself up from the cavernous couch. Bad idea. Awful idea. She clutched the arm of the couch as the room moved around her, swaying and spinning like a carnival ride. Her stomach churned slightly. Don’t puke, don’t puke, don’t puke.

A hand appeared on her arm, steadying her. Instinctively, she swatted it away. Unfortunately, the sudden movement tipped Alice off balance just enough to send her falling back into the accursed couch. She glared up at her assailant, ready to lay into Matthew about touching her without consent. Oh. Not Matthew, then.

Steve, her knight in shining polo, loomed over her with bemusement etched into his features. A flash of annoyance coursed through her; where had he been an hour ago, before her night had started to go downhill? However, the feeling was quickly overshadowed by dread when she caught Matthew’s garish, caution-sign yellow t-shirt from the corner of her eye.

“Listen, I’m sorry I’m late, but you’re not going to believe the breakthrough I’ve had with Gladys—“

“Sit down,” she whispered to Steve, cutting him off as Matthew drew ever closer. Without a second thought, Steve slid into the seat next to Alice, side-eyeing the approaching figure. Alice clutched his arm, pulling him close like a human shield, as if she could camouflage herself with Steve’s considerably larger stature. “Pretend you’re talking to me.”

“Pretend to—we were talking, Alice. Until you rudely interrupted me.” Alice laughed loudly, tossing her head in the direction of where Matthew awkwardly hovered nearby, his shins bumping on the corner of the crowded coffee table. Steve snuck a peek, taking in the boy fumbling with the red cups in his hands, and nodded to signify he understood the situation. 

“Ah, I see. Okay, what angle are we going with here? The usual?” 

“Nuh uh, our moms work together. Dead grandma isn’t going to work.”

“What about my dead grandma?”

“Maybe. Can you even pull that off?”

“You underestimate me, Henderson.” Alice bit back a smirk as Steve took the challenge to heart. Without any sort of preamble he turned and pressed his forehead into her shoulder. Sliding his hand into hers, he gripped her fingers tightly and put in his best effort into looking the part of a grief-stricken man.

Alice froze.

For the first time, Alice was thankful for the alcohol that dulled her senses. Her heart fluttered as she tried not to think about the way his breath felt on her neck as he buried his face into her shoulder. Or the way the hard plane of his torso pressed into her own, or how it nearly took her breath away. 

Alice took a second to compose herself. You’re a goddamn professional, she scolded herself. This was a tried and true act, one that she and Steve had played out at least half a dozen times before to get out many an awkward encounter, though it was usually her amping up the dramatics. The proximity meant nothing, and Alice had better remember that. After all, it wasn’t as if they’d never been that close before. Closer, she recalled, heat pooling in her stomach. 

It had just been so long. 

But she could think about that later. Instead of lingering on feeling the heat of his skin on her body, she focused on the performance at hand. 

“What’s wrong with him?” Matthew finally piped up after what felt like an eternity of fake-comforting Steve as he fake-cried into the light cardigan she’d thrown over her tank top earlier in the evening. Alice glowered at him incredulously as she rubbed a comforting hand up and down Steves back. He was good, maybe too good. A wicked thought crossed her mind. Lets see how well he could do with this one.

“Shh, his guinea pig just died.” She hissed. Steve stiffened a bit, thrown off by Alice’s plot twist. She bit the inside of her cheek, keeping cool. “Show a little respect, Miller.”

“Damn, Harrington, I’m sorry man. Here,” Matthew deposited both cups of god-knows-what concoction, on the table before them.  “Have a drink for…for—“

“Henrietta.” Alice supplied, helpfully. 

“For Henrietta.” Matthew nodded and clapped Steve on the shoulder before hurrying away as quickly as his feet could take him. Once he was safely out of sight, Alice couldn’t hold back the peals of laughter. Steve took the moment to collect himself, smoothing back his hair and wiping the non-existent tears from his face. 

“Guinea pig?” Steve spluttered, shaking his head in disbelief. 

She shrugged helplessly. “You were so convincing, though, Steve! Why didn’t you ever try out for the school plays? We never had enough boys, they would have eaten you up.”

“Just another one of my many unrealized talents. Come on, lets go find the lovebirds. They’re around here somewhere.” He chuckled, rising from his seat. Offering a hand to Alice, he pulled her up with minimal effort. She felt steady enough on her feet to follow him through the house, but not before swiping her drink from the coffee table. 

 ***

“And then! After giving me all this bullshit about how these college girls are all so eager to throw themselves at him, he decides its a perfect time to go for it. Mouth. Wide. Open.”

“Please, tell me you’re kidding.” Robin and Vickie sat shoulder-to-shoulder on one of the few lounge chairs scattered across the backyard, twin expressions of disgust etched across their faces. Alice was sprawled across the foot of a shared lounge chair herself. Steve had somehow managed to fold himself onto a tight ball of limbs on the other half, leaving plenty of room for Alice to gesticulate wildly as she recounted every gory detail of her run-in with Matthew.

“I swear he like, unhinged his jaw or something.” Alice cackled, shifting her body to lean more of her weight onto Steve’s bent legs. At this point, she was sure he was the only thing keeping her upright. To his credit, he merely shifted to accommodate her, untangling himself slightly so that he could sprawl his legs out on either side of her. Alice took the opportunity to claim space of her own, scooting back to nestle her shoulder against his chest, while keeping her body angled to carry on her conversation. 

Sober Alice would have never, not in a million years. But drunk Alice was an entirely different story. She reveled in the easy way Steve slipped an arm around her waist, hooking his thumb through the belt loop on her hip. The action didn’t go unnoticed to the girl across from her, either. Robin caught Alice’s eye and gave a wink. Alice tried, and failed, to hide a grin. 

“Anyway, then Steve finally showed up, but Henrietta died and he started crying, which we all know is the ultimate boy repellent, so s’all good now.” 

“Wait, who’s Henrietta?” Vickie piped up, looking concerned by the mention of someone dying. 

“Steve’s guinea pig.” Alice yawned behind her hand, before resting her head on her folded knees. “But don’t worry, I’m not even a hundred percent sure she even existed.”

“She definitely never existed, you nerd.” Steve’s chest rumbled as he spoke, chuckling softly. 

The conversation drifted to movies and Alice’s altered state-of-mind had a hard time keeping up with titles and actors. Despite her lack of ability to make a mental contribution, Alice was overjoyed to see Robin so open and totally herself around Vickie. If anyone deserved to be in a happy relationship, it was Robin. Alice knew she couldn’t come close to understanding the nuances of being in Robin’s shoes, but she certainly knew the sting of unrequited love. 

Though, she supposed, her’s wasn’t really unrequited, now was it? Did it still count as unrequited if the feelings had actually been requited all along, but the other party had chosen to be an ass about them for the better part of a year instead of talking about said feelings? Either way, Alice felt a strong kinship with Robin in the whole romance department. 

Head swimming, Alice decided that last drink had been a bad idea. To her credit, she’d only drank half of it before a moment of clarity had her switching to bottled water, but it was enough to push her just a bit too far over her usual limit. Enough to completely disregard any and all inhibitions, but also, as it turned out, enough to make her very, very sleepy. 

The fourth time Alice’s head slipped from it’s perch, Steve let out a heavy sigh, wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her tighter into himself. Alice gave up trying to keep herself up and settled fully against his chest, letting her eyes drift shut. 

Everything about this was against Alice’s better judgement, and yet she couldn’t shake the feeling of how right it felt. The buttons of his shirt digging into her cheek, how his breath ruffled her hair as he dipped his head to whisper in her ear.

“Maybe it’s time to get you home, huh?” Alice’s eyes snapped open and forced herself upright. Absolutely not; there was no way she was about to cut Robin’s night short because she got a little too drunk and couldn’t keep her eyes open. 

“Nope, can’t go home.” She mumbled sleepily, pulling the front of her cardigan to wrap around her body a bit tighter to ward off the chilly night air.

“…why not?”

“Two reasons Stephen,” Alice held up a lazy finger, ticking off the first. “Number one; look at Robin.”

Steve grumbled but did as he was told, fixing his gaze on Robin, who was now visibly uncomfortable with the sudden attention Alice brought to her.

“When was the last time you saw Robin have a good time at a party?”

“I have tons of fun at parties all the time, Alice!” Robin protested from her chair. 

“Exactly. I’m not going to make her leave a nice time just so she could lay in bed listening to me snore all night.”

“I can take Robin home later.” Vickie nervously interjected, fiddling with the hem of her shirt. “If that’s what you want, I mean. No pressure, it’s just…I’m having a nice time too.”

Robin visibly lit up at the prospect of actual Alone Time with her long-term crush. She nodded enthusiastically, a blush creeping up her neck. Alice flashed her what she hoped was a subtle thumbs up, which in hindsight was maybe a bit too subtle even for its intended recipient. Embarrassed, she tucked her hand back into her sweater.

“Oh, perfect. That problem was solved…quickly. Anyway, third of—“

“Second?”

“Second of all…I can’t go home drunk. My mom will cry and it’ll lead Dustin down a…a dark path of drugs and alcohol. You guys know the kid, there very impressionable at that age.” 

“That doesn’t seem likely.”

“You don’t know that. I just…I don’t like them seeing me like this. So I can…I’ll sleep it off on this lawn chair, I guess. If you don’t mind scooting…” She leaned forward as far as she could, giving Steve a chance to get up. He swung his long legs over the side of the lounge and hesitated, a brief flash of inner conflict crossed his face as he considered something.

“Or…”

“Or?”

“Or I can take you back to my place and you can sober up there.”

Alice clapped a hand over her speeding heart, face heating to what was sure sure to be a low-grade fever. What was this kid playing at? 

“Mr. Harrington, I think we’ve established I’m not that kind of girl!” She managed to choke out after her pulse calmed. 

“Jesus Christ, Alice, not like that!” He spluttered, taking a few steps back as though to put some distance between himself and Alice. Robin dissolved into a fit of mad laughter, completely ignoring the icy glare Steve shot in her direction. He placed his hands on his hips, looking absolutely exasperated by both girls. “I just figured my couch would be a hell of a lot more comfortable than a hard plastic chair, but if that’s what you’d prefer then by all means—“

“No, no! That’s…that’s actually super nice of you, Steve.” Alice tried to recover, feeling a small pang of guilt through the alcohol. She had misunderstood, of course Steve was just trying to help. That’s just what they did; they took care of each other. 

“Listen, don’t feel obligated or anything, it was just a suggestion. I can just as easily let you sleep right here, or take you to Robin’s, or to back to your house to corrupt Dustin. Just wanted you to have options, is all.” Steve rambled as Alice leant over to fish her purse from underneath the lounge. Stumbling clumsily to her feet, she looped her arm around Steve’s to regain some balance.

“Do you have snacks?”

“Ok, I’ve changed my mind. You’re not allowed in my home.” 

“Can we stop somewhere to get snacks?”

“Will you behave yourself if I say yes?”

“I can’t make any promises.”