#bUT !!! if there's something you'd like me to change or anything just lemme kno!!

[lupin-et-rose]

Second Chances

AKA 'The Do-Over’

Steve Harrington x F! Reader

Summary: Steve and Reader were friends, once upon a time. After a long time apart, their relationship is slowly stitching itself back together. But the course of mending wounds never did run smooth...

Warnings: Takes place in a slightly AU S2. Beware of mild cursing, some angst, endearments instead of Y/N, mentions of bullying & implied anxious reader--with a happy ending, of course!

"Do you ever wish you had a second chance to meet someone for the first time?"

Steve's gaze flickers to you for a moment. Only a moment. With his red henley and one hand on the wheel, he can't afford to look at you for long. Seems his headlights are the only ones driving in the dusk. "I don't- what do you mean?"

You knew he'd ask. But the fact that he asked made things so much more difficult to explain. Your hands clench at your skirt. Fabric crinkling in your fists, fireflies flitting past the windows. "I mean, do you ever wish you could have a do-over? With something, or someone-"

"You kidding?" Steve snorted. "God, there's so many things."

"Like what?"

His brows furrowed a moment, glancing at you from the corner of his eye. "Why are you asking me this now?"

"I-I don't know," you shrugged, ducking your gaze out the window. " It's just, something I've been thinking about. You don't have to answer if you don't want to, I just-"

"Alright, alright, don't freak out," The weight of his hand on your shoulder put the kibosh on your rambling. Thankfully. "I was just asking. It's alright, it's cool."

"Really?"

"Really-really," Steve assured you. "Alright, lemme just, lemme think for a second, okay?"

You nodded. Letting the muffled radio noise stretch between you as marker after marker passed you on the road. Your thumbs fiddled with the buttons and button holes on your old denim vest. Steve's palm stayed warm on your shoulder even through the thick fabric and the chilled AC. You swallowed.

"Tommy and Carol, for starters," he said finally. "Tell them to go fuck themselves," Your brows furrowed. Something like a self-deprecating drawl rolled in his voice. His hand lifted from your shoulder to fiddle with the rearview, the radio, the AC. "...I'd be better for Nancy. She deserved better than my selfish, small-minded bullshit."

Well, he's not wrong. A voice intoned in your head. Still, you winced for the old wounds you could hear beneath his words. "It's not your fault, you didn't kno-"

"Don't,"

You jolted in your seat. Geniunely alarmed by the seriousness in that dark gaze of his.

"I know what you're doing, doll. Don't make excuses for me. I fucked up, even you know it."

"Not as bad as you say-" You tried to insist.

"But you admit that I did-"

"I did not!"

"You might as well have-" Now Steve was the insistent one. His determination to self-flagellate was enough for you to shove frustrated hands into your hair.

"Well, yea, but not out of any sort of malice-"

"Yea, well, ignorance is just as bad."

"Steve-"

"Okay, okay, I know," he finally acquiesced. His free hand finally came to rest on the shoulder of your seat. You missed his warmth already. "We've beat this topic to death. What was the original question?"

"The Do-Over." You said. "Anything else you'd want a second chance at?"

"Do you?"

Your brain stuttered. "Wai-what?"

"What about you," Steve insisted. "I've said my piece, now it's your turn. What would you do over again, given the chance?"

"I-" Ay, there's the rub. For in asking the question you should've known Steve would turn your own curiosity back on you. Gone were the days when your questions were lost in his web of dirty jokes and inane complaints with his 'friends'. When he could answer your question simply and move on. Or when he'd deflect and distract and never get around to asking-well.

For the most part, this change was for the better. You had your friend back. Your Steve. The boy who'd bring you daisies to braid on the playground & share popsicles with you at summer camp. The boy who taught you how to play capture the flag. The voice who always cheered you on as you ran.

To have that boy back, to see him now for the brave, caring-if-sarcastic man he'd become...was like watching a flower unfurl in slow motion. An awe-inspiring something that pulled a smile from your lips every time you caught a glimpse of it. Steve bickering with Dustin, learning (and failing epically) to skate for Max, scrimmaging one-on-one with Lucas on the court, that book of D&D monsters he gave Mike for Christmas, Will's new drawing pad--it was everything you knew he could be and more.

But still, you couldn't help looking back and thinking- "You."

"What?"

Again his gaze was oh-so-brief. But the flash of hurt there was like the glint of a knife to the chest.

"N-no, wait! Not like that, I-" Your face fell into your hands, everything about you burning for remembering. "I don't want a complete do-over. I like how we met. That summer at camp was...one of the happiest I've ever had." Your words were falling over each other. Not sure where one should stop and the other should start.

"But the part I do-the part I wish I could get back, is everything after that." Your hands dropped to your lap. Tangling amongst each other like anxious vines as your thoughts finally unravelled. "Cause I'm gonna be honest...I don't remember as much of that summer as I wish I could. Cause everything about that fall just, just-overtook it, sort of."

You didn't need to look up from your toes to see the grimace lining Steve's face. He knew exactly what you were talking about.

"I know I got it easy, I mean," you shrugged. "The worst thing you did was pretend I didn't exist. Like we'd never met and you had no interest in doing so. All in all, suppose that's pretty tame-"

"No, hun, that's not-"

You shook your head. The tightness in your throat was suddenly almost painful. The darkness out the dashboard was starting to blur with the flush of Steve's headlights down the road. You couldn't tell where the sky ended and the earth began.

"When Ma sussed out what was going on, she gave me all these-these books. A fat lot of good that was; you were such a pansy about getting in trouble and I was too chicken-shit to tattle, so. I kept quiet."

"Doll, you don't have to"

"I wish I hadn't done that."

Silence.

You didn't want to know how Steve was looking at you if he was looking at you. So you kept your gaze fixed out the windshield. Refusing to blink even if your eyes burned and blurred.

"I wish I'd said something to you. I wish we'd talked things out, that we'd reconnected sooner, that I hadn't wasted so much goddamned time-!"

"You were just a kid!" Steve exclaimed. "None of that was your fault, how the hell was you supposed to know-"

"Maybe I didn't," You squeezed your eyes shut tight. Burning-hot tears overwhelmed you as they seared trails down your cheeks. "Maybe I still don't know what the fuck I'm doing when it comes to you, but-" One deep breath. "That'd be my do-over, sticking with you. That's what I meant."

Nothing.

No words. The idea of looking over and seeing his face-you could barely stand it. So instead you tucked your chin to your chest. Smearing the saltwater from your cheeks with one wrist. Muffled radio noise stretched between driver and passenger. Your vest buttons glinted in the fading light, shiny under your fidgeting thumbs.

"Hey,"

The weight of his hand over your own nearly startled you. You jolted in your seat. Eyes lighting to his, wide and burning in the dark. His face seemed almost pale, highlighted only by the fireflies that danced around you. The pace of the car seemed to slow around you as you gazed at each other.

"You did stick with me," He said softly. "Even if it was my own damned fault we didn't...hang out, all that time. You did stick with me, couldn't get your voice outta my head if I tried."

"-Really?"

He offered a twitch of a smile. "Really-really. You were a real pain in the ass sometimes, ya know. You were like, the ghost of Jiminy Cricket, or something."

"You mean your conscience?" You murmured with an arched brow.

"Er, yeah, that."

"You've seen Pinocchio?"

"Of course, I've seen Pinocchio! What kind of neglected child hasn't been traumatized by that movie?"

"It's not that bad!" You protested.

"Helpless kids get turned into jackasses and the main kid gets swallowed by a whale! Five-year-old me thought that was terrifying."

"Aww~, poor little Stevie, you must've been so sca-wed."

"You know what, screw it," Steve threw his car in park, completely startling you from the little Disney-bickering bubble you'd fallen into. "Here I am trying to comfort my friend like a gentleman and this is the thanks I get?"

"You started it!"

"No, you started it!"

Steve stared at you for a moment. You stared at him. -then cracked into laughter. Loud, peeling belly laughs filled the car like a thawing spring breeze. The kind that crashes over the both of you in waves every time you look at each other. Just as the tide drifts away, you share a glance with those dark eyes of his and the cycle starts over again. The water washes all the grit and grime away from your thoughts and mind. Finally, you can breathe again.

"Ah~ god, I needed that," you wheezed, wiping tears of relief from the corners of your eyes.

"Me too," Steve gasped, grinning like an idiot.

You looked at him then. Red henley cuffed above the elbows, one hand on the wheel even though the car had stopped. Moonlight and fireflies danced over the sunspots on his cheeks and glinted in his eyes. Not even a Polaroid could capture Steve the way you saw him just then. Your heart swelled three sizes in your chest. You know what? Screw it.

You reach for his hand. The warmth of his touch thaws the trembling chill of your nerves. His brows jump at the contact, but you just smile. "You wanna know something?"

A flicker of something like a shadow passed over his face. "Yea, what?"

"I think I've got my do-over. Right here and now..."You squeeze his hand. "I've missed you, Stevie. I'm glad we're friends again."

Steve swallows. His eyes gleamed in the evening light with that too-soft smile of his. "Yea," he says hoarsely. "Me too, missed you too, doll."

In the blink of an eye, an idea occurs to you and your smile turns wicked. "-What would you say to pizza and a movie? My family's got good ole Pinocchio on VHS~"

"Pizza? Yes. Pinnochio-no, absolutely not. Veto on the nightmare donkeys, thanks."

Once again you fall back into laughter. Seeing your boisterous good humour, even the adamant Steve Harrington can't help but smile. You'd probably know it if you saw the softness in his gaze...but he was happy 'bout this Do-over, too: 'The one good thing I've managed to get back.'

[fellegend]

@etheruin

          “ I urge you, foreigner ! Speak now of your name and destination ! ”

Once more, how unsurprisingly, would theatrics take the heat of provided situation. A common escape, his shelter beneath the storming skies. He would play his part, if only to escape the awkward sensation that would trouble his mind with formality’s greetings. 

[punkscowardschampions]

Ali & Carly

Ali: Ich glaub ich spinne Carly: wtf Carly: do you want a drink babe? Ali: ze german, baby Ali: i'll say no but get why you're saying yes so early Carly: k more for me Carly: nobodys in a sharing mood today Ali: yeah? Carly: yea Carly: no fun Ali: Leben ist kein Ponyhof Carly: give drew a slap for me k Ali: it would be my pleasure Ali: can i ask how he's pissed on your parade from over here tho Carly: the boy played me Carly: he wanted me to beg for what id just given him the prick Carly: shouldnt have drunk this much this soon my bad Ali: he's a fuckboy Ali: you knew that Ali: my sister on the other hand remains frustratingly oblivious Carly: dont be mad at me Carly: ive been trying to get him to dump her this whole coach ride Ali: I'm not mad at you, babe Ali: no room with how much ugh I have for him Ali: well, hopefully she will him Carly: he thinks shes gonna fuck him in berlin Ali: prick Ali: won't when she finds out Carly: you cant say anything cuz i wasnt meant to Ali: Let himself fuck it up then Ali: he's not being subtle Carly: he cant do subtle Carly: me and him have that in common like Ali: Carly Ali: do you like him? Carly: why Ali: because I think you do Carly: it doesn't matter what you think Carly: he thinks she's girlfriend material & im a slag Carly: hes not wrong either Ali: If you like him, then you should say Ali: regardless, shouldn't let him be a cunt to you, and Ro in the process Ali: who the fuck is he Carly: ha Carly: i dont like anyone baby Carly: I'm just bored Carly: berlins a whole new party Ali: well, good Ali: one less worry Ali: I wish you the perfect holiday fling Carly: aw Carly: youre still the sweetest Carly: sure you dont want a drink while theres some left? Ali: need it now so fuck it Ali: chuck it over Carly: come over Carly: you kno youre the sporty one Carly: i cant be throwing things round the coach Ali: alright, you calling baby spice, I assume? Carly: or scary Carly: depends whos asking Carly: cant be posh tho Ali: yeah you can Ali: she weren't even and you can rock that pout just as well Carly: aw Carly: you should be baby tho youre the cutest Ali: little school all over again, we can't all be baby, lads! 😂 Ali: i'll be ginger, if you wore that iconic dress on your site, you'd get lynched Carly: yea Carly: & if anyone would cause drama by going solo its you Carly: Marlene been knew Ali: Ouch 💔 Ali: but fair Ali: Already thinking about her due to namesake birthplace but you really went there Ali: please tell me I haven't tanked as hard, not got Drew's fragile ego like but 😥 Carly: you kno im just mad youre not thinking about me Carly: dont listen to a word i say Carly: goldies got a fragile heart now too, so sad you broke up w me & stole his bf on top Carly: someone think of the golden god Ali: baby Ali: yeah, that's TOTALLY what the weird vibe is all about Ali: moody twat, soz a threesome is outta the question now Carly: he likes you too Carly: thats a thing Carly: playing like im the one hung up but he is Ali: Nah Ali: that boy don't know what he wants Ali: not down for him using my bestie and sister to find out though, fuck off and soul search like the rest Carly: he wants you Carly: but you got your boy & he shouldnt be trying to mess w Carly: meant to be his boy too Ali: so he reckons but give him 5 minutes before he weren't arsed Ali: don't trust him as far as I can throw him so ain't taking his word on that either like Ali: exactly Ali: 🐍 Carly: id leave him alone if he was happy being w her but i kno he isnt Carly: not letting him lie to me Ali: it doesn't have to be your problem Ali: or your job to make him happy Ali: knew it though Carly: ha Carly: it isn't my problem Carly: & i cant keep a job you kno Carly: couldnt do that one if i was paid like Ali: no one can babe Ali: not to be that hippie cliche about it Ali: but forreal, gotta do that shit himself Carly: its Carly: how he makes me feel sometimes Carly: not happy im not living that lie but Carly: its not nothing & sometimes its good you kno Ali: yeah Ali: i know Ali: but you can have more, if you want Ali: that is possible Ali: you don't have to settle for sometimes good Carly: youre sweet but youre a dreamer babe Carly: ive got nothing going on not in my head & not around me Carly: theres no more than settling down on the site or settling for being off whenever i can Ali: s'not true Carly: yea it is Carly: you dont want it to be but that dont mean its not Carly: me and that boy have more in common than not being subtle like Ali: it ain't Ali: doesn't have to be Ali: nothing is set in stone unless you pour the fucking cement yourself, like Carly: it doesnt have to be doing it but it can still get poured Carly: forget it tho Carly: im drinking on empty & feeling sorry for myself Carly: no fun in that Ali: ain't that fast drying Ali: dust yourself off and run Carly: where to babe Carly: nowhere to go but the coach bathroom Carly: been there done that Ali: well hang on a bit and we'll be in a whole new country, babe Ali: promise is a promise and we can start in Berlin Carly: but 3s a crowd when its not a party Carly: im not trying to mess you & your boy up Carly: cant tell drew off if i do Ali: nah Ali: it ain't like that Ali: not got the blinkers on and knowing each other's passwords and schedules Ali: got trust Carly: yea? Carly: got food too or Carly: cuz im gonna vom if you say no Ali: Yes Ali: Lemme food parcel Carly: if you havent lost the knack Carly: been awhile Ali: 😔 Ali: i'm soz Carly: dont be Carly: you kno i love you Carly: no drama Ali: i love you too Ali: and you would tell me if you needed something wouldn't you Ali: 'cos that ain't changed, i'm still here Ali: unlucky bitch Carly: unlucky for you Carly: shouldnt be on site unless theres something in it for you babe Carly: all i need is to remember breakfast before i get on a sess Carly: & to dilute my spirits sometimes too Ali: there is, you nutter Ali: there you go, who said school trips weren't educational? only on the bus and you're whacking out the wisdom already Carly: not as thick as i look Carly: ms woodfield was thinking it too i reckon Carly: she might kno but im still gonna blame the shit driver if i vom Carly: try and stop me bitch Ali: you look nothing but amazing hush Ali: she's down with the kids, she'll hold your hair back Carly: you hush Carly: trying to make me emotional in front of the front of the coach Ali: it's alright, join Millie Rooney and say you're homesick 😉 Carly: idk whats sadder everyone thinking im crying over an empty caravan or that prick thinking its about him Ali: 😬 i know what i reckon Ali: better dry those tears, babygirl Carly: get his phone for me tho yea Carly: i am mad he gets me & i get nothing back Carly: use the magic Ali: use my mad hacking skillz gotcha Ali: but should I use them for good and accidentally forward some incriminating shit to Ro? 🤔 Ali: this is why we're not meant to play God Carly: do what you must Carly: i trust you Ali: don't worry, sure you're not the only girl he's been chatting too Ali: no offense meant obvs but you know Ali: don't have to drop you in it, as if its your fault but idk, Ro isn't always willing to be entirely rational when it comes to him Carly: idc she never liked me much anyways Carly: better that than dropping some naive random in it Carly: everyones seen me naked if it blows up Carly: old news Carly: & the vid was good too i look hot Ali: hmm, good point on the random Ali: and I don't doubt that you did Ali: I'll have to think on this a bit harder Carly: k Carly: if everyone gets in my inbox ill kno Ali: god Ali: people are gross Carly: can be fun sometimes Carly: cant all be angels like you babe Ali: 🖕 Ali: you know i ain't Carly: i kno you are Carly: too sweet Ali: pot kettle baby Ali: but your secret's safe with me 😘 Carly: ha Carly: its no secret im only sweet to you so youre the only one who needs to kno Ali: 'cos people suck Ali: that's no secret Ali: not gonna waste your time, are you, like Carly: not as good at picking out the deserving ones as you Carly: no secret i fuck up more than i dont Carly: how many bad decisions can i make before berlin tho Ali: nah, you're just too nice for your own good Ali: you know he don't deserve it but people have made the same (wrong) judgment on you so you can't do it back Ali: to anyone Ali: even genuinely shitty people, or people who'd be better off for the nudge of nah Carly: now whos dropping the wisdom Carly: ill just screenshot those few sentences for my ma when she's on at me Carly: im a nice person bitch Ali: 💅☕ though Ali: i'll translate it into spanish for her if she's not getting the memo in plain english Carly: ha Carly: she got well excited cuz she thought berlin had a red light district Carly: thought she was gonna get in my bags Carly: one way to stop me fucking drew in the front row but Ali: pretending i didn't hear that last bit ew Ali: moving on Ali: she wanna get in the windows or like? Carly: she did get the sack so probs Carly: or she thinks itll be like magic mike the german dub idk Ali: oh honey Ali: every nights a hen night Ali: 🙄 Carly: imagine if theyd let mas and das on this trip Carly: i couldnt have come Ali: me either Ali: no one needs that Carly: your ma is so scary Carly: but shed put goldie in his place Carly: probs shouldve brought her Carly: keep me behaving Ali: she literally wants to murder him Ali: need a restraining order and more than mr murray and mr latimer to keep her back Carly: ha Carly: love it Carly: cant she break up the happy couple Carly: my da did me & this beautiful traveller lad that took my v Ali: 💔 Ali: is he married now Ali: if we're doing matchmaking Ali: but in answer, she learnt that forbidding something makes it 1000x more likely to happen and in more secretive, intense ways so Ali: I'm soz Ro, really fucked you over on that one Carly: idk my da literally moved them on Carly: threat of getting the law Carly: k but he still wouldnt be into it Carly: i feel bad for her Ali: ugh Ali: so romeo and juliet, baby you must've been so about it 'til he fucked it up that hard Ali: yeah, i know Ali: i'll figure out something Carly: i was only 12 so i did have the mindset Carly: worth it tho Carly: prettiest boy ive ever seen Ali: swizzle on that, goldilocks Carly: everyone wanted to fuck him Carly: the whole site was feeling the love Carly: fun times Ali: like a beatle was living in your back garden Ali: love that Carly: i peaked Carly: all there is now is a golden god who behaves like a idiot boy Ali: i mean, won't take offense 😒 sat right here and all but no 😉 Ali: there's a whole world of dick out there i promise you Ali: some attached to boys who don't behave like one Carly: ha Carly: you know you're my fave Carly: but youre sat next to him so I cant tell it Ali: 💚 Ali: won't even tell you who i lost my v to Ali: too shaming Carly: now you have to Ali: 😬😫 Ali: okay but then i'm going for a piss so i don't have to feel the pity Carly: baby id never feel sorry for you Carly: w my life come on Ali: you might sympathize though 'cos it was ronan Ali: why he got all weird, probs Ali: eurgh repressed memories flooding back in with the shame 😂 Carly: shit Carly: i told drew all first times are bad but wouldnt wish him on you like that Carly: oh ronan Carly: he better not have treated you like he did me Carly: ill fucking kill him like Ali: aw babe Ali: my hero 💪 Ali: you know what he's like but that shit is long in the past with us so meh Carly: im gonna cry Carly: babe thats sad Carly: & now ms woodfield is staring at me k Ali: don't cry silly Ali: is what it is Carly: im crying and planning murder Ali: you went there too, and other various dickheads, so where's my invite to this party? Carly: but youre perfect Carly: and it was your first time Carly: actual tears in the front row Ali: oh babe Ali: i'm coming over Ali: bog roll in hand Carly: youre too good Carly: im so sad Ali: 😇 that's you Carly: all you tho Ali: nu-uh Ali: you you you Carly: i cant argue cuz im blinded by my tears Ali: not the greatest victory I've ever then Ali: but I'll take it if you smile again Carly: waiting for ms woodfield to tell me i need jesus Carly: ill laugh then Ali: okay, i'll try and lead the convo and her like Ali: we got this, woody Carly: nah if you try and lead her anywhere itll only go one way Carly: teachers pet Ali: 😂 Ali: do you reckon she loves that everyone lowkey drools over her 'cos she's the right side of 40 Ali: or is she desperately job hunting like these fucking kids Carly: i can see in her eyes she loves it Carly: she hates me cuz i dont Carly: facts Ali: not 'cos you never do your work, nah 😏 Carly: & im drunk as fuck rn on her watch Ali: i mean Ali: if YOU were doing your job properly darling Ali: mad you beat her to it, they always get plastered on trips Carly: yea Carly: bet shed take nudes in the bathroom if she had someone to send them to Ali: ooh what teacher could she homewreck Ali: school trip always a perfect place to start an affair Carly: Mr O'Brien could get it if you were old Ali: good shout Ali: getting out my bow as we speak Carly: Mr Cork is alright too but he looks like he'd shower after holding hands Carly: weird Ali: I mean Ali: cleanliness is next to godliness Ali: dirty hoe Carly: ha Carly: you kno it Ali: might be a serial killer Ali: but you wouldn't catch nowt off him Carly: dont have to go home if he murders me Carly: scatter me in berlin lad Ali: 😨😭 noooooo Ali: even if i could go neeson and avenge you Carly: dont go neeson off set tho Carly: your boy wouldnt love the racism Ali: don't wanna be that bitch Ali: problematique Carly: enough bitches on this coach Carly: for once not looking at you ms woodfield Carly: we ever getting there? i thought getting wasted would make me less bored not more Ali: and lowkey racists Ali: all comes out the woodworks when you outed, that gay bashing all afresh like Ali: seriously, why couldn't we go on a plane Carly: & overt racists Carly: that cash tho Carly: how would the teachers afford to get wrecked if they blew the budget Carly: gotta blow each other first Ali: ☕ Ali: dickheads Carly: when goldilocks isnt the biggest twat on the coach tho Carly: idk what to do w that Carly: universe trying to make me like him Ali: give him time Ali: sure he'll reclaim his title 💪 Carly: he'd love a crown Carly: or a medal Carly: get crafting Ali: only if I can get biblical Ali: crown of thorns, you mean barbed wire, okay Carly: ha Carly: im tired come & nap w me Ali: okay boo Ali: as far as pillows go 😏 Carly: serious Carly: i dont wanna sleep on my own Carly: hate it Ali: i remember Ali: coming Ali: promise