#steve harrington x ofc

[ash5monster01]

Not Just The Books

Pairing: Steve Harrington x FemReader

Warnings: 18+, no use of Y/N, smut, nudity, language, fluff, friends to lovers, minors DNI.

Summary: Steve catches you reading a smutty book and before the embarrassment can settle in you realize he is more interested in doing the stuff in the book with you.

word count: 3.5k

Masterlist

It was not uncommon for you and Steve to be able to sit in silence comfortably. Sometimes having the presence of a friend while you did different things was so much better than being alone. So you both sat comfortably in his living room, you in the easy chair, lamp on to illuminate your book, and him in the center of the couch, slumped down, as he watched whatever was on TV. The sound didn’t bother you as you read, you normally were in another world, not noticing the things around you. So even though Steve had the TV blaring with the hearing of a Grandpa, you didn’t even mind, the TV could explode and you wouldn’t notice. Thing was Steve always noticed you, even if his favorite movie was on TV.

So when he spotted you uncrossing your legs it peaked his interest. You still hadn’t torn your eyes from the book to see he had noticed your movement. Steve had almost turned away until he saw you had pressed your legs together, your teeth capturing your bottom lip. His heart accelerated slightly because he knew that kind of movement. He had caused many of girls that kind of movement, so when you started to shift in your seat, your breaths coming out in smaller pants he realized there was something more to the book you had tightly gripped in your hands. You still didn’t even flinch as Steve stood and walked over to you, in fact you couldn’t even tear your eyes from the page as he quite literally did it for you.

“Steve!” you screeched and he quickly noticed how dilated your eyes were, how fast your chest rose with each breath. You looked like a woman starved.

“Since when do books make you act like that” Steve teased, eyebrows raised highly and you felt the embarrassment burn through you.

“Please give me my book back” you begged, hand out, waiting for him to hand it over.

“You know, normally I would” and the panic started to set in as he turned the book towards himself. Steve never attempted to read your books. Why now?

“Please Steve!” you we’re quick, lunging towards him, but he was quicker. Your voice was rough, all worked up, and no one had even touched you.

“It’s always Steve you need to read more, when was the last time you opened a book, and now you don’t want me too?” he knew he was getting under your skin and you just prayed he woundn't read the page you were on. If there was some higher power out there they would keep him from reading that page right now.

“Just not that book, I was enjoying it” even Steve could hear how uncomfortable you sounded as you said it. It was as if you were trying to get him to cough it up without knowing what was so interesting about it.

“Well, I want to see what’s so good” and just like that his eyes dipped down and you launched for him. Yet Steve escaped your grasp, running across the room, and leaping onto the couch where he stood. Book now face open and you got to watch him read it in real time, like he was on a stage.

Claire panted out heavy breaths, skin on fire everywhere he left a wet love bite and blew on it. She tried to steady her breathing but as his wet kisses trailed down her stomach, finishing on the waist band of her shorts, she couldn’t quite seem to stop the breaths that came out.

Slowly his fingers curled into her waistband and she lifted her hips to make it easier, a silent conformation that what he was doing was okay. As the cool air of the bedroom hit her dripping core she couldn’t help but whimper over the thought of him burying himself between her folds.

“So perfect” he spoke, his tongue darting out to take a small taste. “And sweet”

Then just like that he was devouring her completely. So fast her back arched without her knowledge, pressing into him as he deliciously lapped up everything he could. Eating her out better than anyone ever had, and as his nose nudged against her clit she couldn’t help but begin to feel the coil tighten in her stomach. He had barely done anything and she was already ready to cum.

“Holy shit” Steve muttered, dropping his arms that held the book as he looked down at you from the couch. Very much unable to meet his eyes as he realized exactly what you were reading.

“Can I have my book back now?” you nervously asked, arm rubbing up and down your other one. Steve jumped back down to the ground. Trying to regain your gaze.

“Want to explain this to me?” he asked, holding it over and you quickly snatched it back.

“Not particularly” you now hyper aware of exactly how alone the two of you were right now.

“You like to read dirty books” he chuckled like a little kid and finally you dared to glance up at him only to see a smug look on his face, like he obtained information he was going to hold over your head for years to come.

“Most girls do Steve” you hissed attempting to hit him with the book but he quickly stopped you, his head coming to a shake.

“Whatever you say, it just looked like you were really enjoying it. I’d never seen you so…” he paused, trying to think of a word, and your heart accelerated. Thumping quickly against your ribs and you prayed he couldn’t hear it. “Worked up”

You sucked in a sharp breath as he said it and the air around you turned heavy. This had gone from embarrassing to mortifying because not only did you get caught reading about sex but you got caught for it turning you on. Steve had noticed you were turned on and now you wished he didn’t notice you even existed. “Can we not talk about this, I was acting like I always do”

“That’s a lie, you wouldn’t move while reading even if a tornado came through here but you couldn’t even sit still. You were needy and I know it because I’ve seen it a hundred times” now you were red as a fire truck and Steve was enjoying this way too much. Yet he was also getting turned on which he shouldn’t have because it’s you. His longest and oldest friend, the one he can be completely comfortable with but now he wanted to know exactly how wet you were from that stupid book and he wanted to see if he could get you wetter.

“Ah yes, King Steve, ruler of sex. Can’t take a hint but knows when a girl is turned on” you told him sarcastically, annoyed he insisted on embarrassing you further.

“So you admit to being turned on?” he said with a smirk and you rolled your eyes with a groan.

“My God give it a break, yes I was turned on, is that what you want to hear?” you asked him and as you let out heavy breaths and waited for him to give a sarcastic answer it never came. Instead he stared you down, like you admitting this suddenly made you a four course meal. Steve had never looked at you like this and now you were nervous all over again but about an entirely different thing.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” you nervously asked, attempting to back away from him because now the foot and half between you two was way too close.

“I’m not doing anything” he told you, stepping towards you to shorten the distance again and you wished he hadn’t of done it because now Steve was replacing the guy in the book for you.

“Yes you are, you’re looking at me like you want to kiss me” you said, trying to make it sound like a joke but even to you is sounded nervous. Steve just tilted his head, eyeing you up and down completely.

“It looks like that because I do want to kiss you” how was he so comfortable talking to you like this? You had never crossed this line before and now you wanted him to touch you and stay away all at the same time. “So can I kiss you?”

“I uh, I I..-“ you stammered, unsure how you went from peacefully ignoring each other to the edge of the line. If you say yes you would give him a reason to cross it and that was a lot of responsibility for a person.

“I need an answer sweetheart, because I really really want to kiss you” he spoke slowly and you swallowed hard, still turned on from the book and now a little turned on by him.

“Uh yeah, I-I guess” you told him and a grin cracked across his face and before you could say anything more his hands were on your face and drawing your lips near his own. He waited a minute before pressing them to yours, whether is was hesitant or savory you weren’t sure. But after a steady breath he pressed against you, mouth hot and slotting between your own lips perfectly. He was a good kisser but you already knew that.

It took only seconds for it to get heated, his hands tugging lightly at your hair and tongue grazing your lip. You parted in an instant, letting his tongue tangle with your own and then it was over. He had you backing up all the way to wall, your back thumping against it, and his knee wedging between your legs. Against your better judgement you started to grind against it, unable to stop your self considering how worked up you had been. “Getting yourself so turned on without any release, seems like torture sweetheart”

“There was going to be release, later, when I was alone” and your response had Steve’s head tipping back as he let out a groan.

“Still unfair, why don’t you let me take care of you?” Steve coaxed and you involuntarily ground down on his leg, knowing release was right around the corner if you just let him. Was it worth it though? To cross this line just for some sweet release? For a touch that could unwind you more than your own hands could? You knew Steve was a good lay, had been legend among the Hawkins High halls because of it. Should you even find out for yourself with risk of ruining the friendship? Fuck it.

You didn’t even have to answer based on the way your lips smashed back into his own. He met your pace in the blink of an eye and you couldn’t keep yourself from pulling at the hem of his shirt, trying to lift it above his head. Even needier at the sight of his bare torso you began to ride his leg like your life depended on it. A deep chuckle left his throat as his hands dug in the doughy flesh of your hips, slowing your movements against him. He wanted to take his sweet time with you and if he went any slower you were going to be a whining mess.

“What do you need baby?” he asked against your neck, sucking hard on the sensitive spot there and you were in no position to care that he probably gave you a crimson hickey.

“Take off my shirt” you told him with a groan, keening as he licked the sore spot of your neck. He obeyed, removing the baggy T-shirt you had worn over here just to be met with the sight that you had forgone a bra. You watched as his eyes turned almost black at the sight of you, swallowing thickly before cupping his hands around both your breasts. The minute he began to knead the flesh your head was hitting back against the wall, fighting from grinding on his leg again. Something about Steve needily groping your chest ignited a fire within you and you had been doing good until your nipple was sucked into his warm mouth and involuntarily you bucked your hips on his leg so hard you felt your hips bones hit his own.

"Such a needy girl" he teased before moving to suck on your other breast. As much as his words turned you on you still found yourself needing to feel more in control. Steve would be too cocky knowing he got you to so desperately fall apart like this. So in a moment of courage you took some intiative. With his eyes still closed, mouth littering your breast with hickeys, you dropped your hand down and grasped his hard on through his sweats. You felt the squeak from his throat on your breast as you began to stroke him through his pants and just as the girls had said in highschol, Steve was intimidatingly big.

“Looks like the book turned more than just me on” you teased, a sly smile on your face and Steve removed his mouth from your breast, tongue grazing up the skin of you neck till he was face to face.

“That’s not the book, that’s you” he told you and these words gave you the rush of confidence you needed for your fingers to slip below his waist band and grasp his cock right at the base. He hissed at the feeling of your cool fingers and the attention you were giving him.

“Stevie is needy too, what does he need?” you hummed, eyes wide and innocently looking up at him. He squeezed his own eyes shut as you slowly stroked him, prepared to ease him out of his pants.

“Baby this is about you” he told you, trying his best to back away but you had a grip on him that he was enjoying way too much.

“I know, that’s why I want to do this” and you were spinning both of you around, pressing him against the wall he previously had you caged in. He groaned as you dropped to your knees, breasts swinging as you finally pulled his sweat pants down. His length stared you down but he looked delicious as ever. If someone had ever suggested you’d be sucking your best friends cock tonight you would’ve told them they were lying but now here you were, taking him into your mouth. You hummed at the saltiness of his skin, tongue swirling around his swollen tip. He grabbed your hair without even realizing, trying to ease you to take more of him. Slacking your jaw you allowed him to glide in and out of your warm mouth, letting him hit the back of your throat, humming against him which made him writhe against the wall.

“Okay, stop I’m going to cum” he pulled you off of him, arms easing under your own and lifting you to your feet as if you weighed nothing. You smiled deviously at him, chin slick with spit and he didn’t waste two seconds before pulling you into a deep kiss. “It’s my turn to get a taste now”

He was mumbling against your lips, arms wrapped around you as he carried you over to the couch he had been watching TV on. Once he had you laid gently across it he was removing his own pants and dropping to his knees to remove yours. He made sure to take his sweet time, pulling the soft material down your legs, memorizing the cream color of the lace panties that had been soaked against your mound. You tried not to whine out as he touched you everywhere but there. You were on the verge of begging until he finally moved to pull the cream fabric off of you. You went to close your legs but his arm stopped you, keeping you wide open for him.

“So perfect” he said and you groaned out.

“Don’t tease” and Steve knew you meant both about the book and about how he was taking care of you. So he just grinned before dipping down and licking a long stripe through your folds.

“And sweet” and you didn’t have any time to yell at him because he was devouring you whole. Your stomach jumped as he sucked harshly at your clit, back arching and pressing your pussy straight into his face. His hands gripped the back of your thighs, more than likely leaving bruised finger prints but you hoped they did. You wanted to remember the mind numbing head Steve Harrington gave you. You almost didn’t expect him to be so good at eating you out. You should’ve thought because your heels were digging into his back, hands tugging harshly as his curls, and you were moaning unapologetically because he was just that good. You could feel the coil begin to tighten in your stomach and you were grinding against his tongue, movements getting faster indicating you were right there. It wasn’t until his lips wrapped around your clit did you find yourself begin to snap, shaking as your body seemed to leave earth and come back to you all at once.

“Hope you’ve got another one in you baby” he cooed, kissing up your stomach and breasts. He finally met your mouth and even though you were already half worn out you found yourself gripping his cock in your hand again. He winced due to holding his own orgasm off and your thumb gently rolled over his tip.

“Show me what you’ve got Harrington” you were telling him, pressing a chaste kiss to his lips before sucking on his neck. Steve hoped you were leaving your mark and soon enough you were lining him up between your legs. You shuttered as he ran himself through your slick.

He couldn’t wait any longer and finally he was pushing himself in you, bottoming out in seconds as you fully sucked him in. He knew not to move as your mouth froze against his neck and he moved to kiss your lips, an apology and promise that it would stop hurting soon. He was in his own pain of needed relief until your hand was grazing down his bare back.

“Please move, I’m begging you” and he didn’t need to be told twice as he pulled back and slammed into you again. You moaned loudly and he quickly found his pace, moving in and out of you as best he could. Swiftly you grabbed his hands, placing them on your breasts which he didn’t hesitate to grip. He used them for balance as he slammed in and out you, massaging them and loving them as best he could. The way you were reacting made him realize this was what turned you on most, attention to your breasts. Needing to have his release soon he dipped down, removing one hand to suck at your nipple as hard as he could, hips still slamming into you. The wet heat of his mouth had you keening in seconds and you gasped out, trying your best not to yell.

“I’m coming Steve, fuck cum in me please” you begged and he almost came right there as he heard those words. In moments you were pulsating around him, clenching tightly and milking him for all he was worth. The tightness of you made him follow right after, thick ropes shooting into you. You panted heavily as you gripped his shoulders, indicating him not to move.

“I want you inside of me a little longer” you told him and he slowly eased down onto you, trying his best not to move and overstimulate you.

“Where the fuck did this behavior come from?” he asked, pressing gentle kisses to the hickeys he had littered your breasts with. He was trying his best not to get hard over the fact he was still inside of you.

“I’ve always been like this Steve” you told him, feeling him twitch inside you.

“This dirty, why haven’t we been fucking sooner?” he chuckled, mouth kissing your chin and you rolled your eyes.

“Because I don’t fuck around Steve, and I always told myself that if we did this it had to be real” and the weight of your words hit him with surprise. Yet it wasn’t the kind of surprise you had expected.

“You mean to tell me you liked me this whole time too? Then what the fuck have we been waiting for?” he groaned out and your eyes widened as you reached for him.

“You like me too?” you hopefully asked and he smiled, lifting to press his mouth to your own. You winced as he slipped out of you, no doubt a mess all over the couch that now had to be cleaned.

“Hell I love you, I’ve always loved you” he told you after a beat and you smiled up at him, realizing you should’ve read dirty books around him sooner.

“We’ll in that case, let’s do this again”

For you to enjoy <3: @jjmaybankswifes-blog @halflifejess

[werdlewrites]

masterlist - ao3 - twitter @ djomamma

summary: warnings: Mentions of abuse, drug use. wc: 2,840

The sun was beginning to set by the time the pair arrived at the trailer park. Heather would cast a glance towards the girl in the driver's seat, anticipating a look of judgment but nothing ever comes. Autumn merely squints and presses herself forward for a better view through the night. The tall lights flickering and providing little to no help through the shadows. She seeks guidance from the passenger, who directs her along the path until they arrive at their destination. At the rear end of the Jeep, Heather pulls her bike from the trunk and wheels it up to the porch, where it lays without chains.

“Welcome to the Hunter abode,” she speaks in a drawl, keys jingling in her free hand as she fumbles with the lock. She mumbles in annoyance. Confessing the key always manages to get stuck, so she has to wiggle it around until there’s a seamless fit. There’s almost a relieved sigh as all falls open - welcoming the two girls into the cozy, dimly lit home. Wood paneling hides behind framed photos and patterned curtains, the light from the television flickering across every surface. It holds a familiar feeling; like a home. Old cigarette smoke pouring out from the fabric, the smell of fried food working hard to disguise it.

“Give me a second, okay? I’ve got t’get this t’my mom.” The other girl gestures down to the brown paper bag, grease darkening a few scattered spots at the bottom. In a matter of seconds, she’s gone. Moving into the small kitchen and down the empty hallway, calling out for her mother who replies in delight at her daughter's return. Their conversation is buried between the walls that separate them—incoherent words paired with a few sudden fits of laughter.

Jealousy stares back at Autumn through reflections in the glass. An ugly thing that mocks and stews in misery. It points a finger and reminds you of what you no longer have, and if it would ever be that way again. She finds herself loosely trailing after her friend, lazy steps carrying her towards the canary yellow fridge decorated in magnets and polaroids. Some hold people she cannot recognize.

Grandparents, unknown family members, or strangers as they linger in the background. Others are all too familiar. A group of boys with wild outfits and wide smiles, or the many versions of Heather as she grew into who she was today. Pictures of her and what she believes to be her mother out at the beach, bucket and shovels in hand. Pictures of Christmas morning and Halloween night, or something a little more recent as they stand in front of a moving truck.

That jealousy begins to simmer out into nothing. Its haunting face is now stoic without harmful words spewed. It drinks in the unknown world of Heather Hunter, finding similarity in ways no one should. Heather is almost breathless when she reappears, face red from smiling for too long, not once faltering as she finds the girl's focus locked on a particular picture. “I know what you’re thinking,” she begins, finally catching Autumn’s attention. “What went wrong?”

The girl snorts, shaking her head in disagreement. It’s nowhere near close - but the thought brings a feeling of guilt. Yet still, it falls off of her tongue. “Has it always been you and your mom?”

She’s hardly phased, blowing a raspberry at first as her body shifts. It had become clear Autumn wasn’t the first to ask. “Nah. Dad’s out there, somewhere. Doin’ what he does best. Being an absolute piece of shit.” Her arms are crossed, her side resting just against the chilled surface as she waits in anticipation for a response. But her friend is left speechless, lips parted as if wanting to speak but unsure of what to say. Heather opts to fill the emptiness. “Mom and I had t’leave him. It just wasn’t safe.”

It’s all so casual. She even spares the shrug of a shoulder as if she hadn’t spent years of her life in physical and mental anguish. As if he never bruised her skin or broke glass at her mother's feet. Jealousy had shifted into something sorrowful. Reaching out to console another wounded bird, though she hardly seems unable to fly. She stands tall with wings at the ready, taking flight off into the freedom she had fought hard for. No more bars to cage in something once delicate, now a force to be reckoned with.

Something in the distance steals away their attention, eyes shifting to the concealed window as heavy equipment moves past, gears squeaking and pipes rattling from within. Autumn chances a look as she leans across the sink, prying back the short curtain to watch as a two-toned van comes to a stop not far from them. A dark figure nearly stumbles out, his silhouette recognizable even now. “Is that Eddie?”

The other leans in just at the girl’s side, eyes narrowed to peel back the darkness. Soon, a smile is etched into place. “Sure is.”

“That’s convenient. Being neighbors with your best friend?”

She shrugs, not seeing the importance of her words. “S’how we met. Want t’go say hi?” Autumn can barely register the thought, let alone reply before she’s dragged back the way she came. Heather shouting out to her mom that she would be at “Munson’s.” Along the way, Heather is suddenly struck by an idea as a few lights come to life from within his home. She instructs Autumn to crouch and follow her lead, creeping along the path until they can hear his music bouncing off of the walls. The pair move along the siding, looking all too suspicious. She’s suddenly hyper-aware of neighbors watching as two shadows stalk around his home, phone at the ready to call for police.

“What are we-?” The question is silenced as a hand cups her mouth, a single finger held midair to keep her from speaking.

Slowly, their skin parts and she watches in continued silence as Heather slowly stands before a closed window, the glow from within illuminating a look of pure joy. Without warning, her palm slams against the glass, immediately forcing out a shriek of fear from the boy. “Bitch!” he calls out from within, angered steps carrying him towards the window. “Let us in!” Heather cries out, still wearing a smile of pride.

“Us?” The curtains are pulled back and the window latch is flicked, ring-clad fingers gripping at the edge as he leans out for a better view. “Who is-? Oh,” he pauses, barely taking in the sight of a familiar girl at Heather’s side. “Hey, Reid.”

Heather doesn’t waste another second. Hardly letting Autumn return the gesture as she boldly states, “Put your porn away and open the door. We’ve got a situation.”

A small smile of amusement is seen in the shadows, yet a look of confusion in his eyes as he wasn’t entirely trusting of her words. “Yeah? What kind of situation?”

The bright eyes of Heather look back to the girl, a smile to suggest secrets on her lips. Autumn does nothing but cross her arms in wait, unsure of what was happening. “We’re in desperate need of some fun.”

His fingers tap against the siding, biting at his lower lip to resist mimicking her joyous expression. But he stands back, arms held out in good faith. “Well, why didn’t you just say so?” Eddie soon hurries off once the window is shut, his frantic steps heard echoing as he races for the front door. Without a word, the two girls follow after, waiting another moment beneath the porch light. Though the time was short, it was enough to tug on Heather’s interest as she spared a curious look at Autumn in suspicion.

The door is swung back, fingers hastily combing through his mess of hair with rings threatening to tangle in the strands. Once settled, his arm is outstretched as an invite, a mocking bow in his posture. “Ladies,” he says dramatically, waiting until they both settle into the warmth of his home. It’s a stark contrast to the Hunter’s. All beige and brown. The only color coming from a collection of mugs and caps from around the world.

“Were you actually hiding your porn?”

He tuts in disapproval, his finger waving in the air. “A gentleman never tells.”

But the girl knows better, turning to face her friend to confess the boy’s secrets. “He’s got about five magazines under th-”

“That’s enough!” Eddie cries out, a large hand moving to clamp over her face. He tucks her back against his chest, now dragging her through the small home and down the hall. All protests are muffled as she stumbles along the way. “C’mon, Reid.” He calls out. “The fun is this way.”

She doesn’t follow in their steps upon his command. She instead lingers, arms tight around her torso as she considers what the fuck she’s agreed to. With a steady intake of breath, she braces for what's to come. She’s in it now, and it would be even more painful to make an excuse and bail. So, with one forced step after another, she inches closer to his bedroom, where Heather cries out in disgust. “Your hand tastes like ass!”

There’s a brief pause between the two. “You know what ass tastes like? Ow!” The punch to his arm is hard enough to hear. A muted ‘thud’ followed by clumsy feet as he works to catch himself. The room is exactly what she imagines, matching his personality, or at least what she knows of it. Posters of familiar bands hang up on the walls, his guitar resting up against the dresser that's cluttered with everyday items. It's careless and free, just like him.

He rubs at the unseen injury, a look of agony on his face until he finds Autumn standing in the doorway. The flip seems to switch, then. A bright smile to light up the room as he gestures out to the small space. “Make yourself at home.” Heather is already making herself comfortable, the desk chair pulled out with legs kicked up onto the mattress. She can see the hesitation in the other, giving a kind smile and nod towards the bed. Autumn does as suggested - first just at the edge out of uncertainty. With further encouragement in the silence, she pulls her legs up to cross over one another, finding easy comfort.

Eddie keeps his back to them, mumbling to himself as he digs through the top drawer. She can hear the crinkle of plastic, his deep eyes studying the contents with care before dropping it all back into the depths. Once he finds what he’s looking for, he turns with a victorious cry. “Ah-ha!” The bag contains numerous, rolled joints. Tape across the surface marked with a date and a specific plant name. “Is this what you had in mind?”

“Fuck yes it is,” Heather replies with a grunt, her body now stretched out to rip the contents from his grip. She pauses once the seam is torn open, eyes cautiously looking back to Autumn who has remained mostly silent. “Unless you don’t want to? We can have sober fun.”

She’s not left in the silence for long. The girl before her is already painfully aware of the ache in her ribcage. A heart turning to heavy stone before it shatters to rubble, unable to withstand the pressure life adds upon it. “I think it’s exactly what I need.” It’s all either two need as they settle down, smoke soon filling the air with every exhale. It’s all casual talk in the beginning, waiting for the high to creep in like a growing shadow. Eddie mentions Dungeons and Dragons, looking at Autumn expectantly from his place on the carpeted floor, body stretched out and relaxed.

“Oh, no, no-” She says in panic, waving away the cloud that spills from her lips. “I’ve got t’much going on t’be playing that.”

The boy’s head falls back in a fit of laughter, his linked feet swaying from side to side in pure bliss. “You say it with such disgust.”

The joint is passed across the way to an eagerly awaiting Heather, a smile on her lips as she watches her two friends dive deeper into a genuine friendship. “It’s not disgust.” Autumn corrects. “Doesn’t that game last, what? Months?”

“Yeah,” Eddie replies, a subtle shrug seen as a shit-eating grin grows. “Or like, years.”

“Years?” she practically shouts, eyes wide with disbelief. Eddie’s form is slowly becoming hazy. The colors around him slowly melting into one another, creating an abstract painting before her eyes. “You’re nuts.”

“Best way t’be.” He retorts. The boy follows after the lit embers, a moth to a flame. His torso is sagged forward, heavy as he carries the universe's weight on his shoulders. The inhale of his chest moves in near slow motion, a stupid look on his face as he surrenders to nature's beauty. Giving himself over to whatever she desired.

The room becomes a chaotic storm. Wild conversations and shouts of delight rebound off of the covered walls. Snacks spilling out onto the floor as heated debates began, with pointed fingers yet joy in their eyes. Laughter was always just around the corner. Even through the swarm of madness, and violent winds ripping the world away - it’s hard to miss the way he gravitates to her. An anchor to keep him steady as the eye of a hurricane tears through his sanctuary. Deep brown eyes linger on her when she’s not paying attention, and hers do the same. It’s painfully obvious even through the fog that threatens to blind them all. Autumn wonders if they even know what’s happening between them.

“Fuck.” Heather suddenly blurts out as an idea strikes her like a bolt of lightning. “D’you bring your cards?”

Autumn shakes her head, an effortless laugh rumbling within her chest. “It’s at home.” It’s the first time in a while that the word doesn’t carry a feeling of sorrow and longing. A feeling of emptiness as she wanders through life without a clear path.

“I wanted you t’scare him again.” His eyes roll dramatically, thinking back to the time he spent cowering away from the girl once she depicted his past and future. All written throughout his flesh.

“That’s not hard.” Autumn retorts, watching the way his focus snaps back at her, clearly offended while the girl at his side wears a look of pride.

“I think she just called you a ‘pussy.’”

A narrowed look aims in her direction, a feigned look of anger and a scowl on his lips. “You’re honestly a terrible friend.”

“I could read palms again. Things can always change.” She offers with a small shrug, watching as their eyes light up with excitement. But they never get that far. Heather had scrambled her way across the small space between them to sit at her friend's side, asking for a demonstration on reading palms and what it all means. She holds her hand out to Autumn, and with a delicate touch, she points to every curve and loop of chains. Heather can barely focus, eyes squinting as she pulls her skin closer, not truly seeing what the other could but playing along out of fascination.

Then, the confidence kicks in. She’s slipped from the bed and down onto the floor, where Eddie waits in silence. Heather is muttering to herself, studying both of his hands before taking favor of his left palm. Given the encouragement she needs, she studies through the haze of her high. At first, the action renders the boy pink in the cheeks. Wide eyes flickering elsewhere to ignore the embarrassment of such an intimate moment put on display. She doesn’t notice, but Autumn does.

Heather’s thumbs push and pull at the skin, looking for something that sparks with light in her mind. Then, a trembling smile comes to the surface, holding secrets hostage as she begins to speak. “I see something.” The pair share a look of wonder, though the girl on the bed remains a little more disbelieving, but doesn’t stomp out his fire as he leans forward with intrigue.

“What? What is it?” She has to bite back her smile before forcing it all to fall flat, keeping on the mask for the sake of the game.

“I see,” Cheeks hollow and without warning, she spits into the dip of his palm. A look of pure horror dances across his expression while she continues to bask in her success. “A pool.”

The metalhead is nearly frozen in place, staring down at the dampened spot in his hand in shock. When she begins to snicker, it's then that he retaliates. The hand is ripped away from her grasp to then smooth its way across her face, nearly tackling the girl as she tries to fend him off. “It's your spit! Take it back, you nasty freak!”

[carinacassiopeiae]

STEVE HARRINGTON X READER FIC IDEAS

these are actually some of my fic ideas for steve harrington x reader and joe keery x reader and i would absolutely love it if you wonderful authors would give them a go. it's not specified because i did not want to seem redundant, but all of the fic ideas are sprinkled with lots of angst - well, those that can be written with angst that is.

just please tag me on everything that you write (and even if they aren't the fic ideas here but you write for steve, then please still tag me. i'd love to read and support your work! 💖)

1. soulmate au fic where it's steve finding out first about it. can be about feeling each other's pain, initials, same tattoo, etc. childhood friends to strangers to friends to lovers trope. she fell first but he fell harder that sort of thing.

2. soulmate au fic (yup, another one! :>) i've seen an idea about the first sentence they're going to say to you is written on you. maybe it will turn into gold when it's said to you with a tingling feeling so you know he's your soulmate. and as steve works at family video, for reader, it's a spoiler of a movie line about a character dying maybe, but she doesn't know that, so she says that that's what the death or dying part in her line said.

3. reader receives gifts or poems or little trinkets with the sender giving hints about his identity and feelings. the thing is, they're from steve - who is reader's best friend. she asks for his help to find out who this mystery sender is and he agrees. but what if there's like a mistaken identity and she thinks they're from billy (and like who isn't attracted to bad guys and stuff) and steve just goes all pouty (loljk i dunno but something along those lines)

4. king steve era where he makes reader fall in love with him as a dare and she finds out about it breaking her trust and all that. but like i also kinda want it to happen when steve knows about the upside down already and reader will be in danger (near death for more angst haha)

5. during his king steve era, he bullied reader and now, they're the babysitters of the kids. he regrets what he's done and tries to show her he's changed and all, but of course reader isn't buying any of it

6. what if what happened to max happened to reader and steve just feels helpless and afraid of losing reader

7. reader feels like steve has lingering feelings for nancy when she feels like he's putting or choosing nancy over her

8. reader confesses to steve, but he says he doesn't like her. then reader's all 'okay fine, i'm gonna move on' and when she actually does that, steve is 🥺

9. just steve being all jealous pls i wanna read that 😭

10. reader trying to bottle up her feelings about steve; and she's so good that no one knows. so even if she's hurting when steve flirts with other girls, she doesn't let it show. but like i dunno how it will work that the endgame is still steve x reader

11. reader just moved in hawkins so maybe a relative or something because she gets tangled up in the upside down. her relationship with steve is enemies to friends (begrudgingly) to lovers so like slowburn

12. steve teaching reader how to swim, bike and she's all scared and wraps herself all over steve

13. it's a joe keery x reader (i know, i know). but like reader is introduced in a new season and her relationship with steve is enemies to lovers. so like i dunno if it's interview style of fic where they're breaking that down (bonus with cast members teasing the two of them)

14. in connection with number 12 (as i love behind the scenes fics as well), maybe reader's character dies so what was their reaction to the scene and all that - a break down again if you will

[sheerfreesia007]

Fluffmas #5

Title: Fluffmas #5

Fandom: Stranger Things

Pairing: Steve Harrington x OFC!

Author: @sheerfreesia007​

Prompt: Send Christmas Cards

Words: 1,027

Warnings: None

Permanent Tag List: @paintballkid711, @fioccodineveautunnale, @phoenixhalliwell, @linkpk88, @weirdowithnobeardo, @athalien

Gif Credit: @keerysupremacy

Snowflakes swirled and floated in the air as Steve put the car in park before turning in his seat and glaring at the group of preteens in the back of his car. Robin huffed softly as her lips quirked up in a soft smirk as she waited for Steve to address the kids and why they were all here. The kids all looked at Steve with varying degrees of disgust and skepticism written on their faces.

“Listen up dipshits. We’re here to help with Christmas cards. It’s a tradition that she does every year and this year we’re going to help her so that it doesn’t take her hours to get them done.” Steve directed in a tone of voice that had them all biting their lips with mirth. Steve tried so hard to keep the kids on the right path and felt that it was his job to make sure that grew up right but after a year and half now of being their babysitter he was exhausted. He figured if having kids was anything like this he would be a pro, a tired pro but a pro nonetheless.

“Sure thing Dad.” Max responded causing the rest of the kids to all giggle and chuckle while Steve rolled his eyes at them. Steve lifted his index finger and pointed at Max who widened her eyes comically as she grinned at him.

“Zip the lip.” Steve scolded her and she chuckled softly at him before shaking her head.

“You just don’t want her doing the cards for hours so you can spend time with her.” Dustin grumbled out and Steve whipped his head to glare at him.

“And what if I do Henderson? Is that a crime?” Steve asked sarcastically and Robin bit her lip to keep from laughing at her best friend. “Now let’s go.” Steve said with finality as he climbed out of the car. Robin and the kids all piled out of the car and began following Steve up your front sidewalk to the front door in a solemn single file. When they got to the door Steve easily rang the doorbell and they all waited for you to come answer the door.

“Hey guys? What’s up?” you asked with a confused look on your face after you opened the front door to find them all standing on your stoop. Robin grinned at you before rushing forward and enveloping you in a tight hug that you eagerly returned.

“Steve has brought reinforcements for Christmas cards!” Robin said cheerily before she sidestepped you and walked into your house.

“What?” you asked bewildered as your face turned to follow her entrance before turning back to Steve and the kids. The kids quickly slipped into the house as you stood there bewildered by this new information and looked at Steve with sparkling wide eyes.

“I just wanted to lend some help to you. I know you love sending out Christmas cards and it normally takes you forever to do them so I figured a little bit of help would make it go by quicker.” Steve explained softly as he stepped closer to you, his hands resting on your hips gently as he tilted his head down towards you.

“You just wanted to spend time with me don’t you?” you asked him knowingly and Steve sighed as he nodded his head solemnly.

“Is that such a bad thing?!” he asked incredulously and you chuckled softly as your hand came up to cup his cheek.

“Not at all. I appreciate the help.” you answered him softly before leaning up on tiptoe to kiss him softly.

“C’mon guys! Let’s get this going!” called Dustin from inside the house and Steve sighed softly as you chuckled.

“He totally called me out too. Knew the exact reason for this mission.” Steve told you and you grinned widely at the news.

“Because he knows you so well.” you answered as you led Steve into the house. The kids were all sitting around the coffee table that you had been using to write out the Christmas cards. The coffee table was littered with envelopes, cards, stamps, Christmas stickers and tape. “Alright so most of the cards are already filled out. We just need to address the envelopes, put the cards in, put stamps and stickers on them and then seal the envelopes. Who’s got the best handwriting?” you instruct them all and Robin raises her hand causing you to nod your head before grabbing the stack of envelopes and handing them to her. “I’m going to need you to address the envelopes for me. This is my address book, I’ll hand you the cards and let you know who it’s going to.” you tell her as she nods her head at you. “Wheeler, you're on stamp duty. Dustin’s on putting the cards in the envelopes. Max you’ve got sticker duty and Lucas you’ve got tape duty.” you tell them all and soon they’re all settled in their spots as you move to go sit next to Robin to finish up the cards.

“And what about me?” Steve asks eagerly as he stops you from getting to the couch. You smile as you look up at him before cupping his cheek once more.

“You’re on pizza duty Steve. I need you to order three large pizza pies for everyone. Then I need you to find a Christmas movie on the TV for all of us to enjoy.” you tell him sweetly and he smiles down at you happily before nudging his cheek into your palm.

“I’m on it.” he said softly only to be interrupted by loud obnoxious gagging noises from the kids that made you laugh.

“Thanks Steve.” you said happily before pressing a kiss to his lips which made the kids gag even louder. When you finally did settle down in your spot and got to work you felt a warmth fill you as everyone quickly helped you get all of your Christmas cards ready to be sent out through the mail. You smiled happily to yourself as you felt that warmth consume you and fill you with joy for the holiday season.

[hoppers-babygirl]

Beat his ass

Author: Hoppers-babygirl

ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/hoppers_babygirl

Word count: 2316

There was still an awkward distance between Cassie and Steve but that didn’t stop her from riding along with Steve, Dustin and a couple of his friends. Everyone knew she had been seeing Billy once Steve and Nancy got together but no one ever quite spoke about it out loud. That was until Cassie asked Steve to drive her over to his house. Things had been uneasy between the unlikely couple but Cassie tried her best not to let it show. It had been two weeks since Billy last spoke to her, she was sick and tired of his silence so she took matters into her own hands. 

Steve stayed silent as he drove towards Billy’s house, his knee bounced anxiously on his free leg. It struck up a bit of anxiety in Cassie but she took a few deep breaths. After Steve dumped her for Nancy; Cassie and Billy started seeing one another, even though they were an unlikely couple, the pair enjoyed one another’s company. They dated six months before this air grew tense between them. Cassie never thought he would act this way toward her but she was wrong in the end. She assumed Billy heard that Nancy broke things off with Steve, maybe thinking that he would try to swoop in and take Cassie away from him but that wasn’t the case. 

The matter of the fact is that Cassie grew sick, some days worse than before. She assumed it was just a simple cold, nothing more than the flu. Only she was wrong, after taking a test the liquid in the tube turned blue. Her stomach knotted up at the sight, causing her to fall to her knees in front of the porcelain bowl as she grew sick. 

Eventually Steve pulled up to the all too familiar blue house, except he was pulled off on the side of the road, across from the house. Snapping from her thoughts she looked over, her brows pinched together. 

Steve spoke up. “I know you just wanted a ride but I don’t trust the guy. I’ll stay here for ten minutes and if you don’t come out then I’ll leave. Just for my sanity, okay?” He offered her a small smile. 

She took a shaky deep breath and nodded before slapping a fake smile on her lips. No one except Jonathan knew what was actually going on with Cass, which she was thankful for as she knew she could trust him with her life. Even now she felt guilty asking for this from Steve especially while her little brother rode shotgun but she had bigger worries to deal with right now and that’s what she was focused on. Taking another deep breath she actually opened the door and stepped out the car, her legs felt like jello but she couldn’t stop her movement. It was like she wasn’t even in control of her body as she walked up the little stairs and up to the door. 

Cassie knew Max was home as she could see her bike still outside. It helped her feel a little at ease but soon her knuckles rapped at the door. Moments later Billy opened the door, his usual smirk not prominent on his lips as he took in the sight before him. Steve's car in the distance, Cassie in front of him wringing her hands and the dark circles under her eyes. He snorted and walked back down to his room to which Cassie followed behind him. “Hello to you too, Billy. Do you know that I’ve tried calling you for the past two weeks only to have Max lie to me? Because I know it's a goddamn lie.” She started in on him soon after closing the front door. 

He began to puff on a cigarette and opened his bedroom door. “Listen little bird, it's over. Whatever you thought we had going on is over, you’re a waste of my time.” Cassie scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “You think?” She sassed back. He turned and blew the smoke in her face, making her turn away and let out a quiet cough. “I didn’t fucking invite you here. You showed up, princess.” His voice dripped with venom but when the smoke cleared Cassie could see the mark crossing his cheekbone but with his attitude he wasn’t going to talk about it. “Yeah well maybe if you knew how to pick up the phone then I wouldn’t have had to come here and tell you.” Her voice began to hush. “Tell me what? That you’re not gonna be my whore of the week anymore?” He replied as he began to slip a shirt on. 

She shook her head, “I guess you just forgot the past six months then huh? That surely doesn’t add up to a week.” She replied just as harshly. Billy huffed out a breath almost like an annoyed bull would. “Get to your point or get the fuck out.” His voice had risen. Cassie assumed he and his father had a fight which only added to his annoyed attitude. “Look this isn’t the easiest to fucking say, okay?!” She raised her voice to match his. Anger and hurt welling up in her chest. Max must’ve heard their yelling and slammed her door shut which on some level helped Cassie calm down. One less set of ears to share the news with right now. 

“I know we’ve been pretty careful about things but uhm… well it seems that we weren’t as careful as we thought. I’m pregnant Billy. I’m fucking pregnant and you’ve been ignoring me.” She finally let it out. Billy was the first and only person to know. Billy began to shake his head and pace his room. “I knew you were just like the rest. Just a stupid whore.” He muttered under his breath. Her heart fell to the floor. Sure she didn’t expect to be spun around in his arms and given a big kiss but to be called such harsh words as if this was her fault? 

“I don’t give a fuck, Princess. Tell whoever else you’ve fucked that it’s their problem because you’re not going to make it my problem.”  His teeth grit as he speaks. Tears formed in her eyes and her lip began to wobble. This caused Billy to laugh. “It isn’t a problem I made by myself. You know damn well that I’ve only been with you so there’s no need to try and deny that. Just because your father treats you like a piece of shit doesn’t-” Just like that she was on the ground on her ass. Cassie sat in shock on the floor for just a moment before the pain in her jaw really hit her. Her hands shook as she stood up on jelly like legs, one hand protecting her stomach. “Fuck you Billy.” She spat at him before she turned and began to walk out the house, Billy hot on her ass, wiping his face from her spit. 

“You’re a stuck up little bitch. You opened your legs and got knocked up and now I’m supposed to care?!” He yelled as he followed after her, grabbing her wrist harshly. “Get the fuck off me!” Cassie screamed, tugging her wrist back to her body as tears now spilled down her cheeks freely. “I’m not the dumbass who bought cheap condoms!” She replied, still tugging her wrist from his grip which only tightened causing her to whimper. “Don’t think you’re getting a fucking thing from me. You laid on your back and took what I gave you.” He sneered. 

By now Max slipped out of her room and outside unbeknownst to Cassie and Billy. Finally she freed her arm from his grip causing her to stumble back and hit her hip into the table that was in the hallway. She yelped and began to move back to the front door. Only to tumble to which Billy used to his advantage, he pinned her hips down as he straddled her and grabbed both wrists to slam her down into the floor causing her to curse out. Her head rang, she hadn’t ever seen Billy act this way with her before but he figured that he wasn’t really fighting her but the things that angered him. She squirmed underneath him and tried to get out his hold but instead he was steadily screaming in her face, her head throbbed so badly that she wasn’t even sure what he was saying but she could hear the high pitched scream. Both Billy and Cassie looked up, Max stood in the front doorway screaming at the sight only to be replaced by Steve. 

There must’ve been blood as Cassie could see red streaks but they surprisingly hadn’t come from her head. Dustin helped her up with a devastated look on his sweet features. How the hell could he and Steve have known about the fight that was happening inside the house but she figured it was all due to Max’s scream.  

Meanwhile Max had gone out her window as Cassie and Billy had their scream fest. Max hadn’t realized that no one except Cassie and Billy knew about the baby. But everyone sat with a shocked expression. Steve gripped the steering wheel and questioned Max about what was going on inside but Cassie’s scream sounded through the house causing Max to run back to the house and the others to follow along. Upon opening the door and seeing Cassie on her back pinned under a screaming angry Billy, Max let out her screech alarming the rest of the group. Steve, Dustin and Lucas jumped from the car. 

Soon Steve had Billy by the shoulder pulling him off of Cassie. It was the first time Dustin had ever seen Cassie so scared, he ran over to her and helped her up off the ground. She looked sleepy but sad in a way. It scared Dustin to see his sister like this. Usually she was so sweet and funny, she had only ever seen her sad when they were younger. 

Cassie sat up and wiped her lip, it was split and she hadn’t even realized that the slap from earlier had caused her lip to split open. Dustin tugged her toward the kitchen to grab a rag to clean the blood. The house was loud as Billy and Steve wrestled together, Max yelling at BIlly to stop it and leave her friends alone and Lucas trying to calm her down. Cassie sighed and wiped her lip clean and gave Dustin a hug, her other cheek rested against his head. 

“I’m so sorry to have to see this bullshit.” She mumbled against his curls. 

“Why didn’t you tell me first?” He asked quietly. His question confused her at first but then the realization hit her. 

“Because he deserved to know. Or at least I thought he did.” She replied, his arms tightened around her as they hugged. 

“Come on, we gotta get Steve out of here before he and Billy get too fucked up.” She kissed his forehead and led him back out to where the guys were fighting. 

“Let's go Steve. It’s not even worth it. I just want to go home.” Steve shoved Billy away and threatened him which caused the other man to laugh. Max was in tears as Lucas ushered her out the door to which Cassie did the same with Dustin. 

Now stood Steve, Billy and Cassie. She sighed, “I’m sorry I ever met you and I’m glad our child never will.” Her lip quivered but she turned and walked out the door, Steve trailing behind her after a few moments. 

His hand on her back caused her to jump. “Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Are you okay? Is the- is everything okay?” He asked shyly. Great so everyone knew, Max must’ve heard their fight. 

“I’ll be fine. Thank you for stepping in, if you hadn’t then who knows what could’ve happened. But I’ll probably make up some lies and go to the doctors just to make sure.” She shrugged and gently tapped her lip to check and make sure the blood stopped. 

“You know, if you ever need anything, I’ll be there to help you. It’s the least I can do.” He gave her a small smile to which she returned. 

“Thanks Steve, I’m sure I’ll need all the help I can get.” He pulled her into a careful hug. A much needed hug. 

Eventually Steve took Cassie and Dustin home, but when Cassie climbed out the car Max followed. Lucas shrugged at Steve but he waited for the redhead. 

“Hey Cassie… I know you’re never going to go around Billy anymore and I’m not really related to you like Dustin is but..” The young girl trailed off. 

Cassie smiled and nodded. “You’re gonna be the best aunt ever, Max.” Cassie finished the girl's sentence which caused her to smile. She gave Cassie a quick hug and ran back to the car and got back in with Lucas before they drove off. Cassie went inside and cleaned up, making lunch for herself and for Dustin. Afterwards the siblings sat and talked and even watched a bit of television to try and make the day feel any bit normal. 

A few weeks later Cassie went to the doctors, thankful her tussle with Billy hadn’t affected anything seriously. She would have a little scar on her lip but she didn’t care much about that. She was just glad to hear that her little boy was doing just fine. Even after getting bumped and shook around she was beyond relieved to hear everything was doing good. Even if she was doing it on her own. But she wasn’t really alone was she? No. She had a family that she was lucky enough to have as her support. 

[strangerquinns]

Seven: a Stranger Things Rewrite

Steve Harrington x afab!oc!character

summary: Will Byers wasn't the first kid to go missing from Hawkins. Twelve years before a girl was taken and was ultimately presumed dead. But what they didn't know as that Veronica Gray was within the walls of Hawkins Lab. Now after finally escaping she must not only fight for her life - but for the lives of the ones she once loved.

Start in Season One of Stranger Things // OFC: Hawkins Lab Super Child

Steve nodded his head as the two of them walked out of the store and headed out to his car. Veronica walked tightly beside him and frowned when she felt another ache within her chest, feeling like something was tightening around her ribs.

"Thanks for doing this, Veronica. I know you aren't exactly the biggest fan of Nancy, but it's nice to have you helping me out." Steve spoke as they got into the car.

"I'm not really doing much," Veronica shrugged, looking over to watch as Steve drove down the street away from downtown.

"Are you kidding? You're being a good friend to me, that's the biggest help." Steve spoke.

"Friend? W-We're friends?" Veronica smiled slightly, feeling butterflies in her stomach.

"Of course, I think you might be my best friend right now. Don't really have anyone else to lean on." Steve shrugged with a smile, looking over to her when he pulled up to a red light "All my other friends kind of dipped the moment Billy came into town...I-I don't know...seems I'm pushed out."

Veronica frowned when she saw the forlorn look come across his face, "Your friends are pushing you out?"

"Tommy doesn't really like that I have a girlfriend...thinks I've 'turned bitch' – his words not mine. And then Billy came into the picture and ever since then," Steve shrugged his shoulders again as he drove the car forward, "I haven't really had friends around...except you."

"I'm happy to be your friend, Steve." Veronica blushed and looked down at her lap.

Insert from Chapter 23 from Seven

[allyricas]

Broken pt. 5

So we have some confessions, some plans and a little bit of making up. Who could really stay mad at Eddie forever anways?

[jeffgoldblumsmulletinthe90s]

Fic: Literal Legend

So @lurkinmerkin wrote this fantastic Stranger Things fic that you should absolutely read right now if you enjoy things like “Eddie Munson,” “fun,” and “reading about pussy eating.” It’s called Cuff It, like the Beyoncé song.

I was like, “Wow, this is amazing! I would love a fic like this about Steve Harrington eating a bunch of girls’ pussies.” And then Merkin gave me the OK, so I did write that fic.

It’s Literal Legend, like the Ayesha Erotica song. (Because Cuff It reminded me of lyrics “Here’s twenty dollars ... you know what? keep the change”)

[august-grey]

i don't need your closure | Chapter 11

read on ao3

masterpost

June 1986

“So let me get this straight.” Jill’s incredulous voice crackled through the phone as Alice paced circles around her bedroom. “You like this guy, right? No, don’t deny it. I’m not stupid, Alice. You spent an entire school year either heartbroken by, pissed off at, or strait up avoiding even thinking about this guy. The same guy who has been sending you thousands of letters that I’ve been begging you to read. And you finally do and what do you know, just as I suspected. An apology and declaration of love. Isn’t this good news? What am I missing here?”

“It’s…complicated.” Alice flopped backwards onto her bed and toed off her running shoes, the chord of the phone twisting around her wrist as she tried to get comfortable. God, she was exhausted. She hated to admit it, but Steve was right. Mrs. Jenkins’ dogs were vicious little beasts. Beginning her mornings with a two mile walk consisting of being yanked into the streets by one dog while simultaneously being tripped by another and nipped at by the third wasn’t exactly howAlice envisioned her summer break. 

“Okay, cool. Insightful. And you’re upset because you still don’t know the whole story because you haven’t read any of his other letters?”

“Yep.”

“Right, logical. Have you happened to, I don’t know, talk to him about it?”

“Uh, absolutely I have not.” It had been nine whole days since the drive-in fiasco and nine whole days since she has interacted with Steve. Not that Alice is counting. She also definitely hasn’t timed Steve’s mail route down to the minute so there hasn’t been a chance of accidentally running into him around town. Because that would be crazy. 

“Have you talked to anyone about it, besides me? Your townie friends or the gaggle of children you hang out with?”

“No way, they’ll just tell me to talk to him and what good will that do?”

“Well, it’d probably solve the majority of your problems much more quickly than how it’s going currently, Alice.”

“Ugh, whatever. When are you you coming to visit? I’m losing my mind here, Jillian.” 

“Yeah, about that…”

“Jill, no.” Alice whined, knowing what was coming next.

“I’m sorry! My uncle needs someone to completely overhaul the filing system over at his law firm. Alice, there’s 24 years worth of files that I’m being paid good money to go through. This is my literal dream come true; you know how much I love other people’s drama. That’s why we’re such good friends!”

“I don’t have drama.” Alice huffed defensively.

“There is a boxful of angsty, unread love letters in your possession that suggests otherwise.”

“Touché.” 

“Why don’t you just come here for a while? It’d get your mind off you-know-who for a while until you get the balls to actually confront your feelings.”

“Jilly, I couldn’t if I wanted to. Car, remember?” 

True to her word, Alice’s mother had insisted that she take her car in for a tune-up, and Alice, not wanting to argue with her mother, had complied. Not to mention Alice could do without a repeat incident of what had happened when her car had broken down. The good news was the cause of the the overheating was fixable. The bad news was that it was going to cost Alice $296 to replace her faulty radiator. 

Now, $296 wasn’t exactly something Alice had lying around. Her mother, bless her, had offered to front Alice the cash, but Alice quickly declined. Claudia was already doing everything she could to keep the household running and Dustin comfortable, and Alice couldn’t let herself take anything away from that. She sure as hell wasn’t going to ask her father for money; the bastard was barely paying child support to begin with and rarely contacted the kids he abandoned the way it was. No, Alice wasn’t about to open door. So that left just one option: job hunting. 

Unfortunately for Alice, summer work was slim pickings in Hawkins. Between the small shops around town being shut down after losing business to Starcourt and then said mall being destroyed by a giant flesh-monster, there weren’t many jobs to go around. After hearing the astronomical price of the work her car needed, Alice had spent a full day biking around town, putting in applications at every business she could possibly think of. 

When she hadn’t heard from a single one of them in the following days, Alice had begun to feel desperate. She briefly considered begging Keith for a job at the video store, before she made one last ditch effort and broke out the bin of craft supplies her mother had stashed in the hall closet. A few hours later, Alice was hanging copies of a carefully crafted dog-walking advertisement on every telephone pole, storefront, and community bulletin she could find. 

Thankfully, that seemed to do the trick. Within hours of posting, the calls began pouring in. Turns out the citizens of Hawkins were absolutely drowning in under-walked dogs. Alice was quickly booked out to the end of July, and, according to her calculations, would have more than enough money to pay for her car in just under a month. Until then, however, Alice was stuck walking or biking in the disgusting summer heat. 

“Right, bummer.”

“Yeah, it’s whatever. I hope you have fun digging through other peoples nasty, old, dirty laundry all summer.”

“Girl, you know I will. Anyway, I gotta go. Grammy needs second breakfast and her meds before I head over to the office. Love you, miss you, bye!”

The line went dead and Alice released a long breath. She rolled over, returning the phone to its base and grabbing her dayplanner from her bedside table. Flicking through the pages to the marked day, Alice double-checked her schedule. 

Flannigans

1:15

Key under back doormat

Sudsy the miniature schnauzer, friendly

Alice smiled to herself. Sudsy was her favorite client by-far. Well, the most behaved, at least. And the appointment wasn’t for another three hours. Just enough time for a quick power nap and some lunch before having to run out again. Returning the small book to its place on her side table, Alice shut her eyes, ready to replenish her energy to get her through the rest of the day. 

It felt like only seconds after Alice dozed off when she was woken by the shrill ring of the telephone. Groggily, she reached blindly for the receiver, pulling it to her ear after successfully locating it. 

“Hello?” She rasped. 

“Alice, thank god. Are you busy today? As in right now.” 

“Oh, hi Nancy. I’m doing well, thank you so much for asking. And you?” Alice pulled herself out of bed and began to pull on her sneakers. Jeeze, 11:30 already. She had slept longer than she had meant to.

“Alice!” Nancy cut her off sharply, sounding distressed. Alice paused in the middle of tying her shoe and adjusted the phone. 

“No, not busy. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, I’m sorry. Just…listen, I need a favor. I’m supposed to be looking after Holly while my parents are away this weekend, working on their marriage or whatever. But I completely forgot that Jonathan and I were supposed to go into the city for the weekend. He has the whole thing planned out. Reservations and tickets to the ballet and and the hotel booked and I-“

“You need me to babysit.”

“Just for today! We can see if we can get a refund on the hotel.”

“No way, it’s okay. I can handle the kiddo for one night. You and Jonathan deserve to have a nice time. I’ll just bring Holly along with me for my last walk of the day, no biggie!”

“Oh my god, Alice, you’re a lifesaver.”

“It’s really not a problem, I can be there in twenty.”

“Thank you, thank you! We’ll see you soon!”

***

“I seriously can’t tell you how much this means to me.” Nancy bustled around the kitchen, making sure contact numbers were taped to the fridge and Holly’s schedule and allergy medicine were on the counter. “My parents left $100 in an envelope on the dining room table for pizza and emergencies. Whatever’s leftover is yours, as payment.”

“Oh, no, you don’t have to do that.” Alice began, but then caught the look in Nancy’s eye. She was going to insist on it. “Honestly, I’m happy to hang out with Holly, you don’t have to pay me.”

“Take it or I’m giving it to Dustin to sneak into your room when you’re not home.” Alice rolled her eyes, but truthfully, the extra cash would put a nice dent in her car fund. Nancy heaved her overnight bag onto her shoulder and Alice followed her to the living room where Holly was sitting on the rug in front of the television. She looked up as her sister kissed the top of her head and said her goodbyes. Nancy gave Alice one last heartfelt thanks and departed through the front door.

It wasn’t until Alice was truly alone with Holly that the weight of what she had agreed to set in. The little girl stared up at her, wide blue eyes boring into Alice’s soul. To be honest, Alice had never been good with little kids. It’s not that she didn’t like them or anything. No, she loved kids. They just didn’t seem to like her all that much. Luckily, Holly wasn’t quite as young as Alice remembered her to be. There was definitely a chance that this could go smoothly. 

“So, what are you watching?” Holly’s eyes flicked to the cartoon on the screen and back to Alice, before reaching over and turning off the television. Deafening silence filled the house. Alice cleared her throat, her mouth suddenly feeling dry.

“Are you enjoying your summer, Holly?”

The little girl gave a noncommittal shrug and scrunched her nose, as if remembering something unpleasant. 

“You gave me the itchy hat for Christmas.” Alice frowned. She spent hours knitting the bubblegum pink beanie for the youngest Wheeler sibling last winter. Come to think of it, she’d knitted a lot of hats for Christmas presents the past few years. Had they all been itchy? “Mommy makes me wear it even though I told her I didn’t like it.”

“I’m…I’m sorry?” Holly just bobbed her pig-tailed head, pursing her lips and giving Alice a cold glare that sent a genuine shiver down her spine. Okay. Maybe getting through to the seven-year-old would be a little more challenging than expected. It was time to break out the big guns.

“Do you like dogs, Holly?” 

“Duh.”

“You wanna go meet one?”

“I guess.”

“Well, go put on your shoes.”

***

“Can I hold the leash?” To Alice’s surprise and delight, Holly had blossomed when they had collected Sudsy from the Finnegan’s house for his walk. The pooch had taken right to her, licking her chubby cheeks and bringing her all of his favorite toys. 

“Uhh…” Assessing the situation, Alice couldn’t see why not. They were in a low-traffic neighborhood and Sudsy was a small, well-behaved dog. Holly could handle it. 

“Please?” 

“Well, okay. Let me show you.” Alice instructed the girl on exactly where to hold the leash, looping it around her wrist. “Promise to hold on tight?”

“Pinky promise!” Practically bubbling over with happiness, Holly led Sudsy down the street with Alice hovering just close enough to take over if the pup had a sudden burst of energy the little girl couldn’t handle. True to her word, Holly held on tight.

“Jeeze, Holly, you’re a real pro at this; he loves you!” Alice encouraged. 

“Really?” The younger girl squeaked in a small voice, beaming up at Alice. 

“Absolutely. You’re going to put me out of business if you keep this up!”

An ear-splitting bang cracked through the peaceful afternoon. In an instant Alice hauled Holly up into her arms and all but dove behind a parked car on the street, her bare knees stinging painfully as they hit the asphalt. Her heart beat wildly in her chest as she scanned the area for a threat, Holly clinging to her shirt. Out of the corner of her eye she caught movement; a shiny metal garbage can rolling on its side and a fat, orange cat poking its head inside to reap the spoils. 

Alice let out a breath. No monsters. No danger. Stupid. She was so stupid. God, she scared Holly for nothing.  She had to get it together. 

“It’s okay, Holly. It was just a cat. I’m sorry I scared you.” Alice’s tried to soothe the younger girl, voice shaking. She held Holly out at arms length, checking her for any signs of trauma. “Are you alright?”

Holly’s eyes widened, filling with tears, and she whipped her head around. “Sudsy!”

Shit. Alice stood up, taking Holly’s hand in her own and started down the street as quickly as Holly’s much shorter legs allowed them. Shit, shit, shit.

The miniature schnauzer was no where in sight. Oh god, she was dead. Absolutely and totally fucked. Holly was traumatized and she potentially just ruined her reputation as a dog-walker, all because she was startled by a stupid cat. As they called out for the dog, Alice kept her head on a swivel and—there. She spotted the back end of the black and white dog rounding the corner up the road. 

Breaking out into a run, Holly screamed the dog’s name as Alice tried to regulate her breath. God, was she out of shape. This wasn’t going to work, they were too slow. Alice crouched down, and motioned for Holly to hop onto her back. The little girl linked her arms around Alice’s neck. She hoisted her up, thankful that Holly was still so small, and began sprinting in the direction of Sudsy. 

Alice was positive that adrenaline was the only thing carrying her as she barreled toward the end of the road, Holly bouncing uncomfortably on her back. Just as they made it to the end of the street and around the corner, Alice skidded to halt, a step short of tripping over the mass of panting fur in her path.

By some sort of miracle, Sudsy stood in the middle of the sidewalk, happily wagging his tail, straining against the leash currently in the hands of the miracle in question. He stood in his full glory; backlit by the afternoon sun in his freshly pressed uniform, ever-present mailbag slung over his shoulder, looking slightly taken aback by the sudden presence of the pair of frantic girls in front of him. Just like that, for the first time since she arrived in Hawkins that summer, Alice was actually glad to see Steve Harrington. 

“Oh, thank God.” A massive wave of relief flooded Alice as she dropped to a crouch in front of Sudsy, apologizing profusely to the pup and scratching his furry body. Holly wriggled herself out of Alice’s grasp, smoothly sliding down her back and coming around to throw her arms around the dog. 

“Steve, you saved Sudsy!” Holly plopped down on the sidewalk and Sudsy curled up in her lap, dozing contently as she stroked his head.

“Oh, I don’t know about that.” He ran a hand through his hair as he passed the leash off to Alice. “The little guy ran right up to me.” 

“You’ll never believe what happened, Steve.” Holly began, impressively mimicking her mother’s tone perfectly. “We were walking Sudsy and Alice said I was such a good dog walker that I could hold the leash, but then there was a big BANG and Alice got so scared she picked me up and fell on the street and we hid behind a car and do you want to know what it was?”

“What was it?” Steve prompted, eyes wide as Holly recounted the dramatic story at record speed, barely giving herself room to breathe. 

“It was a cat, Steve! A cat knocked over a garbage can and Alice was so scared of it! I wasn’t scared though because I knew it was just a cat. But then I remembered I dropped Sudsy’s leash because Alice made me! So then I was scared and Alice picked me up again and we ran and ran and ran and then we found you with Sudsy!” The girl finished breathlessly and seamlessly shifted her focus back to the little dog. 

“That sounds like quite the adventure.“ Steve replied after pausing to be sure Holly was done with her story. Confident that she was thoroughly distracted with assuring Sudsy that he was a good dog, Steve turned to Alice and gave her a once over, concerned eyes lingering on her legs. Furrowing her brow, Alice glanced down at herself. Oh. Ouch. “Hey, you okay? Your knees…” 

“Oh yeah, I’m fine. Just a little road burn.” Alice heaved a sigh, feeling self-conscious under the scrutiny of his gaze. “It’s seriously nothing; I overreacted, it was stupid.”

Steve nudged her with his shoulder. “Do you want to talk about it?” 

“Not now.” Alice shook her head, shooting a meaningful glance in Holly’s direction. Not much she felt comfortable discussing in front of a child. Steve looked from Alice, clearly trying to hold it together, to Holly with the snoozing dog in her lap, and bobbed his head understandingly.

“Listen, this is my last street. Holly and…Sudsy?…look wiped out. Why don’t you ladies hang tight and I can take you home.”

“In the mail truck?” Holly asked excitedly, eyes shining.

“Is that legal?” Alice whispered to Steve.

“Sure it is!” He exclaimed confidently and simultaneously shrugged in her direction. Alice bit back a grin. 

“And then you’ll come have pizza with us, right Steve?” Gently nudging the dog out of her lap, Holly scrambled up and took Alice’s hand. She looked up at Steve expectantly. 

“Oh, uh…” Steve shot Alice a wary glance. “I don’t—“

“It’s the least we can do. Y’know, since you saved Sudsy and all.” Not exactly sure what came over her, Alice found herself practically insisting on Steve joining them for dinner. “Saved my ass, too. I don’t think I’d have many clients left if I lost a dog.”

“Well…only if you’re sure.” Steve leveled her with a serious look. “If you want me there...”

Alice gave him a reassuring nod, though not feeling one hundred percent sure herself. “We do. We want you to come.”

***

In the end, Alice had decided that it might be a little awkward to have company over at the Wheeler’s. Especially considering the company in question happened to be their daughter’s ex-boyfriend. So instead, Alice packed up little Holly, left a note on the kitchen counter, and bundled her back to the Henderson abode for the night.

True to his word, Steve arrived promptly at dinnertime, a small bouquet of wildflowers and plastic container of grocery-store brownies in hand. Alice felt herself blush as he held the bunch of Black-eyed Susans out to her, taking just a moment too long before accepting them with a mumbled thanks. After failing to find a vase, she stuck the bouquet in a small, glass lemonade pitcher and set it on the table. They were pretty, though clearly handpicked. Something about the thought of Steve happening upon and taking the time to gather the cheery, yellow blooms for her filled her stomach with a funny kind of warmth that only seemed to spread as the night went on.

As they waited for pizza delivery, Holly somehow managed to convince both Steve and Alice to assist her in turning the Hendersons’ living room into, in her own words, “the most gigantic pillow fort ever.” It was hard to argue with that, so while Alice pilfered every spare blanket and pillow from the linen closet, Steve and Holly worked on stacking the couch cushions into an acceptable base for the fort. 

Once the fort was completed to her standards, Holly absolute refused to come out. So Steve and Alice found themselves eating their pizza uncomfortably hunched under a canopy of floral sheets, listening as the little girl explained the plot of the Care Bears movie she had insisted on bringing to Alice’s house because “Steve would love it!”

True to the nature of young children, Holly barely made it past the opening credits of the movie before falling fast asleep in a nest of blankets, exhausted from the day’s excitement. Alice tried to suppress a smug smile as the little girl clutched an afghan Alice had knitted a few years ago to her chest. Not so itchy now, huh?

Instead of switching off the television or changing the movie, Alice and Steve chose to leave the movie as it was, though neither were exactly paying much attention to the misadventures of the colorful cartoon bears on the screen. In stark contrast to how she felt a few weeks ago, Alice found herself truly enjoying Steve’s company. She wasn’t ready to let the night end just yet, and thankfully it seemed like the feeling was mutual. 

In low voices, they just…talked. Not about anything particularly important; Alice asked how Steve’s parents were and they fell into a natural rhythm from there. They chatted about what movies they’d seen recently, music they’ve been listening to. Alice told him all about Jillian, and how the girls had hated each other until they both found themselves locked out of their dorm room well after curfew and had to work together to break into the second-floor window without being caught. After that they were fast friends. In return, Steve shared his budding relationship with Gladys, the 73-year-old window clerk at the post office who only spoke to him in grunts and glares. Steve was absolutely convinced they’d be besties by the end of the Summer. 

Eventually there was a lull in the conversation, just after Alice had finished sharing her car-related woes with Steve sympathizing by appropriately shaking his head and groaning at all the right times. It was a comfortable silence, one that reminded Alice of the countless hours she and Steve had spent together over the years.

 It was one of the things she had loved most about Steve; he made her mind quiet. They could spend an entire afternoon together doing their own thing, not saying a single word to each other, and somehow it didn’t feel weird or like they needed to fill the silence with anything. Alice couldn’t say that about many other people. 

“So…you wanna tell me about what happened earlier?”

Alice should have known this was coming. Steve was never one to let things drop. 

“Not really.”

“You sure?”

“I mean, it’s like I said. I freaked out over nothing, almost lost a dog and probably traumatized Holly in the process.” She let out a long breath, shaking her head. “Jesus Christ, and I want to be a teacher? Who am I kidding, I can’t even take care of a damn dog, let alone an entire classroom of kids.”

“Are you serious right now? Alice, your first instinct in the face of potential danger was to protect a child.” Hesitantly, he reached across the mountain of pillows and blankets to lay a hand on Alice’s shoulder. “I’d trust you over anyone to look after my kids. And Nancy obviously feels the same, she wouldn’t just leave Holly with you if she didn’t think you were the most capable choice.”

“I guess.” Alice chewed her lip, not entirely convinced. 

“Does this kind of stuff happen a lot?”

“Not so much anymore. Only when I’m caught off guard like that. Sudden loud noises, y’know?” Steve nodded, “It was worse back in the fall. It’d happen out of no where. That on top of the nightmares…there were times I barely slept at all. It was awful.”

“I’m sorry, Alice. I…I wish I knew how bad it was for you.”

Alice shrugged helplessly and moved out of his reach, immediately missing the warmth of his hand as it slid down her arm and onto a pillow. This was a mistake. She wasn’t ready to be with Steve like this, vulnerable and alone. Group outings? Fine, she had proven that she could handle that. But now, with her only buffer being a snoring seven-year-old, Alice was ready to burst with everything she’d been holding back for the better part of a year.

“I mean, I tried, Steve. You know damn well I did. And you weren’t there.” Holly stirred at the harsh tone of Alice’s voice. She and Steve stilled as the little girl let out an annoyed huff, rolled over, and fell back into a deep sleep. With a subtle nod from Steve, they rose together, carefully extracting themselves from the fort to take their conversation away from the slumbering child. Alice made sure Holly was securely tucked in, switched off the television, and led the way down the hall to the kitchen. 

Steve leaned against the counter, arms crossed, and waited as Alice took a seat at the table. “Listen, I know you were going through something last year. I don’t…I don’t know everything, not yet. I don’t want to be unfair about that, because I understand, truly. We all have trauma we’re working through, and that looks different for everyone.” 

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “But it was bad, Steve. I wasn’t…coping well when I left home. And you know what? The worst part about it all wasn’t the insomnia or the night terrors or constant anxiety. It was the fact that I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. Not the truth, anyway. They’d probably throw me in Pennhurst if I tried to tell the campus counsellor that I was in a constant state of paranoia because I was tortured by Russians and had to fight a meat-monster made of melted people over the summer.”

“You went to the counsellor anyway, right?” Steve interrupted, and when Alice nodded, asked: “Good, what did you tell them?”

“Exactly what we were told to say; trauma from getting caught in the mall fire. But that’s not the point!” She threw up her hands, exasperated. Who cares what the hell she had to say to the underpaid and overworked therapist? Alice was positive she could’ve made up any semi-believable story and the woman would’ve done what she could just to get Alice out of her hair. In the end it got her a prescription for Xanax and a sleeping aid, but there was only so much the pills could do to help the root of the problem.

 “Nobody there understood and everyone who did was a hundred miles away here in Hawkins, and the only person I thought I could actually rely on disappeared. I was completely alone and it fucking sucked, Steve.”

Steve’s gaze was fixed on a spot behind Alice’s head, not quite being able to look her in the eye. Good. The less empathetic part of Alice was glad that he looked so ashamed of himself. What he had done hurt and she was glad he knew it. 

“I’m sorry.” He almost whispered, voice low.

“I don’t want you to be sorry. I wanted you to be my friend. I wanted you to be here.” 

“Is that…still something you want? I know it’s not the same and it won’t make up for anything, but I swear to you, I’m here now.” The desperation in his voice was palpable. 

“No. Maybe…I don’t know, Steve.” Alice stood abruptly from the table and began the process of putting the leftover pizza into the fridge; wrapping the few slices in tinfoil and breaking down the box for recycling. She couldn’t sit still right now and she certainly couldn’t look at Steve. 

Caught in a state of wanting to push him out the door and the overwhelming urge to pull Steve into her arms and never let him go again, Alice busied herself with the dishes to occupy her hands. Maybe a bit too aggressively, she scrubbed the few plates in the sink before reaching for a cup on the counter. The smooth, wet glass slipped from her grip and shattered as it hit the bottom of the sink. That was the last straw, Alice was about to lose it.

“I hate this,” She exclaimed, throwing the soapy sponge into the sink and yanking a hand towel from its hook, leaving the broken glass to clean up later. “I feel like I’m losing my mind. Do you remember how easy this used to be? We were easy. Us. Together. It’s just…so fucked up right now. 

“Hey, hey” Gently taking her wrist in his hand, Steve took the towel Alice was anxiously twisting the life out of and tossed it on the counter. His free hand rose to cup her cheek, softly turning her head up to face him. “Look at me. I know I messed up, Alice. Please…please let me keep trying to make it right.”

“What if you go again?” Her chin wobbled, betraying just how frightened she was of that very thing. If there was anything she was sure of, it was that there was no way she could handle letting Steve in only to have him leave again. Alice didn’t think she’d survive that a second time.

“I’m not going anywhere.” 

“How am I supposed to believe that?” She sounded absolutely pathetic. Clearing her throat, Alice continued, “I want to…but after last year and that bullshit over Christmas…I just...I don’t know.. I’m not ready.”

“That’s okay. I can wait, as long as it takes for me to prove it to you.” It took everything in her not to take the half-step into his embrace. To let him hold her against his chest, to believe they could pick up where they had left off before everything went to shit. Instead, Alice held herself perfectly still and let Steve rub his thumb in soothing circles on her wrist. The hand cupping her cheek moved to tuck a curl behind her ear, before sliding down to rest at the base of her neck. “But if any part of you wants me gone, just say the word and I’ll leave you alone. You won’t have to hear from me again.”

Steve’s last words hung in the air as they stood in silence. Despite everything, that was the furthest thing from what Alice wanted. When presented as an actual option, the thought of never seeing Steve again left her cold, sinking feeling in her stomach. A question was nagging at the back of her head, fighting to claw itself out. Fuck it, she’d already gone this far, might as well dig herself the rest of the way to hell.

“Did you mean what you said?” She shook her head, and clarified. “What you wrote…did you really love me?”

“You…you read my letters?” A spark of hope lit Steve’s face. Alice quickly shook her head.

“No. Well, just the one…last week after the drive-in.” A flash of disappointment made Alice grimace. She was beginning to realize that she still hated to see Steve upset, even after everything. “Sorry.”

“No, don’t be sorry.” His expression remained unreadable, any signs of dismay were gone. “I never expected you to read any of them. Honestly, one is way more than I deserve.”

“Is it true, though?”

“Of course it is. Alice, I don’t think I’ve stopped loving you since the demodogs. Not for a single minute.”

Alice’s heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest. Nothing could have prepared her for the flood of emotion those words brought. Hearing him say it and reading it on paper were two completely different things, as it turned out. She needed to get away from him before she did something really stupid. 

Before she could move, however, the kitchen door swung open and Dustin barreled into the room, arms overflowing with what looked like…baby dolls? Steve sprang away from Alice as if electrocuted, mouth open as if he were waiting for his brain to supply some kind of excuse as to why he was there. Dustin merely raised an eyebrow as he dumped his bounty onto the kitchen table. 

“…Did I interrupt something?” 

“No, no…I was just helping Alice with uh…babysitting Holly?” Steve’s eyes flicked over to Alice, looking for confirmation. She gave a small, confused shrug. That was literally what they were just doing. “I was just leaving, though, so…” 

“Riiight.” Dustin skeptically watched as Steve struggled awkwardly into his sneakers, before turning his attention to his sister. Alice gestured to the table, as if to ask ‘what the fuck?’

“Yard sale!” He declared with a triumphant grin, as if that explained everything. “Got ‘em all for 3 bucks!”

“Good for you, buddy.” Steve clapped the younger boy on the shoulder after returning victorious from the battle with his Nikes. “Anyway, I’m heading out. Night Dustin, Alice.”

“I’ll walk you out.” Steve’s eyebrows rose in surprise, but didn’t say a word as he held the screen door open for Alice. They fell into step, gravel crunching under their shoes as they made their way down the driveway to Steve’s car, out of earshot of her prying brother. Before she could talk herself out of it, Alice turned to Steve.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“We can try.”

“Try…what?”

“Being friends again.”

“Y- you’re sure? I meant what I said, Alice. I’ll wait for you. You don’t have to push yourself into anything for my sake; I’ve put you through enough.”

“The only thing I’m sure of right now is that I’m miserable trying to stay away from you. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“Well then, okay.” Though he tried to stop it, a stupid smile spread across his face. Alice couldn’t help but feel the corners of her own mouth tug upwards as Steve fiddled with his keys, slowly walking backwards the rest of the way to his car. “Cool, cool. So I’ll talk to you…tomorrow?”

Now fighting off a full grin, Alice shrugged playfully. “Maybe. Don’t push it, Harrington.”

“Goodnight, Alice.”

“Goodnight, Steve.”

After waiting for Steve to safely back out of the drive way onto the the road, Alice turned to head inside. There, in the kitchen window, was Dustin, shamelessly cupping his hands to the glass to get a better view in the dark. Rolling her eyes, Alice trekked back up the highway, ready to give her brother the full-rundown she knew he was dying for.

[ash5monster01]

More Than You Know

Pairing: Steve Harrington x FemReader(Plus-size!)

Warnings: fat shaming, body image issues, swearing, angst, lots of yelling, fluff

Summary: You had liked Steve since the day you met but you never entertained the idea of being with him because you figured a popular guy like him would never date a girl your size. Coming to terms with this didn’t mean you’d stop defending him in a world full of ungrateful girls. So you reach your breaking point when you’re sick and tired of watching girls miss out on something that would be so good for them. Thing was, Steve heard everything you had to say.

word count: 2047

Masterlist

“Looking good today Lola” you could practically see the smirk on Steve’s face from the sound of his voice. Looking up you saw his eyes trained on the blonde beside you, who had yet to put returns you had finished rewinding back on the shelf, her nail file much to important.

Lola Grant was everything you were not. Blonde, primp, perfect. Steve loved her for all of those things including her tiny waist. You on the other hand hated her for all of those things. She wore dresses with flower patterns and you still wore the same tattered converse, ripped and worn in all the best ways. Your jeans and Motley Crue T-shirt didn’t compare. You were not the same.

“Thanks Stevie” you hated the nickname, especially how it brought a smile the shaggy haired boys face.

“I was wondering if you were free Friday night, I’m having a movie night with the kids and was wondering if you wanted to join?” you had lost count of all the attempts Steve had made to ask the girl out. There had to of been a billion by now.

“Sorry Steve but that sounds pathetic spending Friday night with underage kids” she sneered, meanness dripping from her tone. Steves smile faltered only slightly and despite how much you hated him for still trying he was still your friend.

“Then what’s your ideal date Lola?” your tone was sharp, accusatory, and just plain angry that she couldn’t see how great a guy he was. Not that she deserved him anyway.

“A fancy dinner, wine, making out in a movie theater, third base in the back of a BMW. Nothing to do with babysitting” she responded promptly. Steve hummed with satisfaction, a dopey grin on his face. The sentence immediately making him forget how rude she was in the first place. His mind now only in the backseat of a BMW.

“Classy” you quipped, and she offered a forced smile but knew you were judging her. Yet a girl like you didn’t really get under her skin. How could you when you guys weren’t even in the same league of girls.

“We could do something else, maybe a movie?” you didn’t hide the roll of your eyes as Steve tried again.

“Maybe another time Stevie, I’m busy this weekend” a lie and you knew it, and maybe he did too. Finally picking up the stack of tapes you rewinded she moved off to place them on shelves.

“Get real Steve” you snipped, the moment she was out of ear shot.

“What’s your deal?” he asked and you shook your head, amused he couldn’t see how shitty she was.

“My deal is that girl sucks, you’ve got so much more going for you” you said pushing a new tape into the machine and hitting rewind. Steve moved behind the counter, taking Lola’s previous spot.

“She doesn’t suck, she’s cool and hot. Hard to get but I don’t give up” he smirked as he crossed his arms and you groaned, annoyed that he was so blinded by her fake appearance. She was nothing more than a girl who peaked in high school and Steve was so much more.

“She’s not cool nor is she hot. Don’t you ever think? If she actually had anything going for her she wouldn’t still be stuck here working in a video store” your anger caused the words to rattle out and Steves face dropped.

“Wonder what you think of me then?” you instantly realized your mistake and began shaking your head. You wished Robin wasn’t at school and was here to defend you.

“That’s not what I meant Steve-” but he was already shaking his head in offense and pushing himself off the counter.

“It’s exactly what you meant Y/N” he spoke harshly, hurt by his friend and the words you had spoke as he walked into the back room. Sighing you dropped your head on the counter, upset you pissed him off.

“What’s wrong? Did he deny you?” Lola chuckled as she returned to the counter now free of VHS tapes. Lola viewed life as a social ladder. She was on the top, Steve right below her, which is why she never dated him, and you were all the way on the bottom. She was out of Steve’s reach but you were miles away.

“No Lola, thanks for having faith in me” sarcasm laced your tone as you lifted your head.

“How could I have faith in you, you’ve never had a date in your life” she chuckled, annoyed you gave her so much crap when she saw you as absolutely nothing. She didn’t even think Steve should be talking to you.

“Shut up Lola” you spoke, not wanting anymore shit, already angry enough.

“You want to know why you haven’t had a date Y/N?” Lola expression turned menacing as she moved towards you, mean girl genes firing through her bones. “Because you’re fat, and weird, and no guy is attracted to that”

“You know what?” normally Lola would get to you, break your heart and allow tears to pool in your eyes. But today was your breaking point. She could treat you as badly as she wanted but you were done with her treating Steve like that.

“What?” her amused expression didn’t falter as she waited for some lame comeback bound to fall from your mouth.

“You’re a bitch Lola. Nothing more than a washed up high school mean girl. You’re gonna spend the rest of your life in this God forsaken town, running though men like their a God damn marathon, until you end up stuck with some creepy old man who knocked you up, and you’ll never be anything more than that girl from high school absolutely everyone hated” Lola was shocked as you continued to raise your voice at her, alerting Steve from the back room.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about” Lola began to shake her head but you were beyond angry now, laughing as you approached her. Steve moved to the door, listening to everything you both said.

“Yes I do, because everyday you treat Steve like shit when he thinks you’re the best thing on earth. Do you know how crazy that is? Steve is the greatest guy I know. He cares for so many people when he doesn’t even have to, including me, he even drives Robin to school everyday even if he doesn’t have to be up for work, because he’s such a great guy. He’s the kind of guy who would treat you right and every day for no fucking reason you tell him no” Lola opened her mouth to speak but you quickly held up a hand, not done with your spiel.

“Not to say you deserve a guy like that because you don’t, and twenty years from now, while your holding your child on the porch of your trailer home, you’re gonna be wishing you said yes to him. Every day I hope he’s gonna walk through those doors and ask me out instead because I know what he’s worth. He may be way out of both our leagues but at least I appreciate him. The only reason he still asks you is because you are the skinny, pretty girl, and that fucking stings. Yet I guess that’s how this cruel world works. So leave us both the fuck alone from now on” heavy breaths left your mouth as you finished, Steve having heard the whole thing, shocked to hear such passion come from you.

“Okay, I’m sorry” Lola muttered, before rushing from behind the counter. “I’m gonna take off, my shift is up anyway”

“Bye” you snipped, and she wore a guilty expression as she quickly collected her things and fled the building. You dropped your head back on the counter, now worked up from the drama. Steve finally walked out the back room, knowing Lola was gone.

“You think I ask her out because she’s prettier than you?” your shoulders tensed at his voice, not realizing he heard the whole thing. “Because you’re way prettier than her”

“Don’t lie to me right now Steve, guys don’t date big girls like me” you looked up as you shook your head at him. Steve didn’t care the enthuse the idea.

“I never asked you out because I thought you were too good for me” you furrowed your eyebrows as he continued to talk anyway. Steve had always thought you were pretty and on top of that you were also the best person he knew.

“I’m nothing special and you’re kinda the coolest person I know. I ask Lola out because she’s the kinda girl I’m gonna end up with, not because of her looks compared to yours. I’m just not good enough for you” you scoffed, not believing a word because you truly had never heard kind words like this before. It was also hard to believe he could feel like same way you had all this time, used to people avoiding you because of your size.

“I’m not looking for the you’re not fat, you’re beautiful speech. You weren’t supposed to hear what I said. So can we just drop it” you said turning away from him, uninterested in this lame attempt at making you feel better. You had accepted your fate a long time ago.

“You are beautiful Y/N. Fuck, why can’t you see that? I never asked you out because you were the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen and I didn’t want to ruin that” tears pooled in your eyes because if you let yourself believe him and it wasn’t true you weren’t sure you’d ever recover.

“You’re a great guy Steve, you wouldn’t ruin anything. I would” Steve’s heart warmed because he heard how you had defended him like that. Not even he thought he was so great and apparently you noticed him more than he thought you did.

“Thank you for defending me, and it made me realize that I do deserve someone who would defend me like that. So go out with me Y/N, and not just because of this whole thing, because I’ve wanted to date you since the day we met” you shook your head, the tears now falling down your face.

“Steve if you hurt me, I just can’t. I wouldn’t be able to handle it” Steve felt his heart break as he looked at you. Really looked at you and he felt terrible he had never made you realize how amazing you were in the first place. He was selfish staying away because you deserved to be shown you were just as beautiful as any girl Steve had dated.

“Let me prove you wrong” he said gripping your arms and you looked up at him, tear filled eyes, and he felt the wind get knocked out of him from the look in your eyes. The fact he never realized you loved him back before was shocking because he could see it written all over your face.

“Okay” you muttered and before you could even react he tugged your lips against his. Arms gripping you for dear life and your eyes were wide as you realized what he had done. He had kissed you and you had never even expected it. Then you realized how soft his lips were, how he tasted like cherries, and his warm mouth soothed every ache in your heart. Your hands gripped his shirt as you settled into the kiss, relaxation taking over you, eyes fluttering shut as he moved to wrap his arms around you. If you had known yelling at Lola would make Steve Harrington kiss you like this you would’ve done it a lot sooner. You weren’t even fully sure you were supporting yourself anymore, knees weak from the fire he has ignited in your stomach.

“Holy shit” Steve panted as he pulled away, a dopey smile on his face, because he had never felt like that from kissing a girl before.

“I know” you panted right along side him and he let out a giddy chuckle, moving to pull you back into his arms.

“I may not deserve you but after that I’m not going down without a fight”

[werdlewrites]

masterlist - ao3 - kofi - twitter @djomamma

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summary: Steve had said things would get worse with secrecy and lies, but Hopper can’t stomach the look in her eyes when he strips away the only life she had ever known. Parents she may or may not remember, and how she wound up beneath someone else's roof. His heart is already racing with anticipation from what he’s about to do, fingers tight and trembling around a file until it crinkles. He sits in silence at their small table, elbows hoisted up with fingers tangling in his mess of hair as he stares down at the bold, printed words at the top of the paper. Temporary Guardianship Agreement. warnings: parental abandonment?? mentions of death, mentions of foster care wc: 3,024

MCKAY-HOLBROOK 1961

"By a ceremony performed Saturday evening, June 24th, by Rev. Charles O’Connell at 234 Washington St, Columbus, Indiana, Miss Lynn Joy Holbrook and Mr. Warren Don Mckay, were married. The bride wore an ivory dress with lace throughout. The groom wore two-toned ivory white and midnight blue trousers in compliments to the bouquet. The bride and groom will be celebrating at the groom's family home with few guests."

Hard-working hands have dried as they sift through delicate and aged papers. History is inked in the newspaper for all to bear witness. No one would care about the small print; they would flip to the next page, where more important articles awaited them in long paragraphs. Times changing, big events yet to come for readers or receiving a summarized version of what's already passed. But to him, this tiny article was everything. He stood on a rotted bridge above treacherous waters, planks falling away with every moment spent in the unknown. Never knowing where to turn until taking that leap of faith, only to have the wood crack and send him back toward safety. Now, he had names. Names to give the faces that smiled on splotchy brown paper, unaware they were being photographed in the courthouse. Hopper was closer than he had ever been—the end of this bridge in sight, where a new world awaited him.

"Mr. and Mrs. Eugene and Ruth Mckay are the parents of a son born Monday, April 5th, 1937, at The Birthing Center at Columbus Regional Hospital."

There’s a small stack dedicated to the boy. Birth, achievements, and changes in life, including his marriage to Lynn. His parents had been proud enough to pay for small spots in the paper, putting their only child on a pedestal for all to see. A man dedicated to education, pursuing a career on that very path despite the low pay. You could see him smiling in front of the class as he tutored young minds. The very school he worked for earning a place in the local paper for high praise. However, a darker turn awaits at the end for the boy named Warren. His father, Eugene, dies of a sudden heart attack in 1964 while working in the factories. A large funeral is held for a gone man, seemingly well-loved and dearly missed. Jim can barely make out the faces in the crowd—a shorter woman with a tissue concealing her face—while her son and daughter-in-law stand just beside the grieving widow. Everything seems to go silent after that. There are no more reports; safe for the one article to come years later, the couple already long gone from their quiet home. His wife offers even less help, though it’s intriguing enough.

"Lynn Joy Holbrook, born Monday, February 21st, 1938, at Trinity Health Birth Center, in Grand Rapids, Michigan."

There’s no mention of her parents or explanation as to why she wound up in Indiana. There were no achievements or events in her family name until her sister, Beverley Holbrook, makes a declaration of her disappearance in 1958. It’s a plea for her safe return, should she have been taken away. She was unaware that her baby sister was building a new life in a different state, and no one bothered to seek closure for the hole she left behind. There are no mentions of a child being born, though evidence in a stolen Polaroid proves otherwise— - keeping the joy to themselves, with purpose. He sees more of her in their faces—nearly identical to the woman with few features gifted by a father. It’s a deep and tangled web of mystery, eating away at his mind as the spiders crawl along for a feast. When and where did Ian Reid or Dr. Brenner come into play? Warren had no siblings to entrust his daughter to, and Beverly remained behind in Michigan with her husband, Mick— most likely even unaware there had been a niece to dote upon. And right now, he wasn’t about to show up on a stranger's doorstep with good news, handing the girl over and leaving unknowing of her fate. But he did need to do something.

The paperwork is abandoned in his truck, locked up with only one key to get in or out. It had become the safest place to keep prying eyes away from his research, no matter if it involved her or not. Steve had said things would get worse with secrecy and lies, but Hopper can’t stomach the look in her eyes when he strips away the only life she had ever known. Parents she may or may not remember, and how she wound up beneath someone else's roof. His heart is already racing with anticipation from what he’s about to do, fingers tight and trembling around a file until it crinkles. He sits in silence at their small table, elbows hoisted up with fingers tangling in his mess of hair as he stares down at the bold, printed words at the top of the paper.

Temporary Guardianship Agreement

It’s not been discussed—not even a whisper. Autumn had said he needed to figure something out, and this was it. Legally, she still needed someone to shelter and guide her. Someone to make sure schoolwork was done and keep her far from a rebellious path. He pictures the fear in her face as she’s carted away once again, forcing her to surrender to the foster care system. She’ll bounce around. Back and forth between families until she falls numb to abandonment, receiving little love and unable to give it back. The word would have become foreign. Then, she’ll turn eighteen and be cast out into the wilderness. Wolves either devour her whole as she moves on unsteady feet, or she takes the pain to become part of the pack. Unrecognizable to not only others that once knew her but to herself. Hopper had been there when she needed him, and he would be damned if he left her now.

He can hear the roar of an engine in the distance—slow-moving tires as they creep up onto the cabin. In such a quiet place, it’s enough to pull him back into reality. He checks his watch, and the time reads 3:46 p.m. School had just gotten out, and with strict orders to come straight back to the cabin, the timing matches. Just like the day before. Only this time, there’s no comfort in her return—only dread. She’s racing up the steps, eager to be freed of the cold winds, and sit right by the fireplace, homework in hand. But she spots his disheveled state, slowly easing off her coat with a weary look in her eye.

“Hi,” she greets in an uncertain tone, testing the waters before she dares to inch closer. The officer can’t even bring himself to reply, only nodding in acknowledgment of her arrival. The discomfort is hard to miss. “What’s-whats up?”

His body shifts then. Arms crossing over the table as he leans into it, obscuring the paperwork between them. “Nothing,” he sighs out. “Just, uh, just a long day.” It wasn’t entirely a lie, but something remained hidden nonetheless, and Autumn seems to notice.

She mouths an “Okay” as she continues to wade through shallow waters, not yet confident enough to swim and meet him at the depths. But the girl looks at him as she fusses over her bag, trying to appear casual, but the raging waves are difficult to ignore. She braces for impact. “Are you sure?” Blue eyes look up to her again, and he wears a forced smile. Nothing like what she had seen on their shopping spree, and certainly not similar to the one he wore next to Joyce. She teeters around it, sensing danger far worse than blackened waters. “What’s that you got there?” His attention is snapping back down to the papers, his heart racing, and leaving him too sick to speak. “Important cop business?” She’s trying to lighten the mood. Hoping to ease the wrath of Poseidon so that they may be spared.

“Uh, no, actually,” his words come out soft, and pained. There is no liferaft to be seen as he dives headfirst, accepting what’s to come. “It’s our business.” He pulls back to reveal the file, though she’s still too far away to know what it all means. A hand lazily gestures towards the chair just across from him, asking for her to sit.

She elects to let him drown. Arms crossed with a head held high to avoid the rising tides. “I’ll stand, thanks.”

Her stubborn attitude has an open hand tighten into a fist, a heavy sigh of defeat falling from his chest. Would he ever be ready for this? “Look, uh,” the words are building up in his throat, creating a blockade he has to either choke down or spew across the table for another breath. “Your dad’s been gone for a while.” The girl’s weight shifts from one leg to the other, her tongue pressed to the inside of her cheek. “Y’know, eventually his absence will get brought up. The school making phone calls, but never hearing anything back. Not showing up for parent-teacher conferences.”

“What’s your point?” She bites back. Somehow he can sense that she already knows what’s just over the horizon, yet she can’t bring herself to voice it out loud.

“My point is… I don’t want t’see you wind up in some stranger’s house.” She’s chewing at her lip anxiously, a deep, unsteady breath filling her lungs, preparing for what awaits her as the level threatens to rise above her.

“Don’t want to? Or can’t?” She questions.

The quiet cabin is suddenly flipped by the loud squeak of a chair sliding across the wood. His haste in closing their distance is almost alarming, leaving her to flinch but keep a steady gaze on him. “Look, kid, this ain’t no walk in the park. This isn’t your two-story, white picket fence home. It’s cramped, and isolated, and maybe you feel out of place. But that man is still out there, and if there’s the slimmest chance that I can protect you here, I’m going t’take it. So, no, I don’t want to.” Her focus hasn’t broken, though the lines of his face begin to blur. Wrinkles of stress and sleepless eyes blend together in a haze. The pleading in his tone is all she needs. Drinking in his ache, while her own heart slowly dies. “If you want t’risk it, you have t’tell me. But I can’t protect you out there.”

A shaken breath falls, unaware she had been holding it hostage. Without another word being spared between the two, cautious steps carry her away from Hopper and towards the table. Autumn is far too fearful to get too close, merely leaning in as if the paper would somehow wound her. She blinks frantically to clear her sight, letting fresh tears fall as she reads the title in bold. She’s grateful but can’t ignore the heartbreak, growing necrotic inside and withering away with a gust of wind. In a fury, her coat is pulled back into her arms—keys still in hand as she rushes past him. “I need t’go.”

“Autumn-”

“Hopper,” she warns with a fiery look in her eyes, a pointed finger held between the two. The girl seems unaware of the flickering lights from within, though he can’t help but look around the small room in worry. “I-I need t’go. I just need t’breathe.”

He towers before her with fists at his sides, fighting back the instinct to pull her back into safety. “Where will you go?” Glossy eyes flicker around the room in thought, before Jonathan’s name fumbles out of her mouth in a lie. Hopper is reluctant to let her go, but with Joyce there to watch out for her where he couldn’t, he ultimately agrees. Just before she’s gone from the threshold, he manages to slip the walkie-talkie in her hold. It was a miracle that she even allowed him that peace of mind. “If anything happens on the way.”

Autumn hardly remembers the drive as she escapes into the evening. Her thoughts spiral, distracting enough to nearly end in a fender-bender. The aggravated voice of the driver ahead manages to spike already high stress levels, and she elects to seek shelter somewhere nearby while the storm settles. A quiet diner—one she’s all too familiar with from previous visits. It’s just before dinner, and she knows this peace won’t last long, so she’s quick to grab a seat and plant herself there until her ass is numb and her legs forget to work. Long after a slowly enjoyed meal, despite the unsettling nausea. In her haste, she's abandoned homework at the cabin and is left to the lonesome of her mind. Thoughts were screaming loud enough to drown out the chitchat around her or the clank of silverware. It renders her frozen in time—dissociated as vacant eyes stare down at a half-eaten meal of sandwich and fries. The tsunami has followed her out of that cabin, crashing into her and leaving her bones to ache. Autumn is logical; she’s aware this won’t kill her, but it’s the journey out of harm's way she struggles to cope with. Her father was out there and very much alive. Possibly even far from Hawkin’s. Another state entirely. She digs away at the flesh of her lip, picturing his lies as he dresses himself in a lab coat with no car oil or grease to dirty his skin. Not the blue-collar lifestyle he claimed to live. She was more than just logical; she was goddamn gullible.

She conjures up an image of that man at his side. A sickening smile on his face as the screams of children rang out in her mind. He calls himself a stranger, but somehow, she knows it’s more than that.

There’s a commotion just next to her as the empty stool is filled, her body reacting on impulse to escape, though settling once she registers the new company. Heather sits with a duffle bag slung across the counter, a smile quickly vanishing into a look of concern. “You look like shit.”

A relieved sigh falls through, eyes now studying the mirror just across, almost anticipating to find that man in the reflection. “Thanks.”

“No,” the girl blurts out, now frustrated with herself. “I-I didn’t mean like that. I just meant-”

“I know what you meant.” Autumn humors, the faintest smile at the corner of her lips. “I do look like shit.” They fall into a brief silence. Autumn finds comfort in having someone familiar nearby, while Heather mentally kicks herself, lost on how to continue. “Aren’t you,” Autumn begins, now twirling the base of a tall glass across the surface. “Aren’t you supposed t’be, I don’t know, fighting monsters with Eddie?”

The girl at her side makes a face, her eyes narrowed. “I don’t just play Dungeons and Dragons, y’know. I have things.” Autumn spares a look of doubt, a single brow raised to lure out the truth. “Besides, everyone’s busy.” She mumbles, almost too embarrassed to admit that if it were any other day, she would have been at the game table. There’s a huff of amusement, and focus is redirected to stir the milkshake. Heather seems to notice how her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. “What’s wrong? Aside from your questionable taste in drinks in winter.”

Finally, the joy shifts and appears more sincere. Though she doesn’t take the playful bait laid out for her. “Just-just shit. Family shit.”

Heather holds out a hand for pause, a look of genuine sympathy in her eyes. “Say no more. I’m familiar with ‘family shit.” Somehow, Autumn doubts that.

Heather begins flipping through the plastic menu, humming to herself, and Autumn can’t help but wonder if she’s set up for the long haul. Ready to dine with a friend. “So, are we running away from family shit?”

The girl snorts, finding her appetite with a distracted mind, helping herself to room-temperature fries and a slow-melting drink. She mumbles around the straw,

“Nowhere t’run to.”

Heather scoffs at her pessimism, waving a hand in her direction. “There’s plenty t’run to. Chicago? Maybe go swim with some sharks in Florida? That’ll get your mind off it.”

“Sounds like you’ve thought some things through.”

Their eyes meet, and the girl wears a small smile. The menu is folded back up and pushed to the side. “Doesn’t everyone think about traveling? Seeing more than just Hawkins, even if it’s temporary.” The teen locks eyes with the waitress, and a silent conversation is had, nodding in acknowledgment before she dips into the back, the door swinging as she leaves. “We talked about making it big in the cities. Big cities. Like New York, or something.” Autumn can see the way her focus flickers out. A light in her eyes shifts and sways as she dances through a future of wants and desires. All before she plummets back to reality. “Can’t leave my mom behind, though. Plus, I’m not gettin’ very far on a bike.”

Her face contorts in amusement, just at the edge of laughter. “Mom doesn’t want t’move t’New York?”

“My mom? She’d have a heart attack.”

They linger in the moment. Hearts suddenly warmed and troubles were forgotten—at least forgotten enough to enjoy the company. Heather swivels impatiently on the stool, her eyes locked on the metal door that remains still. The shouts of the cooks and the waitress were heard booming just beyond the wall. “You got plans tonight?”

“Other than plotting my escape into the big beyond? Not really.”

Heather nods along in understanding, her tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth. “I’m waiting for my mom’s food. I was going t’head home and, I don’t know, probably get up t’no good. You want t’come?”

Autumn isn’t sure if she means it. Whether they’ll wind up with red and blue lights flashing at their backs, or if it’s as simple as watching a movie. But she’s desperate, and takes the offer with an eager, “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

[xoxo-figgs]

this is what im looking like on day 23 of camp nanowrimo. Feeling pretty good about it. I'm only on, i think, chapter 5? might be 4. bc one chapter is 11k or so. 😅 i might cut it in half when I'm finished before i post but we'll see what happens.

i really really want to finish this. i also have a sequel planned but it's like angsty and bittersweet. but it would be so good.

[sheerfreesia007]

Fluffmas #11

Title: Fluffmas #11

Fandom: Stranger Things

Pairing: Steve Harrington x OFC!

Author: @sheerfreesia007​

Prompt: Pictures with Santa

Words: 1,080

Warnings: Fluff, kissing

Permanent Tag List: @paintballkid711, @fioccodineveautunnale, @phoenixhalliwell, @linkpk88, @weirdowithnobeardo, @athalien

Gif Credit: @misanderousmisfit

The chaotic atmosphere of the mall made Steve cringe as he stood in line for photos with Santa. The kids were all buzzing with excited energy as they bickered back and forth about who was going to stand where in the picture, rolling his eyes Steve huffed and looked over the Christmas shopping crowd to spot you rushing towards them with your hands full of bags.

“Stay here.” Steve told the kids before he ducked under the belt divider and began making his way over to you. You beamed up at him a little breathless and he smiled softly at you before shaking his head. “Couldn’t help yourself could you?” he asked teasingly as he easily took the bags from you and began guiding you back to the kids who all cheered when they spotted you.

“I love this time of year, you I can’t help but spoil you all.” you told him happily and Steve chuckled softly before nudging your hip with his. You smiled up at him and leant into his side as you watched the kids all begin bickering once again about where they would all be in the picture.

“Mom and Dad should obviously be on either side of Santa and we’d all fill in the rest of the space.” Dustin argued and Steve smiled softly as he felt you nodding your head against his chest. You and Steve had become the unofficial babysitters of the rambunctious group of kids about a year ago when the whole demodog situation happened. Steve was thankful to have a second person to help him corral the kids since it was such a full time job as it was. But the fact that you considered the two of you the Mom and Dad of the group made a warmth bloom in the pit of his stomach. About six months ago he had caught himself thinking about you in a more romantic way and had yet to gather the courage to tell you.

“What do you think Steve? You think we should be on either side of Santa?” you asked as you tilted your head upwards to stare at him. Steve felt his heart stutter in his chest when he looked down at you and saw your soft smile and sparkling eyes. He smiled gently and bent his head down to rest it against the top of yours.

“Whatever you want is fine with me.” he said fondly and you squealed softly and hugged his middle tightly.

“Then it’s settled.” you said warmly as you turned back to watch the line for photos with Santa grow smaller as your group moved forward.

Soon the line moved quickly and your group found themselves to be the next ones in line. Steve watched as the assistants who were dressed as elves from the North Pole moved people into place around Santa before taking the photo. He was impressed by how efficient they all were while dressed in their ridiculous outfits. But then Steve noticed how focused you were on them and how wide your smile was as you watched, you were completely taken in by the magic of it all.

One of the elves then began to gesture for everyone to come up for your photo. Steve set the bags down to the side of the photographer before moving to go stand on Santa’s opposite side when one of the elves lifted her hand to stop him. He frowned softly at the elf and she began to guide him over to the side that you were standing on as Dustin grinned at him widely from the other side of Santa.

“Stand next to your girlfriend. It’ll make a cute photo.” the elf said as she posed Steve right behind you.

“Oh but-” Steve began to say but then cut himself off when he saw the blush lighting up your face. He felt his heart stutter in his chest once more as Santa sat in his chair watching everything going on. Steve moved to stand behind you and wrapped his arms around your waist and took a step closer to you as his front came flush to your back.

“Alright everyone, say cheese!” called the photographer before there was a large flash of light. “Alright one more! Say cheese!” called the photographer once more and Steve took his chance and leant down and placed a kiss on your cheek. He felt you stiffen slightly in response but when he began to pull away you had turned and pressed your own lips to his causing him to falter. One of his hands came up around your waist while his other landed on the edge of Santa’s seat to catch the two of you from falling over. Cheers and wolf whistles rang through the air and Steve felt his face flush brightly just as your hands came up to cup his face as you smiled into the kiss. “Alright, to get your printed photos you just need to see the elf at the podium.” called the photographer and Steve jerked back at his words. He looked stunned at the photographer before his eyes landed on the group of kids standing at the podium staring at the printed photos before looking back down at you as you beamed up at him. You tapped his chest gently with your hand and he helped ease you back onto your feet. 

When the two of you walked over to the podium the kids were grinning at you as they handed the photos over to you and Steve. Looking down at the photos Steve could see that they printed small versions for everyone and then two large versions of the last photo that was taken. He smiled as he looked at the photo in his hand, it was perfect all the kids were beaming as he stood behind you with his lips pressing a kiss to your shocked but elated face. When he heard you giggle his eyes darted over to the photo that you held and it was quite a bit more chaotic than his. The two of you were kissing as Steve leaned on the edge of Santa’s chair while everyone including Santa stared at the two of you in various expressions of disgust and shock.

“I absolutely love it!” you said happily before leaning up on tiptoe and pressing a chaste kiss to Steve’s cheek causing him to blush furiously and the kids to all make gagging noises.

[pencilscratchins]

i have reached the part of the steddie hyperfixation where i make them domesticated men in their 50s. having a blast! (twitter) [ID in ALT text]

[strangerquinns]

Seven // A Stranger Things Re-Write// Steve Harrington x OFC

OFC Hawkins Lab Child // Rating: M // stranger things masterlist

Steve frowned "What if something happens to you? I-I don't want to see you hurt yourself"

"Steve..."

"No! We're friends remember? One of the things friends do is take care of one another." Steve spoke with a panic, "I can't stand by and watch you hurt yourself, Veronica. Not after last night. Do you have any idea what it was like...to watch you scream out like that and not be able to stop it? You cried of something burning. Something hurting you that I couldn't stop."

Dustin looked between the two of them in shock for a moment, clearly seeing the worry on Steve's face. Anyone looking from the outside could see a look pass over Steve's face as he stared down at Veronica. He wasn't able to make sense of what was happening to him. The feelings that he felt grew within himself the more time he spent with the girl in front of them. A part of him didn't want to stop it. Another part made him afraid of it.

Veronica looked down for a moment before speaking, "I will be careful. The moment I sense something wrong...I'll pull out." Veronica spoke.

Steve's shoulders sagged, his hand dropping from hers, before running through his hair. "The moment I sense anything...I'm turning that thing off."

Veronica nodded her head before grabbing the bandanna and moving to tie it around her face and over her eyes. Dustin moved closer and watched as the knob on the radio switched on its own, Veronica using her powers to move through the channels. The moment she found one of static, quickly her mind slipped into the void space. Her body became rigid and Steve kept a close eye on her, looking for any change.

excerpt from Chapter Twenty Four (Rewrite of Season 2)

other excerpts

summary: Will Byers wasn’t the first kid to go missing from Hawkins. Twelve years before a girl was taken and was ultimately presumed dead. But what they didn’t know as that Veronica Gray was within the walls of Hawkins Lab. Now after finally escaping she must not only fight for her life - but for the lives of the ones she once loved.