#steve sighs loudly when customers at family video talk to him too much so they leave him alone

[loserharrington]

steve and argyle as a duo would be so…. argyle would never be outright rude to someone but he would be LOUDLY passive aggressive and steve has no problem telling someone to their face that he’d kill himself to get them to stop talking. it’s like good cop bad cop except they’re both bad cop

[staygoldwriting]

Can you write an Eddie fic where y/n is his best friend and she / they had a rough day or maybe even a couple of rough weeks and they spend the day together to cheer her up

Hello, anon! Thank you for this request—it’s super sweet 🥰 I absolutely loved writing this, and now I want to do 50 just on this prompt 😂 but I decided to do a Lord of the Rings theme for this one, I hope you enjoy it!! ❤️

Word count: ~1k

Warnings: rough day at work, bosses being the worst, but it’s all VERY fluffy as usual!

🧝‍♀️ 🍃Beriogelir and Ithilwen

You plopped down on your couch, sighing loudly as you felt helpless. Another day of work had absolutely wrecked you. Dragging your hands across your face, you remembered all the rude customers, the pain in your knees from standing too long, receiving your paycheck just to see that Logan got a raise and you didn’t. You grabbed a pillow and screamed into it to release your frustrations, when you heard your door barge open.

“Y/N IT IS A GOOD DAY TO--woah, what’s going on here?” Eddie asked, peering at you curiously as you groaned.

“Work,” you replied shortly.

“Say no more,” Eddie sighed, walking over to you. He lifted your head and scooched himself under, resting your head on his lap.

“I need to quit,” you said. 

“What was it this time?”

“I was two minutes late with an order and boom, no tip,” you complained. “Then, I find out freaking Logan, the guy who just started working at the restaurant, got a raise and I didn’t.”

“Gross,” Eddie said, scrunching his face. “What does Logan have that you don’t? Three arms? Super speed sneakers? An alliance with the kitchen staff?” he joked, making you chuckle. 

“He can do that thing when you carry a whole tray over your head with one arm,” you said bitterly.

“Oh, well, then that makes sense, he’s clearly superior,” Eddie said matter-of-factly, and you tried to bump him with your elbow. 

“I am not in the mood, Eddie.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, bending his face to look at you. “Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?”

“I don’t know,” you sighed.

“I can talk to Steve and see if there’s a spot at the Family Video,” he offered.

“Maybe, yeah, sure, please. I’m just not happy, Eddie.”

“I know, I don’t doubt it,” he said, rubbing your forehead. 

“I wish we could be kids again,” you said quietly. “Everything seemed so simple then.”

Eddie nodded, then quickly perked up. He got up and rushed to the door.

“Where are you going?” you asked, half-mad, half-entertained.

“I have a plan!” he said excitedly, then dashed to his trailer.

-🍃-

Eddie had been gone ten minutes when you heard a knock on the door. As you opened it, you saw him dressed in a cloak with elf ears and intricate woodsy jewelry. Your mouth hung open as you stared at him in disbelief.

“Eddie, you kept it all?” you said in shock.

“I am Edward no more,” he said regally, “for I am now Beriogelir of Mirkwood!” he said triumphantly.

“Forgive me,” you said, curtsying. “I haven’t seen you in many a year, my beloved Beriogelir. I had forgotten how much you resemble the man they call Edward, son of Mun,” you tried to say as regally as possible, but you let a few giggles slip. 

“Understandable, my dear Ithilwen, for I mistook you for a mere woman yourself, a woman named Y/N. It is most likely your garb. May I suggest these?” he asked, pulling out your old elf costume. You gasped as you saw it for the first time in years. Taking it into your hands, you looked up at Eddie in excitement as you rushed to the bathroom to change. When you reemerged, you were in your Elven dress, with long billowy sleeves and a hem filled with mud from when it was too big for you and dragged in the mud. As Eddie saw you, he smiled brightly. 

“Are you ready for an adventure, my Ithilwen?”

“Do you dare even ask?” you smirked. 

Eddie grabbed your hand as you two ran out of your trailer, both barefoot and smiling widely. You circled around the park, laughing and enjoying the crisp air and warm sun. You two kept running around until you were out of breath, plopping down on the grass. You looked over at Eddie, who was breathing heavily, but smiling like a kid. 

“Beriogelir? Do you remember it?” you asked him, raising your eyebrows.

Eddie looked at you with wild eyes. “How could I forget?”

Eddie jumped up and helped you stand as you faced one another. You both bowed, then, as if you had done it just yesterday, performed your Elvish dance that you all choreographed many summers ago. As you performed each move, you smiled and laughed, watching Eddie move just as fluidly as you did. Everything came rushing back to you, your mind overwhelmed with memories of Wayne watching you two dance in the moonlight, praising your grace and wearing elf ears that you both made for him. You had originally made them with some construction paper, then tried your hand at clay, ultimately failing. Wayne surprised you both one day with professionally-made ears, spending much more money than he should have ever spent on play clothes, but it was “for my kids,” he said. You both treasured them, keeping them sealed in a box to make sure they never got ruined. 

“I can’t believe we remembered the whole dance!” you laughed breathlessly as you fell into Eddie’s arms.

“I believe it,” he smiled. “You know, it hasn’t been that long.”

“It’s been over five years for sure,” you replied. “I loved the way we used to be, not a care in the world, no one’s opinions could get to us, nothing!” you smiled as you laid down in the grass. Eddie sat down next to you, sprinkling flowers in your hair and fixing your crown.

“We can still be like that, you know,” Eddie said sweetly.

“But we have work, responsibilities!” you argued.

“Look at us though! We finished work for the day. Who’s to say we can’t do this every day?”

“I guess we could,” you said, smirking at him. 

“Anything to make you happy,” he smiled at you softly, making you push his face to the side. 

“Alright, Munson,” you chuckled, “don’t get too mushy on me.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, my Ithilwen.”

Taglist: @tillkummer @mlle-ayka @fanficfanatic204 @klaine-92 @aurumbelis @onlyangel-444 @beep-beep-sherlock @morishitoshi @onceuponathreetwoone @toomanybandstocare @underthebatcape @zeldaknight @fieldofsecretss @prettyinpunk85 @igotbasicdrag @gothicfaires @thatonecurlygirl @luvthatlovestolove @loliakeoghan23 @dearelliewrites @mslunawinchester @efvyqrs @simonsbluee @inkedaztec @dumplinshee @pastel-abyss-x @frozenhuntress67 @hawkins-hs @witheringawayagain @theshinyrock @hollandcomics @pinkgothiccprincess @persephone13 @katsukis1wife @murnsondock @fictionlandslanddreams @srapalestina @babyghouly @madformunsonsstuff @harrys-tittie @middle--fingering @urmomgov @maybankstarkey @jbetches @stardustmunson @maltinonka

[the-archxr]

Waterloo!

steve harrington x reader

Summary: After witnessing you and a Family Video frequent flirting and connecting over your favourite band, Steve gets jealous and ends up showing you how ABBA should truly be celebrated.

A/N: so hahaha, I have recently been obsessed with Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, which led me to this fic, which is ONE THOUSAND PERCENT based off of the Waterloo scene from Here We Go Again, because the more I thought about it the more I realized that Steve is like Harry in that sense, so yeah. Here we are.

Song Inspo: Waterloo - ABBA, Waterloo - Hugh Skinner and Lily James (cause you can’t just pick one, m’kay?)

•••••

“Okay, but speaking in terms of the be-all to end-all of questions...”

The boy with the dirty blonde hair and ragged plaid shirt leans over the counter slowly. His blue eyes meet yours and his teeth are bared in a striking smirk. “And just so you know, your answer will determine the future of our relationship...”

You nod with a laugh. “Okay.”

“What’s your favourite ABBA song?”

You snort and shake your head, picking up his rental to ring it through.

He gives you an expectant look, which you respond with a simple shrug and and, “I don’t know.” 

He scoffs playfully. Gliding over to the register with ease he rests his head on his fist. You roll your eyes at the sight before you. If he wasn’t so cute, then you’d be severely turned off by the excessive forwardness.

“Aw, c’mon. Everyone has a favourite.”

After shutting the register with his exact change in it, you cross your arms with a sigh. “Well, if you were as true of an ABBA fan as you say you are, then you’d know that that’s a trick question. Because every ABBA song is good, therefore, they’re all my favourite.”

“Smartass,” he huffs, earning a laugh from you.

Suddenly you hear a loud “shit” come from behind you which grabs your attention from the flirtatious customer to your coworker and friend.

“You alright, Steve?”

He hops out from behind the back wall, a faint blush gracing his cheeks and neck. “Y-yeah. Just got attacked by these goddamn boxes.”

You laugh and look back to the blonde who still hasn’t left. Quirking an eyebrow, you look him up and down.

“You’re still here?”

“Well, yeah.” He shrugs with a shit-eating grin. “Was hoping I’d be able to talk to you a little more.”

“...About?”

He opens his mouth to speak before his eyes flit to the clock above you. “Shit, I gotta go. I have to pick up my little brother and his friends up from the pool.”

He grabs the VHS, before shooting you a wink as he waves goodbye.

It isn’t until after he leaves that you hear a scoff come from your coworker. You frown and spin on the heels of your feet.

“Something wrong, Stevie?”

He rolls his eyes and leans over to pick up the empty boxes he tripped on earlier. “No. Yes...? I don’t know. I guess, it’s just...him?”

Picking up the remaining boxes you follow him to the back. “What do you mean ‘him’?”

“Ah, c’mon he was practically eye-fucking you in the middle of the store. It was—it was gross and icky and...bleh.”

You laugh loudly at that and watch your friends hair bounce with the movement of hauling the cardboard into the large bin. “Bleh?”

“Bleh!” You both walk back to the door, which encourages Steve to hold it open for you. “I mean that’s a total Billy move.”

“Oh, so now he’s not just bleh, he’s a Billy.”

“Yeah,” Steve huffs and runs a hand through his hair. “Meaning he’s a complete and utter dick.”

“Just cause he was flirty?”

“That’s not being flirty that’s called being horny.”

You groan at his words, regardless of the fact that they don’t offend you in the slightest. If anything they amuse you.

You heave yourself on top of the counter, one leg splayed over the countertop and the other swaying idly. He gestures to the sticker gun beside you, which you grab and wave in his direction. “Oh, and you know something about the difference between flirty and horny?”

“Yeah, because I used to be that horny guy.” He snatches the sticker gun out of your hand and begins to wave it around as he walks to the one end of the store.

“Oh, right. Your whole King Steve faze.” You watch him shake his head at your words with a slight frown. You sigh. “King Steve, ruler of the horndogs.”

He laughs, making your plan in lightening up the mood a success.

The silence in the store pulls on for a few seconds before you reach over and turn on the radio—the hum of the static and muffled voices echoing through the building as you switch through the channels before you set it on the desired station.

You lean back and watch your friend move around the store lazily, putting bright pink stickers on the assortment of rentals haphazardly.

You frown as you think (a curse, cause you never seem to stop thinking), and sit up playing with the many woven bracelets on your wrist. “No, but seriously, Steve. What’s your problem with the guy?”

He stops his motions and turns to you. He looks nervous and his chest heaves up and down with trepidation. He opens his mouth to speak, but he pauses. You can practically see the words stuck on the tip of his tongue, before he sighs, mainly to himself, and shoots you a small (and kind of sad) smile.

“He has a favourite ABBA song. No one trustworthy has one favourite ABBA song.”

You laugh at his words, slapping your knee as you keel back to the wall with laughter. He laughs loudly too and tosses the sticker gun and himself on the countertop. He sits opposite of you with his Nike shoe pressing almost perfectly against the sole of your Converse.

You look at the clock and huff. Steve follows your line of sight and his face falls at the sight of the time. “We got a whole half hour left.”

You hum and close your eyes, resting your head against the wall. You stay like that until the radio announcers voice comes through. You open your eyes instinctively, only to see that Steve is already looking at you.

But maybe he wasn’t because with one blink he’s actually looking at the door.  An awkward cough resonates in the back of your throat as you groan.

That’s when the mans voice comes to a slow and the beginning of the next song plays. It takes you a second, but when you recognize the song your ears prick up and a smile graces your face.

Steve eyes you strangely as you grab the knob to turn up the sound. “What? What song is this?”

Your jaw drops in your friends direction. “Uh, Waterloo?”

“Water what?”

You laugh and hop off the counter, your feet already moving to the beat of the song. “Waterloo. It’s an ABBA song.”

“No I know this is ABBA. I’m slow, not stupid.” You cackle and roll your shoulders to the sound of the guitar. “I’ve just never heard it before.”

You grin before grabbing his hands and pulling him to the middle of the store which surprisingly has the most space. You sway both of your arms back in forth, in an attempt to coax him to start moving. An action that he doesn’t take to immediately.

“Aw, c’mon, don’t be a Debbie Downer, Harrington.”

He scoffs. “I am not a Debbie Downer.”

You shake your head and stick your tongue out at him. “Well then, prove it. I mean, didn’t you used to be the funnest man in all of Hawkins?”

“Funnest isn’t a word.”

You gasp. “Wow, look who actually payed attention in English.”

He rolls his eyes and once again runs his hand through his damn hair. He stands there for a second, before a small grin appears on his face. “Also, what do you mean used to be?”

Your jaw drops as he grabs a hold of your arms and spins you around dramatically. You gasp, the breath being knocked out of you suddenly as he holds your arm above you and spins you twice. You laugh as he pulls you back into him, to which he begins to bounce around the space, spinning you every so often—much to your delight.

You gasp after another spin, but by the second verse you’re too caught up into wanting to sing the words then being worried about your lack of oxygen if you do so. “My, my! I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger!”

You spin on your heel away from him, the momentum sending you back into the counter with a laugh. “Oh yeah!” You both sing out.

Then, with a wink and a spin of his body, he uses his hand and slicks his hair back in a Greaser fashion, earning another string of laughter from you. Jumping back to you, your back is pulled into his chest as he holds an arm out and runs forward.

The bun in which you put your hair in is now dangling loosely just below your shoulders, and as he spins you for the nth time, fate would have it that some of your hair gets in his mouth. Steve sputters and makes a face, causing the both of you to erupt in another fit of laughter. Soon, you both are dancing like fools, completely in your own space, yet never too far from the others reach. “Waterloo! Finally facing my Waterloo!”

He takes your hand firmly, spins you and as the song nears the end you almost fall to the ground. However, with Steve’s knee propped up beneath you, he has you dipped and breathless. His eyes are partially closed and as he pulls you up you almost grow dizzy from him dipping you a second time. This time, the dip is more dramatic and your loose hair falls onto the ground in a soft pile, indicating that you’re far lower than the first time. 

“Waterloo!” He sings, finally getting the lyrics to the song.

“Knowing my fate is to be with you.” You finish. The song ends abruptly and both of you are at a loss of breath as you try to tune down the echo of laughter.

It’s at that moment that the sound of a door bell jingling has you both breaking away from each other awkwardly. Still out of breath, you hurriedly rush to the counter and try to smooth down your hair. (Not that you expect that to hide anything with the way your cheeks are so inflamed. If anything, whoever had come in would think that they caught you in Steve in the middle of something else.) 

Your eyes finally focus on the customer, realizing that it’s the same blonde boy from earlier. “Hey, again.” He winks at you, resting his forearm on the countertop.

“Hey,” you say back. Your eyes flit over to Steve, whose back is faced to both of you. He’s already walked to the other side of the store, and the obvious distance he has quickly put between himself and the customer makes you think.

But you don’t have to think too hard as the realization practically hits you over the head. You suddenly grin and look at the counter, the feeling of your cheeks reddening further blooming throughout your upper body.

“So, uh...” the boy in flannel begins, clicking his tongue. “I came back.”

“I see that.” You counter him quickly with a soft smile.

He laughs and runs a hand over his jaw before looking to you. He hesitates. But only for a moment. “I’m tryna’ ask you out, ya know.”

You nod at that. “Yeah, I know.”

He pauses as he bites the inside of his cheek. Suddenly, the air around you two has turned very awkward and you can tell that he knows it.

“So...”

You shrug. “So?”

Shoving his hands in his pockets he moves his shoulders up in question. “So what do you say?”

You look down at your bracelets for a moment before looking back at him with a soft smile. “I’d have to say that I’m flattered. But, uh, no thanks.”

The boys eyes widen, as does Steve’s who’s attention is now on both of you.

The blonde nods and scratches the back of his neck. “Oh...okay then. Thanks for being honest at least.”

You smile at him, which sends the boy back to the door and on his way. You let out the breath you had been holding in and look to Steve who looks just as shocked as the other guy.

“What just happened?”

“I said no to his offer.” You say matter-of-factly as you walk around the counter and closer to your friend. He shifts from foot to foot, his eyes telling you that his brain is going a mile a minute.

“W—why? Why would you say no?”

You quirk an eyebrow at him. “Usually you say no to a date when you don’t want to go on a date. At least, I don’t want to go on a date with him anyway...”

Your voice trails off purposely as you look directly at the boy in question. Steve is still stunned and is still very confused, which makes you want to laugh at his obliviousness.

It’s cute though...his obliviousness.

...He’s cute.

“Steve,” you say lowly. He’s biting his lip, and the slightest hint of worry blooms over his features.

“...Yeah?”

You sigh. “Well I’m trying to imply that I want to go on a date with you...”

If you didn’t know better, you’d say that Steve had stopped breathing. Eliciting a laugh from you, you glide closer to him and look the boy in the eyes. “Steve...did I break you?”

He almost short circuits in a sense and looks at you with disbelief. “You want to go on a date with me?”

You shrug with a nod. “I think it could be fun.”

The poor boy stands there, still in shock. You shake your head and kiss him on the cheek before walking to the counter and grabbing your bag.

“Pick me up at 8 tomorrow at Dustin’s and we’ll go to Dairy Queen or something.”

His eyes and mouth are wide open as his gaze follows you to the door. The door barely closes behind you before you pop your head back in the store. “Oh, also, Steve since you’re the last one in here you gotta’ lock up.” You smile widely at him and run off before he can protest.

But even with the thought of having to lock up present in his mind, Steve doesn’t feel like protesting. When he comes back to his senses he nods to himself with a smile and runs to the back; excitement coursing through him.

•••••

Steve Harrington Taglist:

@wigofokoye @timeladygallifrey @fairlysuitehearts @loulouloueh @bluegreyme @coltonparayyko @readinthegarden12 @hello-therree @gothackedalready @aphrodites-perfume @fic-cheesecake @bohemiandeakyy @nerd-domland @blueoz @laneygthememequeen @xelaalec @i-justlikewhales @elen-alambil @heykarsyn @yellowhopes @veeshthefrog @justsomeficsilike @cxddlyash @aniya21890 @billyhargrovescigarette @nugturally @daddystevee @asheseiler @enchantedcruelsummer @jxnehxpper

[iridescent-petrichor]

we’re living in a dream, baby

Steve Harrington x Reader

Warnings: Beer/Parties, mild insecurity about your body

Words: 2.2K words

A/N: This is very loosely based on a dream I had, except the dream I had consisted of me sprinting away from mr. steve harrington while being aggressively insecure about my body

It was a warm Tuesday afternoon, nearing the end of summer – not that it mattered for you or Steve considering you were both out of high school. You stood at the counter of Family Video where Steve was manning the register. Or at least, he was supposed to be manning the register. Currently, he was sitting on top of the counter talking to you about the unbearable summer heat of Hawkins. When a customer approached, you had to cover up your laughter at Steve rushing to jump off the counter, cursing under his breath.

He hurriedly rings the man up, barely giving him a glance as he handed the movie back and took the money. As he left, he dramatically turned back to you. “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted.”

“By your job?” You laughed, eliciting a smile from Steve. You loved making him smile, it was one of your favorite things about him.

“So, anyways, Robin mentioned a few people at the highschool are heading to the lake tonight as one final ‘hoorah’ before school starts. I was wondering if you wanted to tag along with us?”

“Isn’t it a little sad for two people who’ve already graduated to go to a party full of highschoolers?” You asked despite how little you already cared as long as you got to spend the night with him.

“Yeah, but the free alcohol.” Ah, of course. It was a highschool party after all.

You hum, pretending to think for a moment, “well, you’ve convinced me.” You smile brightly. “What time?”

“I can pick you up at 7:30. Deal?” You nod, moving away from the counter. When you turn to leave, yelling goodbye to Robin without looking behind you, and walk out the store, you miss the way Steve’s smile fades when you pull away. Just before the door to the shop closes, you call out, “see you tonight!” And get into your car, trying to ignore the butterflies bubbling up in your stomach.

“See you.” He mutters with a dopey smile on his face, knowing full well you couldn’t hear him.

“Dude, you are so whipped for this girl.” Steve jumped, nearly knocking his elbow against the register before he stopped himself.

“Jesus! How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to know you’re not doing your damn job.” Robin smiles, flipping him off before grabbing a stack of movies to stack on the shelves. Steve sighed, crossing his arms and looking outside where you were just standing. She was right, Steve was so whipped for you.

 7:30 came quicker than you would’ve liked. You stood in front of your mirror, criticizing every little thing about how you looked in the bikini you bought at the beginning of the summer. Of course, you never had the opportunity nor the confidence to wear it in public, but it was the only swimsuit you had that fit. You hear a car pull up to your driveway through your open window and quickly throw a loose dress over your swimsuit.

By the time Steve got one knock in, you ripped the front door open, smiling widely. He’s wearing a navy T-shirt paired with red swim shorts, and you enjoy seeing how happy he looks. Ever since everything went down in Hawkins the past few years, it got harder to get a genuine smile out of him.

“Hey!” You say, taking a moment to catch your breath.

He laughs for a moment, looking at you. “Ready to go?”

You nod, calling out a goodbye to wherever in the house your parents were and followed him outside.

The two of you climb into his car, neither one of you speaking as he pulls out of your driveway. The silence feels deafening, both of you suddenly too nervous to say anything. Tension builds quickly between you two, and you can’t help but notice how stuffy Steve’s car feels despite the fact that Steve’s window was rolled down. You hold back a sigh, leaning your head against your hand and looking outside at the passing trees.

“We still have to pick Robin up, by the way.” You nod at Steve’s words, hoping Robin’s comforting presence will relieve the tension in the car.

 The air in the car seems to clear the moment Robin gets in the car, and it’s not long before she and Steve are having a dumb argument over whether or not Risky Business was a better movie than The Breakfast Club.

“It’s a great movie! It brings all the different groups together in detention!” Robin yelled, and you could’ve sworn they’ve had this argument before.

“You just think Molly Ringwald is hot!”

“And you don’t?”

You laugh louder than you anticipated at your friends, and they both stop.

Steve glances at you as he drives down the empty road, “Y/N, what do you think?”

“Y/N obviously you know the right answer-”

“Okay Robin at least let her talk-”

“I don’t know!” You cut him off, throwing your arms up in surrender. “I never saw Risky Business when it was out, but Robin did make me watch The Breakfast Club…”

“One point for me! I win, Harrington!”

“No no no, that doesn’t count she hasn’t even seen it-”

“Doesn’t matter, it’s not as good-”

“That’s not fair-”

“You’re just upset cause YN has good taste in movies-”

“She didn’t even say she liked it better-”

“But it still wins by default-”

“She hasn’t even seen it! YN, I’m renting Risky Business tomorrow and we’re watching it at my place.”

You did not miss the way Robin wiggled her eyebrows at you in the rearview mirror.

“Uh, yeah sure. I can- I can do that.” Robin laughs loudly behind you, and you reach around to hit her.

“She’s going to side with me!”

Steve shook his head, laughing as he pulled over on the side of the road. You could see the lake in the distance, nerves finally catching up to you, and sighed to yourself as you prepared for a long night. Why did you agree to this anyways?

“Alright, let’s have fun!” Steve cheered, climbing out of the car.

Oh right. That’s why.

He quickly takes his shirt off, shoving it in the backseat while Robin shrugged off her shorts and t-shirt, revealing a light blue one piece, before doing the same. Hesitantly, you followed suit, removing your dress, and throwing it into the pile of clothes. Your arms instantly shot up and rest around our midriff as the three of you made your trek towards the lake.

It didn’t take much walking before you were stepping over the trash people have left around in their drunken stupors. Glancing at the beer cans strewn about, you briefly wondered who would be the unlucky one to have to clean them all up before Robin grabbed your hand and pulled you towards the party.

One thing you knew for sure, was there were a lot of high schoolers here. And not only were you and Steve not in high school anymore, you felt way too exposed in your bikini. You tried to turn to Steve to have someone else out of place to stick to, but he was already talking to a girl – probably a senior? You’d seen her around the halls, but she was never in your circle. The pit in your stomach feels heavier by the second, so you look to Robin for help.

She’s already heading towards the lake with a couple band friends of hers, one you can even pinpoint as what you and Steve call “the girl” at work based on how often she comes to visit when Robin’s working to “check out the movies” but you’ve seen enough flirting to know better by now.

Your two best friends were gone, and you feel like an idiot for agreeing to go to this stupid party. It feels like everyone is staring at you, and your arms stay firmly around your sides.

It’s not like you could just leave, anyways. Your house is across town and you’re not walking home this close to sunset in the least amount of clothes you think you’ve ever worn. And your clothes are locked in Steve’s car. Which is definitely locked.

There’s no “corner” that you can curl up and hide from people in, so you walk down towards the lake and find a relatively empty spot to sit, dipping your legs in and trying to relax. After all, if you’re stuck here for the next couple hours you might as well try to enjoy yourself.

You almost begin to enjoy yourself as you start people watching, observing the faces of the people you’ve seen around town or school a couple times as they stumble around to the music playing out of the boombox someone brought. Living in a small town meant that you’d probably seen these people before, and you’d definitely see them again in your lifetime. But they definitely won’t remember it, cause most of the people here seem drunk enough that they won’t remember much in the morning.

It feels like no time has passed, but if someone asked you, you couldn’t accurately tell them how long you’ve been sitting there. Suddenly, you feel a hand on your shoulder that makes you jerk back, nearly falling into the lake before the mystery person steadies you.

“Whoa, hey.” Steve’s voice is soft, crouching down to your level as he keeps his hand on your shoulder until he’s sure you’re not gonna suddenly drop into the lake. “I was looking for you, dude. You just kinda disappeared.”

“Oh yeah,” you force a smile, avoiding his stare in favor of looking at the people swimming in the lake. “I guess you just seemed sort of… busy.”

He sits down next to you, his own legs now dipping into the water as well. “Yeah it seems like some people didn’t get the memo that I’m not really top dog anymore, huh?” When you don’t respond he frowns, scooting closer to you. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.” You look him in the eyes, trying to convince him despite both of you knowing your smile isn’t quite reaching your eyes. “Seriously, don’t worry about me. Go have fun!”

Still, he refuses to move. “I’m not going to leave you just sitting here alone, Y/N.” He slips off the rock the two of you were sitting on, into the lake, and grins at you. “C’mon, don’t make me pull you in.”

You roll your eyes, but can’t stop the smile from creeping up onto your face. With a quiet laugh, you follow his lead and hop off the rock into the lake. The cold water is a shock, but you can’t find it in you to care because Steve is staring at you like you’re the only person in the world and it feels like nothing else matters in that moment. Carefully, and almost too slowly, Steve swims closer to you, placing his hand on one of the rocks beside you to hold himself there. The space between the two of you is practically nonexistent, and for the second time that day, butterflies flutter around in your belly. It feels like the entire world stops spinning just for you, and when you look up at him, he begins to lean closer, nearly closing the gap between you until-

A sharp scream erupts from somewhere around you and before you can process who that was or why they screamed in the first place, cold water splashes into your face. You shielded your eyes from the onslaught of water, laughter bubbling up in your throat. A few people cheer at the size of the stranger’s cannonball, and once the water settles, you feel Steve’s gaze stuck on you

“Got a staring problem?”

“You’re beautiful.”

Whatever joke you were going to make dies on your tongue. You stare at him in awe, trying to process that you did, in fact, hear him correctly. At your silence, Steve reels backwards, groaning.

“Sorry I just-”

You cut him off, pulling him against you and kissing him. One of his arms loop around your waist, and he presses the other against a rock, keeping you two afloat. It almost doesn’t feel real, and god is Steve a good kisser. A moment goes by before you hear a singular voice whooping and hollering, recognizing it to be Robin’s, and smile through the kiss.

You pull away too soon for your liking to catch your breath, and stare at him.

“Having fun yet?” His arm stays hooked around your waist, holding you close.

You feel like your face is gonna split open from how much you’re smiling. “Yeah, I think so. Although we haven’t had any of that free alcohol you mentioned.” If it was even possible, Steve’s smile widened.

With that, the two of you clamber out of the lake, and Steve grabs your hand as he runs over to a cooler of beer he spotted on his way over to you. His hand doesn’t leave yours for the rest of the night.