A NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION
Ryan Fordman has lived next door to Steve Harrington her entire life. Her entire life, he'd always been a window away, occasionally shouting across the space between their houses. They were inseparable... at least, they we...
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Ryan woke up to a shrill ringing sound by her head. She glanced around, realizing that she was in the living room, Steve's arm wrapped around her in his sleep. The phone rang again, causing Steve to stir, pulling Ryan in tighter. She smiled slightly, reaching over to answer the phone, "Hello?"
"Hey, Ry." Nancy's voice came through the other end of the line. "It's me."
"Oh hey," She yawned, sitting up straighter. "It's early what time is it?"
"It's almost seven."
"Damn." It was later than she thought it was. Yet, at the same time, it seemed a little early for a phone call from Nancy. "What do you need? Is everything okay?"
"Umm, I'm gonna be skipping school today and telling my mom I'm staying with you this weekend, if that's okay with you."
Ryan blinked, processing what she just heard, "Uh huh, where are you really going to be?"
"With Jonathan doing some research?"
"Dangerous research?" She asked, glancing down at Steve, still asleep next to her.
"Maybe a little."
"I don't know, Nance." She said quietly, not to wake up Steve. "I'll come with you."
"I'll be fine." Nancy promised. "Besides, you're my alibi. Someone needs to be there to answer the phone and cover for me."
"Fine." She sighed. "Be safe okay? I mean it."
"Okay. Okay. Thank you, I'll owe you one." Nancy said gratefully. "I'll call you whenever I can."
"Uh huh," Ryan yawned again. "I'll see you when you get back."
She hung up the phone, glancing down at Steve. She played with his hair for a minute, wondering if she should've told Nancy he was there... then she started wondering if she should tell Steve about Nancy. She had said she wasn't going to choose sides in the breakup, but this was something she was not about to tell him. Even if she wanted to, she had no idea what she would say. Maybe it was better that he didn't know, he'd already had a shitty week as it was, she didn't need to add to it.
"Steve," She poked his cheek. "Steve wake up."
Steve buried his face in the pillow on the couch, "No, go back to sleep."
Ryan laughed, poking his sides. Steve jolted up, wrapping his arms around hers to restrain her, "Come on, Steve. We have school!"
"Let's just watch movies all day." He tried, falling back onto the couch, taking Ryan with him.
"Steve, you have basketball practice so no." Ryan argued, struggling to sit back up.
"What if I just skip basketball practice?"
"What if I just skipped your next game?" Ryan shot back, finally sitting up straight.
"You wouldn't dare." He gasped. "You're the photographer for the yearbook, you can't miss a game."
