Don't You Want Me? ✵ Steve Harrington

Chapter 61

They explained as quickly as they could, finishing each other's sentences and acting like the three of them had been friends their whole lives.

"Thanks to Nancy's minions, we are now rock-star psychology students at the University of Notre Dame," Robin said.

"I'm now Ruth," Nancy said with a smile. "And this is Rose," she gestured to Robin, "and Rebecca," she pointed at Kim.

Dustin picked up Kim's fake transcript. "No one who knows you is going to buy that this is your gpa, Rebecca," Dustin pointed to the 3.9.

"Well, it's a good thing they won't know me then," Kim glarred him, snatching the papers back.

Nancy continued her explanation. "So we called Pennhurst Asylum, told them we'd like to speak with Victor Creel for a thesis we're co-writing on paranoid schizophrenics–"

"To which they said no," Robin chimed in.

"But we landed a three o'clock with the director," Nancy finished.

"Now all we have to do is charm him and convince him to let us talk to Victor," Robin added.

"And then maybe we can rid Max of this curse," Kim said.

"Yeah, uh, about that," Steve made eye contact with Kim and it was like he forgot how to speak. "Um, uh, we've been doing our Victor Creel homework, and, uh, we've got some questions."

"Lots of questions," Lucas nodded.

"So do we," Nancy said. "Hopefully, Victor has the answers."

"Wait, wait, wait a second. Uh, where's mine?" Steve asked, looking through the files for one with a guy's name.

The three girls pursed their lips, knowing Steve wasn't going to like this.

"Y-you're not coming with us," Kim finally replied.

"What?" Steve chuckled, hoping that she was joking.

"Um, Robin, let's uh go get changed," Nancy suggested, eyes darting between Kim and Steve. "We should, uh, look the part."

"Yeah, I'll come with you guys," Kim nodded, starting to follow the other girls up the stairs.

He followed after them, not willing to let it go as they marched into Nancy's room. "You guys are outta your mind if you think I'm babysitting again."

"Okay, first of all, they're not babies anymore," Kim snapped, spinning around to face him. "And Max is in real danger. She needs people around her."

"I know, but why does it always have to be me?" Steve asked.

"Oh my God, you have a Tom Cruise poster!" Robin exclaimed, raising her eyebrows at Nancy.

"Th-that's old," Nancy muttered. "Can you please not touch anything? You know what, Kim, find us outfits, I'm gonna just make sure Robin doesn't break any of my things."

"On it," Kim saluted.

"I just can't do anything here, Kimmy," Steve went on. "Maybe I can be helpful with this asylum director dude. I don't know, I could, like, turn on my charm."

Kim tried not to smile. "Not the kind of charm we need."

"Ouch," Steve muttered.

Hating to see them fight, Nancy stepped in. "Look, I did a little digging last night, and it turns out that this Dr. Hatch is a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Harvard visiting scholar, okay? This is a lifelong student of the world. If we're gonna win him over, we're gonna have to convince him we are too. That, like him, we are true academic scholars."

"Holy shit," Robin whispered excitedly, picking up Nancy's jewelry box. "There's a little ballerina in here!"

"Academic scholar?" Steve scoffed. "She's giving you an academic scholar vibe?"

"No, but..." Kim pulled out three of Nancy's frilliest, snootiest dresses. "She will."

Robin looked at the dresses like they were the most horrendous things in the world. "Oh, please, tell me you're joking."

•••••

After she and the other girls had changed into their new clothes they started to head outside towards Nancy's car.

Before Kim could get all the way out the door, Steve stopped her. "Can we just talk, for like two seconds before you go?"

Kim closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Steve, we have an appointment at three. We can't be late."

"I know, I know," he nodded, biting the inside of his cheek nervously.

She sighed and looked at Nancy and Robin who were in the car frantically waving for her to hurry up. She signaled to them to wait a minute. "What?"

"I-I know we're in a fight and everything, but you still mean the world to me," he said. He wanted to lean down and kiss her so badly, hold her hand even, just something so she didn't feel so distant. "Just please be careful, okay?"

She nodded. "Let me know on the walky if anything happens to Max." She turned ready to walk out the Wheeler's door when she decided to turn around. "And, Steve, I need you to be careful too, okay?"

He nodded at her and smiled, a bit of the weight lifted off his chest.

A.N. hi guys!!! so i know we're all in love with eddie muson and i've been considering writing an eddie fic. what are your guy's thoughts on that? would you read it? im thinking kinda sunshine and darkness dynamic but im not sure. let me know what you guys think! love you all <3