it was your junior year in high school. Everyone knew Steve wouldn't graduate if he kept his grades so low and he knew you were the smartest person in Hawkins High.
One day during lunch, you sat at the nerd table as always and were practicing for the Debate team.
"Hey Y/N" Steve shouted from behind you. You absolutely hated him.
You roll your eyes and you turn around. "Yes King Steve?" you mocked him
"Can I talk to you?" he asked
"What for?"
"Just come on" he groaned. He got up and he took your hand and walked out of the cafeteria with you.
You lean your back against the wall and kick your foot up. "this better be worth it" you sighed as you folded your arms and steve stood in front of you.
He ran his fingers through his hair, thinking about what to say. "Look. I need your help" he finally said.
You laughed. "You bullied be every day for four years and now since your graduation is coming up you want my help?"
"I know it sounds stupid. But my dad said if I don't graduate he's gonna have it out for me. Please, y/n. You're the smartest person at Hawkins High" he explained.
The room was filled with silence. You didn't know what to say. "How much?"
"Huh?"
"How much am I getting paid?" you asked
"twenty bucks per hour for a week straight" he replied.
"You have yourself a deal, Harrington" you reached your hand out for him to shake "But any funny buisness and the deals off"
"All right. No funny buisness" Steve shook your hand
"Meet in the library after school?" you asked
"Can't. I have basketball practice" he said. "But how about you come to my practice and after we can go to Dairy Queen, grab a couple of burgers and study at my house"
"Okay. That sounds good. I'll see you later?"
"Yup. Thanks, y/n. It really helps a lot" he thanked you. You could hear in his voice he was being sincere.
You give him a soft smile and head back into the cafeteria "What was that all about?" Hailey asked you as you approached the table
"Steve wants me to tutor him" you shrugged as you sat down
"Pathetic" Hailey scoffed "He's just using you"
Before you could respond, the bell rang. You grabbed your bag and went to your chemistry class. The rest of the day went by pretty quickly.
You walk to the gym where Steve had his basketball practice and sat on the bleachers as you did your homework.
"Hey y/n" Steve approached you.
You look up at him "Oh hey steve. I can't help but see you being completely destroyed by Billy over there"
"Oh yeah that asshole" Steve scoffed as he ran his fingers through his hair again. "Trust me I'm not this bad at basketball"
"I know"
"You do?"
"Yeah. I seen you play during Band practices" you replied
"Right" He bit his lip.
"Harrington back on the court!" the coach blew his whistle at him
"Yes sir. See ya after practice." You watch as he went back to the court. two hours go by hand he's completely dripping in sweat and out of breath. "I'm gonna go shower quickly and then we can go"
Fifteen minutes later, Steve comes out of the locker room "Ready?" you asked
"Yeah" Steve walks you to his car. he unlocks the car and opens the door for you
"thank you"
The ride to Dairy Queen was quiet. Only music was playing from the radio and you and Steve quietly hummed along. You both ordered cheeseburgers, fries and a soda and went to a booth to eat.
"I really appreciate it, y/n" steve finally spoke up, breaking the silence.
"Don't mention it" you mumbled as you took a bite of the burger
"so what colleges are you applying to?" he asked
"Oh I'm not a senior" you replied
"Really? so you're a Junior?"
"Yup" you nodded "What colleges are you going to?"
"That's funny" Steve chuckled "I'm not going to college"
"Why not?"
"You've seen my grades. No school isn't gonna accept me" He looked down as he finished his food. "You on the other hand, you can get into any school you want to. Harvard. Yale. Princeton"
"My mom wants me to go to Harvard law school" you said
"And you don't?"
"nope. I don't want to go to an ivy league school. I just want to go to a regular old college" you explained
"Tell her"
"It's not that easy, Steve" You shook your head as you took a sip of your smoothie
"But-"
"Steve. Please. Just drop it"
And with that, you and steve get up and he drives to his house. "Just ignore how messy it is in here" he said as he led you up to his bedroom and you both sat on the bed
Steve looked lost in your eyes. He cupped his hand against your cheek, increasing the tension between you two. Just as he starts leaning in, you clear your throat, causing him to pull back from what he was about to do "Right uh should we start with History or Calculus?"
"History? I'm not taking Calculus" he answered.
For the next two hours, you teach Steve about the Vietnam war, Cold war and World war II. It took a while, but he was finally getting the hang of it. Finally it hit nine o'clock. You gather your things and Steve drives you back to your house.
"Thanks y/n" he said as he walked you to your porch.
"Anytime" you smiled as you kiss his cheek, catching him off guard. "I'll see ya tomorrow?"
"You got it. I'll pick you up for school"
written June 19th 2024
