chapter 1

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Julia Henderson chewed lightly on the end of her pencil as she skimmed through pages and pages of notes. Letting out a helpless sigh, she threw her head back, her short brown locks spreading against her shoulder blades and back area.

She shut her eyes, attempting to get rid of the mild headache she received from all these words that she had no fucking clue what they meant.

A soft 'thumping' sound came from her window, she hopped off her bed and went to see what the noise was. Low and behold, there was her best friend since 6th grade, Steve Harrington.

He was casually standing
outside her window, hands tucked into his pockets. She laughed to herself quietly as she unlatched the window.

"Hey love" Steve greeted Julia, nicknames like that was common with them. Whether he was dating someone or not, they kept the names. Julia had never been in a relationship, so she didn't feel guilty for the cute names they gave each other. Steve stepped one foot inside her room before swinging his other foot in.

Julia rose on her tip toes a bit to welcome her best friend with a hug. Her arms made their way around his neck, his arms enveloping her waist. He gently rested his chin on the top of her head, enjoying the smell of her lavender shampoo.

As the two let go, Steve noticed the scattered papers and tossed notebook on her bed. "Jules. Why are you doing homework? On a Friday night?" Steve sounded disgusted as she rolled her eyes jokingly.

"Because I have a human anatomy test on Monday and if I don't study im screwed because I have no clue what the fuck im doing. And my mom is out probably looking for more cats and Dustin is out with his friends doing god knows what and I was bored" Julia spoke without breathing in between words.

"Okay, how about this. I help you study for 10, 20 minutes, then I get to take you out somewhere." Steve bargained, running a hand through his luscious hair, his other hand light cupping her face.

Julia tugged her bottom lip between her teeth, causing Steve's eyes to stare at them. "Fine." He pumped his fist in the air, jumped a few inches and landed on her bed, crumpling quite a few of her papers.

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"Which one is this?" Steve asked Julia, pointing to a blank diagram on a paper. "That's the...fuck." She sighed once more, cupping her face in her hands. "I'm sorry it is not 'fuck' Ms. Henderson" "Steve it's not funny. I'm so gonna fail."

Steve gently grasped his hands around her wrists and pulled them back. Curving his hands to fit into hers, he softly rubbed his thumb against her knuckles.

"Hey, princess don't say that. You're gonna be fine, you're gonna pass this test with an easy A." Julia looked down at their hands, she felt a wave of heat rush over her face.

He released one of her hands, still gripping onto her right one. "Now. Julia Henderson, I am here to take my best friend out on an adventure, and not watch her suffer as she studies for her human anatomy test."

Julia rolled her eyes as she watched Steve smirk in amusement as she tossed her notes aside.
"Steve Harrington, you are my hero."

The two best friends left the Henderson's house through Julia's window, still hand in hand as they ran to Steve's car.

Steve had opened the passengers side for Julia, gesturing for her to get in. The two drove to a hill that gave them perfect view of the small town of Hawkins Indiana.

Steve had pulled out a blanket from his backseat and rested it upon the hood of his car. They sat on the hood, admiring the view, the sound of wind slowly blowing around them, the crickets that laid in the trees that surrounded the two.

Julia's thoughts protruded from school, to her family, to her feelings for her best friend. She knew it wasn't right, that it shouldn't be on her mind, but something was just there. She didn't know how to describe it, but she knew that it couldn't be good.

'He has a girlfriend.' Julia repeated in her head multiple times. If he's happy, then she's happy for him and that's how she wants it to be. That's how it has to be. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she rested her head on her knee caps.

Steve could feel her sad demeanor, scooting towards the girl he wrapped an arm around her body, lightly pulling her close to him. She unravelled and leaned into his chest, hearing his faint heart beat.

The two laid down, resting now on the windshield and the hood. Julia let out a small laugh, Steve turned his head slightly to look at her, "hmm?" He hummed, his eyes never leaving the small smile on her lips.

"The stars are shinning brighter than my future." Steve let out an exaggerated groan as he shook his head. "It's true! I don't have great grades, I have no clue what college I'm going to, my job at the arcade is okay but it doesn't pay the best. And fucking hell I still can't even get a guy to like me. I'm 17 and still haven't even had my first real kiss."

Julia pressed the palm of her hands into her forehead, her eyes gazing up at the shimmering lights in the sky. Steve turned to his side to look Julia in the eyes.

"Jules, you have all 80's or higher in your classes, which is amazing. Sometimes college can wait. If everything is too much and you can't deal with e everything at once, people can take a year off before figuring everything out. I know you love the arcade so I'm not gonna trash it, but soon you might want to ask for a raise."

Steve wrapped his arm around Julia again, this time she laced their fingers together as they continued to talk.

" And trust me my sunshine, guys aren't worth it. They'll just break you and I don't want to see you sad. And, if you really want a guy, you have to wait for the right one. Someone who will do small things to make you happy. They will take in all your small details. Like the freckles on your cheek that form a little triangle. Or how when you smile you have the crinkles that show arpund your eyes. Or when in normal lighting your eyes look a dark down, but in sunlight they turn a light hazel. Or the adorable little snort you sometimes make when you laugh too hard. Things like that. Someone who will give you as much time as they possibly can." Julia pressed a small kiss to Steve's jawline, as a way of thanking him for being so sweet.

As she rested her head on his chest, she heard his at first calm heart beat begin to speed up. Steve brushed his thumb across her knuckles again, knowing that it comforted her.

She shut her eyes and adored the peacefulness she got around Steve Harrington.

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