"Oh!" My mother exclaimed from the living room as she took hundreds of photos of Dustin in his new Halloween costume, rubbing my eyes, I make my way down the hall. "I want to see those pearls. Yeah!"
Walking into the living room, I plop down on the couch next to Mews, rubbing the sleep from my eyes and hiding my giggles at the sight, petting her head.
"Who you gonna call?" My mom scatting the beat of the song as Dustin held up his makeshift ghost trap, posing in front of the fireplace, flashing his teeth brightly with each click of the camera.
"It's too damn early for this." I mumble, walking into the kitchen and grabbing a price of toast, suppressing my laughter as I bike my way to school.
===
Sitting in the library during lunch that day, along with Steve and Nancy, we did our homework, scribbling down answers and hoping they were correct.
Nancy's pencil snapped, causing me to look up at the girl walking to the pencil sharpener, a distressed look on her face.
"What's up?" I ask Steve.
"What do you mean?" He asks, looking up from the sentence he was writing.
"She seems kind of..." I furrow my eyebrows. "On edge."
"Yeah," He sighs, running a hand on the side of his face. "the Holland's are selling their house."
"Shit." I sigh, putting my pencil down and averting my full attention to Steve. "They still don't know?"
"Yeah." He nods, looking down at his homework before looking back up at me.
"You should check up on her." I say, pointing my thumb over to Nancy, staring at a classmate who's physical features were alike to Barb's.
"Good idea." He says, dropping his pencil and making his way over to her.
As I continue my work, I see Nancy and Steve walk into a study room, Steve pulling down the blinds. Shaking my head, I finish my last problem.
===
Applying a layer of lipstick, I hear a honk, causing me to flinch and throw the tube across the room.
Looking out the window, I see a familiar maroon car parked in my driveway.
Rushing down, I plop in the back seat, noticing Steve and Nancy's matching costumes. As Steve started the car, I lean my head against the window, staring at the trees as we drive down the road.
Arriving at the party, we could hear the music from where we parked, two blocks from the location of the house, making our walk over slightly easier.
As the three of us made our way inside, I head to the drinks table as Nancy and Steve make their way over to the other side of the house.
"What's in this?" I ask a guy in a toga once I reach the drinks table.
"Pure fuel!" He shouted, taking a swig from his cup and letting out a loud burp. "Pure fuel!"
Reaching over, I grab a small red cup, dunking it in the punch as I carefully take a sip of it. Feeling a presence next to me, I turn seeing Billy leaning against the counter, a cigarette hanging from his lips as he smirks down at me with his sunglasses resting at the bridge of his nose.
"Hey." He smirks, pulling out the cigarette from his mouth.
"Hi." I smile, raising an eyebrow.
"The name's Billy." Extending his hand out for him to shake, I look up and see Steve glaring daggers at Billy.
"Harrington's protective of you, huh?" He asks.
"Kind of." I shrug, taking another sip of my drink. "I mean we are best friends."
He nods slowly and takes a drag from his cigarette.
"Well," He says, making his way outside. "There's a keg outside calling my name. See you around."
"You too, Billy." I nod, taking a swig from my cup and heading over to the dance floor.
===
While dancing with Steve and Nancy, I look over to see Jonathan, wandering around aimlessly with his hands shoved in his pockets, only wanting to be at the party for Nancy.
"What's up, Jon?" I ask, making my way over to him through the crowd of students.
"Nothing." He says, pursing his lips and looking to the ground.
"Nice costume." A girl pipes up from behind us, causing us both to face her.
"Huh?" Jonathan asks as I nudge him in the shoulder, trying to get him to flirt back.
"Nice costume." She repeats, looking Jonathan up and down.
"Oh, uh, yeah." He nods, lightly chuckling. "I'm going as a guy who hates parties."
"I'm Samantha." She giggles, extending out her arm.
"Jonathan." He nods, shaking her hand.
"And you are?" She asks me, raising an eyebrow and sticking out her arm.
"(Y/n)." I smile, shaking her hand.
"Kiss?" Jonathan asks, causing her to choke on her drink.
"The band." He gestures to her costume.
Seeing Nancy and Steve walk to the punch bowl, I tug Jonathan, seeing he wasn't that interested in her.
"No, no, no." Steve says, causing Jonathan and I to share a look.
"Get off." Nancy slurs.
"No, you've had enough, okay?" Steve replies, trying to grab ahold of the cup.
"Screw you!" Nancy shouts, shoving Steve away.
"Nance," Steve pleas. "I'm serious. Hey. Hey. Hey. Stop. No, i'm serious."
Grabbing her wrist, Steve pulls out the cup, the punch almost spilling out as him and Nancy balance the cup between them.
"Put it down." Steve says.
"No!" She slurs.
"Nance, put it down."
"Steve! Stop."
"Stop. Stop." Steve says as Nancy tugs the cup, causing the red liquid to splash all over her white shirt.
The entire house went silent, focusing their attention on the couple, the only noise in the house was the music playing on the speakers.
"What the hell?" Nancy asks, glaring daggers at her boyfriend as she runs through the silent crowd, making her way to the bathroom.
"Nance." Steve says with an eye roll, following her to the bathroom like a lost puppy.
Looking at Jonathan, he shrugged, starting to realize why he didn't like parties so much. A few minutes later, Steve walks out of the bathroom sniffling.
"Hey." I say, grabbing Jonathan's attention. "I think i'm going to head home."
"Okay." He nods as I hand him my cup.
Heading outside, I was met by the cool October breeze, I tightly wrap my arms around myself as I try to stay warm, rushing after Steve.
"Steve!" I shout as he reaches his car. "Hang on."
I stop my running and stand in front of him, noticing he got a lot taller over this year.
"You okay?" I ask.
"Yeah," He sniffles while rubbing an arm. "I'm fantastic."
"Give me your keys." I simply say, holding my hand out.
"Do you even know how to drive." He asks me, hesitantly pulling out his car keys from his front pocket.
"Yes," I roll my eyes, pulling the drivers door open and plopping into the front seat. "I have my license so let me help you."
Huffing, Steve sat in the passengers seat.
Making my way out the party, Steve fidgets with the radio, turning down the volume as it softly plays in the background of our drive.
Looking over, I smile at Steve, trying to make him feel better. Getting a tight smile in response, I knew this had been bad.
"All right." I say, pulling up to his driveway. "We're here."
Steve jolted up, seeing as he nodded off during the car ride, I chuckle, tossing him the keys after pulling them out of the ignition.
"Bullshit." Steve whispers.
"What?" I whisper, turning to face him.
"It's bullshit." He sighs, his voice getting louder and tears welling up in his eyes. "Our whole relationship, Nancy told me our whole relationship... Was bullshit."
"Oh, my god," I sigh, grabbing his larger hand and stroking his knuckles.
"Yeah." He sniffs, a tear falling down his check.
"Hey, it's okay." I smile, grabbing ahold of both sides of his face, wiping the tear. "You will find someone better. Someone amazing. Who won't think your love is bullshit and stick with you."
"Thank you." He sniffles, looking in my eyes. "You want to spend the night?"
"Yeah." I nod, letting out a laugh as we walk inside.
Heading up to Steve's room, he hands me a Hawkins High School Basketball sweatshirt and a pair of pants I haven't seen him wear since freshman year.
"Thank you." I whisper, heading into the bathroom and changing.
Walking back into Steve's bedroom, I see him placing multiple pillows and blankets on the ground, trying to build a makeshift bed.
"Are you going to sleep on the floor?" I ask, my eyebrows narrowing.
"Yeah," He shrugs.
"We can share a bed, I don't bite." I chuckle lightly.
"Okay." He nods as we plop onto the bed, turning off the lights and snuggling into the sheets, facing each other.
"Thank you, Henderson." He whispers, drifting off to sleep. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Harrington." I say, a small smile plastered on my face.
===