June 30, 1985
These days were the hottest, the Fourth of July celebrations were being prepared and many people were discussing right and left. Y/N came to work a little late since she didn't visit Dustin yet, but she spent the whole night awake, hearing her parents yell at each other. Everything had went downhill family wise now.
"This was not supposed happen okay!?" Y/N heard her mom yell at F/N. Ever since, she graduated and summer began, Y/N's parents began to get mad at each other and begin fights. She didn't like seeing them fighting for the unreasonable things, at first Y/N thought it was normal, but later the insults were more hurtful, stressing her out, disconnecting herself from M/N and F/N. Sometimes she heard things breaking and it upset her, she was alone. Yeah and maybe she had Steve, but she couldn't tell him everything although they trusted each other. They were always a happy couple, so supportive and the kindest people, all of that changed in the matter of weeks. Sleeping became something so hard and she dreaded it, not wanting to. Steve drifted apart from her, making her feel isolated, not having Dustin made it worse. Steve was like her best friend, I guess she needed to talk to him about that.
Y/N changed, and she admits it, ever since her feelings for Steve grew. She began to drop a few hints, trying to make a move. He seemed clueless and gravitated towards other girls at school, making her insecure. The last week of school destroyed her, hearing a girl body shame her, and it definitely impacted her. After that, she realized maybe she could change, beginning to eat less to look like other girls, the type of girls that Steve liked, putting makeup on when she never did, changing her appearance drastically (cutting her hair and changing her sense of style),exercising excessively, and the start of her unhealthy diet habits. Y/N realized soon after that maybe, changing wasn't the best and never worked, so she got back to her regular sense, but not leaving those eating habits. The skinnier the better, she thought.
Days later, Steve slowly began to notice these repetitive habits. It was one day, Y/N was tired and sick of hearing her parents fight so she hung out with him after weeks, it was the beginning of the summer vacation.
"Here," He would tell her giving her a slice of a sandwhich he made one time they were hanging out at his place.
"I'm fine, I'm really full," Y/N grumbled, she felt cranky and upset.
"You haven't eaten anything," Steve sat next to her.
"What do.....What do you mean?" Y/N laughed nervously, "I ate the other slice."
"No you didn't you just threw it away. Is something wrong?"
"No I'm fine, okay?" Y/N snapped at him and that's where their first fight began. It was series of trying to help, and yelling for a response with strong words.
"Come on," Steve grabs her hand, to slow her down, "You know you can talk to me."
"No."
"Y/N TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON!" He yelled at her making her jump.
"No, it's none of your business. And don't yell at me like that, you scare me," She quivers at his words.
"Y/N you're going to have to tell me," Steve demanded trying to pull her arm. "You haven't been yourself lately-"
"You are no one to get in my life," She barked back with tears in her eyes, she took her frustration out on her best friend,"Now before I tell you more bullshit, just shut up."
"No one?" He softened his look, remembering that time with Nancy on Halloween, the time where she confessed that their love was bullshit, "Who are you? You can't even trust me on stupid shit anymore? Y/N I'm just trying to help you."
"Well how are you supposed to understand when you don't have your parents around anymore?" She angered and glared at him.
Y/N saw his face slowly gloom, it broke her heart, telling him those words made her regret it, she reached for his arm, but he moved away,"Steve I-"
"Don't talk to me about it," He grunted walking away, "It's just going to be bullshit."
"Steve stop being an asshole-"
"An asshole? Are you serious?" Steve turned to her, seeing her standing there, tears welling up, "What the hell Y/N. You did this to yourself."
"What?" Y/N sniffed, boiling tears streamed down her face.
"Why the hell are you the one crying? You did this to yourself," He repeated, the words hit him like a stone. Why was he telling those hurtful words to his best friend? Seems like he had no control of his words.
"I have no obligation to tell you anything! Can you just fuck off?"
"Oh really? Let me ask you something, have you ever stopped to just think about how I feel?"
Y/N filled the silence, standing there, helpless, "I told you I-"
"I asked you, now answer," Steve commanded, watching her face turn flushed.
"Yes, you're my best friend," She mumbled, and biting her lip, trying her hardest to keep the tears from falling into a river. "Look-"
"No, just realize how much I've done for you and I've helped you and you just come with this not wanting me to help you-"
"So am I supposed to thank you?"
"Well-"
"THIS IS SO FUCKING MEANINGLESS AND HOW IS THIS RELATED TO-"
"Shut up......Just shut up," He sighed, closing his eyes.
"Fine... I'll just fuck off and....and..... and," She trailed off sobbing uncontrollably, "Thanks for this I really appreciate, you ruined everything. You just don't understand."
"You know maybe if I just get out of your life it would be for the better wouldn't it?" Steve muttered and looked down, "I'm done helping you, don't bother looking for me if you're coming to take it out on me."
"Steve you're-"
Before any words or actions were being done, he walked out the room. Leaving her alone in there, "STOP IGNORING ME!" Y/N slammed the door in front of her and leaned on it, slowly melting into the ground, wailing. "I need you."
She just lost her best friend, by taking it out on him, she blames her parents. If they wouldn't fight, she would've been living her best life with no stress. She grabbed her stuff and walked out to the back door, trying to avoid him before leaving the house. The air was strangely colder even though it was summer, the tears falling on the sidewalk. It was all her fault, her fault that she could've told him, she just wanted to feel independent for once. Y/N had always been dependent of Steve, it grew to a certain extent where she became attached. Nightfall had began and it was quiet, she didn't want to go back home to that hell hole, hearing footsteps behind her made her speed up. The sound came closer to the point she was running as fast as she could.
"Y/N........ listen," A voice stopped her, "I-I'm sorry.... it's my fault."
She turned around to find Steve, he also looked as tired as her, so weak. Y/N's tears flowed faster and weren't going to stop anytime soon.
"No it's not, it's mine," The air cooled her hot cheeks and nose, "I should've just told you."
"I'm sorry," He repeated and ran to her to hold her, "I should've just let you not say anything, I'm sorry I yelled at you, you're probably going through something and I made you feel worse, you don't deserve it. Look I don't even deserve you as my friend, my best friend. I'm just selfish and-"
"No, stop it's just that...." She backed away, with the puffy eyes, "My parents, they started to fight, it's been stressing me, and I get anxious about it and like-"
"I'm sorry."
"I said it was alright."
"No I'm serious," Steve held her close, and cried out a little, "Forgive me, you're right I'm an asshole."
"No you're not, I took it out on you, it's me, I'm the asshole," She shook her head, feeling relieved and pressed her ear to his chest.
"Please don't say that, I need you to tell me everything, I'm your friend right?" He affirmed and Y/N nodded.
"I love you."
The words both of them wanted to hear, but were afraid. Their friendship was something....different, unique, lovable, and beyond beautiful. They didn't want to ruin it with three words. Three words that could make their relationship crumble. The words both longing to hear, but were damaging. Afraid to love or commit.
The lack of sleep made her late to work. She saw Robin already scooping ice cream for others and she gave a little wave. Y/N smiled and went to the back to drop off her bag to find Steve sitting on the chair.
"Hey there junebug."
Y/N dropped her bag on the counter and mumbled while she look for a chapstick, "Hey."
"Something wrong?" Steve got up from the chair and stood next to her making her blush a little too noticeable.
"Kind of," Y/N muttered and took off her sweater that was covering her uniform, she seemed quite upset and tired, "My parents were at it again."
Steve stared at her, everything about her was just so perfect to him, if he looked at her for one more minute, he could probably fall harder for her, "Don't worry, everything's going to get a little better."
Y/N's stomach dropped and stood there, feeling like a nervous wreck. "Look I-"
Why was she so nervous with her best friend? Was she falling in love with him? No. That couldn't possibly be, she couldn't, she already did and got over him. Her best friend almost wrecked her. So much went through her mind and Y/N couldn't make out the words. She began to stutter, "Thanks......thanks for like-"
Luckily, Y/N noticed Dustin's familiar voice asking Robin something. What a relief she thought.
"Is he here?" The broad familiar voice of Y/N's cousin questioned.
"Is who here?"
"I'll race you there," Y/N looked at him and smile, but Steve was already at the door.
"HENDERSON!" Steve babbled and jumped, "He's back! He's back!"
"You got the job!" Dustin exclaimed, waving his arms in the air.
"I got the job!" Steve gushed while he imitated a trumpet and Dustin did a weird handshake. They faked these lightsabers together and groaned. After that Y/N ran towards Dustin.
"Dustin!" She wrapped him into a hug and ruffled his hair, "I've missed my favorite cousin and best friend for the longest time!"
"How many children are you two friends with?" Robin groaned and smiled at Y/N.
"Plenty," Y/N giggled making Robin a tint of pink on her face and she turned away from her to avoid eye contact. (Tea 🍵)
Y/N and Steve made him a banana boat and went to go sit with him in a table. Dustin told them about his "girlfriend" named Suzie.
"No way, hotter than Phoebe Cates?" Steve lilted, cocking an eyebrow upwards.
"No girl can be that perfect, you know? Even myself, I will never have the chance to be perfect," Y/N said while Steve glanced at her knowing she was the definition of perfect everything about her was perfect, even her flaws were. Dustin looked at Steve and furrowed his eyebrows, wasn't Steve already dating Y/N?
"Brilliant," Dustin said, watching them, "She doesn't even care that my real pearls are coming in. She says kissing is better without teeth."
Steve and Y/N cringed and stood there in confusion at those words, "U-uh."
"Wow!" Steve began, trying to make up his words, "Yeah. U-uh, that's great! Proud of you m-man. That's kinda romantic?"
"Yeah, ummmm... Dusty's first girlfriend!" Y/N vacillated while she pat Dustin's back.
Dustin looked down at his ice cream, "Do you really get to eat as much of this as you want?"
"Yup."
"Yeah, I mean sure, but it's not a good idea for me though, you know I gotta keep in shape for the ladies," Steve mentioned.
"Yeah? And how's that working for you?" Robin chimed in from far away while she cleaned the tables.
"Scooper's right! You've got no luck with ladies," Y/N snickered a little.
"You've got nicknames for each other?" Dustin asked, smiling.
"Yup! We're best-"
"Ignore her," Steve grunted, and rolled his eyes.
"She's cool," Dustin commented, pointing towards Robin whom was putting away the rag she was using to clean the tables.
"She's not."
"Oh come on! She is," Y/N remarked placing her chin on Steve's shoulder as she sat next to him.
Steve turned to Y/N's gorgeous face and then turned to Dustin, "Anyways, where are the other knuckleheads?"
"They ditched me yesterday," Dustin replied with Steve and Y/N's eyes widened.
"No!" Steve and Y/N chirped together.
"I know!" Dustin exclaimed, "My first day back, you believe that shit?"
"Woah! Seriously?" Steve asked him and Dustin nodded.
"I swear to god, they're gonna regret it, though, big time,"Dustin turned to them, "They don't get to share in my glory."
"Glory? What glory?" Y/N questioned as she leaned closer to her cousin.
Dustin smiled at both of them and scooted next to them, "So last night, when we were trying to get in contact with Suzie?"
"Oh, yeah," Steve remarked with a fake smile making Y/N agree.
Dustin looked around and whispered very quietly, "I intercepted a secret Russian communication."
"What?" They both needed clarification.
"I intercepted a secret Russian communication," He repeated, but it failed Y/N and Steve's ears.
"You should just speak louder-"
"I INTERCEPTED A SECRET RUSSIAN COMMUNICATION!" Dustin yelled making everyone turn to them.
"Jeez, shhhh," Steve began, "Yeah, that's what I thought you said. Wait, what does that mean?"
"You're so stupid, idiot," Y/N laughed and failed to notice Robin staring at her from the counter. She was really pretty- wait what?
"It means, Steve, we could be heroes," Dustin elaborated, "True, American heroes."
"Woah!" Y/N sang, "Really?"
"American Heroes, huh?" Steve gloated while scooting closer to Dustin and Y/N.
"Yup, and you can have all the ladies you want," Dustin introduced, "And more."
"Hmm...I like more," Steve replied, ignoring Y/N who was sitting next to him, why the hell did he say that in front of her? God, he was so stupid and Y/N's face slowly gloomed, but she brought a smile on her lips.
"And you N/N," Dustin added and nudged her, "You can have possibly anything you want and even that love of your life."
"Pffft. If life were that great I wouldn't want to die," Y/N babbled while she got up and went to help Robin. Robin jumped and was startled seeing her coming towards her way and tried to act natural like as if she wasn't staring at her. "Tell me how to solve this shit and I'll be here, but for the meantime, I'm going to sit this one out."
Dustin saw Y/N out of sight and turned to Steve with a sly smile, "What about you and Y/N?"
"What do you mean?" Steve adjured.
"Aren't you guys dating yet?" Dustin asked him, seeing Steve shake his head.
"No not yet, but keep quiet or someone's going to hear you," Steve cautioned, slowing him down.
"You make it so obvious," Dustin glanced at him looking all flushed and red at the mention of Y/N.
"No I don't," Steve laughed it off and changed the subject, "So what's the catch?"
"No catch I just need your help," Dustin affirmed.
"With what?"
Dustin pulled out Russian translation dictionary, "Translation."