Johnathan and Nancy dropped me off as i walked slowly up the driveway. I contemplated on taking my chances and just going home, but maybe this would take my mind off of everything. I knocked on the door as i heard footsteps. "Joy?"
Steve Harrington opened the door as i gave him a fake smile. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "I... Thought we could study" i said. "Now you want to study?" he said with a scoff.
"What's that supposed to mean?" i questioned. "I called you like five times and there was no answer" he said. "Well i'm here now aren't i" i exclaimed. He tilted his head in frustration. "Fine, come in i guess" he said.
I walked inside as Steve brought me into the kitchen. "So, where are your books?" i asked. "You didn't bring your own?" he questioned. I rolled my eyes.
"Hey... Em... Have you heard from Nancy?" he asked. I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Your girlfriends ignoring you, huh?" i asked. "Funny, now have you heard from her or not!" he exclaimed.
"No Harrington, i haven't. You know me and Nancy aren't friends right?" i said. "You know what, if you don't have any books and your just going to be an asshole, just leave" he said.
I went quiet as i bit my nails. "I... Don't have anywhere else to go" i mumbled. Steve sighed as he put his head in his hands. "So what, you came here?" he questioned.
"Like i just told you, i have no where else to go. Trust me, you were the last resort" i shouted. Steve put his hands up in surrender. "God, i get it" he shouted back.
He sat down next to me as we both went silent. "Why can't you go home?" he asked. "I just have some family shit going on, alright?" i said.
"Well, can we go back to your house and get your notes or something because i'm not sitting here with you for fun" he snapped back. I sighed angrily as i gave him a glare. "Fine"
When we arrived at my house, i was on edge thinking the people from the lab may have found out i was looking into them. "You alright?" Steve asked. "I'm fine" i said walking past him.
I opened the door, as my heart started beating faster and faster. "Is your dad here?" Steve asked. "Shh!" i said. He rolled his eyes as i checked every room in the house.
"Okay, i think we're clear" i said. "Clear of what?" he asked. "Oh em... Nothing" i said with a fake smile. Steve gave me a confused look as he walked passed me.
I grabbed all my books and heard Steve snickering. "What the hell is this?" he shouted. I made my way into my room to see him going through all my records. "What are you doing!" i exclaimed.
I grabbed my records as he laughed. "You like this type of shit?" he asked. "No... There my Dads" i mumbled. "It says Joys records do not touch" he said mockingly.
"Okay i like 50s music is that so hard to believe" i shouted. "No i just... I don't know i thought you'd like metal or something" he said.
Steve grabbed a record from the box and started to play it. "My girl by The Temptations, really?" he said as he snickered. "It's a good song!" i shouted. "It's a great song i'm just surprised you like it!" he exclaimed.
"Well, you don't know anything about me Harrington". "Yea, i guess i don't" he said. A smile escaped my lips as the record played. "This one is really scratched, is this your favourite?" he asked.
"We're not close enough for me to tell you my favourite song" i said mockingly. "So what type of music do you like, huh?" i asked.
"I don't know, my favourite song would probably be Head over heels by tears for fears, you know it?" he asked. "Wow, so original" i said with a chuckle.
"Now, can we leave?" i asked. "We could, but i kind of want to see what else Joy Hopped has been hiding" he said with a smirk.
We stayed at my house for a couple of hours, mostly talking about music and other random things. It was strangely... Normal. Maybe he wasn't as vile as i thought he was. But that's the only compliment i'll give him.
While we were talking, Steve grabbed a picture from my shelf. "Who's that?" Steve said pointing at the picture. My face dropped. "That's... That's my mom" i replied. "Oh, she's hot" she said. I let out a sad chuckle.
"And, who's that?" he asked. I went quiet as i frowned. "That's my sister". "You have a sister?" he questioned. I nodded my head slowly. "I've never seen her before" he said. "Yea well... She died a few years back so..." i said.
He went silent. "I'm... I'm so-" he began but i cut him off. "It's fine, really. It was a long time ago" i said. "So, does your mom live close?" he asked. "More questions?" i said sarcastically.
He chuckled softly. "Okay how about this, You ask me one more question and then i can ask you one?" i suggested. "Okay deal" he replied with a smirk.
I saw him think about what he was going to ask which made my sort of worried. "Why are you so mean to people all the time?" he asked. I scoffed as i pretended to be offended. "Answer the question Hopper" he said.
"Fine... I don't know i guess, maybe it's to keep people out. It's like the minute i get close to anyone, they find a way to fuck it up you know" i said. "Woah, deep" he said.
"Like who?" he asked. "That's two questions but i'll let it slide" i replied. I hesitated before i answered as i took a deep breath.
"I used to live with my mom. For years after Sarah died. But you know, she got a new husband and had new kids. I guess i just didn't fit into that whole bubble wrap agenda she wanted. I was annoyed, you know. So i acted out and... Made mistakes you could say. So i was sent back here" i said.
Steve went quiet... Again. "Okay enough about me... Your turn". "Shoot" he said.
I thought about how much i could grill him about every shitty thing he has ever done but i decided to actually try to get to know more about this asshole.
"Do you love Nancy?" i asked. Steve let out a happy sigh. "Yea, i think i do" he replied. "Why?" i asked. "That's two questions but i'll let it slide" he said mockingly.
"I think it's because she's smart you know. She's... Independent, cares for everyone she meets and of course she's beautiful". "Basically, the opposite of you" he said with a chuckle.
The smile on my face slowly dropped. For some reason, i felt as if someone had just punched me in the gut. "Wow... Okay" i said getting up. "Oh come on, Joy, i was kidding" he said.
"No, it was funny. So funny but, i think you better be going" i said folding my arms. "Joy-" he said but i cut him off. "No, Steve... It's time to go" i said sternly.
He got up and scoffed. "I thought you said you couldn't be home" he said. "I'll take my chances, now bye bye" i said sarcastically as i walked out. Steve mumbled to himself as he left.
When he left, i picked up the picture of Sarah and my mom and put it back on my shelf. I stared at it for a moment as i felt a sharp pain in my chest as i clutched onto my throat.
I tried to keep my tears back as i took several deep breaths but it was no use. I sat down on my bed as tears streamed down my face.
I don't know why i let Steve's comment affect me, but i think maybe it was just because he confirmed something i always tried to deflect.
I was and always will be, simply unlovable.