#[I don't know why I try with my dad sometimes]
Explore tagged Tumblr posts
dwobbitfromtheshire · 16 hours ago
Text
How the Night Changes
Summary: Based on the premise that having a threesome with Steve and Nancy would have saved Barb's life.
18+ MINORS DNI
"This isn't you, Nance," Barb sighed like she usually did.
Nancy looked at her like she always did when she was about to get herself into trouble. It's been like that since they were kids. Nancy would see something she'd want, and she'd go for it with reckless abandon. Barb always had to be there for her afterward and clean up the mess whenever it went wrong. Sometimes, it didn't. Sometimes, it worked out. She wasn't sure about this time. This was different than anything she had done. What if Nancy got hurt?
"Well, if you're so worried about me, then why don't you come up here and make sure I stay out of trouble?" Nancy smirked.
That was how Barb found herself in Steve Harrington's bedroom.
"Oh my God! My eyes!" Barb exclaimed.
"Barb!" Nancy exclaimed.
"It's a crime! Plaid on plaid and then, of course, there's the sad little picture of that car," Barb said. "Who decorates their room like this?"
"My mother," Steve said as he entered. "Yeah, she has terrible taste. I didn't have the heart to tell her at first that it was awful. My dad tells her things like that all the time just make her feel bad, and I didn't want to do that. She figured it out, though, and I tried to insist that it wasn't that bad. I put up that car picture to try and pull the room together. I was trying desperately to make my mom feel good about herself, but all it did was make it look more sad. We both thought it was so utterly ridiculous, and we ended up laughing so hard. . .so I don't keep it up because I think it looks good, it's just. . ."
"You keep it up because you love your mother," Nancy said.
"Yeah, Steve Harrington is a mama's boy," Steve said.
"I think it's actually sweet now that I know the story behind it," Barb said. "Sorry."
"Nah, your intention wasn't to make me feel bad," Steve shrugged. "And it is shocking the first time you see it."
Damn it, Barb cursed mentally. She was starting to like this guy.
"It's not too bad," Barb said, and he smiled.
"Here. I found you some clothes," Steve said and handed them to Nancy. "I'll leave you to it."
Barb recognized the look in Nancy's eyes. She had seen it many times when they had sleepovers, and she wanted to forgo their pajamas completely.
"Steve," Nancy called out.
Yep, there she goes. Steve turned and ran his hands through his hair. Okay, that was kind of cute. Wait, cute? She didn't find him cute, did she? No, she was strictly into girls, wasn't she? Suddenly, Nancy was taking off her shirt. Steve looked pleasantly surprised at the turn of events and he smiled.
"You're beautiful," Steve said and then looked at Barb. "What's happening here?"
"Well, Barb is here to make sure I don't get into trouble," Nancy said, smirking. "To look out for me. . .be my guardian."
"Well, she's a very good friend," Steve said smiling, and he moved closer to them.
"She is. . .we do everything together, but if you're not okay with that - " Nancy said.
"Oh, I'm definitely okay with that," Steve said.
Steve kissed Nancy. He was a lot more gentle than Barb thought he would be. Every touch said that he didn't want to hurt Nancy. A warm feeling began to stir within Barb as Steve kissed Nancy gently. He broke the kiss, and he turned to Barb, raising a questioning eyebrow at her.
"Barb?" Nancy asked.
"Well, I guess we really do everything together," Barb said with a sigh, and then she kissed Steve.
She could feel Steve smiling against her lips, and a giggle slipped out at what she had said. Okay, yeah, she liked kissing Steve. Almost as much as she liked kissing Nancy. Maybe it didn't matter to her what was on the outside, maybe it was what on the inside that sparked her attraction. It wasn't until that tidbit about his mother that Barb started to feel something. Barb cupped the back of Steve's head and deepened the kiss and loved the way that Steve kissed her back just as softly as he did with Nancy. He wanted to make sure that they were both safe and comfortable. Steve broke the kiss.
"If you guys want to stop this at any time, I would be happy to just hang out," Steve said.
"That's sweet, Steve," Barb said. "But we definitely want to do this. Right, Nance?"
"Definitely," Nancy said.
Nancy took off Barb's glasses and set them on the nightstand. She moved to the to the other side of Steve. Together, Nancy and Barb peeled off Steve's sweater, dropping it to the floor. Barb took off her jacket and sweater, dropping them amongst their clothes.
"I hope you don't mind - ," Barb said shyly.
"You're beautiful, too," Steve said, and he kissed her before stepping back to let Nancy in.
"Of course, you're beautiful," Nancy said, and she kissed Barb.
"Well, I already know that you don't mind," Barb said, rolling her eyes affectionately. "Just making sure that Steve doesn't."
"Oh, so, you've already been together. . .?" Steve asked.
"Well, not all the way," Nancy said.
"To be honest, I've never done it with two other people at the same time," Steve said, bashfully.
"Really?" Nancy and Barb asked.
"Why are you so surprised?" Steve scoffed. "Because I've slept with a few women?"
"I'm sorry," Nancy said.
"I kind of assumed Tommy and Carol," Barb said, sheepishly.
"Well, I mean, they tried," Steve said and he screwed up his face. "I heard what they're like when they have sex. No thank you."
Barb giggled. He was just as judgmental as she was. As hard as she tried not to be, she could be a little catty.
"So, I guess this is the first for all of us," Barb said.
Steve was just as gentle with them when he was kissing them. Nancy and Barb couldn't help but share a look when Steve wanted to hold both of their hands. It was proven to be true that he thought they were both beautiful when they shed all of their clothing, and his eyes were just as dark when he looked at either one of them. Everything had fallen out of her head. All she could think about was Steve and Nancy. Barb had even forgotten to mention something to Steve. Oh, right.
"Oh, I forgot to mention that Nancy likes to - "
"OW!"
" - bite."
"Do it again."
It had started out awkward at first but once they found a rhythm, it felt beautiful to Barb to do this with both of them. Barb could tell that Steve was trying to hold off a long as possible but judging by the noise he made and the feeling between her legs, he had finished. He had satisfied them both pretty well, but Barb wasn't surprised when Steve rolled out of bed to clean himself off and throw away the condom and Nancy climbed on top of her. Nancy had kissed her harshly before sliding between her legs with her own, pressing herself up against her. She knew how randy Nancy could get. Even after all of that, she always wanted more. She loved being overstimulated.
When Steve came back, he had a rag and a couple of bottles of water. He got to watch them go all the way with each other, and Barb made eye contact with him when Nancy rolled off her, collapsing onto the bed. At some point, he had slipped his boxers back on. Steve climbed into the bed and cleaned them both off before offering them both a bottle of water. Nancy slipped on a sweater of Steve’s, kissed him, and went to the bathroom. Right, you were supposed to use the bathroom after you had sex? Barb had been a little too fucked out to think clearly but she remembered that much. Barb pulled on her sweater and underwear, hurrying after Nancy to do the same.
"How are you feeling?" Steve asked after they crawled back into bed.
"We feel really good," Barb said. "You didn't hurt us at all."
"Well, not in a bad way, anyway," Nancy smiled.
"I'm tired, but my brain feels like it's on fire at the same time," Barb said. "I'm glad I decided not to sit outside and pout while Nancy had all the fun."
"I'm glad you didn't either," Steve said and kissed her cheek, resting his head on her shoulder.
"So, what did you mean when you said that Tommy and Carol tried?" Barb asked.
"Well, they attempted to seduce me, but they had a video camera, so I don't think their intentions were all that pure," Steve said. "I turned them down."
"You know, you seem nicer than I thought you'd be. I think I assumed you would be an asshole because of Tommy and Carol," Barb said. "Why do you hang out with them?"
"I'm curious to know myself," Nancy said.
"Well, Tommy didn't used to be so bad, not until Carol came along. He was my friend since I was eight, and I just hope that at some point, he will turn back to the Tommy that I used to know. I just can't seem to walk away from that," Steve said, and he paused, cursing. "Oh my God! I'm my mom!"
"What?" Nancy asked.
"No, my mom definitely deserves better, and she knows that, but she can't seem to walk away from my asshole of a father," Steve said, and then he scoffed. "I'm a kid that wants his parents to get a divorced."
"You're not alone with that," Nancy said as she ran her hand through his hair. "I want my parents to get divorced, too. I love them both, but I think they're just holding onto something that's never been there."
"I'm sorry," Steve said.
"I'm sorry, too," Nancy said.
"You know, my father expects a lot from me. He wants what's best for the image on his family, not what's best for me. It's the complete opposite of my mother," Steve sighed. "I'm tired of trying to be perfect all the time."
"Maybe you don't have to be with us," Barb said. "What do you say, Nancy? Should we keep him?"
"Oh, definitely," Nancy said.
"You know, now that you belong to us," Barb said, and Steve smirked. "Whatever decision you make about Tommy and Carol, we'll support it even if it's the stupid decision to stay with them."
"Thanks," Steve said fondly.
Nancy pushed him back, kissed him, and curled up against him. Barb laid down, kissed him as well, and threw an arm over the both of them.
"We should probably call our parents and tell them we're spending the night at each other's houses," Barb said.
"Oh, right, good idea!" Nancy exclaimed.
After calling their parents, they crawled back into bed and started to drift off to sleep.
BANG!
"What the hell was that?" Steve asked, sitting up.
"It sounded like it came from outside," Nancy said.
Barb, who was closer to the window, rolled out of bed and looked out onto the pool in the backyard. There was a rather large, deformed looking animal banging out the lawn chairs by the pool. It was sniffing rather frantically as though it was looking for something.
"What the fuck is that?" Barb gasped and grabbed her glasses, putting them on. "FUCK!"
Steve and Nancy rushed to the window. The deformed looking animal looked up, revealing that it didn't have a face. It wasn't an animal that Barb had ever seen before. Steve and Nancy gasped as it's face opened up, revealing several rows of teeth.
"Shit!" Steve exclaimed.
The monster rolled out its tongue and started lapping up something on the concrete.
"What's it doing?" Nancy whispered.
That was where Barb had been standing when she sliced her thumb with the knife. She glanced down at her hand.
"Licking my blood," Barb said. "It's hungry."
The monster stopped what it was doing and sniffed the air. Its head snapped in their direction, almost as if it heard Barb. She quickly yanked them both down under the window and grabbed their hands in hers. The only sound they could hear was their own shaky breathing. It seemed like forever had passed but really it had only been minutes when they heard a loud splashing sound and a screech. Nancy peered over the windowsill.
"Nance!" Barb hissed.
"It fell into the pool," Nancy whispered. "It doesn't not like it. It's burning its skin. It must be the chlorine. It's out, it's running away."
There was a pregnant pause as Steve and Barb looked out the window with Nancy.
"It's gone," Steve whispered. "Yeah, I'm not fucking sleeping tonight."
"Me neither," Barb and Nancy said.
Barb struggled to find anything to say or to think about other than the monster. There was one fact that Barb couldn't get out of her head, and it was the stupidest thing in the world to think about.
"If I had been out there, it would have gotten me," Barb breathed out shakily.
"But it didn't, you're here," Nancy said and squeezing her hand.
"Fucking you and Steve saved my life," Barb said.
She looked at Steve and together, they burst into laughter. Nancy eventually followed suite.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!" Nancy exclaimed.
"I know, but it's true!" Barb giggled.
Once the laughter died down, the horror of what just happened continued to hover over them. They said that they wouldn't fall asleep but the three of them ended up falling asleep, curled up on the floor.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Barb, Steve, and Nancy woke up with a jolt to the sound of Steve’s alarm clock. They jumped up, ready to fight. Barb groaned and rubbed her back.
"Yeah, falling asleep on the floor was a terrible accident," Barb said.
"Did that really happen last night?" Steve asked as he rubbed Barb's back.
"Yes, you did get to see the amazing secrets that I hold underneath my sweater," Barb said.
"No, not that," Steve snorted. "No. . .I mean. . .the monster. . . "
"Yeah," Barb said softly. "That was real."
"Well, going to the police seems stupid. I doubt they would believe us about what we saw," Nancy said.
"Okay, but shouldn't we tell someone?" Barb asked.
"Who would we tell?" Steve asked.
"I think our only option is to go to school and just act like nothing is wrong until we can come up with a plan," Nancy said. "We need proof."
Barb dropped Nancy off at home and then back to hers so they could get ready. The image of the monster floated into her head, and she couldn't get the fact that she could have died out it. Somehow, at the same time, she was also wondering where she stood with Steve and Nancy. Everything changed that night. Nancy and Barb could no longer deny that there was something between them. They always played it off as practicing but now that they went all the way with each other and also with Steve. Does that mean that Steve is her boyfriend and Nancy was her girlfriend? She couldn't help but giggle at the thought. She always figured that she would never have a boyfriend but now, maybe, she did. It was Steve Harrington of all people.
"Hey," Nancy said shyly as she slid into her car.
After getting ready, she went to pick Nancy up again. The car ride was silent until Nancy told her to stop.
"Nancy, what - "
She was cut off by Nancy kissing her. Barb was surprised for a moment, but she eagerly kissed her back. God, she wanted to pull her into her lap, and just - Nancy pulled away with a gasp.
"I just wanted to make sure that no one saw us," Nancy said.
Barb smiled at her as she took her hand and drove off. They ended up parking behind Eddie Munson's van, and a few minutes later, Steve found them. He made sure no one was watching before popping his head through the window to give Barb a kiss and then Nancy before letting them get out of the car. Steve shoved his hands in his pockets.
"I ditched Tommy and Carol," he said.
"Really?" Barb asked.
"Well, life is too short for me to be dragged down by those two idiots. I found something better for me, I think," Steve said. "Honestly, after what happened last night, it seems dumb to worry about popularity and all that when there's a monster out there."
"Well, it's good you got some perspective," Barb said. "And honestly, you're not the only one who's ever worried about that shit. There was a small part of me who wished that some of those people would acknowledge me a little."
"Really?" Steve and Nancy asked.
"Don't be so surprised," Barb said. "Come on, I don't want to be late for class."
"Great, and during lunch, we can talk about what to do about the monster with a flower for a head and teeth like a shark," Steve said. "Can't believe those words came out of my mouth."
"Well, it hates chlorine. That's one thing we know about it," Barb said.
As the three of them walked away, a confused Eddie Munson popped his head out of his van.
"Did Steve Harrington give up his crown to play D&D?" Eddie asked. "What the fuck kind of monster is he talking about? No, no, I'm hearing things again."
It was a tame sort of day compared to last night. It was still sort of an out of body experience to be hanging out with Steve knowing what they did. It made Barb blush when Steve and Nancy thought about it, too, sending her soft, knowing smiles her way. Tommy and Carol were petty bitches, trying to get under their skin all day but they ignored them. . .for the most part.
"So, Wheeler," Tommy said, slamming his hands onto the cafeteria table. "What is your ideal of a perfect date?"
"Watching you get hit by a bus," Nancy said.
Barb and Steve nearly choked on their milk. They cleared their throats, looking amused as Tommy's face started to turn different shades of red. Carol glared at her.
"How pathetic - ," Tommy started to say.
"I don't know, Tommy, how pathetic are you?" Barb asked. "I mean, I assume that's what you were going to say considering that you are being pathetic."
"You little - "
"Don't you finish that sentence," Nancy glared at him.
"You think you're so much better than us, but considering how easy it was to spread your legs for Stevie here last night, you're not really," Carol told Nancy.
"At least we actually like Steve. Do you even like spending time with him or listening to anything he has to say, or do you just like what he does for your image?" Barbara asked. "You can't stand on your own, so you use Steve like a crutch."
"Steve doesn't need you, but you need Steve," Nancy said. "And now that Steve doesn't want anything to do with you, you think that you can come over here and try to fuck with us until we leave."
"Well, we're not fucking leaving so find someone else's ass to bury your nose in," Barb said.
"Whatever," Tommy said. "Stevie-boy, running away like a fucking coward like always. You can't even stand up for yourself. You have to have these ugly bitches to protect you. You're not going to find anything better than us, and when you eventually get bored with them, we're not going to be here to save your sorry ass."
"They're better than you'll ever be, and if you think I'm ashamed of them fighting for me, then you're as stupid as you look. I know what it's like for people to really have your back, to care. . .one day, you're going to wake up and realize that you've cared about all the wrong things. You're going to look even more pathetic and stupid than you do right now. You'll be as ugly on the outside as you are on the inside. You'll look in the mirror and realize that you had your chance but you fucked it up. I'm tired of waiting for you to be the old Tommy that I used to know, the one who actually gave a damn. Being friends with these two, I have better odds at not hating myself in the future than you do. What are your odds, Tommy?" Steve snapped.
Tommy scowled at him, his face bright red, and angry tears filled his eyes. He didn't have anything else left to say, so he stormed off, dragging Carol with him.
"That was hot," Barb said.
"That really was," Nancy agreed.
They nudged their feet with Steve’s and he smiled at them.
"You two weren't so bad yourselves," Steve grinned, and the smile slipped from his face. "I don't really feel like going to the game this afternoon. I don't know if I can go home either knowing what might be waiting for me."
"Well, maybe we can go over to my house this evening. My brother could use some company. And if you're scared of going home, maybe Mom will let me keep you in my basement," Nancy joked.
"I always did like the idea of being a kept man," Steve said.
"Eddie Munson is staring at you," Barb said.
"Probably wondering how I got so lucky with you two," Steve said with a charming smile.
"No need to strain yourself, Steve," Barb teased. "You've got us."
They moved on to discussing what they were going to do about the monster and whether or not it wasn't just a shared delusion between them. It was decided that it wasn't. The rest of the day moved rather quickly, still without a plan for the creature that haunted all of them. When the end of the day came, they moved sluggishly out into the parking lot. All three of them were exhausted from not getting much sleep last night. They almost didn't notice Nicole approaching them.
"Nancy, Barb, I'm so glad I found you," Nicole said. "I want you to know, first off, that I'm not going to say anything. I have a cousin who's like that, and I would never say a word."
"What are you talking about?" Nancy asked.
"Were you aware that Jonathan Byers was at your house last night?" Nicole asked Steve.
"What? No," Steve said.
"Well, I went into the dark room, and Jonathan was developing photos of your house. You and Tommy were in the pool with Carol and Nancy. Then there was a picture taken of your bedroom. Nancy was taking off her shirt, and so was Barb. You were kissing."
Barb felt her stomach plummet. Her worst nightmare and Nancy's. Well, one of them, anyway. Fuck. Normally, she wouldn't care about what others think, but this was different. If this got out, it could be dangerous for her and Nancy.
"Son of a bitch!" Steve yelled and then he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Thanks for telling us, Nicole."
Barb turned to Nancy, who was quiet, her eyes downcast as she crossed her arms over her chest. She was clearly uncomfortable by the thought of what Jonathan did and Barb hated him for it.
"Yeah, thank you, Nicole. We'll take care of it," Barb said.
Nicole smiled sympathetically at Nancy and walked away.
"You know how many times I defended Jonathan to Tommy whenever they had something shitty to say about Jonathan and his family?" Steve asked, his jaw clenched.
"Yeah, I figured that out when you told Tommy off yesterday when he was saying all that shit about his missing brother," Barb said and then muttered, "I thought he was a nice guy."
"Okay, one problem at a time!" Nancy exclaimed, and then she paused. "Wait, the photos. . . What else do you think he got a picture of?"
"I don't know. . .Tommy and Carol going at it in my parents' bed?" Steve asked.
"No, think again," Nancy said.
"The monster!" Barb and Steve gasped.
"Let's go find the creep," Nancy said.
It didn't long to find him making his way to his car. He looked startled to see all three of them together.
"Where are the pictures you took last night?" Nancy asked, her arms still crossed.
Barb knew how much Steve wanted to step in. She wanted to as well, but she felt like Nancy needed to handle this herself. She took his hand, squeezing it affectionately. God, his hands were huge. Suddenly, she recalled the way they squeezed her thighs last night. Right, focus.
"What photos?" Jonathan asked, his face turning a paler shade of white.
"You know exactly what photos that I am talking about, asshole," Nancy spat.
Nancy had that fire still inside her from earlier, and she was using it now.
"I didn't - " Jonathan stuttered as he held his bag closer to him.
Before Jonathan knew it, Nancy had yanked the bag from him. She rifled through it and pulled out the photos victoriously. Nancy shoved the bag at him and started looking through the pictures. Barb peered over her should and paled at the sight of herself shirtless as she kissed Nancy. Now, she was uncomfortable. She felt Steve squeeze her hand.
"I - I was looking for my brother," Jonathan stuttered.
"No, this is called stalking," Steve said, looking at him in disbelief.
"I'm sure that it started out like that," Barb scoffed at Jonathan.
"Do you know how stupid it was that you developed these on school property? I mean, you could have locked the fucking door or something?!" Nancy asked furiously. "What would have happened if this had gotten out?"
Barb suddenly realized what Nancy was doing. She was protecting Barb this time instead of the other way around.
"I didn't think about that," Jonathan said.
"Clearly," Nancy scoffed.
"I just thought it was a good picture," he said meekly. "There was this girl who was trying to be someone else."
"That's bullshit!" Nancy and Barb exclaimed.
"You know, I thought that once, too. I thought Nancy was trying to be someone she wasn't. I realized that I was wrong. The simple fact is that she wanted to sleep with Steve, and eventually, I realized that I wanted to as well. I realized how exciting it was to explore a side of yourself that you didn't know was there. There's nothing artistic about the pictures that you took. You fucked up so you're trying to say anything to make you feel better about what you did. Steve didn't make us do anything that we didn't want to," Barb said. "I thought you were the kind of guy who would never do something like this."
"I'm sorry," Jonathan said.
"Well, I'm taking these photos," Nancy said and paused before snatching his camera as well. "I'm also taking this, and I will think about giving it back to you when I feel like you earned it."
"You want me to write an essay, too?" Jonathan scoffed.
"Come to think, yeah, you definitely should," Barb said. "Write until your fingers bleed. I want an in-depth analysis of why you thought it was okay to do that. . .I mean, after you find your brother safe and sound because I do get that you're going through something."
The three of them walked back to Barb's car with the camera and the photos in Nancy's hand.
"God, I wanted to smash his camera," Steve said.
"Yeah, so did I. Do you think he understands how close he came to outing us?" Barb asked.
"I mean, he did out us, but thankfully, Nicole is a decent person," Nancy said. "And I kind of wanted to smash it, too."
"Do you think we should tell him we're probably not going to bring the photos to the police?" Barb asked. "His mother has been through enough."
"Nah, let him sweat and think we are," Steve said grinning.
"Thank you for letting us handle that," Nancy said to Steve.
"Well, I thought about what Barb said about supporting my decision with Tommy and Carol. . .thought maybe I should do the same," Steve said, blushing.
"Oh, you're cute," Barb said.
"Yeah, how cute am I?" Steve asked.
"Get in the car, and I'll show you how cute I think you are," Barb said.
"Really?" Nancy asked, smiling at the two of them.
"Totally your fault, Nance, you showed me a new side of myself, and I like it," Barb said. "I like Steve."
"I like you, too," Steve said.
"Okay, well, let's focus on the photos," Nancy said and slapped the photo on the hood of Barb's car. "We got our proof."
There, in the photo, was the monster sniffing around the lawn chairs. It was hard to tell from the photo that Jonathan clearly accidentally took, but it was there.
"So, now, what?" Steve asked.
"Go home, and come up with a plan," Nancy said.
They jumped when they heard someone approaching them, and they whirled around, covering the photo. It was just Eddie Munson.
"We're not doing anything illegal!" Steve blurted out.
"Right," Eddie grinned. "I'm not a cop, you know."
"Obviously," Steve scoffed.
"Or maybe I am. Might be an undercover cop," Eddie said, twirling his keys in his hand. "Might have to arrest you on suspicion alone."
"Yeah, good luck with that," Steve replied. "And I might have believed that if I didn't remember you from middle school and just so you know, I'm really good at getting myself out of cuffs."
"Yeah, I bet you are, big boy," Eddie said, winking, got into his van, and drove off.
Barb and Nancy looked at Steve, scoffing.
"Really?"
"What?" Steve asked.
"Flirting with someone else right in front of us," Barb said.
"Classy, Steve," Nancy said.
"What? No! He means nothing to me!" Steve exclaimed. "And I didn't even know I was flirting with him! . . . You guys are messing with me, aren't you?"
Nancy and Barb giggled as they got into her car.
"Classy!"
Steve pulled up behind Barb in Nancy's driveway and followed after them into the house. Mrs. Wheeler greeted them at the door, chasing after Holly.
"Oh, hey, Barb, does your parents know you're here?" Mrs. Wheeler asked.
"I let them know before we left school," Barb said.
"And who is this?" Karen asked.
"Larry!" Holly exclaimed, hugging her leg.
"Oh, honey, I'm sure he came with his own name," Karen said. "He's not a stray cat."
"I'm Steve Harrington," he smiled. "But Holly can call me whatever she wants to."
"Larry!" She yelled. "I like your hair."
"I like yours, too," Steve said.
Holly giggled and ran off towards her room.
"Steve, is it?" Mrs. Wheeler asked. "Hm, that name sounds familiar."
"I'm sorry, mom," Nancy said. "I totally lied to you. Steve is my boyfriend. We just started dating, I didn't want to freak him out by introducing him to you so soon."
"You've got amazing daughters, Mrs. Wheeler," Steve said. "And Nancy's been treating me really great. Very respectful. I like her a lot."
"We like her too," Mrs. Wheeler said. "Well, sometimes."
"Mom!" Nancy exclaimed.
"Nancy, you didn't tell me your mom was so funny!" Steve laughed.
"She likes to think she is," Nancy muttered.
"No, Mrs. Wheeler is definitely hilarious," Barb said.
"Thank you, Barbara," Mrs. Wheeler said.
"They offered to help me study, I'm having difficulty in Chemistry," Steve said.
"Oh, well, you definitely came to the right people," Mrs. Wheeler said. "Do your parents know where you are?"
"Well, uh, my parents are out of town," Steve said. "I couldn't get a hold of them earlier."
"And is anyone staying with you?" Mrs. Wheeler asked with a frown.
"Just me," Steve said.
"Give me their number, I'll call them," Mrs. Wheeler said. "I'll also call Claudia Henderson and see if she'll be happy to take you in. I'm sure she will be."
Barb knew that look. It was the same determined look that Nancy had. She tried not to laugh when Steve immediately gave her the number. Nancy rolled her eyes at Steve's dumbfounded look before dragging them upstairs.
"What is she going to say to parents?" Steve asked.
"You probably don't want to know," Barb replied.
Steve threw himself onto Nancy's bed and grabbed the teddy bear on her bed, holding it to his chest.
"You really like that bear," Nancy said as she closed her door.
"It reminds me of the one I used to have. My grandfather gave it to me," Steve said.
"You don't have it anymore?" Barb asked.
"Nah, my dad gave it away because he said I was too old for it," Steve said.
"The more I hear about your dad. . .," Barb trailed off.
"The more you want to smash his camera?" Steve asked and Barb laughed.
She crawled onto the bed and leaned her back against the headboard. She pulled Steve to her chest and Steve sighed happily as he snuggled into her. Nancy laid down next to Barb.
"Okay, what's our plan?" Nancy asked.
"I don't know, I can't really think right now," Steve said. "I'm suddenly very sleepy."
"Well, we didn't get very much sleep last night," Barb smirked.
"We definitely didn't," Steve said.
"We have to come up with a plan, there's a monster out there," Nancy said. "We need to keep ourselves awake."
"I thought I was a lesbian," Barb said. "Until last night. Kind of thought Nancy was too."
"I thought I was too," Nancy giggled.
"Maybe we are lesbians but we're also stevesexual," Barb said.
"Oh, you're definitely stevesexual," Steve replied.
"That is NOT a word," Nancy laughed.
"Newsflash, Nance, all words are made up," Barb replied. "Lesbians existed before the word existed."
"You're definitely tired, Barbara," Nancy replied.
"No, no, she's onto something. I mean, you can call yourself anything," Steve said.
"I could call myself a pineapple if I wanted to," Barb teased.
"You can't!" Nancy giggled.
"Why the hell not?" Barb asked.
"Because I hate pineapples and I definitely don't hate you," she said.
"Hm, I guess I can't call myself a pineapple," Barb said and kissed Nancy. "I guess I only care about what's on the inside."
"Me too," Nancy said.
"You both have sexy hearts," Barb said, yawning.
"Yeah, we definitely need a nap," Nancy said.
"A real nap?" Steve asked.
"Yeah, a real nap, Steven."
When they woke up, it was dark outside, and Nancy's bedroom door was wide open. Mrs. Wheeler had been in here. The three of them wandered downstairs to find Mrs. Wheeler standing in the entryway, hugging Mike as he cried.
"Mom? Did they find Will?" Nancy asked and Mike's sobs grew louder.
The next morning was a somber affair, and the three of them stood in the parking lot before school once again.
"I had hoped that they wouldn't have found him like that," Barb said.
"Yeah, me too," Steve said.
"I should have stayed, but Mike insisted that he was fine and that I should go to school," Nancy said. "I feel weird being here knowing how upset he is."
"Well, you want to skip, and we can go check on him?" Steve asked.
"That's a sweet offer, but I want to respect his space, too," Nancy said. "He'll come to me if he needs me. I let him know that I'll be there for him when he's ready."
"I never know what to say in situations like this. Everything feels like it's - " Steve started to say.
"Like it's not enough?" Barb asked.
"Yeah," Nancy said.
"Didn't your dad offer to do the same thing?" Barb asked.
"He did, according to mom. He's still dad," Nancy smiled.
"What does that mean?" Steve asked.
"Lately, he's been stuck in his chair and a lot more lethargic. I'm worried that he might have a tumor or something," Nancy said.
"Or maybe he's having a hard time at work," Barb suggested.
"Maybe," Nancy sighed. "So this monster. . .I'm starting to think that it might have something to do with Will's disappearance. I know they said he fell into the quarry, and maybe he did. . .or maybe he was chased into the quarry by something."
"Like the monster, you mean?" Steve asked.
"Yeah," Nancy said.
"Yeah, I can see that," Steve said. "I don't see us approaching Will's mom about this so. . ."
"That leaves Jonathan," Barb said, rolling her eyes. "This is so going to be so awkward. So, Steve, how was it staying with the Hendersons?"
"Well, Claudia is amazing. Dustin's a little shit but somehow, at the same time, it's endearing," Steve said, his face scrunched up in confusion.
"Congratulations, Steve, you just got yourself a bouncing baby brother," Nancy said. "It's both wonderful and stressful at the same time. You're going to love it."
When they did find Jonathan, he was picking out caskets for his brother. So, yeah, it's very awkward. She still hated him for what he did, but she was a big enough person to also feel sympathy for the situation that he was in. They pulled him into the entryway where Nancy showed him a picture of the monster.
"I thought my mom was crazy," Jonathan said. "She kept going on about a monster without a face, a monster in the walls, and I - I didn't believe her."
"You didn't know," Nancy said softly.
"All three of you saw it?" Jonathan asked.
"Yeah, it was definitely gunning for Barb's blood," Steve said.
"Well, that's disturbing," Jonathan said.
Barb bit back a retort. He would know what's disturbing, wouldn't he?
"Okay, so, what do we do? Do we tell someone or try to kill it ourselves?" Barb asked.
"How would we kill it?" Jonathan asked. "We don't have anything. I mean, my dad has a Smith & Wesson."
"Well, we know Chlorine hurts the fucker. Fire generally kills most things," Barb said.
"I don't know if I can do this right now," Jonathan muttered.
"Well, that's understandable," Nancy said. "We can figure it out later."
"Do you mind - ?" Jonathan asked.
"Of course. Just let us know if you need anything," Nancy said.
"Thanks," Jonathan said. "I can do this by myself."
Nancy squeezed his arm and exited the funeral home with her partners.
"You're amazing, you know that?" Steve said to Nancy. "Even after everything he's done, you're still willing to help him."
"It's nothing," Nancy said, bashfully.
"You're a bigger person than I am," Barb grinned. "You and that sexy heart of yours."
"Okay, so, after the funeral tomorrow we gather the supplies and we hunt this fucker down," Nancy said. "Hopefully, we can get the gun from Jonathan."
"You're really determined to take this monster down," Barb said.
"It came after my brother's friend, and then it tried to come after you," Nancy said. "I want to kill it."
"I love you," Barb said.
The next day, Barb was getting dressed for Will's funeral when her mother entered her bedroom.
"So, you and Nancy have been hanging out with Steve Harrington lately," her mother said.
"Where are you going with this, mom?" Barb asked.
"Well, you've complained a lot about him in the past," she said.
"Turns out Tommy and Carol were the assholes," Barb said. "I made a snap judgment of him. He wasn't who I thought he was. . .in a good way, though."
"Well, we all sort of do it," she said.
"He dumped his supposed friends for us," Barb beamed.
"Well, I'm glad," she said.
"Okay, mom, what's this all about?" Barb asked.
"You know you can talk to us about anything, right?" She asked. "We'll always love you, no matter what. I'm not trying to push you into talking about anything. I just want you to know we're here for you whenever you're ready."
"Okay, mom, what do you know?" Barb asked.
"What? Me? I don't know anything," she said innocently.
"Mom! Do you know about me, Steve, and Nancy?" Barb asked.
"Oh, well, yes," She said.
"It's only been like three days!" Barb exclaimed.
"And you were very obvious, dear," she said. "With the way you talked about them. We've known about you and Nancy even longer, and we were alright with it. I mean, we figured you girls would share everything, although we never expected an entire person."
"So, what? Like half a person, then?" Barb asked sarcastically.
"Barbara!" She chuckled.
"Why are you saying this now?" Barb asked.
"Well, we wanted to wait and give you time to come to us on your own, but with Will dying. . .you never know how much time you have left with your children. We both wanted you to feel accepted," She said.
"Oh, mommy," she said softly. "I love you so much. . .where's dad?"
"I promised myself I wouldn't cry!" Her father's voice floated in from the hallway.
"He started crying before we even came in here," she said. "He loves you so much."
"This was supposed to be all about you, I did not want to make it about myself again!" Her father sobbed.
"Daddy, get in here!" Barb laughed.
Her father shuffled in, his face red from crying. She smiled and hugged her father tightly. God, she had the best parents in the world. Her mother clapped and quickly joined the hug. She shouldn't be this happy going to a funeral, especially for a kid. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of the Steve and Nancy. She quickly made herself look sad, though, as she stood beside them. She looked at Joyce and Jonathan. God, they looked so heartbroken. . .so lost. Joyce was glaring at the casket as if she didn't believe what was in there. Maybe it wasn't Will. Maybe somehow he was still alive somewhere, maybe it was a fake body lying in that coffin. Barb wanted it to he true for Joyce's sake.
"I want to kill it," Jonathan said.
They had gathered together after the funeral to talk about what they were going to do. Nancy had brought a map to look to track where the monster might be going.
"Are you sure?" Nancy asked.
"Yes," Jonathan said.
"What about your mom?" Barb asked.
"I'll tell her after this thing is dead," Jonathan said.
After the funeral, they all got dressed and ran off to gather more supplies. Jonathan had managed to steal his father's gun, but they still needed a bigger arsenal. Nancy managed to bring her bat from home, and Barb managed to swipe a couple of knives from her mother's collection.
"Your mother likes knives?" Steve asked Barb.
"Oh, yeah," Nancy laughed. "It's impressive, actually."
"So, you better not break my heart or Nancy's," Barb whispered.
"Noted," Steve laughed, and they moved through the aisle. "So, why aren't we telling an adult about this again?"
"My mom's not in the right headspace," Jonathan said.
"Are you in the right headspace?" Steve asked.
"I have to be," Jonathan said.
"Hm, I've had Dustin Henderson as a sort of brother for like five seconds, but I think I'd kill for him," Steve said. "I don't what it's like to have a brother, though I've always wanted one. I can imagine that it must be nice."
"How come you don't have a brother?" Jonathan asked.
"I asked my dad that once when I was like eight, and he said my gigantic head ruined my mother for him," Steve said.
"Jesus," Jonathan said.
"Yeah, I mean, it's not that big," Steve said.
"I'm talking about your dad. What an asshole," Jonathan said.
"Yeah, I never got why she's still with him," Steve said.
"Never really understood why my mom stayed with my dad for so long either," Jonathan said. "She's always said that sometimes good things come out of bad situations."
"Like you and your brother?" Steve asked.
"Oh, yeah, I guess she was talking about us," Jonathan said.
Barbara smiled at them, glad that Steve was making a better friend in Jonathan who actually seemed genuinely sorry that he took those photos. Still, he had a lot to prove. Once they got to the counter, the guy there looked at them funny.
"What are you guys planning to do with all this?" He asked.
"Monster hunting," Nancy replied.
Luckily, the guy thought it was a joke. . .or he really didn't want to know. Either way, they managed to get out of there without any more questions and quickly loaded it in the back of Steve’s car.
"It's weird. Just a few days ago, Barb and I were shopping to find a sweater that I thought that Steve would like," Nancy said.
"Really?" Steve asked.
"Oh, I told her that you probably wouldn't care," Barb said.
"Anything purple or pink, really," Steve said, and they looked at him. "It just seems like it's your favorite color. You like beam more when you wear them."
"Blue's one of my favorites, too," Nancy replied.
"So, what's the weirdest part about all of this? The monster hunting or hanging out with me?" Jonathan asked.
"Oh, definitely, you," Nancy, Barb, and Steve all laughed.
Jonathan was about to reply when someone drove by and stuck their head out the window to yell at them.
"Hey, Nance, I can't wait to see your movie!" And they didn't wait for a response.
"What the hell?" Steve asked.
They followed Nancy to the Hawk. Spray painted on the theater under "All the Right Moves" were the words written in spray paint: starring Nancy "the slut" Wheeler.
"Oh, someone's going to be dead," Barb scowled. "Or at least they wish they were."
They followed the sound of spray paints and laughter to the alleyway beside the theater. Of course, it was Tommy and Carol.
"Hey, assholes!" Steve yelled.
Things did not get better after that. Nancy slapped Tommy, Tommy said words to both Jonathan and Steve while Barb yelled at Carol for words she said about Nancy. Jonathan had thrown the first punch at Tommy, who swung back and knocked him on his ass before turning on Steve. He had Steve on the ground, who fought well, but Tommy fought harder. He kept hitting Steve even when Steve could barely get a word in. Nancy and Barb screamed, trying to get Tommy off of Steve. Jonathan managed to get back up and pulled Tommy off of Steve. He hit him and kept hitting him until Tommy was the one on his back. Jonathan didn't even notice that the cops had shown up, and he accidentally hit one. That's how they all ended up at the police station.
"Steve, are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Barb asked as she held ice to his eye.
"I'm fine, really," Steve said. "I just want to make sure that Jonathan doesn't go to jail."
"Thanks, man, but you don't have to do that," Jonathan said.
"Nah, I'm good," Steve said. "Really."
"That lady doesn't know what she's talking about," Nancy told Jonathan as she did the same with his eye.
"Yeah, you punched the douche because he was insulting your family," Steve said, and then he frowned. "I wonder if that would have been me, you know, if things hadn't changed, you know, if I hadn't walked away from them. . ."
"You can't think of the what ifs, Steve," Barb said. "They'll eat you alive, but you would have gotten there eventually, and you wouldn't have been nearly as cruel as Tommy."
"I do have to admit that you're a good guy," Jonathan mumbled.
"Coming from Jonathan Byers, that's a compliment," Steve smiled. "I think, anyway. . .you're not entirely bad yourself."
"I really am sorry about the photos, you know, and my reaction to taking them. . .there's really no excuse," Jonathan said.
"Well, you really proved yourself back there," Nancy said.
"You totally did," Barb said.
"Saved my ass, man," Steve said.
"Does that mean that I'll get my camera back?" He asked.
"You still have an essay to write," Nancy said.
"You're serious about that?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah," Barb and Nancy said, giggling.
"Why is my son in cuffs?!" They heard Joyce Byers yell. "Take them off!"
"He assaulted a police officer, ma'am," Callahan said.
"Take them off! Now!" Joyce yelled at them, Chief Hopper coming in behind her.
"You heard her, take them off," Hopper said.
Callahan sighed and took the cuffs off of Jonathan.
"There's something you should see, Chief," Powell said.
Barb shared a look with the others. Shit, they were going to look in the trunk. Powell led Hopper outside, and a moment later, they came back, looking even more serious.
"Care to explain why you have all of that?" Hopper asked Jonathan.
"You won't believe us," he said.
"Why don't you give us a try?" Hopper asked.
Barb, Steve, Nancy, and Jonathan squeezed into the chief's office, away from prying eyes. Hopper was looking at the photo of the monster.
"And this thing is drawn to blood?" Hopper asked.
"Well, that's the theory," Nancy said. "Not really a theory, I guess, because it smelled Barb's blood and tried to go after her. It would have, too, if it hadn't fallen into the pool."
"And if I hadn't been hanging out with Steve and Nancy inside," Barb said.
"Is this the only photo?" Hopper asked.
"The only photo of the monster," Nancy replied as she shoved Jonathan's camera and the other photos into her bag.
"Why does Nancy have your camera?" Joyce asked.
"I'm letting her borrow it for a school project," Jonathan said, blushing, and Joyce looked at him doubtfully.
"Let's go talk in the hallway," Joyce said and pulled him out of the room.
"You do realize that it was unbelievable dangerous to try and go after this thing by yourselves?" Hopper asked.
"Yeah, we always knew that, but it didn't seem like anyone was trying to stop this thing, and honestly, I wanted to get it before it got me or anyone else I cared about," Barb said.
"I definitely wasn't going to let it get Barb," Nancy said.
"Me neither. . .also, there is no way that I was going to be able to sleep in that empty house with that thing on the loose," Steve said.
"Empty? Where are your parents?" Hopper asked.
"Oh, out of town," Steve said.
"Did they say when they'll be back?" He asked.
"I don't know. That kind of depends on whether my dad cheats on my mom again," Steve said. "If he does, they usually stay longer."
"Are you expecting a call from them anytime soon?" Hopper asked.
"When they can remember to, they'll call, so no," Steve said, and Hopper clenched his fists. "Did I say something wrong?"
Hopper sighed, unclenched his fists, and squeezed Steve’s shoulders gently.
"No, kid, you didn't," Hopper said.
"We should definitely make you staying with Claudia a permanent thing," Nancy said.
"I'm definitely going to look into that," Hopper said.
"Shouldn't we be focusing on the monster?" Steve asked, blushing.
It wasn't hard to figure out that the girl with the powers that Joyce and Hopper had been looking for was with Nancy's brother and his friends. When they showed up to Nancy's house, there were tons of vans parked out front and people in suits searching the place. Nancy moved towards her house, but Barb and Steve grabbed her hands.
"That's my house!" Nancy exclaimed.
"They haven't found him yet," Steve said.
"That's true. Look, Nance," Barb said, pointing at the helicopters. "They're still looking for him.
"They're right," Hopper said.
"All that's for Mike?" Nancy asked, stunned.
"Do you have any idea where they might go?" Joyce asked them.
"No," Jonathan said. "But I know how we might find out."
Barb and Nancy went with Steve in his car while Jonathan went off with his parents. Jonathan might as well call Hopper his dad, Barb thought. Jonathan looked at Hopper like he was the first man who came through for him in his entire life, and he was doing it all to help his family. It was a shock when they showed up to the Byer home to find it a complete mess with a hole in the wall and Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling. Joyce had been really desperate to find her son. Not that Barb had blamed her, considering the lengths that Nancy was going to in order to keep her safe. They managed to make contact with the kids, and the rest of them stayed behind while Hopper went to pick up the kids. When they finally returned, night had fallen. Barb watched with a smile as Nancy ran out to greet her brother.
"Steve!" Dustin exclaimed and ran to him, hugging him as tightly as Nancy hugged Mike.
"Looks like someone made an impression," Barb teased Steve and then turned to Dustin. "And if you're lucky, you might get to keep him."
"Cool! I always wanted an older brother! What happened to your face?" Dustin asked.
"My former friend Tommy didn't like that I started hanging out with people who are cooler than he is," Steve said.
"What a mouth breather," Dustin scowled.
"You said it," Steve grinned and placed his hand on his head. "Glad you're okay."
They all moved into the house where the boys explained to them about the Upside Down and how El was able to get a glimpse into the other world with her powers. It angered Barb to no end that this girl had been raised in a lab her entire life and experimented on. That was the only life she had ever known, and she had been taken from her mother in order to be turned into a weapon. As a babysitter and a human being, she couldn't understand how people could do that. . .use children as a weapon for their own cruel reasons. The difference here, with them using El, was that they made sure El knew what she was getting into and that it was her choice to do this. It was how they ended up at the middle school, preparing a homemade deprivation tank for El's power.
"It's crazy what you kids went through," Steve said to Mike as he went with him, Nancy, and Barb to grab the hoses. "I would have been terrified. How high does your IQ have to be to have outrun those suits?"
"It was a group effort," Mike shrugged.
"No, you're definitely smart," Barb said. "But you also got lucky like we did. We could have definitely used you on our team."
Barb could feel Nancy smiling at both her and Steve. She just wanted to let Mike know that he should probably contact them next time without telling out right that he needed a babysitter.
"I thought you hated Steve, Barb," Mike said.
"Well, I just didn't know him," Barb said. "Plus, there's nothing like a nine foot tall monster with a flower face to really bring you together."
And there really wasn't. Oh, she wished Mike wasn't looking so she could kiss both Steve and Nancy. Nancy picked up a rock and smashed open the lock to the shed. Using a wheelbarrow, they pushed the hoses up back to the school.
"So, do you like El now?" Nancy asked.
"What?! Ew! No, gross!" Mike scowled and Steve laughed. "Do you like Jonathan now?"
"What?! No! We-I'm dating Steve," Nancy said.
Barb shared an amused smile with Steve. It was going to come out eventually, but maybe now wasn't the best time. Barb knew how much Nancy cared about Mike and his friends. They had spent many occasions babysitting them together. She remembered when Nancy had dressed up for their D&D game once. She had remembered it so vividly because she remembered the way Mike's eyes shined when his big sister, whom he looked up to, did that for him. Mike and Nancy were so different but also so alike in so many ways. Barb could see that Steve was starting to pick up on the fact that Nancy cared about these kids. She could see it in Steve's eyes: the admiration for the drive and the compassion that Nancy had. The fact that he could also see that she wasn't perfect either and that she tried to be. In that aspect, Nancy and Steve were alike. Barb couldn't help but watch Steve look at Nancy so fondly.
"Do I have something on my face?" Steve asked, and she glanced away for a moment.
"Skin, moles," Barb replied. "Lots of moles."
"Haha, hilarious," Steve said.
"You're good," Barb smiled.
Steve smiled and brushed his shoulder against hers, letting their fingers touch for a moment. They walked back into the gym and helped set up the tank. Barb sat down in between Steve and Nancy, watching as El was lowered down into the pool. Barb squeezed both of their hands as they awaited to see what El found. She hoped they found that little boy, and Barb chose to focus on that rather than the fact it could have been her in there as well. The lights flickered as El continued to search for the boy and even more so when she found him alive, but barely hanging on. It was a rush for Chief Hopper and Joyce to run off towards the lab to enter the gate through the Upside Down. Jonathan had tried to go with them, but Joyce had pleaded with them to stay.
Barb had wandered back into the gym to find the kids huddled up together on the bleachers. Barb smiled at the sight of El resting her head on Mike's shoulder while Lucas patted her back, making sure the towel was secure around her shoulders, while Dustin reached over to squeeze her knee. It looked like El was going to get to some great friends out of this and maybe even a family, too. Judging by the way that Hopper and Joyce had guided her, Barb had a feeling that they were somehow going to end up as El's parents. She wandered over to them.
"How are you guys holding up?" Barb asked.
"You are Barbara," El said.
"Yeah, but you can call me Barb," she replied.
"Barb," she said, and then she pointed at herself. "El."
"I know, it was pretty cool what you did back there. You did a very good thing even though you didn't have to," Barb said.
"I had to," El said.
"Nancy said the demogorgon almost came after you," Mike said.
"Well, I cut my hand, and I guess some of it dropped by the pool," Barb frowned. "It was drawn by that tiny drop. I'm just thankful it fell in the pool."
"And that you were hanging out with Steve and Nancy. What were you guys doing, anyway?" Mike asked.
"Oh, you know, speaking of Steve and Nancy. I, uh, I'm going to see what they're doing," Barb said, blushing. "I'll be back."
Bullet dodged. Hopefully, they'll forget that question when she gets back. She wandered towards the entrance of the gym, where she found Nancy talking with Jonathan and Steve.
"What did I miss?" Barb asked.
"Nancy wants to finish off the demogorgon," Steve replied.
"It needs to die. Even if we can't kill it, we can at least distract it so it doesn't go after Hopper and Joyce in the Upside Down," Nancy replied.
"Yeah, okay, but what about the kids? They can't stay here by themselves. Those assholes could come back for them at any time," Steve said.
"Well, it's Jonathan's house, so maybe I should go with Jonathan and Steve if you want to stay here with the kids. . .yeah, they definitely need someone looking out for them," Nancy said.
"And Steve will need help looking after the kids. I'll stay here," Barb said.
"Are you sure?" Nancy asked.
"About as sure as you are about killing this thing," Barb said.
"It came after you, Barbara, I'm not going to let it do it again," Nancy said.
Barb smiled and kissed her. Nancy smiled against her lips and wrapped her arms around her neck, deepening the kiss. Barb pulled her in closer, her hands gripping Nancy's waist. She tried not to cry and tried not to think that this might be their last kiss. They pulled away, and Nancy leaned her forehead against Barb's for a moment before pulling her out of her arms. They gave Steve the baseball bat and the box of nails with a hammer.
"We got more and another bat in the trunk. Go nuts," Jonathan said.
Steve grinned and nodded at him. Nancy moved in front of him.
"Be careful, look after each other," Nancy said.
"You, too," Steve said.
Nancy kissed him as desperately as she kissed Barb, and Steve nearly dropped the stuff in his arms. He managed to kiss her back. Nancy pulled away before climbing into the car with Jonathan. Barb stood next to Steve as they watched him drive away. Barb turned to him.
"It was really great that you were worried about the kids," Barb said.
"Well, they shouldn't have to go through this alone," Steve said.
Barb studied him. She imagined a young Steve home by himself, wondering when his parents would remember to call. . .wondering when they would decide to be there for him.
"No, they shouldn't," Barb said.
She took the stuff out of his arms and set them on the floor. She grabbed him by the back of his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. She wrapped her arms around him, kissing him just as deeply as she kissed Nancy. Steve pulled back and pressed his forehead against Barb's.
"She's going to be okay," Steve said.
"I know," Barb whispered.
"Oh my god! You guys really do share everything!" They heard Mike yell, and they both laughed.
Barb ushered Mike inside with the other kids. Steve immediately went to work hammering in the nails in the bat. The kids had crowded around Steve, watching him work. Steve held up the bat when he was finished.
"What do you think?" Steve asked.
"Awesome!" Lucas, Mike, and Dustin exclaimed.
"Yeah, awesome," El breathed.
Steve moved away from them, twirled the bat, and started practicing his swinging. He started doing all sorts of things with it. He dove, he dodged, and weaved as though he was fighting off an invisible force. The kids clapped and cheered when he rolled across the gym floor, jumping up to swing the bat like the demogorgon was there. Steve came to a stop, leaned on his bat, and winked at Barb. She rolled her eyes, smiling. He was clearly showing off for the kids.
"I'm not impressed," Barb teased. "You're such a dork."
"What? No, Barb! That was totally cool!" Lucas exclaimed.
"Don't you think Steve’s a douchebag?" Mike asked Lucas.
"Not anymore," Lucas said.
"Anyone could do that," Mike rolled his eyes.
"Bullshit, Mike! You couldn't do that!" Dustin exclaimed. "Just admit that it was cool. He's a total paladin."
"Okay, I'd admit that it was cool, but I'm not going to call him a paladin," Mike said.
"You guys are hilarious," Steve said. "Definitely a lot cooler than I am."
The kids ended up dragging Steve and Barb into the cafeteria to pilfer the pudding the lunch lady had been hoarding.
"You're not going to tell on us?" Dustin asked Barb.
"Why would I?" Barb asked as she swiped a pudding cup. "If we're going to die, might as well die with pudding in our stomachs."
"That's the spirit," Dustin grinned. "I keep telling Mike you're the coolest babysitter ever. He's such a pessimist."
"Nancy can be a little pessimist herself," Barb smiled.
"Steve, if you really want to learn how to be a really cool babysitter, Barb knows," Dustin said and walked off.
"Did you hear that? You're a really cool babysitter," Steve said bumping her hip with his.
"You're not so bad yourself. You'll get there with a little help," Barb grinned.
They had only a moment of peace before the assholes from the lab found them. They dropped the pudding cups, and Barb led the kids down the hallway with Steve behind them all. She had her knives out, prepared to stab anyone in case they decided to come after the kids. Steve had his trusty bat in his hands. They got as far as they could, but the bad men had them covered on either side of the hallway. They had guns. Barb and Steve stood on either side of the kids, back to back practically. A woman moved forward and Barb didn't hestitate to take a slice off that bitch. The woman didn't hesitate to pistol whip Barb, knocking her glasses off of her face.
"Barb!" Steve hollered.
El moved forward, focusing on the agents, and the lights flickered over head. Blood trickled from El's nose at the same time that blood started pouring the bad mens' eyes, noses, and mouths. Their necks snapped at the same time, and they fell to the ground in unison. Head still ringing, Barb quickly picked up her glasses and put them back on her face as El collapsed.
"El!" Barb exclaimed and moved to her side.
That's when he showed up. A man with white hair who was tall and very forboding. A chill shot down Barb's back at the sight of him. He was just as terrifying as the demogorgon. Steve rushed to Barb's side but was grabbed and held by an agent at the same time that Barb was grabbed by another one. They fought hard against their grips as they took Barb's knives and held Steve's bat. Barb noted with a smile that one of their leg's was bleeding heavily. Steve had gotten one of them with the bat. The white-haired man approached El and cradled her in his arms.
"Papa," El muttered.
"Let her go, you son of a bitch! She's not your property. She's a human being, and she doesn't deserve to be treated ~," Barb started to say but was pistol whipped again.
"Don't you fucking hurt her!" Steve yelled and he was given the same treatment.
Barb could feel blood drip down from her forehead as Steve spat blood from his mouth. She yelled and yanked her head backward, butting the person in the face with it. He yelled, letting go of one of her arms, and she elbowed him in the stomach, making him let go of her other arm. She pulled the knives out of his belt and thrust it into his neck. He dropped to the ground just as another agent tried to grab for her but he froze when they all heard a loud growling sound. The agents let the kids and Steve go to pull out their guns. The white haired guy dropped El as the demogorgon appeared.
"Oh, shit," Steve yelled and grabbed his bat. "RUN!"
Steve hit the strange man in the leg and picked up El before he could, handing off the bat to Barb, who took it gladly. The kids took off ahead of them, and they ran into an empty classroom, slamming the door behind them to hide. Barb stood protectively in front of the kids and Steve as the demogorgon caught up with them. El wiggled out of Steve's arms and moved towards the monster, Mike screaming her name. She held out her hand and pushed the monster back with her powers, slamming it into the chalkboard. They watched as El destroyed the monster along with herself, nothing left behind but dark ash. Mike stood there, stunned as he looked at the disfigured chalkboard.
"Mike," Barb said softly as she stood up.
Mike threw himself into her arms, crying. El was dead, but so was the monster. Barb held Mike tightly, pressing her cheek into his hair as his entire body shook with sobs. Steve tentively walked up beside her, Dustin curled up against his side, and he placed a hand on Mike's shoulder. Lucas patted Mike on the back, sniffling as well.
"Physically. . . is everyone okay?" Steve asked.
"Better than you and Barb," Lucas said.
They moved through the school, making their way past the dead, bloody bodies, and out into the fresh air. Barb held Mike to her side, gripping Steve's bat in her hand. They weren't sure who had called them, but the ambulances and the cops had shown up pretty quickly. It wasn't long before their parents had shown up. . .well, everyone except Steve's.
"Barbara!" her mother shrieked. "Oh, look at you!"
Her parents hugged her tightly as Mike's parents did the same with him. Barb couldn't explain to her parents what had happened. She wasn't sure if she was supposed to explain anything except for the fact that Steve had helped save their lives.
"Barb! Where's Nancy?!" Karen asked and she snapped out of it.
"Jonathan's house," Barb replied.
"Dusty!" she could recognize Claudia Henderson's shriek from anywhere and then: "Steve!"
To Steve's surprise, Claudia had pulled him into a hug along with Dustin. Barb smirked. It looked like Steve was going to have a family that he always secretly wished he had. Barb frowned. That should be El, too, with Hopper and the Byers. . .did they find Will?
LATER. . .IN THE HOSPITAL. . .
Barb and the others met everyone there, including Nancy. Barb had pulled Nancy into a hug along with Steve while Jonathan stood off to the side.
"Hey! You, too! You're not getting out of this," Steve said to Jonathan.
"Me?" Jonathan asked.
Barb laughed as Steve rolled his eyes before pulling Jonathan into the group hug. Joyce laughed at the look on her son's face.
"The doctors are looking over Will now. It's probably going to be a while, so if you guys want to go home. . ." Joyce said.
"Nonsense, Joyce," Karen said. "We'll be here as long as you need us."
Nancy quickly pulled Steve, Jonathan, and Barb off to the side.
"Barb. . .your eye and forehead. . ." Nancy whispered.
"Oh, I totally killed that guy," Barb said.
"Yeah, no, she really killed him," Steve said, nodding at the look on Nancy's face.
"In other news, Mom's letting me keep her knives," Barb said.
"You totally pull them off," Steve muttered.
"And so, El is for sure. . ." Nancy trailed off.
"Yeah," Barb said, glancing at Mike. "It was awful."
"Poor Mike, she was the first girl he liked, I can't imagine watching that," Nancy said.
"He's going to need a lot of help," Steve said.
"Yeah," Jonathan said as they all looked at the kids. "We all are. . .uh, if you don't mind, I'm going to wait with my mom."
"Well, we'll be here," Barb said.
"Does this - does this mean we're friends?" Jonathan asked.
Barb studied him for a moment. She could see it in his eyes, how desperately he was trying to hide the hope he was feeling.
"Yeah, it does," Barb said.
"All of us," Steve said.
"We're still expecting that essay," Nancy said, her eyes twinkling.
"Whenever you're ready," Barb said.
Jonathan walked over to his mother and sat down next to her, holding her hand. Barb, Nancy, and Steve sat in the corner of the waiting room near Nancy's parents. Nancy and Barb leaned as close to Steve as possible, discreetly brushing their pinkies up against Steve’s. Barb glanced over at Nancy, who was resting her head on Steve’s shoulder. It's crazy how things changed. . . It was crazy how that image would have annoyed her, but now all it did was give her warm fuzzy feelings in her stomach. . .
SUMMER OF '84
Barb was sprawled out in Jonathan's room, Steve between her legs with his back to her chest, and his head tucked underneath her head. Nancy was holding his hand while Barb stroked his nose with her finger. It was a complete accident that they discovered that you could calm Steve Harrington down if you just stroked his nose. It also helped to look at the blanket that hung on Jonathan's wall. Something to do with the colors. Steve was peculiar, as it turns out, like they were. Jonathan walked into the room and handed him a glass of water.
"You know, my mom did these breathing exercises when she was giving birth to Will, if you need help with your own delivery," Jonathan said in amusement.
"Shut up, Byers," Steve said as he took a drink of water.
"With your legs spred like that, it does look like you're giving birth," Barb said with a giggle.
"Nancy, tell our girlfriend that she's supposed to be helping me," Steve said.
"Sorry," Nancy said.
"Some friends you are," Steve said and smiled. "I don't even know why I'm freaking out. My parents are getting divorced so, what?! I mean, this is what I wanted, right?"
"Well, change can be scary even if it's what you wanted," Nancy said. "I mean, you must have been scared when you finally dumped Tommy and Carol."
"That's true," Jonathan said. "I mean, even though I wanted Lonnie gone and out of the house, it wasn't like he was totally useless. He did bring some things to the table, and it was scary that we were being left with this vaccum that we didn't know how to fill. We did manage to find a way to work around it, though."
"I just don't want what I have now to disappear, you know. I want to keep living with Claudia and Dustin," Steve said.
"Does your mom seem like the kind of person to take you away from them?" Nancy asked.
"No, in fact, she likes coming over now, and it's totally weird having her around all the time," Steve said. "And I guess I just don't want to get my hopes up that she'll stay."
"Well, it's not crazy to worry about that either," Nancy said. "I'm sure it's an adjustment."
"I'm sure it's going to work out and if your mom does try to take you away, we'll just kidnap you and bring you back," Barb said.
"Aw, you'll break the law for me?" Steve said.
"I think all of us would," Nancy said.
"Tommy and Carol never would have broken the law for me," Steve said.
"Their loss is our gain," Barb said.
Barb actually liked him like this, just utterly and completely melting into their arms. No one but them knew what Steve Harrington was really like, not even Tommy Hagan and Carol Perkins. Steve wanted to be soft and small. He never really wanted the attention. He just didn't want to be alone. Jonathan was similar, but he had pushed people away rather than surround himself by the wrong people. He had his graded essay hung up on the wall to remind himself what kind of person, of what kind of photogropher that he wanted to be along with pictures of his new friends.
"I guess I don't have anything to worry about," Steve said. "Thanks for letting me freak out. Tommy would have just told me to stop being a crybaby."
"You really like reminding us that we're better for you than Tommy and Carol, huh?" Nancy teased.
"Oh, yeah," Steve said. "You all are."
"Well, you've been there enough of all of our freak outs," Jonathan said. "We've promised to be there for each other so. . .we're here."
"Oh, speaking of my mother coming over all the time," Steve said. "She's also been talking to Claudia a lot."
"Well, we figured," Nancy said. "So, what did Claudia say to make Maggie realize she should have probably divorced that jackass a long time ago?"
"Maybe it was Claudia," Barb said. "Or maybe it was the fact that she had come home and realized that her son had moved out?"
"Maybe it was both," Steve said. "Anyway, Dustin told me that he saw something the other night that made him think that there might be something between my mom and his."
"Oh, that would be perfect," Nancy gasped. "You both would get two wonderful mothers, and maybe your mom would move in there!"
"It would be great, wouldn't it?" Steve asked.
"So, what was it that Dustin saw exactly?" Barb asked as she wrapped her arms around Steve.
"Well, he said it was the way they looked at each other," Steve said. "I think he just wants to have two mothers."
"And to keep his favorite brother around," Barb said.
"Maybe," Steve grinned. "So, right before school ended, I overheard a couple of jocks whispering about Eddie Munson. Apparently, it's a possibility that Higgins blackmailed Munson into dropping out, and that's why the jocks have been out for him as well as Hellfire."
"Well, apparently, he failed because Eddie's coming back next year," Jonathan said.
"Really?" Nancy asked. "And how do you know that?"
"I just know," Jonathan blushed.
"It has nothing to do with the weed that fell out of your bag earlier?" Steve asked.
"Okay, so maybe Eddie's been selling me weed, and we've been talking," Jonathan said.
"So, you're friends?" Nancy asked.
"He defended my brother against some mouthbreathers and took a baseball that was meant for him," Jonathan said, his face turning a deeper red.
"Oh, so, you want to be more than friends," Barb teased.
"I mean, maybe, he is cute," Jonathan said.
"And it definitely doesn't hurt that he stuck up for your brother," Steve said.
"It's a huge plus," he said.
"Well, it sounds like Higgins has it out for your boyfriend," Steve said.
"We should definitely do something about that," Nancy said.
"Ooh, does this sound like a case for the monster hunting squad?" Barb asked.
"Ooh, I love Nancy Drew," Steve said. "It's perfect. Jonathan and Nancy are already on the paper. Maybe we should join, too, Barb?"
"And what would you do on the paper?" Barb teased.
"Hey, I could learn to be a sports writer," Steve said.
"That's true," Barb said thoughtfully.
"That could work," Nancy said. "Especially, when you start asking questions in the locker room."
Nancy got up and grabbed a journal off of Jonathan's desk. She plopped down in between Steve's leg and leaned against his chest.
"Alright. . .let's get to work, we have a mystery to solve. . ."
20 notes · View notes
uncanny-tranny · 11 months ago
Text
If somebody in your life offers to knit or crochet or, really, create anything for you, please be an active participant in the creation of the piece they are making. I adore making and gifting things, but nothing bums me out quicker than a person who passively just goes "okay," to my ideas about what I'm making them - it can send the message that they won't like it, or that they don't care, even if they're happy about my offering. The back-and-forth feedback is a great way to make sure that you are being gifted something that was truly worth the time, effort, expertise, and money that will inevitably go into the gift!
I know it's really hard to be an active participant, believe me, I'm an anxious ball of horror, but it will only do good for both parties to interact in this situation. It is a big deal to be offered a hand-crafted gift, but it's also something we want you to love and use, and that can only happen if you tell us what would make you fall in love with what we create.
504 notes · View notes
slime-crafters · 5 months ago
Text
Out of all the people to hate in Pelican Town (cough pierre cough), hating Demetrius seems like a wild choice
30 notes · View notes
nobodysdaydreams · 3 months ago
Text
Giving a complicated tragic childhood backstory to your favorite character is all fun and games, until you realize you need to account for how old all the other adult characters would have been at the time and realize that scenes that would work perfectly if one character was twenty three and the other was fourteen stop working when you need other characters who are played by adult actors clearly younger than they are to be in college at the same time so your story beats line up thematically.
#Don't worry. I made an excel document for this over a year ago#Was that unhinged? Yeah. But this is harder than you think it is#In unrelated news it is now reasonable to have a child in your 20s 30s or 40s depending on when the plot needs the child#Also people in their early 20s can be in grad school have already established careers and adopt children now. I've declared it.#Also: Hollywood stop trying to trick me into believing women in their 30s are the same age as men in their 50s. It's never gonna work.#I'm fighting for my life to make these age gaps normal even on a platonic level#Don't worry I aged the girls up and the boys down#But still this is a bit ridiculous#If you use the actors' ages it doesn't work. Garrison's actress is 16 years younger than Curtain. Why?#I mean I like the casting. But SQ is a teenager. We know Curtain has had his evil plans at least since SQ was born and lost his bio dad#and if the Whisperer is Garrison's invention that means she and Curtain were working together when SQ was born#If SQ in the show is 16 (the actor was older I believe) and Garrison is 37 (that's how old the actress is now she was younger at time)#That means Garrison was only 21 and Curtain was well into his 30s. And that's after you age SQ down and Garrison up for the calculations#So Garrison was likely (according to the shows' casting) even younger than that which begs the question what was Curtain doing?#Was he spending his 30s lurking around college campuses and high schools looking for a kid whose inventions he could steal?#What in the Marcus Cutter is that about?#All these jokes about Garrison being SQ's uninvolved divorced stepmom but nah she's really his estranged big sister#also this is very frustrating because the irl age gap between the actress who plays Number Two and Tony Hale only 7 years#but they're the ones for whom a 16 year age gap would have actually made sense because he adopts her in the books!#but now since Garrison is clearly so much younger than Number Two Curtain and Benedict I have to deal with this#(Don't worry I figured it out and made the age gaps normal. You just now have to believe Number Two is only a year older than Garrison)#It was the stress of living with her family that aged her and Garrison just looks naturally super young that's what we're going with.#And don't get me wrong:#I do like the actresses and actors they casted they're great but sometimes I google the ages and I'm like oh you cannot be serious#But we've (more or less) figured it out#Rant over#writing#writing struggles#tmbs
16 notes · View notes
lilacerull0 · 30 days ago
Text
i feel like reading/watching mbf immediately means knowing who i am as a person and... i cannot allow this
#you all know that i can't stand gatekeeping and how that's why i bring up what i like all the time in various contexts#but the surprising thing with mbf for me is that i can't talk about it as freely to people who don't know me#because i can't find a way to translate it without having to offer some crucial segment of myself#i enjoy sharing ideas and thoughts more than anything else but i don't like sharing me the person behind them#because i really cherish my individuality as something important in spite of where it takes me sometimes#i don't want to tarnish it!!!! i don't want even the smallest piece of it to be missing because i wouldn't know what to do anymore#i'll stick to typing out thoughts here and to my mom and to my med textbooks#but i must say it feels strangely refreshing to have something that is only my own this way because i always have to put myself out there#and this way i am not giving anyone the opportunity to twist it into something terrible about me#my spontaneous outbursts might ruin this for me though#letters from stephanie*#i dislike that i can't step outside of my own experiences with this like i usually do because art should be shared#this is suchhh a crazy person post#i think i finally get what my dad means when we fight about how i shouldn't say everything i think all the time#he doesn't want me to filter myself he wants me to preserve who i am from harm because stepping up sometimes won't help#who i'm trying to help but it will ruin me in some way even if it just makes me upset#i think that's how he manages to be calm without betraying himself?#he isn't lying he's just saying what he thinks when it matters and to those that matter#like most of the time i am right to single myself out but there is a particular shade of grey when i shouldn't do it#idk this is literally donna telling the dr YOU CAN STOP NOW.#realistically i just need someone to calm me down when my passions turn against me#overly personal post once again i am sooo sorryyyy look away
9 notes · View notes
moonchild-in-blue · 6 months ago
Text
Oh.
#according to facebook memories (why do i even have that still??) 12 years ago today i saw Linkin Park for the first time 🥺#in a few days it'll be 10 years since the last time i saw them#and. hm. there's a lot that surfaced this days since clancy dropped and i'm a bit more emotional / sensitive than usual#and this is. well. making me extremely sad.#12 years ago. i remember as if it was yesterday. i cling to that day so much and i'm scared of forgetting about it#i wonder how 14 yo me would've reacted if she knew.#they were my first gig ever! i remember the 2nd song was given up and the people around us started moshing pretty hard.#so much that my shoe came off and my dad had to shield me while i crawled and looked for it hahaha#it was so fun! i didn't really know that was a thing#that day was the first time they played Lies Greed Misery - it had been released just the day before#my videos are SO blurry but i still have them all saved 🥹#idk i've been in some typa mood these past days. not necessarily bad at all but.#me and a couple friends had a very important conversation 2 nights ago which was GOOD but. the bad thing about letting everything bottle up#is that once you spill it's hard to deal with. and yeah this is. idk. i'm just venting here like. ignore me.#it's just really hard for me. i miss him terribly and i'm really scared for myself because i *know* i'm back in the loop#and it feels so hopeless sometimes. maybe this is super silly but i'm so thankful that Clancy came out now because OH BOY i need it#maybe it's not the best strategy to put so much faith? importance? in like. music and other people but#man. i genuinely don't know if i'd be here if not for certain songs/artists etc#idk I'm rambling lol. i might delete this later#probably. maybe. i try not to talk too much about this here because i tend to deal alone but. sometimes it's nice to send things to the void#anyways. support your favs. talk to your friends - even if you much rather not. don't be like me and let things rot inside.#🤍#darya talks to herself
17 notes · View notes
bearsinpotatosacks · 2 months ago
Text
Update on my Whumptober thoughts: Not all the prompts will be posted, I have all 31 planned out but I found out that you don't have to post all 31. If a fic is finished, I'll post it but there's some big beasts that I want to write properly instead of rush. Also, I might not even write all 31. I want the completionist title but I don't have the time nor energy to force myself to write all the prompts and I did it last year and it wasn't like life-changing. I like Whumptober because the prompts help my creativity, spark some inspiration (talking about my Delancey Brothers Fic) but the perfectionist in me just beats myself up about not getting enough fics done before October or not writing enough each day to get them finished and then writing fics that all sound the same or the ideas being kind of shitty because I'm forcing them. I want to do my ideas justice rather than mass produce shit I don't like because I feel I need to, it's a constant line I walk between "I want to write something well and that I'm proud of so might be inactive for a while on AO3" and "I want to get this idea out there so need to post a bunch of stuff now"
#also i don't know why i feel i have to update people#i genuinely think that people will give me flack about not posting 31 prompts but calling myself a completionist#or saying i've got loads of fics coming up for the bear because of whumptober then not posting anything#i've made good progress with some things#the ed fic#but others are complete and not how i want them to be#there's a few fics exploring richie's birth family and him reconnecting that i want to do better#or him quitting the bear and becoming a nurse that i want to do justice#or just the fact that all i'm thinking of is my mikey lives au but it doesn't fit whumptober so i'm not writing it#and to top it off#my way of writing is changing from plan a lot and then write each scene in order and do that every day#to not being able to flesh out ideas so just writing down scenes until i get the vibe#it feels less dedicated to me personally#just because it's different and i'm a perfectionist who's too thorough sometimes#also half the time i plan a fic in detail then cba because it's too daunting#so i'm taking a leaf out of scenedenial's book and giving myself more freedom and trying not to beat myself up#that i've got 10 fics on the go and they're all slow going#because that's what i can manage#september is and will continue to be a stressful month for me#got my 2nd attempt at my driving test on 24th september and i'm an anxious wreck#also work on top of that and trying to have a life and let myself chill and say watch footie with my dad or grey's anatomy with my mum#rather than sit at a computer not writing all day#you've got to do stuff to be motivated#also exercise#i'm trying to exercise regularly and there's only so much time in the day when you work 9 hours a week#when did this become a vent post?#personal#kinda
4 notes · View notes
keeps-ache · 25 days ago
Text
buttered noodles 💫💛🍜
#just me hi#it's just a Lot of butter cuz i don't like having pasta sauce w/ parmesan (something wrong w/ that idk hfbshv) so :3#i was thinking of putting garlic in it but idk if that would be good... do i wanna take the risk.. i mean you can't really go wrong with#garlic... Hmmmm....#//oh yea i am definitely gonna switch up my main blog theme ehe :3#and maybe my rb blog's theme too cuz i liked it when the colours were matching lol#maaaybe to blue.. i don't remember if i've ever had a blue theme so this might be the first blue theme ehe :3#i just like to have an Image for the banner so i need to figure out what i'd like that to be.. hmnmnmnmnm!#//alright you know what i'm gonna put garlic in this one second lolll#okay i put black pepper and garlic in it's not too bad :)#prolly shoulda put more salt in too cuz i'm craving it. salt <3#/having spaghetti cuz the meal is actually supposed to be eggs and i cannot have that lol#some people are upset about this! like my dad. and my brother who is making the food lmfsh#i didn't know food was being made i am innocent in this !! probably anyway#like nobody is more displeased by this than me dude. i wish people could actually like. describe what some foods taste like so that i could#actually see why they like them#but you ask and they say 'what are you talking about? it's just egg' but 'Just Egg' SUCKS dude what is Your Egg like. pretty please kfshvjg#and grapefruit? grapefuit sucks but my mom likes it and i can't understand Why#and i wanna ask what it's actually like and why she likes it but she only says 'idk it's good with salt' what does that MEAN#how does the taste change?? how would you describe it before that ? clearly it was good enough before the salt or you wouldn't have tried i#with that!! i just wanna know !!!!!#dark chocolate ?? Please ??? do you like the taste of restrained anger and resentment cuz that's what it tastes like lmao ???#Coffee ??????? i can't understand coffee without a bajillion tons of sugar (+ other things) masking the taste how do you. Deal#not even deal- Enjoy !! how are you enjoying it !!! Why !!!! and why does everyone think i'm trying to convince them it's bad when i ask#LMAO--#like i'm not trying to say it's bad i'm trying to figure out how it's good please. Please Man lmfvshjfvhgfks#okay so clearly i have thoughts on all that LMfvshgjhfs#bitter stuff sucks and i barely like sour stuff Sometimes. food is all around good though so lol 👍#//alr i'm gonna. [starts scooching away]#i am almost out of tags (rip unlimited tags i miss you so bad hfsvh <3) edit: i ran out LMFVHS ; TOODLES !!
2 notes · View notes
skrunksthatwunk · 4 months ago
Text
household enemy to the yyh watchthrough number one is the olympics. it's taken us a week to get two episodes into the gamemaster fight
#out of three. please the third episode's what makes it okay im fighting for my life out here#it is NOT for lack of trying on my part but theres only a brief window of time when the olympics is not happening#and as it turns out the watchthrough is Not my mom's first priority (how dare she etc)#i do feel slightly bitter that we've gotten through two eps of band o brothers in the same time#we are fighting for the same timeslots yet somehow the hour long show's gotten a leg up??#you don't have time for a 23 min ep but DO for a 60 min one?? explain the math to me please#idk how to explain the vague feeling of betrayal bc it Does Not make sense Nor matter in the slightest#but cmonnnn we were doing so well. and my little bro's starting up school again soon and my dad's gotta go back to work#sometimes eventually (<- hes on medical leave) and my grandparents are coming over next week We're Losing Time Soon#ughhh if i'd known the olympics were happening (<- somehow completely oblivious to this) i'd have accounted for#my mom getting whisked away by the land of synchronized divers and shot putters and whatever the hell#happens in the summer olympics (<- only pays attention to winter olys)#bc that always happens. and *i* have to go back to school in Some Amount Of Time Im Too Scared To Check (p sure it's late aug though) and#when that happens i'll (hopefully) be stuck across town which means we won't be able to do it any time besides the weekends#and i don't wannaaaaa#i know this is the least important problem anyone's ever had like i get that i know but#it's important to me that they sit down and watch this with me. and watching it pull apart and being#the one who's easily the most invested it makes me look all desperate when i ask them for their time and they can't give it#we can only pull this off neatly in the summer and we were so close and now we're losing it right at the finish line#i don't want life to get in the way of this little bubble i've fought so hard to make y'know#and it's childish and embarrassing and whatever but i just want them to have fun with me with this thing i care about a lot#but i can't do that bc my mom needs to watch the judo matches at Every weight class#even though she's recording a lot of them? i don't understand but whatever i know it's her thing im just moping about it ig#i want it to be as perfect an experience for them as possible and it's slipping away from me#and i don't wanna leave this project unfinished when i start school y'know. sighh#i think they might feel like i only want them around when we're watching stuff. whcih is weird bc that's like#The Singular Way we family bonded literally my whole life so idk why they wouldn't get that when reversed#but either way that IS how i wanna spend time with them. i want them to understand this thing that's become a part of me#and i wanna talk With them about it. and so far it's been fun in a way it's never been before. my mom at least seems to really like it#and i want it to Keep going well bc if we lose momentum im worried they'll start finding it tedious. sighh
6 notes · View notes
pa-pa-plasma · 2 months ago
Text
i don't think i'll ever get over how people treat kids that aren't good in school as worthless no matter what. "oh it can't be that bad" my guy idk how to tell you this but the last time i went to a normal high school the principal called me into his office to brag about how he failed me in all of my classes before the semester was even finished & i should quit while i'm ahead cuz i'm too stupid ("officially" diagnosed as such by a school counselor & a psychiatrist!!) to succeed. & this is considered normal
#''poor teachers!!'' yeah well at least they can fucking quit & go work somewhere else#''okay but times are different than when you went to school in the 1970's'' this was 2016 my guy. shut the fuck up#''well maybe you were a violent & severely misbehaving kid!'' i wasn't. i have ADHD & severe anxiety disorder & depression#my biggest crime was being too exhausted & dopamine deprived to do my homework#my dad talks about how he was treated in school & i'm like damn dude i went through the same exact shit#how is it that a majority of teachers & principals are still abusive power-tripping pieces of shit 60 years later#why haven't things changed#well actually the answer is simple & it's because they want disabled people to disappear#& if abled students that simply disagree with the way things are done get caught in the crossfire then that is acceptable#because anyone not fit to make billionaires a billion more dollars should just die!#anyways here are my original tags from that gravity falls post i just reblogged:#I know this is supposed to be an appreciation post but like. ''for being the ''dumb one'' he's surprisingly rational.'' seriously??#as ''the dumb'' but ''surprisingly rational'' one of my family this is THEE biggest misunderstanding & it drives me up the fucking wall#just because a person struggles in one area doesn't mean they're stupid & should be an irrational dumb dumb idiot baby holy fuckkk#sorry to OP but even when people try to ''appreciate'' stuff like this they can't help but throw in insults#simply because they genuinely believe that ''even though you're stupid you SURPRISINGLY act competent sometimes'' is a compliment#I'm less mad about this & more sad that this kind of shit is still so prevalent in 2024#both Stanley & Stanford are smart & competent & rational#they just show it in different ways & exceed in different (sometimes overlapping) subjects#this is normal for human beings but the big societal scam is that if you don't do it in the way Ford does then you're stupid & a failure#& being surprised that Stan is also smart & competent in his own ways is the biggest sing that you fucking fell for it dude#btw before i get @ ed for this. i WAS that kid#i was so much that kid the school actually diagnosed me with stupid & spiteful & i was told to quit while i was ahead (they failed me befor#obviously this is very personal for me but also i don't think people realize the language they use is on purpose & it's used specifically t#& it's still happening right now & that just. makes me wanna cry honestly#like why are people still surprised that people can specialize in something despite bad grades in school#you know. the thing we all know is literally rigged to either put you in jail or in a factory to make billionaires more money.#man sorry for the rant the original spirit of the post is super correct but like fuck HS grade-centric judging of people's entire character#Stan being able to defeat Bill is just not at all surprising if you were him or knew/know someone like him#or really paid any attention at all to the show while watching it
6 notes · View notes
girlthativealwaysbeen · 3 months ago
Text
it would feel so nice to work towards a career that has meaningful impact and makes millions of people happy
#i follow this person cleo abrams on youtube and she's always talking so excitedly about scientists#and their amazing discoveries cool facts and she's so excited and starry eyed and hopeful#she genuinely just wants to educate people and has so much hope that we can make the world a better place#also like idk maybe unrelated but i saw the mv of new romantics and just. wow#say what you will about her but there's no doubt she's made an insane number of people happy SO HAPPY that they're crying#so many tours#idk i want#i wish my life was bigger#i feel so isolated and always just focusing on myself my career my health my enjoyment#what about everything everyone else#i keep trying to be completely okay with being alone i keep telling myself to not need anyone and be 100% independent#find happiness within hobbies interests#but it feels like a losing battle#i don't know i just. miss everyone 😭😭😭😭#but it hurts too much tbh always more sad than happy always more crying than laughing#i miss my bestfriend i don't know what i did wrong but she won't pick up my call she keeps saying she's busy#i don't want to be clingy because she hates that shit i don't want to drive her away but she's my only friend#i miss my fucking mom she doesn't care if i live or die obviously but i miss just having her presence in the house#and even tho my sister is here she's never fully present always on her laptop working#i wouldn't really say i miss my dad but wow it's been so long since mom and dad stayed together at home it was almost#always miserable but sometimes at the lunch table it was nice#i don't know everything and everyone is moving and changing so fast and i can't breathe under it and it's already september#but this entire year felt like a blur it's like everyone who left took a chunk of my heart with them#and i should be happy because im so close to the exam which will get me out of this house finally be financially independent#like i wanted since i was 11 i could finally start my life#but it all feels so. i don't know the whole future seems black like i can't imagine life past november 2025#how do you imagine happiness if you've never been happy?#and all these feelings are making it so hard to study and studying is so fucking important because if i don't ill be stuck here forever#and i don't want to go thru attempts fail and pass again atleast back then i had a reason first heartbreak‚ not getting to go to college#but what now why now i don't even understand i know objectively i do not have it that bad it's literally better even if i compare to my own
3 notes · View notes
softshuji · 7 months ago
Text
You ever just randomly get hit with a traumatic memory and you're like wtf (pls don't read this if you're sensitive and stuff this is kinda...heavy???)
I was thinking about a few years ago when I went to drop my brother off to school, I was super sleep deprived cos of uni and it was very early and I walked into the road without looking, about half a second from being hit with a car before they slammed the breaks. And I was so so tired it took me a second to realize what had happened and I looked up and the person at the wheel was My dad..and it dawned on me in that second that had he not been a good driver, and had I been a second too late or even early, he'd have hit me with the car. And the worst tbing was, for some reason I wasn't thinking about how i would have died, I was thinking of how he could have killed me and it would have destroyed him to such an extent that it would have killed everyone else too. I would have ruined my family and it would have been my fault despite not being here to see it happen. And I felt sick and full of dread despite being fine in the end.
Sometimes I think of how my dad has nearly killed me on more than one occasion, and even though things are very much calmer now, and we have a semi decent relationship that isn't as bad as it was back then, I would have changed the trajectory of EVERYONE'S life had I not experienced some miracle. I wouldn't even be here, I wouldn't have ever even seen my sister (or watched her grow up along with my brothers)
And the thing is I don't blame him either, that was actually my fault. It was early and I should have been looking. Sometimes it really Dawn's on me that I must have been saved in some way, even if I don't think of how that often.
3 notes · View notes
storiedhistories · 2 years ago
Text
Tumblr media
Am I still pretty much on hiatus? Yup. But right now, I need to write something to get the feelings out, SO.
Like this post for a positive paternal starter from one of the many dads I have! That would be: Adama, The Doctor, Goliath, Macbeth, Tom Dupain, Hades, Hank, Kratos, Thor, or Joel.
14 notes · View notes
harrowharkwife · 10 months ago
Text
it would be cool if talking to my mom could help me feel better for once instead of. making everything worse
2 notes · View notes
ayakashibackstreet · 2 years ago
Text
You are not immune to nosey aunties trying to dictate how you live your life and commenting on your life choices...........
2 notes · View notes
medicinemane · 3 months ago
Text
Jesus fucking christ I get tired of sitting here and hearing my dad loudly ripping ass from the other room
Like listen, I get it, I get that you can't control your guts. Like fuck, for a while... as in like months, I was having trouble even leaving the house... still no clue what was even up which makes me feel like my theory about not eating enough is in the lead given... haven't found any allergies I can identify
So I get it and have sympathy (and fear inheriting my dad's guts), but... it's just so fucking gross man
And it's also like... maybe I'm eating, maybe I'm watching a show... whatever it is the mood's kinda ruined by this just... it almost literally couldn't be louder or grosser
I get you can't control your guts but... do something... anything... see a doctor or... anything
It's just nasty. He's not a bad person, but my dad's just a nasty dude
#and it's not like he means to be; he's just... fucking clueless and... just always finds the way to be gross as possible#he drives the uhaul up here and... of course there's piss bottles... awesome#he walks around scratching his nuts; and it's not like... discreet; it's great big raking motions up and down#it's not like he's got no class or something; it's not like he's some hick with it#imagine a fairly well spoken pseudo academic that's just... crass and nasty all the time without even realizing it#I just... I get tired of it#it's better than my mom by far; at least he helps and means well and knows I'd rather live alone#but fucking hell#and what's more... just imagine if I ever let someone crash here... then he's disgusting someone that's not even family; you know?#I like having... I'd love to have my dad as a neighbor#but I fucking hate having him in the same building; being disgusting#walking in and just kinda peeking through the door; not like in a surveillance kinda way; just a... being dumb and clueless#not getting why that's not cool to do to someone#and then just walking up and blather at me when it's like... if I have food; do not talk to me#if I'm typing; do not talk to me#if I'm watching something; do not talk to me#honestly a lot of the people I know on tumblr could probably break those rules cause I'd be like 'sure; come it; lets talk'#but you also probably would take the hint if I just was busy; and you're also not ripping ass outside my door all the time#one time he literally did it right behind my fan... so guess what that fucking does?#and he just doesn't understand#very smart guy; and despite that very stupid#like I'm kinda clueless; I don't think I always pick up cues well#...certainly can often feel like... everything's risking getting snapped at#cause it'll seem like on thing I do will get huge laughs from someone and they love it#and then almost the exact same thing seems to piss them off... I don't know... I may just be bad at shit#but at least if I have to scratch my groin near other people I'll kinda try and get to a corner and do it discreetly#not fucking rake things while talking with people... are you kidding? that should be so obvious not to be ok#and the shitty thing is... I don't think I've ever done more than imply it; but that recurring infection is right on the taint; dead center#that's why they don't want to touch it; that's why when it flairs up I can hardly walk... but it also itches like hell sometimes#so I probably end up feeling something similar to if not identical to what my dad feels... and alone in my room is one thing
0 notes