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drops-of-june · 3 months

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CHAPTER III: Rebel Yell

• I don't own the characters, this fanfic is based on the TV-Show Stranger Things (second season) from a Hargrove!Reader POV.

• Quick reminder to readers, I'm not a english native speaker, so I'm sorry if there are any mistakes. Hope you understand.

• You are not allowed to translate/repost inside or outside tumblr this fanfic.

Summary: Is y/n first day trying to survive at her new school. Making friends, and first people impressions.

Word Count: 2.9K

CHAPTER III: Rebel Yell

Y/n awoke early to the sound of the alarm clock, her mind still a little foggy from sleep. It was her first full day at Hawkins, and she had the responsibility of driving Max to her new elementary school. She rolled out of bed, quickly dressed in her favorite jeans and a t-shirt from AC/DC, and headed downstairs.

Max was already in the kitchen, finishing her breakfast. y/n gave her an encouraging smile as she made her own coffee to go.

‘Ready for your first day, Madmax?’ She asked, trying to instill enthusiasm in her voice.

Max nodded, though her expression showed a mixture of nerves and excitement.

‘Yes, I think so.’

After a quick breakfast and making sure they both had everything they needed, they left the house and climbed into the car. The cool morning air greeted them as y/n drove through the quiet streets of Hawkins toward Max's elementary school. The drive was relatively short and quiet, but y/n tried to keep their spirits up by playing some soft music on the radio.

Arriving at the school, y/n parked the car in the driveway. She looked at Max with a smile, but the younger girl looked worried.

‘You're going to do great, Max. Remember, just be yourself and have fun. I'll see you later, okay? Remember that I’ll wait in…’

Max smiled, a little more relaxed.

‘In the High School parking lot’ Interrupted her, calm. ‘Thanks, y/n. I'll see you later.’

y/n stood on the sidewalk, watching Max walk into the building with other children. Once Max disappeared from her sight, y/n rested her hands on the steering wheel of her car, feeling a small knot in her stomach. It was her turn to face her own first day at the new school.

She sat in the car, looking at the clock on the dashboard. She still had time before her classes began. She remembered Sam's words once more and felt a little more encouraged and decided to use the time to mentally prepare herself.

The parking lot was quiet, with only a few cars arriving as other students began to show up. Y/n took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment and let the soft music on the radio soothe her. She knew this new start at Hawkins would be a challenge, but she was determined to face it with the same energy and determination she had always had.

When the clock struck the entry time, y/n picked up her backpack, turned off the engine and got out of the car. With a mixture of nerves and resolve, she walked toward the entrance of the high school, ready to face her first day in this new chapter of her life.

As she walked to the school entrance, y/n noticed a group of boys chatting animatedly near the main doors. Among them, she recognized Eddie, the boy she had met the day before while he and his friends were pasting up posters about the battle of the bands. Eddie saw her and smiled at her, raising a hand in greeting.

‘y/n!’ Eddie called out, approaching her. ‘Glad to see you're here. Ready for the first day of school?’

Y/n smiled back, feeling a little more reassured to see a familiar face.

‘Yeah, I guess so. Thanks for the flyer yesterday, by the way. Do you mind finally introducing me to your friends?’

Eddie nodded and gestured toward his companions.

‘Sure. This is Jeff.’ he said, pointing to a tall, dark-skinned guy wearing jeans and an Iron Maiden T-shirt. ‘This is Grant’ he added, introducing a shorter, sturdy guy with a friendly expression and a Clash T-shirt. ‘And this is Gareth.’ he finished, pointing to a boy with wavy, messy blond hair wearing a Metallica t-shirt. He was the only one who didn't seem to want to look her in the eyes, he looked nervous, and you could tell he was younger than his friends.

‘Guys, this is y/n from yesterday.’ Eddie explained. They waved at her with a welcoming smile.

Y/n nodded her head in appreciation.

‘Hi, guys, huh, could you… tell me where the administration is? I need to pick up my schedule and a few things.’

‘Sure, we'll take you there’, said Eddie. ‘Come on, it's right over here.’

The group moved together, leading y/n through the halls filled with students preparing for the start of the day. The girl tried not to look around too much, avoiding as much as possible the attention that she was already getting. Boys and girls kept staring at her.

‘So, y/n, do you just listen or play?’ Asked Jeff, breaking the silence as they walked, pointing out her t-shirt.

‘Oh… Yes, as a matter of fact. I play guitar in a.. I used to play guitar in a band in California’ She corrected herself with a sad smile.

‘Oh, sorry about that, it must be hard to leave it all behind.’ Said Grant.

‘It's okay, thanks. I mean, Hawkins doesn't seem to be anything like San Diego, but it doesn't seem bad yet.’

‘Great!’ Gareth exclaimed. ‘You've got to come to the battle of the bands this weekend. It's going to be awesome.’

‘I definitely will.’ Replied y/n, feeling more excited with every step.

They reached the administration office and Eddie pointed to the door.

‘Here we are. Go and get your schedule. See you after class!’

‘Thank you, guys,’ said y/n, grateful for their help. They each said goodbye with a smile and a friendly nod before heading off to their respective classes. Y/n walked into the administration office, feeling a little more confident and ready to face her first day.

She waited nervously in the administration office while the principal, a middle-aged man with glasses and a budding bald spot, checked her schedule. After a few minutes, he rose from his desk and motioned for her to follow him.

‘Welcome to Hawkins High, y/n,’ said the principal with a friendly smile as they walked down the hall. ‘I'll take you to your first class. I hope you feel comfortable here.’

‘Thank you, sir, I hope I do’ y/n replied, trying to keep her nervousness under control.

When they reached the history classroom, the principal opened the door and ushered her in. The class fell silent as the students watched the new girl curiously.

‘Good morning, class,’ said the principal. ‘I would like to introduce your new classmate, y/n Hargrove. I hope you will all make her feel welcome.’

Professor Reynolds, a short, dark-haired woman with a few silver locks looked serious, the kind of professor who didn't want interruptions in her class. As she walked, her shoes echoed on the floor. She addressed y/n as she wrote on the blackboard, without looking at her and motioned the girl to the front of the class.

‘Welcome, Miss Hargrove. Please introduce yourself to your classmates,’ she said, giving her no option to refuse.

y/n cleared her throat and looked around the class, feeling all eyes on her.

‘Hi, I'm y/n. I just moved here from California. I'm in my senior year and really would have preferred to avoid this awkward introduction.’

Some of the boys laughed. Murmurs filled the room, and a few students exchanged interested glances. Not recognizing any of Eddie's friends, y/n looked around for a seat and found a free one next to a boy with voluminous hair and a strong smell of hairspray. She sat down next to him, noticing that he was mumbling to himself as he tried to fix a text.

Out of the corner of her eye, y/n caught a glimpse of what appeared to be some sort of presentation essay. She remembered helping Molly with one not too long ago for a university. Wordlessly, she pulled out a sheet of paper and began to rewrite the boy's essay, paying attention as best she could to the class as she did so.

Time passed quickly, and soon the bell rang announcing the end of class. Students began to get up and gather their things. Y/n turned to the boy and handed him the sheet she had written on.

‘Hey, take a look at this,’ said the blonde, surprising the boy. ‘I made some changes that I think might impress the college you want to apply to.’

The boy looked at the sheet, his eyes widening with surprise, half surprised, half grateful. ‘Wow, thank you. I had no… Thank you! I don't know what to say' He stuttered. 'Oh, you're the new girl... y/n right? Welcome to Hawkins.’

‘Thanks and it was nothing, I hope it's not too weird,’ she replied with a smile. ‘I'm not a stalker, its that I just helped a friend of mine, two weeks ago. She was applying for Columbia.’

‘Oh, no, it's just… it took me by surprise. I didn't think that someone was watching… it was bad right?’ He asked, referring to the essay.

Some girls in the class did not seem happy to see y/n talking to Steve, exchanging glances and whispering to each other. The girl noticed this but ignored it, concentrating on the conversation with the boy.

‘Oh, not really. Sometimes it is difficult to put your thoughts in order…’

Steve smiled broadly.

‘Well thank you for organizing my thoughts, y/n. This means a lot to me. I'm Steve, by the way’

‘No problem. Nice to meet you, Steve, and goog luck with your application!’ said y/n before leaving the classroom.

Y/n walked into her second class of the day, English, with some relief that the teacher introduced her to the class himself and then let her choose her seat. Although there were several empty seats, her eyes fell on Gareth, who was sitting in the back of the room. He gave her a shy nod and smiled as she came up to take the empty seat next to him.

Several boys seemed disappointed to see that she wasn't sitting with them, exchanging glances with each other and muttering something she couldn't clearly hear. She thought she heard something that rhymed to leak. However, y/n decided to ignore the stares and focus on the class.

Gareth kindly wrote in the corner of her notebook the list of books they were going to study that year and some of the topics they had already covered in class. He did so discreetly, making sure not to disrupt the class while the teacher explained about the structure of the subject.

Y/n read the list carefully and nodded, grateful for Gareth's help. Slowly, they began to discuss the books and course topics, establishing a connection that y/n found comforting in the midst of the new experience at a different school.

At the end of class, the teacher announced that they would be doing a paired analysis paper for the next assignment for the next book, so she immediately looked at Gareth, and although he seemed flattered, he raised his fist and she bumped it with hers. Again, out of the corner of her eye she noticed that some of her classmates looked disappointed.

When the bell rang y/n gathered her things, and Gareth murmured.

‘If you need anything else about the books or anything else, just let me know,’ said with a friendly smile. ‘Oh, I wanted to ask… Can I call you y/n/n or would you prefer y/o/n/n?’

‘Thanks. I really appreciate the help,’ she replied, smiling back, and nodded, ‘As long as you don't tell me my full name, you can call me however you want’ she joked. ‘Then… Can I tell you Gar?’ She asked as she slung her backpack over her shoulder. He blushed slightly, but nodded.

‘Sure.’ He smiled back.

They both got up and walked out of the classroom together, leaving behind the curious stares and murmurs of some classmates. They headed to the next class, art, which they luckily also shared, and once it was over, they met up with the other members of Gareth's gang in the school cafeteria.

Over lunch in the school cafeteria, Eddie casually remarked to y/n that he had had classes with her brother, Billy.

'Not much in common, right?' Asked her. She, absentmindedly fiddling with a straw, looked in the direction Eddie pointed and saw Billy a few tables over, surrounded by the popular kids at school.

She shrugged indifferently, watching her brother interact with his new companions as she continued with her lunch. Although she adored her twin brother, even in California they had very different friend groups, and she always tried to avoid crossing paths with him. None of the Hargrove twins ever accepted their respective friendships.

Many times people had told her that they didn't understand how, being so different from her brother, they could get along so well when they were together. It was something that could only be explained by the bond of being twins, perhaps.

The rest of the lunch break, the boys bombarded her with questions about her life in San Diego. She talked animatedly about her friends, mentioning Sam, Molly and Adam, her bandmates in Crimson Chaos, and shared stories about the things she liked to do in her old hometown.

She asked them questions too, trying to redirect attention away from herself. They told her how they met, what they did for fun in town, among other things. They seemed to be very interested in the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game, and had regular parties. She thought they would get along well with Adam, who was a nerd for such things. He had insisted on getting her into the game many times, until one day he succeeded. It was interesting, maybe he hadn't managed to get her addicted to the game, but from time to time without realizing it, she had been drawn into a game with Adam's friends outside the band when they needed a substitute.

The character she had created with Adam's help somewhat mirrored y/n herself. Lyria Starfall was a chaotic good elf bard, who with her skills of trickery, persuation, stealth and charisma, and of course her musical talent, inspired and assisted her friends in their adventures.

Jeff, with palpable enthusiasm, invited her to attend the band's rehearsal they were having on Halloween night, the next day.

‘y/n, you have to come!’ said Jeff, his face lit up with excitement. ‘It'll be great to get your opinion.’

y/n smiled, feeling flattered by the invitation. ‘Sure! I'd love to hear you play.’

The rest of the day was more of the same. She shared a class with Billy, who sat next to her, making the curious glances from boys she had received in the first classes much more imperceptible. And after she crossed paths again with Steve, who thanked her again and introduced her to Nancy, his girlfriend. The girl seemed worried about something, kind of distracted, but since she didn't know them, y/n didn't want to jump to conclusions or prejudge without knowing someone.

When the bell rang, ending the day of classes, she slung her backpack over her shoulder and walked to the parking lot, trying to ignore the stares of those around her.

In the hallway, Billy was talking to a freckle-faced boy, and a group of girls seemed to drooling over him, panties on the floor. Y/n couldn't help but wince in disgust. Jeff who was just passing by her followed her gaze and let out a chuckle.

‘Too awkward?’ He asked, distracting her. She looked at him and rolled her eyes.

‘Too awkward. You don't know how much,’ she muttered, feigning a shiver as she opened the door and walked out of the building. The wind ruffled her hair, but she managed to tuck it behind her ear. ‘Do you have sisters?’

The boy denied. ‘The only one who has sisters is Gareth. Two little ones.’ He informed her, and y/n smiled.

‘That's why he has a big brother vibe,’ she agreed. Jeff let out a laugh nodding, as they got closer and closer to the girl's impala, where the other three boys waited.

‘You bet. You should see him, the little girls know he's got an easy yes with them. He can't say no to em.’

‘Are you talking about Chloe and Sophie?’ Gareth asked, curious and with a smile on his face at the mention of her sisters. He seemed more comfortable talking than he had earlier that day. Molly had once told him that people were intimidated by y/n when they first met her, and after meeting her, they felt relaxed. Maybe that was the case. ‘Isn't it a big brother's job to spoil them?’

‘Yes, it is. That's what we're for.’ y/n admitted. She couldn't say no to Max either. Gareth raised a hand in the air for her to bump. With a smile, she responded to the gesture. Just then, she managed to see Max approaching with her skateboard. ‘Speaking of the devil…’ y/n waved at her and she smiled.

‘Okay. We'll leave you two alone.’ The four of them started to walk away, but Gareth turned back to y/n.

‘Yeah! Don't forget to ask about tomorrow!’ He reminded her. Max looked at her sister with a mischievous grin. She put two fingers to her forehead, pretending to have a headache.

‘Oh, the visions... I think... They are... coming back,’ she muttered. y/n let out a laugh and pushed her toward the car.

‘Come on, get in, Nostradamus. We have to go to the market with your mom,’ she commented, opening the door of her Impala and climbing in. Despite being mentally exhausted, and looking back on everything that had happened that first day of school, y/n thought it really wasn't a bad start. At least it wasn't as bad as she had expected. All that remained was to wait for what else the future would bring.

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trashmouth-richie · 2 years

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TWIN FLAMES

PART 2: Falling

Summary: Steve! how could you forget him?! Robin and Steve come looking for y/n ! A deal is made between people who have just met. ALSO a surprise towards the end. Muahaha

<w/c> 4k (2/??)

Pairings: Eddie Munson x female!Reader, Gareth x Carrie Woodly (oc)

Warnings: MINORS: DNI / smut, kissing, throat grabbing, fondling, cheating, drug use, alcohol use, vomit.

A/N: annnd we’re back! Thank you for the love on Part 1! thank you always to @boomhauer for helping me figure this all out! GIVE ME ALL YOUR FEEDBACK I LOVE IT.

masterlist

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Your lips are like soft magnetic pillows, pulling him in. Eddie can’t hold back any longer, a deep burn in his belly driving him towards them like a sort of primal instinct.

“I don’t know what kind of magnetic pull the universe is doing right now princess, I’ve been fighting this since the moment I laid eyes on you, and —fuck I can’t fight it anymore.” Eddie whispers

This is too forward, Eddie thinks. You’re going to turn tail and run straight out of the van yelling for help.

A part of him knows deep down that you won’t turn away, a part of him knows that you feel this same cosmic connection that is radiating through his veins and out of his skin.

Eddie had his first kiss back in freshman year. A girl named Janice from two towns over was with her dad visiting Uncle Wayne. Wayne and her dad were high school classmates and had joined a bowling league with some other buddies. Every Friday night Janice and her dad drove the forty miles one way to Hawkins. The guys would have a few beers and head out to the bowling alley, Eddie and Janice ordered pizza and rented a movie. Every Friday for two months this was their routine.

Eddie was nervous at first to be spending time alone with a girl his age having spent a 30 minute detention with Tammy Thompson being his only other time being somewhat alone with a girl, and she ignored him the entire time, her “Miss Piggy” nose stuck high in the air. Janice had blonde curly hair and braces. She laughed at all his stupid jokes and admired the way he played his guitar. On the last night of bowling league for the year, Janice had kissed him, it was quick and she tasted like cheese pizza and Pepsi. Even though it was fast, and he never saw Janice again after that night— Wayne had to quit the bowling league after he was offered a better position at the plant on night shift— Eddie never forgot it. Thinking about it every night for at least a year, he thought that was the coolest thing to ever happen to him.

Until now.

You surprisingly lean in, and Eddie attaches his lips to yours. Pure bliss, the words outlining themselves in red on a black canvas in his mind. A million different sensations hit him all at once like a freight train. You smell like freshly made sugar cookies that the school cafeteria sometimes had. Or when Jimmy’s old lady would bring treats for the guys at the garage after a long work week. Your lips taste like vanilla icing straight from the container. Your hair, soft and satiny, Eddie has never felt something so delicate in his life. He never wants to let you go, the thought of it a nightmare striking against the sky. You are everything to him and more, Eddie has been longing for this affection for too damn long, and now that he has it, has you, the jaws of life wouldn’t be able to tear him away.

—————————————————————————

Your lips are pulsing with greed, wanting more of Eddie. Needing more of Eddie. His lips part and you slip your tongue against his lower lip, a low groan escaping him. Your hands fly to his hair, it's so much longer than Steve’s.

Steve.

Steve Harrington.

Your boyfriend Steve Harrington, who is ALSO attending this party and is probably less than thirty feet away from you at this very moment! How the fuck could you forget about your own boyfriend? Holding onto Eddie’s shoulders you climb into his lap, straddling him. How hard did you hit your head anyway? Eddie’s large hands wrap around your waist and are tickling their way up your back under your shirt. How could you be kissing another guy?! Oh God but he tastes so good. What the hell is wrong with you?!

Oh no no no no no. This is beyond bad. How are you supposed to tell Eddie that although he is amazing and so devilishly handsome that he did nothing wrong, and you want every part of this and more, but you have a boyfriend?

Better pull the bandaid now before your clothes come off.

You hastily pull away from him catching your breath. Eddie’s eyes are blown with lust, his lips somehow fuller and puckered red.

“Eddie, I’m- I’m sorry I— have to go.” You climb out of his lap and fix your shirt and hair.

“W-What did I do?” Eddie asks quietly behind you, his head hung low like someone took the wind out of his sails. “I thought you were into me?”

You spin around to face him, grabbing his face with both hands making him look at you.

“Eddie baby, you didn’t do anything wrong— I, I — fuck, I have a boyfriend— I don’t know how hard I hit my head but I wasn’t even thinking about him. I am into you— I’m so into you I don’t know what to do, please I need to get my head straight, th—This isn’t your fault, you were everything a gentleman should be— you’re so fucking hot— oh God— I’m a piece of shit, I’m ruining two peoples lives in one fucking night— I’m sorry I have to go.” tears stream down your face as you practically yell that to him. You wipe your tears as you climb out of the van and in that moment you aren’t sure if it’s because you are hurting Steve or Eddie.

“Wait!…y/n! Wait! Wait!” Eddie calls after you, you stop just short of the front of the van and turn around.

“Eddie— I can’t, I-” you begin before Eddie’s lips interrupt you. Again, it’s like a lightning strike, like static electricity in the winter when you wear wool socks and rub your feet on the carpet. He wraps his arms around your waist pulling you into him. He gently pulls back and brushes your hair behind your ear.

“Please just listen to me before you run away,” he starts with his eyes starting to glisten.

“I, I don’t know what overcame me tonight but I don’t usually do this sort of thing. Girls do not bat an eye towards me in this shitty town so I’m sorry if I came on too strong, I’m just— I can’t explain it but I’m trying to… it’s just— when you— when I saw you leaned against that post and brought you to my van I knew that something was different, with me and with you. This pull or whatever it is between us is something I’ve never experienced before and I know you know what I'm trying to say because, no offense sweetheart, but you don’t seem like the type of girl to just make out with a guy you just met in a shitty van.”

He lets out a small chuckle and you do too, ugly crying and all but he doesn’t care.

“I know you have a boyfriend but I don't give a shit. I mean I do, and it kinda sucks a lot. But out of respect for you and for him, I will wait for you. I will wait for you y/n, however long it takes, I’ll be here”.

Tears fall from your eyes and Eddie rubs the pads of his thumbs along your cheeks to wipe them away. You can’t believe this is happening. You have managed to cheat on Steve and have almost little to no remorse for it. But why? Certainly if Steve were to do what you did to him you would be devastated. Heartbroken… at least you think you would be. But in this moment you don’t know how it would feel, mostly because you only have one thing on your mind, one guy on your mind, one single pair of brownie mix colored eyes on your mind.. and it’s not Steve.

You press yourself into Eddie and give him a long kiss. “Oh here! Hang on!” Eddie says quickly.

He pulls you towards the van flinging the passenger door open, diving head first into the glove compartment, his pants are hung low and you can see his red checkered boxers poking out, you give his cute little butt a squeeze and he jumps slightly banging his head against the dash.

“hey hey hey! I’m trying to be a gentleman here but you’re not making it easy” He jokes as he emerges out of the van with a Sharpie and a playful smile upon his lips.

He sticks his arm out and hands the Sharpie to you.

“So, if you’re into me like I’m thinking you are, write down your number, If you’re not into me give me a fake number and I’ll take the hint when I try to call it.”

Of course you’re into him, is he insane? Without giving a second thought you grab his left arm scooting yourself into him so your back is to his chest, you scrawl out your number on his forearm adding a little black heart and a flame. You gently lean forward and blow on the fresh ink on his arm helping it dry quicker.

“Jesus Christ sweetheart, you have got to behave or I will throw you over my shoulder and fuck you inside that barn for everyone to see.” He says with a groan.

You have never been much of a tease, but Eddie’s confession has given your core it’s own heartbeat, aching through your legs and up your chest. You turn his hand over and bring his rings to your lips gently, kissing each one. You place his ring adorned hand sliding up your thigh through the valley of your breasts and landing firmly against your throat, you lean your head back against his shoulder, arching your back and pushing your ass in his crotch.

“Y/n —Fuck, you’re gonna kill me” he moans into your ear. He begins placing wet kisses down your neck. His arms traveling to your tits squeezing them ferociously sending vibrations through your entire body. A small moan leaves your lips as you claw at the back of Eddie’s hair dragging him closer to you. And just like that the thoughts of hurting Steve and being upset about it are gone. What the hell is happening?

A distant voice is heard calling your name.

“Fuck!” You hiss.

“I know baby, you got me so fucking wound up right now I’m gonna cum in my—.” Eddie groans into your neck.

“No, listen!” you whisper, cutting him off, Eddie stops deadpan, his lips still on your neck.

“Is that?! Ste—” he starts.

“Yeaaaah, I gotta go,” you twirl around facing him, “I promise that’s my real number,” You say poking him playfully in the chest and grabbing a fistful of his shirt forcing him down to your level.

Your lips ghost delicately over his as you whisper, “you better call me tomorrow, pretty boy”. You flick your tongue slowly against his lips for one last taste of sin, leaving Eddie rock hard against the zipper of his jeans.

—————————————————————————

Steve Harrington?! She’s dating fucking Steve Harrington? Christ almighty. Eddie stands in disbelief as he watches you run around the side of the barn— away from the door.

Steve is walking fast out of the barn with Robin Buckley on his heels. He looks frantic and his face is screwed up in a painfully concerned look. His eyes are sweeping across the outskirts of the barn looking for any sign of her. Eddie almost feels bad for him.

“Y/n!” They both call.

Eddie nonchalantly walks to the back of his van slamming the doors and pushing his hands in his pockets. He needs to find Gareth and Jeff and get the hell out of here.

“Hey Munson!” Steve calls out to him.

Fuck, play it cool Eddie you weren’t just feeling up this guys girlfriend, nope not you.

“Hey man, sorry I’m all out of eightballs but I do have a few blunts left” Eddie says with a grin.

“What? No! I’m looking for my girlfriend! Have you seen her?!” Steve yells.

“Yeah, right behind ya man.” Eddie says, pointing to Robin.

“I’m not his girlfriend you fucking freak, she’s about this tall, long hair, was wearing faded jeans and a black shirt? Have you seen anyone look like that?” Robin yells back at him crossing her arms across her chest.

“Nah man, I’ve just been out here in my van, dealin’ and smoking my own supply.” Eddie says with a shit eating grin.

“Cool. Real cool, who comes to a party and stays by themself all night?” Steve says getting more and more irritated.

“Probably the same kind of guy who lets his girlfriend get lost at a party.” Eddie shoots back.

Steve places his hands on his hips and runs his tongue over his teeth. Letting out a deep breath.

“Alright testosterone city, let’s go. Maybe Dustin saw her” Robin says with a hand on Steve’s shoulder pulling him out to the field where Dustin and Jeff were.

Eddie makes a mad dash into the barn following the smell of weed. He almost knocks over a beer can tower on his way, apologizing quickly to Mike and Jonathan. He finally finds Gareth, perched atop a shitty green couch with a girl on each side of him, one kissing him so sloppily it could make a sloppy Joe jealous. The other looking as if she was going to puke at any moment.

“Ahem, Gareth?” Eddie says clearing his throat loudly.

Gareth opens his eyes seeing Eddie but doesn’t stop kissing the girl. With his eyes he motions for Eddie to get lost. Eddie shakes his head and cocks his head towards the door pointing to his watch. Gareth rolls his eyes and gently pushes the girl off of him.

“Come on man, I know you don’t have a fucking curfew!”

Gareth says, wiping his mouth with his hand.

Before Eddie can retort, the girl on Gareth’s right turns her head and pukes all over the side of the couch.

��Sorry babe I gotta go,” Gareth says all to happily and practically jumping up and leaving. “Call me” he motions to the girl as she holds her friends hair while she pukes again.

“Alright fuckwad this better be good, I never thought you of all people would be a fucking cockblock!” Gareth seethes into Eddie’s ear as they shuffle their way out of the barn.

They rush past Mike and Jonathan who are now reinforcing the tower of beer cans while El raises more into the air, wiping at her nose. Lucas is holding a very drunk Max protecting her away from anyone trying to lurk around and be a creep.

“We gotta find Jeff and get out of here, like now.” Eddie says to a stumbling Gareth.

“Well what happened? Is it Jason?” Gareth asks.

“No, not him. Just hurry we gotta find Jeff and leave!”

In five minutes time they find Jeff, drag his drunk ass into the van, and head down the gravel road, kicking up dust and rocks behind them.

“Are you gonna tell me why we left the party like you had shit yourself? Of course unless you did?” Gareth says snidely to Eddie, a small smile creeping onto his face.

“Haven’t shit my pants since I was baby, so nah that’s not why we left in a rush” Eddie laughs.

“Well then what the fuck man? I was with Carrie Woodly, you know I’ve been after her for years! I finally shoot my shot and then we have to leave?!” Gareth yells across the van.

“Dude, her friend blew fucking chunks all over the place no matter if I showed up or not you would not have gotten laid tonight— that’s girl code.” Eddie says with a grin.

“HENDERSON— HE’S DOING MY HOMEWORK FOR A WEEK WHEN SCH-(hiccup) SCHOOL STARTS!” Jeff screams from the back of the van. Eddie is driving so fast Jeff is being tossed around like a stuffed animal.

“Look man, I’m sorry I just didn’t want to get my ass kicked, I mean for her I would no questions asked. But maybe not while she is there to see it.” Eddie trails off to himself.

“Who are you talking about? You didn’t talk to a chick all night, the only person I saw you with was Will Byers, and he wouldn’t beat you up even if you asked him too.” Gareth says with a confused look on his face.

“Jesus Christ” Eddie mutters under his breath, “Listen! I met a girl tonight, she’s not from Hawkins, we really hit it off, I’m talking hot and heavy like a ‘57 Chevy type of shit. But it was more than that. It’s complicated. Oh and she uh— she has a boyfriend! And not just anyone but Steve fucking Harrington!” Eddie says in almost one breath.

“STEVE HARRINGTON! You fucked Steve Harrington’s girlfriend?!” Gareth and Jeff shout together.

“No- we didn’t, Steve showed up and she ran off but not before giving me her number.” Eddie raised his left arm in the air like he was winning an award.

“Damn Munson! You’re a dirty dog!” Gareth hoots and hollers.

“It’s not like that man, I’m really into her. I can’t stop thinking about her.” Eddie says almost shyly. He gazes out of the windshield thinking of you, counting the hours until tomorrow when he can call you and hear your voice.

—————————————————————————

It was an awkward ride home after Steve and Robin find you. While waiting on the side of the barn you notice the younger boy from earlier making his way back from the house. Damn that house must be miles away you think to yourself. You run up to him and grab him dragging him beside the barn with you.

“Hey uh, if anyone asks I was with you the entire night, I fell, you helped me to the house and cleaned me up. Then we walked back to the barn, got it?” You ask him.

“…o-kay.. well what’s in it for me?” Will eyes you suspiciously.

“What?” You almost yell at the boy. What the hell does he mean? What’s in it for him?

“Listen I don’t give a shit what or who you’re trying to lie to but I at least want something out of this, and before you ask I mean weed not sex or anything like that!” Will says.

“Yeah okay fine I’ll talk to Eddie whatever. Just remember the plan. I was with you all night!” You say hurriedly.

You are about to walk inside when you see Eddie walking fast with a younger boy with thick, wavy, blonde hair. They walk out to a field, and you decide it’s now or never. You make your way back inside with Will by your side. The first thing you see is Billy Hargrove with a different girl than before. They are practically humping in front of everyone, just as you turn away to keep looking for Steve, the girl pulls away from Billy to catch her breath. Wait is that, NANCY WHEELER?!

You look over at Will and his face contorts into disgust.

“Oh Nancy, you can do better than him!” Will yells out to her. He lets out a laugh and shakes his head trying to get the image out of it. He spots Steve and waves him down.

You tell Steve all about what had happened, well the made up version you and Will only knew about. Steve’s face goes from scared to worried.

“Oh my God, honey I’m glad you’re okay!” He says sweeping you into a hug and placing a kiss on your forehead. But the electricity is not there, no rush of static, nothing but his firm lips hitting your head like a ton of bricks. He fist bumps Will and whispers a thank you to him before taking you out to the car.

The whole ride home Steve and Robin talk about how they looked for you but only found Munson, how he was completely rude to them and was acting like a jackass. At first you don’t put it together, after all Eddie never did tell you his last name. It’s Robin who finally uses his full name and you almost choke on your spit.

“You okay?” Steve says one hand on the wheel the other on your leg rubbing it reassuringly.

“Yeah my uh—my head just hurts a lot, listen I know we were supposed to stay the night at your house tonight but I would really just like to go home and sleep.” You say to Steve adding a little pained expression to your face to really play it up.

“Of course y/n, whatever makes you feel more comfortable” Steve grabs your hand and kisses it lightly.

Immediately your mind flashes back to just shy of an hour ago when you were kissing Eddie’s fingers, his mouth on your neck, hands groping your tits twirling your nipples through your bra—pull it together y/n! Steve is right fucking here!

You clear your throat and rest your head on the door, letting your mind wander thinking of Eddie.

Robin fell asleep on the way home and Steve had to quite literally scream in her face to get her up. The drive back to Bridgeport seemed like it took 8 hours. You decided to pretend to be asleep so You wouldn’t end up tattling on yourself.

Steve lifts you from the car into your house, going up the stairs to your room, he removes your shoes and tucks you in bed, leaving some aspirin and a glass of water on your nightstand. He places a small kiss on your cheek and walks out of your room turning off the lights and locking the door as he leaves.

You felt bad, you know you did. Steve deserves an explanation, deserves to know how you feel, but truth be told you don’t know how you feel. Are you really willing to drop almost 19 years of friendship and a relationship for a guy you just met tonight?

The answer should be obvious, and for anyone else in this situation it would be. Your future is right ahead of you all set up. The trust funds are waiting, the fancy house, the promising careers for both you and Steve. But it felt wrong, it felt forced. Not by Steve but by your parents. Since toddlerhood they had been pushing you both together. This isn’t a Disney movie, you’re not betrothed to Steve. You are your own person, but recently it seems like you are always known as we, you and Steve. Steve and you. You even got the same senior pictures taken, TOGETHER. As cute as it sounded now it just seems eerie. It’s as if a veil has been lifted off of your face for the first time. You are finally seeing clearly. And the answer is easy.

———————————————————————————

#eddie munson #steve harrington #stranger things #will byers #gareth stranger things #jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #mike stranger things #eleven #lucas sinclair #max stranger things #billy hargrove #no vecna #jeff stranger things #dustin henderson #stranger things x y/n #eddie x fem!reader

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alicetallula · 5 months

Text

Stranger Things Reverse Big Bang 2023/2024 - HIM by mashawisotsky - Part I - 25.04.2024

It's a blast to work with @mashawisotsky on the IT AU for the @strangerthingsreversebigbang

The AU will be a series with different parts added little by little with illustrations by yours truly :3

Part I NSFW

Banner - HIM by mashawisotsky - 25.04.2024

Done using ink pens and alcohol markers, acrylic paint pens and Photoshop for the title and credits

AO3 post / DeviantArt post / Instagram post / Pillowfort post / Twitter post

Banner as is - Max, El, Dustin, Gareth, Will, Mike and Lucas as adults - HIM by mashawisotsky - 25.04.2024

Done using ink pens and alcohol markers and acrylic paint pens

AO3 post / DeviantArt post / Instagram post / Pillowfort post / Twitter post

Header - Two red balloons - HIM by mashawisotsky - 21.04.2024

Done using ink pens, alcohol markers and acrylic paint pens

AO3 post / DeviantArt post / Instagram post / Pillowfort post / Twitter post

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pearlypairings · 7 months

Note

🛳️. For the fic recommendation thing!

11. 🛳️ A fic that brought you aboard a new ship

With a Little Help From My Friends by @1lostsoul0fishbowl introduced me to Eleven and Gareth which then led me straight to the GreatMage pipeline of Next Time I Fall and life hasn't been the same since for those two adorable dweebs <3.

Send an ask for a fic rec :)

#fic rec ask game #fic rec #stranger things rarepair #great mage #eleven hopper #gareth #el x gareth #losty converts us all #ask pearly #pearly answers #thanks for the ask!

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ofbluesandyellows · 2 years

Text

Twelve: Jitterbug Love - Eddie Munson/Reader

Warnings: swearing, alcohol drinking.

Word count: 7,543

a/n: this is the end my friends! Pure fluff, have fun reading it!

Previous chapter

Days felt like they were coming in slow motion, even reluctant to come at all, so slow and sticky with summer air and mugginess, but the expectation grew and it helped but what really served as the ultimate incentive was when you got the heads up from your school to get the magazine printed. Sonic Fret still looked more like a zine than anything but so far it was better than nothing and your classmates were really supportive and interested in the content of it, there were details that needed work.

Arriving at Hawkins your first stop was at the Wheeler’s. Nancy and Jonathan were waiting for you in her room, you’ve been there just once in the past and it surprised you that Nancy looked so put together that you never thought about her having a crush on anyone, but yes, there it was, a big poster of Tom Cruise occupying a large part of his wall. Interesting.

You’ve talked to Jonathan only through the phone but having both of them there was like magic happening. Things started to take form pretty quick, the magazine got a few changes and Nancy as the rich kid of the three offered to get it color printed, one of Jonathan’s photos right front and center. The inside had a little section with all the collaborators of the magazine, with a small individual photo beside each name, it looked professional but also different from all the other magazines you’ve bought in the last year, this had bright tones and lots of images that represented each piece.

Nancy and you hugged after you finished shifting and editing parts of the contents, flashes from Jonathan’s camera coming at times as you worked and at the end it was Mike holding the camera, taking the most important image of them all, you three holding Sonic Fret. Smiles couldn't be wider, it was the achievement of a year of hard work but it was finally there, not complete yet but just one print away from it.

“You guys are going to the movie night, right?” you asked both of them as Nancy drove.

Nancy nodded, throwing you a glance through the rearview mirror. “Sure, Mike has been bothering me about it since he found out, and maybe it’d be good to have photos of it, you know just for the memories.”

“Yes, correct. We have Byers’ boy here to take the most epic photos.”

“You got it! I wouldn’t miss it, mostly because there will be free food anyway so absolutely,” Jonathan smiled at you. “It’s going to be good.”

“It is already good, come on! I can’t believe we finally come to this.” the fluttery feeling of nerves and excitement increased in the base of your belly, your hard work was reflected in the almost finished magazine.

“Yes, it’s been hard… and expensive but it’s good, my mom thinks it has potential.” Jonathan exclaimed, looking out the window, “I don’t say it because it’s my mom but you know… it’s nice to have the adults opinion.”

“Tell her what Hopper said.” Nancy shot Jonathan a funny look. It made you squint at them.

“What did he say?”

“Uh. well… um he thinks it is very… cool? no, no, he said dope… your magazine is dope kid!”

“No way,” you snorted, and all three of you were laughing as Nancy reached your aunt’s home. “At least we have a strong fan base guys, it’s getting better.”

The car came to a halt when Eddie’s van came out of the curve, parking right on the same spot he had since you met him a year ago. Your whole body buzzed at the expectation of seeing him again for the first time in months.

Nancy and Jonathan traded secret glances and looked at you.

“Well, see you later,” Nancy smiled.

You saw Eddie coming out of his van and your heart somersaulted against your ribs, ready to burst.

“Say hi to Eddie for us.” Jonathan said, but you were already shutting the door close.

Eddie looked the same yet hotter and hell! his smile, you ran to his arms without thinking through.

The clash of bodies, took the breath out of his lungs as he heard you laughing, clinging to his neck, legs surrounding his hips, he had no option but to put one of his hands on your butt and the other on your waist.

“Hey, love how are you?” he was surprised by the calmness of his voice, on the inside he was shaking, legs felt like jelly just by feeling you around his arms. “Fucking hell, I missed you!” his face hid between your hair.

For the first time you felt like you were home.

Your backpack fell at your feet when Eddie put you on the ground, his eyes were shining and yours were watery for some reason you felt like crying.

“No crying, come on baby, we are having our romantic encounter.”

“But these are happy tears!” you tried to defend your emotional state but it made Eddie’s face to contort into a sad lipped smile, “don’t do that it makes me feel bad, I’m just happy to see you Eddie,”

“Then kiss me,” he quickly grabbed you by the waist and in a second you two were kissing, it started cute just chaste kiss after chaste kiss.

You had curious eyes on you, people passing by in their cars, slowing down just to see who was showing PDA on the streets of Hawkins. The news of you and Eddie being together was very new in town and of course they talked about it, your aunt was worried about what people could say or think of you but your mom eased her down, Eddie is the cutest sweetest boy in the world. She said.

Whatever happened around you was the least of your problems, you were very interested in kissing every part of each other’s faces. Your hands grasped Eddie’s soft dark hair just as his hands squeezed your sides a little as the kiss intensified slowly, tongues got in the way and restless hands tried to grab more than they could.

At some point you were dragging Eddie across the living room of your temporary home, you left the backpack on the entrance of the house. Eddie chuckled as you kept on pulling onto his arm, all was good until you got to the stairs, he froze mid-step. Your uncle watched you two from the rim of this newspaper, he was sitting on the couch, facing you.

You clearly heard Eddie gulp, and his body stiffened. Knitting your brows together, your eyes went from your boyfriend to your uncle as if you were watching a tennis match.

“Uh, good afternoon Mr. Johnson… sir.” Eddie half bowed half waved with his free hand. He wanted to run the hell away from there. The image of that gunshot still fresh in his mind.

“Good afternoon.” Your uncle grunted, folded his paper and walked out to the garden where your aunt was watering her roses, minding her own business.

Immediately after the man disappeared from Eddie’s line of vision he visibly relaxed, a sigh came out of him and you tugged at his arm calling for attention.

“What was that about?” You had a funny look set on Eddie.

He half shrugged, “nothing–I think he doesn’t like me much”

“But I do- and we are going to be here only for a few minutes, let’s go.” You had agreed to go help Steve decorate his house for the Star Wars thing, which was set for tonight.

As you guided Eddie up the stairs, he held your hand to his lips. “You’re taking me to your room? Oh babe, that’s so naughty of you.” his smug tone made you giggle.

The moment the door of your cousin’s room clicked closed you pushed Eddie against it and started kissing him again. It’s been a while. You haven’t seen each other in 3 months, you both needed it, no matter how much you had clashed your lips together earlier it was not enough.

Eddie’s hands on your hair and neck, he grabbed the chain you had around it, he saw the ring he gave you hanging there, warm to the touch, smiling he kissed you harder, biting your lower lip lightly, causing ripples of desire go down your belly. Your own hands found a place under his shirt, fingers running down his back. It made Eddie shiver and gasp mid kiss, causing you to grin. Oh the power you had over him, you were barely aware of it.

“Hey there, I have something to tell you,” he mumbled shakily over your lips, pushing your hair aside so he could have better access to your neck.

“What is it?” Eddie left tiny pecks on the side of your neck up to your cheek, eyelids and finally he kissed your nose.

His smile was one you’ve never seen on him before, wide and sweet. His eyes sparkled and he was looking down at you, with so much adoration it was making your insides squirm.

“What?” You asked again, your hands brushing the top of his hair.

He half shrugged, kissing the tip of your nose again. You felt him grip your hips slightly harder “I think I’ve never been this happy. You make me happy y/n”

Your own lips tugged upwards, “is that what you wanted to tell me?”

Eddie chuckled, “well yeah, I mean it’s not like you didn’t know already”

“But it’s nice to hear it, because you, Eddie Munson, make me extremely happy and proud.”

Eddie felt his whole face flush, he truly didn’t have much word encouragement or appreciation in his life growing up so this was nice and new and he was enjoying every second of it.

“You forgot to say that I’m the most handsome man you’ve met, with the best band in the world, that we are the future of music.” You scrunched your nose laughing, “what’s so funny huh?” He poked your stomach making you laugh even harder.

“Aah stop,” he didn’t until you fell flat on the matters, Eddie’s legs on each side of your hips, he leaned over you, as you slowly stopped laughing.

“Seriously, you make me happy and… I have news.”

Eddie had you pinned down but he was only looking at you as if you were the most precious thing in the whole universe, to him you certainly were. Grabbing your hands, interlacing his fingers with yours, he stared.

“Okay, tell me… better be good news.”

“They are,” his smirk gave it away, “we–Corroded Coffin–have a deal… like a real record deal.”

You felt your stomach clench, “are you for real?” Eddie nodded, biting his lower lip. “Shut the fuck up!”

“I fucking know! It’s insane, I mean we have to go to Chicago in two weeks to see details about the contract but… baby, it’s happening!”

Eddie squealed, jumping out of his spot in the bed, he started pacing around telling you all the details about the phone call he received only two days ago, how his friends and band members were over the moon for the news. For Eddie this was huge, and you knew, but he felt beyond happy, words were not enough to express how he felt, never in his life experienced such an amount of joy.

He truly felt like he could burst into specks of sparkles and confetti. You watched him talk with crazy hand gestures and incredible wide grins, teeth showing and rings shining. You could watch him do that forever. But most importantly he was happy and you were there to see him shine and grow.

☼

The arrangements for the Star Wars party were pretty simple but you were in awe when the mirror ball reflected the colorful lights Steve had already installed in his living room. It showered the house in rainbow rays of light, it really made you think of how the whole space jump aspect of the films looked like.

While Eddie helped put cushions on the floor and place the cookies shaped as Ewoks and R2D2’s on large plates. You went to meet Robin in the kitchen, you gave Eddie a once-over, he was smiling at the decorated cookies, proud of the way he had arranged each of them in perfect lines, you loved a childish man.

Grinning, you almost clashed with someone on your way in. Liquid swinging dangerously inside the transparent cups the person was holding on a tray.

“Shit, I’m so sorry.” you said, helping the girl.

The red haired girl smiled at you, “no worries, we didn’t spill anything, we are good. Steve would’ve killed us.”

“He totally would,” you laughed, “You’re Vickie right?” the girl nodded and suddenly Robin was by her side, as if she had appeared out of thin air.

“Ah, fantastic!” Robin said gleefully. “My two favorite girls here. so I’ll make the introductions.”

“We were already–” you tried to say.

“Shh, Y/n, this is important.”

You rolled your eyes at your friend, you heard Vickie chuckle.

“Y/n, this is Vickie… my beautiful girlfriend.” The beam Robin showed to the girl beside her made you want to cry, they both looked so happy it was the most joyful you’ve seen her in your life. “Vick, this is y/n, my best friend… I’ve told you a lot about her.”

“Yes you have, but it’s lovely to finally meet you in person y/n”

“Likewise, my friend here has been utterly in love with you since forever.” you laughed, but quickly went silent when Robin threw you a sharp look. “anyway… I hope she has told you only the nice things about me.”

Vickie nudged Robin–who still had you with a death glare– with her elbow, your friend looked at her, and then at you, her face softening immediately, cheeks growing red.

“You know Robs, she told me everything about everyone really, so yeah the good and the bad,” Vickie shrugged, “you’re okay though, don’t worry, I bet she’s one drink away from telling you all my embarrassing stories as well.”

You both laughed, and Robin grunted in faux irritation, she loved that both of you were bonding even over her gossipy self.

“I wouldn’t doubt that, but hey, let me help you with that.”

Taking the tray Vickie had been holding with drinks in bright almost radioactive colors, you turned around and walked to the living room, the snacks table was already set, all thanks to your handy boyfriend.

Eddie met you there. Smiling he leaned closer to you as you placed the tray on the surface of the clothed wooden table.

“She is cool, right? I mean, Vickie. I’ve talked to her a few times and she is just like Robin, she is less clumsy but they kind of have the same… um, goodwill and are always there to help, if you know what I mean.”

“She is very nice,” you both looked at Robin and Vickie, pouring green stuff into more cups, they were laughing about something and pushing each other playfully. Vickie kissed Robin’s cheek and then Robin kissed her on the lips.

That was your cue to look away.

“I’m just happy Robin is happy, and for once she is being herself fully, that is all that matters.”

Eddie’s sneaky arm went over your shoulders, dragging you closer to his body, he smelled like mint gum, you sniffed, oh he definitely ate one of the cookies because there was some hint of cinnamon in the air.

“I’m happy everyone is happy right now, even Harrington. He deserves someone who loves him for who he truly is not because he was popular in school,” Eddie scoffed, “it’s beyond me how he pulled off dating Wheeler, but I guess the world works in mysterious ways.”

You nodded but quickly turned to face your boyfriend, “wait… why you say that? Do you know something I don't?”

Squinting at him, Eddie gulped, shit now this was his fault, he shouldn’t have said anything.

Fuck me!

Steve was going to kill him. But more than anything he knew very well he couldn’t divert your attention to other topics, you were not going to let it go until you found out what was going on,

“Shit, okay…” the palm of his hand brushed across his face, eyes tightly closed. “Promise me you won’t tell Harrington I told you, because he made me swear on my guitar that I wouldn’t tell but look at me, I’m always so stupid. Also, he wanted to tell you everything… so… can you promise?”

His shiny dark chocolate pools of irises were enough to swear on it.

“Now spill Eddie!”

Eddie sighed and whispered in your ear, you were in shock, how was that not even Robin had told you about this, it was odd and impressive at the same time. You hated when they knew stuff and you were the last to find out. Yet you understood why Steve hadn’t told you about his current crush.

The girl was not the obvious option for him, she was new in town and she was a Star Wars fan, she had read about Lord of The Rings and played all the games at the arcade. It was the opposite of Nance. So it was twice as shocking to you when that night you found Steve blushing and giggling like a little child when said girl was around, it was a s if Steve had lost his brain in one of the rooms of his big house and now he was just… being stupid.

Robin told you all about how they met, it was all the kids doing; Max invited her to one of the movie nights and that was the end for mom Steve. You’ve seen Steve being an idiot before, several times, like it was part of his personality, yet that night he reached another level of idiocy.

Green punch fell off his hand and splashed his jeans, and carpet, the girl–named Maggie–was laughing, while Eddie snorted by your side, he was not going to let that go easily. From far away you saw Nancy and Jonathan communicating as they did, with knowing looks and smiles and giggles as they watched the scene grow more dramatic as Steve knocked over another cup of punch with his feet as he made his way to the bathroom.

Keith rolled his eyes and sighed, but not only Steve but everyone who dared to make another sound during the movie, he would remain annoying for the rest of his life.

Maggie was jolly, if you and Robin were a happy combo now with Vickie and Maggie around it was all big laughs and whispering gossip, this made Eddie and Steve worry about their own sanity, but just as Eddie said earlier, it was good, things were finally good in Hawkins and that was better than it had been in years.

At the end of the night, the whole gang was dancing to radio music as some collected trash, others ate the leftovers, and the rest just pretended to do the job as the chat kept going. And things felt like they have always been like that, Steve pulled you aside, he told you all about Maggie as you pretended to be shocked, gasping and smiling. Then again it got proven how bad of an actress you were.

“You knew already! Jesus! I can’t keep something for myself in this town or what!” Steve shouted to everyone in the house, “don’t even tell me, I know it was either Robin or Munson.”

“Hey, this is your fault, you should’ve told me! It hurt me not to hear it from you first, you dumbass.” you smacked him on the arm, he gasped.

“Ok, rude… and, sorry. I was overwhelmed and Robin made me feel bad about it the whole time, as if I had committed a crime for liking Maggie or something.” both hands on his hips, waiting for your acceptance of that horrible apology.

“Steve, shut up I never said anything bad to you, stop blaming me for your lack of confidence.”

Steve showed Robin his tongue and she flipped him the finger, you grinned, there they were, your two best friends being… them.

“Whatever Steve, are you asking her out or do you want me to tell her?” you snapped, with a wry smile.

He grimaced, “I can do that myself please y/h, I’ve done that a million times now,” your eyes narrowed, making Steve wince under the strong staring, “stop that, I swear I am inviting her out, just…. I need more time.”

“Ugh, if you say so.”

Eddie scoffed, “man, just do it… she’s gonna say yes, we all saw the way she laughed –rather loudly I dare to say, when you did stupid shit… trust me you did tons of stupid shit and still she stayed for the whole trilogy.”

Eddie was right, it was an act of stupidity followed by ten more that night, including choking on his own saliva as he said the name “Wicket W. Warrick.”

“She did not laugh that much!” Steve squealed, his cheeks going red.

“She definitely did,” Lucas tried to imitate Maggie’s laugh, only making you all laugh at his attempt, “y’all jerks.”

“Do it Steve!” Dustin started chanting, and soon everyone joined him until Steve put his hands up in the air to make you all stop the nonsense.

“You little fucks are the worst, just shut up and… let me call her.”

Howls and whistles sounded, prodding Steve to finally ask her out.

By the end of the night Steve had a date for the weekend with Maggie. That Sunday, you saw him go out of Family Video wearing a navy blue polo shirt, hair extra puffy and leaving a trace of lotion behind.

“He used too much of that thing,” Eddie coughed as you waited for Robin to finish her shift, you were taking her to the mall where she was meeting Vickie.

Robin smiled at the image of Steve fixing his hair again on the rearview mirror. If someone had enjoyed seeing him suffer that was Robin.

You were all leaning on the main desk. As Eddie and Robin made fun of him, you thought how nice it was to see him finally dating someone good for him, not that Nancy wasn’t but he was looking for someone who could replace her rather than someone he liked being around with.

Robin still had twenty minutes to go for her shift to end, meanwhile you and Eddie were pacing around Family Video, reading the back of the tapes’ summed-up parts in funny voices. When that got boring, Eddie dragged you to the farthest aisles, he put you against a self and kissed you, you were giggling the whole time.

“Shhh, VHS sheriff Buckley is coming for us.” Eddie mumbled as he leaned closer to your lips, in the movement, his hand smacked a tape off the rack and there they went… the whole line started to fall like a domino line.

“Guys!” Robin shouted from her spot on the desk, her head popped to shoot you the nastiest stares. “Seriously, can't you keep it in your pants for a few more minutes Eddie? And you y/n… I’m disappointed.”

You hid your face on Eddie’s chest, you both snorted, but it only made Robin more annoyed and for you to laugh even harder.

“Sorry Buckley, I’ll put everything in place, my bad.” Eddie put a hand over his heart, apologetically, as if that was enough to make Robin feel less frustrated.

Robin’s eyes rolled, it almost looked hurtful. “Just… ugh!” She went back to do whatever she has been doing before the commotion.

As Eddie placed the tapes back on, trying to look for the right place they were before, you watched him, not even bothered to help.

If someone saw you right there you were sure you would look like a complete idiot, Eddie was just everything for you. The way he blinked, how his smirk made your stomach twist and your toes curl, his hands were always warm and gentle when he touched you, and his rings were always there making a nice contrast to the temperature of his skin. His hair was soft and even when he didn’t want people to know he took good care of his messy locks, smelling like lavender and yeah, sometimes like weed, but hey “those are natural scents” he’d say to you with an easy shrug and a grin.

Maybe the future wasn’t going to be as easy as just being there with your friends but for now it all felt perfectly okay.

For Eddie it was like a whole new level of intimacy to have someone around not only to talk or joke around but to hug and hear encouraging words. Eddie was used to being pushed away, or looked at the wrong way, you were somewhat like the light he has been waiting on to shine on his path, to make him see things were good too. So he never missed the opportunity to say the nicest things to you, to kiss you whenever he felt like it, to hold you so close it felt natural to be there. For him it felt so instinctive to do everything knowing it was for you, and it wasn’t a possessive thing it was just a way to thank you and show what he never had growing up, love.

Eddie furrowed his eyebrows when he saw you standing there, just watching him. A smile playing on his lips, he wanted to ask what were you thinking but Robin’s clock chimed, and that only indicated that she was off, finally.

Placing the last couple of tapes on what he guessed were the right spots, he sighed looking at his work, it wasn’t the best but it was better than nothing, shrugging he turned to you and took your hand.

“Stop looking at me like that,” Eddie pushed you slightly with his hips, the chain on his jeans clicking. “It makes me feel all self conscious.”

“I was just admiring your beauty, but if you want I can look at other boys.”

He scoffed, “as if they were better looking than me.” you snorted, “don’t laugh! Let’s be honest I’m both gorgeous and have a great personality.”

“Yeah,”

“You’re mean” Eddie pushed you again, making you laugh harder, he smiled and went to the desk to see what Robin was doing.

“Just five minutes, I need to change.” She said, shoving her best in the pits of her backpack.

“Fineee! We’ll be outside. Hurry up Buckley!”

“Yes mom!”

Eddie passed you, opening the door open for you. Hand extended for you to take, funny enough, no matter how many times he did that, or kissed you, every single time you felt like squirming and jumping, the butterflies hadn’t had a rest since spring break.

Taking his hand. With a light squeeze Eddie guided you to his van, both got inside to wait for your friend.

Eddie put the radio on, pop music playing, he scrunched his nose, you only shook your head, classic Eddie.

Taking the bag you left in the car, there rested a new mixtape you made during the weeks leading up your comeback to Hawkins. Throwing it at Eddie’s lap he saw a name written on it, Jitterbug love, the song he sang to you that night a year ago.

A huge grin spread on his rosy lips, his fingers traced the name letter by letter, causing you to bite the inside of your cheek.

“Should I put it on?” He asked, already pushing it in the stereo.

“Hope it’s good enough for your high standards.”

“We’ll see about that.”

The first notes of We Will be Strong played Eddie immediately turned his face to face you, lips forming an ‘O’, for the chosen song and the fact that you knew the band had him a bit more in love with you

“Fucking Thin Lizzy, have I told you before how much I fucking love you?”

Your heart skipped a beat. No, that was the first time he ever said I love you, but he had expressed it plenty. Still the impact of his words felt funny in your chest, making your face heat up.

“Nope, but I love you too.”

He leaned in his lips and smacked yours so suddenly, grabbing you by the back of the neck, surprising and all you quickly you recovered.

“Now that’s what I’m talking about,” he simply said, bopping your nose with his index finger.

His head banging to the rhythm as the guitar riffs filled the space in the van, you felt at ease, joyful. From your spot inside the van, you saw Robin running around Family Video trying to put everything in place before closing for the day.

You sighed, resting your head on Eddie’s shoulder as he played air guitar. You two had the whole summer ahead, things were so different from what they were a year ago, and yet similar, one thing was for sure, change was inevitable and you were ready for it, as for that moment you were pleased with how life was developing. Next year, who knows what it’d bring.

☼

A year later.

Eddie puffed smoke out of his nose, this was the third cigarette he consumed in a row. The crowd inside the venue was only growing, he’d be lying if he said he didn’t feel nervous, his fucking keens were wobbling as if he was little Bambi making his way out of his mother’s womb.

It was ridiculous to him to feel so jittery for a performance when he has done it a dozen times now. To make things even worse you weren’t there, that was what had him more worried than anything else. Almost an hour late, he should be by the side of the stage now, getting ready to go up there.

The butt of the smoke went flying away with the flick of his finger. The autumn air was chilly, he had no jacket on because he felt like he didn’t need it, at least he wouldn’t once he started the show, but the moment the wind hit his naked arms he regretted not grabbing at least Steve’s corduroy jacket.

This was the most important performance for Corroded Coffin, that was true, but he tried to push the thought far away, not needing the extra pressure.

Eddie started pacing around the alley, close enough to the backdoor of the venue if someone came out looking for him but far enough to have a moment of privacy. Chicago looked so huge from where he was, he felt so little and insignificant when he thought about all he had gone through the last couple of years. All from being called the leader of a satanic cult, to fighting monsters in an alternate dimension to being in love and then being heartbroken just to be in love again, then Corroded Coffin getting big, who knew he had to go through all that just to be standing there in the cold without you in his arms.

The immensity of the world reduced to your figure running across the street. Your boots echoed in the alley, and Eddie finally felt like he could breathe.

“Christ! Baby I thought you were not going to make it!” Eddie shouted, you instinctively jumped to his arms once close enough, koala like, like a tradition now.

“I am so sorry, my bus broke down on my way here. I had to take a taxi and then another bus. But I’m here now.”

Your lips kissed Eddie’s cheek, holding his face between your hands, you smiled, he looked so beautiful with glitter on, his eyes shining even more.

“Aren’t you cold?” You asked, feeling the cold from his rings coming through your jeans.

“Nah, I’m all good now.” He grinned, and kissed you fondly.

“You were smoking,” you scrunched your nose.

He chuckled, “yeah, but I have a good excuse… you weren’t here and I was anxious, I am pissing my pants but it’s okay, you are here and that is just what I needed.”

“Hmm, okay then let’s go inside.”

Eddie let you down, fingers intertwined like second nature, it had been a difficult year for you both in terms of seeing one another. Eddie had done everything in his power so the debut album of Corroded Coffin could be recorded in New York, which they granted yet this was happening in the upcoming weeks. He was yearning for that time to spend it with you as much as he could.

They had done tours, as the supporting band which was great for them, they released their first songs at the beginning of the year and now they had them playing on the radio. It always made you smile when you heard your boyfriend’s voice coming from the speakers. Proud flooding you.

But for that you two had sacrificed visits and holidays together, so both of your careers could take off. You traveled as much as you could manage to be at Eddie’s shows and it was so much fun, you were not complaining at all, on the contrary you loved it, however, being back at Hawkins in his van sounded like a dream right now.

For you it had been good as well, the magazine was launching its official first edition in a few more weeks, shiny paper and a few record shops in Queens and Brooklyn agreed to sell copies in their establishments. That was another reason why you all were there, this was Corroded Coffin’s first performance as a band with a record on the way and singles playing everywhere, and you were there to have that first show ready to be redacted and placed on your magazine, this being one of many collaborations of the two.

Inside the venue was warm and loud as shit, Eddie’s chocolate eyes met yours every now and then as he showed you around, the green room was the final destination. Relieved sighs and claps were heard when the two of you stepped inside.

You hugged the whole band, Jeff already off the walls, like a wild animal ready to be set free.

Steve hugged you so hard the air in your lungs came out in a puf.

“Jesus, y/n. What took you so long! You should’ve told me I could have waited for you in Hawkins,”

“I’m here now, don’t sweat it.” you have him a kiss on the cheek to ease his nerves. “How was the trip?”

“Long, these kids I swear they are going to make me go insane.” Steve started to complain about all the noise and mess they made in his car, “good thing is that Maggie was there with me.”

They drove all the way from New York, to Hawkins to pick up the teens and take them to Chicago for tonight. Not all heroes wear capes.

“Where is Maggie?” You looked around to try and find her.

“Out there with Vickie and the kids, they said they wanted to have the best spots, even when I told them we had them already,” Steve rolled his eyes, “you know how they get.”

You nodded, understanding completely.

“Is Nancy and Jonathan here too? I need to know if we are good for the shots.”

Your body turned to Eddie, who was drinking water. He gave you a thumbs up, but soon enough you felt him coming for you, hugging you from behind.

“They got here like two days ago. I saw Byers earlier with all these different cameras and Wheeler was gathering information from the manager, so yeah all set.” Eddie mumbled, his chin resting on your shoulder, he kissed your cheek, that being enough for you to turn on your toes and kiss him back, harsher than necessary, making everyone grunt, you smiled, proud of the reaction.

“Hey! Am I invisible or something?” Robin complained, “I’m your best friend, y/n. I want a hug too.”

You chuckled, “We saw each other two days ago, Robs”

“So?”

“It's my time to shine Buckley, you’ll have her later.” Eddie pointed, poking his tongue out.

Now Robin and Steve were in New York with you, which was fantastic, you three shared an apartment. Good thing was that Vickie had got into a college in Brooklyn which was very convenient for Robin.

Maggie was always around, and occasionally the kids were seen in the apartment as well, you weren’t sure how but they managed to convince their parents to let them go to Manhattan. You didn’t even want to ask, they were sketchy whenever you asked about how they got permission or money. So you let them be.

“The band just finished their set. They gave you long enough so no more excuses, huh Edward.” Their manager, Martin, appeared at the door giving Eddie an accusative glance.

“Noted.” He responded still holding you, he saluted the man who smiled at you, closing the door.

“Hah, Edward.” Robin said laughing.

“Shut it, Buckley.”

Robin kept on laughing, you shook your head, dynamics always the same but it was funny to see Eddie covered in dark clothes, long hair and glittered face and then hearing someone call him Edward.

“Are you ready?” you looked at your boyfriend right in the eye.

“Am ready now that you are here,” your heart somersaulted, and the butterflies in your stomach danced wildly.

“Have the best night okay? Have fun!”

Eddie grinned, now he was finally feeling like this was the life he wanted, “can I get my good luck kiss please,” Eddie begged, his nose brushing yours.

“Of course,” your lips met his soft, pink ones, sweet and deep, his tongue met yours, teeth colliding and sighs escaped the two of you. “Good luck.” you whispered, barely able to speak.

“I love you!” Eddie held you closer, you heard his heart hammering in his chest.

“Love you more!” you replied, with a big grin, he finally let you go, reluctantly though.

Eddie felt whole for once, you were there, his friends were there, his band was not the opening act any more. They were finally playing a sold out show on their own, life couldn’t be better, after all the lows, he was finally living his dream.

“I want a good luck kiss too.” Gareth complained.

“Hey! Watch your words, man. You always have Jeff for that,” Eddie pushed his friend, clearly joking. “Let’s go boys, we have a show to give.”

The band started jumping, and patting each other on the back, making weird noises and letting the excitement wrap them.

Robin and Steve made gestures for you to follow them, but not before you could give Eddie one last look, he winked at you as you took different paths.

You followed your two best friends through a few corridors until you reached the designated place for you all. The kids hugged you and asked you about your trip and the whys you were so late, all the boys wearing their Corroded Coffin hand made shirts.

From there you saw Jonathan, he was fixing the lens of his camera, doing his best to find the best spot for the photos. Nancy and Maggie met you there the moment the light went off.

Screams made it all feel like the motor of a plane ready to take off, roars only going louder the floor shaking at your feet. Robin held your hand, Vickie by her side, Max as always ready to jump and dance with you, like your little own tradition.

Nancy had a tiny notepad by her side, she wrote a few words and went back to watch the show.

The reflectors went on stage and the band came out, the noise grew and grew making your body buzz with excitement. It started with Eddie giving a speech thanking everyone who attended the show and for requesting their song on the radio stations.

The concert went on with songs you knew by heart, shouting and dancing with your friends around, Nancy was enjoying herself a lot all the while she wrote down stuff, Jonathan nodded his head when he was not shooting flashes and changing lenses.

Their new song Fonder got everyone singing, dancing and sweating, passing water bottles to each other and laughing at the peak of happiness.

Corroded Coffin sounded better than ever, and looked even better, Eddie was shining, moving his hips, and banging his head to the sound. Solo guitars made the venue rumble as the crowd lost their shit to the sweet voice of their lead singer, and the absolute hypnotizing rhythm of the bass and drums.

“Now,” Eddie spoke on the mic, sweat pearls on his top lip. “This one means a lot to me, and I think it got secretly picked for the setlist a long time ago, and I don’t think I'd be going anywhere. Here’s a classic, Jitterbug Love by the iconic T Rex. This one's for you baby.”

A finger pointed at you, his wide grin made your breath hitch, the kids nudged you. It was the end of the song when you clocked Eddie placing his guitar aside, people screaming to get his attention but Eddie had one goal and that goal was to get to you.

The music continued thanks to the band who seemed to be very well prepared for this moment, elongating the song.

Eddie ran and dodged hands, gave high fives to a few and when he reached you, he only did what his heart felt like it. He kissed you, hands on both sides of your face, as the crowd shouted to the air, you laughed half way through the kiss.

“What are you doing?” you asked.

“I just felt like kissing you right fucking now.”

Eddie’s smile could light the whole city if possible, he was sweaty, you probably were too but it was all too sweet to even think of how sticky you felt. He ran back to the stage to sing the last couple of lines.

Jitterbug Love is going all around now

Here it comes again…

Eddie shouted to the microphone, blew a kiss to you. Cheeks were hot and you were shaking.

The green room was a party once the show ended, flowers were received and champagne spilled. Everyone gathered in the tiny room. You sat on Eddie’s lap, as he held you against his still hot sweaty body. You had glitter plastered all over your face and hands, you were loving it.

Jonathan and Nancy were talking about the piece they were writing together. Jeff pointed, “if your are good Byers, we could hired as our personal band photographer”

Which it was obvious he would.

Eddie bit your ear to drag your attention to him. You slapped his leg, hearing the rumble of his laugh on your back, “Can’t believe this happened,” he whispered.

“To me it’s all like a dream, it was wild.” you confirmed, looking into his eyes, “you were fantastic.”

“Thank you very much, I have a great girlfriend that supports me and is my biggest inspiration.” a peck on the corner of your lips, “truly, you are the best I don’t think I could’ve done any of this without you.”

A sigh escaped you, “back at you boy, Sonic Fret will have a special thank you note for your contribution.”

“Nah, not necessary. I’m happy with this, you and I here, with our friends.”

“Me too,” you snuggled closer to him as Steve and Robin depicted to everyone in the room all the crazy stuff they’ve seen in the subway in New York.

Eddie snorted, “Can’t believe they’re your friends,”

“Excuse me? They’re yours too. We fit in with them just right, we are all a little… derange.”

“In the best way obviously.”

“Hey don’t be calling us derange, you crazy rockstar.” Robin explained, “If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t have met.”

“I didn’t even say anything! And you are completely wrong! If it wasn’t for Vickie.”

“What about me? I left Y/n there, duh” Steve stepped in.

You gasped, “how dare you admit that Steve. I had to walk home alone because of you.” You pointed at him and there the chaos unleashed.

“We all made it happen, now shut the fuck up, and keep on telling us why that lady had a squire inside her pocket.”

It was a normal evening in an unusual way. It all came full circle.

Loving Eddie was easy from the beginning. You’ve done it for two years now and no matter how much your lives changed you were ready to spend it with him; weird night encounters, long distance and random PDA’s with occasional fights over who had the best music taste. You always won, though.

a/n: Merry christmas and happy holidays to everyone who read this! I wanted to give you the last two chapters as a christmas present! This was so much fun to read, thank you for being here and I hope you enjoyed this just as much as I did... was this super cheesy and cliche? totally but Eddie deserves a happy ending. Let me know what you think and thanks a lot for being here💛 see ya next time

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hellishchrissy · 10 days

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Not exactly a prompt but I’d love to hear your headcanons about how Gareth and Eddie became friends, and how Eddie will react to Gareth and El getting together 😄😄😄

Ooh I love this!!

from what I've gathered, Eddie was doing his senior year for the first time in 1984-ish, the year Gareth was a freshman. that year was pretty shitty for gareth, as had been many years before -- he wasn't exactly fitting in at hawkins high, and his father had left their mother during the summer of 1984.

so, like the cliché of a misfit kid with authority issues he was, gareth was thrown into detention. a lot. for mouthing off to teachers, for skipping class, for getting into fights (and often getting his ass kicked. as time went by, the fighting didn't exactly cease but gareth was no longer the one losing them)

eddie was already the self-proclaimed king of the misfits, a title he wore like a badge of honor. gareth had a dislike of his theatrical personality and shit he pulled when all he wanted to do was eat his lunch, and so the younger kid kept his distance from munson and the hellfire club

that was until the day gareth and eddie found themselves in the same detention, lounging in the back row as they had done many, many times before -- just never at the same time. gareth had had his drumsticks with him, as he liked to sneak into band class during whenever he could and play the drums. the ones at home were from his father, shitty and worn down and gareth hated them. and he hated his father.

the silence in the classroom was consistently broken by the tapping of drumsticks against wood, and eddie was getting pretty fucking sick of it. he was tired, and he had a headache, and now this scrawny freshman was pounding an inconsistent rhythm into the desk like there was no one else in the room.

eddie avoided the gaze of the detention supervisor when he slipped his way across the back row and sat next to the kid, his hand slamming onto the drumstick to stop the ruckus

"if youre gonna make noise, might as well do it right, emerson."

gareth was confused as to why the dude knew his name, because he sure as shit had not told him that. or anything else, really. ever.

but of course eddie knew his name. he knew the names of every kid with musical potential in their school, and he knew them by heart. and gareth emerson had been one he had been keeping his eye on for a while

and though gareth had rolled his eyes when eddie had invited him to a jam sesson (eddie remembered thinking that the kid had an insane, shitty attitude and that was kind of perfect). he hadn't exactly responded, but merely given eddie a death stare that actually made the older guy slightly uncomfortable because why the fuck did this freshman look like he could actually kill someone?

but nevertheless, the kid had shown up to play with corroded coffin, replacing the former drummer that had moved to indianapolis three months ago

and so, gareth emerson and eddie munson sort of became friends. gareth still kept his distance and kept the others guessing, because he despised the idea that he'd be perceived as following someone else's lead. and yeah, maybe the guidance counselor was right in saying he had "authority issues" or whatever the fuck, but he knew that however he chose to be a part of corroded coffin or hellfire, gareth would do it on his own terms

and he did. eventually, he actually did start considering the guys his friends. but he sure as shit never took an order from munson. and if he did, which of course he didn't, it was with gritted teeth and lewd hand gestures

eddie grew incredibly fond of the kid with his troublemaking tendencies and never-ending distaste for "the system". it didn't take long for him to consider gareth to be one of his best friends.

and though gareth never said it out loud, it eventually became mutual. it took six months, maybe a year.

when el hopper and will byers returned to hawkins after joyce byers and jim hopper get together and moved in together, hellfire gains new members. or, you know, one member who actually plays. but el is often there, either with max or with mike, following the game with bright brown eyes. and at first, it's great. new blood, whatever that helps keep the club afloat

then eddie starts to notice the eyes. gareths gaze lingering on the girl for a beat too long at lunch, sneaking an almost non-existent look at her when she left their table or walked by gareth in the hallways. his eyes, man. it's like they're drawn to the girl, following her even when she clings to the side of mike wheeler. during those moments, eddie can swear he sees a flash of annoyance in gareth's eyes, an expression that almost reaches the rest of his features before he catches himself.

then its gareth talking to her. gareth, who usually took around six months to warm up to anyone if you were lucky, the guy who kept even his friends at an arm's length. he's talking to el at lunch, during hellfire, in the hallways. and there's something guilty in his entire being when he does it, the little bastard.

and that's how eddie knows.

well, that, and the fact that gareth is no longer an asshole when el is around. the sarcastic edge of his tone is almost dull whenever he speaks to her, the way he explains dnd to her and offers the rest of his fries to her or whatever weird and completely out of character shit he keeps doing

but, to eddie's surprise, gareth is a man of honor for once. though he seems to indulge in little flirtation with the girl, he still keep his distance whenever mike is around. he doesn't cross the invisible line, which to eddie is unbelievable. gareth had crossed many lines, maybe even a few with girls who weren't exactly single, and maybe he had gotten his nose broken once because of it. ancient history.

but it's still pretty sad to look at the guy pining after the girlfriend of mike wheeler

"you know, im surprised you actually have some honor in you, emerson"

"i have no idea what you're talking about, ed"

"im just saying. if you're gonna pine, do it with some dignity"

that earns eddie a glare so sharp it makes him throws his hands in the air, shaking his head

"i just hope you know what youre doing"

"im not doing anything, dipshit"

"yeah, you'd better fucking not"

and time goes on. and though the group is as close as ever, anyone with eyes can see the relationship between el and mike cracking and straining. gareth might notice it more than the others, but who knows. it's not a surprise to anyone when the couple ends up splitting up, vowing to stay friends.

to eddie's surprise, gareth doesnt swoop in like a vulture. he actully give el space and support. fuck, he must really like the girl.

he does find shitty excuses to talk to her, though. at her locker, at lunch, at hellfire. he's being a good friend to her, to mike. for once in his life, gareth cares about not wanting to be an asshole.

and then one night, it kind of changes. they're hanging out at the wheeler house, the whole gang sprawled across couches and lounge chairs and carpeted floors in the basement, and el looks at gareth across the room. really looks at him, like in a way that pierces the air and makes gareth almost choke on popcorn in a really uncool way. and then el smiles.

gareth definitely chokes on his popcorn

that night, she asks him to walk her home. the byers-hopper house is only ten minutes away, but will is sick at home and el doesnt like walking home alone in the dark. and gareth agrees. of course he agrees.

his hands are shaking a little when they walk home, the ten minute walk stretching into one of 30 minutes. gareth is not a nervous person, so why the fuck is he nervous? they talk about everything and anything, and his hands are fucking shaking when she looks at him.

when they reach her house, gareth (the gentleman, as all of hawkins high knows) walks her to the lit up porch and stalls there, looking at her. it's not the first time he's walked a girl to the porch, but it feels like the first girl that actually matters.

they stay on the porch for around 20 minutes more, gareth leaning against the wooden column. he feels himself leaning closer every now and then, and el doesnt exactly protest. he can swear he sees her shift closer too, close enough to touch, to smell. to taste.

they stand there talking, gareth looming over her, leaning closer. his curls fall over his eyes when he leans so close that he can hear el's breath hitch in her throat. he stops when he's close enough for their noses to touch

"i'd really like to kiss you, but your dad has been staring at me from the window for the past five minutes and i'd really like for my head to stay attached to my body."

and like on cue, chief hopper flicks the porch light on and off a few times, like a warning shot in the quiet night. it makes el and gareth burst into giggles.

a few weeks later, gareth does kiss her. and it's the best thing he's ever fucking done.

#i got carried away holy shit #anyways my gareth is from a broken home and he is a very cliche misfit and i love him #gareth stranger things #gareth emerson #gareth x el #el x gareth #eleven x gareth #gareth x eleven #greatmage #stranger things #stranger things hc #gareth emerson hc

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schrijverr · 2 years

Text

Page 34-35

Leaving also doesn’t mean never coming back, never witnessing what happens to those who have stayed behind. Moving on, doesn’t mean one can’t look back. It is important to reach back to your past if you want to be a family. Connections are built on memories and keeping up with one another. Many associate breaks with no homework and letting loose, we associate them with meeting up and letting others get to know the new pieces of yourself you have found in the time you were away.

[Under the text on page 34 are three photographs. The first is of Will proudly showing a portrait he painted of Mike. It is highly detailed and many hours went into the work, that much is clear.]

Love Painted

Jonathan Byers, 1988

[The second photograph is of El, showing off two braids in her hair, they look like the kind Nancy taught her how to braid. The smile on her face is blinding.]

The Girl with the Braids

Jonathan Byers, 1988

[The third image is of Joyce and Hopper. Joyce is on a ladder with a hammer and some nails, Hopper is holding it. Together they’re hanging up a rainbow flag on the wall.]

Acceptance

Jonathan Byers, 1988

[Page 35 has two photographs. The upper one is of Corroded Coffin, back then they were still small and performing at the Hideout on breaks, though that doesn’t seem to stop them, from being dressed extravagantly. Eddie has eyeliner tears streaming down his face alongside the sweat. He is mid-head bang, sharing a microphone with Jeff. Gareth has his arms raised high in the background, about to slam down on the drums. Chris is pouring water from a bottle over his face.]

Corroded Coffin Live at the Hideout

Jonathan Byers, 1988

[Beneath it is a photograph of Robin and Steve, they’re seated on the porch of the Munson trailer, both bend over and fiddling with something. Robin is wearing a pair of Steve’s gym shorts and a sports bra, as well as chunky chain necklaces and rings. Steve is in a shirt on which is painted ‘Queer & Here’ in choppy letters, he is also in a pair of gym shorts.]

Making Friendship Bracelets

Jonathan Byers, 1988

<<Prev Next>> AO3

#rr writing #a collection of queer photography by jonathan byers #byler #platonic stobin #jim hopper #joyce x jim #joyce byers #jonathan byers #will byers #eleven hopper #corroded coffin #eddie lives au #eddie munson #steve harrington #robin buckley #jeff stranger things #gareth stranger things #stranger things #st post season 4

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1lostsoul0fishbowl · 1 year

Text

Next Time I Fall, Chapter 16 posted!

El: so basically I’m a monster, right?

Gareth: ✨ h e a r t 😍 e y e s ✨

Read it here on Ao3!

#stranger things fanfic #el hopper #gareth emerson #eleverson #stranger things rarepair #losty writes: next time #gareth x eleven #eleven x gareth #stranger things fanfiction #background hellcheer

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tooearlyforthis · 5 months

Text

Help Me Help You

Pairing: Steve Harrington x reader

Synopsis: (12.6k wc) Steve can't always admit when he needs help - which is why Robin is there to tell him. Weeks of therapy and he feels like he's gotten nowhere. So what happens when his therapist recommends a group session? What if he recognizes someone there?

Warnings: fluff, angst, mental health - anxiety, depression, panic attacks, mentions of loss, therapy, mentions of SA

masterlist || steve harrington taglist

This is a little different than what I usually post but I started writing this when I wasn't in the best place and I found it helped a lot. A lot of this stuff I've been through but if there is any feedback you guys have to portray the things discussed better please reach out!

“And how has that shaped you?”

The words echoed in Steve’s ears. He had heard it, comprehended the question; but his mind drifted far away. The grey carpet floor beneath him held no value, but he couldn’t look away. Why did he think therapy was a good idea?

Dr. Ackerman shifted in her seat, her pencil tapping against a notebook in her lap. “Steve,” she said sternly. He only mumbled a response, picking his head up. “How did not getting into college shape you?”

It sounded more like an interview question than anything else. Something a mid-level employee would ask him as he sat in the front of the store, nerves taking over his whole body.

He propped his foot up on one knee, trying to think of an answer quickly. “Uh more resilience, I guess?”

Nodding, Dr. Ackerman wrote on her notepad. “Care to elaborate?”

“I don’t know, that kind of life wasn’t meant for me. It made me move on to better things.” He tried not to tap his fingers against his thigh - a nervous tick he had developed over the years.

“And why do you think that life, going to college, wasn’t for you?”

He tried to think of a way to justify his answer. Telling the truth wasn’t an option, despite it being the reason he sought out counseling.

She leaned forward, letting her hands drift over her knees. “This won’t work if you’re not open, Steve.”

Shit how did she know?

Leaning back Dr. Ackerman continued, “I want you to come this weekend to sit in on a group session with my other patients. See how talking about what’s wrong may help you.”

“I don’t know –“ he began, already hesitant on her suggestion.

Putting up a hand, she silenced him. “No fighting. You need to commit, Stephen.”

The mention of his full name stung, a friendly reminder that she was older, wiser – a person who knew what was best for him.

“Trust me. This will help.”

Something smelled good. Way too good.

It floated through his house, filling every crevice despite the absence of bodies. It made him feel safe, an unfamiliar sensation to him from the last few years. Following the smell, he walked into the kitchen. Robin was standing over the stove, a paper towel gripped over her arm.

“What did you do?” He asked, announcing his presence.

He wasn’t surprised to see her. More and more the past few weeks she had been spending time at his house, even taking up a semi permanent room upstairs.

She turned around, her face softening from a scowl. “Just burned my arm with oil. I think I put too much in the pan.” Steve chuckled. “How did it go?”

Shedding his jacket, he sat down at the counter. “It was fine. She wants me to do group therapy this weekend.”

“Do you think it will help?”

He shrugged, not knowing his true answer. Out of all the people in their little party of monster fighters, Steve experienced some of the worst. From getting beat up more times that he could count, to getting tortured by Russians, he was in desperate need of help.

But part of him still thought he didn’t when there were always others that would need him. His brain would spiral. To thoughts of the kids, hoping another gate hadn’t opened up; to Joyce and Hopper, wondering if someone would come back looking for them. But as the PTSD of his past caught up to him, it felt like the only viable option.

“What are you cooking?” he asked, diverting the conversation.

“Chicken,” Robin replied. “I mean, it’ll probably taste like shit. But it’s been a while since we had a proper meal, ya know?”

He nodded. “Yeah it has been…don’t worry though it actually smells really good. I think I’m going to take a nap before we eat if that’s okay? Just tired from this –”

“ – you don’t have to explain. I understand.”

He smiled at her – a genuine smile. Nowadays it felt like every emotion he felt was being forced, a sign to tell the others he was okay. But Robin had a way of bringing out his true self. She understood him in ways no one else in his life did. From the moment they went crashing down in that Russian elevator, they were linked at the hip - a single mind working cohesively.

Entering his bedroom, he felt immediate relief. It was a sense of safety, like a big blanket wrapping him in a warm hug. Sinking into the mattress he let sleep take him, hoping to not wake up from the horror of his dreams.

The weekend came sooner than Steve would have liked. He didn’t feel ready to walk into group therapy, no matter how much he tried to prepare himself. The unknown scared him, even when it came to just talking about his feelings.

Robin offered to drive him. He was reluctant at first since she had only had her license for a year. But the session was a couple of towns over and she knew how his mind would run if he was alone in his car.

Pulling up to the building, she let the car roll to a stop. The engine continued to rumble in Steve’s ears, his heart matching the irregular pattern. It was like he was riding up a roller coaster, the top never coming into sight. He shut his eyes, trying to wish the feeling away.

Robin placed a hand gently on his shoulder, grounding him back to reality. “Hey,” she began. “Everything’s gonna be alright.”

Nodding, he unbuckled his seat belt and grabbed the water bottle he had brought. “Thanks for driving, Rob.”

“Of course. I’ll be here when you get out.”

With one last breath, he said to himself, “All right, let’s do this.”

He opened the car door, letting the cold air hit his face as he climbed out. It felt nice, like a wake-up call he so desperately needed.

“You got this!” Robin exclaimed from the rolled-down window.

He smiled, watching as she drove off before turning back to the big brick building in front of him. It was a different place from his usual sessions with Dr. Ackerman. But as he entered the building, he found it felt eerily similar. Was every therapist's office decorated the same? From the off-grey carpet to the leather sofa, it felt like a place he had been before. It helped calm his emotions just a smidge.

“Can I help you, sweetie?” He turned to the lady behind the front counter.

“Uh, yeah I’m here for Dr. Ackerman’s group session?”

“Follow me,” she said with a warm smile.

The lady moved from her place behind the counter to open the door at the other end of the room. Closely, he followed her down the narrow hallway. His heart began to race, wondering how he could talk about his traumas without revealing the supernatural. It was hard to do with one person but a whole group? He might as well sew his mouth shut.

“Here you are sweetie,” the lady said, swinging open a door.

He barely had time to thank her before the door was shut behind him, leaving him alone in a room of strangers. Well, strangers plus one person he never thought he’d see again; Y/N L/N. She was sitting in a chair, arms crossed in an oversized sweatshirt and leggings. It was very different from how he remembered her in high school.

From the few classes they shared and the occasional hellos in the hallway, he knew she was a pretty friendly, put-together person. She was always kind to people, despite the unfriendly rumors about how many notches were on her bedpost. Last he heard, she was heading off to some Ivy League school after graduation. So what was she doing sitting in on this therapy group?

He wanted to talk to her, to reconnect even though they were never close to begin with. Her eyes were glued to the hem of her sweatshirt, pinching at it in boredom. Then she looked up, scanning the room before her eyes landed on him. Her breath hitched for a moment as Steve saw her realize who he was.

Wanting to talk to her, he stepped forward. Before he could even make it an inch, Dr. Ackerman’s voice pulled him away.

“Mr. Harrington,” she greeted him. “Glad to see you could join us. Please, take a seat.”

Giving a polite smile, he stole a glance at Y/N one more time. She was already looking down at the floor, back to pulling on the strings of her pullover.

As the therapy season began and people began to speak, Steve found himself barely paying attention. He went into this session hoping to get the most out of it, to really take in and listen to what people had to say. But that was before he saw Y/N. Shy and still undeniably cute, Y/N.

He wanted to hear her story, not the strangers they were surrounded by. He wanted to know why she was here, not in New Jersey, and what could have happened in her life that made her need therapy in the first place. Steve knew his past was fucked up but from an outsider’s perspective, it never seemed like hers was.

Unlucky for him, she barely spoke the entire session. There was the occasional nod or spoken agreement, but she never elaborated on any subject brought up. The minute Dr. Ackerman announced their time was over, and before he could even talk to her, she was gone. Out the door and out of his life.

Steve slumped back into his chair, feeling defeated. He didn’t know why he felt so down. She was never a close friend to him, even at the height of them interacting in school. He got up to leave, hoping to catch her outside when he heard Dr. Ackerman called his name. Begrudgingly, he turned around to face her.

“So, what did you think?” she asked.

“I uh, don’t really know,” he responded truthfully.

“Then I want you to come back next weekend. And try to talk more, okay? You get out of it what you put in.”

Nodding, he gave her a goodbye. He rushed out the door, hoping to catch Y/N before she left. But alas, he was too late. Everyone had gone for the day. The only person left was Robin, patiently waiting in the car next to the curb.

“How’d it go?” She asked, as he stepped into the car.

“Fine,” he replied, as he played with the hem of his shirt. “I uh… saw Y/N L/N. Remember her?”

“I think so. Pretty sure we had chem together. Wait, wasn’t she some big shot? Going off to Princeton or something?”

Steve shrugged. “I guess not anymore.”

Robin gave an inquisitive hum in lieu of a reply. He stared out the window as she drove, partly thinking of how much Robin’s driving had improved. But mostly, his mind was filled with thoughts of Y/N and how he couldn’t wait to see her again.

Steve made sure to arrive extra early for the group session the following week. He walked into the office complex, moving his way through the halls to the familiar door with Dr. Ackerman’s plaque across the front. With one last deep breath, he went in.

The receptionist recognized him, letting him go into the therapy room with no problem. “Dr. Ackerman isn’t here yet but make yourself comfortable,” she told him.

“Thanks,” he replied softly, watching her close the door behind him.

When he turned around again, he was greeted with semi-familiar faces staring back at him. He scanned the room; no Y/N in sight. Giving a weak smile, he sat down in the same seat from last week.

He could tell the others' eyes were on him, trying to get a read on the newbie. There weren’t many people there but it sure felt like a lot. A boy, probably around his age, a slightly older woman dressed very professionally, and an older lady that he had to guess was a few years away from a retirement home.

“Hey,” the younger boy said, causing Steve to look up. “I’m Matt.” Steve replied with only his name, not knowing what else to say. Matt motioned to the woman in her late 20s wearing almost a business suit. “That’s Sam, and grandma over there is Louise. She could drop dead any minute so be on the lookout.”

“Matt!” Sam exclaimed, hitting his arm. “Don’t say that.”

“It’s alright, sweetie,” Louise calmed her. “He can say anything he wants as long as he remembers that I know where he lives, and I own a gun.”

Steve’s eyes went wide, his shoulders stiffening. Did that old woman just threaten him? Matt bursted out laughing. It was clear the group was comfortable with that sort of joking around. He turned back to a very tense Steve. “What are you here for?”

“You don’t have to answer that.” Sam told him..

“It’s complicated,” Steve said honestly. “I-I’m not really sure how I would explain it anyways.”

“Oooh,” Matt cooed. “Are you in a love triangle?”

“No I –”

“Family abandon you?”

“Well –”

“Oh I got it!” He interrupted again, sitting up straighter in his chair. “You got bit by a rabies infected bat and turned into a vampire.”

Steve tensed. How did he– it was obviously a joke. Not anything to take seriously so Steve decided to play along. “Actually, you’re not that far off.”

Matt chuckled, looking over at Sam who let out a small laugh as well. “I like you. You’re gonna fit in just fine.”

“Okay…” Steve said hesitantly, not knowing quite what he meant.

The door softly clicked open, everyone turning to look who it was. Steve sucked in a breath when he realized it was Y/N. She was wearing something similar to last week, a pair of jeans and a sweater two sizes too big. The room was small enough that as she scanned the environment, her eyes locked with his.

Steve heard the others greeting her as she stepped further into the room, but his gaze was still fixed on her. Quickly, Y/N looked down, her hair falling gently over her face. He couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. Maybe she realized that they would be seeing more of each other; maybe she didn’t want to see him at all. He watched as she walked to an open seat, setting her bag down at her feet.

Steve wanted to speak, to say something to Y/N even though he didn’t know what. Cursed again, Dr. Ackerman bursted into the room. “Sorry I’m late,” she announced. “Let’s get started.”

Even though his mind was filled with thoughts of Y/N, he did manage to listen in more to the problems of his fellow group members. Matt was from a couple towns over attending the state college. His anxiety got the best of him and he had a falling out with his best friend. Sam was an elementary school teacher who suffered from PTSD from her younger years traveling as a military brat. And Louise was grieving the loss of her son - a car accident from a few months prior. He listened in more, taking in the symptoms and coping mechanisms they used. Some of the things they said sounded familiar, things that he could learn from his own terrifying experiences.

Once Louise, recounted her past week, how it felt in the wake of her son’s death, Dr. Ackerman turned to him.

“Steve,” she said suddenly, taking him off guard from sneaking a look at Y/N. “You've experienced some loss in your life as well?” He nodded, not knowing where this was going. “Would you like to share a recent experience you had? Maybe the group has some coping skills to help you.

Suddenly all the eyes were on him. He felt violated, talking in front of people he barely knew for two days. But in the words of Dr. Ackerman, it wasn’t going to help if he didn’t contribute.

He began to speak, choosing his words very carefully. “Um yeah I guess I’ve been surrounded by loss, more so in the past couple of years.”

He felt Y/N look up at him, sympathy in her stare. It gave him the courage to continue.

“First it was my ex’s best friend. I didn’t know her well but she was last seen at my house so, I guess I blame myself for that? My friend, his mom’s boyfriend passed away, as well as another friend’s older brother…but more recently, a-a new friend. We had only just met… he uh, played a lot of Dungeons and Dragons.”

He looked over at Y/N again who was still staring at him, her sympathy replaced with something else - something he couldn’t quiet. Fright? No, recognition.

“I think of him sometimes– the new friend,” Steve clarified, glancing down at his fingers tapping against his thigh. “We only knew each other for a short while but he was a good dude…I see stuff around town sometimes that reminds me of him and I feel like I’m back- “

In the Upside Down.

“In a dark place,” he opted to say instead.

When he looked up at the group, he felt relieved. They all looked at him with a sense of understanding, like they knew what he was going through. Hell, after what he heard today they probably were.

“I see,” Dr. Ackerman began. “So group, what can Steve do?”

“Well, I find the 54321 method helpful,” Sam said.

Matt pointed at her. “I was about to say the same thing.”

“The 54321 method?” Steve asked, hoping they would explain further.

“Y/N,” Dr. Ackerman said. She looked up at her. “Would you mind explaining to Steve what this coping skill is?”

Steve looked over at her hesitantly. “Uh sure,” she said, sitting up straighter. She was trying to look at him but her eyes fell back to her lap. “You count five things you can see around you, four things you can feel… uh three things you can hear. Two you can smell and one you can taste.”

“Very good Y/N.”

She looked up at him one last time, her gaze holding longer than usual and Steve felt like she could take his breath away.

“And have you been using those methods yourself?” Dr. Ackerman asked.

She tore her gaze away from Steve, looking back at their therapist. “I-I’ve been trying.”

“Well that’s a step forward right? Effort is all I can ask for. Now Steve,” she directed her attention back to her. “Those were great examples, but not the one I was looking for.”

“It wasn’t?”

“What about your parents?”

He shook his head. “My parents aren’t dead.”

“But are they around often?” Steve froze. She knew they weren’t. Where was she going with this? Shaking his head, she continued. “Couldn’t that count as a form of loss? The loss of parental figures?”

He remained silent. Could it?

“Loss is not just death, Steve. It can take on many forms.”

Shit, he hadn’t thought of it that way. How much in his life had he truly lost? His parents, his friends, his reputation… Before he could even begin to process what that meant, Dr. Ackerman moved on to Matt who talked about his recent split from his best friend. But Steve was still in his own mind. His own thoughts drowning out the voices of the people around him.

Maybe he needed therapy more than he cared to admit.

Before Steve knew it, the session was over and he was making his way out of the room, the thought of loss still very much present in his mind. He didn’t realize how much therapy would actually help him. Though mental health was something more and more people were beginning to talk about, it still had a lot of negative stereotypes. One wrong step and you could end up in a psychiatric ward without really needing it.

Trying to give his brain a break, Steve shifted his focus to Y/N and how he desperately wanted to try and talk to her. But yet again, Dr. Ackerman stopped him. “So, how are you liking the group?”

“A lot better than last week,” he replied, watching a small smile form on her face.

“Good. That’s really good, Steve.”

“Can I…keep coming to this group? On top of our sessions?”

She nodded. “That was the plan all along. See you later this week.”

“See you, Dr. Ackerman.”

Despite the heavy topic of the session, the moment Steve stepped outside, it was like a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. The air felt nice, so crisp on his skin it was like a fresh glass of water. He was reluctant to admit that Dr. Ackerman was right, but the lady knew her stuff.

Looking around, he noticed Robin hadn’t arrived yet. Everybody else was gone, or so he thought.

“I didn’t know that about your parents.”

Steve turned around to find Y/N leaning against a wall, a cigarette between her fingers. There was no need for introductions, they both had remembered each other – it was just a matter of who would speak first.

“Uh, yeah,” Steve began to respond, shoving his hands in his pockets. He spent so long building up the moment they would speak again that when the time came, he felt frozen. Like a deep in headlights. Making his way over to her, he continued, “Most people don’t.”

She nodded, taking a puff of the cigarette. As she breathed out, a cloud of smoke followed, slowly floating above them. Steve tried not to wince at the smell. “Want one?” she offered.

“No thanks, I quit last year.”

Her eyebrows raised, surprised. Slowly she shrugged. “That makes one of us.”

Not knowing what to do, Steve looked around, trying his best to find something for them to talk about besides the obvious. Unfortunately, he came up with nothing. “I thought you went off to college.”

“I did,” she said before mumbling, “Until Gary entered the picture.”

“Who’s Gary?”

Not responding, she puffed out more smoke. It was clearly a touchy subject and Steve knew all too well about those.

“I-I’m happy you’re here though.”

She scoffed. “Really?”

He nodded. “I wished we stayed in touch when school was over.”

“Hate to break it to you, Harrington, but I didn’t consider us friends.”

“I mean, me neither. But I remember you being one of the few people that called me on my bullshit – could see through my lies…I need more people like that in my life.”

She stared at him, her cigarette still loosely hanging between fingers. He didn’t know what she was thinking, what she was searching for in his comment. Maybe the truth? To see if he was lying? Before either of them could say anymore a honk echoed across the parking lot. Steve turned to see Robin pulling up to the curb. She rolled down the window as she parked.

“That’s my ride,” Steve said, slowly backing away. “You remember Buckley? Another Hawkins High survivor.”

“Yeah, hey,” Y/N said, giving a small wave.

Robin waved back and said, “Oh hey, yeah we had chem together right?” Y/N nodded.

“I’ll uh, see you next week?” Steve said, turning back to her one more time.

“Uh, yeah. Yes.” She took another puff. “See you next week.”

With one last wave, he climbed into the car, watching Y/N become a speck in the side-view mirror as they drove away.

“So,” Robin began, “You finally talked to her?”

“More like she talked to me but, yeah,” he responded.

“She’s different from what I remember. Tougher, less open to people. I didn’t know you were close.”

“We weren’t.”

Watching as his house turned into view, all he could think about was seeing her the following week.

“Why are we going to the other side of town again? Why can’t we just go to the burger place down the street?” Dustin asked, leaning forward from the backseat of Steve’s car.

“It’ll be fun!” Robin said, arching her head to look back at him.

“What’s the place called again?” Lucas asked.

“Gordy’s,” Mike responded. “Stupid if you ask me.”

Usually in these types of scenarios, Steve would be the one to call them on their bullshit. To be the babysitter that steps up to make things right. However, because of more recent events, instead of stepping up, he was slipping away.

Robin noticed almost instantly, jumping in to control the situation when her friend couldn’t.

“Hey!” She shouted, cutting off the chatter from the back. “Yes, the diner is called Gordy’s. Yes it’s on the other side of town. And we are going because Max likes it and she used to go with her family. Right Max?”

“Y-yeah,” Max spoke up from the back. “It’s pretty good, I think you guys would like it.”

“I’m excited,” El said, getting an agreement from Will.

Little chatter soon broke into more chaos, the kids talking over each other without a care in the world. Steve wanted to say something, his grip on the steering wheel tightening in an effort to stop feeling the anxiety running through his chest. But still, it was too much. He needed to focus on the road.

“See? El’s excited,” Robin chimed in again. “Quit your yapping, we're almost there.”

Almost on cue, they turned into the Gordy's parking lot. Steve took a deep breath as the chatter in the back started to die down. He could almost hear his thoughts again, though he didn’t know if that would be a good thing.

As the kids began to pile out of the car, he felt Robin’s hand on his shoulder.

“Hey,” she said. “Deep breaths, remember? If it gets too bad, do that thing you learned okay? The 123 method.”

“54321 method,” he corrected.

“Yeah, the 54321 method.” She watched as he nodded, taking another deep breath. “Hey,” she willed him to look at her. “You’re doing great. You ready to go in or do you need a minute?”

“No, I’m good…” It wasn’t until they were standing right outside the doors, the kids already packed into a booth that he spoke again. “Sorry about that, I can’t control it sometimes-”

“You never have to explain yourself,” she interrupted him, grabbing one of his hands. “Never.”

Steve felt this warm haze travel through him, his chest expanding with what felt like a clean breath of air. Sometimes hearing that there was someone there for him was enough to keep him going. Squeezing her hand back, he motioned that he was ready.

It was easy to navigate to where the kids had decided to sit – noise only coming from one side of the diner. Of course, they were arguing. It was about some movie that had just come out though both of the older teens couldn’t quite place which one.

“Zip it!” Steve shouted over them, standing at the edge of the diner booth. They all abruptly stopped to look at him. It was the first real words he had muttered all night. “Pick what you want to eat. We’re not spending an hour deciding like last time.”

Dustin smiled at his words. Sure, they were kinda mean, but when Steve got bitchy that meant he was alert.

Sliding into the booth across from Robin, Steve picked up a menu. The options were like any other establishment, and the kids were quick to decide what they wanted. When it came down to it, their orders didn’t really change much from diner to diner. It was the talking that made their visits longer. But Steve liked to mix it up from time to time, especially when eating with Robin - they often split meals.

So when the waiter came over to take their orders, he was happy they didn’t have to send the guy away. With El eager to get her waffles, she went first, Mike going straight after her. Steve guessed that meant he would be last. He took the moment he had to look around the diner Max had selected.

It was nice, much nicer than the other places they had tried but that wasn’t saying much. Midwest towns with small populations meant slow repairs. The floors looked a little wet but that was probably from the amount of people walking through with the recent storm. The coffee machine was out of order and by the looks of it, it had been that way for at least a month.

Besides that, not much was out of place. There was an elderly couple sitting at the counter top across the place. Slowly they traced their fingers along a spread out newspaper Steve had to guess was an attempt at the crossword puzzle. But his eyes slowly drifted away from the puzzle and onto the waitress putting down their food.

It was Y/N. Blue apron, hair pulled back to not obscure her face.

His breath hitched when he saw her. It was so unexpected, seeing her in a place like this. She looked so calm, almost happy. He hadn’t seen her like that since their senior year. It made him wonder what had gone so wrong, what this “Gary” did to make her dropout of college. And even though he wouldn’t find that answer tonight, he couldn’t stop himself from staring at her.

As she smiled at her customers, her eyes scanned the diner. Looking for more people to help, her eyes landed on him. There was some shock, the unexpectedness of seeing him, but she forced a smile on her face.

“Steve!”

He was pulled out of his daze by Robin, motioning to the waiter standing before them.

“W-what would you like to drink?” the waiter asked again, though Steve swore he never heard him the first time.

“Uh, just water, thanks,” he said sheepishly, his cheeks turning red from embarrassment.

The waiter, however, just nodded, walking over to where Y/N stood. Steve let his eyes follow him, watching the coworkers engage in conversation before Robin spoke again.

“That’s her, right?” she whispered, not wanting the kids to hear. He nodded. “You should go talk to her.”

He whipped his head around to look at her. “What? No.”

“Why not?”

Because my anxiety will make me fuck up my sentences.

“Because she’s working,” he said instead. “I don’t wanna interrupt her.”

“Please, it’s so dead in here she would probably thank you.”

“Who are you talking about?” said Dustin, trying to worm his way into the conversation.

“No one,” Steve said quickly. “Do your maze.”

He looked down at the kids menu in front of him. “I’m not a child!” he exclaimed.

“Maybe, but you love those mazes.”

He took one look at Steve before back down at his menu. Sighing in defeat he said, “Okay yeah I do…”

It was a new record. Almost an entire day without a panic attack. The food had arrived, the kids eating like it was their last meal on earth. Meanwhile Robin took the time to neatly split her and Steve’s food in half, handing him one of the plates.

He smiled at her before diving in. Well, more like inching in. He didn’t feel too hungry, despite not eating at all that day. That was the main reason for this little outing - to get him to eat food. But as the night went on and his food was still barely touched, he knew that something deeper was happening.

Ever since he started therapy, he had been getting better at spotting anxiety and panic attacks, even preventing a few which he was proud of. But some would start for no reason, even if he was feeling better than he had all day. Something began to rise in his chest and he knew one was coming. Apparently, Robin did too.

Over the noise of the kids debating over some new comic book, Robin asked, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” Steve dismissed out of instinct. “Just gonna go to the bathroom.”

He quickly stood up, not waiting for a response. The bathroom was unlocked thankfully and looked a little disgusting. Still, he had been in worst places. Staring at the faucet he cupped his hands, splashing water on his face.

Sometimes that helped, giving his body a wake up call it didn’t know it needed. But unfortunately, it wasn't working. He felt his breaths become shorter, more labored. His heart felt like someone was squeezing it in their hands.

He needed fresh air. Yeah, fresh air would help.

Exiting the bathroom, he was thankful to see there was a back door just a few feet away. Pushing through he was met with the cold crisp air of the back of the diner. There was some air conditioner blowing so loud he could barely hear his own thoughts.

Picking what looked to be a clean wall, he sat down, trying to take deep breaths. His hands still shook, not slowing down despite his efforts. Nothing was working and he didn’t know why. What had even caused this panic attack? There was nothing he was scared or really anxious about to warrant this level of panic.

He tried to remember what Dr. Ackerman told him in one of their private sessions. Sometimes panic attacks don’t need a reason for happening.

“Harrington?”

He willed himself to look up at who was calling his name. It was Y/N, a cigarette in her hand. Perfect, just great. This is exactly how he wanted her to see him.

“Oh, hey,” he tried to say casually, trying to mask his attack. They could both tell it wasn’t working.

“Are you doing okay?”

He could tell it was more of a rhetorical question and he was too tired to lie. “I- not really. I don’t know what happened I just-”

“Hey it’s okay,” she interrupted him, crouching down to be at eye level with him. “We all get them okay?”

He nodded though his heart still felt like it was beating out of his chest. “I-I can’t stop it.”

“Have you done the method yet?” He shook his head. “Okay,” she continued, throwing her cigarette to the side before fully sitting down in front of him cross legged. “Let’s go through it, yeah?”

“Aren’t you working?”

“I’m on my break. Don’t worry about that, let’s help you okay? Name five things you can see.”

“O-okay…” he said, taking a deep breath. “Um, my shoes, those plants ... .uh the-the ground. I can see the wall and- your eyes. Shit- sorry that was weird,” he said, curling back into the wall.

“No, don’t apologize,” she told him, reaching out her hand to cover his. “Describe them to me. What do my eyes look like?”

He looked up at her - there was no hint of mockery in her face. “Well, they're vibrant, they’re a couple of different shades…they're beautiful.”

She smiled at him, not disgusted or annoyed, but genuine happiness. She chuckled, dropping her head for a moment, thanks… Now, let’s continue…”

They listed more things, following the method. With each concentration, the hold on his heart loosened more and more. He couldn’t tell if the method was working or he just liked to be in her company. Whatever it was, it worked.

As he listed off the taste of his meal, he felt like he could finally breathe. Sighing, he let his back hit the wall.

“Thanks for that,” he said, closing his eyes. He could still feel the pads of her fingers gently rubbing his hand.

She responded, not letting go. “Of course, we have to look out for each other.” In the distance, someone called her name. “Shit, my break is over. You think you’ll be okay?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Slowly she stood back up. “I uh, guess I’ll see you this weekend.” She gave a small wave, not waiting for a response as she scurried back inside for the remainder of her shift.

As he watched her walk away, he felt the urge to call her back. Her presence, the way she calmed him down - it wasn’t something he wanted to let go of. Begrudgingly, he stood up, knowing that his friends would be wondering where he was soon. He walked through the same back door, passing the bathroom before finding his friends still in the diner booth.

Robin spotted him first as he made his way over - it seemed like the others barely even noticed his absence. “Are you okay? You look pale,” she asked.

Usually he would lie, say he was fine and tough through his emotions. But as Dr. Ackerman and later Robin told him, he needed to be more honest with his well being.

“I don’t think so. Could we skip the ice cream run tonight?”

“Of course, yeah. Let’s get going, I already paid for the food.” She turned to the kids. “Alright, let’s get you guys home.”

“What about ice cream?” Dustin asked, followed by overlapping replies from the rest of the kids.

“Not tonight. Maybe next week.”

With solemn looks on their faces, the kids slowly climbed out of the diner booth, ready to pile back into the car. Steve watched as Robin unlocked the door, letting them all climb in. While doing so, he turned back, hoping to catch Y/N one more time.

She emerged from the back with two plates of food, locking eyes with him. She gave him a smile and he already felt a million times better. Nodding at her with a grin, she knew he meant it as a thank you.

Turning around, he made his way to the car, hoping that another attack wouldn’t happen when she wasn’t there.

For the first time since starting therapy, Steve Harrington could say he was satisfied with his progress. He had another panic attack later that week and was able to not only realize the source of it, but calm himself down in record time. Well, record time for him, at least.

Leaving Dr. Ackerman’s office, he waved goodbye to the other patients before making a b-line to the bathrooms. His bladder was not happy about the wait. After relieving himself, he opened the door to leave.

“Do you usually hang out with that many kids?”

“Gah!” Steve jumped, not knowing that Y/N was standing outside smoking a cigarette like she was usually seen. “Jeez, you scared me.”

He began to walk to the building exit, her joining at his side. “Sorry, but you gotta answer the question, Harrington. It’s been bugging me since I saw you.”

Pushing open the exit doors, he said, “Uh they’re my friends so, yeah I usually hang out with them.”

“But children?”

“They aren’t random children, okay? But yeah, they're who I’m close with,” he shrugged. “Probably my only friends if I’m being honest.”

“Huh…” Y/N replied, taking a long drag of her cig. “That’s fucking weird, Harrington. Did you and your girlfriend adopt them or something?”

He cocked his head. “Girlfriend?”

“Yeah, Buckley... Sorry, I just assumed-”

“Oh,” he replied with realization. “Buckley, no we’re just friends. She’s practically my sister.”

“Oh okay, cool.” She took another puff.

“Do you ever think about quitting? It’s a nasty habit.”

“Yeah well, what else do I have to do?”

“Go out with me?” She turned sharply to glare at him, her eyes going wide. “Not like go out with me. Shit, I said that wrong- Hangout. I meant hangout with me. As friends!”

She still looked frozen, giving him a look he couldn’t quite read. Was that happiness? Distast? Maybe she didn’t want to try being friends with him.

“I wanna see you outside of therapy and your work ya know?” he explained, trying not to dig himself into a deeper hole. “To not listen to Matt re-explain every class he has. I mean like, we’re not the ones in school.”

She laughed at that, probably understanding what he meant. Next to them, a car pulled up to the curb. It wasn’t Robin.

“That’s my dad,” she responded softly, walking over to the car. She turned to open the passenger door but paused and looked back at him. “Meet me at the Hideout at 7? Saturday?”

Steve couldn’t stop himself from smiling. “I’ll be there.”

She gave him one last look before climbing into the car, driving away. The smile was still plastered on Steve’s face and he couldn’t help but think that this friendship was the beginning of his new life. One where the Upside Down didn’t haunt his dreams, or where he didn’t fight any demogorgons. One where he could leave that all behind.

The Hideout. It sounded familiar but Steve couldn’t place why he knew it. Even as he walked into the place, he knew he had never been there before.

It was very grungy. The floors looked like they needed a deep cleaning and the walls were covered head to toe in band posters. A bar sat on the left side of the room, perfectly out of the way of the stage on the back wall.

Walking in, Steve opted to stand next to a high table, no chairs in sight. He figured it was just a place for people to set down their drinks. Alcohol, however, did not feel the right call. He wanted to stay alert for his first hangout with Y/N.

As his eyes drifted across the stage, he watched a band set up their equipment. There were only four of them. A drummer, bassist, guitarist, and a rhythm guitarist. It was probably some local band he had never heard of - he didn’t really keep up with current music.

But as he looked closer, he realized that they were familiar. The guy on rhythm guitar, he had seen him before. A math class? Was that it? Slowly, it started to come to him.

This was Eddie’s band.

The room felt like it became a million times hotter as Steve began to sweat. His heart thumping faster than normal. He needed to stay calm, he needed to control his panic.

Since Eddie died, he tried to stay away from all things related to the guy. Instead of sitting in on the last few minutes of Dustin’s dnd games, he’d wait in the car. Instead of surfing any radio channel, he made sure to skip the metal station. But there was no skipping tonight.

He recognized three of the members but there was one that was new. He had shorter hair, a lanky build and a tattoo peeking out from under the arm of his t-shirt. He didn’t look familiar - not someone he went to school with. But then it dawned on him.

He was Eddie’s replacement. Before he even had time to process that information, he felt a small hand on his back, a presence next to him.

“Hey, you made it,” Y/N said with a smile on her face. He hadn’t seen her smile like that in a long time.

“W-whata- what…” It was like he couldn’t speak, the image of Eddie’s band moving on without him still in his mind. “W-why did you bring me here?” he finally got out.

Y/N furrowed her brows. “To see Corroded Coffin?” she responded, not really understanding what he meant. “I thought it would be fun, my brother said they’re playing a new song tonight.”

He furrowed his eyebrows. “Brother?”

“Yeah… Gareth? On the drums? I thought you remembered.”

No, he didn’t remember. He turned back to the band setting up. Gareth was putting down the hi-hat to complete his drum set.

Trying to stay calm, he said, “Oh cool…did uh, did you know Eddie too?”

Her face dropped slightly at the mention of his name. “Yeah, I did. He was a good guy.” All he could do was nod, taking a deep breath in. He felt her arm wrap around his. “Everything’s gonna be fine. I’m sorry I should’ve told you why we were here.”

“No it’s okay. It’s like exposure therapy.”

She chuckled, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Sure.”

It didn’t take long for them to start, the music blaring out of speakers that were too loud for the room they were in. The new guy, in place of Eddie, was singing and Steve had to admit it wasn’t bad. His heart still ached at the thought of the band having to replace their star singer. They all looked like really close friends back in school.

They played a couple songs, and Y/N pointed out the new one that her brother had mentioned. It was good, or better than he would have thought. Steve didn’t know how much he actually liked metal music but if he had to listen to any it would be this.

But he wasn’t really focused on the music, more of the person standing next to him. He tried not to stare but she was so memorizing. Singing along to the songs she knew, bobbing her head to the ones she didn’t. It was nice seeing her outside the context of therapy. He also wasn’t complaining that her arm was still wrapped around his for a majority of the night.

As the new lead singer thanked the small crowd, leaving as they cheered, Steve felt Y/N tug his arm.

“Come on, let’s go say hello,” she said, pulling him through the crowd.

“S-say hello?” he asked. “Like to the band?”

“Duh,” she replied, waving at a bouncer guarding the backstage door. “We aren’t gonna see my brother perform and then leave.”

The corridor backstage was busier than he thought it would be. The bar was small but it sure didn’t feel like that. People were walking up and down, some running like it was Madison Square Garden. He couldn’t tell who worked there, performed, or were just groupies stopping by.

Turning right, they were met face to face with the green room, a written sign saying Corroded Coffin taped to the door. Y/N smiled at him before she reached for the handle, turning it to reveal a very hectic room.

The band members were just chatting but it sounded like shouting. It all halted when they walked in.

“Y/N!” Garrett exclaimed, running over to hug her.

“You did great tonight, honestly all of you did,” she told him.

“And the new song?”

“Better than I could’ve imagined.”

Garret turned to look at Steve, his expression changing to something of confusion. “What is he doing here?”

“You brought Steve Harrington?” Jeff, the rhythm guitarist, chimed in.

Y/N turned to look at Steve confused. “I thought you said you knew Eddie?”

“I-I did,” he told her, suddenly aware of how many eyes were staring at him. He looked around the room quickly before back at her. “I- just not with his usual crowd…”

The band continued to give him a blank stare.

“I know Dustin, Lucas, and Mike? I know you used to play dnd together,” he added.

Grant, the bassist, crossed his arms. “You know Henderson?” he asked.

Steve nodded. “He’s like a little brother to me.”

They stared in silence at him and what was probably five seconds felt like eternity. It wasn’t until Jeff shrugged and spoke up that Steve realized his heart rate was quickening.

“I guess you're okay then,” Jeff said, “As long as you don’t try to shove us into lockers.”

If Jeff didn’t chuckled he would have if he was serious. His laugh rippled throughout the room, breaking the tension and it was like life started again. Joints were lit, drinks were poured, and Steve’s past was left forgotten.

“Can I ask you something?” Steve asked. He walked next to Y/N in the cold, night air, the only sound audible coming from the shuffling of their shoes.

“Sure,” she said, reaching into her pocket to grab a cigarette.

“That first time we talked, like at Dr Ackerman’s…you mentioned someone named Gary.” He felt her stiffen next to him, a slight stutter in her step. “Who was he?”

Dropping her head to the unlit cigarette, she decided to shove it back into her pocket. He instantly regretted asking.

Apologizing, he said, “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No, it’s okay…” she waved off. “Exposure therapy, right?” she said, repeating his words from earlier in the night, letting him know it was okay. “Gary was my neighbor in my freshman year dorms. We hit it off really quick and started to date.”

She looked at the ground as she talked, hands shoved into her pockets. Steve however, couldn’t take his gaze off her.

“He was fine, uh, a good boyfriend. Well, at first…” she took a pause, almost long enough that he was thinking he should say something.

Luckily, she continued. “He stumbled into my room really drunk one night…tried to take advantage of me.” She shrugged, actually shrugged, like what she just told him was nothing. “I pushed him off me and he went blabbing to everyone that I was an attention seeking whore. All my friends stopped talking to me, even my roommate…and the administration wouldn’t do anything about it even though he, you know…”

She trailed off as she kicked a rock with her shoe and Steve could feel his heart breaking into a million pieces. How could someone, anyone, do that sort of thing? Not even when he was considered King Steve would he force himself onto a girl.

Y/N sighed. “It was like high school was repeating itself, you know? I didn’t get to have my fresh start.”

He nodded, trying to understand what she went through. They never ran in the same circles in high school, but it was hard not to hear the rumors going around about who she was sleeping with. He assumed Billy was the one to start them and let it be. Looking back, he wished he had stood up for her.

“It sucks,” he began warily, not knowing if it was okay to speak. When she looked up at him, it gave him the courage to continue. “When other people decide who they think you are. I-I mean, I didn’t go through that but I do have problems with the way people perceive me, my reputation.”

“I-I mean that’s when all my panic attacks started I just- I couldn’t stay there. It’s so stupid…”

“It’s not!” Steve reassured her. “Not stupid in the slightest. I would have left too if it were me. I mean, I didn’t even get into college. There was nowhere for me to run.” The more he began to speak of his own problems, the more anxious he became. “Not that what I went through was worse than you, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to turn the conversation on to me-”

“-No, Steve, it’s okay. I get it, you’re just trying to relate to me.” He nodded - it was like she took the words right out of his mouth. “Could we go back to yours? If I remember those high school parties correctly, you have a pool.”

“Sure. Y-yeah cool,” he blubbered. He couldn’t remember the last time talking to a girl made him anxious like this. Trying to catch his cool, they headed toward Loch Nora.

“The back door should be unlocked,” Steve informed Y/N as they approached his house.

It wasn’t a far walk from the bus stop they got off on and he could still see his car parked in the driveway - but only his car. Robin had told him ahead of time that she was going to sleep at her own home for once that week - her parents wanting to see more of her.

“Wow, it’s exactly how I remembered it,” Y/N commented as he opened the back gate.

He looked back at her. “You remember what my house looks like?”

Shrugging, she said, “Like I said, I went to a couple of your parties.” The pool’s lights illuminated the otherwise dark backyard, steam rising from its surface. “Now this is what I’m talking about.”

Without warning, Y/N pulled her shirt off, moving to pull down her pants. Steve’s eyes went wide, turning around to give her privacy. “What are you doing?”

“Getting in your pool? I don’t know about you, Harrington, but I don’t carry a bathing suit with me.”

“I guess…” Steve said, suddenly unsure of their plan.

It was just like a bikini right? Only it felt so much more intimate. He heard a splash from behind him, a gasp as she rose to the surface for air.

“You coming in?”

Slowly he turned around facing her as she grazed her hands over the surface of the water. She looked so majestic with her hair slicked back. He felt like deer in headlights as he looked at her. He could go inside, grab one of the many swimming trunks he had in his closet. But instead, he opted to strip down to his boxers, leveling the playing field.

He could tell she was surprised, not thinking he would do the same thing as her. But nonetheless he jumped right in. The splash completely covered her but she didn’t seem to mind, already dunking her head moments before. When he rose to the surface, he inhaled deeply.

“Hey!” She exclaimed, wiping water from her eyes.

“You were already wet!” He retorted.

Without warning, she lunged herself at him. Steve felt as she collided with his chest, sending him falling back into the water, taking her with him. He barely had enough time to breathe before he felt himself submerged back under the surface. On instinct, an arm wrapped around her midsection, balancing her against him as he used his legs to push them back up for air.

Breaking the surface tension, he felt Y/N cling to him, her arms wrapping around his neck as she tried to balance against his bent knee. They were both gasping for air, taking a moment to recover. But the moment she looked up at him, those beautiful eyes he stared into at the diner, it was like a damn broke.

She smiled, letting out a giggle and he too couldn’t keep a straight face. As her face buried in his neck he asked, “What was that for?”

“I don’t know, it looked like you needed to have fun,” she responded.

“So you pushed me.”

Y/N lifted her head from his neck, her hands still around his neck. “You’re a very pushable person.”

“Oh am I?”

“Definitely.” She giggled, her fingers absentmindedly playing with the hair on the nape of his neck. “I could stay like this forever.”

Steve smiled, his cheeks getting warmer. “Me too. It’s like a little pocket out of time. We don’t have to think about the future.”

“Or the past…” She was silent for a second, her fingers still moving and Steve tried his best to stay still. A beautiful girl was practically sitting on his lap and he was trying to hard to not fuck it up.

“That first session, you talked about all the loss you’ve been around. Is there a reason for that?”

“Interdimensional monsters,” he blurted out. It felt good to say the truth even if it was met with a laugh. Who would believe in another dimension anyway?

“Fine don’t tell me,” she said, letting her hands rest on his shoulders.

The cool touch of her fingers spread across him, down through his chest. It was hard to stop thinking about how little fabric separated them, especially with the way her fingers grazed his skin.

For a moment he almost swore she looked down at his lips. “I bet…” she began, tilting her head back to show her thinking. “That you have daddy issues.”

“Who doesn’t?”

She giggled, her forehead tipping forward, almost touching his. A piece of hair fell across her face and without thinking he reached up to brush it away. Y/N looked up at him, their eyes meeting as he softly pushed the strand behind her ear.

This time, he knew for certain, she had looked at his lips, right after he did the same.

The little space left between them closed as Y/N leaned forward, capturing his mouth. It was softer than he would had thought. Her rough exterior not matching her tender touch. He felt her arms wrap back around him, fingers gripping his hair. He let out a moan, tightening the grip he had on her waist.

She pulled back for a moment, only to tilt her head to the other side, her lips crashing back down on his. A small whimper let out from her mouth and Steve felt like he died and went to heaven. He wanted to hear it again, to be the only one that made her sound that way. It was intoxicating, like a vampire thirsting for blood.

He let his kisses trail down her cheek, reattaching himself to her throat. She moaned even louder and he never wanted to let go.

“That feels nice,” she said, breathlessly. The grip on his hair grew tighter but he didn’t mind. She could poke, pull, or prod, any part of him and he would let her.

“You feel nice.”

Without meaning too, she pressed down on his lap. And even through their underwear and the water of the pool, Steve felt ecstatic. He detached himself from her neck gasping at the pressure.

“Jesus Christ,” he murmured to himself but it might have been louder than he expected.

Y/N looked up at him with a smile. But as her eyes found his, Steve was confused as to why it started to vanish. Detaching herself from him, he watched as she floated away until her back hit the pool wall.

Something was wrong, he just knew it. Was it something he did or said? Was it the kiss?

“I should probably go,” she told him, pulling herself out of the pool.

“Oh,” he said in surprise. Why the rush to leave so quickly? “Okay…”

As he joined her by the lounging chairs, he watched as she tried to put a leg through her pants.

“Wait,” he stopped her, putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him before straightening her back. “Don’t put your clothes over your wet ones.”

“How else would I-“

He interrupted her, knowing if he didn’t say what was in his mind he’d lose the courage to say it.

“-you can stay. Like, stay over?”

Why was he this nervous? He had plenty of girls over before. But with her, things felt different. Y/N raised her eyebrows at his comment.

“If you want to,” he rushed out to say. “You could take a shower, I could dry your clothes and-“

“Okay,” she spoke over him.

It felt like all the air left his body. “Yeah?” He asked again for reassurance. Slowly she nodded, a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Okay yeah. Cool, um…this way.”

Steve’s hands twitched nervously as he sat on his bed. Y/N was in the shower, due to come out any minute. It wasn’t like he hadn’t had a girl over before. Just that the last person to sleep in his bed broke his heart. They had shared a space, gotten warm together under his blankets, baked in the morning sun. It held more meaning to him than he realized before.

As he clutched his hands, trying to calm himself down, the door creaked open. He looked up, watching as Y/N hesitantly peered in. As soon as he saw her face, it was like there was a calm that washed over him. The idea of having someone sleep in his bed filled him with anxiety, but when he saw Y/N it all faded away. He wanted her next to him, he wanted to share his space with her.

Closing the door behind her, Y/N stood awkwardly across the room. But Steve couldn’t help but smile. She looked so cute in his clothes, the fabric clinging to her skin in ways that left little to the imagination.

“I left the towel in the laundry room,” she said. “I hope that was okay.”

“Yeah,” he said quickly, being pulled from his thoughts. “Yup that’s okay. I already started the load on drying your clothes.”

“Cool,” she said, intertwining her fingers in front of her.

Steve motioned to his bed. “Do you prefer a side or-”

She shook her head. “Nope. I-I’m fine with either.”

Steve hummed an agreement, moving to take the ride side of the bed. He watched her join on the other side as he pushed the covers back. They both had romantic experiences; both sleeping with someone else in their bed. But in the moment, it felt like they were little kids again.

Steve carefully covered both of them, sinking back down into his mattress. He tried not to touch her, to give her space after what happened in the pool. And with her past, he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Starting at the ceiling he heard Y/N sigh. Turning his head he could see her covering her face.

“Are you okay?” He asked, turning to face her. “D-do you want to sleep in my parents room? They’re not home-”

“No, this is perfectly fine just,” she dropped her hands onto her chest as she stared up, not meeting his gaze. He could see her eyes getting watery, a tear on the verge of falling. “I-I don’t wanna do anything with you like- sexually. And I’m sorry if that’s blunt but after everything with Gary-”

“Hey, it’s okay,” he reassured her to try and show her this was a safe space. “I wasn’t expecting to, honestly.”

She turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow. “Really?” she asked, not convinced.

“Really,” he replied. “I haven’t really been the same since Nance and I broke up and- nevermind it’s not important. I could leave if this is too much.”

“No I want you here I really do I’m just…confused. I don’t know.”

She buried her head in her hands again, probably to stop him from seeing her start to cry. Steve ached for her. To see her like this, to know that this was the fault of another person. That a person could do that to someone else.

“I’ll sleep on the floor,” he told her, moving the comforter aside. “That way we won’t be alone but we can have our space.”

She looked back at him, her cheeks wet with tears. “No, I don't wanna make you sleep on the floor in your own room.”

“It’s nothing really,” he dismissed, grabbing his pillow and a spare blanket that was thrown across his desk chair. “Trust me, I’ve slept in worse places than on a rugged floor.”

“If I wasn’t a mess right now I’d ask you to elaborate.”

He fluffed his pillow, pulling the blanket up over his shoulders. Y/N peered over the bed, still unsure of the sleeping arrangement though he could tell it was putting her more at ease.

“A conversation for another time,” he said and he swore he could see a smile on his face.

“Okay,” she said softly, her head disappearing as she laid back down on the bed.

There was silence for a moment and Steve thought that she had fallen asleep. But her soft voice glided through the air.

“Steve?” she asked.

“Yeah?”

There was another beat. Another moment of silence before he heard her whisper, “Thank you.”

Even on the floor of his room, the sun found a way to shine on his face. The warm light slowly woke him up, making him rub his eyes in an attempt to not blind himself. He almost forgot he was on the floor of his room until he rolled over to open his nightside drawer, feeling his hand brush against the floor instead.

As his eyes came into focus, he willed himself to sit up. Why was he on the floor again? Right, Y/N. Beautiful Y/N who should be asleep on his bed. But as he leaned his head up to see over the edge of the mattress, he was met with an empty bed. The covers were made neatly, all pillows back in place, as if no one had even slept there the night before.

Steve rubbed his eyes, like if he cleared himself from his sleepy haze she would materialize in his room. But as his eyes began to focus again, he found he was still alone. Grunting, he stood up, pulling the pillow and blanket he had used with him. He looked around the room and it seemed that nothing was out of place.

Did he imagine last night? Did he feel so alone that he willed himself to believe that Y/N actually slept over? His eyes continued to scan for anything out of place, a breath of relief when they landed on his dresser.

The clothes he had lent her were neatly stacked on his desk and if he had to guess, her drying clothes in the laundry room would be gone. So he hadn’t imagined it. What happened? Why was she in such a rush to leave?

Maybe she regretted the night before, thinking he hadn’t changed since his days at King Steve. Perhaps the kiss was too much and she regretted it. Steve’s mind spiraled down a dark hole he knew too well. If he didn’t stop now, he would trigger another panic attack.

Taking a moment before getting ready for the day, he sat down on his bed, closing his eyes. He just needed to breathe. In and out, in and out. Over and over again he focused on his breath, letting all his energy go into calming himself down.

He needed to talk to Y/N. To clarify everything from last night before it ate away at him.

Steve drove himself to therapy the following week. Partly because Robin was still back at her parents, and partly because he needed more time to think. As the time of the group session approached, he felt his heart rate begin to rise. His thoughts raced faster than they did when he woke up to find her gone.

He just needed to get there. Seeing her would calm him, reassure him that he didn’t fuck up. But as he parked his car and raced inside, he was saddened to find that she wasn’t there. Maybe she was just late. She had been late in the past, it was logical to assume she could be late today.

Matt and Sam had tried to talk to him but he only politely nodded as they spoke. His tongue felt too heavy in his mouth. Like lifting it to speak would only result in incoherent babbling. Thankfully, Dr. Ackerman’s presence let him stay silent.

The session began and Steve found himself staring at the door. He nodded, giving short answers when required but his attention was still trained on the closed door. She had to walk through the door. To join their weekly sessions. But as the topic drifted from one person to another, Y/N never arrived.

Steve was quick to leave, rushing to the parking lot to see if she had missed the session and was just arriving. To his disappointment, she wasn’t there. Not even a lingering smell of cigarettes in the air from her usual smoking spot.

He arrived early for the next session, and the next, and soon a whole month went by without her attending. Every session his eyes stayed on the door, willing her to walk through. Maybe if he was like Eleven, telepathically gifted, he could find out where she was. No, he thought. Even with those powers, it would be an invasion of privacy. And he didn’t want to be where he wasn’t welcomed.

Robin had been spending more and more time with her parents to figure out packing for the fall semester so Steve had been driving himself more often in Y/N’s absence.

Another missed therapy session had him driving home in silence, not even the radio playing to fill the void. His fingers tapped against the steering wheel in an irregular pattern as he turned onto his street. Slowly, his house came into view and he could see the vague outline of someone sitting on the front steps.

That’s weird, he thought to himself. Robin had a key, most people in the party did for emergencies. So why was she waiting outside?

As he pulled closer, almost fully into the driveway, his eyes adjusted. It wasn’t Robin, or anyone he had fought monsters with. It was Y/N.

Y/N, smoking a cigarette as she patiently waited for him to come home. He felt himself falter, his foot almost slamming on the brakes. She was here, more beautiful than the last time he saw her – though it was pretty hard for her to look anything but perfect.

The engine revved as he pulled into the driveway, pulling Y/N’s attention to him. Quickly, she stood up, putting her cigarette out with the heel of her shoe. Steve felt glued to the inside of the car. Their eyes had met, not separating as he put in the car in park. All he wanted was to get out and speak to her. But something in his chest tightened. If she had been avoiding him for the past week, she had her reasons. And part of him didn’t want to know for certain he was the problem.

He tried to move, he truly did. But his anxiety was ruling over his brain and he didn’t know how to stop it. Thankfully, Y/N seemed to notice. Moving forward, she opened his passenger door and climbed in. He never took his eyes off her, even when she turned her back to close the door.

Turning back to him, she weakly said, “Hey.”

“H-hi,” he managed to blurt out. Silence hung in the air, as he figured out what to say. Y/N continued to speak. “Sorry to show up at your house, I didn’t mean to be a bother.”

“You’re not a bother,” he blurted out. “Y-you’re never a bother.”

He was looking directly into her eyes, his gaze never wavering. It didn’t break until Y/N looked down at her lap and he could have sworn he saw a small smile form on her lips. A moment passed, then two, and neither of them talked.

Despite being uncomfortable with long silences, Steve didn’t seem to mind. He didn’t feel like his social battery drained when he was around her. If anything, she made him feel more alive. She knew what he was going through, one of the best kept secrets in his life and she knew.

“I missed you,” she said softly, still looking down at her lap.

“I’ve missed you too…Louise keeps talking about her one night stands and I don’t think I can take any more of it,” he said, gaining back some composure from earlier.

Y/N laughed, her shoulders hunching forward. She looked back up at him, her eyes darting back and forth between the two of his. As the smile slowly faded from her face, her eyes remained on his. It was clear she wanted to talk about what happened. Maybe she just needed a push.

“Do you…wanna talk about it?” Steve asked.

She shook her head slightly. “I don’t know it’s just – when I woke up in your room, my mind immediately went back to Gary.” She paused for a moment and he let her gather her thoughts. “I just went into a spiral like I did with him. Like did I force you to kiss me? Did you really want me sleeping in your bed or did I coerce you to? What would people think if they see the town whore sleeping with the former king of Hawkins High just – it’s stupid, I’m sorry.”

“It’s not stupid,” he said immediately, reaching his hands out on the center console. He didn’t want to touch her without asking, but wanted to let her know he was there if she needed to. He sighed.

“I didn’t expect to kiss you that night,” he continued. She looked up at him, biting the inside of her cheek. “But that didn’t mean I didn’t want you to. You in no way forced me to kiss you…and I was the one who wanted you to stay. I-I should’ve been more vocal so you didn’t feel forced to.”

Y/N nodded, leaning forward with her hands on the center console, not quite touching his.

“If you want to keep seeing me, friend or something more, I promise I will walk you through everything thought in my head so we’re on the same page.”

She raised an eyebrow, some color coming back to her face. “Every thought?”

He nodded. “Oh for sure. Like how I’ve been craving a ham and cheese sandwich since I woke up this morning.” She giggled again at his obvious attempt to make her feel better. “And like how I’d really like to hold your hand right now.”

He stared at her in his car, the sun slowly setting outside, and felt the touch of her fingers against his. It felt like an immediate release, a tightness he didn’t know was there unfolding in his chest.

“I would like to keep seeing you too,” she told him, and it was like his heart was doing a million leaps of joy. “I don’t know if I can handle anything more right now,”

“-and that is completely fine with me,” he reassured her quickly, feeling a tight squeeze of reassurance in his hand.

“Thank you for understanding. In the future, if I’m ready…I’d like to explore that possibility with you.”

Steve gave her a big grin, not trying to hide what he was feeling. “Good, uh, that’s good to know.”

They sat in his car, hands intertwined like the rest of the world didn’t matter. Like their pasts and reputations didn’t haunt them like a shadow. For now, they had each other and that was all they could ask for.

Steve didn’t need some fancy school or big corporate job. Just someone who understood him, who knew what it was like to feel the things he felt and not be judged.

He was happy he finally found someone who did just that.

Taglist: @afraidofshrimp @halflifejess @nix-rose @palmtreesx3 @cilliansnostolgia @sweetdazequeen

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drops-of-june · 3 months

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CHAPTER II: 'D'yer Mak'er'

• I don’t own the characters, this fanfic is based on the TV-Show Stranger Things (second season) from a Hargrove!Reader POV.

• Quick reminder to readers, I'm not a english native speaker, so I'm sorry if there are any mistakes. Hope you understand.

• You are not allowed to translate/repost inside or outside tumblr this fanfic.

Summary: Roadtrip with Max, and first impressions in Hawkins.

Word Count: 2.6K

CHAPTER II: 'D'yer Mak'er'

‘I always thought you guys would end up together.’ Max muttered, looking out the window.

‘Who are you talking about?’ y/n asked, confused at the change of the topic of the conversation.

‘You and Sam.’ She shrugged.

‘You're always trying to set me up with someone.’ She replied amused. Then shook her head as she looked down the road. ‘He deserves someone better. Ouch!’ She groaned as she felt a punch on her shoulder. Max scowled at her.

‘You're great! Don't talk about yourself like that!’

‘I didn't mean it like that... it's... complicated.’ She began, as she rubbed her arm. The redhead was still looking at her, expectant: ‘To date someone, it's not enough just to love each other.’

‘I still don't understand…’

The blonde thought for a while about how to explain the situation correctly, while the other waited patiently. She had never had a talk about boys with Max, but in this new stage that awaited them, and with Max entering her pre-teens years, she knew she had to let the girl more into her personal world.

‘I don't know if I can explain it. As much as we have a lot in common, we don't have that... spark. He's great, and I love him, he loves me, but not in the right way. He'll find a girl who's perfect for him. And…’

‘And you'll find someone for you.’ She interrupted her, convinced. ‘I feel it. And he's waiting for you in Hawkins.’

‘And what else do you see in my future?’ She joked, sticking her tongue out at her.

‘Oh…yes’ The girl closed her eyes and as if she was having a vision from the future, and said. ‘I see you'll stop the car and buy me an ice cream when we get to the hotel.’ She commented in an ominous voice, and opened one eye to see her reaction. y/n shook her head as she smiled.

They stopped by a hotel in Holbrook. It had been eight hours since they had left the house, and they had to stop to rest. From California to Indiana was a thirty-hour drive, so they had a long drive ahead of them.

The next morning, after buying a few things for a breakfast in the car, they resumed their trip. Max was making up games as time went by to keep themselves entertained. From making up stories about the lives of people in other cars, to looking for shapes in the clouds. There was even a karaoke time. At that moment, they were playing 'guess what object I'm thinking of'.

'Is it yellow?' y/n asked after several tries. Max shook her head. 'Is it... red?'

'Yep' She nodded, taking a sip of her Dr. Pepper..

'Is it your sneakers?' She guessed, squinting her eyes. Max clapped her hands and took one of her Bugles and offered it to her sister, who opened her mouth. Max let out a small laugh. After a few minutes, she yawned.

'Are you still sleepy? Why don't you rest for a while?' She advised her, gently stroking the girl's cheek. She nodded and took off her jacket to transform it into a improvised pillow. 'Does the music bother you?' She asked in a soft voice, looking sideways at her.

'No, it's fine.' She murmured. 'If you get bored or need to stay alert, wake me up.' She asked her. Only a couple of minutes later, she was already asleep.

The engine roared in harmony with the sound of distorted chords blasting from the Chevy Impala's stereo. Y/n occasionally adjusted the volume to find the perfect balance between the roar of the wind and the song she had put on. Max, lying peacefully in the passenger seat, the gentle swaying of the vehicle had lulled her into a deep sleep.

Through the windshield, the changing landscape of endless highways stretched to the horizon. Y/n was lost in thought as her eyes swept along the line of trees and telephone poles that faded in their wake. She had left behind the familiarity of San Diego, the warmth of the California sun and the vibrant nights of the West Coast. Now she was headed for a totally unfamiliar place: Hawkins, Indiana.

The rhythm of the music carried her, but her mind was torn between the past and the uncertain future that awaited her. She remembered the long nights when her rock band rehearsed in the garage, the smell of the ocean and hot asphalt on the streets of California, the laughter shared with friends who would now be left behind. Yet she also felt a spark of excitement as she imagined what she might find in Hawkins. A fresh start, perhaps.

She glanced sideways at Max, whose calm and collected expression revealed the confidence she had in her. Y/n knew that Max had been the driving force behind this sudden change in her attitude, convincing her that Hawkins would be different, that they could truly find a new beginning.

The sun was beginning to descend toward the west, tinting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Y/n smiled to herself as they stepped into a new chapter of her life. The music continued to play, each note resonating in her heart as a reminder that no matter where this road ended, she would always carry with her the rebelliousness and indomitable spirit that defined her. With that mix of nostalgia and anticipation, y/n immersed herself further into the changing landscape, letting the music guide her into the unknown.

After a final stop in a small town that seemed frozen in time, y/n and Max resumed their journey toward Hawkins. The shabby looking gas station had been their last point of contact with civilization before heading into the darkness of the night road.

The sky was tinged a deep dark blue, dotted with bright stars that seemed to wink at y/n from above. The Chevy Impala roared with determination as it traversed endless straights flanked by fields and silent woods. Silence had taken over the interior of the car, interrupted only by the soft hum of the engine and the occasional murmur of Max, who had drifted back into a peaceful slumber.

Y/n tightened her grip on the steering wheel, feeling the tension and excitement building as they neared their destination. After nearly two days of traveling, she could feel the weight of the unknown approaching with every mile they drove. The cool night air was pouring in through the half-open window, mingling with the scent of the fields and trees flying by. She opened the window a little wider and took a deep breath with her eyes closed.

In the distance, the faint lights of Hawkins began to silhouette against the horizon, like tiny stars anchored to the earth. Y/n gritted her teeth, feeling a mixture of nervousness and determination. This was the place where she would begin her new life, where the uncertain awaited her. Making new friends, new memories. Starting from scratch seemed so optimistic and terrifying at the same time.

The car's cassette player started playing a Led Zeppelin song, and y/n smiled wistfully as she remembered afternoons spent listening to music with her friends. She tried not to think what they would be doing at that moment. It was time to look ahead to the unknown that awaited them in that Indiana small town.

As they arrived a two-story house stood imposingly under the starry Hawkins sky, its massive presence contrasting with the vast rural landscape that surrounded it. Billy, arms folded and grim, looked around with palpable disdain, as if every tree and blade of grass were a personal insult. The smell of fresh fields, a mixture of damp earth and wildflowers, filtered through the open window.

Neal and Susan, trying to diffuse the tension, exchanged forced smiles and positive comments about the fresh air and tranquility of the place. They were trying to find beauty where Billy saw only limitations and nostalgia for what they had left behind in California.

Max, usually frank and direct, was silent, fiddling with a crumpled sheet of paper she had found on the floor. Sitting on the edge of a half-open box, she watched with a frown the interaction between her brother and her parents. She also felt the awkwardness hovering in the air, the palpable tension between expectations and the reality of her new life at Hawkins.

Y/n, more optimistic and determined than ever, approached Max as they unpacked some belongings in the tentatively empty living room. She gently took Max's hand and looked into her eyes with a mixture of concern and determination.

"What are you thinking about, Madmax?" asked y/n with a soft voice.

Max watched y/n for a moment, before dropping the crumpled sheet and folding her arms. "It's not what I expected, y/n. It's too quiet, too... different. I don't know if I can get used to this place."

Y/n nodded slowly, recognizing the sincerity in Max's words. But she gave her a friendly nudge, trying to cheer her up.

"Hey, where's your optimism left?" The girl shrugged.

"I think he fell asleep at the St. Louis Hotel." y/n laughed and wrapped one of her arms around her shoulders.

"We're in this together, you know? We're going to make it work, somehow."

Max nodded with a slight smile, grateful for her older sister's understanding, and got up to finish unpacking.

After hours of unpacking boxes and tidying up her new room, y/n plopped down on the bed, exhausted but satisfied with her work. The room was almost ready: the walls now adorned with posters of her favorite bands, the guitar propped in one corner, and her books and notebooks neatly stacked on the desk.

Morning silence settled over the house, broken only by the occasional creak of wood and the soft murmur of the wind through the trees outside the window. The others were possibly sleeping. y/n looked up at the roof, taking in the reality of being in a new place. The excitement of the move had given way to a strange mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

She sat up in bed and looked around, everything in the room was new but she had managed to imprint her essence in every corner. Despite this, the change was overwhelming. She had left behind friends, a familiar life and now she was faced with the task of starting over, making new friends and finding her place in this small town.

y/n took a deep breath, remembering Sam's words in her notebook, "Hey y/n, don't hold back. The rest of the world deserves to know what you're made of." She smiled slightly, feeling a spark of courage ignite inside her. She had to remember that, despite everything, she was still herself and carried with her everything that made her unique.

As she closed her eyes, y/n promised herself not to give up and to do her best in this new phase. Hawkins was a new beginning, a chance to reinvent herself and find new connections. And though the road might seem uncertain, she was determined to face it with the same passion and energy she had always had.

y/n had fallen sound asleep after the intense day of moving. She was dreaming of sunny California days when she was gently shaken by her little sister, Max.

‘Y/n/n, wake up!’Max insisted, her voice full of enthusiasm. ‘Can we go to the arcade games we saw on the way over?’

Y/n opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the midday light coming through the window. She stretched and sat up in bed, still a little sleepy but smiling at the excitement on Max's face.

‘Of course, Max. But first we need to ask Dad's permission’. She said, getting up and tidying herself up a bit before leaving the room.

Together they went downstairs and found Neal in the kitchen, finishing unpacking some boxes. y/n approached him, with Max at her side.

‘Dad, Max and I want to go downtown. We saw some arcade games on the way and thought we could go and pick up some stuff for the house while we're at it.’ y/n asked with a half smile.

Neal frowned, clearly tired and not very happy with the idea.

‘I'm not sure this is the best time. We still have a lot of organizing to do here.’ Before y/n could respond, Susan intervened, placing a hand gently on Neal's arm.

‘Neal, the girls have worked hard and deserve a break. Besides, they could buy some things we need to eat. It will do them good to get out a bit and explore the place.’

Neal sighed, his expression softening slightly.

‘All right, all right, but don't take too long. And be careful. Don't you want Billy to go with you?’ He asked, looking up at the boy. Knowing what her twin was thinking, she shook her head.

‘It's all right. We won't be long. Besides, I have to see where the school is, so I don't get lost on the way tomorrow.’ She told him. They had arranged for y/n to take the girl before school. Her father nodded, thinking. He reached into his pocket and offered her a few dollars.

‘Here, for the food.’

Y/n and Max headed toward downtown Hawkins, the car filled with the rock music. The green, peaceful scenery was in stark contrast to the bustling California streets they were used to. Max couldn't contain her excitement as she looked out the window, pointing out interesting sights.

‘Look, y/n! There it is!’ Max exclaimed when they saw the sign for the arcade games.

Y/n smiled and parked the car near the entrance.

‘Okay, Madmax. Have fun and stay out of trouble, okay? See you in an hour. Don't go anywhere else’

‘Promise!’ Max said before running off to the arcade, already looking for her first game.

y/n stared at her sister for a moment, making sure she was okay. Then, she headed to the nearby general store to buy the necessary groceries. Pushing the cart through the aisles, she began to fill the cart with essentials: milk, bread, cereal, and a few cans of soup. She thought about how to adjust to her new life here as she carefully selected each product.

After paying, she returned to the car with the shopping bags and began loading them into the trunk. It was then that she noticed a group of kids pasting posters on a nearby lamppost. Curiosity led her to move a little closer, wanting to see what it was all about.

One of the boys, with a friendly smile, long hair and a rock band t-shirt, noticed her and approached with one of the flyers in his hand.

‘Hi, are you new around here or just passing by?’ He asked, extending the flyer to her.

‘Yup, just got here’ y/n replied, taking the flyer and reading about the battle of the bands to be held the following weekend.

‘Great. I'm Eddie, by the way. You should come to the battle of the bands, it's going to be awesome. A lot of local bands will be participating, and it's always a good place to meet people. We'll be there.’ He pointed to the boys behind him, who waved curiously from afar.

Y/n smiled, feeling a spark of excitement.

‘Thank you, Eddie. I'm y/n. That definitely sounds like fun, I'll consider it.’ Ed smiled back and said goodbye before heading back to his group to continue pasting posters. Y/n looked at the flyer one more time before tucking it into the back pocket of her jeans. The idea of attending the battle of the bands excited her; it could be an opportunity to start meeting people and connecting with the local music scene.

With a new purpose in mind, y/n returned to the car and headed to the arcade to pick up Max, ready to tell her about the exciting event she had just discovered, thinking that maybe Hawkins wasn't so bad after all.

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supernovafics · 3 months

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series masterlist | last part — next part

pairing: modern!college!steve harrington x fem!reader, bestfriend!eddie munson x fem!reader

word count: 3.1k words

warnings: explicit language, brief mention of alcohol/drinking, pining, a little angst

summary: steve meets you at eddie’s show and even though you’re feeling a little weird and nervous about what you two are doing, you ultimately decide that there’s a first time for everything

CHAPTER THREE | ❝𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅❞

Fall Semester 2015

Eddie was good. Like, really good.

So good that you had to keep reminding yourself to not ogle at his hands on the guitar, seamlessly moving from chord to chord, or focus too hard on the almost too pretty sound of his voice.

You silently wondered— as he and his band finished out the last few moments of the song they were rehearsing— if you would be feeling this way as you watched him practice if you didn’t have the biggest crush on him. Or maybe this would’ve ended up being the moment you realized everything, instead of that moment happening in his dorm room just a few weeks ago.

You still hadn’t decided how to tell him, you also still weren’t sure if you even wanted to tell him at all. If you said something and he didn’t feel the same way, you had a feeling that it would mess everything up between you and him, and ultimately ruin this friendship that felt so important to you.

Therefore, you were leaning more toward never telling him how you felt, or at least waiting for the perfect moment to do so. However, you didn’t know what would necessarily deem a moment as “perfect.” Maybe one day it would just feel right to finally utter the words to him? You weren’t entirely sure.

For the time being, you pushed those confusing thoughts to the side, and in this moment you simply focused on the final notes of the song being played out, marking its end, and then Eddie placing his guitar down.

“You guys are really good,” You said from where you sat barely five feet away because of how small the garage was; you couldn’t remember if this was Gareth’s place, Jeff’s, or Doug’s. “Like, really, really good. It’s actually kind of insane.”

Eddie smiled at you. “I think you’re our number one fan now.”

“I feel honored to hold that title.”

He walked over to where you were sitting. “You wanna come with me to get the pizza?”

His question was one that you didn’t need to outwardly respond to because the answer was obvious. You simply nodded as you stood up from your chair and walked with him to his van.

You’d go anywhere with Eddie— and that fact was the main reason why you were currently spending your Saturday in his hometown two hours away from your guys’ college, instead of holed up in the library studying for midterms.

“I think I get it,” You said, gazing out the window as he drove and watching the small empty fields and random houses pass by in a blur.

“Get what?”

“Why you wanted to leave here,” You answered, turning to look at him even though his eyes were focused on the road. “It’s so small and quiet. I honestly can’t even imagine you growing up here.”

“There was a record store across town that I really loved, and it was probably the only thing that kept me sane growing up,” He briefly explained and you nodded. “And my uncle. And the guys too. We’ve been doing the whole band thing since middle school.”

The thought of an eleven year old Eddie singing and playing guitar sounded quite adorable to you.

“That’s so cute.”

Eddie laughed. “Cute was not what we were going for.”

“Sorry, what I meant to say was, that’s so cool and rock ‘n roll.”

“Solid save.”

“Thank you.”

“You have to take me to your hometown next,” He said, taking a brief look over at you as he kept driving.

You shook your head. “Definitely not gonna happen, and not just because we’d have to take a two hour plane ride to get there.”

“Come on, I brought you here.”

Just for a second, you let yourself think about the suburban town you grew up in states away; a town that you also couldn’t wait to get out of because, just like Eddie’s, it felt way too quiet and small. You tried to briefly imagine him walking down the streets you used to walk to get to school or the park that you had liked to spend most of your free time at reading, but you couldn’t see it. You could barely even see yourself doing any of that anymore.

“This is different. You want to come here,” You told him. “Aside from my parents, and that’s only sometimes, there’s nothing that makes me wanna go back to my hometown.”

You tried your hardest not to think about how actually saying that out loud made you feel a little sad.

“So, no band with old friends that makes you wanna go back most weekends?” Eddie asked, purposefully trying to lighten the mood, which you were grateful for.

You gave him a small smile. “Nope, none of that.”

That was why you liked him, he read you well and knew the right moments to shift any conversation.

There was a part of you that wanted to just admit to him how you felt right there in his van. Let the words leave your lips and simply see what would happen.

But then he was pulling into the parking lot of the pizza place and the moment felt effectively over. And a part of you was glad for that.

It wasn’t that difficult to pretend that nothing had changed for you and that you still only saw him as your best friend. You honestly found pretending to be the easiest thing to do.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

Spring Semester 2018

“Robin just texted me saying, “Tell Eds I’m there in spirit. When in actuality my spirit is dead because this essay is killing me.” So yeah, she’s not coming tonight.”

“Damn, so that means I won’t hear her overenthusiastic “woo’s” after we finish every song.”

You playfully smiled at Eddie. “I can take over that job for the night if you want.”

“That would be great,” He responded, smiling back. “We need to prove that we have at least one excited fan.”

“Okay, then I’ll make sure to take my job as your number one fan very seriously tonight,” You told him before taking a sip from your drink and then placing it back atop the high wooden table you two were standing on opposite sides of that was a bit wobbly. “I swear we always somehow end up at this specific table.”

“Either that, or they’re all fucked up.”

“True,” You said and nodded, but you had a feeling that it was probably the same one because you and everyone always ended up occupying the same cluster of tables that were to the right of the small stage— a stage that was currently set up because he was performing in less than twenty minutes.

You had shown up with Eddie and the rest of the band an hour earlier; which was pretty much a routine when it came to the biweekly gig Corroded Coffin had here. Aces was one of the few bars in town that was actually not frequented by college kids because they were really strict about their carding policies and could spot a fake ID from a mile away. However, Rick, the owner, loved Eddie and the band, so exceptions were made for them; and by extension you and your other friends too.

You texted Robin back “Your screaming will be missed<3,” and then got a notification for a text from Steve that said, “Just parked.”

“Um, Steve just got here, so I’m gonna go out and grab him.”

“Okay,” Eddie said and then shook his head in what seemed like both disbelief and surprise. “I still can’t believe how good Friday night went for you two.”

“Yeah, I’m surprised too. I didn’t expect this to happen,” You told him, which technically wasn’t that much of a lie. You really hadn’t expected that night to lead to you fake dating Steve barely a day later.

The cold night air immediately hit you when you walked outside, even the jacket you were wearing wasn’t enough to keep you warm, so you crossed your arms over your chest as you waited for Steve. You were suddenly glad that you opted against wearing a skirt tonight and decided to settle on a pair of jeans.

It was a solid three minutes of you looking both ways down the street and waiting for Steve to eventually come into view. And when he finally did, you met him halfway.

“Jesus, how far did you park?”

“Way too far.”

Steve fell into step with you as you walked back to the front door. You noticed him look up at the faded sign that had the bar’s name on it and then it seemed as if he realized or remembered something. “Aren’t they really strict at this place?”

“Yeah, but it’s fine,” You answered with a quick shrug before grabbing his hand to keep him close to you as you walked past the small-ish line of people waiting to get their ID checked and get into the bar. You gave a quick smile to Jacob, the bouncer and also Rick’s brother, who was letting you through with no hesitation. “Thanks, Jacob.”

Steve let out a breath of a laugh once you two were fully inside the small and darkly lit bar. “Okay, that was actually pretty cool.”

You were about to respond to him with some playful joke about how getting into this place both for free and without an ID was probably the coolest thing about you, but then your eyes were on Eddie. He was saying something to the guys as they headed over to the packed bar and then he was left alone at the haphazardly pushed-together tables. Suddenly, you felt nervous and also a bunch of other things that were entirely indecipherable at the moment.

You turned to look at Steve. “Okay, so, um, how thick are we laying it on right now?”

Instead of answering your question, he seemed to sense your nervousness, so he gave your hand that was still holding his a quick squeeze. “Just chill. Don’t worry.”

That honestly didn’t do anything to calm your nerves or make you not worried about what you two were about to do. But, it was also weird because even though you were nervous, you didn’t want to back out of doing it.

“Where is he?” Steve asked.

You simply nodded in the direction of the table Eddie was standing at.

“Okay, come on,” He said and as you two walked over to the table, he readjusted your hands so that they were intertwined, which made holding hands with him feel a thousand times more intimate. And that was probably exactly why he did it, you realized.

“Hey,” He greeted Eddie with a smile.

“Hey, man,” Eddie responded. “Cool seeing you here.”

“Yeah, glad I can finally catch a show.”

You stopped paying attention to what they were saying, and it wasn’t really on purpose, it was just that all you could focus on right then was Steve’s subtle movements— his hand pulling away from yours and him shifting closer to you so that he could drape his arm around your shoulders instead. He was so smooth and easy with it, meanwhile you were contemplating if you seemed too tense or if your face looked uncomfortable.

Maybe some practicing would’ve been good before jumping into the deep end of this whole thing. But, what would practicing have even entailed? Steve holding your hand or keeping his arm around you until you felt completely normal about it? That sounded almost too embarrassingly stupid.

He had done pretty much the same things Friday night on your date— you remembered him holding your hand and wrapping an arm around you during the movie and feeling entirely okay about it; he had even kissed you that night and initially, you had been completely okay before you got too in your head about everything— but this, for obvious reasons, felt entirely different. The point now was to look super into it, and you felt yourself slowly folding under the pressure.

“Did you tell him about game night?”

It took you a second to realize Eddie was talking to you because your mind was in an entirely different place right then. You barely even heard the question he asked you.

“Yeah, she did,” Steve said, saving you. “I’ll be there.”

“Great, we’ll actually have even teams for once,” Eddie said to you.

“Talia’s gonna hate that. She loves being referee,” You responded, finally finding your voice and actually managing to feel the tiniest bit normal for a moment.

“No, she won’t because she’s gonna have the best Pictionary player on her team.”

You rolled your eyes at that because you knew he was referring to himself. “Vickie is the best at Pictionary, actually.”

“Okay. Second best.”

“I think Robin’s second, but you’re definitely third because me and Talia are equally bad at that game.”

“Fine, I’ll take third,” Eddie responded. “Unless Harrington here has a secret talent?”

Steve shook his head. “No, I’m terrible at drawing.”

Eddie smiled at that. “You two will make a great team then.”

“I think our bad drawing skills will cancel each other out and we’ll actually end up being really good,” You said, mostly kidding with your words.

“Or we’ll be worse,” Steve said.

“It’s very sad to see that you have no faith in us,” You joked, looking up at him, and he only laughed in response.

He and Eddie went into talking about an assignment for the class they had together, and you attempted to pay attention to their conversation, but your mind went right back to overthinking everything. You wondered whether or not things looked real or if it all seemed entirely forced and out of place.

Steve was doing pretty much all of the work right then at making this newfound relationship look believable, and your only job was to pretend that you were happy to lean into his touch and to make it seem like you were at least a little enamored by him, which was easier said than done. You were now discovering that acting wasn’t your strong suit.

They continued talking for the next minute or two before Eddie was saying that he needed to head on stage. “I’ll see you guys after.”

You nodded and said a simple “Good luck,” and then he walked away, joining Gareth, Jeff, and Doug on stage. You let out a breath that you didn’t even know you’d been holding.

“You okay?” Steve asked once Eddie was out of earshot. His arm dropped from around you, but he still stayed close. “I know we shook hands on it and everything, but we really don’t have to do this. It’s fine if you wanna back out.”

“No, I’m okay. I just didn’t expect this to feel so weird? I don’t know if that’s the right word, but yeah… I swear I’m fine, though, I’ll get better at,” You briefly gestured between you and him. “This whole thing.”

The last time you were so outwardly physically affectionate with someone was years ago; a high school relationship that ended just as quickly as it had started. You weren’t used to this anymore, and maybe it was dumb to think that it would be easy to do it, especially with someone you didn’t really even know that well.

“We don’t have to do this,” Steve reminded you.

“No, I want to. Honestly,” You assured him, and surprisingly that still felt mostly true.

“When’s game night?”

“Tomorrow,” You answered, forgetting that that had been brought up in the conversation with Eddie. “It’s a once-a-month thing we do at the apartment.”

“Got it,” He said with a nod.

“You don’t have to come if you don’t wanna. It’s mainly just three hours of all of us screaming at each other,” You briefly explained. “That’s the reason why we only do it once a month. Friendships would be ruined if we made it a weekly thing.”

“Sounds deadly.”

“Very much so.”

“Also, sounds fun.”

You let out a laugh. “Didn’t peg you for a masochist, Steven.”

He ignored that. “Do you want me to come tomorrow?”

You took a moment to actually consider his question. Everyone else was gonna have to meet him eventually, especially if you wanted to make it seem like you “really liked him,” so maybe it would be best to just rip off the band-aid and do the introductions sooner rather than later.

“Yeah, I do,” You ultimately answered. “You should come. I think it’ll be good.”

Before he could even say anything in response, the band started playing and every conversation happening in the small bar became drowned out by the music. You bopped your head and softly sang along to the songs you knew, which were pretty much all of them aside from a few new covers they decided to do. And you, of course, loudly applauded and excitedly shouted after every song, just like you told Eddie you would.

“Wow,” Steve said at one point, mouth close to your ear so that you could hear him over the music. “It’s so obvious that you like him. I honestly didn’t think it was possible to witness heart eyes in real life.”

You playfully nudged him. “Shut up.”

You had a feeling that he was mostly joking with his words, but still, you couldn’t help but think, Did it really look that obvious?

You turned to look at Steve and were about to ask him what exactly looked so obvious and how was he so easily able to notice something that Eddie somehow never had.

However, you immediately noticed that his attention was on a girl across the bar who was looking right back at him with a matching smile on her face.

“Keep it in your pants tonight, Harrington,” You told him, elbow bumping his side again. “And until the end of February too.”

“I know. Sorry,” Steve said, looking away from the girl and back at the stage.

“Y’know, I was mostly joking last night when I said that not dating anyone this month would probably be hard for you. But, now seeing that it actually is hard for you, I’m just concerned. There are tons of support groups that you can join to help with this problem,” You said, trying your hardest to keep a straight face as you said your words, but ending up smiling the entire time.

“Ha ha,” He said sarcastically, which only made you smile more.

You focused back on Eddie, listening as he said that he was about to perform what would be the last song of the night. You shouted happily in anticipation and smiled at him when his eyes met yours.

Once again, you couldn’t help but wonder, Was it obvious?

At some point during that final song, Steve placed an arm around you again, and it surprisingly didn’t feel all too weird that time around.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。. .・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。

next part!

taglist (lmk if you want to be added or taken off<333); @eddiernunson , @loulouloueh , @the-aster , @blckburd , @totally-bogus-timelady , @yujyujj , @irhdifartzamfyaa , @mochminnie , @munsonssweets , @blckbrrybasket , @xprloki

#steve harrington x reader #steve harrington fic #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington x you #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington x fem!reader #stranger things fluff #steve harrington smut #eddie munson x reader #bestfriend!eddie munson #eddie munson series #steve harrington imagines #steve harrington angst #stranger things imagine #stranger things series #stranger things fic

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