Chapter Text
Robin Buckley isn’t sure what’s going on with Steve Harrington, all she knows is he eats alone suddenly, sits alone all the time, he finished out his track season on top, but he had a group of kids cheering him on. She typically rides the bus, but on this Friday afternoon she didn’t have too, her friend Brendon from band was taking her home with him so they could finally nail their final papers down. She’s almost happy she gets to witness what is about to happen, instead of hearing it through the gossip chain that is Hawkins High.
“Steve!” She doesn’t know the kids name, he has curly cue hair and a big toothy grin usually when he sees Steve. Sue her she’s paid attention over the last couple months. He doesn’t hold a smile today.
“Hey, Dustin, what’s up?”
“Billy!” The black hair kid says to him with a look of distress.
“Billy did something to Max’s stuff.” The other boy who hangs around Steve says.
“Okay, need more information.” Steve looks at the third one to arrive, she knows this one, it’s Will Byers.
“He broke Max’s new skateboard you got her for her birthday.” Will provides the group. Steve is looking down the hill before looking over to Billy Hargrove.
“Hargrove!” Steve shouts before he thinks about it Robin decides, everyone knew he got his ass handed to him back in November or maybe it was October she can’t remember exactly now.
“What Harrington?”
“What is your fucking problem man?” Steve leaves his car and the kids behind just as a red head comes up to the group, Robin recognizes her as Billy’s little sister. The parking lot is in a frozen state all watching. She has to guess they’re taking bets on whether or not Steve is going to get him ass kicked again.
“You’re gonna have to elaborate there, Harrington.” She always disliked Steve, but something about Billy made her skin crawl.
“Your sister. What the hell?”
“She’s not my sister.” He says it through gritted teeth, Billy closes the gap between them.
“Whatever, you broke her new stuff she got for her birthday?”
“What’s it to you?” Steve looks exasperated as the next sentence comes out of his mouth.
“What’s it to me? What’s it to me? She was fucking excited about her shit Hargrove. Excited. You were there, you watched her open up that shit, she was excited.” He’s moving his hands dramatically as his voice gets a little higher.
“That’s not any of your business actually.” He says to him, Steve seems more flustered than he’s been in months. He strides back over to the red headed girl.
“What happened?” He asks her, she looks down.
“Nothing.” Robin is thankful she’s so close, because the girl clearly doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Nothing? Red, where’s your new board?” He’s pushing her hair behind her ear as he asks it, looking at her meaningfully. If Robin wasn’t already aware she’d be sure they were the pair of siblings and not Hargrove and her.
“Left it at home.”
“Yeah, Harrington, shitbird left it at home.” Billy says loudly to Steve.
“No, she didn’t. Because I know my kids wouldn’t lie about it.” Steve has a serious tone as he looks back at Hargrove.
“Well either your little kids are lying or shitbird is.”
“Steve let’s just go.” The girl sounds defeated, Robin guesses if she lived with Billy Hargrove she would be defeated as well.
“Max, what happened to your board?” She’s looking at the ground.
“He broke it.” She admits to him.
“See, what is your deal!” Steve turns back to yell at Billy.
“Why the hell do you care so much?” Steve has the audacity to laugh in Billy’s face, the entire parking lot could hear a pin drop for the next execution of words Steve has apparently said before.
“Why? Why? Where were you at her fucking birthday Hargrove? You didn’t even bother to show up! What was her favorite present? Do you know it? Because I sure as hell do.” Steve gets close to his chest and has a finger on his sternum, “a fucking peach n cream Barbie in case you were unaware.” It’s said quietly as everyone remains silent in the parking lot.
“If I didn’t know any better I’d say you have an another motive. Actually, I don’t know better.”
“Oh that’s fucking rich.” Steve has a bitter laugh, Robin notices that both Carol and Tommy look uncomfortable with what is going on now.
“So why hang out with them? All of them?”
“Why? Because they’re like my fucking family! You don’t even know what that feels like do you? Because you are such an asshole.”
“A family? You’ve got yourself a little family with a bunch of middle schoolers?”
“Billy, maybe we should go.” Carol says it with a firm voice as the entire parking lot watches.
“No,” Billy snarls, “I want to hear his answer.”
“You know what yeah I have. Dustin? Smartest little kid you’ll ever meet, could go circles around you. Lucas? Best shot ever and let’s not forget he’s the best at Centipede. Will? Best artist ever, you should see his work sometime, he’s amazing, ask anyone who has seen him draw. Mike? Sweetest kid once you get through the asshole shell, he really is. Max? Your little sister, Max? She’s tougher than shit, I hope she isn’t like that because you made her that way. But she is. Guess what? I love all of them, every single one of them to fucking pieces. Yeah they’re fucking annoying, but I love them. They are my family and you need to stop messing with Max. Or should I remind you what happened last time you needed the reminder?” It’s Steve’s turn to have a snarl in his voice as he says the last words, the parking lot remains silent as Robin looks around now, waiting to see what happens next. She sees the kids get into Steve’s car, one too many for the vehicle, but they all look relieved a little bit. Billy goes quiet in the first time in Robin doesn’t know how long, but it’s a nice change.
“Fuck. You.” Is all that comes out of Billy’s mouth.
“That’s what I thought.” It’s the first time she’s head Steve be cocky in a really long time, but she’s glad he is in that moment. “We’re going out for pizza and to get a new skateboard, tell your parents.” Steve says then, his King persona gone once more. He looks more like a doting brother as he gets in the car silently, he’s looking softly, saying soft words she’s sure before the parking lot comes back to life with the realization there wasn’t going to be a physical fight.
“That was weird.” Brendon says behind her.
“Yeah, it was.” She agrees as she gets into the car, looking one last time at Steve’s BMW pull out of the parking lot.