Chapter Text
chapter 18 - Take On Me
Steve walked back into the station, muttering to himself, still irritated, and Jonathan—who was sitting in one of the armchairs—looked up as soon as he heard the door open. Steve stopped, not realizing anyone else was there, the frustration still written all over his face for a second before he quickly tried to smooth it out.
Jonathan tilted his head slightly. “You okay?”
Steve answered a little too quickly. “Oh—yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Just… Dustin getting on my nerves.”
Jonathan nodded. “Oh, I haven’t seen him yet.”
“He’s fixing something in the machine room,” Steve said. “He should be back soon.”
A small silence settled between them, and Jonathan studied him for a moment. “You sure you’re okay?”
Steve waved it off. “Yeah, yeah. I just—” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I need a snack or something.”
He walked toward the small kitchenette area, opening drawers as he went. “Let’s see what we have here…”
Jonathan stood up and followed. “I think there might be something up there,” he said, pointing to one of the upper cabinets. “It’s been a while since anyone brought snacks, but there might be something left.”
He stepped past Steve and reached up, standing on his toes to grab something from the back. His shirt lifted slightly as he stretched, and Steve noticed—immediately regretting that he noticed. Just a glimpse. A strip of pale skin, the line of his waist, something soft and distracting enough to make Steve’s brain short-circuit for a second. Oh my God. He stared for a moment too long. Then—“Ah! Found something.”
Steve blinked, snapping back to reality. Jonathan pulled out a small box. “Boppers.”
Steve’s face lit up instantly. “Oh! Boppers! I love Boppers!”
Jonathan handed it to him, and Steve opened it right away, taking a big bite. “Mmm,” he said dramatically. “That’s amazing.” He pointed at the chocolate bar like it had just changed his life. “This is really good.”
Jonathan laughed softly, watching him. He couldn’t help thinking how ridiculously cute Steve looked getting that excited over a snack. “You seem very enthusiastic about that Bopper.”
Steve shrugged, still chewing. “Hey,” he said, “good snacks matter.”
For a moment, the room fell quiet—not uncomfortable exactly, just… a little strange. Steve decided to break it. “So,” he said casually, “what are you doing this week?”
Jonathan looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“Like… plans,” Steve clarified. “Anything going on?”
Jonathan thought for a moment. “I was going to watch a movie with my siblings,” he said. “There’s one coming out that I really want to see.” He paused. “But now that Dustin’s in town, it probably won’t happen.”
Steve nodded. “Yeah?”
Jonathan shrugged. “You know how it is. Will and El will probably hang out with Dustin and the rest of the group.”
Steve nodded again. “Yeah… right. Makes sense.”
A second passed. Then Steve spoke again, a little too quickly. “I mean—I could go with you.”
Jonathan blinked. “…What?”
Steve immediately felt how strange that sounded hanging in the air. “I mean,” he added quickly, “if you wanted. I think that movie could be fun.”
Jonathan stared at him for a moment—processing, slightly caught off guard. And then, before the silence could stretch any further—Robin appeared. “Jonathan,” she called. “I was looking for you.”
Jonathan turned to her. “What’s up?”
“I want to show you something,” she said, waving him over. “Come here. It’s this record I found.”
Jonathan nodded, relieved. “Okay.”
He followed her to a corner of the room where she started talking about the vinyl, pointing out details with quiet excitement. Thank God, he thought. That conversation was getting weird.
Steve stayed where he was, still holding half of his Bopper, watching them from across the room—watching them talk, watching them laugh softly together—feeling something twist quietly in his chest as he stood there, not quite knowing what to do with himself.
Robin was showing Jonathan the vinyl, pointing excitedly at the cover while explaining something, and Jonathan listened quietly until something she said made him smile—just a small smile, barely there at the corner of his mouth.
Steve noticed immediately. God, he’s cute. He blinked, and then realized he was smiling too—not a small smile, but a full one—and he kept looking at Jonathan for several long seconds. Maybe longer. Until—“Hey, Steve!”
Steve jumped, turning so fast he almost knocked the box of Boppers off the counter. Dustin was standing right behind him. “How did you get here?” Steve snapped.
Dustin gave him a suspicious look. “I got here like… ten seconds ago.”
Steve dragged a hand down his face. “Don’t do that. You just appear out of nowhere.”
“I finished fixing the machine,” Dustin said. “So I thought I’d hang out for a bit.”
Then his eyes followed Steve’s line of sight—Robin and Jonathan, talking quietly, laughing—and then back to Steve. Then back to them. Then back to Steve again. His eyes narrowed slowly. “…Okay.”
Steve frowned. “Okay what?”
Dustin crossed his arms. “That was weird.”
“What was weird?” Steve said defensively.
“You,” Dustin said.
“What are you talking about?”
“You were staring at Jonathan.”
“I was not.”
“You were.”
“No I wasn’t.”
Dustin nodded. “Uh-huh.”
“I was just—”
“You were smiling,” Dustin cut in. “Like an idiot.”
Steve froze. “No, no, no, no, no,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “We are not talking about that.”
Dustin raised an eyebrow. “Oh, we are absolutely talking about that.”
But before he could continue, Robin and Jonathan walked back over. Robin took one look at Steve and Dustin facing off and laughed. “Oh my God. Are you two already arguing?”
“Shut up!” Steve snapped immediately.
Robin snorted. “Wow, Steve. Someone’s in a great mood today.”
Jonathan glanced between them, amused, then looked at Dustin. “Hey, Dustin.”
Dustin nodded. “Hey.”
Jonathan tilted his head slightly. “How’s college going?”
“Pretty good so far,” Dustin said.
Then suddenly Robin turned to him. “Hey, Dustin,” she said casually, “I need you to check something in the booth. Can you come with me?”
Dustin frowned. “What? Why?”
But before he could question it too much, Robin grabbed his arm and pulled him along. “Come on.”
And just like that, Steve and Jonathan were left alone in the room—standing there in the sudden quiet, neither of them quite sure what to say.
Jonathan shifted his weight slightly, glancing toward the door where they had just gone, then cleared his throat. “So… about earlier.”
Steve looked at him.
Jonathan rubbed the back of his neck. “That offer. About the movie.”
Steve immediately stiffened.
“You don’t actually have to go,” Jonathan said quickly. “I mean—it’s fine. I was just going to see a movie. It’s not a big deal.” He gave a small shrug. “I thought I was going with Will and El, but since Dustin is here they’ll probably end up doing something together.” He looked back at Steve. “So if you were just saying it because you felt bad that I’d end up going alone, you really don’t have to.”
Steve blinked. “Oh. No.”
Jonathan waited.
Steve tried to sound casual. “I mean… I was actually thinking about going.”
Jonathan tilted his head slightly. “You were?”
Steve nodded, trying very hard to look normal. “Yeah. I mean, we work together. We’re… coworkers.” The word sounded a little stiff. “So it could be fun.”
Jonathan studied him for a moment. “Right.” A small pause. “Okay. If you want to go, that’s fine.”
Steve nodded quickly. “Yeah. Sure.”
Another silence fell between them, a little heavier this time, until Jonathan suddenly glanced toward the hallway. “Actually,” he said suddenly, “I think I left something over there.”
Steve blinked. “Oh. Sure. Yeah.”
Jonathan gave a small nod and walked away. As soon as he was out of Steve’s sight, he muttered quietly to himself, “…Why has he been so nice lately?”
Back in the room, Steve stood there completely frozen, his brain short-circuiting for a second before catching up all at once. Oh my God. He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m going to the movies with Jonathan.” He blinked. “Okay.” A beat. “That’s normal.” He nodded to himself, trying very hard to look calm. “Totally normal.” Another pause. “…Oh my God.”
He pointed a finger at himself like he was issuing a warning. “Do not make this weird, Harrington.” He took a steadying breath. “It’s just a movie. Two coworkers going to see a movie.” But despite all that effort—despite everything—there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop the smile slowly spreading across his face.
₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
Inside the booth, Dustin looked around.
Dustin stumbled slightly behind her. “Whoa—okay, what’s wrong with the booth?”
Robin shut the door behind them. “Nothing.”
Dustin blinked. “…Nothing?”
“I just wanted to leave Steve and Jonathan alone for a minute.”
Dustin squinted at her. “Why?” He crossed his arms. “Steve was acting really weird earlier. What’s going on between him and Jonathan?”
Robin sighed. “That’s… a long story.” She tilted her head. “And honestly, I think it’s better if Steve tells you.”
Right at that moment, the booth door opened and Steve appeared in the doorway. “Tell him what?”
Robin and Dustin both turned toward him. Dustin raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on between you and Jonathan?”
Steve froze for a second, then exhaled. “…It’s complicated.”
Robin leaned against the console. “Go on.”
Steve rubbed the back of his neck. “I kind of… like him.”
Dustin blinked once. “…Oh.” A pause. “Well, that’s cool,” he said. “Congrats.”
Robin shook her head. “That’s not the problem.”
Dustin frowned. “What’s the problem?”
Robin pointed toward Steve. “The problem is that Jonathan is going out with Eddie.”
Dustin’s eyes widened. “Wait—what?” “He’s going out with Eddie?” Dustin repeated.
Steve sighed. “Yeah.”
Dustin leaned back in his chair, processing. “…Oh.” A beat—then suddenly his eyes lit up. “Oh! Now I get it,” he said, pointing at Steve. “That’s why you’ve been acting weird.”
Steve ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. “I swear—the exact moment I realized I liked Jonathan…” he said, exhaling, “…he started going out with Eddie.”
Robin and Dustin both looked at him, sympathy all over their faces.
“And now I don’t know what to do,” Steve continued. “I’m trying to be his friend, but I like him.” He gestured emphatically. “Like—a lot.” He pointed at the floor in frustration. “Like, a lot a lot.”
Robin and Dustin exchanged a quick look.
Steve rubbed his face with both hands. “Look, Eddie’s my friend,” he said. “And I care about Jonathan.” His voice softened. “I don’t want to mess up whatever is happening between them just because I like him.”
Robin’s expression softened. “Steve,” she said gently, “things need to calm down first. They went on one date. It’s not like they’re official boyfriends or anything.”
Dustin immediately cut in “Two. Two dates.”
Robin turned to him. “That’s not helping.”
Dustin raised his hands slightly. “I’m just saying—facts.” Then he added, a little more helpful this time, “But Robin’s right. It’s not official.”
Steve blinked, processing. And then—a slow smile spread across his face. “Okay,” he said. “But I do have some good news.”
Robin narrowed her eyes. “That smile worries me.”
Steve pointed at himself. “I might be going to the movies with Jonathan.”
Both of them froze. “…What?” Dustin and Robin said at the same time.
Steve lifted his hands. “Okay, okay, it was a little weird.” He started pacing as he explained. “I asked him what he was doing this week and he said he was going to the movies with his siblings. But then your plans got ruined.”
Dustin pointed at himself. “Me?”
“Yes, you!” Steve shot back. “Let me finish.”
Dustin raised his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay.”
Steve continued, “So he was supposed to go with Will and El, but since you’re in town they’re probably all going to hang out together. So I said—” He mimicked himself nervously, “‘Hey, I could go with you.’”
Robin stared at him. “And?”
“And he said I didn’t have to,” Steve said quickly. “But I said it could be fun.” He stopped pacing and looked at them, eyes wide. “So now I’m going to the movies with Jonathan.” A beat. “And I’m kind of freaking out.”
Robin slowly crossed her arms. “Steve.”
“I know,” he said immediately.
“He thinks it’s just a friend thing.”
“I know.”
“And you’re hoping it’s secretly a date.”
Steve pointed at her. “Maybe a little.”
Robin groaned. “Steve, you cannot go into this thinking it’s a date if he thinks it’s just friendship.”
“I know, I know, I know!” Steve said quickly. “But this is already a huge step, okay?” He gestured wildly. “We used to hate each other. Now we’re going to the movies together.” He paused. “Maybe this is the moment we finally become actual friends.”
Dustin and Robin exchanged a look. Then Dustin slowly smiled. “Oh my God.”
Robin nodded. “You’re really in love with him.”
Steve immediately pointed at them. “Shut up.”
They both burst out laughing.
Steve groaned and dragged a hand down his face. “This is a disaster.” But he was smiling anyway.
₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
Jonathan stood in the record room, staring at nothing in particular, a vinyl in his hands that he wasn’t really looking at, his expression distant—distracted, like something wasn’t quite right.
Nancy passed by the hallway, noticed him through the open door, and took a step back, leaning against the frame. “You okay?” she asked. “Something wrong?”
Jonathan blinked, as if snapping out of it. “Yeah,” he said slowly. “Actually… something is wrong.”
Nancy stepped inside, curious. “What happened?”
Jonathan sighed. “It’s Steve.”
Nancy immediately groaned. “Oh my God. I can’t believe you two are fighting again.”
Jonathan shook his head. “No. Actually… the opposite.”
Nancy frowned. “What?”
“Steve’s been… really nice lately.”
Nancy blinked once, then crossed her arms. “Well,” she said, “that’s great.”
“I guess,” Jonathan muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s just… weird.”
Nancy tilted her head. “I think he’s trying to be your friend. It was about time you two stopped acting stupid.”
Jonathan looked at her for a moment. “Yeah. I think you’re right.” He hesitated. “It’s just strange. Not that I don’t want to be friends with him—I do. But… I don’t know. He keeps doing nice things.”
Nancy raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”
Jonathan gestured vaguely. “A few days ago he just walked up to me and asked if I wanted coffee. Then he brought me coffee. Out of nowhere. Like… why?”
Nancy tried not to smile.
“And another time he asked if I wanted to listen to some music with him. Asked what bands I liked. Today he asked what my plans were this week.” He sighed. “I told him I was supposed to go to the movies with my siblings, but they canceled.”
Nancy waited. “And then he volunteered to go to the movies with me,” Jonathan finished. “Which was… weird.”
Nancy smiled now. “That sounds nice.”
Jonathan didn’t look convinced. “It is nice”
Nancy insisted. “Just accept it.”
Jonathan let out a small laugh. “You think?”
“Yes,” she said firmly. “Steve’s a good guy. Maybe he just realized that and wants to fix things between you two.”
Jonathan looked down at the vinyl in his hands. “Yeah. Maybe.”
Nancy nudged his shoulder. “Stop overthinking. Go to the movies. I bet you two will actually have a good time.”
Jonathan gave a small, reluctant smile. “Yeah… maybe we will.”
They lingered there a little longer, drifting into easier conversation—about the radio schedule, playlists, the usual chaos of the station—but even as he talked, Jonathan couldn’t quite shake the strange feeling settling in his chest. Because Steve Harrington being nice to him… felt new. And somehow—a little dangerous.
₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
Everyone was starting to pack up for the day, moving around the station, gathering their things, when Steve was about to say something and noticed—Robin. She was staring. Not subtly. At Nancy, who was across the room talking with Jonathan and Dustin, completely unaware.
Steve followed her gaze, then looked back at Robin. Yeah… that tracks. “So,” he said casually, breaking the moment, “when we leave the station, I’m grabbing something to eat with Dustin. Just catching up.” He nudged her lightly. “You wanna come with us? Sounds like you need a distraction.”
Robin blinked, snapping out of it, and shook her head with a tired smile. “I’m really not in the mood.” She nudged him back. “You go hang out with your little brother.” A small pause. “But… could you maybe drop me off at home first?”
“Yeah, of course,” Steve said immediately. “No problem.”
“Actually—” Nancy’s voice cut in, and both of them flinched slightly as she appeared right beside them. “I can drop you off,” she said, like it was nothing. “It’s not a problem.”
Robin and Steve both stared at her for a second. Steve recovered first. “Oh. Yeah. That’s great.”
Robin forced a smile. “Sure. That 's… cool.”
Nancy nodded once. “I’ll meet you outside.”
And just like that, she walked away. Robin watched her go—silent, still. Then—Great. She exhaled slowly. Now I have to sit in a car. Alone. With Nancy Wheeler. She closed her eyes briefly. What could possibly go wrong?
Steve glanced at her. “…You’re gonna survive this, right?”
Robin didn’t even look at him. “No.” A beat. “Absolutely not.”
Steve Snorted. “Good. Keep me updated if you die.”
Robin finally looked at him. “You’re so supportive.”
“I try.” And just like that—the tension stayed, waiting for the car ride.
.₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
In the car, Steve drove while Dustin sat beside him, the quiet hum of the engine filling the space between them. They were getting close to the diner when Dustin shifted slightly in his seat. “So…” he said.
Steve glanced at him briefly. “What?”
Dustin hesitated. “…When we get there, we’re kind of meeting Eddie.”
Steve turned his head so fast he almost missed the turn. “…What?”
Dustin winced. “Yeah.”
Steve blinked. “What do you mean—what—why?”
Dustin sighed. “Okay, look—when I made the plan, I didn’t know about… you know. Jonathan. Eddie. All of that.” He gestured vaguely. “And everything that’s going on with you.” A pause. “Sorry. I just thought it’d be fun.”
Steve stared ahead at the road. “Fun.”
“Yeah,” Dustin continued, a little awkward now. “You and Eddie have always been friends, and… I don’t know, the three of us used to hang out. I thought it’d be nice.” Another beat. “Before I knew about… all this.”
Steve let out a long sigh, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. For a second, he said nothing. Then“Okay.” Dustin looked at him carefully. “This isn’t your fault.” Steve shook his head slightly. “Eddie is my friend.” A small pause. “…It’s fine.” Not really—but still. “Yeah,” he said again, more firmly this time. “It’s fine. Let’s just go.”
Dustin nodded, still watching him. “…Okay.”
Steve kept his eyes on the road, jaw tightening just a little as the diner came into view.
₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
The diner buzzed around them—low conversations, clinking glasses, the steady rhythm of a place that never really quieted down. Steve spotted Eddie immediately—of course he did. Eddie was already stretched out in a booth. Dustin waved. “Hey!”
Eddie looked up and grinned. “There he is! My favorite nerd.”
Dustin slid in, and Steve followed a second later—slower. Eddie’s eyes flicked to him. “…Harrington.” A small smirk. “Good to see you.”
Steve shrugged, aiming for casual. “Yeah. Last minute.”
He sat, and Dustin glanced between them, already picking up on something. They ordered, menus dropped, drinks arriving quickly, and then a silence settled—too short, too stiff. “So,” Eddie said, leaning back, “radio life treating you well?”
Steve nodded. “Yeah. It’s good.”
Another pause. Dustin jumped in. “Steve basically lives there now. It’s kind of sad.”
Steve shot him a look. “Thanks, man.”
Eddie chuckled. “Yeah, you’ve been working a lot. Don’t have time for your friends anymore?”
Steve shrugged. “There’s a lot going on. Interviews, new sponsors… you know how it is.”
Eddie nodded. “Yeah.”
Then, casually—“Jonathan’s been showing me some stuff. Music, mostly.”
Steve nodded. “Yeah. He does that.” A beat. Then, without thinking—“He does that with everyone.”
Dustin froze. Eddie blinked. “…Okay?”
Steve immediately backtracked. “Not—like—everyone. Just… people. At the station.”
Dustin jumped in fast. “Yeah, Jonathan is basically a walking playlist.”
Eddie laughed. “Yeah, that sounds about right.”
Crisis… partially avoided. The food arrived, and they started eating. Steve focused way too hard on his fries. Eddie glanced at him. “You sure you’re good, man?”
Steve looked up. “Yeah.” Too fast. “I’m good.”
Dustin pointed at him with a fry. “He’s just weird.” He nudged Steve under the table. Be normal.
Steve kicked him back. “Shut up.”
Eddie laughed. “Alright. Noted.”
Another pause. Then Eddie said, casual as anything—“I’m seeing Jonathan tomorrow.”
Steve froze for half a second. Barely noticeable—but enough. Dustin noticed. Of course he did. “Oh yeah?”
Dustin cut in quickly. “Doing what?”
Eddie shrugged. “Nothing big. Just hanging out. Maybe checking out some records.”
Steve nodded. Cool. Normal. Casual. “Cool.” A beat. Then—“You guys hang out a lot now, huh?”
Dustin closed his eyes. Steve. Eddie frowned slightly. “Uh… yeah?” A shrug. “I mean, we get along.”
Steve nodded again. “Right. Yeah.” Too many nods. Too much nothing.
Dustin leaned forward suddenly. “So—movies!” he said, way too loud. “Anyone seen anything good lately?”
Eddie snorted. “Nice save, Henderson.”
Dustin pointed at him. “I try.”
Steve leaned back, exhaling slowly, trying to reset, trying to act like a normal human being.
The conversation shifted after that—easier topics, safer ones. But every now and then, Steve said something just slightly off. And every time, Dustin jumped in, redirected, smoothed it over like he was putting out tiny fires one by one. Eddie didn’t know why. But he noticed. Steve Harrington was being weird.
₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
They finished eating, talked for a while, and eventually said their goodbyes to Eddie. A few minutes later, they were back in the car. The door shut. Silence. Dustin buckled his seatbelt. “…That was—”
“I know,” Steve cut in immediately. “It was awful.”
Dustin let out a breath. “Okay, I get that you’ve got this whole… jealous, confusing Jonathan situation going on—” he gestured vaguely, “but dude… that was rough.”
Steve groaned. “Yeah, I know.” A pause. “…I was really annoying, wasn’t I?”
Dustin didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. You were.”
Steve dropped his head forward, resting it against the steering wheel. “Great.” He let out a long sigh before sitting back up, running a hand through his hair. “Okay. I need to relax. Eddie doesn’t deserve that. He’s my friend and I’m acting like a total jerk.”
Dustin reached over and patted his shoulder. “Yeah. You need to chill, man.”
A beat. Then Dustin leaned back. “Okay. Now take me home, please. I want to sleep for, like… twelve hours.”
Steve glanced at him. “Are you even staying at home?”
Dustin frowned. “Yeah?”
Steve gave him a look. “You just got back to Hawkins and you haven’t even properly talked to your mom yet.”
Dustin rolled his eyes. “I did talk to her. I stopped by earlier.”
“For, what, five minutes?” Steve shot back.
Dustin hesitated. “…Maybe.”
Steve shook his head dramatically. “Oh my God.” He pointed at him. “Unbelievable. Dustin Henderson, I am disappointed in you.”
Dustin groaned. “Here we go…”
“You’re in college now,” Steve continued, fully slipping into older-brother mode. “You come back home and don’t even spend time with your mom?” He gestured emphatically. “You go home, you hug her, and you say, ‘Mom, I love you.’ Then you sit down and tell her everything about college.”
Dustin crossed his arms. “You’re acting like I don’t care about her. She’s the most important person in my life. I call her all the time.”
Steve softened slightly. “I know you do.” A beat. “But it’s not the same as being there.”
Dustin looked away for a second. Steve added, quieter now, “She misses you. You know that.”
Another pause. “…Okay, okay,” Dustin muttered. “Can you just take me home now?”
Steve smiled a little. “Yeah. I’ll take you home.”
He started the car, and just like that, they drove off—the tension from earlier finally starting to fade, replaced by something easier, something familiar.
₊˚♪ 𝄞₊˚⊹
Robin got into Nancy’s car, and they drove in silence for a few minutes. Nancy kept her eyes on the road, hands steady on the wheel, while Robin sat beside her, tense, staring out the window. The silence stretched—too long. Nancy finally spoke. “So… Robin,” she said carefully. “Are you okay? Everything alright?”
Robin blinked, caught off guard. “Yeah—yeah, of course. Nothing’s wrong. Why?”
Nancy opened her mouth—then stopped. She wasn’t going to mention the letter. Or the crying. Or any of that. So she changed direction. “I just… got the impression you’ve been a little distant,” she said instead. “Maybe avoiding me.”
That hit. Robin hadn’t expected her to notice. She forced a small laugh. “No,no,” she said quickly. “I’m not avoiding you.”
Nancy glanced at her briefly, not convinced. “…Okay.” A beat. “I mean—we’re friends, right?”
Robin answered immediately. “Yeah. Of course. We’re friends.”
Nancy nodded. “You know you can talk to me. About anything.”
Robin looked back out at the road. “Yeah. I know.”
Nancy continued, softer now, “And I know you and Steve have your whole… thing, and that’s great, but—” she shrugged slightly, “I’m your friend too. So if there’s anything you want to talk about… I’m here.”
Robin swallowed. “Yeah,” she said again. “I know.”
Silence fell back between them, heavier this time. Nancy tried again—lighter now. “So,” she said, forcing a small smile, “you still don’t know how to drive?”
Robin made a noise. “Oh my God, not this again.”
Nancy laughed softly. “I’m serious. You’re gonna have to learn at some point.”
Robin huffed. “I tried. A few times.” A beat. “I almost crashed Steve’s car.”
Nancy’s eyebrows shot up. “Seriously?”
“Yeah,” Robin said. “He freaked out and basically banned me from ever touching his car again.”
Nancy laughed. Another small pause—then, casually: “I could teach you.”
Robin turned to look at her. “…You could?”
Nancy nodded. “Yeah. If you want.”
Robin hesitated. Don’t do this. Don’t do this. “Yeah,” she said anyway, a small smile breaking through. “I think that would be nice.”
They were already turning onto Robin’s street. Nancy spoke again, more careful now. “We haven’t really spent time together outside of work lately.” A glance. “So… I could teach you this week. Give you a few lessons.”
Robin laughed softly. “Yeah,” she said. “That actually sounds… great.”
Nancy smiled, relieved. She pulled up in front of Robin’s place and parked the car. “Well,” she said, “we’re here.” A small pause. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” Robin said. “See you.”
“Goodnight.”
“Goodnight.” Robin got out, walked up to her apartment, unlocked the door, and stepped inside—and the second it closed behind her, she leaned back against it, letting out a long breath. “What am I doing with my life?” she muttered to herself.