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There were two kinds of parties when it came to Steve Harrington.
- The high school drinking, chugging beer kind of party. The haze of summer nights, the smell of alcohol on everyone’s breaths, and a lot of making out. It was all too much for you. You had never been one for this type of party. Steve’s friends always made fun of you, but Nancy and Barb were your best friends. You would put up with anything to be around them. You were always a little jealous that Nancy pulled Steve, though.
- The dungeons and dragons with your little brother and his friends kind of party. You were Dustin’s older sister. You loved your little brother more than almost everything. He was your ride or die, so of course, you taught him and his favorite band of nerds how to play DnD. You were their dungeon master up until freshman year of high school. Mike had it mostly figured out by then. After all the weird happenings of Hawkins, Indiana, Steve started to spend more and more time at the second kind of party.
Dustin knew of your feelings for Steve, and he only watched them grow worse as time went on. The night in the junkyard, you grabbed Steve’s hand and pulled him back into the bus, but you didn’t let go. He never tried to move your hand either. Dustin noticed how comfortable you both were and kept that thought in the back of his head. You only unlocked your fingers when you came across Nancy and Jonathan at the lab.
You and Dustin overheard Nancy and Steve’s talk. Dustin didn’t understand the gravity of the situation, but you did. Nancy had cheated on Steve with Jonathan, and if you hadn’t been preoccupied with saving the world, you probably would have given Nancy more than just a piece of your mind. After their breakup, you and Steve grew closer, your longing for his romantic affection only worsened, but you never had the heart to say anything.
Dustin, however, always had the heart to say something.
It started out innocent enough, Dustin begged you to take him to see Steve at the mall, and you agreed. Not that you minded, you had yet to visit Steve at his new job. You almost lost it when you got there, though; Steve looked adorable in his uniform. After his little greeting with Dustin, his eyes fell on you. He seemed flustered; Robin quirked her eyebrow. You didn’t notice, though. “Ahoy, elder Henderson! Care for some ice cream?”
“It’s summertime; I’m always down for ice cream.”
“Step right up to the counter then. You can have whatever you want, on me.”
You gawked at him. “Stop it, Steve. I’ll pay for my ice cream.”
“No can do, it’s best friend hour, best friends don’t pay for ice cream during this hour.” You rolled your eyes at him, but on the inside, you were a little upset by his use of the term “best friend.” Dustin knew, and he was so sick of it.
“What about me? Do I have to pay for mine?”
“Of course, you do, Henderson.”
“More like future girlfriend hour, then.”
“Excuse me?” Steve said, caught off guard by Dustin’s forwardness.
“Just admit you like her, Steve. You’re giving her free ice cream because you like her, not because she’s your best friend. We all know I’m your best friend.”
Steve put his hands up to hide his face. You were horrified, but also excited. “Is that true, Steve?” You asked.
“Is what true?” He asked through his fingers.
“Do you like me?”
Robin rolled her eyes, “Absolutely he does. I can see it on his stupid face.”
“Wanna go on a date when I get off work?” he asked sheepishly.
“I would love nothing more.”