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It had been a last-minute decision. A last-minute invitation, a last-minute phone call, a last-minute outfit change.
The bonfire held out at Lover’s Lake was an end of summer tradition. An event marked on every teenager’s calendar from the moment school ends. The adolescents of Hawkins, Indiana, joining together to enjoy a night of drinking, laughter and mayhem before conformity strikes each and every one of them down in the form of education.
It had been a last-minute decision to go. A phone call with Robin; a plea to help her talk to the girl she had been flirting with all summer. Steve hadn’t wanted to go; hadn’t been a fan of parties since the night at Tina’s Halloween party, but he had said yes, wanting to spend an evening with you.
The bonfire is burning bright by the time you both arrive. Steve holds onto your hand tightly as he leads the two of you down to the small stretch of sand at the side of the lake. Cheers and laughter punctuate the night air; music blaring from a nearby stereo – Duran Duran’s latest hit providing a light and fun atmosphere.
You wave at Robin enthusiastically, spying her blonde hair in the crowd. She pushes through the heavy throng of people, a large smile on her face as she greets you both.
“Where’s your girl?” You ask, arching an eyebrow, smirking at your friend.
“Waiting for me by the bonfire,” She answers, a shy look on her face as a deep blush paints her cheeks. “I told her I was getting us some more drinks. Do you want to join us?”
You glance up at Steve. His expression is tight; his jaw clenched as his eyes wander warily over the crowds of people. Without a second thought, you squeeze his hand, reminding him of your presence as you press further into him. A small smile graces your lips as you turn your focus back to Robin, accepting her offer of drinks.
You feel the night begin from there.
Drink after drink was being handed to you; each one being drank quickly, the buzz hitting you faster than you realise. You sway slightly; dizziness washing over you as you find yourself struggling to stay focused on a single thing.
“Babe,” Steve calls; his voice concerned, “I think it’s time we headed home.”
You pout, but don’t argue as you wander slowly over to Steve. “Do we have to go?”
Steve nods, tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear. “We’ve both had enough to drink,” He comments. “Some of us more than others.”
You gasp, a smile tugging at the corner of your lips. “Are you calling me drunk, Harrington?”
He snorts, hiding his growing nerves with amusement. “If the shoe fits.”
You laugh; happy and carefree as Steve grabs your hand, beginning the walk back to his car. The night air is cool against your face; the fresh air doing very little to sober you up as you trip over your own feet more than once. Steve remains patient; pulling you up every time, checking you over for bumps and scrapes that you’ll definitely feel in the morning.
“Are you okay to drive?” You question as Steve’s car comes into view.
Steve nods his assent. “I didn’t drink.”
“At all? I saw you with a beer”
Steve shakes his head, unlocking his car. “I was holding it for Troy – he needed the bathroom. I haven’t had a drink all night.”
“Oh,” You murmur, falling quiet as you slide into the passenger seat and rolling down the window.
“Will you be okay for the drive back to mine?” Steve wonders, side-eyeing you.
“Yes,” You groan, playfully rolling your eyes at the brunette. “I don’t feel sick at all.”
Steve keeps the radio at a low volume for the drive back to his home. His parents were away once more; his mother joining his father on his business trip, turning it into a couple’s holiday after business was completed. Steve silently thanks whatever deities are out there for his parent’s absence; he knew you would not recover from the embarrassment should they see you in such a state.
The ride home is quiet; small conversation here and there as you point out a particularly bright star, or the home of a friend. Your fingers are tangled with Steve’s against the gearbox; Steve’s thumb brushing back and forth against the back of your hand; the feel of which lulls you into a light sleep.
You jolt awake when the car rolls to a stop outside of Steve’s home. “Upstairs,” Steve coaxes, pulling you from the car and beginning the long walk up to his room. “A glass of water before you sleep, I think.”
You hum in agreement; focusing more on trying to walk in a straight line than Steve’s words. The stairs were proving to be tricky. You had to pause with every step, lining up your foot to make sure you weren’t to fall. Steve watches with unconcealed amusement, wondering what the strength of the alcohol was you drank to bring on such drunkenness.
A loud laugh followed by an amused snort leaves your lips as you trip over the final stair, falling over with a thud onto the landing. Steve rushes towards you; worried questions leaving him as he helps you stand up straight. You brush them and yourself off, reassuring the brunette that you were fine.
Steve rolls his eyes, but doesn’t say a word as you follow him to his room. Sitting you down on the edge of his bed, Steve leaves you momentarily to pour you a glass of water. One of his t-shirts lies on the bed, waiting for you to put it on. Carefully, you begin the process of taking off your shirt, all too quickly realising that you’d rather messed it up.
“Steve!” You giggle, “I’m stuck.”
Steve laughs at the sight before him. Your arms are above you; held hostage by the sleeves of your shirt as your face remains hidden in the fabric. “Let me help,” He laughs gently.
Together, the two of you manage to free you from your shirt. You huff a relieved breath at the freedom, already holding your arms out for Steve’s t-shirt. The fabric is soft against your skin, the material well-worn and stretchy. Taking a deep inhale, you smile at the scent of Steve’s favourite body wash – woodsy and musky perfumes roll over you as you take one more deep breath in.
You lie back on his bed, turning to face Steve when he joins you, the bed dipping with his weight. “You’re my favourite person,” You state firmly, grabbing Steve’s face in your hands. “In this whole entire world, and in the whole of Hawkins, Indiana – you, Steve Harrington, are my favourite person.”
“How much did you have to drink?” Steve questions; his words ending on a choked laugh.
“That’s irrelevant,” You dismiss. “What is relevant is how much I love you from the top of your head to the soles of your feet.”
“That’s a lot of love for one person to have.”
You hum, nodding your agreement. “But I feel it,” You say, pointing at your chest. “I feel it right here, in my chest, and every time I see you it gets that little bit bigger.”
“Every time?”
“Every time. Can I tell you a secret?”
Steve nods, leaning in close as your voice drops to a whisper. “I sometimes think my heart will burst with how much I love you.”
“Can I tell you a secret?” Steve replies; his chest close to combustion with the warmth settling deep within his heart.
You nod; a happy, goofy smile on your face as you press closer to Steve. Steve relishes in your feel; loving the way you feel against him. In a quiet murmur Steve says, “I didn’t think it would be possible to love someone as much as I love you.”
“It is possible,” You answer in a matter-of-fact tone, “Because I love you more than you love me.”
“I don’t believe you,” Steve argues, a wide smile on his face as he falls face first into the happiness rushing through his body.
“Let me count the ways,” You announce, sitting up in bed much to Steve’s amusement.
“The first way in which I love you,” You begin, your face portraying the seriousness of the matter in your furrowed brows as you list off the ways on your fingers, “Is how I never feel lonely in your presence. I know that you are my best friend; I wouldn’t want anyone else to be by my side. The second way in which I love you is how you always surprise me by memorising my orders even if it’s for the movies. A third thing I love about you is your hair; I love running my hands through it. A fourth way in which I love you is the time you spend with Dustin and his friends; he looks up to you, he idolises you and I don’t think you realise what a good role model you are. A fifth thing I love about you is how much you love me. You don’t hide it; you don’t push your feelings down, and I love that about you.”
You fall silent; your slightly drunken mind doing its best to think of more. You’re more sober now than you were in the car, but still, it’s hard to put into words your feelings for someone who entirely encompasses your life. It’s hard to explain that even this far into your relationship with Steve, you still struggle to sleep on the nights before a date – too excited to sleep, too hyped up to relax.
As words come and go, you struggle to string them together. Instead, asking the man you were certain you were going to spend the rest of your life with, “Would you like me to list more or is five enough?”
With tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat, Steve whispers, “Five is enough.”