Chapter Text
It’s fall in Hatchetfield, which can only mean that it is freezing fucking cold for some odd reason. But, that doesn’t bother Stephanie Lauter. She walks with the same stride as she’s had since she can remember, looking down at her phone and not caring if she hits someone “on accident.”
The leaves have just turned brown and started to fall from the trees around the campus and the streetlights flicker off for the day. “God, I can’t wait until I’m in my room and I can unpack my shit,” Steph says to the girl waking beside her.
“Yeah! Me too! I really hope we’re roommates.” Grace Chasity beams, clutching her backpack straps in both hands. “It’s nice that you were still in touch with me, Steph.”
”Chill out, Grace. I had to be. My dad made me go to that stupid bible camp.” Steph huffs and walks faster toward their dorm building. “Really?” Grace looks confused. “I thought you liked talking with me,” she says quietly, now looking down at her pink converse.
Steph sighs and turns around to face Grace. “I’m sorry, Grace. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I did like talking to you.” Grace smiled at her words. “I knew it!”
Grace and Steph now head into the dorm lobby and are met with a couple familiar-ish faces: Ruth Fleming, who now no longer has her headgear, and Richie who is still himself.
“Hi Steph! You look so so different! But that’s good, I promise!” Ruth runs up to the two and tackles Steph in a bear hug. After she lets go, Richie manages to get a few words in before Ruth goes off on what she’s been doing. “You look really nice, Steph.” Richie smiles. “Thanks, geek.”
“Where’s Pete?” Grace looks around and doesn’t spot his stupid bow tie or argyle sweater. “Uhm, he’s in the bathroom, I think?” Richie says and goes to turn to Ruth who is darting around the lobby searching for him now.
“Pete!” Ruth calls out for him, but no response. “Yeah, he’s probably in the bathroom.” Ruth adds as she’s coming back to the group.
They all head to the front desk to get their dorm keys and go to their respective rooms: Max Jagerman and Richie Lipschitz, Ruth Fleming and Grace Chasity, Stephanie Lauter and the missing Pete Spankoffski.
Max and Richie are obviously ecstatic about this news, Richie more than Max. Ruth is so incredibly normal about it but Grace is a little upset. Steph is thinking she needs to get another roommate.
Steph sits on her bed that looks like it was made by a military man. Not even a woman, at least she’d make it look a little comfortable. She looks out the window and watches the trees move in the wind, leaves falling at the tiniest breeze. She starts to take out some of her stuff to put on her desk in the room and Pete knocks on the door. “Hello? Is anyone in there?” He pushes the door open and sees Steph standing there.
“Oh- Oh, Hi. Hi, Steph. Guess we’re gonna be roomies…” Pete stiffens up and rocks on his heels. “Yeah, guess so.” Steph agrees without looking up at him. She sets down a ceramic vase with various colors she had made at camp and put the flowers back in. Pete makes his way toward the girl and sits on her bed.
“So, what have you been up to all this time?” Pete asks, folding his arms and crossing his legs. Steph turns around to face Pete, “Not much. I went to a bible camp. Well- My dad made me go. Grace actually was the only person I’ve really managed to stay in touch with.” Pete nods. “Yeah, that couldn’t have been that fun.”
”Hey, she was a little fun. She might be a little uptight sometimes and a little strict with herself, but she’s a good person.” Pete held up his hands in defeat, “Alright, alright. You win.”
•••
A few hours later, Steph and the rest of the group are in the campus cafe, eating dinner.
”Steph, what are you majoring in?” Ruth asks, picking at her salad that the campus offered as a vegetarian option. “Art. More specifically, like, photography. But, I don’t think that would be a major?” Steph chewed through her hamburger.
“I’m majoring in drama. I’m gonna get over my stage fright and you’ll see me on Broadway.” Ruth grinned from ear to ear, a piece of lettuce stuck to one of her teeth. “Hey, Ruth? You’ve got a little somethin’…” Richie points on his own face.
“I’m gonna major in art, too, Steph.” Richie now faces her instead. “I wanna make comic books. I already have concepts of a character!” Richie turns around and digs through his bag that was hanging off the chair he was sitting on. “Here,” he hands the papers to Steph in front of him. “His name is Jasper. He’s kinda like Spider-man, but he’s, like, a bad guy.” Richie sniffles and smiles a little.
“These are really nice, Rich.” Steph says, looking down at the figure on the paper. Max is sitting on Richie’s right and staring down Steph. She finally looks up and goes to hand the papers back to Richie but Max’s hand stops her and he gives them to him. “Whoa, Max.” Steph leans back, “Not gonna hurt him.”
Max understands but is still a little protective. “Just checkin’.”
“Max, what are you majoring in?” Richie turns to the boy, smiling. “Uh,” he giggles slightly, “I’m majoring in sports stuff. Y’know, it’s very me, I think.”
Steph smiles lightly and gets up from the table to throw her trash away and head up to her room. “Steph, wait up!” Steph hears Pete’s voice call her name.
“What’s up, Pete?”
”Just wanted to walk up with you.” Pete puts his hands in his pockets and grins. Steph sighs and walks away, Pete following behind. “I’ll take your silence as an ‘okay.’”
When they get to their room, Steph sits at her desk, opening up her computer. “Pete, I’d really like to be alone for a second. If that’s alright.”
”Oh- Okay! No worries.” Pete smiles and walks out, heading toward Richie’s room.
Steph sighs and turns back toward the computer, typing in a document.
First day kinda sucked. I think Pete still has a crush on me from high school. Also, Richie and Max looked way too comfortable together. Good for them. Is it weird that I feel really alone now? Oh well. I’ll get over it. Always have. Bye Mom, I miss you.
She gets out her phone and texts the number she hopes is still Pete’s that he can come back.
A few minutes later, he shows up, knocking on the door again. “Can I come in?”
“Yea, you can. I’ve finished what I needed to do.” Pete doesn’t say anything else and walks in and sits on his bed. “Do you need to talk? I’m not trying to force you to, we’d probably have to reacquaint ourselves with each other before we did anything.” Pete looks up at Steph who is almost in tears but wipes her eyes just before he could notice.
”I just thought you’d want someone.” Pete tries to put his hand on hers but she pulls away. “Thanks for that, Pete. I’ll let you know if I do.”
”Anytime.” Pete smiles.
Steph goes into the bathroom and changes into pajamas and after she gets out, Pete does the same. She climbs into bed and Pete finishes unpacking his boxes of things. She notices his ungodly amount of bow ties and regular ties, his collection of Pokémon cards, and his computer with a few stickers on it.
”You really like Pokémon? Like, seriously?” Steph points to the tower of playing cards and his computer. Pete’s face grows red and he pushes his glasses up. “Well… Yeah! I’m a nerd, of course I do.”
”You’re a nerd, alright.” Steph smiles, and pulls the cover over her shoulders. “Goodnight, Pete.”
”Goodnight, Steph. Sleep well.”