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1.
Jonathan Byers sat awkwardly on the hard elementary school floorboards. He shifted with discomfort when yet another act was introduced up on stage.
Hawkins elementary should never hold a talent show because the fact was Hawkins didn’t actually have any talent.
Jonathan was only in the first grade and he already knew that. Which was exactly why he wasn’t doing some silly dance or song or magic act like the rest of his class. The fact that nobody had invited him to join them was irrelevant.
“That was the lovely Tammy Thompson.” Jonathan looked up at the vice principal, Madeline Carver, who was trying to hide her grimace with a blinding, pink-lipstick smile. Like Tammy, it fell flat.
“Next up, from our second grade class we have, Tommy and Stevie!” Miss Carver glanced quickly down at her notes before looking up at the kids sat on the gym floor and the doting parents sat in actual chairs behind. That was another thing little Jonathan was bitter about, not that a seven year old could comprehend bitterness. He just knew nothing was fair, especially for him.
“Singing… ‘Come and Get your Love’! Give them a hand!”
She stepped off stage as two spunky little kids hopped up to take her place. Jonathan bit his lip as the kids around him shrieked with delight. There were some appreciative calls and claps from the parents too.
Steve Harrington stepped up to the front of the narrow stage, used for every crappy school disco Jonathan would never be a part of. Steve put a small hand around the mic stand and grinned, wide and cheeky, out at the audience. Jonathan made a face when some of the girls in Steve’s grade clutched their hearts. Tommy, ever Steve’s side-kick, started dancing sporadically behind him. His hair was slicked back and his freckles blurred as he flicked his head wildly, pretending to play a guitar.
Steve shook his hips with the beat of the drums before pulling the mic toward himself and singing the ‘heys’ along with the background music.
Jonathan glanced back and saw some of the parents chuckling to themselves over the onstage antics.
He assumed the guy shooting a thumbs up was Steve’s dad, the woman next to him with a hanky pressed to her nose must have been his mum. Jonathan could see the resemblance when he looked back at Steve and the way the kid’s hair bounced in and out of his eyes.
Jonathan didn’t really listen. It was another mediocre act. Despite all the kids going wild around him.
That was a given since Steve was one of the most popular kids in his class.
Jonathan snuck a look up at the stage again and covered his ears when Tommy took the mic and started to squeak out what he must have assumed was the tune. Steve dropped a pair of shades over his eyes, they were a bit big and hung over his pink cheeks. He started to dance and Jonathan pressed his hands harder over his ears when a girl beside him screamed Steve’s name.
Jonathan glared at Steve. He didn’t have the exact words to express his dislike for the kid, for now, ‘butthead’ would suffice.
Steve Harrington was a Butthead.
2.
“Come on, Nance. I know you wanna hear me sing.”
Steve spun on the spot and raised the bat, ready to perform a solo. Nancy stepped forward and covered his mouth with her hand.
“I’ll pass,” she whispered. She smiled back at him even as his eyebrows tilted sadly.
“Just one.”
“Nope.”
“A little one, I have the voice of an angel. B-B-Bennie and the-“
“Ah! Stop!” Nancy covered her ears and turned her back on Steve. He rushed forward and gathered her in his arms, spinning them around as she laughed.
“You must hate music.”
Nancy twisted in his grip so they were facing and she smirked at him. “Totally,” she said.
“Fine!” Steve released her and sighed in exasperation. He stepped out of the garage and put his hands on his hips.
“Just know,” he called back, pointing a finger at Nancy like a stern mother. “I won a talent show in ‘75.”
Nancy scoffed. “When you were what? Eight?”
“Seven actually. Second grade.” Steve kissed his fingers and held them up to the sky. “Voice of an angel.”
“Yea, whatever, Harrington.”
3.
“Dustin?”
“Steve?”
Steve wet his lips and kept his face serious. “I just wanted to say…” he leaned his head back to look at Dustin in the passenger seat, one hand draped over the steering wheel, the other on the stick. He grinned.
”That rendition-“
Dustin rolled his eyes.
“Of ‘Never Ending Story’ was just-“
“Please stop-“
“Beautiful. It could have been the original. And if-“
“Steeeeve-“
“If I ever heard-“
Dustin punched Steve in the arm and Steve fell back in his seat with a laugh, turning his attention back to the road.
“I did it to save the world.”
“And save the music industry. Let me sign you up to someone, something, anything. Broadway?”
Dustin folded his arms and sat back in his seat. He quirked an eyebrow at Steve. “I wanna hear you sing now.”
“What? No thanks, buddy, the world is safe.”
“No, you’re so intent on mocking my singing I want to hear you.”
Steve laughed but when his gaze trailed to Dustin he saw the kid wasn’t kidding.
“Dude, I’m not singing acapella for you. No way.”
“You don’t have to.”
Dustin reached forward for the radio.
“First song to play you sing.”
Steve glanced between Dustin and the radio.
“Alright then. But I’m warning you, I sing like an angel.”
Dustin did laugh then. “Yea, yea, whatever.”
He turned the radio on and fiddled with the stations.
The crackle of a DJs voice came through and Steve and Dustin shared a glance. Dustin patted Steve on the arm.
“All yours.”
“Next up we have another one from Madonna. Are you guys ready for a ‘Material Girl!?’”
The song started and Steve and Dustin slowly looked at each other again. Dustin nodded and Steve reached out and flicked the radio off.
4.
“Woah.”
Eddie looked up from where he sat biting his nails. Steve was in his room, gaping at his wall. Right where Eddie’s guitar was hanging. And Steve Harrington was staring at his lady.
“Eyes off her, Harrington.”
Eddie got up and strode into the room, taking down his guitar before Steve could touch her. Steve held up his hands.
“I’m just admiring.”
“Yea?”
Eddie marched back into the front room where the party was looking around the trailer. Steve followed in his classic cool-boy jaunt.
”What would you know about guitars?”
Steve shrugged. “I do play you know?”
Everyone looked at each other before bursting into laughter.
Steve crossed his arms and glared around the room at them all, pausing on Dustin who seemed to be laughing the hardest.
Eddie looked at Steve, still stood so serious and affronted.
He scoffed. “Sure you do big boy,” he said, throwing the guitar strap over his shoulder.
“But this isn’t any ordinary guitar.”
He played a quick little riff and glanced back at Dustin, making sure the kid was impressed. He smiled smugly when he saw the way Dustin gawped at him.
“Yea I see that,” Steve said with a huff. Eddie couldn’t help smirking. He knew that Steve was more than a little jealous that Dustin thought he was cool, if not cooler than Steve himself.
Eddie put the guitar down on the kitchen table for the kids to fawn over, mostly Dustin since Max pulled her headphones back over her head and looked out of the window and Lucas was spending most of his time just watching her.
He winked at Steve who tried his best not to be anymore impressed with the guitar.
They went over their plans again. It all sounded outlandish to Eddie but nobody seemed phased except him.
“Alright, let’s move out. Eddie.” Max held out a Michael Myers mask which Eddie took with a grimace. “Your mask.”
The kids started trailing out, moving quietly along the side of the trailer. Eddie held his mask close, ready to pull it on when he stepped outside. He took one step over the threshold, glancing around for the kids.
The familiar sound of rock had Eddie frozen in the doorway. Familiar because he knew exactly what guitar sounded that way, it was his, his girl.
Eddie’s fists clenched and he turned ready to land a punch in Harrington’s stupid face when his guitar started to actually sing. Sing in a way only Eddie could coax out of her.
He knew the riff instantly. It wasn’t Metallica but Eddie dug the classic ‘Layla’ tune.
He stared at Steve, stood in Eddie’s living room with his fingers blazing over the strings.
”Really, Harrington? Right now? When we’re being hunted… to death?
Steve glanced around himself sheepishly and unslung the guitar from around his neck with haste. He laid her carefully on the table.
“Yea, sorry, I don’t know what I… we should go.”
“You really have a thing for taking other people’s ladies, huh?”
Steve made a face and held his hands up. “I didn’t take Nancy if that’s what you mean. I had her, it was act-
“Yea yea.” Eddie raised his eyebrows. “You’re lucky you sound good.”
He put a hand on Steve’s shoulder he gave him a friendly shove out of the door.
“I said I can play.”
“Yea, well, you touch her again without asking and you’ll never play again, got it.”
“Yep, crystal clear,” Steve shot him an annoyed thumbs up.
There was an angry tap on the window and Steve and Eddie could see the brim of Dustin’s hat poking up.
“We need to go… like five minutes ago. But Harrington?”
Steve turned around. “Yea?”
“If this goes south… maybe-“
“Things won’t go south, alright. We do our jobs, we don’t play hero’s and we’ll be fine.”
“But if we’re not… I don’t want her going to some evidence lock up. Okay?”
Steve just stared at Eddie.
Eddie pulled on his ridiculous mask.
“Ready?”
5.
Hopper sat down heavily on the couch in the WSQK.
Joyce followed him, pressing in close while El watched him with worry in her eyes from the chair opposite.
“I’m fine.” He put his hand on Joyce’s knee. “I’m fine.”
El nodded and tried her best to smile. It was a weak one.
“You just sit here and relax for a bit, okay? I’m sure as soon as the others come inside we won’t get any peace.”
Jim tilted his head back and sighed.
“I’m going to sleep for days when this is over.”
Joyce took Jim’s hand and gave it a squeeze but she dropped it with a startled gasp when the radio station came alive suddenly.
The speakers began pumping music into the open space and Jim lifted his head slowly, enjoying the upbeat drums filling his sense. Despite his fatigue, a smile curled at his lips.
El jumped to her feet with her hand outstretched, ready to stop whatever entity was messing with them.
They glanced at the open door to the DJ booth where Steve Harrington was messing about with a record, his tongue stuck out of the corner of his mouth and a pair of headphones sat askew atop his tussled hair.
Joyce looked at Hopper who scoffed when he recognised the tune as ‘Dancing in the Dark’ by Springsteen.
They watched as Steve turned his back on them, totally oblivious to the fact he wasn’t alone. He raised his hands, his hips twisting in time with the music.
“What the hell is that kid doing?” Hopper asked.
Steve grabbed a water bottle off the table and flipped it in the air, catching it as it fell and holding it to his mouth in time to belt out the first lyric.
“I get up in the evening-“
Steve shuffled his feet.
“And I ain’t got nothing to say.”
Joyce smothered a laugh with her hand.
“I get up in the morning. I go to bed-“
Steve thrust his hips.
“Feeling-“
A quick spin.
“The same way!”
El lifted her hand and twisted her fingers. The record stopped and Steve turned with a frown.
“Hey! Springsteen!”
Steve nearly leapt out of his skin when he looked up and saw the three of them watching him in amusement. He blinked, at Joyce, El and then, with an accompanying gulp, at Hopper.
“Oh, hey guys.” He glanced at the record and rubbed at the back of his neck. A blush crept up to his cheeks. “I was just-“
The front doors swung open and Robin led the party inside. Steve was about to duck under the desk when Robin saw him.
“Steve! Out of the booth!”
Steve pulled off his headphones, juggling them for a moment before hurrying out of the booth.
Steve avoided their gazes and looked awkwardly at Robin.
“What have I told you about messing around in there.”
“You didn’t say I couldn’t play-“
Hopper turned away from the bickering pair and looked at El who was still smiling. He missed that smile.
6: Proving it
It had been eight months since everything had happened with the mindflayer and Vecna and El.
Hawkins High School was hosting a fundraiser with acts from all over the country, playing for free to raise money for the repair of the school and other local buildings.
And so, on a warm summers day, the party found themselves gathered on the grassy field outside the school, toasting to themselves as bands filled the school ground with music.
Robin had made Steve, Nancy and Jonathan buy deckchairs which she dropped bottles into when they arrived. The kids, laid out a blanket and Will brought a picnic basket that Joyce had made before they left.
Steve raised his bottle to Joyce after taking a bite of one of her amazing sandwiches. She beamed back from where she sat with Hopper on their own picnic blanket.
“Isn’t this just so domestic,” Robin said. She took a long swig of beer and grimaced. “God that’s awful.”
“That’s because you got the cheapest brand.” Steve wrinkled his nose at the label that was already peeling off the bottle.
“I’m so sorry mister Richy Rich. I thought you’d get some.”
Nancy leaned over and pulled up her bag. “I’ve got alternatives,” she said, pulling out a can from the bag with a wink before dropping it at her feet.
”Praise god for Nancy Wheeler! You know Steve, you’re really letting your ‘cool’ reputation slip. So far today you have been the least cool person here.”
”I’m here, isn’t that enough?” Steve asked. He pushed his shades down and leaned back in his deckchair, peaking at Robin to see if she was watching.
”You’re gonna have to try harder now, Steve. Nancy literally has a stash of drinkable booze and you’re just…” she waved in his direction.
“I’m just Steve Harrington,” Steve said from behind his dark shades and he offered her his old cocky grin.
They sat back and watched as bands played their sets and wished Hawkins the best of luck.
The principal came on every few sets to thank everyone and ask for more donations. He applauded a band Steve was sure had called themselves Nirvana, as they made their way off the stage.
Steve finished his bottle and crossed his arms. He wondered if maybe he should have another beer to psych himself up.
“We’re blessed to have artists from all over the country helping out our little event.”
The principal paused for applause, looking about the packed school field.
“But now we have a little something from one of own past Hawkins high students.”
Nancy and Jonathan exchanged a look.
“Someone we know, you think?” Nancy asked, looking over at Steve who looked to be deep in thought.
He pulled up his sunglasses for a moment before his eyes went wide and he scrambled up out of his deckchair. It folded up on him, nearly sending him sprawling.
“Shit shit.”
The chair clattered into Robin’s behind him as Steve stood up, nearly falling again, right into the kids. They all looked at him as he straightened out his shirt and pushed back his hair.
“That’s me,” he said absently as he snagged Dustin’s hellfire hat off his head and ran across the field before anyone could stop him.
“What is he on about?” Dustin asked, looking back at Nancy, Robin and Jonathan as he tried to flatten out his hat hair. The older three just shrugged and shook their heads.
“What does he means ‘that’s me?’” Max asked. A smile slowly rose to her lips. “Is he… is-“
“Steve’s performing?” Lucas asked and he and Max burst into laughter.
Nancy covered her mouth. “Robin?” she asked, trying not to laugh. “Do you know anything about this?”
Robin put her hands behind her head and grinned. “No, but I know if it is him on stage this is gonna be entertaining.”
The principal was droning on about Hawkins and students and what the money was for.
The kids just looked at one another in hysterical disbelief.
“Come on, Dustin, you must know.” Will gave Dustin a little shove but Dustin just shook his head.
“I don’t! Steve can’t sing… or dance!”
“He won a second grade talent show once,” Jonathan said. “But I’m telling you he only won because he winked at the judges.”
They all looked back at the stage where the Principal was finally getting to the point.
“Anyway, performing an original…” the principal readdressed his notes to make sure that was right. “Oh, that’s brave,” he muttered before looking up and beaming at the audience. “Performing an original song, Steve Harrington.”
Anyone who went to Hawkins high, which was a good number of the audience, cheered, including the party. Dustin, Lucas and Max on their feet cheering while Mike and Will shared another amused glance.
The curtains pulled back and there he was. Mr. Steve Harrington, shades over his eyes and Dustin’s cap on backwards. Slung over his shoulder was Eddies guitar.
Dustin’s hands stopped mid clap.
Steve stepped up to the mic with his normal Steve Harrington grin.
“I just wanted to say a few things. Uh… first this isn’t mine.” He motioned to the guitar. “I’m half the person that the original owner was. And although I wrote this song when I was here.” Steve turned and motioned to the school building. “Before all this mess, it’s really about the person who used to own this guitar.”
Dustin sat heavily on the field, his fingers gripping firmly into the grass, so firmly that mud began to brim at his nails as he felt his throat bob.
Max and Lucas looked at each other and their hands met and they held on tight.
Will looked back at Jonathan and the others who were sitting forwards in their chairs.
“And all the people we lost during… well most of us know it wasn’t really an earthquake. The dark times, I guess. But mostly this song is for the bravest girl I knew.” Steve looked at his friends and then up at the sky. “This is for you El.”
Mike sucked in a breath.
Steve stepped back from the mic and nodded at the band behind him. They each had a flimsy sheet of notes Steve had written out for them. They’d practiced already.
The field went quiet before the drummer started a slow beat and Steve began playing Eddie’s guitar.
Steve closed his eyes and stepped up to the mic.
“Just one more tear to cry, one teardrop from my eye.
You better save it for,
The middle of the night-“
Robin sat up in her seat.
“Holy shit,” she said. “Steve can sing.”
Steve stepped back and squinted at his friends with a smile, casually playing the guitar as if it was second nature. As if it was Eddie playing it.
He stepped forward again, feeling the song.
”And when I’m back in Chicago I feel it.
another version of me I was in it.”
Robin cried out suddenly, her hands coming up over her mouth to try and stifle herself. She looked at Nancy and then Jonathan before she started laughing in disbelief.
”YES STEVE!” She yelled. Nancy raised a fist up and followed Robin’s scream with one of her own. Jonathan whooped loudly, watching as the kids all raised their arms too.
On stage Steve shook his head, a smile on his lips as he started the second verse.
”He’s amazing. I mean he’s incredible, he’s incredible isn’t he Nance?”
”Yea I… he never sang like that… ever!”
”A major sacrifice, but clueless at the time.”
Steve looked at Hopper as he sang. The police chief was stood, leaning against his cruiser, his mouth open.
Steve took a deep breath.
“Just trust me you’ll be fine,” he held the last note with his eyes closed. When he opened them the crowd was blurry and he couldn’t see his friends on the field waving their hands at him. Most of them were watching him with the same teary film over their eyes.
Joyce stood up beside Hopper and put her arms around his neck.
“Oh,
I wave goodbye to the end of beginning!”
The party felt Steve’s voice and his lyrics in their souls in that moment.
“Goodbye, goodbye…” Steve looked up and then down at his guitar. He played a few more notes before he took a step back and the music stopped around him.
Everything was quiet.
Steve twisted his cap around so that ‘Hellfire Club’ was on full display.
That’s when the party collectively stood and screamed their praise. Everyone else on the field quickly followed.
Hopper inhaled deeply and straightened up, letting out a long whistle with the rest of the applause.
Steve gave a thumbs up to the band and made his way off stage.
He barely made it onto the field before his friends ambushed him.
“Steve! You sang! You sing? You can sing!”
Dustin threw himself into Steve’s arms and laughed.
Steve hugged him back and took the hat off his sweaty head and put it back on Dustin’s curls.
“Haven’t I ever told you I won the second grade talent show?”
”I did tell them,” Jonathan said. They paused, looking at each other. Steve held out his hand but Jonathan bypassed it and hugged Steve, hard. He pulled back with an awkward laugh. “You got better,” he said.
Robin punched Steve in the arm. “Why have you never sung for me? You need to write me a song now. I mean we literally nearly died in a Russian basement, that’s good material, Steve!”
Steve waved Robin off and looked over at Mike who smiled. “El would have liked it,” he said, his smile sad, like it had been for eight months. Poor kid, Steve thought.
“Kid?”
Steve turned and found himself pulled into a strong chest. Jim put a hand on Steve’s head and held him close, his chin resting in Steve’s sweaty hair.
He pulled back, holding Steve at arms length.
“Thank you,” he whispered. He didn’t bother to wipe the tears off his cheeks.
Steve offered a weak watery smile. “For El.”
Hopper’s lower lip shook and he nodded.
“For El.”