Chapter Text
MARCH 1986
Riley Wayne was going to kill Steve Harrington.
She drove her bluish-grey Beetle at seventy in a fifty, the speedometer creeping higher as the opposite lane jammed with oncoming traffic. She had just crossed a crooked signboard that read WELCOME TO "HELL”, crudely painted over the word Hawkins.
She turned her head briefly toward the passenger seat and asked, “Are you okay?”
Another teenager wearing glasses stared out the window as trees rushed past in a blur. “Yes, Riley. I can’t go back now,” she said quietly.
“Just checking. As much as I want to strangle Steve, you don’t have to do this.”
The younger teenager sighed. “People do crazy things when they’re in love. Just like you’re worried about Steve, I’m worried about Dustin,” the girl finished.
“Okay. At any time, if you’re uncomfortable, I can drop you at the airport, Suzie,” Riley said.
“Thanks, Riley, but I’m good.”
Riley drove through a diversion and reached her boyfriend’s place, only to find the house completely destroyed by the earthquake. Her chest tightened with worry. She didn’t believe in God the way Suzie did, but if one existed, she hoped—desperately—that Steve was alive.
She took a deep breath. “Let’s try Dustin’s place, okay?” she said to Suzie, who was growing visibly anxious.
As Riley drove through town, chaos surrounded them. People panicked, stuffing belongings into cars, some clearly leaving with no intention of returning.
Once a safe town where the worst crimes were speeding tickets and drunken driving had endured child kidnappings, a chemical leak, a mall fire, and now a 7.2 earthquake—all in under two years. There was also talk of the military planning to encroach on the area, which didn’t sit well with Riley. Steve had been AWOL since Friday. It was Tuesday now—one day after the earthquake.
She pulled into Dustin’s driveway. Suzie rushed out of the car and knocked on the door, which was opened by a middle-aged woman holding a cat.
“Is Dustin home?” Suzie asked.
“Who’s asking?”
“Hi, I’m Riley, and this is my cousin Suzie. We’re Dustin’s friends. We just came to check in on him,” Riley said.
“Oh, he’s at the Wheelers’. That’s so kind of you girls to check on him. Do you go to the same school as him? I don’t think I’ve seen you both around,” the woman asked with a smile.
“Do you have the Wheelers’ address? We’re in a hurry,” Suzie rushed.
“Oh, yes, sure.” The woman went inside to write it down while Riley and Suzie waited near the door.
Suzie sighed. Riley remained tense—Dustin was alive, but Steve’s whereabouts were still unknown.
“It’s okay, Riles. They’ll be together. Don’t worry,” Suzie said with a small smile.
“I know,” Riley sighed as Mrs. Henderson returned with the address.
“Thank you, Mrs. Henderson,” they both said before rushing back to the car.
Riley navigated through busy streets, asking around, until she finally turned onto a dead end ,cul de sac road. A pizza delivery vehicle suddenly sped past them.
“What the—?” Riley said.
“That’s them. They were at my place a couple of days back,” Suzie said.
“Who is them?” Riley asked as she pulled over and put the car in park.
“Dustin’s friends,” Suzie replied.
Suzie got out of the car. Riley followed—and that was when she saw that stupid hair.
“STEVEN SMITH HARRINGTON!” Riley yelled.
He froze, then turned around. “Riles?”
She was furious and relieved all at once. She ran toward him, and he met her halfway. She threw her arms around him, her legs wrapping around his torso. She buried her face into the crook of his neck as he ran his hands through her dark curls. She felt wet patches on her neck—he was crying too. The last time he’d cried like this was when she had confessed her love for him.
AUGUST 1985
Riley was moving from Utah to Indianapolis for university. She had been admitted to Purdue—the farthest and most affordable university she could find.
Like Suzie, Riley was raised in a Mormon family. As a young girl, she believed. Later, when she began questioning things, neither her parents nor grandparents could answer her doubts. She realized she was different, that she didn’t share the same beliefs. She never called them out on it, but slowly drifted away. Her mother noticed and tried to talk to her, but Riley was stubborn.
She had five brothers and was the youngest in the family. Since her uncle lived nearby, Suzie—closest to her in age—initially babysat her and soon became her closest friend. Riley knew Suzie was faithful to her religion but clever enough to understand right and wrong.
Instead of staying in a dorm, Riley found the cheapest room she could rent, spent her money on a car, and secured a part-time job. She moved out as soon as she finished school and found freedom and peace in being on her own. Eventually, she found love through her cousin, Suzie.
Two weeks before school started, she got a call at work.
“Riles!!” Suzie yelled on the other end.
“Suzie, how are you? Last I heard, you were at camp,” Riley said.
“Yes, and I’ve been back for more than a month,” Suzie said, rolling her eyes even though Riley couldn’t see it.
“I know, Mom told me. How was it?”
“It was great. I met the man of my dreams,” Suzie sighed.
“Really? That’s interesting,” Riley said, surprised.
“Yes. Listen—my boyfriend, Dustie-bun, i mean Dustin, is from Hawkins. I checked the map; it’s an hour’s drive from Indianapolis.” Suzie rambled, and Riley knew exactly where this was going.
“Okay,” Riley dragged.
“I convinced my parents to visit you next week, and I was wondering if Dustin and his friend could visit us for a day or two. Maybe stay with us,” she whispered the last part.
“Suzie,” Riley said firmly.
“Please, pretty please. I don’t need Christmas or Thanksgiving gifts. Please!”
“Wow, such high stakes,” Riley teased.
“Riiiles.”
“Okay. Give me your friend’s number. I’ll call and coordinate with them.”
“You’re the best. I’ll ask Dad to book my tickets. See you soon!” Suzie exclaimed before hanging up.
Riley had never met Steve before then. She only heard his voice once Suzie’s tickets were confirmed.
“Hello?” came an annoyed voice.
“Is this Steve Harrington?” Riley asked.
“Yes. Who’s asking?”
“This is Riley—Suzie Bingham’s cousin.”
“Oh—shit. Hi. Yeah.” She heard him shuffling on the other end. There was an awkward silence.
“So, when are you guys heading here?” she asked.
“Henderson told me Suzie lands Friday evening. We’re planning to leave late Friday morning and get there around noon.”
“Okay. Have you figured out a place to stay?”
“No. Henderson said we’d stay with you and your family.”
She sighed. “I have a one-bedroom apartment. I don’t think so.”
“That little shit,” Steve swore, making Riley smile.
“Since it’s just a weekend, you can stay here—but it’ll be cramped,” she said.
“That’s great. I’d be paying otherwise, and that little shit won’t give me a penny.”
Riley chuckled. “So you were roped in as an unwilling participant?”
“Yes. How could you tell?” he said sarcastically.
Over the week, Steve called her from work to work, once they realized that they both are working at different branches of same company—Family Video to Family Video—to fine-tune plans. Somewhere along the way, flirting replaced logistics. They were just as excited as Suzie and Dustin to meet.