Chapter Text
Steve Harrington asked Athena Henderson out once.
The two met the day Athena started sixth grade at Hawkins Middle a month into the year and Steve, eleven years old and in seventh grade at the time, was assigned to show her around the school.
She was shy, but Steve wasn’t despite his braces and lack of hair care at that point. He asked her where she was from, what her favorite color was, what music she liked, if she had any siblings, her favorite snacks, her favorite movie and so on and so on and so on.
Minnesota, purple, Fleetwood Mac, a little brother named Dustin who started at Hawkins Elementary the same day she started at Hawkins Middle, oatmeal crème pies, Charlotte’s Web, and so on and so on and so on.
Two days after meeting he asked her to be his best friend. And she said yes. They didn’t see each other as often as they’d each hoped, being in different grades and all, but they would hang out on the playground before and after school some days. On other days, Steve would follow her around the library when Athena wanted to find new books or needed to return ones she had finished recently.
Despite still being shy towards everyone else, she bloomed like a flower when it was just her and Steve. She was funny and caring in a way that had him crying in laughter daily and sprouted a funny feeling in his chest that he chose to ignore until two weeks before the Snowball.
When Athena and Steve walked together down the halls and caught sight of seventh and eighth grade girls being asked to the Snowball Dance, Athena’s eyes would glaze over longingly as she watched.
Athena assumed Steve wouldn’t notice.
He did. Eleven-year-old Steve noticed nearly everything about Athena. Later that day he could no longer ignore that funny feeling in his chest.
After the last bell, he caught up with Athena at her locker as she packed up for the day. “Athena,” he smiled, sliding up next to her.
She glanced at him quickly as she put her math textbook in her purple backpack and closed her locker, “Hi, Hairy,”
He frowned jokingly, “I told you not to call me that,”
She laughed that laugh of hers and in his chest bloomed. “And I told you that you should get your parents to change your birth certificate. It fits, you have a lot of hair.”
“I have a question to ask you,” the boy nervously began, “I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Snowball with me?” he shifted his converse clad feet nervously.
Athena furrowed her brow, a look of hurt flashing across her face that eleven-year-old Steve didn’t quite catch. The look came as quick as it went as she huffed a laugh, shaking her head. “Nice one, Steve,”
The Harrington boy became confused, “What-“
Athena cut him off, her gaze on the floor. “I gotta go, I’ll see you tomorrow,” the girl speed-walked away, leaving him in the middle of a near empty hallway with his eyes following her.
The air was different between them the rest of the school year. The question he asked was never brought up again, the both of them too embarrassed. They were still friends, Steve guessed. He was hurt, sure, but he still wanted her in his life. Even as just his best friend. She stopped making so many jokes around him and talking to him as much, as though the flower that bloomed was dying slowly.
★
In the summer before eighth grade, Steve finally was rid of his braces that he had for nearly three years and discovered Fabergé Organics and Farrah Fawcett’s hairspray. He only saw the Henderson girl a couple times, much to his dismay. Once, while he was at the grocery store with his mom, Athena was there with her mom and brother. He waved and only got a tiny smile in return before his mom ushered him away. They never spoke that summer.
School began like it always did and would continue to do until he graduated, but this year was different. Girls began to notice him. Guys wanted to be his friend. But all he really wanted was Athena, but he didn’t see her much. And when he did, she was short with him when he tried to speak to her.
A boy named Tommy Hagan, and his girlfriend Carol Perkins approached him in the cafeteria line one day as he looked around for Athena.
“Steve Harrington,” the boy clapped him on the shoulder and shook him slightly.
Steve looked at the couple, nodding his head. “Hey,”
“Why don’t you come sit with us?” Tommy nodded his head to a table with a few other people around it. Steve stuttered, his eyes sweeping across the cafeteria to try and find the brunette girl, but with no luck.
“Sure, man,” He followed the two to the table, nearly reluctantly.
As their conversation went on, Steve kept looking around the cafeteria every so often. Tommy eventually noticed.
“Looking for that Henderson chick?” Tommy asked, sipping his milk. Steve nodded.
Laughing, Tommy spoke. “Look dude, without the braces and with whatever you did to your hair, you could rule this school. Have any and all the girls you want. You really want her bringing you down?”
Steve tilted his head, furrowing his brows in consideration. Maybe that’s what he needed. Another girl to like. Athena didn’t like him. She’d been almost completely avoiding him. But bringing him down? Before he could ask what Tommy meant, he saw the boy swiftly stick his leg out right in front of someone walking past the table Steve sat at the end at.
The tables nearby erupted in vicious laughter. Steve followed, a fake one to him, but no one could really tell the difference. The person that fell turned around, ketchup down their shirt with fries sticking to the red sauce. Steve’s eyes finally made their way up to the person’s face, only to see a familiar face staring back at him. Athena. With tears in her eyes that threatened to spill over and her jaw trembling.
Steve could somehow feel himself go pale, his smile dropping. But it was too late, her gaze was already off him as she picked herself up and began running out of the cafeteria.
“I did you a favor, fatass!” Tommy yelled after her, nudging Steve.
Steve went to get up and run after her. To explain. To help her clean up. To maybe get an explanation on why she laughed. But Tommy dragged him back down to his seat with a stern look and a shake of his head.
Steve didn’t get back up again.
★
November, 1983
Finally, at the ripe age of fifteen, Athena Henderson had started to accept her body for what it was. Kind of. Sometimes.
Now, at the age of sixteen and a few weeks, it was still hard sometimes. Being in a body that other people often saw as their greatest fear weighed on her. How could it not?
Either way, it was about time. With her fair share of body image issues and the mental consequences of that that she had been though since she was just seven years old when she was first called fat by a boy, it was about fucking time. Not to mention witnessing the death of her dad, Walter Henderson.
Athena still had decently flabby arms and thunder thighs and a bit of a double chin at certain angles and a stomach pooch that was more than necessary to protect certain organs. It had been the work of years of weekly meetings with the school therapist beginning from seventh grade when her mom found out about her daughter’s struggles.
The girl also started playing softball in the eighth grade, which Claudia originally forced her into, but she ended up loving and being really good at. She never became close with anyone on her team, but the sport itself helped silence the turmoil in her brain. She still plays today on the Hawkins High School team.
The only ones who really commented negatively on her weight anymore were Tommy H. and Carol, at least to her face. Comments from the two were a near constant since seventh grade.
Their third, Steve Harrington, was once Athena’s best friend. Essentially attached at the hip as ten- to eleven-year-old Athena harbored a crush on him until that one day (and if it lingered a bit longer than that, then it was really nobody’s business but her own). Then he changed and laughed and continued to stand by for the next three years as his friends piled on and piled on, sending Athena to her lowest. She was stuck in that cave for a long time.
Until the counseling started actually helping. Until she became friends with Jonathan Byers at fourteen years old.
She and Jonathan got close when they were assigned to do a presentation together on some country in World History class late in their eighth grade year. She knew him up until that point as Will’s quiet older brother, but when they actually had to talk, she discovered how similar they were. He had been stuck with the label “freak” like she was stuck with the stigma of her weight. He understood her like no one else, sharing their secrets and their fears and their struggles. They were twin flames.
As Athena finishes pulling on her black denim jacket, the landline in her bedroom lets out a shrill tone, shaking her from her thoughts. “Hello? Athena Henderson speaking,”
“Athena, hi, did Will spend the night at your house last night?” Joyce Byers’ voice comes through the purple speaker.
“Hi, Mrs. Byers, no, he isn’t here. I left the Wheeler’s house with him, Lucas and Dustin around eight. We dropped Lucas off at his house, and I asked Will if he wanted me to bike the rest of the way with him to yours, but he said no.” The girl speaks. “Did he not come home?” Panic blooms in Athena’s chest.
“He’s not here, but I’m sure he just went to school early,” Joyce says and promptly hangs up.
★
After ruffling Dustin’s hair as they part ways from each other to go to their respective schools, Athena finds herself at the payphone in the parking lot of Hawkins High School.
“Hello?” Jonathan answers the phone,
“Jon! Have you found Will?” Athena clutches the play payphone with both hands.
A sigh comes from the other side, “No, and Mom called the middle school, and no one has seen him. She’s at the police station now talking to Hopper and I’m going to check where the boys usually hang out.”
The girl scrunches her nose in thought, “Do you want me to come help? I’m at school but I’ll leave right now,”
“No, no. It’s okay, Thena. There’s nothing you can really do right now, and I’m sure he’s at Castle Byers or something.” They hang up a moment later, Athena promising to go by the Byers house after school.
Picking her backpack up from the ground, Athena makes her way into Hawkins High School. Walking in to grab her books from her locker before heading to English class, she catches sight of Nancy Wheeler and Barb Holland.
The Henderson girl is friends with Barb, but Nancy was a different story. The two got along just fine, but never really had anything in common or even the opportunity to further explore a friendship beyond their little brothers. They were acquaintances, she supposes. Returning a small, polite smile Nancy sent her way, she’s beckoned over by Barb.
“Thena, please tell Nancy that making out a couple times means someone likes you. Like that,” Athena opens her mouth before quickly closing it and shrugging.
“I really couldn’t tell you, not exactly my area of expertise. But, sure, I guess so. I wouldn’t make out with anyone that I didn’t like. Like that.” Athena speaks, not wanting to be part of the conversation anymore.
“Nance, seriously, you’re gonna be so cool now it’s ridiculous,” Barb begins.
“No, I’m not,” Nancy argues, spinning the lock to her locker.
“You better still hang out with me, that’s all I’m saying. If you become friends with Tommy H. or Carol – “
“Wait,” The Henderson girl cuts off her red-headed friend. “Who are you making out with, Nancy?”
The brunette smiles sheepishly, “Steve Harrington,”
Athena sighs, exasperated. “I’m done with this conversation but just be careful,”
“Athena, you don’t know him. He’s really sweet,-“
“Yeah, is he really sweet when he stands by or laughs while Tommy H. and Carol harassed me to the point of tears in middle school and freshman year? Or when he still does it with the insults they yell at me now?” Athena clenches her jaw. “I mean, come on, I know we're not exactly friends but shit, Wheeler,” Shaking her head, Athena stalks off.
★
On her way out to the bike racks at the end of the day, mind focused on Will, Athena hears her name being called by an unfortunately familiar voice, “Henderson!” Tommy H. yells, laughing.
She flips him off as she walks past before he speaks again, “I was just wondering if you needed help with gym membership. Single mom, dead dad, loser little brother and all, money has to be tight,”
The gym comment didn’t bother her. But her dad and Dustin?
Spinning around, her eyes take in the sight of Tommy and Carol snickering to each other. And, of course, Steve Harrington just standing there with his hands in his pockets. Striding up to the trio, she glares at Tommy before taking her foot and harshly kicking his knee in.
“Look, I got over your tired ass comments about my weight that you’ve been using since seventh grade, but you bring up my dad or little brother again, and I will rip your tongue out and make you eat it,” Athena seethes as she leans down to Tommy’s height as he’s bent over from the pain.
Tears well up in her eyes before she takes one last hard look at the boy who she once told everything to.
It was about a month after Athena Henderson began at Hawkins Middle School and her best friend forever was Steve Harrington. They were eleven, they told each other everything as children do with the person they think will be their best friend forever.
“I never asked you,” The boy began as the two sat on a bench after school. “Why did you move here?” Steve looked over at Athena, her hair blowing in the late October breeze, making his heartbeat just a little faster.
Athena had turned eleven just the week before. Steve had saved his allowance and bought her a purple stuffed bear and a copy of her favorite book, Bridge to Terabithia, that she said she lost in the move to Hawkins.
Athena sighed, “My dad died and my mom didn’t want to wake up in the same place that just reminded her of my dad every second.”
Steve frowned, placing his hand on top of hers that rested on the wooden bench. “How- How did he die?”
The girl sniffled but spoke anyway. “We were on vacation this summer, we went to North Carolina, where my dad was from and went to the beach. One morning, my mom and Dustin were still asleep, but I wanted to go swim in the ocean super early, so I woke my dad up,” Athena removed her hand from under his, wiping the stray tear that fell from her eye. “A tide came and swept me under, and he drowned as he saved me.” The crack in her voice made Steve’s heart feel like it cracked right along with it.
“I killed my dad and I have been afraid of the water ever since.” Athena gasped out.
Steve was silent for a moment as he looked at her. Then, he stood up, pulling the girl up and into a hug.
Athena bikes up to the Byers home after leaving school, seeing Hopper, Powell, and Callahan walking up to the front door. Will’s bike in Hopper’s hands.
Jonathan and Joyce must’ve heard them pull up, the two barreling out the door. The six of them step into the Byers house as Joyce begins questioning Hopper and the other two officers look around.
“Did it have any blood on it, or-“ The Byers woman questions the police chief, sheer panic lacing her voice.
“No, no, no,” Hopper repeats.
Joyce, Jonathan, and Athena follow Hopper into the kitchen. “If you found his bike, why are you here?” Jonathan asks.
“Well, he had a key to the house, right?” Hopper replies, circling around the kitchen table as he looks around.
“No shit, Hopper, this is his house. What does it matter?” The Henderson girl speaks up for the first time.
Hopper and Athena have an interesting relationship. During the previous two summers, Athena worked part time at the police station with Flo as a receptionist. Taking stupid calls, picking up lunches, and bothering Hopper, Powell, and Callahan was her daily routine for 4 hours a day, 3 days a week for three months out of the last two years. She liked Hopper, really. He taught her how to shoot a gun, but no one was supposed to know that. She annoyed him for fun most of the time.
It’s Callahan she doesn’t like, and she annoys him accordingly. The man brushed her off during her time at the police station. When she would have a theory about something or suggested something, (which was rare, because nothing really ever happened in Hawkins. Until now.), he would give her this placating look that read ‘okay, little girl, get back to making coffee and let the men do the work’.
“Well-“ Callahan speaks before being cut off.
“I didn’t ask you, Callahan,” Athena keeps her back to the man, raising her hand to shut him up. The girl gestures for the man she actually asked to continue.
“It matters,” Hopper emphasizes, “because maybe he came home.”
Joyce becomes, “Y-you think I didn’t check my own house?”
Suddenly, Hopper becomes enamored with dent in the paneling behind the back door. “This always been here?” The man places his finger in the dent.
As Joyce said she didn’t know, blaming her two boys for the state of the house, Athena speaks up. “I’ve never seen it,” The police chief, and the two Byers gave her a considering look. The dent ends up lining up perfectly where the doorknob meets the wall.
Joyce follows Hopper into the backyard while the Henderson girl stays inside with Jonathan, Callahan, and Powell.
Walking back into the living room where her best friend sits on the couch, the girl spots Callahan just standing in the living room.
“Callahan, are you going to do anything useful or are you just going to stand there?” Athena cocks her hip with her hands out to her sides.
The man huffs and rolls his eyes, “Henderson-“ he begins, attitude in his voice. Before he could finish his sentence, Powell cuts him off.
“Man, let’s just go outside before you two get into another fight,” Powell leads the other man outside.
Sitting next to Jonathan, the girl places her hand on his arm as he stare at the wall. “How’re you doing, Jon?”
The Byers boy shakes his head and lets out a shaky breath. “I should’ve been here.”
Athena cocks her head, “What do you mean?”
“I was supposed to be home when he got home last night, but I took an extra shift because we need the money and I just should’ve been here. Maybe he would still be.” He turns to look at her, tears threatening to roll over.
Athena hugs her best friend as tears come to her eyes as well. Seeing Jonathan in pain like this sends a pang to her heart. She loves him as much as she loved her little brother. She’s worried out of her mind for the little Byers boy as well. The teen can’t help but feel guilty having not ridden to the Byers home the night before to make sure Will got home okay.
But this isn’t about her. Ever since Dustin became friends with Will, Mike, Lucas, she’s seen all three boys as her little brothers to which she would stop at nothing to protect. Athena could only hope that wherever Will was, he was okay.
Athena stays at the Byers house a bit longer, making dinner for the two and helping to design a missing poster for Will for her and Jonathan to hang up around town the next day.
Walking the stairs once she returns home, she could hear voices from Dustin’s room behind the closed door. “Dust?” The girl knocks and opens it.
“Dude! Can you wait until I answer to open the door?” The boy exclaims, walkie talkie in hand as Lucas’ voice comes from it.
“Don’t yell at me! I just wanted to check on you.” Athena walks further in and sits next to him on his bed.
“Is that Thea?!” Lucas asks. “Bring her with you! Over.”
“Bring me where? There’s no way you guys are going to look for Will. There’s already a search party and it’s about to rain,” She gives a stern look to her little brother.
Pressing the button on the walkie talkie, Dustin speaks. “Like hell I’m bringing her just so you can go goo-goo ga-ga over her! And yes, we're going to look for Will. If anyone can find him, it’s us! Over.”
It was a well-known fact between the boys that Lucas has a crush on Athena Henderson. Mike and Will were fond of her too, seeing her as a cool older sister. But Lucas’ fondness of the sixteen-year-old went that much further.
Ignoring the crush comment, “This is a party activity and she’s in the party! Over.” Lucas yells.
“For D&D only! Over.”
“No, the party is a democracy and me, Mike and Will all voted her in! Over.”
“Are you two done?” Athena asks, patience running thin. The boys answer with silence. “If you guys are insisting on going out there and looking for Will, I obviously can’t stop you, but I am coming with you.”
The girl stands, much to her brother’s displeasure. “Let me get my bat. And put a raincoat on, both of you.”
★
The Henderson siblings were dressed and prepared in rain gear as they rode their bikes to the decided-on meeting spot. Athena’s bat sticks out of the back of her backpack as Dustin’s own backpack rattles with his walkie talkie, a flash-light, compass, and whatever else he had stuffed in there.
Breaking the silence, Athena speaks up. “So, you really don’t want me in the party for things other than DND?”
Dustin glances over at his older sister quickly as they peddle along. “It’s not that,” he sighs. “I just didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“Dust, you know I’m older than you right? I’m supposed to be protecting you. Not the other way around,” The girl wanted to run her fingers through her brother’s curly hair as she often did to comfort him.
The boy shrugs. “Yeah, I know that. Just . . . we don’t know what happened to Will and I didn’t want something to happen to you too, Thea,”
“I love you so much, Dustin. You are my best friend and the best thing that has ever happened to me. But I can take care of myself. You know that,”
The boy smiles at his older sister, gums peeking out. “I love you too. And you’re my best friend.”
The two finally arrive at the meeting place as they see two bikes inch closer to them. Athena ruffles her fingers over Dustin’s hood. “I thought the boys were your best friends,”
Dustin pushes her hand away from him playfully, “And I thought Jonathan was yours,”
Footsteps sound behind them, signaling the other two boys had arrived and gotten off their bikes. “Hi, Thea,” Lucas smiles at the girl.
Smiling at the boys in turn, “Hi Lucas. Hi Mike.” Athena greets them.
Mike leads the other three down into the woods. The boys with their flashlights out, calling for their friend, as Athena grips her bat, ready for what may come at them.
Dustin and Lucas argue back and forth for a minute. Dustin wanting to leave and Lucas calling him a sissy for it. “Did you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad? And we’re going to the exact same spot where he was last seen?” The younger Henderson asks the group. “And we have no weapons other than my sister with a bat?”
“Dustin, shut up,” Mike speaks for the first time other than calling for Will.
“I’m just saying, does that seem smart to you?” Dustin continues, just to be told to shut up again by the Wheeler boy.
The sound of rustling leaves found the ears of the group, “Did you guys hear that?” Mike asks.
The rustling continued, louder, as the group turned behind them.
“Boys, get behind me,” The oldest of the group steps in front of the group of twelve-year-olds, bat at the ready.
The noise then comes from another direction, the group spinning around just for the boys’ flashlights to shine on a girl about their age, head shaved nearly down to the scalp and donned in a soaked yellow Benny’s Diner tee shirt and no shoes.
Athena lowers her bat immediately and mutters, “What the hell…”