Steve Harrington walks into Mrs. Click’s classroom, sans bagel, and beelines for his seat. He’s early for the first time all year. there’s hardly anyone ready in their seats yet. Tommy H. And Carol try to wave him over to their corner but he doesn’t even turn his head.
Steve drops into his seat and flings his bag down. He pulls out a brand new notebook, a sleek pen, and nothing else. He immediately turns to stare Robin in the eye. Lost, Robin stares back. She tries to greet him but ends up squeaking instead. Ouch.
“I would never date Tammy Thompson in a million years.” Steve Harrington tells Robin. She chokes. Then, with a completely serious expression, Steve flips his notebook open, clicks his pen, and asks, “So. What’s the best way to break into a secret government facility?”
Robin wonders if someone laced the drinking water this morning. “Wh-what?”
“It’s not a military base,” Harrington assures her. “More mad scientist lab.”
He turns and straddles his seat so they’re face to face. This does not ease Robin’s rising panic. Tommy and the other jocks from the basketball team are whispering. Steve taps his pen on her desk. “Come on, Buckley. Ideas. You’re an idea woman, right?”
Steve grins at her, wide and bright and genuine. She’s never seen him smile like that. She blinks. “That’s why they pay you the big bucks.”
Robin says nothing. She can’t say anything. She’s incapable of speech at the moment.
Steve shift like he’s aware he’s losing the crowd. His smile wavers at the edges, but he wiggles his eyebrows. “Get it? Bucks?”
How does Steve Harrington know her name??
Steve sighs when Mrs. Click calls for attention but turns around and sinks down in his seat. Robin is not subjected to an avalanche of bagel crumbs this morning. He doesn’t ask inane questions. She watches as he barely glances up all class, scribbling in that weird notebook.
When the bell rings, they both jump. Robin scrambles to leave first but before she’s even out of her seat Harrington jumps up. He claps his hands, points at her, and exclaims, “Just because they’re not military doesn’t mean they won’t have military grade defenses.”
“You did say it was government run,” Robin agrees. Has Harrington lost his mind? Has she lost her own mind?
“Good thinking, Buckley,” Steve nods. “Don’t sweat Tammy too much. You’re better than a muppet.”
