Will there be a something borrowed pt 4?
Something Borrowed pt. 4
Steve Harrington x reader
Driving back to your hometown shouldn't be a big trouble to you. You had a functional car, a place to stay at and friends to see. If it wasn't for the fact that your best friend Nancy invited you to come to her wedding. So here you were, faking smiles, holding lace trains while you watched her marry the love of her life.
This part didn’t exactly turn out how I wanted it to but it’s all right. This is a slowburn and things need to develop first before I dive into it (I’m impatient as always). The next part is gonna dive a little more into present Steve and reader’s relationship.
The car filled with silence as Robin maneuvered the streets of Hawkins. You had ignored her pressing look, turned your head towards the window and immediately regretted it. The leather somehow still smelled of Steve, that distinct scent he'd always had. When he was your roommate you were pathetic enough to sneak into the bathroom and sniff at his aftershave bottle resting in his cabinet.
You closed your eyes for a moment, inhaling, your heart squeezing painfully. Your eyes dipped toward the glove compartment, hands itching to grab the latch and see if the inside was still the same but not with Robin in the car.
Twenty minutes later she parked the beamer in a parking lot of her apartment complex and you followed after her, drained and somehow on edge.
"Vickie?" You asked quietly as Robin unlocked the apartment and stepped into the hallway.
She turned to look at you. "She's already asleep, has an early shift at the hospital tomorrow." She ducked into her bedroom before appearing with a bundle of clothes you could change into and a spare toothbrush.
"You've been awfully quiet," Robin noted as she hopped up to sit on the washing machine. You were brushing your teeth in front of the sink, only daring to meet her gaze through the mirror.
"'M tired," you said through a mouthful of foam.
Robin rolled her eyes. "You're a coward, that's what you are."
You spit out the foam and glared up at her. "What do you want me to say, Rob?" "I don't know," she huffed. "Maybe explain why you texted me in a panic to come pick you up from a dinner with Steve and Nance?" "It wasn't in a panic. And it was just dinner with them, the Harringtons were with us. You know first hand how draining that is." You bent over the sink to wash out your mouth as Robin gave an unconvinced scoff.
"And whatever happened in the parking lot before I arrived?" She prodded. "It looked like an awful lot like Steve and you—"
"It looked like nothing," you snapped. You whirled around, a droplet of water running down your chin that you angrily wiped away. "You know it’s hard enough to be here, I don't need your unsolicited advice."
Robin frowned as she got to her feet. "I'm being your friend." You sighed. "My friend wouldn't want me to feel shitty."
"Dude." Robin stepped forward, hands finding your cheeks gently. You could already feel your eyes beginning to sting and you quickly squeezed them shut. "I'm just making sure that you're happy. With your life."
Your lids flicked open. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Robin tilted her head gently. She always had the talent to look right through you. "This is the last chance you get at being honest with yourself and Steve."
You frowned.
"I don't want you to ruin your life out of fear and regret it for the rest," Robin said gently.
"What do you propose I do? They're gonna get married, Rob," a small sob escaped you and you pulled yourself together immediately. "It's already too late."
Robin scoffed, gently pushing your hair out of your face. "It's only too late after they say 'I do'."
You couldn't believe what Robin was suggesting. Nancy and Steve were her friends too. Why would she want you to risk hurting two of the most important people in your life? You tried reading her eyes, you could see that there was something hiding behind those blue eyes but you didn't understand what it was.
"Hey, whatever you choose to do, I'll always love you. I'm sorry for prodding." She pulled you into her chest and you nodded, pushing your face into her soft sweater. Robin knew you enough to know that you'd never say anything. That wasn't the kind of person you were. You'd rather suffer in silence, wishing the best for Steve and Nancy. You genuinely wanted them to be happy, with all your heart. Even if it was calling Steve's name, carved into your bones and soul.
"Come on, there's a re-run of friends going." Robin pulled you back into the living room. Cuddling into the blankets, the light flickered along the walls as you settled in. You could barely focus on what was happening, a distinct feeling spreading in your stomach and choking you up. Robin knew something she wasn't telling you about.
After about twenty minutes Robin's soft snores were filling the space. Rachel and Ross were arguing about the ‘were they on a break’ debate and your foot had fallen asleep twenty minutes ago. You carefully lifted the blanket off of you, halting when Robin's snores stuttered for a moment. She turned, grumbling something about a banana split and you gently put the blanket over her shoulders. Grabbing her keys from the kitchen island, you slipped into your flats, closing the front door as quiet as possible.
The wind was whipping coldly, a flickering street lantern lighting your way towards the beamer. Your heart still ached when you spotted it, parked in the lone lot. You quickly made your way over, unlocking the car before you slipped into the passenger seat. The scent of Steve was all encompassing, or maybe you were slowly growing crazy. You sat there for what felt like hours, not daring to unlatch the glove compartment. When it felt like your heart was thumping in your throat, you finally did and you didn't need to look for it for too long. The cassette was right at the front.
You swallowed, trying to ignore the nausea as you turned the ignition. With bated breath you grabbed the cassette and slipped it into the player. There was a soft whirring sound, a click and then it played. Your song.
1988
“I just find it weird, you know? Girls nowadays expect you to be everything. Financially stable, kind, tall, whatever chicks are into…” the guy opposite you was going on but you’ve been disassociating for the past twenty minutes. You’d wanted to turn around the moment you’d seen Kyle cuss the waitress out for choosing a booth by the window.
And while Kyle was droning on about how women weren’t women anymore you wished you had stayed at home with Steve. A night filled with the return of the Jedi and a steaming bowl of popcorn sounded like heaven at that moment.
This was all Robin’s fault.
“How long have you been pining after Steve now?” She questioned as she shifted through the new vinyls of the week.
“A few months…” you said distractedly and Robin shot you a glare.
“More like a year and a half.”
You huffed. “So what?”
“So what are you gonna do about it?” She slapped your hand away from the vinyl you were about to grab to look at her properly. “If you’re not gonna ask him out there’s only one other option.”
“Are you Crazy? Im not gonna ask him out, look at me.”
“I am looking at you and, babes, you’re hot as fuck.”
“Of course you’d say that.” You rolled your eyes, walking over to the register.
“Uh, yeah, I would. I’m the lesbian, I know when a woman is hot. Steve knows too.”
You whirled around. “Did he say something?”
“He doesn’t need to,” Robin grabbed the cassette you picked, to ring you up. “His eyes speak volumes.”
“You think so. But I don’t.”
Steve was perfect. He was kind and handsome and he knew you inside out. Even after a year and a half it felt like you’d known each other all your life. In a city this big, Steve was your north. You knew that whatever happened he’d come and pick you up the moment you called.
Robin wrapped the cassette up and handed you the paper bag. “Then you should go on a date.”
You frowned, the look on Robin’s face scaring you.
That was one week ago. And now you were here, trying to ignore the incessant ramble of Kyle. You looked up again, trying to tune back into the conversation.
“That’s why I started this self-help group,” he finished.
“Oh, a self-help group?” You tried to feign interest but you should’ve known better.
“Yeah. You know to help men. They get so intimidated nowadays, not knowing what to do. I help them become their true dominant self.”
That was enough. Your phone was in your hand beneath the table not a second later before you send the text. Feigning a stomach ache—Kyle insisted you pay for your part begrudgingly—before you dove out of the dingy bar.
The headlights of the Beamer were already greeting you once the crisp night air met your face. With quick steps you walked over and slipped into the passenger seat. “I’m so sorry but this a real emergency. I was this close to sawing that dude’s balls off—“
Steve cleared his throat with a small laugh before you noticed someone else in the backseat. “Oh,” your cheeks burned as you eyed the strange man. His hair was in a soft part, shoulders hunched as he smiled at you awkwardly.
“I came as soon as I could,” Steve said. “This is Jonathan, I met him at in the library.”
“Nice to meet you,” you said, still feeling awfully hot as you extended your hand. He shook yours with a painful smile. “Likewise.”
“We’re just going to drop Jonathan off, that okay?” Steve looked at you, eyes asking you if you were all right.
You nodded, buckling in, before Steve drove off.
“Hey,” Steve said excitedly. “Jonathan is from Hawkins too!”
You turned to look at Jonathan in surprise. “Wait, did you go to Hawkins High?”
“I did, yeah. Not much of a socialite though,” he shrugged. You tried to place his face, it did seem familiar, the slight bowl cut reminding you of someone.
“Wait—you’re the brother of the Byers kid?”
“Will, yeah I am,” this time Jonathan gave a genuine smile.
“I do remember you. You always hid behind that big lense of your camera.” You turned back as Steve took a left. You barely caught his glance at you, his lips pulled into a soft smile.
“Do you still take pictures?”
“Occasionally but it’s more of a hobby. I study filmography,” Jonathan mumbled.
“That’s awesome. Who would’ve known we got another Hawkins party here.” Of course Robin came with you to the city to study, but it always felt funny to have a piece of home back here.
“It’s like you’re taking over the city,” Steve teased and you rolled your eyes.
“King Steve threatened in his territory?”
Steve chuckled. “No way. You’re dependent on me, whatever would you do without me?”
“Be less miserable,” Jonathan piped up and you couldn’t help but chuckle.
Steve glared at Jonathan through the mirror. “I see now. The moment the Hawkins club reunites, I’m off the table.”
The drive felt less awkward after that and when Steve dropped Jonathan off at an apartment complex twenty minutes away from yours, you felt obliged to offer, “We should hang out some time when I’m not completely miserable.”
Jonathan’s lips tipped up slightly. “Sounds great.”
Twenty minutes later Steve parked the Beamer in the parking lot of your apartment complex. He didn’t make any motion to get out. Instead he turned his head to look at you, shadows hiding half his face.
“What?” You asked a little unsure.
“What happened?”
You shrugged playing with the frayed ends of your shirt. “A total bust.”
Steve arched a brow.
“He believed that if women wanted equal rights so bad, men should be allowed to hit women too.”
“Jesus,” Steve choked.
“That was not even the worst of it, believe me.” You huffed and pulled your heels off to pull your feet up on the seat, hugging your knees to your chest. For a moment you let your head drop forward.
“This was just my luck,” you mumbled into your knees.
“Oh, come one.” A moment later you felt Steve’s hand on your head. It was big and warm and a shiver ran down your spine at his touch. You turned your head slightly to look at him, cheek squished against your knee.
“That guy was a total dud. That’s not on you.” His fingers slowly drove through your hair.
“Isn’t it though? I’m like a magnet for those kind of guys.” You huffed again, closing your eyes for a moment. Only because sometimes it felt like your heart was going to explode when you looked at Steve.
“Hey,” Steve said softly. “Look at me.”
You did. Steve’s eyes glimmered like molten honey.
“You’re gonna meet the right one.”
“If there even is one,” you joked. Steve stayed stoic, eyes ablaze.
“There is,” he said. “I know there is.”
Your heart skipped. In moments like these you always wondered if Robin was right. That maybe Steve did feel the same. That his heart skipped a beat every time your shoulders brushed while watching a movie. That when you went to sleep at night you couldn’t wait to see him again in the morning to share your first coffees and walk to campus together.
“I’ve got something for you,” Steve changed the subject and you tried pulling yourself together and sit up properly.
“Open the glove box,” he nodded toward the compartment and you undid the latch. A chaotic tumble of cassettes glared back at you.
“I swear to go if you want me to organize your mess—“
“Shut up,” Steve reached past you and plugged out the cassette in the top front. He had scribbled two letters on the front which coincidentally were your initials. He pressed the cassette into your hands with a look you couldn’t decipher.
“You want me to put it in?” You asked unsure.
Steve nodded. With a sigh you put the cassette into the insert, the usual whirring appearing. A soft click in the silence and a moment later the soft tune of your favorite song played through the car.
“You…” you didn’t know what to say, blinking at him in confusion.
“I made you a mixtape. You can listen to it whenever we’re driving or at home…I don’t know,” Steve flushed, scratching the back of his neck. “Sorry, it’s just…it’s stupid. They’re sorted after mood. One side is for the quiet days…the other, you know, for the not. I just thought you’d like—“
Before he could finish, you were half across the console, throwing your arms around his neck. Your eyes stung with tears as you pressed your nose into his shirt.
“Thank you,” you mumbled. You squeezed your eyes shut, trying not to sniffle.
Steve’s arms closed around you, fingers wrapping in your hair. “You know, even if you don’t find anyone, I’ll be there.”
You pulled back to look at him. A small tear escaped your eye and Steve brushed it away with a hushed breath. “We’ll be roomies until we’re eighty.”
You chuckled, turning your head to press a quick kiss against his knuckles. The highs of his cheeks tinted red, his eyes dipping for a moment.
“You’re heaven-sent, you know that, Steve Harrington?” You couldn’t help but smile.
“So they tell me.” He was pulled out of his stupor and pulled you in again, ruffling your hair before pressing a kiss against your temple. For once you wished that he was not your best friend. That he was just a stranger on the street that complimented you and ask you out. How cruel life could be sometimes. But even if it meant not having all of Steve, you’d take every piece he’d offer.
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