I groan as I lift my heavy head from the bed. I look around, my eyes wide.

Where am I?

I manage to push myself off the bed and go to the door. I smell breakfast being made in the kitchen so I curiously walk down the stairs.

"Steve?"

His head turns in my direction and he gives me a sad look.

"Morning."

"Where am I?"

He pauses. "At my house?"

My eyes widen. "Why?"

He sighs and takes a deep breath in. "What...what do you remember last night?"

I try to think for a moment. "The party. Billy doing his drinking thingy. Then dancing with you guys."

And suddenly it hits me. "Nancy. Oh, God."

He turns away from me and I sigh. "Did...did she break up with you?"

"I think so." He mumbles.

Here was me thinking that Steve was such a dick and Nancy's dumped him.

"The last thing I remember is offering to go to your house to talk it out, but why am I still here?"

He hesitates. "Steve?"

"You weren't sober. I got me and you a beer once you helped calm down. I wasn't drunk, but not sober enough to take you home. So I put you in the spare room."

I pause. Looking away. I hear Steve suddenly yell and I look up.

His hand is red, cut finger. "Shit! Go to the bathroom and get me a bandaid!"

I nod, running upstairs. I look through the cabinet. I come back down with a bandaid and go over to Steve.

"Okay, there. It should be wrapped up well." I noticed he was looking at me the entire time that I put it on him. Then I glance at him. I sigh, wrapping my arms around him.

"I'm sorry for being so mean to you when I first met you. I'm just...sorry."

He silently wraps his arms around me, I manage to reach my arm over and turn the stove off. For a couple of moments, we just stand there. Hugging.

"I thought she loved me." He whimpers.

I shut my eyes and hold him close. One hand on the back of his head and the other on his back. He has both arms around my back.

"In a time. She probably did. But it'll be a good idea to talk to her about it. About last night."

"Are you going to eavesdrop again?" He asks.

"No way. I have Billy to deal with. I didn't go home last night and he's gonna want to know why."

Steve nods silently and continues to cook breakfast.

"Hey, Steve?"

"Yeah?"

"Did we do anything stupid? Or did I?" I ask hesitantly.

"No. You were drunk so you fell over a couple times. You hissed and whined a lot but I wouldn't call it stupid."

I nod silently. "You really loved Nancy, didn't you?" I ask him. He nods silently.

"Well."

He turns to look at me. "If you need any emotional or mental support. Just ring me okay?"

I give him the number on a small slip of paper. The number to my home phone. He smiles gently.

"Thanks."

"No sweat." I ruffle his hair slightly and he still looks at me as I walk off back to the couch. Steve brings over bacon and eggs which be both eat together.

"Now that you're sober...wanna tell me why Billy hit in you in the face?"

I look toward him as we eat. "How do you know that?"

"Well..." He says putting a bit of bacon in his mouth. I chuckle as he has to eat that bacon before he can speak again.

"I could tell by the look on your face at the party and especially when Billy came up when Nancy walked off. You told me why but I'm not sure if it was the truth since you were a little drunk. And then you were going to start talking about him last night. You only managed to say one sentence and it was something on the lines like 'OH! Billy thinks he's so fucking perfect!'"

I laugh as Steve's impersonation and he smiles...happily. The same happy I saw him with Nancy.

"Argh. Billy was being a dick on the road. He wasn't listening to me or Max--my step-sister and he was going quite fast. I leaned over his shoulder to swerve the car and he punched me back, in the backseat."

Steve stares wide-eyed, stunned. "Why'd he need to swerve?"

"Because he was threatening to run over three boys."

Steve opens his mouth to say something, and quickly shuts it. We both quickly finish our food before Steve goes to the car and drives us to school. I get out the car as does Steve. But he has a serious look on his face.

"What?" I ask him.

"I've got a basketball game with Billy so just go into school normally. But stay by the gym so I can see if Billy does anything when he talks to you."

"Steve...are you, worried?" I ask.

I see his face blush and he coughs. "Well, you've already got a bruise on your eye! What's next, a broken nose?"

I shiver. That could be a possible reality.

"Go to your normal classes, then meet at the gym okay?"

I nod and we go in different directions. I try to avoid Billy as much as possible and I don't see Nancy at all. The first class goes by in a whirl, second slow. Steve has first break in the gym. I stand outside the big doors of the gym and watch.

Steve is wearing a blue shirt and sweating at that. He has the ball and comes face to face with Billy who isn't wearing a shirt. I roll my eyes.

Gross.

Steve bounces the ball for a bit. He slams into Billy and grunt, still bouncing the ball.

"Harrington, right?" Billy asks amused.

"I heard you used to run this school. That true?"

Steve ran the school? Like what? Popular kid? King or something?

"King Steve, they used to call you, huh? Then you turned bitch."

I snarl at Billy from the distance and Steve glances up at me. My eyes soften. Steve wasn't as bad as I thought he was...

"Hey, maybe you should just shut up and just play the game." Steve breathes. I silently gasp with shock and my hands fly to cover my mouth as Billy shoves Steve to the ground and takes the ball off him. He quickly gets himself back up and chases him.

"Hey..."

I turn around. Nancy.

"Hey..."

She frowns and looks out there. "I'm going to talk to Steve in a bit."

"That's understandable, I guess." I nod.

She gets confused but doesn't comment. Instead, she walks inside the guy as Steve huffs, hands on his sides.

"Steve?"

I stand out back and lean against the wall. I know I'm falling for Steve but if Nancy still stays with him then I dunno what to do. Shit...All because I felt bad for him and now? I'm catching feelings.

Steve and Nancy go off to have their own conversation, and Billie still hasn't found me. I hope to go and talk to Billy with the insight of Steve around. Billy doesn't back down the fight but it's better than having nobody at all.

Steve returns to the game and by the look on his face, it did not go well at all. In fact, he seems both annoyed and sad all over again. I step outside and see Nancy standing there. She seems sad as well, but she hasn't noticed me. I turn my back, hiding behind the wall.

I don't know who I should be comforting. Steve, or Nancy. I don't want to suddenly be a third wheel either or be the middle man to resolve the problems.

Nancy ends up disappearing and after a little while, the game ends with Steve's team losing. It seems like Billy is a massive help to the other team now which doesn't make Steve too happy.

"Hey!"

I tense up as Billy shouts my name.

I turn around slightly and he has an angry look on his face. Still bare-chested.

"Where were you last night, huh?"

"I was at a friends house okay? They took me home to their place because I was wa-"

"Don't! Lie. To me!" He slams his hand against the wall beside me and I shriek.

He glares down at me. "I'll ask again. Where, were you?"

"She was with me." Billy turns around to see Steve.

"I know she's your sister. But if you wanted someone to take advantage of her when she was drunk then go ahead but I brought her to my place because I didn't know where she lives."

He glares at him. "Jesus Harrington. Could've just asked me."

"Well, I didn't think of that now let her go."

"Or what?"

Billy grabs me by the wrist and slams me against the wall.

"Whoa hey, dude!" Steve exclaims. Billy laughs. "I already beat your team in the basketball game Harrington. I doubt you'll be a...protector!"

Steve shuts his jaw but he seems pissed. "Let her go man. We didn't do anything at all. I just gave her a place to stay for the night so don't take it out on her."

Billy let's go of my wrist and steps up to Steve.

"Next time you take my sister to your house, Harrington." He growls lowly.

"And I'll beat your ass."

I know Steve wants to say more to Billy but he keeps his mouth shut. Billy walks away and I sigh with relief.

"Hey, are you okay?" Steve comes up to me and asks.

I nod silently, holding my wrist. "Jesus. Alright."

The bell goes and I groan. "You go to third period. I'll meet you in fourth." I nod and head off in a different direction.

I go off to class for the third period and see Nancy sitting in the front. She instantly sees me and turns away. My eyes widen and I sigh, looking down. The hours go a bit more slowly than usual, the third period slides by and fourth comes around.

For a little while, I wait for Steve to come by in the class. But he doesn't enter the class at all. I shiver, looking at the time. It's been half an hour...where is he?

"Excuse me sir..."

"Yes Y/N?" The teacher asks.

It might be a good idea to go look for him. "May I use the restroom?"

"Of course. But don't be too long."

I nod and leave the class. I exit the room and look around. Could Steve have gone..?

No. But I should make sure he's okay. I eventually arrive to the guys bathroom. I take a deep breath.

I really hope I'm not going to regret this.

I push through the first door open, then the next and look around. I knew it.

I don't see Steve, but I hear light breathing. I peek around the corner. Not there, not there. He's at the stall at the end. I huff and knock on the door.

"Steve."

The door instantly opens Steve opens it up.

"Y/N?" He gasps.

"The fuck are you doing in the guys' bathroom?"

"You didn't come to class so I got worried." I explain.

"Well. You shouldn't." He looks away.

"Steve. I have every right to worry about you. Your conversation with Nance clearly didn't go well."

"It didn't! Nance thought I took her home, but I didn't. It was Jonathan who did!" He explains frustrated.

"She said she didn't mean it but I asked her to tell me she still loved me if she didn't."

"And?"

"She didn't say anything. She didn't tell me she still loved me."

"Steve..." I sigh.

He opens his mouth to say something but we hear the first door open and eyes both go wide.

He suddenly pulls me into the stall and puts the seat down. He locks the door as I stand crouched on the seat. The second door opens as Steve puts a finger to his lips. I nod.

We stay silent for a little while, the guy leaving after a little bit. I sigh. "So what, do you plan to stay in here the whole lesson?" I ask.

"I just wanted to think." Steve sighs.

"What about?"

Steve gives me the curious eyes and looks away. "I...I dunno. You show up out of nowhere and Nancy. She's broken up with me. I just..."

"It's okay Steve."

He turns to me and smiles gently. "I'll be here for you now. I hope you know that. We're friends now. Why don't we chill in the library at break?"

"That sounds like a good idea to me." He nods.

"Okay. Cool. I'll see you at break Steve Harrington."

"I'll see you at break Y/N..."

"L/N." I grin opening the cell door.

"I'll see you at break Y/N L/N."

* * *

I make my way to the library and I go to the small little room that Nancy and Steve had their private talk. I see Steve enter the library eventually, looking around to see where he can find me. I wave my arm around and he notices me, heading in that direction.

"Here, of all places?" He smirks shutting the door behind him.

"I figured it'd be a bit more private in case you wanted to vent or ask anything that nobody should hear." I suppose.

"That's...not a bad idea."

He pulls up a chair beside me and we pull out our books. "How are you going with the assessment for English so far?" I ask.

"Terrible."

"That's a mood."

He laughs and looks at my paper. "Looks like you're doing worse."

"Shut up!" I grin, lightly punching his shoulder. He laughs with a wide grin and backs up slightly. He pulls up his sunglasses and I roll my eyes.

"Like em?"

"They make you look cool. I'll give you that."

He chuckles and we both begin to work on our paper. My eyes widen when I notice my pencil snaps. "Bruh..."

He pulls his sunglasses down for a moment then turns back to his work. "I'll be right back. I just need to go sharpen this pencil."

He nods and I leave the room. I sharpen the pencil and turn the handle. I look around me and notice that Billy's in the library. Chills run down my spine. I don't know what he would've done if Steve wasn't there but I don't wanna know.

I quickly check my pencil and go back into the room. "Hey, Steve-"

"SHUT IT!!"

I jolt suddenly and notice the specific book he has in his hand that he shuts the curtains and shuts the door.

"BRO!! Why'd you go through my journal!?"

"How do you know about the Upside Down!?"