November 8th, 1983

Harrington Household

The three of us stood timidly in front of the grand estate that was Steve Harrington's home. "How much does his dad make again?" I asked as I scanned my eyes over the house. Even though the home only stood two stories high, I couldn't help but feel slightly intimidated. "What does his dad even do?" Barb questioned as Nancy made her way up the few steps that led up to the front door.

"Who cares guys? Come on, don't be nervous." Nancy stated and turned to look at the two of us. "I'm not." Barb nodded and went to stand next to Nancy. "We're not nervous, maybe just anxious..." I mumbled the last part as I stood on the other side of Nancy. "If they try anything though, we're leaving. Okay?" I asked, the two girls quickly nodding in agreement before Nancy landed two firm knocks against the wooden door.

Not a second later, almost as if he had been standing on the other side of the door waiting for us, the two doors separated to reveal Steve Harrington who held a cocky smirk on his lips. "Hello, ladies." He greeted charmingly as his eyes scanned over the three of us.

Nancy grinned up at him as she made her way inside the house, well she practically skipped her way in while Barb followed behind like a nervous and scared puppy. I on the other hand took a second before walking in, looking for a reason to bail out on the party. Distraction from current circumstances or not, I shouldn't be here.

"Nice dress, Byers." Harrington's voice broke my train of thought and inner torment on the situation. "Didn't think you'd show up." He commented with a quirked brow as I moved past him, scanning my eyes down the hallway behind him. "I'll tell Nance to wear it next time." I mumbled as he closed the door behind me, following close behind.

"Alright, ladies. Pools just behind the glass doors and there are refreshments in the cooler." Once he finished his sentence he walked off somewhere into the house while the girls and I made our way to the sliding doors. "This place is so nice." Nancy commented, pulling on the handle to the glass sliding door. "Wouldn't expect less." I nodded with a fake smile as Barb and I followed her out the door.

Tommy H. and Carol stood by the pool smoking and looked shocked yet pleased to spot the three of us behind the door. "Wheeler! What are you doing here? And on a Tuesday?" Carol mocked Nancy as she made her way up to the girl with a smirk gracing her lips.

"Decided to have some fun." Nancy commented plainly while Tommy H. walked behind Carol, throwing an arm around her. "Glad you could make it Nancy, even with the two weirdos." Tommy H. shot a sarcastic grin in the direction of Barb and me.

"Byers! You actually look like a chick tonight! Almost didn't recognize you." Carol commented, pulling at the side of my dress. "Yeah, I never realized you had tits." Tommy said with a grin only to earn a punch to the shoulder from Carol. "Never realized you were such a perv, Tommy." I stated with a roll of my eyes, quickly excusing myself from the group and moving towards the cooler with Barb following close behind while Nancy stayed and talked to the two preps. "That was strike one, yes?" I asked her before opening the cooler.

"Is it seriously just beer?" She asked, picking up one of the cans with a disgusted look on her face. "At least it isn't the cheap stuff." I retorted back before grabbing a can and popping the tab. Maybe Nance was right, this could take some edge off.

The look of contemplation in my eyes didn't go missed by Barb as she scoffed lightly at the idea of us actually drinking tonight. "Don't give me that look Barb. Come on, it's a party..." Offering a smile up at the taller girl, I quickly popped the tab before taking a sip of the drink. Grimacing slightly at the taste, I pushed through the slight burn before taking another sip.

Shaking her head in disapproval, Barb put her can back in the cooler before shutting it. The two of us walked back over to the group as Tommy picked up Carol, pretending to throw her into the pool, causing her to scream at the top of her lungs. Barb sat down in one of the pool chairs and rolled her eyes at the pair, obviously ready to leave already. While I stood beside her and watched Tommy H. hold Carol over the water with a slight grin.

Steve came back out of the house holding a beer and pocketknife just as Tommy H. decided to put Carol back down on the ground. "You are such an asshole, Tommy." Carol groaned and lightly punched him on the shoulder while he stood in his place and laughed at the pouting girl.

Steve stood in front of Nancy and stuck the bottom of his beer can with the knife before holding the drink to his mouth, chugging it down. Nancy practically stared in awe, Barb looked away in annoyance, and I just stared in disgust. "Is that supposed to impress me?" Nancy asked once he had finished the can and threw it onto the floor before falling back on his chair. "You're not?" He asked as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes.

"You're a cliché, you do realize that?" Nancy asked but still smiled at the boy. "No, you are a cliché. With your grades and I don't know your band practice." Steve droned on about Nancy with the still unlit cigarette dangling from his lips. "I'm so not in band." Nancy stopped him, laughing at his words even though we all knew he wasn't wrong about her good girl complex.

"Okay, party girl. Why don't you just show us how it's done then, yeah?" Steve held out the pocketknife to her. "Okay." Nancy grabbed her can of beer and stood up from her seat. "Nance maybe-" "Shut it, Byers." Tommy cut me off before I could stop her.

Rolling my eyes, I finished my beer and placed it on the floor, and watched Nancy. "You gotta make a little hole right in-" "I got it." Nancy cut Steve off before pricking the bottom of the can and holding it to her mouth as she began to chug it down.

"Chug, chug, chug." Steve started the chant that was soon joined in by the other two teens while Barb and I stared at Nancy in shock.

"So much for trying to be guardians." I directed towards Barb who nodded in agreement before looking away from the scene, just before Nancy finally finished the can.

"Barb, Eleanor. You wanna try?" She asked us, holding the pocketknife out in our direction. "Seriously?" Barb asked, obviously grossed out by the situation.

Nancy looked at me with a smile, moving the knife closer to me. "My can's already empty." I said with a shrug and threw the can over my shoulder. "Come on. Seriously guys it's fun." Nancy said before grabbing two cans and holding them in front of us.

Grabbing one of the cans from Nancy, I quickly popped open its tab. "Oops. Can't, sorry." I said with a shrug, taking a sip of the drink. "Fine. Whatever." Barb caved in and grabbed the can and pocket knife from Nancy.

Standing up from her seat, Barb tried to prick a hole on the side of the can but slipped and sliced her finger. Tommy laughed before commenting "Gnarly." As he tried to get a closer look at the cut, I rushed to Barb and tried to put pressure on the finger.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" Nancy asked, now standing next to her trying to look at her finger. "I'm fine." "No, you're bleeding." "I'm fine, Nance." Barb pulled her hand from mine and turned to Steve.

"Where's you're bathroom." "It's, it's down past the kitchen, to the left." He said and got up to walk with her to the sliding doors, while Barb quickly walked away from us.

"Nancy, come on." I said and grabbed her hand to pull her along. "What, why? No." She stayed in place and pulled her hand back. "Nance, Barbs hurt. We should probably go check on her." "She's fine. Just stay here, she'll be right back." She said just as Tommy H. pushed Carol into the pool.

"We should still check on her." She rolled her eyes and turned her body to fully face me. "Then go check on her if it's so important." Clenching my jaw, I nodded at the command but struggled to understand how she could be like this. "Some friend you are, Nancy." I scoffed, rolling my eyes at her before turning to walk away from her and back into the house just as Steve came back.

"Where are you going?" He asked, looking genuinely confused as I went to walk past him. "To check on Barb." I said and went to walk around him, only to be stopped by his hand as he lightly grabbed my arm. "She's fine, just stay. Have a dip?" Shaking my head I scoffed. "No offense, Steve. But my friend's more important than being here and trying to impress a bunch of posers." Pulling my arm away from his grasp I walked into the house, slamming the door shut behind me.

Making my way past the kitchen and to the left, I noticed a door with a light on underneath the crack and lightly knocked on the door. "Barb?" I asked and heard a muffled "What?"

"Open the door?" There was a moment of silence before I heard a quiet shuffle behind the door before opening to reveal a stressed-looking Barb. "How's the finger?" I asked as I sat on the countertop while she tried to tie a cloth around her bleeding finger. "It won't stop bleeding." She mumbled and wiped off the remaining blood.

"Here, let me help." I whispered softly, sliding off of the counter and taking the cloth into my hand. "Why didn't you do it?" She asked, looking down at me as I tried to tighten the cloth around the cut. "Do what?"

"Why didn't you just take the knife and drink the beer?" She asked starting to sound more annoyed towards me than Nancy with the situation. Letting out a sigh, I released her hand. "I don't need to prove myself to them. And I'm not just gonna do whatever they tell me."

"Right." Barb scoffed out quietly, shaking her head at my response. "I didn't mean to offend you, Barb. I'm sorry. " "Can you leave me alone for a bit? I'll be right out." I nodded and left the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

Turning towards the sliding door I noticed the group of teens all playing out in the pool. Sighing I looked around the empty house for something to occupy my time. Refusing to go back outside, I made my way upstairs and looked around the house.

Opening one of the doors at the end of the hall, I quickly assumed that the room belonged to Steve. Slowly, I made my way inside and was surprised to see how plain his room is. White and dark blue plaid wallpaper decorated the walls, with one window that overlooked the backyard and pool.

His desk that sat next to the door was covered in still open textbooks and his notebook was left open to reveal his slightly messy handwriting, the rest of the desk was covered with small knickknacks.

Posters of cars and swimsuit models hung from his walls, kind of pretentious but whatever. I don't know why but I figured that he would be the type to have more of his trophies and achievements on full display and for some reason I expected him to have more workout equipment than just two dumbbells.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I suddenly felt really cold in the room, I should never have worn this stupid dress. How could I basically tell Barb to not let Nancy push her around when I'm dressed like this? Some friends we are.

As I went to look around more, voices from downstairs quickly grabbed my attention. Along with the heavy footsteps coming up the stairs.

Before I got the chance to leave the room, Steve walked in, shocked to see me. "Hey, I thought you left?" He asked as he stayed in his place in the doorway. He had a towel wrapped around his shoulders, though his hair and clothes remained wet from the pool.

Unable to find my voice, I awkwardly stared up at him from my place in the middle of his room. It wasn't until Steve slowly entered the room, stepping just slightly closer to me, that I finally mustered up the courage to speak.

"Oh no, I was just wasting time. Sorry, I wasn't snooping. I promise." I said as I wrapped my arms tighter around myself. "Do you need a ride home? Can't let you walk home in the cold." He asked, before grabbing a jacket off of his bed and holding it out towards me.

"Barb said she'd drive Nance and me back. And it's okay, really I'm fine." I lightly pushed the jacket that he was offering me away, only for him to roll his eyes at the action. Stepping closer, he slowly wrapped the jacket around me.

"It's nothing, Nellie. Seriously." Steve's tone was soft as he stared down at me, his hands still holding onto the collar of the jacket. "Why are you being so nice to me?" My words came out softer than I intended, I almost thought he didn't hear me until he went to reply.

"Steve?" The voice of Nancy stopped him and pulled him out of his thoughts. Both of our heads quickly turned to look at the door as Nancy walked up the stairs, coming to a halt in front of his room.

"What's going on?" She asked, shooting me a confused glance while Steve slowly moved away from me. "Nothing, I just got bored and wanted to look around," I explained quickly as her gaze shifted onto Steve. "Is Barb still downstairs?" I asked quietly, the tension in the room now unbearable.

"She just left actually." Nancy stated quickly, her tone coming off as annoyed after the mention of our friend. "Well, that's great. Can I use your phone then?" I asked Steve who still stood quietly and awkwardly in between us.

"Yeah, it's in the hall by the kitchen." I nodded and made my way to the door stopping in front of Nancy who didn't move to walk into the room. "Is it cool if I call Jonathan to come and get us? It's better than walking or dealing with either of our mother's wraths." I asked, though she only shook off the question.

"I think I'm going to stay a bit longer." Nancy explained, raising her eyebrows at me as a signal to leave, and this time, I didn't fight her. "Right, guess I'll see you tomorrow then." I muttered, quickly exiting the room, hearing Steve call out a quick, "Goodnight." As I made my way down the stairs.

Walking down the hall to the kitchen, I pulled the phone off the receiver and dialed my house number only to instantly be greeted by the dial tone and that the number was no longer connected.

Sighing I put the phone back in its receiver and rested my head in my hand before walking out of the house. Hurrying down the driveway, the trees rustled restlessly as I walked down the dimly lit path. Slightly freaked out, I walked a little faster just as a scream broke the silence of the night.

Jumping at the sudden noise, I pulled Steve's jacket tighter around me before breaking out into a run in the direction of my house, completely ignoring the Volkswagen that belonged to Barb, still parked on the other side of the street.