Jailbird || Stranger Things

thirty-nine ➵ lights out

"I don't get how you're okay with him just picking up girls in front of you," Robin watched Steve moving through the red booths as he cleaned the tables.

     Teresa followed her eye-line, but managed to not react in any way. Somehow, she was fine with it. Actually, it wasn't really a somehow, she knew exactly why.

    "He's kind of bad at the whole picking up girls thing," she noted, watching Steve strike out for the second time since she arrived at Scoops Ahoy to wait for the boyfriend of her little sister to turn up.  Her head cocked to the side, however, when she heard a very familiar line being used. She'd have to remember that for later.

    "I see that," Robin hid a small smile behind her hand that she wasn't leaning.

    "Plus, I dated Billy Hargrove. Even if he was surprisingly loyal and maybe dedicated, I've definitely had the jealousy monster squished," Reese admitted absentmindedly before turning back to her friend.

    "And you're really never going to tell him?" Robin checked.

    "Not never," Reese shrugged, picking up the plastic spoon from the pot to taste the lemon sorbet again. "Just not right now. I'm going to college in a couple months, and he's staying here. The worst thing I can think of is leaving after dropping such a bombshell. I'm not a fan of long distance anything, if he even returns my feelings."

    "Do you think it would feel like long distance?" Robin asked, disregarding the tag on anxiety of her best friend.

    "I don't know," Reese shrugged, looking down at the small pot of ice cream in front of her.

    Before Robin could follow up her question, however, a customer approached them.

    As Robin refused to recite the script, Reese kept her eyes on Steve, watching with a small smile as the boy stumbled over his words. It was quite clear he was out of his element, although a few month ago that would not be the case.

    Actually, come to think of it, Teresa hadn't seen Steve date anyone since Nancy.

    Maybe that's why she suddenly felt that weird constriction in her chest as the other girl laughed at what Steve had said. Maybe that's why she felt her teeth sink into her bottom lip. Maybe that's why Robin put another cup of lemon ice cream beside her to replace her by then empty cup.

    "You're an idiot, Hopper."

    "For free ice cream, you do not have to tell me twice," Reese reached for the cup, taking her previous spoon and tucking in once more. She turned back towards Robin, who leaned back against the wall and watched Teresa eat with a tiny smile hiding between her lips.

    Deciding it would be better if she let her friend think, Robin instead turned back to her colleague, who made his way back to the counter. It didn't take long for them to figure out he was not successful.

    "I'm losing my touch," he complained, dropping the cloth and spray in front of Robin who helped to put them away.

    "Sure you are," Robin nodded like she absolutely did not believe him. "Any luck with the girl in the far booth?"

    "Let's not," Steve shook his head, eyes never meeting Teresa beside him. "I just can't."

    "Something on your mind?" Reese asked, running a hand through her by then grown out hair to take the waves from her eyes. For the first time, Steve looked over, scanning his best friend's face.

    "Are you leaving when Mike arrives?" he asked instead.

    Reese stared back at him, her eyebrows furrowing lightly in confusion. "Uh, probably," she glanced at Robin for a brief moment. "Unless you want to pick up the phone to my dad and explain why I'm not home on my evening off," she smiled slightly.