𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗬𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗬 [steve harrington]

chapter 4

always
🎶 the joker and the queen - taylor swift and ed sheeran

"Hey Steve, what's up?" Izzie asked as she saw Steve waving at her.

"Hey, uhm I need you to make a promise to me." Steve sighed, looking at Izzie with pleading eyes.

"What's wrong?" The girl asked, feeling a ping of concern.

"Nancy went to the cops. About Barb. And I need you to promise that if they ask you questions you won't throw me under the bus." Steve replied, becoming more clearly frustrated. "I asked Nancy the same thing. She's upset with me now because I was more worried about covering my ass then Barb being gone. I was just looking out for myself Izz. You know my dad is gonna kill me. And Barb is most likely fine."

Izzie nodded, she understood Steve's relationship with his dad. He was in a tough situation."Nancy is scared right now Steve, she's acting irrationally. If I get questioned by anyone, I will protect you. You don't have to worry about me." Izzie smiled reassuringly, hoping to instill some amount of calmness into her friend.

"Thank you Izzie. Thanks for everything." The boy replied, secretly talking about more than just protecting him in front of the cops.

Izzie reached out for his hand. "Always."

-

In algebra, Izzie swore that the clock slowed down. Minutes felt like hours as her teacher explained equations is the most boring manor possible.

She had the routine down on lock. Sit in her seat, read the board and figure out the basic idea of the lesson, and spend the better part of the period staring at the clock or the door.

It was very rare for Izzie's routine to be broken. However, the day had finally came to break the routine. On this particular day Izzie was watching the door, focusing on the students walking by. When suddenly a woman appeared outside the door, entering the classroom. She had scanned the room before turning to the teacher . "I need Isabelle Williams to come with me." The teacher nodded and the woman turned her attention to Izzie. "Please grab your belongings and follow me Miss Williams ."

Izzie was brought into the cafeteria and was told to sit across from two police officers. It the seat beside her sat her mother. She had half expected Steve to be exaggerating, but Nancy really did get the cops involved.

"Hello Isabelle I'm officer Calla-"

"Izzie." She interrupted, earning a side eye from her mother.

"I'm sorry?" The officer asked.

"You can call me Izzie." She said, hoping to establish a sense of confidence. She needed them to believe her.

The officer nodded. "Okay Izzie. I'm officer Callahan and this is officer Powell. We have to ask you a few questions regarding Barbra Holland."

"Okay then, shoot." Izzie responded, trying her hardest to not appear nervous.

"Is it true you attended at party at the home of Steve Harrington, the same night as Barbra?" The other officer asked.

"I wouldn't call it a party. It was only a few friends hanging out." She defended. "But yes, Barb was at Steve's house."

"Okay then, moving on." The officer replied, writing notes on a sheet of paper beside him. "Can you describe the events of the night for me?"

Izzie tried her best to remain firm as she grew nervous. She didn't want Steve to get in any trouble. "My friend Carol and I went over to Steve's house to hang out. Her boyfriend, Tommy H, he was there as well. A little while after Carol and I got there, Barb and Nancy showed up. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, we were just sitting out by the pool. Talking, listening to music-"

"Drinking?"

"No." Izzie answered quickly. "I remember Barb cutting her hand though. She went into the bathroom to clean herself up and that was the last I saw of her." She added, hoping to change the subject.

"What did you do after Barb left the group?" The officers continued.

"We went swimming." Izzie answered truthfully.

"And what time did you and your friends go home that night?"

Izzie sighed. "I don't know what everyone else did after we separated to change, but I spent the night on Steve's couch. It was late, and I didn't wanna be on the street with that kid still missing, you know."

"Okay. Thank you Ms.Williams, if we need to speak to you again you may expect a call."

-

The phone beside Izzie's bed began to ring as Izzie sat attempting to finish her missing algebra work from earlier that day.

"Hello?" She asked.

"Hey Izz, it's Steve." The boys voice was full of uncertainty. "Nancy won't talk to me. And I just need your advice right now."

Izzie sighed. She, in all honesty, didn't want him to end up with Nancy. But she did want him to be happy. "Tomorrow morning, go talk to her. Apologize." She answered quickly.

"The funeral for her brother's missing friend is tomorrow." Steve added.

"Okay, then after the funeral."

"Will you come with me? To apologize." Steve asked.

Izzie sat, and thought about the idea. Eventually she decided that right now her best friend needed her, and that's what's important for her right now. "Okay Steve, here's how tomorrow is gonna go for you." She replied firmly. "You're gonna come pick me up, we are gonna get lunch while we wait. Once a few hours have passed and the funeral is long over, you're gonna drive to her house and apologize while I wait in the car. Okay?"

Steve went over the day in his mind. "Okay. Yeah." He replied. "I'll see you tomorrow Izz."

"I'll see you tomorrow Steve." She laughed.

Just as she was going to hang up she heard Steve speak. "Before you go, thank you Izz. Really. For everything."

"Always, Steve." She smiled, and realized that was the second time that day Steve had mentioned his appreciation for her.

Deja Vu really is real isn't it?