𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗬𝗔𝗟𝗧𝗬 [steve harrington]

chapter 42

sinclair's a baller
🎶 hope ur ok - olivia rodrigo

Izzie had to admit, she was really sad when Victorie called and offered Izzie and Steve free tickets to go to the game with her. Mostly because, when she asked why, Victorie explained that none of Lucas' other friends were attending the game. Apparently because of that lame ass DnD club at her school.

"I'm just saying Steve, that little shit could have skipped his board game to watch his best friend play. It's important to Lucas." Izzie said as Steve parked the car.

"Yeah I know." Steve sighed, opening the door. "But you know Dustin, he's insufferable."

Izzie nodded. "Yeah. I know."

The pair walked into the buzzing gym and Izzie faintly smiled at the familiarity. The smiling cheerleaders, the fight sings booming from the band. "Hey Steve?"

"Yeah?" He replied.

"Does it bother you that they might win a championship the year after you graduated?" Izzie giggled.

"That's a good point Izzie, thank you so much." The brunette quipped.

"Just the facts!" She defended.

"Okay Erica, sit down." He said as he rolled his eyes.

"Everyone now please rise for our national anthem." The principal said over the microphone. "Singing for us tonight, we have a very special guest. All the way from Nashville, our very own, Tammy Thompson!"

When the couple let out loud snorts, the people around them shot agitated glares straight at them. "Sorry." Izzie whispered as she hushed a giggle from Steve. The pair exchanged a look with Robin as the girl approached the center of the gym.

"Told you." Steve mouthed. "Muppet."

"Okay." Robin whispered. "She does sound like a muppet."

Izzie watched as Robin talked to the girl beside her, with a nervous smile she had never seen on her. "Steve, is that Vickie?" She asked.

"Yeah." He nodded. "Why?"

"Robin is totally in love with her."

-

Victorie had arrived later, and the trio had watched the entire game together. Izzie was a little disappointed when she realized that Lucas was a total benchwarmer, but he was a freshman so it wasn't totally surprising.

Victorie had been filling her in on how Lucas was starting to become this popular guy and the other kids were upset about it. For some reason, Victorie seemed to be getting closer to Lucas instead of distancing herself. That's when Izzie remembered how in one of the girls letters she asked Izzie for advice on impressing someone from her school. Someone popular. She had assumed it was an older guy, maybe it was Lucas. After his breakup with Max, maybe she had grown feelings for him.

Lost in thought, it took her a second to come back to focus as Steve continued to nudge her side. "Sorry, what?"

"Lucas." He said. "They took him off the bench!" Lucas was on the court for awhile, but he didn't do anything serious. Until after they called a timeout, and Jason was taking his shot. It was a tight game, this shot meant the difference between winning and loosing. Izzie had been to enough of Steve's games to know how important these make or break shots were.

Izzie cringed as the ball bounced right out of the hoop, down into Lucas' hands. She could feel herself sweating for him as he held the ball, there was only a few seconds left on the clock and the championship title was in his shoulders. With all the bullshit Lucas Sinclair has been through, this should have felt insignificant. But in this moment, for him, it was everything.

Steve and his girls watched with pride as the ball left Lucas' hands right before the buzzer, and they held their breath just as tight as Lucas did waiting for it to fall into the hoop.

With the rest of the crowd, the blonde jumped up and cheered for Lucas as the ball dropped through the net. "Holy shit! Sinclair's a baller!" Izzie yelled.

-

After the game Izzie ran up to Lucas and hugged him. "You grew up on me Sinclair. I swear you were just 4'11."

Lucas let out an embarrassed smile as the other guys on the team gawked at him. How did Lucas Sinclair know Izzie Williams, and how the hell is hugging the girl the entire team had wanted her entire high school career? "Hey Izz." He smiled. "I'm glad you guys came."

"I knew you could do it Lucas, I wouldn't miss it for the world." She said.

"Yeah, seems you and Torie are the only ones."

"Speaking of Torie, what's going on with you two?" Izzie questioned.

Lucas immediately tensed up at the question. "Listen Izz, I think you two should talk. Alone."

Izzie was weirded out by his answer, but ultimately she took his advice. As Izzie, Steve, and Victorie were walking out of the gym Izzie sent Steve to go get Robin so that she could talk to Victorie alone.

She settled in the passenger seat and Torie slid into the back row. "Hey Torie." Izzie said.

"Yeah?" She responded.

"Is something going on with you and Lucas?" The blonde asked. "I'm not judging or anything, I've been in a similar situation. It's just, I don't want to to ruin your friendship with Max over a boy."

Victorie laughed. "What?"

"Well you wrote to me asking for advice impressing someone, and you mentioned he was popular, so when I saw Lucas suddenly hanging out with all the basketball guys I just kinda thought it was him. Plus you two have gotten really close while I was gone. So, I just want to know what's up. I want to be able to help you."

The redhead's demeanor began to change as she played with her fingers. "Izzie I want to tell you something but I don't want you to hate me."

"Torie I'm not going to hate you. We've been to hell and back together. What's wrong?" She asked.

She let out a shaky breath. "Lucas knows something about me that no one else does, and that's why we've been getting closer. I didn't even tell him on purpose, I just wanted his help getting to know one of his friends. I didn't think he would figure it out. I made him promise me to never tell anyone. Ever."

"Victorie, you helped me realize my feelings for Steve, and I want to help you too. Please, trust me." Izzie pleaded.

"Izzie I don't like a guy on the basketball team. I like a girl on the cheer team." She said, wiping a stray tear.

A pit formed in her stomach when Izzie got out the car, she thought she had ruined everything. To her surprise, the blonde opened the back door and got in the back with her, wrapping her arms around her. "Victorie it's okay. I don't hate you."

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah, and don't worry. I won't tell anyone. Not even Steve, I swear."

"Please don't tell Blair. Promise me." She pleaded.

Izzie frowned, she wasn't going to tell Blair, and she was grateful Victorie trusted her like this. Still, she felt bad that Victorie didn't feel like she could trust her own sister. "I promise. So, what's this girls name?"

"Chrissy." Torie smiled.

-

I've been waiting so long to write this. I really love the trust Torie puts in Izz, and I think that this is something that's really important to Torie's character. I really hope I did her justice and I hope you're excited for this new chapter in her life.