Stranger Things: Little Miss Perfect (A Prequel Novel)

Chapter 5: "I just couldn't stop running."

Barb laughs hysterically, "No really? you're falling for him?"

We got on to the topic of relationships as everyone deems it important to try them in High School.

"Maybe..." We were talking about the evening with Steve at the theatre.

"Really? The guy who gets the bagel crumbs everywhere? Him?" Barb finds this overtly hilarious.

"I don't know? It's probably just his charm or something." I try not to sound defensive but it isn't working.

"I think the charm of his hair has gotten to you." 

"It's not his stupid hair! He's just funny, you know?"

"At least it's not the hair, anything but that please."

We intended to spend the evening writing our papers for Mr Hauser but we keep distracting each other, so we don't get anything done.

"Who are you crushing on then? If you think my crush is completely unacceptable." I ask her jokingly.

"I think I can do better than unintelligent Hawkins boys, I aspire so much more than Steve the hair-Harrington."

"You're definitely going to this party with him then?" She asks with eyebrows raised, she's secretly my wing woman in this whole situation. 

"Well, my mother surprisingly gave me permission."

"You have to be my plus one!" I add on, insisting that she comes because I wouldn't be able to hand it alone.

"I don't want to walk in on a Steve Harrington make-out session and forever be a third wheel."

"I can't let that happen. Anyways I'm not sure if he's even interested."

"Did you seriously just say that? A guy asks you to a party within just meeting and what do you think he wants to do? Be your friend?" She's trying to force me into sense, which is thoughtful of her.

"This is all just so new, I miss not having to think about my social status plus dating." 

"I don't really care about all that, I've never really been into dating, I don't think I've even had a crush before." Barb explains all this as if she's speaking from the heart and I listen attentively. 

"Not at all?"

"No... People in class would always be passing around love notes or making out in the halls and I'd never get it.

"Everyone now is gushing over King Steve and I don't even get it, he acts all high and mighty like he owns the school." Barb's quite observant, she's never really been the type to stand up and speak against anything really. 

"Maybe you just don't know him yet, when he talked to me at the theatre, he generally seemed interested and he didn't act like he usually does in school."

"Maybe you'll cure him Nance."

A silence falls, the only sound now being the slight breeze hitting the curtains of the open window next to it. 

Barb breaks the silence. "I sometimes do wish I was more rebellious though, I don't think I've ever gotten a detention or been grounded." I do relate to her though, my parents were strict enough that I was too scared to break rules.

"We should go to this party as our way of rebelling." I suggest.

"I used to have a friend in Elementary school who sort of reminds me of you, she would always get into trouble with teachers and stick it to the man."