Let The World Go By || Steve Harrington

Personal Space Who?

November 1st. Always a weird day, everyone at school seemed to have some sort of hang over. This year was of course no exception. I saw Harrington in the hallway between 2nd and 3rd period, he waved and tried to come to where I was at my locker. I slammed it shut and walked in the opposite direction. I was there for him last night, until he ghosted again. As usual. Others come around and suddenly I'm not okay to be seen with. So I walked away. Passing Nancy as I went by, though I didn't hear her and Steve speak to each other. Maybe last night really did end in a break-up for the pair.

None of my business. I kept reminding myself that as I made my way to the one class I shared with Nancy Wheeler. It also happened to be my favorite class, not for that reason but because it was literature. We were studying To Kill a Mocking Bird. Not that it was my favorite book, but it kept things interesting. Easy way to play a game called; spot the racist. This years biggest contender? Easily that new guy, Billy. I don't fuck with him. Seemed like he was the type to normally skip this class, thank god. 

"Walsh?" I heard a quiet voice behind me. I turned in my desk to see Nancy sitting behind me. I rolled my eyes moving to turn back towards the front of the room when she grabbed my shoulder stopping me. "Lucy." Her tone was more firm, as though I owed her my time.

"Can I help you Wheeler?" What the fuck do you want? was what I wanted to say, but I figured I'd at least start by playing nice. Just in case it was going to somehow bite me in the ass.

"What did Steve tell you?" Of course this was the only way she would talk to me. To see what I knew about her bitchy behavior. 

"No. I'm not playing middle man for you two. Fuck that." I tried to turn away again, but of course her hand was still on my shoulder, so her grip only tightened. 

"So he did go to you last night." Well, at least Steve was somewhat predictable to someone. I sure as shit didn't feel like I knew him anymore. All thanks to the girl trying to use me as an info resource.

"You wanna know so bad? Fucking ask him. I'm not your Harrington resource, he's your boyfriend." I rolled my eyes again. Nancy's face lit up a bit as I called him her boyfriend. Hope. I'd given her hope.

"He's still my boyfriend?" Shit. Hopefully that was what Steve wanted. Otherwise I just accidentally ruined this girl's day.

"How drunk were you? Holy shit." Her face turned to one of pain, apparently she didn't want me to know she was drunk off her ass. Maybe Nancy shouldn't have gotten drunk in public then? Not my fault. 

"Well I thought I knew what happened last night but Steve never came to give me a ride, so I don't know." She got quiet again. I didn't know enough to give her answers, and I didn't want too. None of this shit was my business. 

"This is so not my business. Go talk to Steve." I couldn't make it more clear to her, I didn't know anything, and the little bit I did know I wasn't gonna be the one to tell her. She doesn't love me. I don't know that she ever did.

"You really don't know anything? You're his best friend." I couldn't help the little bit of smile that tugged at the corners of my lips. Maybe so, but that didn't mean he was my responsibility. Besides, if he was still her boyfriend he wasn't going to be seen around me. 

"Not for the last year." I then pushed her hand off of my shoulder and shook my head before facing the front of the room again. She tried to keep asking me things and I just ignored her. None of it was my business. So instead I focused in on Harper Lee, and the take on racism in the 50s. Though unfortunately Billy showed up today, so of course he was running his mouth. 

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Lunch had nothing but rumors about Steve and Nancy. I tuned them all out, none of this was my business. This wasn't my problem. Steve wasn't my friend. Nancy sure as shit didn't want to be either. I sat down at one of the few empty tables left when I heard someone loudly talking shit.