𝗨𝗚𝗟𝗬 // 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

006

"So did you see Steve Harrington again?"
I internally cringed at Miss Cooks words, knowing what I had to tell her. "Yup." I popped the p, feeling awkward as hell right now.

"Great, tell me what happened?"
I coughed into my arm, trying to avoid telling her but she gave me that look she always does and I knew she'd eventually get it out of me, might as well rip it off like a band Aid.

"I told him I don't like him.." I left it there, out in the open, for a little bit as Miss Cook processed and bright out her notebook again, this time coughing herself.
"Well I suppose that's.. progress?"

***

After my appointment I returned home to the landline ringing and my mother telling me it was for me.
"Hello?" I had answered, waiting for a reply from the other end of the phone, "Ruby! I'm sad I missed you yesterday." Robin clearly was disappointed so I started making up an excuse in my head, "I-" she cut me off, "don't worry about it, Steve let me know you popped by but realised you had a doctors appointment."

I breathed a sigh of relief before I thought, Steve didn't tell her?

"I assume you meant therapy and didn't want to tell him," she playfully whispered before chuckling, "anyways I'm off early tonight so I figured we could rent a movie, pop some jiffy pop."
I smiled at my friend through the phone, our classic routine, "risky business?"

I expected the disgusted sigh that escaped my friends lips, "god no, did you know it's still playing at the theatre?" I laughed lightly remembering last year when Robin would work there and constantly complained about the amount of Tom cruise fans.
"I still don't get the hype."
I rolled my eyes, "I know you don't, fineee we can watch something else."
I notice her say something down the landline and furrow my brows confused, "Robin are you at home?"

"No, I just told you I'm at work dumbass," she says sarcastically, "I'm using the landline outside the store, Steve's pestering me about getting back to work."

Of course he's there, he's everywhere.
"Oh well, I'll let you get on then!" I fake my usual optimism and return the goodbye she gives before hanging up the phone.

How am I ever gonna get over this?

***

6:00pm I get a knock on my door, my mother is already in bed due to an early morning tomorrow at the hospital so I'm left to answer it, expecting it to be my best friend who stupidly didn't tell me when she got off of work.

But it wasn't Robin, no it definitely wasn't Robin.
There in my doorway stood Steve, leaning against the wall as casual as ever as he ran his hands through his hair.
If I wasn't scared of him I'd find this extremely attractive.

"Ste-Steve!" It's all I can make out, which I internally scold myself for. He already thinks I'm a massive weirdo, why not add to the list of reasons why!
I think sarcastically.
"Ruby White." He nods in acknowledgment and tried to move his back from the wall before stumbling over his own feet, causing him to fall forward slightly.
And my dumb ass catches him.
I subconsciously put my hands on his chest to stop him falling, blushing brightly as I realise what I had done, but he just smirks and leans back in position, muttering a quick and confident thanks.

"Why-you're-" I hate myself for how messy my words become around him, so I breathe in and give it another shot, "why are you here Steve?"
I shut the door behind me and stand with him on the patio, not wanting to wake my mother who's asleep in the room next door.

"I kept thinking about what you said.." he let out, looking me up and down, "I just.. I thought I wouldn't care but here I am, caring."
Wow, such a gentleman.
"Ruby why.. don't you like me?" His eyes became sad for a moment and I sighed, crossing my arms over my body as I realise I'm wearing bright pink pyjamas.
I cant let myself feel self conscious right now, I can't let my mind wonder, not when I have to focus on his words.

"Is it because I've been like taking Robin away or something?" He starts and I shake my head and let out a small no, so he gives me a look as if he's worked it out.
"I know.." he points accusingly, "you think I'm gonna fuck her over!" He laughs and sweeps his hand through his annoyingly perfect hair.

He thinks.. I think.. him and Robin..?

Before I can answer him, he begins to ramble, trying to save himself, "okay well you don't have to worry about that believe me!" He chuckles, "Robin is not my type so, no freaky business there, you can lower your weapons." He's joking around sarcastically.
Before I can smile a little knowing he thinks I'm just being a good friend, anger floods through me at his words and I find myself picking my fingers once more as I furrow my eyebrows and lower my head.

"Wh-why?" I barely make out the words as tears threaten my eyes. Robin was the best person I know, and now he was insulting her too? Was looks all that mattered to him?
Every time I think he's changed from the boy he was two years ago, he makes a stupid little comment like that which ruins everything.

"What?" He questions, clearly confused.
"Why isn't Robin your type?" I start to get more angry as I finally pick eyes with him, "Robin is the coolest person I know Steve Harrington you'd be lucky to have her!" I point my finger at him accusingly and strut towards him until it's touching his chest.
"Why do you only see people as their beauty?" I scoff, "god don't you know there's so much more!"

He stuttered as I raised my voice, clearly startling him as he'd only seen the shy girl before. And he would be right to think that shy girl is the one true version of me, most of the time anyways. God I hated what I was doing, I wasn't the type to raise my voice or even confront someone, I'd never done it before.

Why did Steve Harrington effect me so much?

"I'm sorry?" He was acting surprised of course and I just ran my hands through my brunette hair angrily. "Can you leave Steve?" I look at him through tear stained eyes and he hesitates for a moment, breathing in the air around us.

Before he could reply I noticed Robin walking up my driveway, eyes confused as she looked between me and the man in front of me. "Hey!" She greeted, noticing the tension in the air, "Steve? What's going on here?"

The popular boy shrugged and smiled lightly at Robin, "nothing I uh.. I was just leaving."