EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE | Stranger Things.

XXII. Envious Erin

JOSHUA STOOD AWKWARDLY NEAR A BOOKSHELF.

He felt like a stalker by watching Daisy sitting at a table with June and another girl with a bob and dirty blonde hair. He hadn't seen Daisy since last night and right now it looked like she was all right with no visible injuries, a relieved sigh escaping his lips.

Daisy's hair kept falling over her eyes to which she begrudgingly pushed it back, her white and green bomber jackets brushing against her cheekbone. Only three buttons at the end of her jacket were buttoned up, revealing her color block shirt that had a light blue base and white, olive green, and dark grey stripes. She had on high-waisted denim blue jeans and white Keds shoes.

The Cunningham boy took a sharp breath in when she looked up, the open book in his hands quickly coming up to cover his face away from hers. Her head tilted as she continued staring at the nervous boy with the upside-down book covering his face.

She scoffed when she noticed the same sweatshirt Joshua loved, her eyes squinting with annoyance. Her book closed shut and soon enough the screeching of a chair could be heard along with footsteps coming near him. Before he could comprehend her upcoming presence Joshua was being yanked along behind the bookshelf, the couple being hidden away from sight.

Daisy made sure to check that no one would hear their conversation — or argument. She was still deciding. "Okay," She exhaled, glaring straight at him. "What? Are you just going to keep staring at me?"

"Look..." Joshua said and then nothing followed those words. Daisy's arms were crossed over her chest, an expectant look dwindling on her features.

She scoffed. "I'm looking," The tension between them was high and there was no sign of it evaporating anytime soon. Not when Daisy looked like she could slap Joshua any second now. "At a moron, my boyfriend, or maybe even a shithead?"

"I'm sorry, okay?" Joshua sighed.

Daisy's lips pursed as she moved forward and backward on the balls of her feet, not budging even an inch.

Joshua grabbed her hands which she nearly yanked away from him until she caught his eyes. "I'm so fucking sorry for choosing some... dumb high-school friends over you and leaving you alone." He watched her look down at their hands, squeezing him softly but Joshua didn't miss it small gesture. He could never miss her touch. "You're the only person I... care for."

There was a flash of disappointment that flashed over her face for a second, the expression being changed over for a tight-lipped smile.

"And, the only thing I care for right now is finishing my French homework." She raised an eyebrow. His hands were dropped back to his sides by Daisy herself. "We can continue this conversation later."

"Wait," Joshua reached over for her hand again. This was getting nowhere if they were both being honest. He took a deep breath and nodded to himself despite being afraid of the words that were about to spill out of his lips. "I shouldn't have let you go home by yourself and — and.. that was horrible of me to do."

"Doesn't take a genius to figure that out, now does it?"

He nodded, chuckling to himself at her remark. "It really doesn't, but I don't want to lose you. I need you and only you." Joshua awaited her words and he worried his heart might explode because of how hard it was pounding within himself. "It's you and me."

She blinked with shock. No words were left to say but even then she didn't know what to do. Daisy didn't want Halloween to be ruined because of their stupid fight. Just a stupid goddamn fight.