This Year is My Year

Sleepover

I hadn't seen Y/N in 3 days, and I felt like I was going crazy. I could barely concentrate on preparing for Hellfire, gathering my campaign details.

I was scribbling furiously at the lunch table when Dustin came up, sitting right next to me. He watched me, intently.

"Got a staring problem, little one?" I was on edge, missing her. He sniffed out a laugh.

"You're strung out, man." I looked up to him, shocked. He laughed at my face, and I blushed. "Just come over after school today. She wants to see you, too."

The thought of her missing me bloomed butterflies in my chest. I smiled, looking back at my work.

"We've got Hellfire tonight, I have to make sure I'm ready for it," I explained. He shrugged.

"Great, I'll just bring her with me then." I shook my head.

"Little one, you don't need to worry about playing matchmaker," I ruffled his hair, and he smiled softly. "We're the adults."

"I just like you guys together, I guess. And you're a lot happier," he offered. I smiled back at him. He was a good kid.

"Thanks, little one."

He smiled and looked down at his hands.

"Do you know why she and Steve are in a fight? He came over after she got back from your show, and she wouldn't speak to him. He kept trying to get me to talk to her for him, but I figured it was bad if she was that mad."

I bristled with jealousy at the thought of her seeing Steve. What was his deal with trying to sneak in after I leave?

"I think they've just got some things to work through," I tried to maintain my cool, being the protector he needed me to be. "I don't think there's much we can do."

He nodded sadly; I could tell that it upset him, people being at odds with one another. I tried to cheer him up.

"How about you help me with this campaign? I could use your ideas."

He grinned, thrilled that I was including him. We talked through different storylines, and he got more and more excited as we went on.

Taking him under my wing was one of the best decisions I ever made.

---

"Uh, Henderson, did you need a ride home?" I asked, nervously. We had just finished the first session of the new campaign, and we were packing up.

"I'd like a ride!" Lucas chimed in, and Mike agreed. Shit.

"No, guys, you can't come," Dustin explained, smiling, "Eddie's using me as an excuse to see Y/N."

Heat creeped up the back of my neck, and the boys started teasing me. Jeff punched me in the shoulder, playfully.

"It's about time, he was going through withdrawal symptoms," he joked, and the group laughed. I tried to stifle my smile.

"It's a yes or no question, Henderson."

"I guess, if you insist," Dustin joked and he and I walked out together. He got his bike from the rack, and I helped him pack it into the back of my van. I started the van, and "Red Rain" started playing over the speakers.

I turned it down, quickly, embarrassed that someone besides Y/N knew about my newfound love for Peter Gabriel. He laughed and shook his head.

"Strung. Out."

I rolled my eyes and sped towards his house, my heart picking up at the thought of seeing her.

When we got to their house, my nerves bloomed and my mouth went dry. I wondered if she even wanted to see me.