rivalry; steve harrington.

chapter seventeen; drunken mistake

WASHING MACHINE HEART - MITSKI
✘

Alana had managed to go a whole month without seeing Steve Harrington. They managed to miss each other in the halls, not make eye contact in classes, and pass each other by in the cafeteria.

Alana had been too nervous to bring anything up to him, and it was clear to her that he was not interested in bringing it up. Alana couldn't understand why it bothered her so much. She never cared for Steve before, why now did she care what he wanted or thought of her?

She found herself wanting him to glance over at her, wanting him to say something to her. She wouldn't even care if it was an insult, she just craved for him to interact with her. It was tearing her apart, she had never wanted someones attention more. Alana had never cared for anyones attention before, why now did she want his more than ever?

Alana had even began to wear more makeup than usual, or style herself into more eye-catching clothes to see if she could manage to get him to even glance at her, but she got no response. Alana felt as if she was going crazy. She hated Steve Harrington. She hated him with a burning passion. But she wanted him to notice her more than anything in the world. She couldn't understand why.

She hadn't spoken a word of her confusion to anyone, not even Nancy. The two had bonded even more throughout the weeks, finding a new connection between them. This was why Alana had found herself infront of the Wheelers house with a present in hand, snow covering her brunette hair.

She politely knocked on the door, shivering slightly as her hands became redder and redder from the biting cold. Alana smiled sweetly as Mrs Wheeler answered the door, opening it wider to allow her in.

"Hey Alana! I've made cookies if you wanted one!" She gleamed over at the girl. She nodded happily, rubbing her hands together to warm them up slightly. As she walked over to grab one, her eyes met with Nancy, who had a smiled etched across her face.

"Merry Christmas Alana!" She squealed, running over to her and pulling her into a hug. Alana laughed, returning the gesture before pulling away.

"Merry Christmas Nance." Alana smiled, placing the present into Nancys hand. Nancy gasped slightly in shock, before looking back up to Alana.

"Thank you so much!" She smiled, running over to the christmas tree and putting it under. The action made Alana laugh more, Nancys childish interaction with the present warming her heart.

"Dont think your going anywhere without my present!" Nancy pointed at her, making Alana put her hands up. The two laughed, Nancy running around the house before jumping up the stairs.

Alana took this time to reach over to Mrs Wheelers cookies, grabbing one and placing them into her mouth. Alana practically moaned at the taste, the cookie melting in her mouth.

"Mrs Wheeler, these are amazing." Alana told her, placing the rest of the cookie in her mouth. Mrs Wheeler just laughed at the girl.

"Glad you like them Alana." She replied, turning her attention back towards the living room. Before Alana could walk with her, she was stopped by a hand on her shoulder.

"Ok! Don't open it now because its for Christmas." Nancy told her sternly, making sure the girl would follow the rules of christmas day.

"Thank you Nancy." The girl smiled, bringing her into a hug once more. When the two let go of each other, Alana prepared herself for the bitter cold once more, not wanting to overstay her welcome. Although something stopped her in her tracks. The voice of someone she hadn't heard in ages, the voice she had found herself wanting to hear, but right now was the last place she wanted to hear it.