Star Crossed Lovers (STEVE HARRINGTON)

Living with it

Murph's POV:
"We're going to the arcade." Dustin stated, hopping on the soles of his feet in excitement. I knew he meant him and his boyfriends but I was just chaperoning. "Let's go Dusty." I called out as he laced up his shoes. Footsteps sounded the empty house as my mom was meeting an old friend tonight so it was just us.

I locked the front door behind me and we both made our way to my car. "You excited?" I asked, taking a sip of coke, I'd been trying not to smoke as often and sugary drinks .. well they helped.. barely. "Yeah, Will said Jonathon's coming." He informed me. I nodded in response. "Murph you okay?" Dustin asked. "Yeah I'm find buddy." I reassured, the chill sliding down my back.

When we got there, I fixed his hair and said "Hey I'm going to go sit over there. If you need anything let me know, here's some extra money I know mom probably gave you like 1 dollar." I joked, handing him some money. "Thanks Smurph." He grinned, his teeth coming in as I squeezed his cheeks, smiling at the nickname my dad used to call me.

"Okay go have fun." I nodded, waving hi to all his friends before turning around and walking up to the table where Jonathon and Nancy were sat. "Hey." I groaned, leaning my head down on the table. "Hey.." Nancy greeted, unsure of my mood. "What's wrong?" Jonathon asked. "I have a huge fuck off headache and I'm warning you now, I'm feeling very easily irritable today." I complained.

When no one responded I looked up to see them staring behind me. I turned around and saw Dustin waving over at me. I got up and quickly jogged over to him wondering if he was okay. "Look see! I told you I beat them all at Dig Dug AND Centipede!" He excitedly rambled showing me his first place badge on the screen.

"Sorry boys. Henderson blood is just different." I joked as Lucas shook his head "I'm a close second!" I shrugged leaning over to him and Mike and whispering "Distract him with Nachos and you got yourselves a win." I teased. They nodded as if to agree to the 'plan' running away as Will stood beside Dustin, smiling up at me. "What about you Will you having fun?" I asked, he nodded quietly as he looked over at a game which had a probably 12 or 13 year old snotty kid clinging onto it.

I could see the longing in his eyes and to be honest the kid had dealt with enough so I made my way over and slipped the kid a ten dollar bill and told him there was a vacancy near the Pac-man and he walked away clutching the bill in his hand. So damn gullible. I ushered Will over as he smiled widely. "Thanks Murphy!" I ruffled his hair and said "no problem." Before making my way back up to the 'adults table'. I noticed Steve sat beside the seat I'd left my bag on and joined them.

Picking my bag up, I sat down and smiled in his direction before slipping his sunglasses off him and putting them on myself. "I don't think I've ever seen Henderson go this long without talking before." He joked. "She's got a "fuck off headache." Jonathon said holding his fingers up as quotation marks for the last bit. I scoffed and kicked him under the table. "Shush Byers."

Jonathon and Nancy were speaking in hushed whispered, occasionally chuckling and giggling to each other. "Hey Henderson." Harrington called, I turned around to see him stood a few feet away, gesturing me to get up. My eyes rolled on their own that time I swear, groaning I got up and followed him. "My mom always says ice cream cures headaches." He smiled nostalgically, handing me a three scoop cone which I gladly accepted.

"Wow, your childhood must've been a breeze." I said unknowingly. He cleared his throat, coughing a little. "Uh yeah." He turned his head away, I chose not to prod, understanding the need to avoid the subject of childhoods. "I need to go see Hop in a little while. Can you keep an eye for Dustin on me?" I asked. He looked behind us pointing at Nancy and Jonathon.

"Let them! They're the boring ones. Don't make me baby sit, Henderson." His eyes pleaded as I patted his back gently, sarcastically smiling at him before saying "Aw, poor Stevie's reputation down the drain just like that." I joked, "Come on! I'll even get you a pack of M&M" He raised his eyebrow, smirking. "Sold." I responded.