troubled souls ~ Steve Harrington

*eleven*

Steve Harrington always needed to prove himself.

It started at a peewee football game. After a beefy kid knocked eight year old Steve down, he limped in tears to his coach. But rather than acknowledge his son's efforts, the man disappointedly shook his head.

"Go sit on the bench where you belong."

And that's where Steve sat during almost every game.

John Harrington did not sign up for peewee coaching the next year. His busy work schedule and a shrouded affair with his secretary pulled him from the responsibility.

But in his son's small mind, it seemed his poor performance was the only explanation. The thought hit him every time he fell short: if he could just try a little harder, maybe someone would actually be proud of him.

The thing is, sometimes certain people silenced the voice. And Nancy Wheeler was one of those people. Being with her was a breath of fresh air.

That's why her strange behavior that afternoon ran through his mind over and over again. The stuff about tryouts- that was a bunch of bullshit. Nancy hated sports, he knew because he had gym with her once. 

So it wasn't about softball. She was definitely worried. And Steve was determined to find out why. 

Carol interrupts his thought with the obnoxious snap of her bubble gum. "Look, are you going to mope the entire night over that priss?"

"Don't call her that," Steve snaps. He runs his fingers over the rivets on the steering wheel. "She's not a priss."

Carol sighs and leans forward. "I just don't understand why we're coming out here. She obviously doesn't want to talk to you."

A nervous scoff escapes his lips, "That's- that's not it."

"Oh really?" The scent of her bubble gum wafts into his face as she laughs, "Because no girl would ever blow off King Steve."

He shakes his head, "She was acting weird. I mean, something was wrong."

"So, what? You're worried about her?" Carol mocks, her lips upturned in snarky amusement.

In an attempt to act nonchalant, Steve acts surprised, "What?"

"Awww, you are," she leans forward and taps his cheek. "Steve has a heart."

"Would you just-" he pushes Carol's arm off him, causing the car to swerve a bit. "Stop!"

"Stevey's in love." Tommy pipes in from shotgun, running his tongue over his teeth.

"Shut up!" he snaps, his tone severe. It takes his two friends by surprise, their jests immediately ceasing.

Tommy puts his hands up in surrender, "Jeez."

"Damn," Carol sighs, leaning back into her seat. "Sorry."

The two are shockingly silent the rest of the ride. Only the quiet tunes of Steve's mixtape fill the void until they pull up to the Wheeler's home.

"So this is it, huh?" Tommy leans forward with a curious gaze, "Princess' castle?"

Choosing to ignore the comment, Steve steps out of the car. "I'll just be a minute," he says before slamming the door shut.

Swiftly darting through the grass, he makes his way to the radiator and climbs up towards Nancy's window. A nervous energy shoots through Steve as he anticipates what their conversation would hold. Maybe she would change her mind and go out with them, and he wouldn't have to deal with Tommy H. and Carol's antics. He had enough for one night.