Unintended (Steve Harrington x OC)

Chapter 15

We managed to blend in with the crowd but it didn't take long before we saw Russians looking for us and we made a run for it. They were locking down the mall now to find us, we were hidden in the food court under one of the counters. All breathing heavily from the running. We heard them not far from us, then there was a car alarm going off before a loud crashing sound. We peeked over the counter top and saw the Russians all on the ground and the car that was in the mall was smashed against another counter of the food court. We looked around and saw up at the balcony for the second floor Eleven and the others.

After they all came down and we were all together, Erica threw us under the bus when Lucas asked why she was here. Robin asked what the deal was with the car which she was told about El's superpowers, then Robin was introduced to the group and we told them of the Russians. Questions were flying and it was then explained that Dustin's code red wasn't fully understood as the walkie talkie cut in and out.

"Stupid low battery," Dustin said and Steve went dad mode on him.

"How many times do I have to tell you with the low battery?"

"It worked out didn't it?"

I took Steve's hand, trying to calm him down as everyone was trying to fill each other in on what was going on. I noticed El had stepped away just moments before she fell to the ground and we all rushed. She complained about her leg. What the hell happened? I got behind her as Jonathan ran off to get something to use to get whatever it was in El's leg out of there. I pulled her up and had her upper body in my lap. Jonathan came back and handed her a spoon to bite down on while he prepared to cut her leg open. El gripped one of my hands as well as one of Mike's who was beside her when Jonathan stuck his fingers into the cut. El shouted for him to stop, she sat up and used her powers to pull it out then threw it to the side.

As it crawled away and someone stepped on it, we then saw Joyce and Hopper with someone most of us didn't know who it was. We all crowded around to hear what each group had uncovered. Everyone separated while the adults talked. I was sitting on one of the food court counters with Steve with my head on his shoulder.

"When you asked if the Russians hurt me?" I asked him.

"I wanted to know who to beat the shit out of for laying their hands on my girl," he replied.

"Your girl?"

"Yeah, I suppose I haven't properly asked you yet have I?"

"No you haven't."

"Rachel, will you be my girlfriend?"

I picked my head up to look at him, "I would love to Steve."

He smiled at me, I had been hoping this day would come but was beginning to lose hope that it ever would with each passing day. We never seemed to pick up on the vibe we both clearly gave off around our friends.

"How long have you liked me?"

"Since that day at your house watching Star Wars," he replied. "What about you?

"Since you gave me the Christmas present, though I didn't realize that was what I was feeling until after prom. When my mom had to point it out to me."

"I should have told you sooner, but I figured you weren't over Scott and just didn't like me like that."

"It took me a while to realize that I did really like you, but in the end I was also afraid you didn't like me back. So I kept quiet and just hung around Scoops and watched you flirt."

"Oh Rachel, why torture yourself? I was only doing it because I didn't think I had a chance with you" he began rubbing circles on the back of my hand.

"I would do it again if it meant I got to see you" I gently touched his face, being careful of the side that was swollen. "Does it still hurt?"