Not Real. (Kas Theory - Steddie.)

Hanging Out. (014)

(Author's Note; hiya, sorry for the long wait- i've been slacking & being lazy n shit so, i apologize for that lmao- btw, isn't my art of that apple so beautiful? 😋 kidding- anygay, enjoy your read.<3)

April 12th, Friday, 1986. Steve Harrington's House.
10:36 AM.

Steve was sitting on the leather couch in his living room, watching TV as he threw pieces of popcorn into his mouth. It was the same show that came on every single morning, playing the same few episodes of that cartoon over & over again. His house was quiet, the only sound being him crunching on popcorn & the sounds of the TV show playing in the background. Not too long after, another sound came.

The phone that was hung on the wall kept ringing, irritating Steve's ears. Steve groaned, wiping his buttery fingers on the napkin that laid beside his legs. He stood up, turning down the volume of the TV before walking over to the phone. He snatched it, raising it up to his right ear. "Harrington's residence, how can I help you?"

A familiar voice rang through his ears. The voice of his best friend since the summer of '85.

"Steve, hey! Sorry for not talking to you for the past few days. How's it going?" She asked. Steve smiled as he listened to her raspy, soothing voice. "Hey, Robin. Things are going pretty good. Better than the last few days." He chuckled. The girl then said, "Oh, what happened those past few days?" She asked, curious.

Steve furrowed his eyebrows as he thought about everything. "Some shitty stuff, that's all. I can't really go into too much detail." He replied, shrugging as if she could see him. "Alright then. Anyway, let's cut to the chase. I was wondering if you could hang out with me & the party later today at Starcourt rebuilt?" Steve could hear the smile through her voice, hinted with some hope that he'd say yes.

He hummed, crossing his arms as he thought about it. He did have to watch his little wanted vampire boyfriend, so he couldn't just leave him all alone. But, taking him out to the mall to hang out with everyone would be a big risk, & being caught wouldn't be fun. The police might as well just get involved if anyone sees Eddie in Steve's pocket.

Steve finally came up with a response. "I'm gonna have to think about it. I'll call you back when I have a real answer, okay?" Robin sighed on the other end, a little disappointed. She got her hopes up too high, didn't she? "Okay, but you better hurry! The clock is ticking." She snickered, giggling. Steve rolled his eyes with a smile. "Yeah, yeah. See you later, Rob." He said. "See you later!" Steve hung the phone back onto the wall, hanging up.

He quickly jogged upstairs & walked down the halls to his room. He knocked on the door before opening it, seeing Eddie. He was laying down peacefully on Steve's bed with his lath wings under him, & his pointy elf-like ears on the sides of his head.

"You look comfortable, don't you, Munson?" Steve joked, crossing his arms. Eddie rolled his eyes. "Mhm. What do you need, Stevie?" The vampire asked, sitting up cross legged. Steve walked over to the bed to sit on the edge. He began, "Well, Robin gave me a call just a second ago." Eddie nodded as he hummed. "I'm listening."

Steve then continued, "She wants me to go to Starcourt rebuilt with the party. So, are you staying home alone or coming with me?" Eddie thought about it as he relaxed, leaning against the headboard behind him. "I guess I could come." Eddie finally replied. "Then you better be careful & not get caught." Eddie smiled & nodded. "I know, mom." Steve chuckled as he stood up, walking towards the door. "Better behave yourself, Munson." Steve giggled before going back downstairs & over to the phone.

Steve picked up the phone, dialling Robin's number. The phone rang as he kept it up to his ear, pacing back & forth, waiting for an answer. The phone finally stopped ringing, replaced with that same familiar voice.

"Hello? Buckley's residence." Steve cleared his throat. "Hey, it's Steve." Robin squealed a little. "Did you finally make a decision?" Steve hummed in response, nodding as if Robin could see him. "Yes ma'am, I did. I'm coming to Starcourt." Robin smiled, glad that Steve could come. "That's great! Be there by 11:30." She then hung up without another word. Steve sighed, putting the phone back onto the wall.

At least an hour later, Steve was in his cherry red BMW, driving to Starcourt Mall. He had a dark blue shirt on with a singular white stripe across it. He wore tight blue jeans & a grey jacket, Eddie hiding as a little bat in the chest pocket of his jacket. Before they left, Eddie had to go into the bathroom & transform into his bat form. Those same disgusting sounds of bones snapping & flesh occurred each time he transformed. At this point, Steve was used to it.

The radio in Steve's car was on, playing, '[I Just] Died In Your Arms,' by Cutting Crew. Steve was going over the rules with Eddie over & over again, just like a mother. "You can't make any noise, peek your head out, or reveal yourself to anyone. Got it?" Steve said.

"Yeah, I've got it!" Eddie squeaked angrily at Steve, clearly annoyed. Steve then nodded, calming down as he finally stopped going over the rules. "Good."

Steve pulled up to the mall, finding a spot for him to park his car at. Once he did, he exited his car, walking inside the mall as he looked around for his friends.

Eddie was just stuck in Steve's pocket. He had a small little cloth that acted like a bed or a blanket for him so he wouldn't be uncomfortable.

Steve spotted Robin with the kids. Some of them had already bought things, holding large shopping bags by the handle in their hands. Steve waved. "Hey!"

Robin looked over at him, her face immediately lighting up. "Hi!" She smiled. Dustin looked the most excited. "Steve, hey!" He smiled.

Steve walked over to them, Dustin giving him some sort of look. "So, did you find him..?" Dustin quietly asked Steve. Mike was right behind Dustin. "Find who?"

"None of your business, Mike-" Dustin rolled his eyes, the two of them starting to bicker back & forth. Steve didn't even get to answer his question.

Lucas walked up to Steve, waving with a sheepish smile. "Hey, Steve. Long time no see." Steve nodded with a warm smile. "Yeah, long time no see, kid."

Will & El were sticking close together, quietly talking to each other. Steve felt like someone was missing though, counting the amount of kids multiple times before figuring it out.

They were missing Max.

"Lucas, do you know where Max is?" Steve asked, seeing Lucas' smile faltering. The boy cleared his throat a little. "Oh, uhm- you don't know what happened, do you?"

Steve was a little confused, shaking his head. "She's in the hospital because of some- stuff. The whole Vecna thing." Lucas simply explained. Steve nodded as he sighed. "Well, we came here to hang out. Not mope around." He smiled. Lucas nodded with a small, forced smile. "Right."

All of them went around going to different shops. Steve was absolutely spoiling all of them as each person just had more & more bags in their hands.

They all seemed so happy, though. So, that was the only thing that mattered to Steve. They even went around the food court, getting samples of every single thing.

Eddie wasn't much of a problem. He was just chilling in Steve's pocket, eating a cherry that he was given that originally belonged on top of a scoop of ice cream.

It was probably the most fun they've had in a long time.

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Word Count; 1294.

(A/N; so sorry for such a short, disappointing chapter- i'll try to do better next chapter-)