Every Bittersweet Step

Chapter 1

****Sydney's POV****
I grabbed myself another coke and popped the tab as I made my way to my best friend's side. I had missed her so fucking much. She was relieved that Steve managed to sneak me here for her "Welcome home" party. Lucy, my best friend, was sent to an all girls gifted prep school, so she missed three hellish years of the  joys of public education. For some unknown reason, she begged her parents to let her come home and finish her senior year with us. Her brother Steve, and I. Oh Steve...

"I don't know why my parents insist on this shit. Don't they know that I will just see the family on Christmas and stuff? Why the party?" She whispered.

"Because you're Princess Harrington, the smarter of the two and because you are really fucking smart, dude. I'm the only junior in our friend group." I sighed.

"If you just applied yourself." She giggled.

"Can I apply myself to your brother?" I asked as I saw Steve standing with some of their cousins.

Lucy rolled her eyes, "I can't believe of everyone in Hawkins the boy you have to have a crush on is my stupid brother."

"I can't help it. Look, it's not like anything can ever happen anyways." I admitted, "But something about seeing him in his uniform is magical."

Lucy's big brown eyes grew even wider, "His... Sydney... His Scoops Ahoy! Uniform... The sailor outfit with a scoop pouch..."

"What can I say... He works the shorts."

"With those toothpicks for legs!" She laughed, "Oh god. I can't believe you sometimes. I've missed you!"

Lucy wrapped me in what had to be the one millionth hug since her return home a few days ago. I managed not to get myself grounded by sheer luck so that I could come to this party. I held onto her and sighed, I missed this too. Plus, it's easier to get through things when she is here.

"Don't ever leave me like that again." I whispered.

"I won't." She smiled, "But I am scared for my first day at Hawkins..." She admitted.

I shrugged, "You'll have no problems, dude. You're Princess Harrington. Plus, you look like a total babe."

"Not like that Syd!" She sighed.

"Because of that fact you're one of few students to skip a grade?" I asked, "That's an accomplishment! I am friends with this one guy who has been a senior for I wanna say two years now!"

"How does one even..."

"I have no idea. But he is a fun guy. He sells me weed sometimes." I grinned, "He leads the D&D club at school! Dustin is signing up."

"You're in that club? I thought you only played it with the kiddos?" She asked.

"Dustin begged me to join Hellfire. So I did for him. Plus, it keeps us away from our overbearing Mom for a bit." I laughed.

"Hey nerds."

I turned and saw Steve walking toward us and I held my breath.

"What?"

"Mom said something about a cake... I have to dip early and go to work. Wanna come with? You can hang out with Chip. We can leave after the shift. It's short tonight."

Chip. Chip. The nickname Steve gave me over the summer. Every time I'd take Dustin and his friends to the mall Steve would give me a free scoop of my favorite ice cream, Chocolate Chip. Only Steve, Lucy, and my brother can call me that.

"Cake? Nope. I am tired of the attention being on me. You have a deal."

"Aren't you gonna get in trouble for leaving your own party?" I asked.