Every Bittersweet Step

Chapter 7

****Lucy's POV****

I scrambled around my room looking for my last shoe as Steve yelled and threw a fit about being late for school, our morning ritual. I began to silently curse him before I finally spoke up.

"STOP YELLING AT ME! I AM TRYING MY BEST! I LOST MY SHOE!" I yelled as I threw my hands in the air.

"WE ARE GOING TO BE LATE!"

I groaned, "I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE SO WORRIED. YOU ALREADY HAVE A JOB!"

"I DON'T WANT TO MAKE ICE CREAM SCOOPING MY CAREER PATH!" he shouted.

"Is it because you can't provide a good life for Syd by working at Scoops?" I grinned.

Steve immediately shut his mouth and rolled his eyes, "Find your stupid shoe and meet me in the car."

"That's what I thought." I grinned.

I got on my hands and knees and found it under my bed, these shoes were the perfect match to the sun dress I wore today. I smiled at my reflection before grabbing a sweater and walking out to meet Steve who was silently fuming in the car. I don't know why he always thinks that we're gonna be late. I think he just wants to find good parking.

"It's about time." He muttered as he began to drive.

I grinned, "I needed these shoes. They match my dress."

"Now it's a fashion show?"

"Steve. I have to accept that I will forever be known at Hawkins High as Princess Harrington. I need to make sure that I at least look the part. And a good sense of fashion is a strong start." I half joked.

"I work tonight. Wanna hang out at the mall or go home?"

"I'll hang out at the mall. Maybe Syd can come with?"

"I'm never gonna say no to Chip." He smiled.

"Why Chip?" I asked.

He shrugged, "She'd always stop by the shop when she was watching Dustin and the others. So I'd offer her a scoop and she always chooses chocolate chip."

"You know what I just realized... It's like you and Syd switch off on who is on Babysitting Duty. Kinda like fate... Maybe you should ask her out and-"

"Stop."

"Steve! Stop pining over her! Just ask her out! Today! When we get to school! You guys can go see a movie! You are both way way beyond that awkward get to know one another phase! Steve, you were spooning her in my bed a while ago! Totally gross by the way BUT CUTE AT THE SAME TIME! And Syd didn't look like a possessed demon for once!"

This was not the way that I wanted to do this but I am losing my mind watching these two just pine after one another like they don't know they're meant to be. I definitely wanted to approach this from a different angle but how could I? The moment seemed to just kinda happened and the words spilled from my mouth like word vomit. Once I started I just couldn't stop.

"Fine! Fine! If it will shut you up I will go ask her on a date and she will reject me then we can all move on with our merry day! And then you two can laugh at how she rejected me later on at the mall." He snapped.

"Wait... So you're gonna do it?!" I asked.

He raised an eyebrow, "Is that really all you gathered from that?"

"No. I just have a really good feeling that you're wrong!" I grinned from ear to ear, "Now get us to school and ask her!"

He sighed as he drove, it almost felt like it would take forever and a day to get to school now. I can't believe I got him to do this... I have been begging him for years to do this! Dustin and I can finally stop hearing our siblings pine over one another! NEXT STOP, MARRIAGE! We finally pulled into the student parking lot after stopping through every stop light in Hawkins. I jumped out and put my sweater on. Steve got out and ran his hand through his hair as we walked to the front of the car. Just as we stopped I saw Billy's Camaro pull up and park across from us. I rolled my eyes, of course he has to make an appearance today. If I knew how to drive I'd run him down with Steve's car. I have never hated anyone as much as I hate Billy fucking Hargrove. He got out of the car, shooting me a wink before I heard the passenger side door open. My jaw dropped when I saw Syd get out of the car. What the hell... Billy walked around and snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close, leaning down to kiss her before sticking his hand in the back pocket of her jeans. I could hear my heart racing in my ears, my skin began to heat up, and anger bubbled to the surface. I thought she was over him?! Now this?! TODAY? I looked up at Steve to feel pure numbness radiating off of him. His eyes were dull and whatever shred of hope he was holding onto was gone. He finally decided to go for her and she... Is back with her toxic and dangerous ex. She really needs to stop playing chicken with the devil, one of these days she is gonna lose.