"either way, we're not alone..."
In which Sophie Hargrove struggles to close off her heart, especially when she starts to let Steve Harrington in.
STRANGER THINGS
SEASON TWO - SEASON FIVE
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Sophie was unsure what compelled her to ask Steve Harrington, her brother's new rival, to take her home. Maybe it's because he owed her one, after all, she's the one who took him home when he was too drunk to stand on his own two feet.
They drove in silence at first, the car moving slowly through downtown Hawkins. His built-in radio was muted, leaving them with the ambience of an engine rustling under their feet. She was glad he wasn't speeding like Billy, granting her a better look at the selection of shops and cafes available to them. The pair continued down the quiet street, soon parking outside Melvald's General Store. He handed her some cash and told her to pick out anything under ten dollars, but it didn't take her long to come out of the store with a packaged chicken sandwich in her grasp.
Sophie climbed inside, slipping the change into a small cup holder. As she settled back into the passenger seat, the car door wide open, Steve eyed the food item, his lip curling upwards. "Is that all you bought?"
She lowered her brows, raising the octave of her voice. "What did you expect, a roast dinner?"
Steve barely flinched, his shoulders drooping as he wore a sour expression. "No little pudding?"
Her hand was already reaching for the seatbelt, only pausing when a curious thought came to mind. Sophie stared at him, slightly squinting. "Did you want a little pudding?"
He shook his head, his left hand flexing on the steering wheel. "No, no." Steve cracked his knuckles, staring out at the road. His lips pressed into a tight, thin line. "Well..."
Sophie pointed at the general store with her free hand, more than willing to buy something else if he was hungry too. "I can go back in."
"No, er, we've already wasted enough time as it is." Steve twisted the ignition key and the car buzzed to life.
"If you say so." The packaged sandwich sat on her lap as Sophie pulled the seatbelt across her body, strapping herself in.
"Try not to get breadcrumbs on the leather." He told her.
It was an expensive car, no doubt, but she assured him. "I'm very delicate with food, don't worry."
Her nails picked at the plastic wrapping and the flimsy cardboard that contained the sandwich. Steve pulled away from the kerb, taking one last sorrowful look at the general store. The car ride returned to silence, neither was sure what to say next.
She took a small bite out of her sandwich, chewing the dry wholemeal bread. A tiny seed deep in the crust soon found itself lodged in her teeth as she swallowed the cold chicken. Picking it out with her tongue wasn't doing the trick, forcing her to take action.
Sophie huffed, placing the sandwich on her lap again. Her fingers slipped between the sun visor, shifting it downwards. The small mirror flipped open and she leaned forward, her mouth widening. Her eyes scanned her teeth, finding the seed jammed between her molars. Reluctantly, she stuck a finger inside, trying to dig it out or at least loosen it.
