Something Infinite : Steve Harrington x You Series

oo2 • perfect on the surface

SOMETHING INFINITE • PART TWO
P E R F E C T  O N   T H E   S U R F A C E

"So its super easy, just reference the library ID numbers here on the spine with the section and author name and voila! Back on the shelf."

Joyce was hunched over next to you as you stared at the rolling cart full of book returns.

"Okay, sure," you nodded to yourself, turning one of the books over in your hands and looking at the little numbers printed on the label wrapped around the spine. Seemed easy enough? You'd probably find a way to mess it up though. "I'm probably gonna have like, a million questions," you gave her an apologetic smile.

"Of course you will!" Joyce's bright laugh made a few people look up in annoyance and she gave them a sheepish wave as if to say, sorry. "I'm just here at the desk if you need anything," she half-whispered, then gave your arm a reassuring squeeze before turning back to her computer to leave you to it.

Sure, great, you sighed under your breath, fingers drumming on the stacks of books as you pushed the cart toward the non-fiction section.

The library was a lot quieter than you liked, uncomfortable and stuffy like when you used to go to church with your grandma on Sundays. Like you didn't quite belong there. Like even just breathing annoyed the people browsing the shelves.

Glancing up to look out the long bank of windows on the other side of the aisle, you could tell it was getting hotter by the minute. It was only 9am, but the summer sun was creeping higher in the dusty blue Indiana sky, promising popsicles and turquoise water and snuck beers once your shift was over. Strange as this new place was you were settling in surprisingly well.

Will and Jonathan had been a little shy at first, but after a few days the three of you discovered what you'd been missing out on all those years away. Duran Duran screaming at you from the speakers in Jonathan's room as you thumbed through his vinyl, helping Will come up with creepy crawlies for his latest campaign storyline, and El. Well. El had quickly become a fast favorite.

She was younger than you, but only by a couple of years, and while she could be odd at times she was witty as hell and after a late night up eating cold pizza and watching The Thing it was like she'd always been a part of it all.

It was painfully obvious the three of them were incredibly close. You'd been afraid to fit in, but they welcomed you with open arms, and that included everyone else too.

Everyone else.

Eddie and Robin. Nancy and Mike. Max, Lucas, and Dustin. More than just neighbors. More than friends. Their found family. Their heart. Their everything. And as every Indiana sunset painted the sky cotton candy pink and soft peachy oranges you felt more and more like this was home.

"Hey, sweetie, sorry to interrupt. Do you think you could show Steve how this works?"

Joyce's voice brought you hurtling back to the library and you blinked a few times, not quite registering what she'd asked. "Steve?" looking over your aunt's shoulder you saw a familiar mopey boy poking and prodding at the books on the end of the aisle.

"Yeah, Harrington. A sweet boy, really, just–" she dropped her voice a bit, "–not the best home life. Poor thing."

Oh, Steve. Of course his name was Steve.

Your heartbeat fluttered against your neck as you tried to maintain a neutral expression, but the irritation and anger from earlier in the week swelled in your chest.