Something Infinite : Steve Harrington x You Series

oo5 • easier to pretend

SOMETHING INFINITE • PART FIVE
E A S I E R   T O  P R E T E N D

"Are you serious? Oh my god," you swore under your breath, snatching a book that was upside down off the shelf and shooting a glare down the aisle at the mop of brown hair at the end. Clearing your throat you raised your brows at him, waving the book in your hand. "Yeah? Really?"

Steve glanced up from the open book in his hands, the one he was supposed to be putting away, expression nonplussed, "What? It's in the right spot on the shelf isn't it?"

Your lips firmed into a line, "It's like you're not even trying." Grumbling to yourself you replaced the book right side up and stalked back to the returns cart to grab more titles. Today's shift had felt longer than normal, maybe because it was the hottest day of the year so far. Maybe because all you wanted was to go to the skatepark. Maybe because Steve Harrington was still the most obnoxious boy you'd ever met.

The lake day had been unexpected and you'd softened a bit. He'd shown you a side of him you hadn't known existed and it'd piqued your interest, you couldn't deny that, but since then he'd gone back to calling you princess and generally driving you up the wall.

Glancing back down the aisle you saw Steve was still reading the book he needed to put back.

"Hey, nerd. Do you want to be here all afternoon?" you hissed, trying to keep your voice down, but the woman one row over glared at you through the shelf. You gave her an apologetic look before turning to shoot daggers back at Steve.

"Christ, fine. Don't need to get so worked up, Princess," he mumbled something else you didn't catch under his breath, but closed the book and shoved it back on the shelf.

"Don't call me that," came as an automated reply and he grunted back like he always did, a mixture of amusement and irritation, but he grabbed more books from the cart and you both fell into a rhythm.

At first it had been awkward, bumping into each other, dropping books, generally being too loud, but after nearly a month you'd finally figured out each other's habits and mannerisms in between bickering. You were organized, had a process, went alphabetically and didn't like to talk much while you were putting books away. Steve just grabbed a handful of titles off the cart and walked haphazardly around the library cramming books onto shelves and always had something to say when he walked past you.

"Wrong section, Princess."

"Shoe's untied...kidding."

"Jesus–did you know a million earth's can fit inside the sun?"

"Gummy worm?"

Today was no different.

"So, Sinclair told me if you put like four or five of those fireworks together, you know, Satan's Baby or whatever it is? It's enough to make a stick of dynamite. How the hell is that safe?"

"Mmm, remind me to not stand near you when we're lighting shit off tomorrow."

"Hey, if it wasn't for me those little assholes would be down at least a few fingers."

"Sure."

"Yeah? I bet you're an instigator. 'Here, you hold it.' Hm?"

Turning away from your shelf you fixed him with a look. "To be honest, I haven't done fireworks since like 6th grade."

"Sixth grade? Seriously? Have you ever even been to a fair?"

You felt your cheeks flush. This was ridiculous. So what if you'd never been to a fair? What was this, the 50s? "Seriously?" your face scrunched up mockingly at first. "No. I haven't," followed in a flatter tone.