Joe Keery Imagines

No More Lonely Hearts

Y/N was literally the girl next door, her family lived next door to the Harrington's. This meant she lived next door to the guy of her dreams, the guy she'd had a crush on for as long as she could remember - Steve! Having grown up together, they were pretty much best friends, pretty much inseparable - that was until Tommy and Carol appeared and when the King Steve/Nancy Wheeler era started but she was still there, even if it was just in the background. Living next door meant Y/N also got roped in to the strange goings on around town and becoming friends with the weirdest bunch of misfits that had been put together, but these misfits were some of the most amazing people and the most important in her life.

After several years of a few near misses and a few near death experiences, life had finally begun to feel relatively normal. This meant every Friday night was movie night at Steve's. No matter what else everyone had going on, they all made an effort to be at Steve's Friday night. Normally Y/N loved movie night but not this week's. This week's movie night fell on Valentine's Day. As someone who'd been single for far too long (the result of spending her life pining after Steve), she hated the day, especially as the couples among the group would be all loved up. Even Eddie and Robin would be going on about their crushes/latest escapades. Living next door, she was usually the first one there, tonight she was the last. A fake smile plastered across her face as she waited to for the front door to open.

Steve opened the door, his face beaming upon seeing Y/N.

'Hey! You're finally here! I was beginning to think you weren't coming! Nearly had the kids go over and drag you here!' Steve held the door wide open, holding his arm out as an invite to enter.

Y/N forced a laugh as she stepped over the threshold.

'Sorry, I lost track of time.' She said as Steve closed the door behind her.

'Well, everyone is here, all ready to go!' Steve said, his arm again outstretched, this time pointing towards the lounge.

Y/N walked in to the lounge, her worst fears realised - there was Lucas and Max, Mike and Eleven, Jonathan and Nancy - all looking happy and in love. Even the sound of Robin gushing about Vickie, Dustin gushing about Suzie and Eddie rambling about his latest conquest were like daggers in her heart. Will seemed like he was the only one who would be feeling even remotely like she was. Steve was always chasing girl after girl, date after date, she didn't even give a second thought to if he'd be feeling like her tonight. Y/N wasn't sure how long she'd be able to last tonight, she really wasn't in the mood to be surrounded by all the loved up crap - she didn't want it rubbed in her face. There was so much noise among the gang, no one seemed to realise she was there. Steve had made his way to the TV, to pick the first movie, Y/N dreading it would be something romantic.

It was when the bickering between Steve and Dustin started, no doubt because the younger of the two disagreed with the older's choice, that Y/N snuck out of the room, through the kitchen to the sliding door that lead out to the backyard. She made sure to be quiet even though the volume level from the gang in the lounge was far too loud for them to hear a door slide open and click shut. The lights of the pool were on, bathing the yard in a shimmering blue glow, with the faint hum of the filter and the odd chirrup of an insect the only noises heard. Thankfully the sliding door was double glazed, meaning the chaos of inside was blocked out. Steve and Dustin finally agreed on a movie, Dustin already had his spot all set on the floor and Steve made his way over to his spot on the couch.

'Hey, where's Y/N?' He asked, when he realised she wasn't in the room. Everyone turned to look at him, blank expressions on all their faces.