New Girl

The Dance

Coming back to Hawkins was bittersweet. Happy to be back to your life, with some new tricks up your sleeve, but, surprisingly, missing your mom and the warm California weather. You were also still trying to grasp the reality that you hooked up with Billy Hargrove over the break. You talked to both Steve and Eddie on the phone every night while you were gone and you were more conflicted now than you were before you left. You cared deeply for both of them, just weren't ready to choose yet. 

You got yourself an interview at Family Video and Steve, who was an employee at the establishment, had been coaching you during lunch and talking you up to his boss. Robin let you borrow an appropriate outfit for the occasion, by Steve's recommendation. He had also offered to take you out to dinner and a movie if you got the job. 

"Looks like we have a date, Harrington!" You proclaim as you walk out of your successful interview. 

"Really?! That's awesome," he plants a kiss on your forehead. "Knew you'd get it. How's tonight? Pick you up at 8:00?"

"I'll be ready," you smile. It had been a while since you spent some quality alone time with Steve, especially on a proper date. 

He had taken you to a restaurant just outside of town. You decided to stray from your usual garb and wear a nice dress, which was uncomfortable for you but you caught him glancing over at you several times. He was always a gentleman on these dates- held the door open, pushed your chair in, ordered for you, etc. Clearly raised by parents (or nannies) that needed him to be on his best behavior in public. 

A lot of the conversations were about work, fall break, and school but you could tell he was itching to ask you something. 

After a considerable amount of awkward pauses, you had to ask... "So what's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're acting kind of weird...like you have something on your mind."

He stares down at his half eaten meal. "I just..." he let's out a frustrated sigh. "I just want to know where this is going. I've been really patient and..."

"And I'm grateful for your patience."

He looks up at you, finally. "But I don't know how long I can wait. I don't know if I can continue playing second fiddle to Munson."

"I know. It's not fair to you both. I just can't let go..." you are genuinely torn and don't want to say the wrong thing. You also hated being pressured into making a choice, it's not like you were going to marry either of them. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Do you want to be my boyfriend or are you tired of waiting for me to put out?"

"Honestly, both. Like you can't just show up to a date in a dress like that, looking the way you do, and expect me not to want to...go all the way."

A blush rushes across your face and you feel a tingle in your core. "Are you seeing anyone else?"

"Uh..we don't need to talk about this."

"No. You brought up Eddie and expect me to talk about my choices. What about you?"

"I mean...Nancy and I have been hanging out a lot."

"Is that why you're asking where this is going?"

"Kind of..."

"Well what's stopping you from being with her?"

"Oh come on..." 

"Come on what?!"

"I like you so much and I've never had to work this hard to be with someone, both physically and as a couple."