CONNECTION |steve harrington x oc| BOOK 4

chapter 2- go tigers

"Welcome to the floor, senior, Phoebe Henderson!" The principal's voice boomed over the speakers as he spoke into the microphone. The student body was especially raucous at today's pep rally, so Phoebe knew the ear splittingly loud cheers were not for her. She waved and took the microphone, stepping to center court. As if on cue, an American flag unrolled from it's pole in the upper corner of the gym. She sang the national anthem, ending with a "Go Tigers!" at the end to really solidify the school spirit they were already feeling. This year had been record breaking for the basketball team. They were undefeated, something that had never happened in the team's history, and the final championship game was going to be at Hawkins High for the first time in thirty years.

After singing, the cheer squad immediately launched into their routine, complete with a human pyramid. Standing front and center was Senior Captain- Chrissy. Chrissy was always nice to Phoebe, but the girls had never been friends. A rumor had started last year that the girls were each sleeping with the other's boyfriends, the most popular boys in school and both on the basketball team. Everyone had expected Steve to date one of the cheerleaders, so his track of Nancy and Phoebe his last two years of school had been a disappointment to people, most of them cheerleaders. Chrissy had been dating Jason since the end of sophomore year. They were inseparable, to the point where it felt wrong to say just one of their names. Again, the girls had always been friendly to one another, but social pressures had pitted them against each other last year. Some of the younger cheerleaders thought they could bully Phoebe into breaking up with Steve so a cheerleader could date him. They all claimed that he was "destined to be with a cheerleader as the captain of the basketball team", but Phoebe brushed it all off. As the team made their way off the court the girls made eye contact. Chrissy gave a small wave in response to Phoebe's thumbs up, but it felt awkward on both ends. Phoebe soon looked to the crowd and found Robin with the band. Robin looked at her and held up a thumbs up, mockingly, earning a glare and middle finger from Phoebe.

"Let's give it up for your Tigers!" The announcer boomed, resulting in an even louder eruption of cheers as the basketball team rushed the court, Lucas bringing up the rear. Phoebe knew it had been an awkward year for the boys. Will moving to California, Lucas becoming occupied with basketball, everything was changing. He glanced at her and smiled, her smiling back.

"Good morning, Hawkins High!" Jason yelled as he grabbed the microphone from the stand, earning more cheers. "First off...hey." He quieted the crowd. "I want to thank each and every one of you. Without your support we wouldn't be here. Give yourselves a big hand!" Phoebe had finally pushed her way onto the bleachers as they cheered once again. "And, of course, I have to give a special shout-out to the best and the prettiest fans of all time- the Tiger Cheer Squad." He held out a hand and pointed. "Chrissy, I love you, babe." He spoke softly, earning coos from the crowd as she blew him a kiss. Last year Phoebe would've rolled her eyes at the gesture, but it made her smile. She hadn't realized how different it would be without Steve there. She had to find new people to sit with at lunch, new study partners, and worst of all, she had nobody at pep rallies.

"You know," Jason continued. "I think I can say for all of us when I say...it's been a tough year for Hawkins." The mood drastically changed. "So much loss. And sometimes I wonder, 'How much loss can one community take'? In dark days like this, we need something to believe in. So, last night, when we were down 10 points at half to Christian Academy, I looked at my team." Phoebe thought she'd be annoyed at him for putting a damper on the mood, but she was intently listening to what he had to say. "And I said, think of Jack. Think of Melissa. Think of Heather." At the mention of the lifeguard from last summer who'd gotten wrapped up with Billy, Phoebe looked to find her brother, Mike, and Max, who all were putting on a brave face. "Think of Billy." Max's face fell slightly. "Think about our heroic police chief, Jim Hopper." Phoebe shut her eyes at the mention of Hopper. She'd missed seeing him around town, knowing that he was always there to look out for the kids. "Think about each and every one of our friends who perished in that fire. What did they die for? For us to lose to some crap school? No!"

"NO!" Responded most of the crowd.

"For us to return home with our heads hung low in defeat?"

"No!"

"No! Let's win this game. Let's win this game for them. And that's exactly what we did!" As the cheers surrounded her, Phoebe couldn't help but think that he had some sort of point. Yes, it had come of awfully preachy, but it wasn't all untrue. The town had been in a rut since the mall fire/Mindflayer fiasco. It was a stretch to relate the loss of loved ones to winning a basketball game, but oddly Phoebe appreciated the effort. "We embarrassed those candy-asses in their own house, and now tonight, tonight, we're gonna bring home the championship trophy!" Students resumed their cheers as Phoebe looked up at her brother once again. She was confused when she saw Dustin and Mike looking confused as Max spoke to them. She wondered what they could be talking about, but realized as she saw the shirts Dustin and Mike were wearing. Tonight was a Hellfire night.

Hellfire was the name of the school's Dungeons and Dragons club. It was run by a third year senior and his posse/bandmates. The whole school thought they were weird already, so when they started the club it only ostracized them even more. Phoebe had been so worried when Dustin told her that they joined, but he insisted it would be fine. "We'd rather have fun than be popular." Dustin had argued with her and demanded that she never bring it up again. She'd kept quiet since then, but felt bad for them that the club meeting was at the same time as the game.

The pep rally ended and students began making their way home. Phoebe snaked her way through the people to find her brother. When she found him, she clamped a hand on his shoulder and pulled him to the side of the hallway. "Did you want a ride home?"

"What?" He asked out of breath.

"Do you want a ride home?" She repeated. "I can run you home before I go to the video store, but you have to come now. Steve and I are going to the game, then hanging out after, so I don't have time to be your chauffer tonight."

"Um...no, it's all good. Me and Mike have something, uh, to do, um, before we meet the club. I'm fine."

"You sure? You don't sound very sure." Phoebe questioned, unconvinced by his answer.

"Yes, okay? Just go. Go be gross with Steve. Leave a note or tell mom that I don't know what time I'll be home."

"Fine, but you know her rule. If your not there when she wakes up, she gets to kill you."