The Babysitters ♡ Steve Harrington

Episode 3

Steve waited until I was inside my house before driving off.

"How was the party?" Mom questioned as I walked through the living room. She was dressed as a cat.

"Uh, it was great..." I said and she smiled. "...until I spilled red punch all over Nancy."

Mom's smile dropped. "Oh, Athy, it was an accident, right?"

"Yeah, but...I feel terrible." I groaned. "Is Dustin home?"

"Not yet-" Mom got cut off by the door opening and we watched Dustin try to sneak by. "Dusty!"

Dustin looked over at us.

"Dusty, how was it?" Mom asked.

"H-How was what?" Dustin stammered.

"'How was what?'" Mom repeated.

"Halloween." I deadpanned.

"Oh. Oh, yeah, it was...it was, uh, tubular." Dustin smiled.

"What's wrong with you?" I questioned with furrowed eyebrows.

"Nothing!" Dustin denied.

"Did something happen?" Mom tilted her head.

"No. What? No." Dustin shook his head.

"Are you constipated again?" Mom asked.

I snorted with laughter and Dustin smacked me with his arm. "Ow!" I smacked him back.

"No, Mom!" Dustin groaned.

"Okay, you're acting weird." Mom pointed out.

"I am not acting weird!" He defended.

"Yeah, he can't act it if he's always been it." I shrugged.

"Athy." Mom scolded.

"Hey!" Dustin shouted, clearly offended. "I am not acting weird, nor am I weird to begin with!"

"Sure." I rolled my eyes.

His ghost trap prop made a noise, causing Mom to yelp. Mews hissed at the item and I gave my brother a questioning look.

Dustin laughed nervously. "Awesome, right? Yeah...I rigged the trap with, uh, a motor to make it look like I caught a ghost. Just like the movie."

Mom laughed nervously, too. "Oh, Dusty."

They both laughed really loudly and obnoxiously.

I looked between them and wondered if I drank too much.

"Funny, look at that. Look at that." Dustin turned and walked into his room, but I followed.

"Okay, you can fool Mom, but you can't fool me." I spoke up, causing Dustin to flinch and face me.

"What? What are you talking about?" Dustin said quickly.

"You're not smart enough to put a motor into a box on your own." I shook my head.

Dustin gasped. "I am plenty smart and you are plenty annoying! Goodnight!" He shoved me out of his room and slammed the door.

"Weirdo." I muttered, walking to my own room and shutting the door.

-

I sat in the gym and watched Steve play basketball. Billy, who neglected to wear a shirt, shoved Steve and tossed the basketball into the hoop.

Billy smirked at Steve until his eyes traveled over his shoulder. Once he spotted me, he gave me another signature wink. I gave him a dirty look in response.

"Athena." Nancy's voice called and I turned to see her standing by the door. She motioned me outside and I complied.

"Yeah?" I stared at her with a soft expression..

"I want to talk about last night. I can't remember a lot of it, but I woke up with my costume covered in punch and-" Nancy began.

"I'm sorry." I cut in before rambling. "You were already so drunk and I didn't want something to happen to you, okay? I usually would never cut in on how much someone drinks, but I was worried about you. I was thinking if you were really drunk and something happened-"

"I wanted to apologize." Nancy stopped me. "Jonathan said I was shoving you away when you were just trying to help. I shouldn't have done that."

"It's okay, Nance. I just...I can't lose my best friend. Not again, okay?" I whispered.

She understood what I meant and nodded. "We're good?"

"Always." I hugged her.

"Jonathan drove me home?" She questioned.

"Are you ever gonna confess your feelings?" I asked, walking back towards the gym.

"What? Me and Jonathan? I don't..." She began and I gave her a look. "Okay, maybe I like him, but I can't just...confess. What if he doesn't feel the same way?"

"Jonathan Byers went to a party to see you. He hates parties. I think that's love." I smirked.

"'Love'!?" Nancy gasped.

I looked up and saw Jonathan in the parking lot. I gave Nancy a push. "Go!"

"Okay, okay! I'll, uh, call you later?" She questioned.

"Yep!" I gave her a thumbs up.

I walked back into the gym and saw Steve leaning against the wall.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

"Yes, everything's good between Nancy and I. Who won?" I motioned to the court.

"Who do you think? I gotta hit the showers." He kissed me before walking off.