CONNECTION |steve harrington x oc| BOOK 4

chapter 6- can we talk?

Scratching on the door woke her up. Phoebe groaned as she squinted at her alarm clock and saw that it was only 7:42. "On a Saturday, really?" She whined to herself as the scratching resumed. She blindly tossed a pillow at the door, but that only made the sound worse. She huffed as she stood and opened the door, the small cat creeping in a few feet only to dart back into the living room. "Stupid cat."

The cat was her mother's that she'd gotten after Mews "disappeared". Claudia was broken up for weeks about it. Phoebe and Dustin decided to get a cat from the shelter as her Christmas present that year. Little did they know that the new cat would be the most annoying creature to ever exist. Claudia treated it like a prince and it grew to expect the same from the siblings. Much to it's dismay they rarely obliged. 

Phoebe tried to go back to sleep, but there was just enough spring sunlight peaking through her curtains to light up her room. Normally, she would have been more upset, but she told herself she had a whole week to sleep whenever she wanted. As she tossed the curtains open the familiar scrap of paper in the window caught her eye. Steve and her had developed this system years ago to avoid the phone and potential interference from their parents. He would often leave a note tucked in her window for her to see in the morning, it often relaying a plan for the day. 

Morning gorgeous, my parents left again and won't be back until Thursday. I'm working until 4 (still mad you have today off) but we can hang out tonight and all day tomorrow. I convinced that Dylan kid to cover my shift. Stop by if you want, or call, whatever works. S <3

She smiled to herself as she folded the note, wrote the date, and tucked it into the shoebox on the shelf in her closet. The box was reaching a full volume and she knew that she would need to replace it soon. She couldn't bear to part with them- every note her and Steve had exchanged since they were twelve years old. Her stomach growled as she slipped into a crewneck and slippers, making her way to the kitchen. She found a fresh pot of coffee along with a note: Got called into the office for an emergency meeting. Shouldn't be here too long. Check in on your brother throughout the day and make sure he's awake by noon. I'll be back in time for dinner- planning on lasagna, so invite Steve:)

"Do you know what time it is?" Steve's muffled voice whispered over the phone. 

"Yes, it's 7:56, perfect time for coffee."

"You have coffee?"

"Claudia made a fresh pot before leaving for the day. Come over and be lazy with me before you go in to work."

"Or you could bring me coffee in bed and be lazy here with me."

"No, I'm not transporting your coffee down the block. It would get cold."

"That's what the microwave is for."

"Really, after all these years and you still won't accept the fact that microwaved coffee is a sin against nature? No wonder you didn't get into college."

"Hey! Just for that I'm not coming over."

"You totally will because Dustin is out cold, I have coffee, and I'm wearing that big blue crewneck and my old shorts..."

"See you in five." 

Like clockwork, exactly five minutes later Steve knocked twice before letting himself in. Phoebe was seated cross legged on the couch, waiting patiently as the extra mug of coffee steamed on the table. He smiled as he crossed the room and kissed her before taking the cup in his hands and carefully sitting on the floral sofa. "Morning." He mumbled as he blew into the mug. 

"Morning. Sorry for waking you up."

"It was totally worth it." He sighed as he moved one arm to the back of the sofa, cueing Phoebe. She set her mug down before snuggling into his side and draping an arm across his torso. They sat in a comfortable silence, both sipping their coffee while Phoebe flipped through one of her mother's knitting magazines.