Crimson Skies | Steve Harrington

Chapter 5: Drunk Words, Sober Thoughts

     Bullshit.

     With one single word, Steve's world had shattered. He stood in the hallway with his back to the bathroom door, Nancy enclosed on the other side. He was angry. He wanted to leave before he did anything stupid. As the party music pounded through his head, Steve walked swiftly through the crowded living room, nodding curtly to everyone who drunkenly acknowledged him. No one seemed to notice his urgency as he rushed out the front door. The cheers and laughter from the party became muffled the further he walked from the house, but just before he got in his car, a familiar squeal caught his attention, and he quickly looked around looking for its source.

     Savannah was fumbling into the back of a pickup truck as two football players whistled, grabbing her forearms. She had a death grip on a red solo cup, its contents sloshing on the ground as her admirers attempted to hoist her over the tailgate.

     Steve's stomach dropped, and without thinking, despite wanting to do anything to leave the party, he slammed shut his car door and made his way over to the rowdy group of teenagers.

     "Harrington!" one of the jocks shouted, standing on the roof of the truck, causing it to dip in slightly. "Hop in. We're going for a ride."

     "No that's ok," he said, forcing a smile. He then lowered his voice and nudged Savannah, offering his hand. "Come on, Sav. Let's go."

     "Hey, Harrington, where are you taking her? She's fine with us, aren't you sweetheart?"

     Steve ignored them. "Savannah, give me your hand, come on."

     Savannah was so drunk, she would have listened to everyone. She placed her hands on Steve's shoulders, jumping down from the truck as the boys booed.

     "Where's my drink?" she said, squinting into her now empty cup and turning back to the pack of boys.

     "Here you go princess," one of the players smirked, taking her cup and sliding another drink into her hand.

     Savannah tipped her glass and began chugging, swaying as she did so.

     "Hey, that's enough, seriously," Steve grabbed the drink from her, and red punch trickled from the side of her lips.

     "You're no fun," she complained, her words strung together lazily. Her hair was sticky, probably from the water guns that the guys decided to fill with punch earlier in the night.

     Steve felt sick. He was in a daze. All he could think about was Nancy, but he couldn't leave Savannah with those jerks. "You're not going with them, let's go." He gripped her hand tightly, dragging her inside.

     Savannah didn't fight against him, she couldn't even if she tried. She was already having trouble standing as it was. As the two teenagers shoved their way through the crowded living room, people whooped and whistled and clapped Steve on the back. He ignored them, scanning the crowd for Nancy in hopes of avoiding her. When they came to the hallway, he saw that the bathroom was now vacant and he dragged Savannah inside, shutting the door behind them. Nancy's red-stained washcloth was still on the counter, and Steve tossed it into the bathtub before wetting a new one.

     "Are you drunk?" Savannah asked Steve as he ran water over his sticky hands.

     "Not anymore," he said.

     "Where's Nancy?"

     Steve didn't say anything, but Savannah hardly noticed.

     "Chris was going on a drink run," Savannah said. "I wanted to go with them."

     Steve ignored her. "Sit down."

     "Yes sir," Savannah saluted him, her legs collapsing as he helped her sit on the counter. She noticed the serious look on his face and frowned. "Are you mad at me?"

     Steve gave an exasperated sigh. "No, I'm not mad at you."

     "Are you sure?" The whole room was spinning, but the image of Steve somehow remained remarkably clear. "You seem mad."

     "Jesus, you're a mess," Steve said, wiping the loose strands of her hair with the washcloth. "We need to go home."

     "I'm not going home," She pushed his hand away, but Steve caught her wrist, gently wiping the sticky punch from her arms. "Stop," she squirmed. "That's cold."

     "Stop moving," he said, irritated.

     Savannah slid off the counter to escape him, but the room seemed to tilt underneath her and she instantly crumpled to the floor. Steve sighed and crouched down beside her.

     "Hey." He grabbed her shoulders, trying to get her to focus on his words. "Hey, look at me. What's gotten into you tonight?"

     She began laughing uncontrollably.

     "This isn't like you," he said quietly, standing up and running water over the washcloth.

     "'This isn't like you'," Savannah echoed, mocking his tone. She pulled herself to her feet, hands grasping at the wall to steady herself, and crawled towards the bathtub. "How would you know? You don't talk to me anymore."

     "Come on," Steve said, rolling his eyes as he watched her through the mirror. "Be serious."

     "You're not my friend," she stated firmly, sitting down in the tub. "You don't know me at all."

     "I know you better than anyone," he insisted, wringing out the towel as red punch swirled down the drain. He sat next to her on the floor and grabbed her arm again, gently wiping it clean.

     Savannah watched him closely, relaxing under his touch. "You don't know me," she repeated in a soft whisper. "You don't even know I'm in love with you."

     Steve froze. For the second time in one night, he was blindsided by drunk words. This time, he couldn't tell if it was real.

     "What?" he looked at her, his stomach in knots.

     "Nothing..." Savannah was suddenly aware of how little control she had over herself in that moment, and she squeezed her eyes shut in hopes of making herself more coherent.

     Steve watched her, his eyes trying to meet hers. "Did you say—"

     "I need to go," she said, fumbling to her feet.

     "Savannah wait," he said, but she pushed him out of the way. In an instant, Steve grabbed her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. It happened so quickly. He didn't even know why he did it. He just knew he didn't want her to leave.

     After a few seconds, Savannah pushed him away and the look on her face nearly destroyed him.

     "Please," she said, eyes full of tears, "leave me alone."

     And just like that, she was gone.