Whatever It Takes

Big Kids

Nancy and I finished freaking out together, and I gave her a big hug.

"Oh, my god, I can't believe it's all finally happening!" she squealed. I laughed and pulled back.

"Okay, relax, we don't know if anything is actually happening!" I insisted, trying to keep calm and cool. I was definitely freaking out inside, though.

I know it wasn't a great thing to have a crush on your best friend's ex-boyfriend, but Steve and Nancy had broken up so amicably. It was painfully obvious to everyone that she and Jonathan were meant to be, and Steve and Nancy remained close friends. Jonathan was even friends with him now. And Nancy was the one to plant the idea of Steve and I being together in the first place!

It didn't help how kind or charming Steve was either. I had harbored a crush that I had fought back for years. It felt like we were always missing each other – I was either dating someone when he was single, or vice versa, so we would settle on harmless flirting whenever we both were back home. He always came to the Christmas party that the Wheeler's hosted, and we would joke about mistletoe together, neither of us crossing the line.

We would get close to something happening, but then Eddie would burst in to steal his friend away, or Dustin would call for Steve to come join him in some game. Nancy would become increasingly frustrated that her matchmaking efforts were in vain, and she was dead set on figuring something out.

So, here we were. And Steve had asked if I had a date! Maybe this would be the time something would finally happen.

"What's so great about Harrington coming? We see him every year," Eddie griped. I glared at him, and Nancy set an arm around my shoulders, trying to prevent a typical Dovey-Eddie showdown.

"Ed, Steve is your friend, too," she warned. He sneered.

"I know – that's why I'm confused why we are all celebrating," he sniped. Nancy laughed, and I rolled my eyes. Eddie glared at me. "It's true, Birdie – he's a preppy goober."

I felt an irrational need to defend my choice of a crush to Eddie – it was different than my usual anger with him, though. It was like I wanted him to approve of me. I shook my head.

"And you're a spooky goober, Ed," Nancy gently teased.

He sighed heavily and crossed his arms angrily. What was his deal? He was always interrupting things between me and Steve or trying to meddle between things. He was never going to let me be – he didn't want me to associate with his friends, because then it would mean more time with me. I couldn't believe how woven together our lives remained in spite of how much we disliked each other.

"So, tonight – we're thinking the big kids meet up at Hideout?" Jonathan offered, clapping his hands together in an attempt to change the subject.

"By big kids, you mean everyone of age who are allowed to drink now, right?" Dustin asked, his tone teetering on anger. I ruffled his hair, smiling as I realized how tall he was now. He glared at me.

"No, sweetie, we were thinking just the older folks of the friend group – just so we can all catch up," Nancy explained kindly. Dustin's jaw dropped.

"I'm finally twenty-one, and you all are still treating me like that dorky kid who loved Weird Al Yankovic," he snapped.

"Because you are still that dorky kid who loves Weird Al Yankovic," Eddie quipped. I snorted, and Eddie grinned at me. Dustin turned to me, gesturing wildly.

"Are you going to do anything about this?" he exclaimed. I shrugged.

"Sorry, kid – it's whatever the bride and groom want," I replied. His glare deepened, but then he appeared to get an idea. He flashed a threatening grin.