The Fruity Four

Chapter 5

Robin felt like a zombie the next morning. Lack of sleep and excessive physical exertion from the night prior weren't the only culprits. Mentally, Robin was drained. Nancy's emotions were like a pinball game. She was constantly bouncing from one thought to the next, Robin's brain unable to follow fast enough before she ricocheted somewhere else. By the time Robin rose from a restless slumber it was almost noon. Realizing she'd already be late for school, Robin took her time getting ready and sauntered into the lunchroom just as the bell signaled an end to their scant hour of freedom. Kids rushed off to fourth period, turning the room into a frenzy. Robin swam through the crowd in the opposite direction, a salmon against the river. She pushed open a sidedoor by the kitchen and made her way to the football stadium. Robin wasn't one for sports unless it included playing band on the sidelines, but she knew who did love the rush of a home game. Just as she predicted, Steve Harrington was sitting under the bleachers. He sometimes timed his lunch breaks from Scoops Ahoy so he could eat with Robin. As she approached, he took a long swig of a flask.

"How pathetic is it that I still come here?" He asked, not making eye contact with Robin.

"Only a little bit. Let me have a taste." Robin took the flask from Steve and only managed a sip before curling her lip in disgust.

"Aren't you supposed to be in class?" He questioned, snatching it back.

"Aren't you supposed to have a life?" She retorted.

Steve and her usually had an ongoing banter, but he seemed to take her words to heart today.

"I guess I'm just destined to be a deadbeat in this town forever."

"Hey," Robin crouched down and gave Steve a gentle hug from behind. "Don't say that. I know your life didn't turn out the way you imagined. But you've still got plenty of time to figure it out."

He only shrugged and gulped down another shot.

Robin reached for the flask, concerned when she shook it and noticed it was almost empty. "Where's all this coming from?"

"Eddie and I hung out last night."

Robin got too excited and couldn't help but pry. "How did it go?"

"We read half of the first Lord of the Rings book all in one night. It's a little dorky but overall really cool. Which is just like Eddie, now that I think about it. When we finished he asked me what I thought... and I kissed him."

Robin covered her mouth with her hands. She assumed Eddie had rejected Steve and that's why he was in such a bad move. "I'm sorry, Steve."

"For what?" He titled his head in genuine confusion.

"Well... he didn't kiss you back, right? That's why you're drinking alone under your old high school bleachers in the middle of the day."

To Robin's bewilderment, a dopey grin spread across Steve's face. "He did kiss me back. And it was... everything." His eyes lit up and Robin knew he was reliving the moment in his head.

Robin squealed. "That's great! So then what's with the flask and self deprecation?"

Steve sighed and dropped his head into his hands. He ruffled his untamed brown hair. Steve rarely left the house without perfecting his best feature. "Because it got me thinking. Eddie's smart, and talented, and wants to get out of this place. He'll end up being a rockstar one day. And what the hell do I have going for me? I'm making minimum wage at an ice cream parlor and have no practical skills. What could I possibly have to offer a guy like that?"

"Oh, Steve," Robin inched closer to her best friend and rested her arm across his shoulder. The smell of whisky was strong on his breath. "You don't need a college degree or fancy job to be worthy of him. You're kind, and funny, and would do anything for your friends. You're a role model and a hero to Dustin Henderson and his goons. That's what Eddie sees in you."