Afterglow | S. Harrington

3| You kissed him?

"Me and Harrington? I hate him, remember?"

I want to hate him. I've poisoned my own mind with thinking it's hate but it's really not.

For years I've tried to generating hate him. I just can't. No matter how hard I try or how annoying he gets.

I like to put the display that I do. It makes things easier. And by things, I mean feelings.

"Keep telling yourself that."

"It's a mutual hatred."

It's not. I know it's not. Steve has never once said anything remotely rude or mean to me. He lets me do that, taking it in like a champ.

"Tell that to him. He may be dating Nancy Wheeler but those eyes belong to you."

"I think you're seeing things."

"Yeah?"

She points her finger down the hall. I turn my head and see him looking at me. He gives a quick smile before going back to digging in his locker.

Sophia knows everything about Steve and I's relationship. Although I've claimed to hate him all my firsts were with him.

From my first kiss to my first time. He's a part of me whether I like it or not. It's why I'm so adamant about wanting to hate him.

"Oh my God."

Suddenly Nate walks up to Steve, shoving him against the lockers. I shut mine and run down the hall. It's pretty much clear now, everyone's in class.

"Did you do it, Harrington!"

"Nate!"

He ignores me.

"Did you kiss her!"

He punches Steve. I push him off, standing in front of Steve before he throws another punch.

"I kissed him!" I yell. "It was me.. I was drunk and-"

He walks away. I look over my shoulder at Steve, fully turning around to his bloody nose.

"Why'd you let him punch you.."

I take my sweater off, putting it on his nose. He puts his hand over mine.

"I couldn't kick his ass in front of his girlfriend."

Girlfriend. I take my hand away. It's horrible but after the kiss we went back for more and more. I didn't want it to stop.

I wasn't even drunk. I wanted to do it so I did. I think I wanted to know if I felt that spark I did the very first time we kissed in seventh grade.

"Stay with Steve." I look at Sophia. "I need to check on Nate."

I walk outside and see him punching the side of the building. He turns around, rushing towards me. He grabs my arms. He squeezes so hard I can feel a heartbeat in them.

"Ow, Nate!"

"You kissed him?"

"Get your hands off of my daughter!"

I turn my head to my dad walking towards us. Nate immediately takes his off of me.

"Dad?"

He pushes my body behind his, pushing Nate in the same motion. I've never really seen so much anger cross my dad's face.

"You ever, and I mean ever touch my daughter again, Nathaniel.. I will kill you."

"Dad!"

"Come on, Peanut."

My dad hasn't called me that in years. I follow like the same little girl who used to love that name.

"Dad, I'm fine."

"You tell me if he ever pulls shit like that again." He says. "I don't want you seeing that boy again."

This was my dad's last straw. The icing on top. He's absolutely done with Nate.

"Okay, dad."

I know when to pick and choose my fights. I've been on thin ice with him in general when it comes to Nate.

"Stevo!"

I look up from the ground. Steve's nose is bruised.

"Hey, Mr. Griffin."

My dad points to his nose.

"What happened there?"

I'm fully expecting Steve to spill the beans about Nate. He looks at me and sees the expression on my face.

"Missed a pass."

"A shame. I got some new mustang's on the lot." My dad smiles. "I'd love for you to look at them."

My dad owns a very successful dealership business. He has dealerships all around Indiana. He visits them frequently but usually works from his Hawkins location.

"Stangs? Hell yeah."

My dad nods and looks at me.

"Pick a time and stop by."

I mouth a 'thank you' to Steve as we pass him. I follow my dad to his car. He still hasn't said why he's here.

"Your Aunt Vivian is in town."

"Aunt Viv is here?"

I love my Aunt Viv. She's my mother's youngest sister. A bit rebellious but I like it. She's a witch, like me.

The only thing is, is that her power is nothing compared to mine. She has to cast spells and inventions where I don't.

My mother always gets anxious when she visits. I don't really understand why. It's not like Viv will do any harm.

"It sounds like she's here to stay."

"Wait, seriously?" I smile. "That's awe- horrible. So, so, horrible."

While my mother gets anxious, my dad gets stressed. Viv stresses everyone out because she's so laid back and carefree. She does whatever she wants, whenever she wants.

"I'll need you to pick up some stuff for dinner. Your mother is baking again and needs more stuff."

He takes out his wallet, pulling out a couple hundred dollar bills.

"And pick some stuff out for you and your sister."

I nod and take the money. He overpays me. There's no way all of the stuff will cost this much. I think he does just because he can. He didn't grow up in the wealthiest of families. He had to build his empire from scratch, making his money himself.

"I'll see you at home."

I force a smile and turn around as he gets into his car.