Jailbird || Stranger Things

forty-five ➵ live wire

"Do you want to come in? Talk about—I don't know," Steve hesitated, recognising the tiredness on Teresa's face, even if the scratches from the past didn't show up any more.

    She pulled up the handbrake, turning her lights down in an effort to not wake his parents. She never did understand his home life, but she didn't dare ask any more than he'd been willing to share. She'd made that mistake before.

    Which was the main reason why she felt it unfair to talk to him.

    "No, I think—I think it's best if I go home. Dad's finding the whole Mike and El situation a little weird, so I think it's best if I'm there to check up on her and figure out what's going on. Max said they were having a sleepover anyway," she explained, turning towards him a little, settling into their little habit of late night drives and talks that was borne out of less time together in school and making more time for their friendship outside of it, especially without the kids.

    "Call me if you can't sleep," he asked, though it wasn't a question, and she knew it.

    "Yeah, I will," she nodded, a soft smile settling onto her features at his caring nature.

    "You're not seeing Billy tonight?"

    "I don't see him as often as you think," she chuckled lightly while turning down the Bob Seger track. "I also know I'm not the only person who speaks to him," she pointed out, Steve deciding not to tear his eyes away from her. Her smile was still present, but he knew she was more amused by it than trying to catch him out.

    "He spoke to me just before the Snow Ball," he nodded. "Then again at Spring Break, when he overheard you talking to Eddie Munson. Then again at prom. He's protective."

    "He's a lot of things," she let out a small burst of laughter, laced with bitterness and some regret as she pulled one of her legs up onto the seat. "You know I see Eddie?"

    He looked away for the first time, staring at the front door of his house through the windshield. "I think half the school's seen Eddie," he looked back to her, a small twitch pulling on his lips. "You wouldn't be the only one."

    "Oh, am I about to hear some King Steve stories?" she asked, both friends erupting into laughter.

    "You can hear all the stories you want, all right?" he nodded, knowing what she was getting at. Her laughter carried on, allowing him to take the moment to see her happy, carefree perhaps. With the whole Russian transmission situation, he knew it wouldn't last forever.

    As she calmed down, she watched him with a grin, teeth showing as she took in the uniform on him. "So you guys gonna be looking for Russians tomorrow?"

    "Uh, probably," he admitted, both of them knowing Dustin well enough. "Are you working?"

    "Yeah. In the afternoon, I'm gonna talk to dad in the morning if not tonight," she nodded.

    "Oh," he uttered, "Okay, great."

    "I do listen to you sometimes, you know."

    The teasing tone wasn't helping his surprise, needing to let it out in a nervous chuckle.

    "Thanks for the ride."

    "Anytime, Harrington, you'd do the same for me."

    He pushed the door open, hearing her turn the music back up a little, this time a song he didn't recognise due to the high pitched guitar solo. He made his way to the door, only looking back once Teresa called his name.