Complicated - Steve Harrington

Two

Mia twirled her finger around the wire of her telephone, using her other hand to tap nervously against her bed. She could hear her siblings arguing in the hallway, awaiting for her to begin talking so they could ease drop. She was just moments away from shouting for them to go away, when someone finally picked up on the other line.

"Hello?"

"Steve?" Mia asked, as her younger brother's interest grew. "It's Mia."

"I can hear you, Mi," Steve said. "So what's going on?"

"I was hoping you had spoken to Nancy today," Mia said.

"We were working on my college applications earlier," Steve answered. "Any reason?"

"She's been off since yesterday?" Mia snapped. "Have you not noticed?"

"Take a chill pill, Mi. What's your damage?" Steve said. "She's just stressed."

"About what?"

"The Holland's? I don't know," Steve said. "Listen, I've got to go, but I'll pick you up for the party later?"

"I'm so sure," Mia said.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow then," Steve sighed before the line went dead.

Mia stood up from her bed and placed the telephone base back on her desk. She picked up the small, orange invitation off of her desk and walked towards her bedroom door. She swung the wooden door open and her brothers fell inside.

"Seriously?!" She groaned. "What are you little dipshits doing?"

"Language!" Her mother called from downstairs.

Mia tried to push past her brothers, but the oldest of the two, Thomas, grabbed the invitation from her hands. He darted downstairs triumphantly, followed by Mia's other brother, Charles. She ran after the two, hoping they wouldn't reach her mother before she could buy their silence.

"Mia's going to a party!" Thomas yelled, almost knocking into their mother.

"With Steve!" Charles added.

"You assholes!" Mia groaned.

"Mia," her warned. "What's this about a party with Steve?"

"It's just a Halloween party," Mia said. "The entire Senior and Junior class will be there."

"I don't know," her mother said. "I mean, what happened to your sectoring of the woods?"

"Walking through sectioned off parts of the woods alone in the dark like I haven't already explored every bit of those woods is no more safe than a Halloween party, Mom," Mia argued.

"I'm just not sure I want you to spend Halloween surrounded by drinks," She said biting her lip.

"I don't drink and besides, Nancy will be there," Mia said.

"I'm sorry, Margaret," her mother said. "You'll just have to miss this party. You can go trick-or-treating with Thomas and Charles, it will be fun."

"I'm sure," Mia mumbled, trudging back up the stairs to her room.

She slammed the door just as Thomas tried to speak to her, not wanting to listen to her butting brother.

* * *

Mia had a feeling that if her parents found out what she was doing, they'd never allow her to leave the house again. Her father would probably place the blame on Steve somehow and she'd be cut off from her best friends. Still, Mia was just a block away from the party and couldn't have cared less about the consequences.

Mia fixed her out of style, choppy, brown hair and set her grey eyes on the door to the party. Straightening out her skirt, which was just a bit too short for her longer legs, she entered the party. Music blared as laughter bounced from doorframe to doorframe. The dance floor was filled with people, while most other places were covered by horny teenagers. Mia quickly spotted Steve and Nancy in the crowd.

"Mi, you decided to show up?" Steve smirked, while Nancy downed a red drink as it dripped from the side of her cup.

"I do have a reputation," Mia shrugged.

"You-"

"Let's go dance, Steve," Nancy demanded, pulling him away.

"I'll see you later," Mia smiled as Steve followed Nancy to the dance floor.

Mia grabbed one of the few, non-spiked sodas that lingered on the counter. She scanned the crowd, trying to find another friend to say hello to. Her eyes landed on Jonathan Byers as he awkwardly entered the party. She gave a silent chuckle before walking towards him.

"Jonathan," she smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"I uh..." he looked toward Nancy on the dance floor with Steve. "Nancy told me I should come. She seems a bit pre-occupied now though."

"Oh yeah, well she'll take a break from dancing to Queen to get another drink soon enough," Mia joked.

"Hm," Jonathan nodded, not in the mood for jokes.

Almost on cue, Nancy wobbled over to the punch bowl and poured herself another cup. She brought the cup to her lips when Steve stopped her. Mia made her way towards the two.

"Nance, you've had enough," Steve said. "You're drunk."

"Stop it, St-Steve," Nancy slurred.

"I'm serious, Nance, that's enough," Steve argued.

"Isn't this what you wanted?!" Nancy asked. "For us to be normal teenagers for once? That's what I'm doing!"

Steve tried to pry the cup from Nancy's fingers. She pulled away, throwing the red liquid across her white top. People now gathered around to watch the couple's argument. Nancy soon stormed away towards the bathroom, where Steve followed. Mia bit her lip nervously.

She lingered around the party for a minute, but knowing Nancy and Steve would soon be leaving, Mia started out the door. She was just barely at the end of the driveway when a slam of the front door behind here made her jump. She turned to see Steve, but no Nancy. Mia could barely see them in the dark, but she recognized the tears forming in her best friend's eyes.

"Steve-"

"Can I take you home?" He asked, hiding his face as best as he could. "You need a ride?"

"Steve, what happened-"

"Just let me take you home?" Steve said. Mia realized he wasn't asking for her own good, but rather his.

"Yeah, let's go," Mia nodded. Steve opened the door for her and she scooted inside.

They drove in silence for a few minutes. Steve kept his hands firmly on the wheel, his eyes staring, full of hurt, at the winding road. Whatever had happened in that bathroom, Mia knew it had cut Steve deep.

"Do you want to talk before I go inside?" Mia asked as the pulled up to her house.

"Nothing to talk about," Steve grumbled, leaning back against his seat and crossing his arms. "Nancy doesn't really love me."

"She was drunk, she didn't mean that," Mia said. "Nancy loves you, Steve."

Steve stayed silent just studying Mia. His eyes lingered on hers. She gave a sympathetic smile, seeing the desperation and pain in his eyes.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Steve," Mia said. "Thanks for the ride."

"Bye, Mi," Steve sighed.

Mia gave a wave and shut the door. She ran towards the side of her house and climbed up towards her window. She snuck inside and went to sleep.