HOW TO STOP LIKING BOYS ━ Stranger Things ✓

NINETEEN: HOMEMADE THERAPY

NINETEEN: HOMEMADE THERAPY

"HEY BUDDY!" Heather exclaimed, stopping her giggling on the couch with Veronica once she heard the front door close. Daniel didn't say anything, so she turned around. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"

"He knows," was all he said for Heather to hop over the backside of the couch and run over to her brother. Veronica just looked confused, but she walked over nonetheless. Without a word, Heather pulled Daniel into a tight hug as he cried. "He knows, he knows, Heather, he knows!"

"I'm confused, who knows what?" Veronica asked, standing off to the side once the two broke apart. Daniel fell down to his knees, settling down on the floor, not feeling the need to move.

Daniel just looked at Heather, then to Veronica, then to the ground. "Uh, there's this boy that I uh, that I like, and then there's one of my best friends, Dustin. Um, well, they both found out about the gay thing. Then Mike, the boy I like, he uh, found out about the whole liking him thing."

"How?" Heather asked, "Also, this floor is uncomfortable, come on." Daniel didn't move, so naturally, Heather just scooped him up and brought him over to the couch. He rested his head on her lap while Veronica sat on the love seat next to the couch.

"Um, because I was stupid."

"Daniel, I love you, but that happens a lot and you're gonna have to be more specific," she said with a laugh, running her fingers through his curls. She laughed softly, but she kept her voice quiet.

He sighed, twiddling his thumbs, "Uh, I kissed Mike."

Heather (very dramatically) stood up, causing Daniel's head to bounce on the couch cushion. "Daniel, you idiot! I mean, I love you, but like, you never kiss your crush before you're sure they like you back!"

Veronica nodded in agreement, "Especially if it's a boy, or well, not in my case, but you get it. Hawkins doesn't fuck with queers like us, so you never kiss him! Just suck it up and suffer like the rest of us."

All Daniel did was laugh at Veronica's explanation, wiping tears off of his cheeks. "Yeah, well, I learned my lesson, that's for sure."

"It's okay, bub," Veronica said with a smile, moving so Daniel could sit up and she could wrap her arm around his shoulders. It warmed Heather's heart to see her and her brother bonding, especially with this thing they shared that she couldn't exactly understand. Heather was trying her best, though, she really was. "We'll get our peace one day, I swear."

Heather sighed, plopping down on the couch next to them. She felt utterly useless. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I kinda just need like, a million hugs," Daniel said with a humorless laugh. "I don't even know what to do. I just, I think, I think, Heather, I think I love him. I don't know what to do, I don't even know if I know what love is at this age. I just, everything is so confusing and I really don't know what to do."

The two girls both sighed, wrapping their arms around the boy. Veronica spoke first, "Well, Daniel, lemme tell you something: No one has any idea what they're doing. Your sister doesn't, I definitely don't. I mean, I have a crush on a straight girl and Heth has a crush on a guy with a girlfriend, so everyone here is suffering. If you love him, I'm gonna be honest, it's gonna suck ass. One day, though, we'll be able to be who we are, love who we love, all that B-S. One day, you're gonna be living in San Francisco, which is like, the queer capital of America in case you didn't know, and you're gonna meet some boy who makes your heart jump out of your chest and you're not even gonna remember this stupid boy who broke your heart, okay?"

"How are you a better big sister than me?" Heather sighed, "Um, what she said, I guess? I can't help you out on the gay stuff, Daniel, but I can most definitely help you with the unrequited love thing. Ver's right, it's gonna suck, but you're gonna get over it. Yes, it might be love and it might be this impossible roadblock right now, but eventually? It'll become just a little speed bump that you can hop right over. I know it sounds cliche as hell, but it'll be okay. I promise. Just know that if Mike broke your heart, tell me and I will personally kick his frogfaced ass into next year, okay?"

With that, Daniel burst out laughing. "Frogfaced?" he repeated, out of breath and with red cheeks, "I love you, Heather. And Veronica, I know we don't talk much, but you seem pretty cool."

"Oh my god, Heather, he thinks I'm cool!" Veronica gasped, looking at Heather with an amazed look on his face, "He thinks I'm cool!"

"He's also right here," Daniel laughed, wiping any remaining tears off of his cheeks. "Thank you, both of you. For making me feel better."

"Do you think you can talk to Mike? Clear the air?" Heather suggested, squeezing his shoulders in a comforting gesture, "I know it sucks right now, but you're not gonna really let this little speed bump ruin your friendship? You guys have known each other forever. He can't really let you go over this?"

Daniel shrugged, "I really wish I knew, but at this point, everything I know has been wrong and I really don't know how this will turn out. But, I really don't wanna talk about it anymore, okay? Now I should give you guys some advice since you guys helped me so much."

Veronica clapped her hands together excitedly, "Oh! I'm excited. Tell me what ya got!"

"Well, Veronica, I'm not stupid. You've got a crush on Nancy, right? Heather, you've got eyes for Steve? You guys gossip very loudly and this house has thin walls. Don't be a homewrecker, but from what I've learned from living next to Steve most of my life? He's completely wrong for her. He's a party guy who likes to break the rules and she's someone who when she says 'study date,' she means 'study date.' They won't last. Veronica, you're charming and sweet and you understand boundaries, literally perfect for her. Heather, you're a wild child, but you know how to keep other people grounded. Perfect to balance out Steve. Easy peasy. We just need to wait for them to fall apart."

"Damn!" the brunette exclaimed, sharing an awed look with Heather, "Where did that come from? I thought you were this shy little guy, but dude. That was some straight realness!"

Heather laughed as well, her eyes wide, "Baby bro, have you ever considered studying psychology and being a therapist when you're older?"

Daniel smiled, clearly proud of himself. In the moment, he was almost able to forget about his own personal problems. All that mattered was his sister, her best friend, and him sharing half-assed wisdom. He didn't need to think about his red, puffy eyes, or the boys he left sitting on the edge of the woods. He didn't need to think about how two out of his four friends knew he was gay and how his problems would never really be over, but for the first time in what felt like a long time (despite it being less than a week), things were okay.

( note! )

that's RIGHT i DIDNT forget about heather and veronica! also, i know this was a very dialogue heavy chapter, but it was very necessary for character development and mainly because i really needed the gays to interact because that solidarity is gonna be killer, let's be real