Fireworks || HARRINGROVE ||

What The Hell Just Happened?

January 12, 1984

"Harrington, is that you?" A deep, sultry voice rang out from the counter at Scoops Ahoy.

Steve immediately stopped playing with the rubber bands on the counter at the sound of such a familiar voice.  Ah, shit, Steve grumbled in his head, desperately not wanting to turn around and face the man behind him.

"Hmm, the bodacious hair makes me believe that it is, in fact, you, Harrington. But I must say, I didn't remember Harrington having such a nice looking ass," the voice sang lowly.

Goddamn it, why is he here? Steve bit his lip and scrunched up his nose. He stared at the window, wishing he was in the break room on the other side of the translucent window instead of out here, at ten on a freezing cold January morning. Why the ice cream shop opened so early, especially in January, was a mystery to Steve, but it was nothing compared to the mysterious man behind him.

"Aren't you going to turn around and give me a full view of that cute little sailor's uniform?" He said flirtatiously.

Steve, knowing the other male too well, decided to turn around. He knew the asshole wouldn't leave until he did. With a grimace, Steve turned around in the most embarrassing outfit he had ever worn to look into the blue eyes of Billy Hargrove.

"King Steve," Billy said with his lips curled upwards in a smirk. "It seems you have finally tried to humble yourself." Billy narrowed his eyes and leaned over the counter, pushing into Steve's personal space, and spoke lowly. "Did it hurt falling down from the throne, Steve?"

With a snarl, Steve placed a hand on Billy's large shoulder and pushed him back. Billy straightened up and smoothed down his trademark denim jacket, looking at Steve with a look that could only be described as amusement. The look in Billy's eyes pissed Steve off.

"What the hell do you want, Hargrove? Do you realize this is an ice cream shop and not the classroom of Hawkins High?" When Billy didn't answer Steve tensed his shoulder and taunted, "Huh, it seems the ever so perfect Billy Hargrove doesn't remember that this is a mall, not a classroom. I suppose he's not perfect. Not in the slightest."

Billy remained emotionless and Steve was furious. Why the hell can I not get under his skin? Steve wondered.

Just as Steve opened his mouth to make a smartass comment, Billy said, "What I would like is to get a strawberry ice cream."

"Jackass, why would you need strawberry ice cream at this time of day?" Steve asked, his anger now laced with confusion.

"Please put it in a cup," Billy replied, blowing off Steve's questions as if the man wasn't speaking.

Steve wasn't having that.

Steve crossed his arms defiantly and said, "No."

They stared at each other until Billy asked a gravely, "What?"

"I said no. Not until I know why you are buying ice cream at ten a.m. in January."

Billy raised an arched eyebrow. "Why do you want to know?"

"Why not?" Steve retorted.

Billy huffed our a laugh. "Okay, Harrington, I'll tell you," Billy said as he leaned in closer over the counter once again. "The truth is that I have a strawberry ice cream addiction."

Steve raised his eyebrows, clearly unamused. "Oh, is that so?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah," Steve copied.