Head Over Heels » Steve Harrington

chapter nine

Chapter Nine: Confessions

Lydia lay slumped against the bathroom sinks, head clutched in her hands. Her stomach was churning uncomfortably, though she doubted there could be anything possibly left inside.

"The ceiling stopped spinning for me," Robin announced from the stall. "Is it still spinning for you guys?"

Lydia slowly opened her eyes. The room was still in motion. She groaned. "No."

"Holy shit," Steve said. "You think we puked it all up?"

"Maybe," Robin replied. "Ask me something. Interrogate me," she said, putting on a fake Russian accent.

Lydia reached her hand up and clutched the edge of the sink, which she used to help haul herself from the sticky bathroom floor – she didn't even want to think about what she'd just been sat in.

Lydia paused for a moment to steady herself, and then lifted her head, catching sight of her dishevelled appearance in the mirror. Dark hair falling out of her ponytail in messy strands, dried blood at the corner of her mouth and mascara smudged underneath her eyes. It was certainly a look, for sure.

"Okay. Interrogate you. Sure," Steve deliberated. "Um, when was the last time you, uh, peed your pants?"

"Today," Robin admitted.

"What?" Both Lydia and Steve asked together.

"When the Russian doctor took out the bone saw," Robin elaborated. "It was just a little bit, though."

"Yeah, it's definitely still in her system," Steve directed his words to Lydia, who looked over her shoulder to give him a small smile. She then ran her hands underneath the cold water tap and splashed her face.

"All right, my turn," Robin said. "Who wants a question first?"

"I'm going to get a drink from the water fountain," Lydia informed them. "My mouth is dry as hell."

"Okay," Robin replied.

Lydia dried her hands on her jeans and headed towards the door.

"Okay. Hit me," Steve said.

There was a brief pause. "Have you ever been in love?"

With one hand placed on the door, the question made Lydia stop in her tracks. She wasn't entirely sure why, but she felt compelled to, almost curious to hear his answer.

"Yep," Steve replied. "Nancy Wheeler. First semester, senior year." He imitated a gunshot sound.

Lydia stifled a small smile as she hovered unseen by the door.

"Oh, my God," Robin said. "She's such a priss."

Steve hummed. "Turns out, not really."

Robin scoffed disbelievingly at his response. Lydia moved to open the door, but hesitated once more. What the hell was getting into her? Like, she knew she definitely shouldn't be eavesdropping, but it felt as if some unseen force was rooting her to the spot.

"Are you still in love with Nancy?"

"No," Steve answered.

"Why not?"

"I think it's because I found someone who's a little bit better for me." There was a long lapse of silence after his admission. Worst of all, Lydia felt her stomach suddenly drop. Oh god, was she going to throw up again? "It's crazy," Steve continued. "Ever since Dustin got home, he's been saying, you know, you gotta find your Suzie. You gotta find your Suzie."