Steve's POV
When I came home from a long day at school, my mom was cooking dinner while my father paced the kitchen, yelling into his phone. "What do you mean the deal was cancelled?! I told you how much our company needed it!" My father yells a lot. I'm sure he has anger issues and I know it bothers my mom a lot. Whenever he gets into one of his yelling sprees, she flinches and makes herself occupied with something else to focus on. I've stood up to him a few times, but it never solved the problem.
Since I was in a good, hopeful mood, I ignored my father and decided to help my mom with dinner. My mom and I have a really good relationship, I tell her almost everything. "Almost" meaning she doesn't know about Jonathan. She probably wouldn't care, but my father would end up finding out and that would be a blood bath.
I was in the middle of chopping celery with her when my phone started ringing. "Steve! Turn that damned phone off!" My father yelled. He wasn't on the phone anymore so I had no idea what his problem was.
Ignoring him, I wiped my wet hands on a towel and answered. "Hello?"
"Hey," it was Jonathan. I smiled at the sound of his voice. It was sweet and timid as if one wrong word would set me off. I wish he understood that wasn't the case. "So I was thinking that maybe you and I should do something together..." He started to trail off at the end, which I new meant he was flustered.
I smirked, leaning on the other side of the counter where the food wasn't. "Like a date?"
"Only if you want it to be." I could tell he was really nervous, which was really cute.
I noticed my dad listening in to my conversation, reminding me to act more nonchalant. "Yeah, whatever, that sounds cool." I hated sounding like an asshole to Jonathan, but that was the way I talked to any girl I was going on a date with.
Jonathan paused and I hoped it wasn't because of my tone of voice. "Okay. What would you want to do."
"I said whatever. Make up your own mind." I mentally slapped myself for talking to him that way, but it worked. My father seemed to go back to minding his own business. But when I heard nothing on the other line, I pulled my phone away to see that Jonathan had ended the call.
I knew I was going to have to make it up somehow to him, but I had no idea how to do that without explaining why I acted that way. I hadn't noticed my dad had come up behind me when he put a hand on my shoulder. "Another tramp pining after you?" He had a grin on his face, causing my stomach to turn in disgust. He talked about every girl like this. Even my mom, but he'd never say it when she's around.
I shrugged. "Yeah, but I don't think I'm interested."
"Sucks for her. She's probably a whore anyways." He said as if there was no other way to explain my disinterest.
After dinner, I told my parents that I had to go to the mall for a possible interview. I drove over to Jonathan's house hoping that he wasn't too mad at me. I wouldn't blame him, though. I used to treat him like shit because I was insecure about my sexuality. I mean, sure girls are hot and all, but they're nothing compared to the attraction I have towards Jonathan. That's when it hit me. "I'm gay." I half whispered to myself. It felt like an elephant sized weight had been lifted off my chest.
Once I reached the Byers' house, I ran up to the door and knocked as hard and as fast as I could. Mrs. Byers opened the door with a shocked expression, but she stepped aside. "Jonathan's in his room."
I thanked her and ran up to Jonathan's room. I scared the shit out of him when I threw his door open, causing him to jump and almost fall off of his bed, but I didn't care. "I'm gay." I stated.
Apparently, that didn't seem to please Jonathan. "Then go find some other sucker to mess with. I'm done with your mood swings." He went back to reading his book as if I wasn't there.
I sat down on his bed, accross from him. "I'm so sorry about earlier. I promise I'll explain it later, but you need to know that I'm serious about you." I grabbed his book and threw it behind me, even though he was already looking at me. I grabbed his hand and ran downstairs to find Will watching T.V. with his mom.
Will paused the show they were watching when he saw me holding on to Jonathan's hand. "Will, Mrs. Byers, I really like Jonathan and I'd like your permission to date him."
Their eyes lit up in shock, but both of them started to smile. "It's fine by me," Will said.
Joyce looked at Jonathan and asked, "Is this why you broke up with Nancy?"
Jonathan nodded, and I could tell she understood. "I don't think I've ever had anyone ask to date my son." She said, lightheartedly. "But I'm okay with it as long as Jonathan's happy." That was all I needed to hear. Jonathan's family accepted us and that was enough for now.
I'm so lame. I have no idea where I want this story to go or what's gonna happen, but here's another chapter. I realized Steve doesn't have much of a back story, so I figured I'd write him one. In the show Steve calls his dad a grade A asshat, so that's what I went with :) hope you guys like the story!
- Em💖
