Don't You Want Me? ✵ Steve Harrington

Chapter 30

Kim smiled from the backseat as Steve pulled into the middle school parking lot, stopping the car to let Dustin out.

"Alright, buddy, here we are," Steve said, facing the younger boy. "So, remember, once you get in there-"

"Pretend like I don't care," Dustin nodded.

Kim scoffed, lightly shoving her brother. "I've told you a million time! Don't listen to Steve's shitty girl advise. Notice how I actually started dating him once he started acting like a nice person."

"Yeah, well, that's not the point," Steve said, smirking at her through the rear view mirror.

"Than what is the point exactly?" Kim asked, leaning on the back of his seat.

Dustin, tired of their pointless bickering and flirting, looked at himself in the mirror.

"Hey," Kim said, her voice kind as she put a hand on her brother's shoulder. "You look great, Dust."

Steve nodded, continuing the pep talk. "Now you're gonna go in there."

"Yeah," Dustin nodded.

"You look like a million bucks,

"Yeah!"

"-And you're gonna slay 'em dead."

"Like a lion," Dustin nodded, making a weird purring noise.

Steve and Kim exchanged a look, both of them trying not to wince.

"Uh, maybe don't do that, okay?" Kim told Dustin.

"Okay," Dustin nodded.

Steve raised his hand for a high five. "Good luck," he told the younger boy.

Dustin nodded and nervously got out of the car before turning back to them. "Hey, if I get back and she's pregnant-"

"Dustin!" Kim screamed, closing the car door in his face. She smiled as she watched him go, thinking about how quickly he had grown up. It felt like just yesterday him and his friends had been begging her to play D and D with them. Kim sighed, climbing over the seat until she sat in Dustin's vacated spot.

"You ready to go?" Steve asked, leaning over to kiss her cheek.

"First date here, we come!" Kim whooped.

He smiled lovingly at her as he started to drive to the diner he had always imagined as their first date spot. "You look stunning," he told her.

She blushed, smoothing out her sweater. It was her favorite, black with stars and moons embroidered on it. "Thanks."

"We're here," he said after a few minutes. He pulled to a stop and Kim could feel her heart pounding against her chest. Somehow, this felt scarier than any battle against the Demogorgon. She reminded herself that Steve had been her friend first, they had had millions of conversations that hadn't been awkward. They walked hand in hand into the diner, both ordering burgers, fries, and milkshakes before taking a seat.

"I hope no one says anything mean to him," Kim said, still worried about her younger brother.

"Kimmy, he'll be fine," Steve reassured her. "Besides, he's a Henderson, he can handle anything."

She smiled, starting to blush again.

•••••

As the school year dragged on, Kim and Steve became the couple that everyone wanted to be. The two teased each other, held hands whenever they were in the halls together, and were just all around their adorable selves. Thank God Nancy wasn't weird about their relationship otherwise Kim would have felt really conflicted about what to do. But Nance really didn't care at all, having started to date the one and only Jonathan Byers. The group of four went on double dates quiet often, more to make Kim happy than anything else.

And it made her so very happy. She was happier than she had ever remembered being; her and Dustin closer than ever, her friendship with Nancy and Jonathan only growing, and Steve was always there to make her smile.

The two of them made so many cute memories that year. Like the time Steve, Kim, and Dustin had had a battle to the death with lightsabers. Or the time Kim and Steve had had a picnic date on top of the bus in the junkyard. And of course, Steve's first day at Scoops Ahoy.

Kim ran through the mall, nearly knocking over Erica Sinclair, as she rushed through the Scoops Ahoy doors. "Um, hi," Kim panted, leaning against the counter. "Is Steve Harrington here?"

The girl behind the counter raised an eyebrow before calling, "Hey, digus, a cute girl requested to see you specifically."

Steve poked his head out and grinned when he saw Kim standing there. "Kimmy!" he exclaimed, pulling her into a hug and spinning her around. "I have a job!"

Kim laughed at his enthusiasm, trying not to make a comment about his ridiculous uniform.

The other girl leaned against the counter, watching their interaction. "Ah, so you're the famous Kimberly Hernderson. It's only this idiot's first day, but he won't shut up about you."

Kim smiled at the other girl, sticking out her hand. "Yeah, I'm Kim."

"Robin," the other girl smiled, shaking Kim's outstretched hand.

"You want any ice cream?" Steve asked. "It would be free, girlfriend discount."

"Steve, you can't just give free ice cream out to whoever you want," Robin reminded him. "You'll get yourself fired on your first day."

Steve rolled his eyes, scooping Kim some strawberry ice cream, knowing it was her favorite. "Here you go, m'lady."

Kim smirked as she saluted. "Thank you, Captain."

Robin continued to eye the couple, not believing that Steve Harrington had finally found a girl who was actually kind of cool. "So, you settled for this digus?" Robin asked Kim.

"Robin," Steve warned, not wanting to be embarrassed in front of his girlfriend.

Kim just laughed. "I wouldn't say I settled, but I agree, he's a total digus."

Robin smirked, deciding that the girl was just as incredible as Steve had described her to be. "I think we're going to get along just fine, Henderson."

•••••

Little did the happy teens know, the Mind Flayer loomed above the town of Hawkins, watching their every move and waiting for the right time to strike back. It wanted blood; it wanted revenge against the ones who had slammed the gate in its face. And it was willing to do anything to obtain its deadly goal.