Complicated • Stranger Things

18 - Suzie, Do You Copy?

It's been one year since the gate was shut, and a lot has changed. I graduated high school, surprisingly, but I decided not to go to college. The reason may or may not be a certain boy who shall not be named.

Speaking of which, after a whole year of denying it, I've finally accepted that I'm in love with Steve Harrington. It took a lot from Nancy, Jonathan, Dustin, the others, and myself to get me to finally admit it.

I still haven't told Steve, though. And we're not officially together. We definitely have a thing, but that doesn't seem to stop him from–very obviously–flirting with other girls, which can be very discouraging. I'm not sure if he does it because he's not interested in me or if he's trying to make me jealous, and honestly, I can't tell which one would be worse.

Since Steve didn't go to college, his dad forced him to get a job at Scoops Ahoy, an ice cream shop in the new mall that opened recently. I may or may not have also gotten a job there in order to spend more time with him.

El has finally been allowed out of the house. I'm glad to see her finally having fun with her friends, like a normal kid. She and Mike have officially started dating, which I find adorable, along with Max and Lucas. I'm a little bitter that they were able to get into a relationship before me, though. Nancy and Jonathan also finally got together, which I had been waiting for, and they both got a job at The Hawkins Post.

Right now, I'm rushing to get ready for my shift at Scoops Ahoy. I could hear my dad yelling at El and Mike as I pulled on my uniform.

When I stepped out of my room, I found my dad standing in El's doorway with an angry expression.

"Come on, Dad. Let them have some fun." I told him as I patted his shoulder. I quickly said goodbye to the three of them before heading off to work.

I had to shove my way through the crowds of people as I tried to get to work on time. When I got there, Steve was standing at the register. When he spotted me, he looked up at the clock.

"Right on time." He said. "I thought you'd be late. Again."

"Of course not," I said as I made my way around the counter. Just then, Robin popped her head out from the back.

"Hey, Jordan." She greeted.

"Hey." I smiled.

I didn't have anything against Robin, she was a really nice person, but something about her bothered me. Maybe it was the way she and Steve interacted with each other. Maybe it's because I'm jealous, but I won't admit that. I don't want to be that girl. We're not even dating, so how can I get mad at him? And it sure isn't Robin's fault, so then why?

"I can take over the register if you two wanna work back here." Robin offered. And then she does things like that and I'm reminded that she isn't a bad person.

"Okay, sure." I agreed and Steve and I headed to the back.

We never really get any work done back there. Occasionally, we would do some cleaning or deal with shipments that came in, which wasn't too often.

"Hey, dingus, your children are here," Robin called only a few minutes later. Steve sighed before sliding open the window that led to the register.

"Again? Seriously?" He asked and I heard the service bell ring once more.

Steve led them into the back and I waved as the four of them walked by. It was Mike, Will, Lucas, and Max, the same as always. Steve rushed them into the back hallway that would lead them to the movie theater.

"I swear if anybody hears about this–"

"We're dead." They all finished, having heard it every single time. Steve sighed before closing the door.