Hidden Gem

In the winter of 1985, Veronica Buckley decided she was done with New York and called her aunt in Hawkins, Indiana in hopes she had room for one more. Her aunt had always been more of a mom, with her cousin Robin being more of a younger sister to her. She quickly packs and moves to Hawkins, choosing to go into the workforce rather than college like her father had insisted. She finds a great paying work from home job and keeps to herself, rarely going out. That is, until her aunt goes out of town to meet with her uncle, and now it's the fall of 1987. Hawkins is on lockdown from the military so her aunt and uncle can't come home yet. Veronica and Robin have the house to themselves, until Robin invites a certain someone to come over and hang after work.

Steve "The Hair" Harrington has a way with ladies...or he did. In high school. When he dated Nancy Wheeler. Since then? It's be lonely days for Steve. Date after date, and he still can't find the right woman for him. Then Robin suggests he comes over after work for a bit, and he meets the hidden gem that is Robins older cousin. How did she manage to hide in the Buckley household for almost two years before Steve knew of her existence? And why, pray tell, did Robin NOT mention her super hot, super sweet, and super complicated cousin, Veronica.

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"Hey Robin, where's the bathroom?!"

"Down the hall to the left!" I nod and walk down the hallway. The door before the bathroom opens and out steps a gorgeous raven-haired girl.

"Hey Robin, do you have my other book?" Her voice. So melodic. I'm mesmerized. She doesn't see me, her nose in whatever book she's holding, and starts walking in my direction. I'm too stunned to move, so she bumps right into my chest. Her rich brown eyes go wide, staring right into mine. I'm starstruck, but I manage to clear my throat.

"Hi there, I'm Steve Harrington. And you are?"

"Uh, Veronica Buckley."