FAMILIAR ↳ STEVE HARRINGTON

twenty-eight.

Christine would admit that it was weird going back to doing normal things after she had fought otherworldly monsters and witnessed a young girl with telepathic powers. But when Steve asked her to go watch a movie with him she did not decline, because she figured getting back to normal would be a good thing. The funeral of Barbara Holland had been only days before, Christine extending an olive branch to Nancy and asking her if she needed her support. The girl had told her thanks but no, and ever since then there had not been a word shared between the two cousins.

Critics had been buzzing about The Nightmare on Elm Street, and how good it was, and when Steve saw the reviews he knew he had to go. He considered his options of who he wanted to invite, Dustin and Christine, but when he asked Dustin he said he was busy that night. Christine on the other hand was on board with the idea, telling Steve that she could 'hold him when he gets scared'. He had of course laughed it off, but was glad that she had accepted.

It wasn't until he was on his way to pick her up from the Wheeler house that he started overthinking, his mind racing as he thought about the fact that the two of them were going to a movie together, alone. He knew it wasn't a date, because they had hung out alone a lot but he also thought that the outing was giving the air of a date, making his stomach turn with nerves as he pulled up outside of the house.

Christine Wheeler was sitting on the hood of her car, the girl fiddling with her bag as she turned her head up to look at an approaching Steve. She gave him a dazzling smile as she walked towards the car, the girl opening the passenger side door and getting inside. She gave him another smile, her eyebrows raising as she clicked her seatbelt on.

"I don't know about you Steve but I love horror movies." Steve would be lying if he didn't say his palms weren't sweating, he had done too much overthinking and now he was just genuinely nervous. "But I kinda hope it's not one of those jump scare movies because I don't really like those that much. Like I like scary movies but I don't like the jump scares that much. So maybe I don't like horror movies? No I definitely do I just— are you gonna drive?"

Steve gulped, nodding his head and looking away from the girl who was giving him a confused look. He started off, wiping his hands on his jeans as he glanced back over at her.

"Is that my sweatshirt?" He asked, his eyes catching onto the design that he had been familiar with for years. Christine looked down before letting out a short laugh, her lips turning up in a smile as she started to explain herself.

"Yeah I get cold in movie theaters really easily so I figured I'd wear this because it's big and warm and comfy...you know?"

"Yeah I get it. Are you cold now? I can turn on the heat. Or if you're too hot just let me and know and-"

"I'm alright Steve. Thanks." Christine filled the silence for the remainder of the ride, the girl talking out loud and Steve agreeing with her from time to time but not really putting in any input. He was nervous to be with her like this, although they had hung out so much before, this was the first time they had really ever went out. He parked the car outside of the movie theater, letting out a short breath before turning to look at her.

"How much time do we have?" Christine asked, looking him over with s curious look, the girl wondering why he was acting so weird.

"Uh...um...about 10 more minutes before we gotta go in." Steve said, Christine seriously concerned as to why he was acting like this now. He was making a regular situation really awkward, and she was starting to feel it.