end zone | STEVE HARRINGTON

fifteen

C H A P T E R O N E

season 3 episode 1 - Suzie, Do you copy?

* * *

ANASTASIA GROANED, COVERING HER EARS WITH HER HANDS as she sat on the couch with Hopper who was eating some snacks and watching the television. Ever since Mike and Eleven had began to get more serious with their relationship, Mike had began to come over to the Hopper household, leaving Anastasia and Hopper to have to listen to the two of them constantly make out.

"When will it ever stop?" Anastasia asked, watching in amusement as Hopper leaned back on his chair to check on the couple.

Hopper shouted for them, "Hey!" Eleven slammed the door closed with her powers, as Hopper quickly got up continuously shouting, "Three inch minimum! Leave the door open three inches!" He attempted to get into the room but Eleven refused to let him, "El. Open this door, Open the door-"

The door opened, almost sending him flying into the room as Anastasia laughed at him, she heard Mike say something but didn't completely hear what he had said. Hopper walked back out, looking more grumpy than before. "Anna, how much do I have to pay you to get rid of that kid....permanently?"

"I'll do it for free." She muttered, her finger tips glowing a dark red as she smirked.

Hopper stared for a moment, contemplating it before sighing. "Maybe not, Nancy would be pissed if you killed her brother."

She hummed, going back to eating her candy. "I do not want to have to deal with angry Nancy."

Eleven and Mike walked out of her room hand in hand, saying goodbye to another as he finally left. Anastasia and Hopper high fived one another, pleased they didn't need to do it themselves as Eleven immediately retreated back to her bedroom. Anastasia sighed, all she wanted to do was hang out with Eleven like they used to but apparently, Eleven was more interested in Mike than her, leaving the red head to feel left out.

Around thirty minutes later as they were nearly finished with the movie, their electricity went off and so did all of their lights, they looked around at one another and Anastasia, who was deadly afraid of the dark clung onto Hopper's hand until they eventually came back on, which was only a few moments later.

"Dustin gets back home tomorrow." Anastasia mentioned, a smile gracing her face as she remembered her new friend.

Hopper smiled for her, "I know you missed him, kid."

"I did, at least now I have someone to help me bully Steve." She grinned wickedly, Hopper groaned, already seeing the growing romance between them though Anastasia was practically oblivious to it.

* * *

Anastasia made her way over to Scoops Ahoy! where Steve currently worked, it was laughable to her how Steve, the once popular boy in Hawkins' High now had to work at a place where he had to scoop ice cream for annoying teenagers. Steve was busy flirting with yet another customer, and ended up scaring them away with his awful techniques at flirting, the girls left giggling to one another.

She walked over, laughing at him as Robin appeared, showing the white board that had a 'You Rule' and 'You suck', Steve had more points on the latter. Robin ticked off another point, "You are oh-for-six, Popeye."

"Yeah, yeah. I can count." Steve said sarcastically as Anastasia stood on the other side.

Robin smiled, "You know that means you suck."

"Yep, I can read, too." He rolled his eyes, as he spoke more aggressively.

"Since when?" Robin questioned, agitating Steve further.

Steve walked towards her, "It's this stupid hat. I am telling you, it is totally blowing my best feature."

"Yeah, company policy is a real drag." Robin rolled her eyes. "You know, it's a crazy idea, but have you considered...telling the truth?"

Anastasia felt guilty for listening in on their conversation but still did it as Steve spoke, "Oh, you mean, that I couldn't even get into Tech and my douchebag dad's trying to teach me a lesson, I make three bucks an hour, and I have no future? That truth?"

Robin eventually noticed Anastasia standing around as the red head rang the bell, Steve prepared himself to flirt with yet another girl and turned around quickly, "Ahoy, ladies!- Oh, hey, Anastasia."

Anastasia laughed loudly at her friend, her stomach starting to hurt as Steve glared at her. "Okay, okay, quit laughing now."

"The best thing you came up with was Ahoy ladies?" Anastasia laughed, hopping over the counter to see them when she said, "Has Dustin been here today?"

"Leave my pick up lines alone, and no, Dustin hasn't been here today." Steve replied, slightly groaning. As Dustin had been away at a camp, Anastasia was left to deal with Steve, which made her summer break ten times harder.

"Interesting, you know, Hopper said I am allowed to have sleepovers now." Anastasia wriggled her eyebrows suggestively at Steve who blushed, she caught onto it, feeling confused for a moment at the butterflies in her stomach until she brushed it off. "I was thinking of inviting Tony over."

"Tony? Who the heck is Tony?" Steve practically yelled, turning the heads of some customers.

She covered her laugh and continued, "This guy that I just met, I think he could be the one."

"No way! You just met the guy!" Steve explained to her, staring into her green eyes. "Where is this guy?" He scoffed.

Anastasia had started to laugh, she laughed so hard that she rested her palms on her stomach and bent down as she felt her eyes spring with tears, she calmed down to see Steve's not so happy - yet confused - face. "I got you! I don't know any Tony, Мед. I got you so good!"

Steve scoffed, "Yeah, laugh at my expense. But seriously, are you allowed sleepovers?"

"Dad said I can, why? Wanna have a sleepover?" Anastasia cheeks flushed red, more confused emotions flooding her.

Steve's eyes widened, never had he thought that Anastasia, the girl he had tried so hard to deny his feeling for would ever allow him to stay the night at her home. He sighed, "I'll have to ask my parent's first."

Her smile dropped, from what she had heard from Nancy and Dustin, Steve's parents were very supportive. "Oh, okay."

He instantly knew he had said something wrong, "No! No! That was a joke, sorry...I did not mean to freak you out. We can totally have a sleepover."

Her smile brightened again, more butterflies arising in Steve's stomach as he looked down at her in awe. "That's great! I am going to buy some things for us, bye!"

"Bye, Anna." Steve waved to her as she skipped out of Scoops Ahoy.

------

TRANSLATIONS -

Мед = honey