Silence and Cigarettes -Steddie

Chapter One

Well it had started as a normal enough day.

Saturday, March 14. School had just gotten out for spring break, and naturally there I was sitting on the cold, hard floor of Family Video while Robin persuaded our second customer of the day to rent the entire Star Wars box set.

"You look like a dedicated guy, why watch the first two when you can watch them all? You've got all spring break off of school to binge the whole. Damn. Thing." She smiled at the guy, her "I hope this is working, please see I am desperate" smile. I knew it too well.

After some more nudging, the customer finally caved. He paid Robin her earnings and mumbled something about his soon-to-be pissed off girlfriend before walking out the front double doors, the bell jingling as he did.

Robin finished putting the cash in the drawer before sighing. "All clear, dingus, you're finally free."

I smiled and hoisted myself up, peering over the counter to make sure the coast was truly clear before revealing myself.

"Thanks Rob, I appreciate it." I dusted off the front of my pants before sitting on a stool and turning on the work computer.

"No problem, you owe me one though, that guy was real adamant on only getting the first few tapes. What's the point though, we both know he'd be back practically begging for the next sets as soon as he finished." She straightened the papers on the counter and plucked every pen from the cup, inspecting each one.

I chuckled, not looking back at her, stuck in my game of Tetris when the bell Robin had conveniently tied to the front doors jingled again.

I didn't turn to look at the customer, knowing Robin would take them for me.

"Steve, Robin, I need suggestions stat." The soft lisp made me smile and I looked over my shoulder to see Dustin standing before us, sweating with his hands flat on the counter Robin had neatly set up.

"Woah, woah Henderson, did you run here from fucking Canada, what's wrong?"

Dustin wiped his forehead and readjusted his hat before speaking. "Fuck that, I rode my bike. I got fifteen dollars and 20 minutes, and I need movies for tonight."

"What's tonight?" Robin asked, still plucking through pens.

"Mike's parents are away for the week, some family bonding bullshit, I don't know. They took Holly so it's just Mike and Nance." He took a breath, "Will and El are back for spring break with Johnathan and a friend, so we're all sleeping over tonight."

I nodded, arms crossed and leaning against the back counter. I hadn't heard about the Byers in a while, not that I ever asked. Nancy should be happy Johnathan's back.

"Alright then, Steve, you're on Dustin Duty." Robin smiled, putting all the pens back in their respective cup.

"What, why me?"

"Because dingus, God forbid another customer miraculously decides to stop in and I'm in the back helping ol' dusty boy look for movie night flicks."

Dustin looked at me, tapping his watch impatiently.

I huffed in annoyance, "Fine. Let's go Henderson."

Robin did a little wave as I hopped over the back counter and lead Dustin to the back office where we kept the movies not yet released.

"I swear to god Henderson, if anyone else watches these outside of your little sleepover-"

"I'm dead, I know. Now come on, did you get Labrynth yet?" He tapped excitedly on a box.

I rolled my eyes, turning to look on the shelf where Robin had tried her best to alphabetize the new selection, but clearly gave up after 'M'.

I skimmed through, running my finger along the spines of the tape cases before landing on a thick plastic case with a small photo of David Bowie on it.

I pulled it off the shelf, seeing the big bold letters across the cover.

"This what you want?" I held up the case before Dustin.

"Yes! Thanks Steve." He grabbed the tape from me before landing a fist bump.

I watched as he ran out the office door and into the front of the store. By the time I had finished Robin's organization job, Dustin was at the counter checking out 3 more tapes.

Dustin looked at me, holding a finger to his lips and nodding towards the far wall, showing someone browsing the horror section. I nodded and hopped back over the counter, sitting back on my stool.

"Alright buddy boy, give me your fifteen." Robin held out her open hand.

Dustin's brows furrowed. "It's only 4 movies, it shouldn't be that much."

Robin shrugged, "Yeah, well we limit movies 5 per customer unless it's a boxset or series, and you mister man, got away with 7 last time. 3 of which were free, may I add?"

Dustin looked at me distraught, but I merely shrugged. He looked back at Robin who smiled, still holding out her hand.

He reluctantly gave her three 5 dollar bills and gathered his tapes into his bookbag.

"Oh you guys are invited. Sleepover starts at 5 tonight, the Wheelers place." He said zipping up his bag.

Robin looked at me, a look I returned to Dustin. On the closet slip of paper I wrote,

'Who's going?'

He smiled. "All the kids, Nancy, Johnathan, and his friend. Will says he's super chill."

Robin looked back at me, smile on her face growing wider.

I sighed and nodded, making Dustin and Robin shout in excitement. "It's about time we get you outta' here, Steve."

I smiled, looking back at my game.

"If you could, just stop by the store on your way over and grab some snacks, I was supposed to, but alas." He made a dramatic gesture to Robin before smiling and turning out the front doors.

"Ohhhhhhh I'm excited, let me call my mom and we can close after this next person leaves." Robin stood up and wandered to the phone on the counter next to me.

20 minutes and an unnecessary lecture on the logistics of 'Alien' later, I was unlocking my car as Robin locked up the front of the store and waved goodbye to our final customer.

She tucked the store keys into her pants pocket before making her way towards the passenger side.

The ride back to Robin's place consisted of her filling me in on the drama with band.

"And- and her hair is so bright in the right lighting, Steve, she has these big, beautiful eyes and.. and she's got a boyfriend."

I frowned. Robin had been losing herself over this Vicky girl for weeks now, it took her two of those weeks just to realize that the emotions she was feeling toward Vicky weren't entirely just buddy-buddy.

"I'm sorry Rob, she really does sound nice. At least this could be you making another friend?" I flipped through the radio channels quietly while I talked.

Robin shook her head. "No, she doesn't like me, I think she thinks I'm annoy- oh go back! I liked that one!"

I paused and flipped back a few channels before getting to what could only be the 100th play of "Head Over Heels" by Tears for Fears today.

Robin quietly hummed to the song while I continued down the road, stopping at her house quickly so she could gather some sleepover essentials.

A final stop to the convenience store just down the road began our trip to the Wheelers place for the night.