「"Maybe you're my enemy, you're the only one who knows the way I'm really feeling."」

8th November 1983.

"Where were you?" Jonathan sighs when I exit the bathroom finally. "Bathroom. Girl stuff." I mumble dismissively. 

"I'm gonna go to Lonnie's place." He tells me. "Let's go then." I reply without hesitation. 

"Just me, Steph." He shakes his head. I blink, "Why?" I furrow my brows. "I want you safe. Can't lose anyone else. Just stay here then head straight home after school." He replies calmly. I hesitate then nod, seeing reason in his statement. 

I turn, seeing Nancy and Barb standing with Steve, Tommy H and Carol, all staring at Jon and I. I furrow my brows and everyone looks elsewhere, pretending they were never looking. Except Steve, who just holds my stare without care. 

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." I call over. "I would but you'd shatter my camera." Steve deadpans in response. 

I walk towards them, looking at Barb with hesitation. "Nance?" I swallow begrudgingly. "Yeah Steph?" She sighs. "Wanna walk to class with me?" I suggest, Barb nodding. 

"Class doesn't start for another 40 minutes, lunch just started." She hesitates with confusion. "Do you want to go sit somewhere instead of lurking the hallways? Preferably at a three person table." I say, very unsubtly glaring at Steve.

"This isn't middle school anymore, Stephanie. You can't just avoid sitting with kids you don't like." Steve taunts. "If it's not middle school why are you still the bully?" I tighten my eyes. 

"And you're still obsessed with me. I guess we really haven't changed." He says sharply, voice cutting and vicious. 

"I swear to God, Harrington-" I growl. "We're all going to sit together, and we're going to Steve's party tonight together." Nancy settles. 

"Busy." I dismiss quickly. "It's a Tuesday night, you don't have plans." Nancy dismisses. "I have plans." I insist. "Unless you count sitting alone and watching tv as plans, you're not busy." She argues. 

"Relax, baby. If she says she's busy, she's busy. Even if she is just gonna watch porn alone in her little ball of sadness." Steve teases, arm around Nancy's waist. I clench my jaw at him, then smirk a little. 

"Actually Steve, you know, I think my schedule just cleared up. I'll be there." I smile with enthusiasm. As much as I'll hate being there, he'll hate having me there ten times more. 

"You have that date- don't you? With Byers." Steve lies. "You were talking about it in homeroom yesterday." He objects insistently. "Cancelled. Just for you, Stevie." I smile smugly. 

"It's Steve-" He growls furiously. "That's great, Steph!" Nancy cuts him off with excitement. 

"It is great. I can't wait." I deadpan, eyes glued to Steve's with a smug grin. 

"6. Any later and you aren't getting in." Steve grumbles to me, clearly not happy about my presence. 

"C'mon, let's go have lunch." Nancy encourages, the 6 of us heading to the hall. 

The vast hall of tables is full, no remaining tables in sight. Steve walks towards a freshman table, whistling once. All of a sudden, the guys cower back from the table with fear, the girls nervously fixing their hair as they gather their things. 

Steve takes the table without even saying thank you. "Dick." I murmur, "I asked them nicely for their table. They gave us it. What exactly is dickish about that?" Steve argues. "You didn't ask, you whistled at them like they were dogs." I scowl. 

"Just sit down, Steph. We have the table now." Nancy assures. I eye Steve with a weird feeling in my stomach. "I think this was a mistake. I'll just sit somewhere else." I state, heading out the hall. 

Alone in the hallways, it occurs to me I have three friends — Jonathan, Nancy and Barb. And I have nobody to sit with thanks to circumstances. I've survived with less friends — there was a time I had one friend. And it felt like more than enough.

[A/N. Back at school already ugh. Might just be sick for the rest of the year, just take the excuse and run with it.]