"Amy Anne Foster, if you aren't a sight for sore eyes!"Jenn exclaimed, hugging me and squeaking loudly. "Jenn! How was Niagra Falls? Oh, I missed you. Winter Break felt like an eternity since you weren't here. All I did was study and babysit. It was a drag." I smiled, grabbing Jenn's hand.
Jenn and I have been best friends since 5th grade after I moved to Hawkins. We bonded because we are both red heads and we love Star Wars; and we've been inseparable ever since.
Jenn smiled and sat down in her desk beside me, "We had so much fun! There were so many cute boys, I even k-" "Alrighty, class. It is the last semester of your senior year and I fully expect you all to really buckle down," Our history teacher proclaimed, getting us all to quite down, "It's great to have you all back! The Snowball is over, and your break is over. So, what better way to start off the last half of our year of History than with a grouuuuup project!" Mr. Johnson said in a sing songy voice. The whole class let out a long sigh. I looked over at Jenn, we rolled our eyes at each other and she mouthed "together?", I nodded and gave her a goofy face, mouthing "duh".
Mr. Johnson patted his podium and then pulled out a laminated sheet of paper. Clearing his throat, he proclaimed,"For this Group Project I have taken the liberty of forming the groups myself!" The class groaned. Mr. Johnson giggled and started to assign groups. "Alrighty, I have Andrews, Zwillich, Turner in a group. Summers, Calhoun, Brooks; next group. Wheeler, Byers, Michaels; Group 3. Tew, Simpkis,-"
"Jenn and I are officially not in the same group.." I thought to myself. "But there aren't really anymore people I could be with besides-"
"Hargrove, Harrington, Foster; My final grou-" My eyes shot to the back of the room to Billy Hargrove, Devil Incarnate. He gave me a smirk and a wink. My eyes quickly shot from him across the room to the lone wolf, Steve Harrington. He raised his eyebrows and took a deep breath in, I turned my gaze from him to my shoes.
"Okay everyone, you have until the end of January to come up with an oral project on either the History of Hawkins, the History of Indiana, or the History of America. Now find your group, get acquainted, and start your dive into some rich and exciting history!" Mr. Johnson rang out, sitting down at his desk and clearing his throat. The class got into their collective groups. I finally stood up and walked over to Steve and moved my hair behind my ears and cleared my throat, "Hey, Steve, right?" Steve looked up at me and gave a small smile, "That's me... You're Jenn's friend, Amy Anne." "Mhm... So, uh, I guess we're doing this project. I think it would be fun to do the History of Haw-" Billy slammed his hands on Steve's desk and raised his eyebrows at Steve, "Well, well, well. If it isn't King Steve Harrington in the flesh. Shame you didn't get into a group with your sweet little Nancy. Oh, wait.. Didn't she leave you for Byers?" He smirked, Steve rolled his eyes. Billy's eyes glanced over to me, looking me up and down, "And who do we have here? My, my, my. Why haven't I seen you around before? What's your name, Red?" "Uhh, I'm Amy Anne," I stammered, looking at my feet, "I study a lot and usually spend most of my time in the library." Billy smiled, stepping closer to me, "Well, I guess we're study buddies now, Red. I'm looking forward to preforming orally on you-I mean, with you. It'll be fun." "Stop it," Steve slammed his hand on his desk and stood up, face to face with Billy. "How about you just stop now while you're ahead, King Steve," Billy smirked getting in Steve's face.
"Ahem," Mr. Johnson cleared his throat, slightly standing up. "Boys, everything alright back there."
The entire class turned to us. I slowly sat down in a desk beside me. Billy and Steve grimaced at each other and Steve sat down beside me. "Sorry about that ass-hole. He's been at school for a few months and thinks he's the shit." "It's okay, I don't think anything of it. I just hope he won't screw up our project," I shyly smiled.
The bell rang, school was out for the weekend.
"Party at my place, bitches!" Tommy yelled in the hallway, giving Billy a high-five, walking out of the school. Billy ran over to Jenn and I and leaned up against my locker, "I really hope that you make it, Red. You and your friend." He winked and ran out of the school. Jenn looked at me and raised her eyebrows. "No," I huffed, playfully glaring at her. "Oh, come on, Amy. When do we ever get invited to parties? We have to go," Jenn giggled and pouted at me."Nope. Never," I rolled my eyes. "Amy! Come onnnnn," she pleaded, playfully pushing me. "Fine. Only because you're annoying me so badly. We'll only go and make an appearance," I grimaced, squinting my eyes at Jenn, who started doing a happy dance. "Girl, I am so excited! Can I dress you up?"
We pulled up to a large blue house that had cars parked everywhere and trash in the lawn. I bet the whole school was already at this party, and everyone was already drunk. We got out of Jenn's car and started to walk towards Tommy's house.
"Ya know, we can always turn back now, Jenn. We don't necessarily have to go inside. We did show up," I stammered, thinking I could convince Jenn that leaving was the best option, which it was. "Uh no, I am wearing high heels and hairspray, we are not leaving. And you are wearing a dress! I haven't seen you wear a dress since your aunt died when we were in middle school. We need this party, Amy. This party needs us. I need a hot guy to hook up with!" Jenn giggled and grabbed my hand. We walked inside, the smell of alcohol and weed filled the air. All Night Long is playing loudly, people are making out and someone made a toga out of a bed sheet. Everything within me is telling me to go home, but I know how badly Jenn wants to be here. "Red!" Billy yells from across the room, clearly very drunk,"You made it!" "Oh god," I whispered under my breath. "OOO, Amy that's Billy Hargrove from earlier! He really wanted you here, didn't he!" Jenn exclaimed, taking a few sips of punch, "Holy shit, that is strong! I'll be back!" She walked off, trying to find the guy she had a crush on.
Billy walked over to me, shirt buttoned down to his belly, chest fully out. He had a few guys following him like lost puppy dogs. "Hey, Red. You look good. You want some beer or punch?" "No thanks, I'm okay," I looked around, trying to find Jenn. "So uh, you doing anyone tonight? I mean, are you doing anything tonight? After the party is over?" He chuckled, and his friends chuckled behind him. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms,"What are you talking about?" "I'm talking about you and me, Red. That chemistry today in class? You clearly want some of this, don't you?" He smirked moving closer to me. "Billy, what the hell are you talking about? I do not want you." He furrowed his brows and moved even closer to me, his friends too, "What's wrong? Why are you scared to admit that you want me? Are you too good? A prude?" I breathed heavily and pursed my lips in anger. He paused and looked me right in the eyes,"Are you a virgin, Red? You couldn't handle me?" He looked around at his friends, all laughing. He moved closer to me wrapping his hands around my hips. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.
"Stop it, you ass-hat!" A voice exclaimed from behind me. Billy let go, and I walked backwards into someone. It was Steve Harrington. Billy looked up and rolled his eyes, putting a cigarette between his lips, "Ya know, Harrington.. I'm getting really tired of your shit." Steve placed his hand between my shoulder blades and whispered, "You okay, Amy?" I nodded and exhaled deeply, trying to calm down. "Man, you need to leave her alone. There are plenty of girls that want to bone you at this party. Why pick on the one that doesn't?" Steve asked, clearly very annoyed. Billy lit his cigarette and moved closer to us, "Because, King Steve, I love the hunt." Steve huffed and rolled his eyes, "Well, your hunt will have to wait until another day, ass. Let's go, Amy Anne." Steve started to lead me out of Tommy's house when Billy exclaimed, "Red, Harrington may have you tonight, but I'll have you soon enough." His goons chuckled.
"God, I hate that guy," I huffed sitting down in the passenger seat of Steve's car. "I'm sorry you had to deal with that, I hate him too," Steve said, hopping into the driver's seat, brushing his hands through his hair, "What road do you live on, Amy?" "Baker Street, just right past town," I said letting out a small yawn, "Thank you for taking me home since Jenn bailed on me." "No problem! Baker Street is the street right behind where my family lives," Steve said, starting to drive towards my house, putting a tape into the cassette player. Just The Two of Us started playing, "Steve! I love this song!" "Me too!" He smiled tapping his hands on the wheel to the beat of the song.
He pulled onto my street and let out a snicker, "No way, no freaking way!" "What is it?" I looked at him. He shook his head and pointed behind my house, "I live right behind you, to the left of your house!" "Oh my gosh! I get free rides to school now?" I giggled. He looked at me and smiled, swallowing, "I mean yeah, sure." He blinked. I smiled at him and opened up the car door, "Thank you for driving me home. And thank you so much for saving me from Billy tonight." I nodded at him and he cleared his throat, "Anytime. See you at school?" "See you later, Steve," I got out of the car. "Hey, uh Amy Anne?" I leaned into the car,"Yeah?" "Do you want to start our project tomorrow at my house, say 1? I'll have snacks," He lifted his eyebrows and licked his lips. I paused and smirked, "That sounds great, I'll be there."