Wednesday,
12:42
AM
Exhaling his smoke slowly, Steve definitely couldn't sleep. It wasn't the pressure of high school and his girlfriend that, for once, kept him awake. No, lately, it was a whole other maniac who was causing this inner torment. Why was he so hurt? He must have had a fight with someone, as usual. Indeed, since he arrived in high school, Billy had already found himself in a lot of bad situations, but never to this point. He had always had the upper hand during the fights and he bragged about it very loudly, very loudly. But that face, that violence, it wasn't just a brawl. Steve knew it. A normal high school student could not have done those kind of damages to the Californian.
-Fuck...
He couldn't even finish his cigarette because he was so annoyed and ended up crushing it on the ashtray at the edge of his window. Spinning his hand to scatter the smell, he closed it and passed a hand on the back of his neck, thoughtful.
- I have to stop thinking about this bullshit.
Tossing the package aside and sitting wearily on his bed, he finally fell asleep, head heavy with thoughts.
8:16
AM
- Are you going to come to the Harrington Halloween party or not then? You didn't tell us.
- Why is everyone talking about that party? I don't know, I've talked to Nance about it but hey, she's not motivated because of the upcoming exams.
- Aaaaaah!
Tommy was always so dramatic for situations that clearly weren't worth as much reaction.
- This kind of evening is the thing that should not be missed and you know it, there are girls, alcohol and food! What more do you want to convince yourself huh? Then who cares that your stuck princess does not come, at worst you come with us and we spend a good time!
- Damn Tommy. Do you hear yourself talking?
He had asked nervously tapping his cigarette. Steve had always found him immature and thoughtless but recently his behavior was getting on his nerves.
- I won't go without her. These kind of evenings are problem nests anyway. If I don't come, it's not such a big of a deal. But I'll try to talk to Nancy to go and have a look, Steve muttered while shrugging one shoulder, almost trying to convince himself of his own words.
He wanted to go there. To let go, to take the weight of the past year off his shoulders and get a good time. But he had also matured a lot from his last experiences and he couldn't get out of his head the kind of problems that this type of evening could bring. Nancy will have had, in the end, an influence on his behavior.
- You've become super boring since you went out with her. We used to go to every party together we used to have a good race and now that you're with Pr-...
- Stop calling her that.
He hadn't even let him finish his sentence when he tossed his cigarette's butt aside, cutting him sharply, puffing out its smoke.
-If I come, that's fine, but I don't intend to get drunk like usual because I have to stay sober in case I have to take her home. But if I don't come, it won't be such a huge deal.
- That's what I say, boring. Fortunately there will be Hargrove. At least he may be able to throw the party.
That name.
He'd turned around the moment that name left his lips and looked at his friend dubiously, thinking back to the night before.
His head was still buzzing.
- Why that long face, huh? Don't act like you don't know he's the new king of high school.
He wasn't even listening to him. He just turned his head to see out of the corner of his eye a very specific car. But it wasn't there. It's true that now that he thinks about it, he hadn't heard the screeching tires of the Camaro, nor the usual shouts from Maxine against her half-brother.
He hadn't come today. Does this have anything to do with the condition he found Billy in yesterday?
-.. Then he managed to drink more than 3 gallons last evening and-
It had to be because of that. It can only be that. Considering the state he was in, he thought the worst.
- But are you even fucking listening to me?
A tap on the shoulder woke him up and turned to the brunette.
-I have to go. And remember to look in your car if you have my zippo, I really can't find it.
He mumbled that before turning on his heels to head back to his classroom, leaving his cursing friend behind him.
11:34
AM
-What are you thinking about, Steve?
-The beautiful eyes of Miss Clic. She is so charismatic.
-Seriously.
-No, I'm serious. Her lazy eye hypnotizes me.
He chuckled lightly as he carefully removed the tomato from his bagel in a disdainful face.
His girlfriend still smiled as she picked it from his fingers to eat it gently.
-I don't understand how you don't like tomatoes.
-It's really despicable. Dripping with water and tasteless, no thank you.
Another chuckle escaped her and she ended up remaining silent afterward, lowering her sandwich to give him a look.
-Really. What's on your mind? Since this morning you are somewhere else... I can feel it.
-I told you... Lazy eye... It disturbs me... He muttered, squinting his eyes, not stopping eating.
-Steve... Can't you be serious just for a moment? You know you can tell me what's on your mind.
The young man sighed and lost his playful look, pushing a small stone off his foot. He didn't even know what was on his mind the most and he didn't even know what to start with.
-I don't know why, at the moment I'm a little hazey.
With a little difficulty, he said this sentence while playing with the wrapping paper of his bagel. At first, his girlfriend said nothing. She simply let him open, at his own pace, without rushing him.
-I can't study, it's killing me. Even with your memos, your notes... I don't know. I froze. My grades are clearly shit. I can't find a job for this summer... I'm sure I won't be accepted at the colleges I've applied to ... And huh, I lost my father's zippo.
A small sarcastic smile appeared on his lips, although he clearly didn't want to laugh. Talking about these kinds of problems out loud is tingling. A lot, for Steve.
- For the exams, don't worry. We will triple our efforts, you will come to my house and we will study all night if necessary.
The latter then put her hand on her thigh with such a reassuring air, a small sparkling smile in her eyes.
-Nancy... Why are you lying to me like that?
Her smile suddenly faded.
-What are you talking about, Steve?
Her voice was slightly disconcerted. Like every time he mention this subject.
-I feel that something is bothering you recently but I can't get my fingers on it. You want me to talk to you about my problems but you don't even tell me about yours.
The girl ends up putting the sandwich on the hood of the car, removing her hand from his thigh.
-Exams are stressing me out too.
-Stop.
-Seriously. I assure you that its nothing deeper, otherwise I would immediately you about it. I promise.
Steve was clearly not convinced by this kind of words or false smile but he decided, as always, to act blind and bury the problem under the rug. It became an habit. He felt this constant embarrassment, that problem, but he preferred to put all of that aside as much as possible.
-OK.
A head tilted and a pair of thin lips kissed his perfectly shaven cheek.
-And for the zippo, did you think of looking in Tommy's pockets by chance?
-He has a lot of flaws but he's not a thief. Nah, I think I must have lost it in the street or on the floor in high school. My father had it for I don't know how long and when he's gonna to ask me here it is, he'll notice that I've lost it...
This was followed by a nice gestural illustration of throat slitting from him, which made his girlfriend laugh.
- We'll try to find him. Don't worry, it's pretty unique. If someone in high school has it, we'll notice it pretty quickly.
-I hope.
The senior high then sat up and took the last bite of his meal, watching her as he wiped the sauce from the corners of his own lips.
- By the way, are you coming to the party on Friday night? Hey. I'm not forcing you... But, it's in a couple of days and you still haven't given me any answers.
He raised his hands in the air innocently.
-Okay.
She didn't look very convinced as she was nibbling on one of her fingernails at this.
- Hey, Nance.
An arm wrapped around her then and he came to tuck her against his chest, placing himself in front of her.
-An hour or two, no more. No heavy drinking, because I'll take you home. And we'll study hard just before so we can go there without any regrets. OK?
Luckily he had the right words with her. His doubts eventually faded away and he managed to snatch a nice smile from her, the young woman ending up placing her forehead against his chest.
-OK . An hour or two. Not more.
Friday, 8:45
PM
The wind in his hair and the music turning quietly in his car, Steve left with a light heart on this road, Nancy installed next to him. He had tried to convince her to bring Jonathan back with them but it was a waste of time, just talking about being around others humans beings made young Byers' quiver of disgust.
Hand out of the car, he taped the car body playfully. He only had one thing in mind, to let go. Relax. To enjoy. And above, to let Nancy change her mind.
They had about a half an hour drive, and that was mostly in silence.
-I can smell your hairspray from here...
-You mean the smell of success.
-It smells very strong.
-You have to be able to mark your territory, you know. Predators and stuff...
He had muttered this joyfully as he turned his steering wheel to change lanes, arriving not far from the house.
-Like you have a lot of predators in high school.
Steve couldn't suppress his sarcastic chuckle.
-You know very well what people I'm talking about when I talk about "predators".
- Billy.
He twitched his tongue.
-Nah, not necessarily him, well it's clear that he's really obsessed with this "king of high school" stuff, but frankly, I don't think that-
-No, Billy, Hargrove, right here.
At these words, he stopped the car, parking it between all the others.
The young man opened the door of his BMW to get out, taking off his sunglasses to face the show to which he was offered.
The Californian, not surprisingly, was in the middle of a crowd of young teens, all cheering him and shouting his name, screams rang out from all over the place.
They were all on the porch of the house, only a couple feet away from them.
Beer, sweat and other liquids glistened on his chest, showing off his bulging, perfectly trimmed muscles under that purple shirt. Raising his arm, he wiped the trickle of alcohol from his mouth to look at him, a carnivorous smile on his lips.
He hadn't appeared in front of him since their last meeting, and that, Steve, hadn't told anyone.
But the blond acted as if nothing had happened. He had his usual look, arrogant, narcissistic and provocative. And despite the crowd, his gaze was screwed deep into young Harrington's.
With a small movement, he put a cigarette to his lips, not taking his eyes off to light it.
A small burst of light then pulled Steve out of his thoughts.
That golden glow .
Nancy's voice then broke that silent moment.
- It's not... Your zippo that he has?
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Here is chapter 3 done ! Next ones are gonna be way harder to translate but I'm not giving up hehe
As usual, dont forget to comment and tell me what you're thinking about it 3
See you soon !