Chapter three! Once again I don't own stranger things.

Violet

Morning came with the sun streaming through the windows straight into her face, tiredly Violet shoved her face further into what she thought was a pillow...it couldn't be. It was too warm and not quite as soft. She inwardly shrugged, not caring as long as she could go back to sleep. She let out a puff of air as she tried to settle again, making the hair in front of her nose quiver. She finally opened her eyes, she'd managed to snuggle right up to Steve in her sleep. Her face was nestled in the crook of his neck, his arm wrapped securely around her. Violet didn't move. Her heart sped up as she took in the scene. His eyes were closed, the blankets had slipped off of his upper half in the night leaving his chest bare save for the dark brown hair of his chest. She blushed slightly but still didn't move; not wanting to wake him.

Suddenly he shifted, turning to face her and grumbling softly as he swung his other arm around her further. Shit she sighs inwardly and tries to close her eyes again. It wouldn't do for him to wake up to her ogling him. She'd almost managed to get to sleep again when she felt something poking her stomach, had Steve's hand gotten into an awkward position when he moved? She opened her eyes again to realize that this something was in his sweatpants. She let out an audible gasp and finally woke Steve up.

"Wus wrong?" He says sitting up slightly, blearily peering around the room.

"Can...can you let me go?" Violet mumbles as she covers her face. He looks down at her "Why'd you gasp?" He mutters still looking confused

"You have...you're...I didn't" She can feel the tips of her ears burning as she continues hiding her face, thankfully Steve took notice and shot up. "Shit! Sorry about that...I...I'm going to go shower" Violet watched him practically sprint to the bathroom before she flumped back down onto the bed. She laid there, slowly letting her face return to its normal color once more. "I'm going to be permanently red if I spend any more time here" she mumbled. The sound of the shower began and she finally rolled out of bed. She looked around the room, wondering what to do. She busied herself with making the bed and looking for a hair brush of any kind. She finally found one in a basket on his dresser and she quickly ran it through her hair.

"Uh...hey violet?" Came the hesitant voice from the bathroom. "Yes?" She called back, not daring to step near the door for fear of being flashed again.

"Could you go downstairs for like five minutes? I need to get dressed" He called back "Yes!" She called back, hurrying from the room. As she descended the stairs she heard him go into his room (remembering to shut the door this time). She goes to the laundry room and pulls her dress from the dryer, it's thankfully dry and no longer stinks of beer.

She hears the bedroom door upstairs open and Steve ascending the steps. He runs a hand through his hair tiredly "Hey, sorry about that...and about this. I've got an interview for a summer job today and I've got like no time to drive you home. Could I...could you come to the mall with me and I'll drop you off after?"

Violet bites her lip "I have to meet my little brother and his friends at the arcade at 1..." she spared a glance to the clock above the kitchen sink, it read 11:30. "If you could drop me there instead of home after your interview...that would be nice."

"Great, we'd better go" Violet looks at him before looking down at herself. She's still wearing his too big white sweater and a pair of his old shorts. "I'll just stay in the car during your interview" she smiles slightly. She quickly slips into the bathroom and puts her bra on under his sweater and pulls on her flats. She comes out of the bathroom still holding her dress from the night before. "Can I give you your clothes back on Monday?" She asks tentatively

"Yeah...I mean I don't even wear those shorts anymore anyway. They're a little small on me." Steve smirks but doesn't say anything more; noticing it was an older sweater from his baseball days of middle school. His name in large green letters on the back.

The Mall

Despite saying she wouldn't go in Violet couldn't help herself. The mall hadn't been there when she'd lived there last and she was itching to go. She had a small purse with her the night before with a little bit of her savings inside. Steve escorted her inside and told her when his interview should be done before making his way oer to a cute little ice cream shop. She smiled to herself and turned into a department store. She rifled through the women's section and finally found a pair of faded jeans in her size, they costed a pretty penny but she couldn't find it in herself to care. You couldn't really see the shorts underneath Steve's sweater so she felt naked all the same. She quickly paid and found her way to the foodcourt bathrooms. She changed inside and put Steve's shorts into the bag instead. Feeling more comfortable she found herself wandering back towards Scoops where she decided to wait for Steve. She played with her hair absentmindedly, listening to the just audible music playing for the shoppers.

"Hey, you're the new girl right?" Came a voice she wasn't quite familiar with. Violet turned and found a tall, thin girl with auburn hair.

"Hi, yeah. I'm Violet." She smiled and the girl looked around awkwardly. "Uh...I'm Robin. I'm in band. Like the marching band. So you probably haven't seen me a lot."

"I keep to myself anyway...are you waiting for someone?" Violet asks conversationally. She liked this girl, she seemed as awkward as Violet felt.

"Uh no. I've got an interview for a summer job and I uh...I got here a little early. They're still interviewing someone else. You?"

"I'm waiting on a friend. He's interviewing at Scoops"

"Me too! I mean I'm interviewing there...not waiting for your friend." She laughs at herself a little, not meeting Violet's eye.

"So are you graduating this year?"

"No, next year. You?" Robin asks, looking towards Scoops.

"Same here, I...I...other than a job...are you doing anything this summer?" Violet asks, the question spilling from her mouth. I need to think before I talk she thinks

"Nothing much...working. Probably renting a movie or two. You?"

"I um...I don't have much to do. I was thinking of finding a job somewhere..." Violet bites her lip, not wanting to embarrass herself any more than she already had.

"Well if you wanted...we could hang out or something. I think that's your friend" She says suddenly pointing to Steve as he exits Scoops. "Yeah that's him...I'd love to hang out by the way." Violet beams at her. "Um...we can exchange numbers on Monday right?" Violet stands up, noticing she was quite a bit shorter than Robin.

Robin grins "Yes. We'll have to do that...I'd better get to my interview. Good luck with job hunting!" She walks off, passing Steve with a wary eye before entering Scoops herself. Steve smiles "Making friends?"

"She's nice. How'd your interview go?" Violet smiles, following Steve as he began making his way out of the mall.

"Well...I think. I...did you buy pants?" He laughs

"YES! You couldn't see the shorts I was wearing underneath this thing. It looked like I was wearing nothing!" Violet giggles

"That was the point" Steve waggles his eyebrows at her suggestively, she smacks his arm "Steve!" she tries to sound scandalized but can't hold in her laughter. They get to the car and he opens the passenger door for her, bowing yet again.

"So, off to the arcade?" Violet asks as she rolls her eyes. He gets into the driver's seat and looks at his watch "You said you're meeting your brother at 1?"

"Yeah"

"Well it's only 12:30...we could grab something to eat..." He isn't looking at her, his right hand rubbing his upper lip subconsciously

"Sure...like a date?" Violet asks, trying to sound casual.

"I...I'd like that...do you want it to be a date?" Steve asks, still not looking at her.

"Yes." Violet steals another glance at him, catching him smiling at her answer. "Pizza ok? There's a good one near the arcade."

"Pizza is perfect." Violet smiled to herself shyly as Steve put the car in gear and started driving.

Dustin

Dustin groaned as he lost yet another game of pacman to something stupid he did. "What's up with you?" Lucas asks after hearing him groan from beside him.

"I suck today" He shrugs, he looks to his watch and sees it's already 1:30. "Where the hell is Violet?" He says incredulously, looking at the door of the arcade. "She's probably running late, girls talk a lot. Maybe she's lost track of time" He says as he continues his own game on the DigDug console. He sighs and turns to find another game to try his hand at when he hears the bell over the door of the arcade ring. He turns and sees Violet walking in, wearing a white sweater he didn't recognize and a pair of jeans. He rolls his eyes and walks over "You're late"

"Hey Dustin, I'm sorry I lost track of time. I went to the mall with a friend." She smiles to herself a little as Dustin raises an eyebrow.

"Did you buy a baseball sweater while you were at the mall?" She looks down at the sweater she's wearing. "I know it's a little big on me...a new friend lent it to me. Have you guys had fun without me?" She smiles

"Yeah it's been fine. I can't win for shit today though"

"Language" She says nudging him with her arm "Listen...I want you to meet my new friend ok? He's really sweet...and we might be dating. I'm not super sure" Violet says, avoiding her younger brother's gaze.

"So you went to the mall with a friend...and you might be dating him." Dustin looked warily at her. "Should I be worried about you dating some jock?"

"Pft. He's not an airhead ok? Besides he's a senior so that jock nonsense only matters for a few more days. He's coming over tonight for a movie. I'd really like it if you tried to get along with him...please?"

"What you think i'm going to make a scene over you dating some guy?"

"You yelled at me for thinking about going to a party bud." She looks at him carefully "I know this is all a little new. I've not been home in a long time...and I know you're a protective guy. Must be all the quests in D&D" She smirks slightly "But I...I think I picked a winner here...I'm pretty sure he likes Star Wars..." her tone is teasing but she is still awaiting an unpleasant reaction from her brother.

"I guess I'll be nice. Unless he's a douchebag." Dustin grins with a slight laugh "Then I'm going all big brother on him"

"Uh huh ok buddy. Mind if I head out? I need to pick up a movie and start making dinner."

"Mom's working a double so save some out for her...what movie?"

"I was thinking The Thing...sound ok? Or is that too scary?" Violet smiles when Dustin rolls his eyes. "I can handle it."

"Alright tough guy, I'm gonna head out. Have fun ok?" She hands him a small bag and almost turns to head out. "What's this?"

She turns back, "Quarters, just try to win some games ok?" She giggles and Dustin turns back to pick his game "Later loser" he calls over his shoulder jokingly, had he just turned to see his sister before she disappeared out the door, he may have seen "Harrington" on her back.

Steve (10 minutes earlier)

He enjoyed watching her talk about things she liked. Right now she was gushing over some character in a book she was reading ...Thorin something. "He's a really good character, like he's not paper thin. He feels like a real person-" She was coming out of her shy little shell slowly as she spoke. Steve couldn't help it, he grinned at her.

As they finished up their pizza he hands the waitress a small wad of crumpled bills "Keep the change" He turns to Violet who's looking out the window thoughtfully.

"So...how do you think it went?" Steve asks, eyes glued to her

"What?"

"Our first date."

"Well...was our first date just the pizza...or did it start with you rescuing me from Andy?" She smiles as her pale cheeks begin to go a little pink.

Steve chuckles, "Let's say pizza for now."

"I think it went well...I know that I like being around you. I feel like I can really talk...What do you think?"

Steve stands up in the booth and holds out his hand for her to take. "I think it's the first of many. I like being around you too Violet...and not just to piss off Andy" He grins as she lets out a small laugh. She takes his hand and lets him pull her to the parking lot. Just across the street she could see her brother's bike on a rack in front of the arcade. "I'd better go soon"

Steve leans against the passenger side door "Want me to come meet him or something? I mean he is your brother..."

"Not right now, he's going to be miffed that I'm late anyway...How about you come over tonight...if you're not busy that is." She bites her lip, her left hand still enclosed in his. He pulls her a little closer, placing his free hand on her hip. "I'd like that, we could watch a movie there's this one kid I babysit and he's a sucker for nerdy movies."

"That sounds a little like him" she smiles, "I'll pick up a movie later and I'll call you to give you the address of our house ok?"

Steve leans down, their lips ghosting over one another. "I think that's a great idea" Violet's stomach erupts into butterflies as she stares into his warm brown eyes. Pulling together all her courage she leans forward and connects their lips. She feels Steve let go of her hand and puts it on the small of her back. She lets her own hands slide up his chest as he deepens the kiss, slowly sliding his tongue along her bottom lip. Had it not been for someone honking a horn with a shout of "Get a room!" She wasn't sure how long she would have stayed there. "Um so...tonight...let's say 6?"

"Yeah...6" Steve grins, sliding a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"I'll see you then" Violet blushes but with a smile still plastered on her face. She pulls away and begins to walk to the arcade, all the while stealing glances at him.

6pm Steve

Steve looked down at the address he'd scrawled on a piece of paper once again, it seemed pretty familiar but he couldn't quite place it. He shrugged it off, she was probably just neighbors with someone he knew. He turned down the street and began counting the houses. Dustin's house is down here, must be why. Finally he sees the number for her house and he stopped dead. The telltale bikes in the front yard were a true sign that he was screwed. He looked down at the paper again desperately "Come on man..." he double checks the house number and curses. Of course...

"I can't get out of babysitting can I?" he grumbles to himself. He grabs the bouquet of daffodils he'd picked up and got out of the car. He pulled at the collar of his polo and took a deep breath. "He's not going to like this..." He stepped up the front porch and up to the door. Knocking, knowing he was probably going to get a complete earful from Dustin.

Violet

Violet busied herself in the kitchen nervously she'd made something simple, not wanting to over do it for Steve's first time meeting Dustin...as well as the rest of the boys who weren't leaving although she'd told them she had a date.

"Well I mean we all grew up around you before you left. So it's like you're our big sister too! We should be able to make sure whoever this guy is, isn't some weirdo." Mike had smirked from his spot on the couch. "Did you do that with Nancy? she asks raising an eyebrow

"Well...Nancy can handle herself" he laughs. She shoots him a look but turns back to her spaghetti sauce on the stove. The pasta was nearly done, she just was feeding seven instead of the three she'd planned for. "Don't your parents miss you guys?" Violet calls, clearly annoyed now

"Already called my mom! She said I could stay for dinner and a movie if Jonathan comes to pick me up!" Will grins from his seat on the floor

"Same here!" Lucas and Mike chorused. Violet drains the pasta with a huff "Dustin did you talk them into this?!"

"Didn't have to!" Came his guffaw, joined by the other three. "Surely you three have better things to do than crashing my date!"

"It's not a date if your brother is there!" Lucas says poking his head into the kitchen.

She shoots a glare at him too just as she's combining the pasta and the sauce. Her attention should have stayed on the food, she managed to spill the dark red sauce all over her baby pink top. "Shit!" She groans, quickly finishing up and moving the pot off of the heat. "Keep an ear out for the door!" She calls as she runs up the stairs to her bedroom. Hurriedly hunting for another top. Just as she's found another suitable top she hears a knock at the downstairs door. She starts changing as she hears someone open the door. "I'll be down in a second boys!" Her hair had frizzed up as she'd pulled on her sweater, she began to hurriedly brush it to try and tamp it down when she heard the noise downstairs begin.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!