Here's chapter 5!
Violet
The last week of school felt as though it would drag on forever, classes moved at a snails pace, lunch was always forever away or far too short. When the bell finally rang to begin lunch on Monday Violet practically ran out of the room, hoping to meet up with Steve in the cafeteria. She was almost to the cafeteria when a hand grabbed hold of her wrist and spun her into an empty classroom. She panicked for a brief moment before emerald eyes met chocolate ones. "Steve, you scared me" she said breathlessly.
"Sorry" He smiles slightly and leans in, pressing his lips against hers and allowing his hands to snake around her waist. Violet responded in kind, dropping her books to the side and slipping her fingers into his hair. He moved to press a kiss to the side of her face, then down the side her throat and she giggles "We're going to miss lunch"
"Not hungry" He chuckles before playfully nipping at the sensitive skin of her shoulder. She pulls his lips back to hers and loses herself in their kiss. She could have stayed there forever and not known a minute had passed if it wasn't for the door to the classroom suddenly opening. Steve pulled away looking mildly irritated and looked to the person who now stood awkwardly in the doorway. It was a tall thin guy wearing a white and black t-shirt with a demon face emblazoned on it. Above it were the words "Hellfire Club" and a few dice. He raised a heavily ringged hand to his face, trying to wipe off his smirk it seemed. "Didn't mean to crash your party here Harrington...just forgot my notebook"
Violet was frozen in embarrassment as she clutched at Steve's shirt, Steve however rolled his eyes "Just get the notebook Munson." Steve had tensed and sent a harsh look towards the teen. "You didn't have to stop on my account big boy." Munson laughed, he strolled past the two and over to a desk where a heavily inked notebook lay forgotten.
"And don't worry Princess, you're not the first to hook up with Harrington in a not so secure place. Have fun you kids" He grins cheekily, strolling from the room and closing the door behind him. Violet lets go of Steve's shirt and takes a step back. "We should go to lunch" she's pink cheeked and looking at her shoes
"Ok...you're not just a hook up though Violet. You know that right?" Steve asks, trying to straighten his hair. Violet bites her lip and looks up at him briefly "Yeah I know...I would never do that in a classroom."
Steve laughs slightly, "I know that. I just...you looked pretty today. I just thought a little alone time would be nice" He holds out his hand to her "Let's get to lunch before Eddie Munson the mood killer, tells the whole world" She picks up her fallen books and takes his hand; letting him lead her into the cafeteria.
Friday had soon caught up to the school and the excitement was crackling through the air like electricity. Violet sprung from her final class of the day the instant the bell rang and made her way outside to where Steve was already waiting by his car. Greeting her with a kiss he smiles "Still up for tonight?"
"Yep, I just need to make sure Dustin's taken care of for the night first. You know, dinner, he's packing for camp, the works...you don't mind do you?"
"Nope, I can drop you at home first then." He smiles "So is the drive in ok?"
"What movie?"
"They're showing The Shining tonight I think" Steve smiles, Violet putting her books into the passenger seat through the open window of the car. "Scary movie at the drive in...a little cliche but who am I to judge?" Violet laughs
"Well I'll have you know, I can totally protect you from Jack Nicholson" Steve grinned "We can do something else if you want"
"No, the drive in sounds fun." Violet wraps her arms around his middle and looks up at him, before she could say anything else there's a long whistle from nearby. They both look over and see Billy Hargrove a few parking spots away, lit cigarette in hand. He was leaning against his car and facing them with a small smirk. "Save the mouth to mouth for the summer sweetheart!"
"This fucking guy" Steve groans moving to walk over but Violet puts her hand on his chest. "Just leave it Steve. He's working with me at the pool this summer, I'm sure he just thinks he's funny." Steve opens his mouth to say something but thinks better of it, nodding. "Let's get you home" He opens the passenger side door for her to get in and closes it once she's seated. He spares another scathing look at Billy before getting into the car himself. "So when did you get the lifeguard job?"
"Only yesterday...I figured I needed something to do while you were working and Dusty was at camp. I think I'm working there four days a week" Violet smiled a little "It's my first job so I'm a little excited."
"You'll do great baby...but...let me know if that asshole does anything ok?" Steve says, as they drive past a still smirking Billy.
"I think he was just trying to rile you up...or are you just the jealous type?" Violet looks at him carefully as she murmurs this. Steve scoffs "I'm not the jealous type."
"I don't know...I've noticed how whenever you see that guy from monday in the halls..."
"What about Munson?" Steve's brow is a little furrowed now, looking determinedly at the road ahead. Violet bites her lip and turns a little so she's facing him more "Well every time he's been near us in the past week you seem to grab me or something...Not that I don't like you holding my hand or hugging me..."
"I just...I don't like the way he looked at you" Steve mutters. "So you are jealous"
"I am not" He says laughing in an exasperated way making Violet roll her eyes. "It's ok if you are Steve...I'm not going to run off to Eddie Munson or Billy Hargrove just because they talk to me."
"I...fine. I was a little jealous...this much" Steve concedes, holding his fingers a centimeter or so apart. She snatches his hand out of the air and holds it in both of hers as she playfully sticks her tongue out at him. "You want to hang out with me until the movie? Or do you have things to do?"
"I can hang out...just to make sure you don't have another date" He teases
"You're lucky you're cute" Violet laughs
The summer days turned to weeks, and Dustin had long since left for camp, Violet had started her job at the pool and Steve had gotten the position at Scoops. For the first few weeks they weren't able to scrape together as much time as they wanted to date so they settled for a phone call when they couldn't meet up.
Valerie laid on her bed wearing one of his sweaters she'd snatched from him, playing absentmindedly with her hair "Mom still wants to meet you"
"When is she ever home to meet though? I don't think I've seen her since before Dustin left for camp" Steve laughs
"Well...she's worried that you're some bad boy...that I'm hiding something when we go out"
"Like the fact that we've not seen the end of any of those movies?"
"Hush you...or we will be seeing the end of EVERY movie from now on. She blushes. "Maybe some time after Dustin gets home. We could all sit together and Dustin could talk about how much of a great babysitter you are."
"Because that's a quality every mother wants for their daughters boyfriend." Sarcasm dripping from his voice
"Kinda"
"What do you mean kinda? Am I your babysitter?!" Came the scandalized tone of Steve
"No...but my mom has always said to devote your time to the kind of man...nevermind" She trails off feeling stupid
"No no, what kind of guy has she always said you need to date. Let's see if you listen to your mother" He was having far too much fun teasing her
"She wants me to date boys that are husband material. And for mom...that means being a good babysitter...among other things." Her words felt heavy leaving her mouth. They had too much weight to them. They'd barely been together a month and she was talking about "husband material". She felt like she waited an eternity for his response
"Well I guess I'd better not propose until she gives her verdict then."
"STEVE!" She groans as he laughs on the other end "Not funny, mom takes this bit seriously." She can't help but smile, listening to his deep laugh. "It's not like I've never thought about getting married one day Vi."
"Was that when you were dating Nancy Wheeler" the question tumbles from her lips and he stops laughing on the other end. "More like in general Violet. No one specific."
"Sorry...that was mean"
"I mean I've thought about kids...I just have to get a Mrs. Harrington first..." He says ignoring her apology.
"Oh do they still sell those in the Sears catalogues?" She giggles
"Nope. I have to find her myself I guess."
"What's she look like?" Violet finds herself asking.
"Well she's gorgeous for one...definitely likes kids..."
"Definitely huh?"
"Well she's got to; we'll have 6 or so" Violet bolts upright and stares incredulously at her phone "SIX?"
"Yeah, three boys, three girls...maybe a pet or two." He's definitely joking with her now, he had to be. "I don't think many men your age think about wanting that Steve" she laughs
"Well, I've always wanted a big family, my parents weren't exactly wanting more after me...so I want a whole brood of Harringtons."
"Let me know when you find Mrs. Harrington then" Violet sighs tiredly
"I think you'll know baby. Shit I've got to go, Robin's going to be pissed at me for coming back from my break late! I'll talk to you later." He hurriedly hangs up the phone and presumably runs off. Leaving Violet staring at her phone in shock...I think you'll know baby...She put the receiver down, looking blankly at it as his words continued to swim in her head.
"He didn't mean that dummy...you've not even done anything." She mutters to herself, playing with the hem of his sweater. But the thought of being with Steve for so long gave her butterflies. She tried to shake them as she moved on with her afternoon, tried to shake them as the afternoon turned to evening. But butterflies were more persistent than she gave them credit for.
Steve
Robin had indeed been pissed when he'd come around to the front of the counter late again. "Talking to Violet while on the clock again" She chided, giving him a side eye as she handed a little boy his chocolate cone. "What was it about this time?"
"What do you mean?" Steve asks, readying a banana split.
"Well you always say something weird on the phone with her. It's like you can't keep your mouth shut." She smirks
"Well if you must know, we were talking about how her mother might perceive me." Steve rolls his eyes
"Oh is that all? Worried she'll see you as some weirdo who picked her daughter up at a party?" The line was slowly beginning to thin as they doled out more frozen treats to bouncy kids and irritated parents.
"Nope. Her mom wants her to date a guy who's 'Husband Material' so...I just need to figure out what that means" He shrugs
"Are you?"
"Am I what?" He looks at her strangely before needing to recount out the change for the lady at the register "Sorry about that ma'am"
"Are you husband material?" Robin asks again, slowing down as though he just hadn't understood the words. He scowls at her "I think so, I work hard-"
"When you're not on the phone with your girlfriend"
"I'm a good babysitter-"
"When you're not helping children get into the movies for free"
"I treat her well..." he paused waiting for some retort but when he got none he finished "And I want kids."
Robin crushes the sugar cone in her hand mid scoop, dropping strawberry ice cream all over the floor. "Crap!" she mutters, shaking the crumbles of cone into a nearby trashcan before grabbing a towel to clean up the mess. Steve quickly leans over to grab another cone and fill it with the ice cream "Sorry about that!" He hands it off and takes the cash in exchange. "What's your deal?"
"Did you actually say that to her?"
"Yeah..." He says, leaning back down to take the pink stained towel. She looks at him incredulously "And what did she say?"
"She was surprised I wanted so many" he shrugs and tossing the towel into the back to clean up later. "How many did you say you wanted?"
"Six" Steve leans against the back counter, finally the line had ceased.
"Six? SIX?" She whispers, looking at him like he'd just sprouted elephant ears.
"Yes. Not right now obviously...but in the future"
"Wow, that's not the least bit intimidating. 'Hey baby, you know I was thinking I want us to have six children in the future' Not daunting at all" She laughs humorlessly at her own impression of Steve "She's probably freaking out about that one"
"Did I screw up?" He looks worriedly, he hadn't thought when he'd said it. It had just popped out.
"How long have you guys been dating?"
"Almost a month."
"Yeah. I think you screwed up a little...talking about babies before you've even had sex" He looks up at her shocked "How do you-"
"She told me you guys haven't." She shrugs. "She's got loose lips when you get her going."
Steve goes a little pink "What do I do then Obi Wan"
"Let her graduate before you talk about getting her pregnant again" She grins
"I didn't say I wanted to get her pregnant...I just said that whenever I do get married...I want six kids."
"So you told your girlfriend of a month, that you want to find a girl to be your wife...and you want to have kids with her. I think that means you suck Harrington."
"Noted" Steve runs his hands down his face tiredly
At the pool the following day
Violet sat up on the life guards chair, eyes sweeping over the pool, keeping an eye on one or two of the preteens that had been rough housing earlier.
"Henderson!" Billy had walked over again, he'd been relentlessly pursuing older women all summer. She thought it was a little gross but she never said anything. They were adults...as long as he didn't go after her own mother.
"Hargrove" Violet says turning towards him, she had long since dropped her shyness with the gruff coworker as it did her no good.
"You busy tonight?" He licks his lips as he gives her a flirtatious look. "My little brother is coming home from camp tonight. He's really excited to see my boyfriend too. So I'll probably be listening to them talk about something dumb." Violet sighs, wanting 5:30 to come quicker.
"So you're still with Harrington."
"Yep. Still with Steve."
"And he does something for you?"
"Excuse me?" She looks down at him in shock, he's leaning against her chair as he eyes her up and down. "Does he do something for you? Is it the hair that gets you going?"
"Why do you care about his-" She begins looking back over the pool, almost begging for someone to be drowning to pull her away from this interaction.
"Or is it control sweetheart? He's bossy...I can be bossy too." He smirks now as he turns and begins walking toward the locker rooms. His shift already mercifully over. She breathes a sigh of relief into the hot July air. Slowly the pool began to empty, little kids being carried out tiredly by their now tanned or sunburned mothers as Violet began closing up shop. When the pool was finally free of people she locked up the fencing and began to pick up the trash left behind. After the last can was in the trash and the final set of goggles was thrown into the lost and found she walked into the lockerroom. She opens her locker to pull out her clothes when a hand appears on the locker next to hers. The force of it hitting the metal made her jump. She turned and there was Billy, still shirtless and smirking. A cigarette sticking out from his teeth.
"You're not supposed to smoke in here" Violet grimaces as he lets out a puff of foul smelling smoke.
"I don't really care Henderson."
"Weren't you supposed to be home by now?" Violet asks, turning back to her locker and pulling out all of her things hastily.
"I guess. I just can't think of what Harrington has that I don't." He takes another long drag off of the cigarette.
"He's sweet, he treats me nicely, my brother adores him-"
"Those are things that any guy can be Henderson. Does he turn you on? Is he as hot as he thinks he is?" He's still smirking but his eyes are completely cold.
Violet feels her heart thumping hard in her chest, her face going pink as she blurts out "He's hotter than he thinks he is. Steve does more for me than you ever could Hargrove, maybe it's because you only seem to go after women with wedding rings on. Maybe it's because Steve knows how to treat a lady. I do know that for me, Steve Harrington beats out everyone from you to Billy Idol. So leave it be Hargrove." She's huffing and puffing now, she'd laid it all out there for Billy...though she was now rapidly beginning to regret her words. He looks at her intensely, no shred of a smirk left on his face. He drops the cigarette on the floor and stamps it out.
"As long as you know what you want then Henderson." He all but growls, turning from the locker room and storming out. Violet shivers and takes a deep breath, she'd been sure he would do something. She'd seen him deck someone for less than what she'd said. She quickly pulls her pants and shirt on over her bathing suit, wanting to leave as soon as possible.
She almost ran to her mother's car that was parked on the far side of the parking lot, Billy's car was no where in sight. "Hey sweetie, good day?" Her mother asks absentmindedly putting away her knitting needles into a bag.
"Yeah it was fine mom, is Dustin home then?" Violet asks, still looking out the window. She'd lied about Steve coming over but now she wished he was. "I don't know if he can...but could I invite Steve over tonight mom?"
She looks at Violet with a thoughtful look "Sure...I still need to meet the boy. Are you sure your day was ok?"
"Yep. Just miss Steve...and he's been missing Dusty anyway...so why not?" She played with the hem of her t-shirt, trying not to show her nervous energy. Her nerves only let up when her mother had pulled into their driveway and she could see Dustin in the living room window. "Hey Dustybun!" Violet calls as she gets into the house "How was it?"
"Don't call me that...it was great though" He grinned in spite of the nickname he loathed. His eyes watched as their mother walked past the living room doorway and into the kitchen. "I've got a girlfriend...she's amazing" He grins
"Oh really? What's her name?" Violet sits down, ignoring the remnants of the nerves in her stomach. "Susie"
"You'll have to tell me all about her once I'm dressed...and...would you mind if Steve came over?" Violet asks, hoping he wouldn't mind.
"Do i have to watch you guys suck face?" He grimaces
"Ew! We do not suck face. We kiss, and no we won't be doing that with an audience of you and mom" She says in a hushed tone, their mother could be heard in the next room. Fussing over dinner.
"Fine then, I've missed him anyway...don't tell him that."
Violet grins and runs upstairs to make the call and change. The phone rings once, twice, three times, four times before someone finally picks up.
"Hello?" A woman says tiredly
"Hi, is Steve there?"
"Oh is this Violet?" She asks, she almost sounded bored.
"Yes ma'am"
"Steven! Your little girlfriend is calling!" Mrs. Harrington called.
Violet waited silently as she could hear the phone being handed off "Hey Vi, everything ok?" He asks
"I was just wondering if you could come over tonight...I know it's late notice."
"Sure, but I thought tonight was family time with your mom and Dustin..."
"Yeah...well I changed my mind...I want you here...if you can"
"Sure baby, I can be there in 15 ok?"
"Ok, see you soon" They hang up and she lets out a breathy sigh. She looked out her window that faced the backyard and saw nothing but her own illuminated reflection in the glass. Had her lamp not been on she would have seen the claw tipped tendril peaking out from the bushes.