Sorry for the long wait, I've had so much writer's block with the past couple chapters, thanks for having patience with me! I hope you enjoy.
I do not own Stranger Things
It had been two weeks since the coven had gotten rid of Peter's hold on Billy. It had been a week and a half since Madame had returned to New York, promising to get together a place for them to train at least Will and Robin in their abilities. It had been a week since Steve had been alone with Odette. Since she'd come out to his little group as a witch, she'd become a fixture in their group as their resident magic user rather than Steve's girlfriend. While he was so glad that his little shitheads liked her so much...he was going a little nuts without having some alone time. So there Steve sat a little boredly on a picnic table bench, listening to the chatter of the young teens around him. Dustin and Max were heatedly debating what Will was calling himself. Dustin was adamant that his friend was a wizard but Max was pushing that he was a witch. He was in a coven afterall.
"He's a dude!"
"Dude's can't be witches!"
"Oh they so can! Haven't you read anything about the Salem Witch Trials?!" Max scoffed at the fluffy haired boy. Will was sitting a few yards away on a blanket with the other three remaining members of the coven (Since the rest had gone back to New York and Billy hadn't come to their little outing to Lover's Lake). Odette was smiling dreamily up at the clear sky above them. She was saying something he couldn't make out of the arguing behind his shoulder "That was stupid people accusing people they didn't like!"
Steve ran a hand through his hair tiredly, the musical sound of Odette's laugh rose over the din of Dustin and Max, bringing a smile to his lips, before a hand on his shoulder shocked him from his thoughts. He turned to Lucas who looked just as tired of the argument as him "Will you shut them up?"
"Your girlfriend" Steve smirks slightly, but all the same, he turns to the other two arguing over Mike's head and shoots them his best stern dad look. "Cut it out you two. Will can be a bee for all I care. Got it?"
Dustin pouted slightly but perked up when Robin had approached the table, grabbing another coke from the cooler. "Hey, are you guys talking about spells?" his voice had been eager, making a small smile spread on Robin's shy face. "No...Odette's talking about bringing her Stevie home for dinner this week." She throws a playful smirk to Steve before returning her gaze to the teens "But...Madame's going to send us some books to start with soon..."
Steve smiles at his coworker she and Will had been the only things to make more sense with the witch thing coming out. The both of them were practically glowing whenever the subject came up...or when they were sitting with Odette. It seemed right. Robin returned to the other two with her coke in hand, Odette raising her hand slightly, her hair suddenly curling itself into a bun at the top of her head. She fans at her neck, the summer heat obviously getting to her, Steve was a little lost in his people watching, so he didn't hear the car pull up. He didn't hear the twin slams as the party was joined by Jonathan and Nancy. Instead he focused on El's winning smile as she managed to lift a flower from the ground with her mind, no blood leaking from her nose. She held it there, giggling for a moment before she let it drop, getting a pat on the back from Odette as she seemingly praised her.
Jonathan had been the most understanding of the Byers when it came to Will being...something. He'd simply stated that he wanted Will to be careful. Joyce had of course been kind to her son, but wary of the coven in general. It had taken a lot of cajoling from Jonathan and Will to get her to accept it. Hopper...he'd been as easy going as the grouch could be, Steve's theory was that he was thankful El would have women in her life to guide her through this kind of thing...although he didn't like calling her a witch.
Nancy had been...more interesting. She'd made it clear that she didn't think it was real at first. She'd scoffed at the idea, it was only after meeting Odette that she believed.
Flashback
Odette sat at the small kitchen table in the Byers' house, lazily shuffling a deck of cards and chatting idly with Will. Nancy and Jonathan were sat nearby on the couch, watching Sixteen Candles with their ears pricked to hear about the so called "Magic". Odette smiled slightly at the younger boy "Now...it's hard to do on a first try. You just...focus your mind and energy on the card. If you have a specific question about the future...keep it in your mind." She laid the shuffled deck of cards out to him, sitting innocently in the palm of her hand. Will tentatively reached a hand out, sliding out a single card from the center of the pack. "This one?"
"Only you can know." He pulls it from the deck and turns it over, no longer was is a 7 of clubs. The little black figures seemed to shimmer for just a moment before splitting into a single small moon surrounded by clouds on the center of the card. "What does that mean?"
"Well...it's a waxing crescent moon. Those are a sign of new beginnings but the clouds...they're challenges you'll face. What were you thinking of?"
Will blushed, his eyes flitting to the two teens on the nearby couch. Odette smiled slightly, holding her hand out to the younger boy and winking at him. He slipped his hand into hers and his voice echoed into the silence of her head "I was wondering if I'd find love in high school"
She grins at him, pulling her hand back and nodding at him. "Just like everyone else, struggles with happen...but with hope we find what we're looking for." She shuffles the deck again. "That was really clear for a first go-"
"It's complete nonsense! Tarot cards are for idiots!" Nancy's low disdainful hiss was only meant for her boyfriend but it reached the ears of the witches sat at the table. Odette watched as Will's expression fell completely away, no longer smiling in pride. Instead he seemed to deflate, looking embarrassed. Odette turned, her ears turning red "Nancy isn't it?"
"Yes. Did your crystal ball tell you that?" Nancy turned, her dark eyes cold as they met Odette's. "How'd you convince them you're an actual witch?"
Odette glared at her, "You know you're exceedingly rude right? And with all you've seen you doubt that there are powers beyond you?"
"I believe in science. Facts. Things I can see." Nancy crossed her arms, no longer under the guise of watching the Molly Ringwald dilm on screen. Beside her Jonathan looked like he'd swallowed a lemon, not looking at his brother as the confrontation continued.
Odette rolled her eyes "Science isn't cancelled just because magics are real-"
"Sure, real. Don't align Eleven with your crap, her powers-"
Odette waved her hand and Nancy's mouth shut with a click. She stood from the table, gently stacking the cards onto the table in front of Will. She turned to the younger boy, a harsh look on her face "This is one of the challenges you'll have to deal with for your entire life Will. You'll deal with the cruelties. You'll hear the slurs. You'll have to hide your abilities in order to survive. But you'll also deal with the condescension. The rude disbelief of a close-minded imbecile." As she spoke Nancy had begun to panic, her grunts of exertion muffled by her tightly shut lips. Odette turned back to her now "But your mouth being shut is of your own doing isn't it darling? It couldn't be me could it?" Odette walked slowly, purposefully toward her. "I'd advise you to keep your mouth shut about things you're ignorant of Wheeler." She leaned down, her nose inches from Nancy's "And if I hear a word of your rudeness being directed towards El, Will, or Robin again, I'll keep your mouth closed." She lifted a single dainty finger, the nail colored dark blue to the underside of Nancy's chin. "Do you understand?"
"Nancy who had tears brimming in her eyes nodded frantically. Odette stood straight once again with the gleam still in her eye. Snapping her fingers, Nancy's jaw unclicked and she was able to speak again. "What is wrong with you?!"
Odette turned back to Will who gave her a very small grateful smile "I'm protecting my coven from slights against them." She allowed her eyes to flit back to Jonathan who looked shocked at what had just happened between the two women. "I wouldn't let your girlfriend upset your brother anymore Jon. He's learning now...but it won't be long before he's casting." She turns back to Will "I should go, walk me out?" Will nods, picking up the deck of cards and grabbing her purse from the back of a chair. He held it out to her and followed her to the front door. Once out on the porch, the door behind them shut Nancy could be heard hysterically shouting just beyond. Odette sighed "My apologies Will" She mumbles, the surge of confidence she'd felt inside had been torn away as she'd stepped out of the door.
"It's...it's ok. Nancy's not bad but...I don't think she cares about offending people when she thinks she's right." Will looked back at the door where he could hear the sound of Jonathan trying to soothe his girlfriend. "I don't think she'll like you much now though."
Odette smiled slightly, glad to see it matched by Will. "I don't think that's much of a problem for me...seeing as I'm dating her exboyfriend."
Will nods, looking back at the door one last time. "Are we meeting at your trailer on Wednesday? For group?"
"Yep...Billy will be there...if that's ok" She swallows, having now heard all the stories about him from the kids. Will's smile fades slightly "Uh...if you and Eddie are there...then I'm cool." Odette nods almost aggressively "Of course! I don't...I just want him to have the chance to learn too" After assuring Will that Billy wouldn't be an issue for him she turned to leave, Nancy still shouting from inside.
Nancy scowled as she took a seat next to Steve, her eyes focused on his girlfriend. "So, how are witch classes going?" She asks almost sarcastically. The kids at the table fall silent as they eye the three older teens. Steve had tensed, he too kept his eye on Odette. Jonathan stood awkwardly beside Nancy, looking worriedly between her and his little brother. Steve sighed "Hello to you too Nanc."
She huffed slightly "Are they having class right now?"
"No. They're relaxing...just like the rest of us" He raises his eyebrows, allowing his eyes to shift to Jonathan expectantly. "Those three just like spending time with her...I think it's good for them." Nancy huffed again "So where's Hargrove?...or does he get private lessons from Munson?"
Steve sighed, not wanting to know quite where that was headed. "No he doesn't. They have meetings on Wednesday nights that he goes to."
"I wouldn't be surprised though." She finally tore her gaze away from the Brunette sitting not so far away. The silence from the kids behind her and Steve were deafening. "If she gave him private lessons though. I mean it is Hargrove we're talking about"
"Can we change the subject Nanc-" Steve started, not having to look to know that the boys and Max were uncomfortable with the change in conversation. He looked down at his hands clasped in front of him, his elbows resting on his knees rather than looking at Nancy. He'd heard all about how Odette had literally shut her up...and while he'd thought it was only a little funny...he didn't love the new attitude that she'd adopted for his new girl.
"I'm just saying she wouldn't be the first to cheat on her boyfriend with Billy Hargrove." The group behind them flinched along with Jonathan at her words, they could all see how Steve had tensed further at her words, his jaw now set. "No. No she wouldn't be the first girl to cheat on me would she Nancy?" He got up, rubbing his hands down his pants "Now if you'll excuse me-"
"Steve-" Nancy looked a little regretful of her words as he stood but he continued on like she'd not said his name "I need to start packing up the food before we've got a thousand flies around her. He turned and walked toward the public charcoal grill they'd started to use, the embers still glowing lightly as they died. A plate of cooked hot dogs laid on a nearby table along with the bags of chips and buns. He slowly began to roll up the half full chip bags, tying off the bag of buns, sliding the hotdogs into a ziplock. He didn't notice Dustin approach him. "You ok?"
"Yeah...just...that's still a touchy thing...it's...it's not fun to be cheated on Dust." He sighs, shoving the food into the bags they'd brought them in. Dustin nodded along, "I know...but for the record I don't think-"
"I don't think Odette would either...I just...change the topic Henderson" Steve picked up the bags of food, carrying them to the BMW parked at the edge of the clearing with no more looks sent to Nancy and Jonathan. As he packed up the bags he could hear the chatter start up again, he let a little of the tension in his shoulders go as the noise rose. A sign that things were ok...not great...but not bad. He looked back toward the blanket in the grass, Will and Robin were now folding it as Odette took their empty soda cans to the nearby trashcan. He could see from where she was walking that she was purposefully avoiding Nancy. He shut the trunk with a snap, only glancing briefly at the nailed bat laying beside the food. God forbid he ever got pulled over by someone other than Hopper...
"Hey!" Odette had practically floated over, a grin on her face but when she caught sight of his demeanor it dimmed. "You ok?"
"Yeah I'm good...Nancy just being a little...up front again." He shrugged. "Nothing I can't handle. How are Rob, Will, and El doing?" He smiled brightly at her, hoping the topic of his ex would drop completely. She smiled slightly and leaned against the car "Oh it's going well...they're both so far ahead of where I was when I started...then again I was like 6...and learning french at the same time." She giggled slightly "Will is so sweet about it all though...so gentle." She looks over her shoulder at the young teen talking with the other boys, looking excited over something. She turned back to her boyfriend "I worry for El though...you don't learn magic the way they forced her to...her body's been through a lot..." She lets out a soft sigh "But, all I can do now is to show her to move with her abilities...not force them out"
Steve nodded, not really knowing what to say in return. A mildly awkward silence fell over the two of them, only broken by the others' chatter as they packed up their own things.
"We don't have to go just because she and Jonathan got here...we could stay a while longer-"
"I don't really want to be around her right now baby." Steve leans on the car, crossing his arms over his chest and looking down at the curly haired girl. "I'd rather we just...head back." She bit her lip, her starry eyes boring into his curiously before nodding in agreement. "Since it's still early...do you want to do something? Just us?"
Steve chuckled softly, leaning closer to Odette with a grin spreading wider on his cheeks. "You read my mind. Movie at my place tonight?" She nods eagerly, turning back to help the rest of the party clean up.
Hours later
Steve had dropped the rest of the nuggets off at Lucas's house, leaving them with the cook out leftovers as he went. They'd only stopped to grab a pizza and a handful of movies from Family Video before heading to his house. His parents had returned for a few days, only to head off again for business. Steve had been almost excited for the house to be empty again, hoping that Odette would sleep over more often, but no such luck. But for the first time since the Coven had left Hawkins, they were sitting alone in his bedroom. He'd brought up the VHS player and hooked it up on his dresser, opposite his bed. Odette had raided the fridge for drinks for the both of them, although a small white mug of tea had also appeared on his bedside table. He smiled slightly at that, taking a sip before he'd kicked off his shoes and got on the bed with her. She snuggled into his side, smiling slightly as Raiders of the Lost Arc began to play on the small television in his room. They'd watched it twice since they'd started dating, Steve loving the Indiana Jones films more than most. She laid her head on his chest and reveled in the warmth of his arm that slid around her. He slowly sipped his tea, keeping his eyes focused on the screen for most of the movie. It was only when the credits began to roll that Odette looked up at him.
He was smiling contentedly, head leaning back on the small mountain of pillows against the headboard of his bed. "Want to watch another?" He asks, turning to look down at her, she felt butterflies erupt in her stomach "Sure...but um...are you busy tomorrow night?"
He smirks slightly "Nope. I get off at 7, then I'm all yours." She grins "Great!...so would you like to come to dinner?...Meet my uncle?"
He nods "Taking me home to see the family, think I'll impress?" She giggles and hits his chest lightly "You don't have to impress you just have to get along. My Uncle is more protective than he lets on."
Steve smiles slightly "How so?"
She snuggles closer, letting her nose run along his collar bone before she answered with a small smile "Uncle Wayne is a sweet man...laid back for the most part...but I know he's...he's got a little of the Munson charm in him...he just hides it well." She bites her lip, looking up at him. Steve looks at her a little confusedly "Munson charm?"
She blushes a little "We...we get passionate. It's in our blood." She looks down at her fingers that were trailing along the hem of his shirt "When I was little...I was like 4 I think...I remember Uncle Wayne came to visit for Christmas...he brought us each a present and promised to take us to see Santa at the mall..." She twiddled her fingers slightly, still not looking up at her boyfriend. "I...It was a good christmas...the first after mama died...till daddy...till he and Uncle Wayne got in a big fight. Like...really bad." She bit her lip again. "Uncle Wayne got really upset...yelling about dad...I don't remember what about...but they...he beat the crap out of daddy...I..." She furrowed her brow in concentration, as if trying to remember "I'm pretty sure he knocked out one of dad's teeth."
Steve chuckled slightly "Don't upset Uncle Wayne on Christmas...got it...I'm sure I'll love him Odette...think he'll like me?"
Odette shrugged playfully "I don't know...you might be a terrible influence on me" She grins roguishly "After all I was a sweet little catholic school girl when we met!"
Steve lets out a bark of laughter "Yep, I'm an awful influence...so does he know?"
"About what?" Odette bites at her lip again, knowing exactly what he'd meant. Hoping he'd drop it. "Your witchy stuff."
"He doesn't...and I don't want him to. He worries enough about Eddie because he's abnormal...and he's already worried about me starting public school...he doesn't need madness thrown on top. I just want...I don't want him worrying anymore. Is that terrible?" She mumbles into Steve's shirt. She closes her eyes dreamily, focusing on his large warm hand running up and down her back soothingly.
"No...I don't think it's terrible at all." He presses a kiss to her head, eyes landing back on the screen as the credits ended. "Want me to pop in the next movie?"
"No...I think I'd like to do something else" She leans up, joining their lips passionately as she slipped one hand up his shirt ever so slightly. "I don't know...I do love Temple of Doom" Steve teased, his lips still ghosting over hers.
"Oh if you say so-" She goes to get up but he flips her onto his bed with a smirk. "Kidding, you're way hotter than Kate Capshaw"
The next afternoon
Steve leaned over the counter at Scoops in between rushes, just lazily people watching and trying not to think of the next day. Behind him he could hear Robin kicking her feet gently into the cabinets as she sat on the back counter, looking over his head. "Incoming."
He turned to her, puzzled at her words. She nods her head in the direction of the entrance, he turned to see Billy approaching the record store. Steve stiffened slightly "How's he been?"
"...weird. Like...not a dick. But not nice...he doesn't really talk to Will and I" She mumbles, she'd been trying her best to steer clear of being alone with the blonde; the memory of his strong hand gripping her wrist, dragging her with him was still all too fresh...even if he'd not been in the driver's seat of his own body. Billy had disappeared into the record store, Steve smirking at the thought that he'd be looking in vain for Odette who had the day off. "So...about yesterday" Robin's tone was quiet but probing. Like she was worried the question would ignite a bomb.
"What about it?" Steve didn't look at his coworker, instead focusing his gaze on the store Billy had disappeared into.
"You bounced pretty quick when Nancy and Jonathan showed up." She pulled her legs up to sit criss cross on the counter, her eyes staying on Steve's back. "Some toxic ex stuff...or is seeing her with Jonathan hard?" Her tone is still soft and probing, making it hard to allow the resentment bubble up his chest. He lets out a sigh, running his fingers through his hair. He dropped his hat onto the counter and stared down at it as the words fell from his lips "She's...Nancy was my first love...like...I thought I loved her." He smushes his hat gently with his closed fist, "and she cheated on me with Jonathan...I don't think she ever loved me...and that hurt...it still stings...but it's not hard to see them together. I won't be with someone that can do that again...not if I can help it."
"Then what happened?" Robin played with the laces of her sneakers, the topic weighing down the air around them.
"She...she doesn't like Odette...she's made that pretty clear" He hears Robin snort slightly "She told me all about what happened...so was she bugging you about her?"
"About her...and Hargrove. Telling me that Odette probably gives him private lessons or some shit...just trying to get under my skin." He starts trying to unfold the new creases he'd given his hat, but stops, hearing Robin mutter something. "Huh?"
Robin's cheeks pinken as Steve turns to look at her "I-...I said...not for lack of trying?" She gives him a very awkward sheepish smile, as though she thought it would distract him from her words.
"Who's trying?" Steve's abandoned his hat on the counter now, no longer leaning but standing straight and looking at Robin. She swallows before gesturing generally around her as she looked for the right words to calm the older boy. "He...Billy has been dropping hints I guess...like he says he's self conscious about the glamor stuff we've been working on and thinks he'd do better without Will and I there?"
"He told you this?!"
"No." She bites her lip, allowing one hand to tug at a lock of her hair. "He was saying it to Odette...but I could hear them" She finally looks him in the eye and her anxiety seems to spike in that moment "But Odette told him no!" She almost falls from the counter, hardly noticing Steve grab her shoulders to keep her from face planting "She's always telling him that he's not allowed around without Eddie around!" She straightens herself up and Steve can't help but smile ever so slightly as her stupid little Scoops hat tumbles to the tile as she continues "She'd never! She doesn't even shut up about you like ever! It's actually getting a little gross she's so into you-"
"Rob!" Steve's almost laughing now "It's cool" Robin who'd frozen when he'd shouted over her rambling let's herself crack a tentative smile "So I didn't convince you to leave her or something awful?"
"Nope. She's stuck with me Rob." Robin sighed in relief "She'd have been so mad at me" She leans against the counter again after stooping to retrieve her hat. Steve chuckled, leaning back on the ice cream case, his back facing the front of the store. They'd turned the topic to
Behind him, but out of Robin's eyeline Billy made his way up to the counter, wearing a white wifebeater underneath a jean jacket along with his patented tight jeans. "Harrington, don't you look just adorable in that?" He smirks, turning his eye to Robin and winking. "Buckley. So Harrington, how's about a scoop of Strawberry for an old friend?"
Steve scowled at him but pulled out his scooper with a hardly supressed growl. He makes him the strawberry cone and Robin holds out her hand for the cash, Billy drops a five into her hand and nods "Keep the change"
"She's not into you either Hargrove" Steve says, his tone deep and cold as he handed off the pink tinged treat. Billy looks her up and down, letting his tongue snake around the scoop before he speaks. "Oh I know Harrington...she's probably got the same type as me." Steve's brow furrows but he shakes off his confusion. "You've got your ice cream. Just leave."
Billy's smile spreads wider, a feral look to his blue eyes "You're right. I have some errands to run anyway Stevie, I'll say hi to Odette for you though" His white teeth glittered in the florescent lights of Scoops Ahoy, he turned on his heel and walked out. Steve only staying in place because of Robin's hand that had grasped his shoulder. "He's just trying to rile you up Steve."
"Trust me...I fucking know." The remaining hours of their shifts passed slowly, the afternoon rush coming and going, leaving them to pack away the ice cream for the night as the mall's patrons faded away. As they locked up the register and headed out the nearest exit Robin finally brought it up "So...dinner with the Munsons tonight huh?"
Steve smiled a little "Yeah, her uncle...he's been asking about me since Eddie met me...I don't think they told him how the meeting went..."
Robin laughed out loud as she climbed into the passenger side of the BMW "Are you heading there right after you drop me off?"
"Yep" He starts the car, backing out of his space "Odette's been really excited about me meeting him...have you met him?"
Robin shrugs, digging through her bag "Only in passing. He works nights a lot so he leaves around when Detta and I are having an overnight. He's a big fan of Rocky Road" She smirks a little. "But he seems pretty laid back Steve, I don't think you have much to worry about." The drive fell silent, Robin still digging through her bag, as though she had Narnia hiding at the bottom. "What are you looking for?!"
"Detta gave me a Tiger's eye...and I can't find the thing" Her voice comes out slightly garbled around her wallet that she'd shoved between her teeth to get out of her way. Steve almost laughed when he turned and took that sight in. He coughs to cover it "Why do you need it?"
Robin spits her wallet out and glares at him, having caught the half laugh half cough. "I just...I feel safer with it on me." Finally she pulls the small stone out of the bottom of her bag. She began to shove the rest of her things back into the bag, clutching the stone in her right hand. "Thanks again for the ride Steve, tell Detta I said hi!"
Odette
She was shaking with nerves, behind her at the table she could hear the soft chatter of Eddie and her Uncle talking over the sound of the tv and her cooking. She let out a long slow breath as she reached into the oven to pull out the chicken pot pie she'd worked tirelessly on in the past hour. She shut the oven with her knee, the snap calling the attention of the other two Munsons in the room. "Need a hand?" Her uncle called in a slightly haggard voice, he'd stayed up since he'd gotten home from work, wanting to make sure he'd spent time with his niece and nephew before the new boyfriend made his appearance. She shook her head, setting the steaming item down on the stove. She yanked the oven mits off of her slightly sweating hands, letting her eyes sweep over the small table for their dining area. She'd set it as best she could with the mismatched china, a jug of iced tea sitting in the center. She bit her lip, having spent so much time in the Harrington's kitchen she hoped...she hoped he didn't mind it. She stood there lost in thought, only coming out of it at the sound of a car door slamming. She whirled around to look out of the small window over the kitchen sink. She could see Steve getting out of his car and she almost squealed, she grinned to herself and went to wrench open the door but was intercepted by her uncle standing there with a tired smile. "Go change girlie" She looked down and blushed, she'd not noticed the flour and butter covering the front of her shirt. She gave Wayne a grateful smile then bolted to her bedroom to change her shirt. Her heart pounded in her chest when she heard Steve knock on the door.
She yanked her top off and hunted for another, landing her hands on a pale yellow sweater. Outside her door she could hear the muffled speech of the men but not what was said.
Eddie took another swig of the beer he'd grabbed from the fridge, leaning back on the couch as his uncle answered the door. He could hear his little sister in the other room, the sound of her dresser drawers opening and shutting rapidly almost broadcasting her nerves over the night. When the door was opened it revealed Steve Harrington, he was wearing a white button up and jeans, but from his rather messy hair Eddie could tell he'd changed somewhere in between Scoops and the trailer park.
Steve smiled slightly, awkwardly holding the bouquet of bright yellow daffodils. "Hi, you must be Mr. Munson?"
"Call me Wayne kid" Wayne sticks his hand out to Steve, smiling warmly when it was taken with no hesitation. "So you're the famous Steve, my girl's pretty taken with you you know." He practically pulls Steve inside and gestures for him to have a seat at the table. "I'm pretty taken with her too Sir-sorry, Wayne." Steve takes a seat across from the older man, wondering idly if he'd get any help from his girlfriend's older brother.
"So I've heard. Eddie's been telling me that you've graduated already" Wayne's tone was calm and even but there was a twinge of accusation there. Steve swallowed "I have."
"Heading off to college this fall?"
Steve shook his head, feeling slightly ashamed. "No...I." He shifted his sights to Eddie on the couch behind where Wayne sat opposite him. "I didn't get into any." He looked back at Wayne's brown eyes. "Probably...probably not what you were hoping to hear from her boyfriend..." He lays the flowers that had laid limply in his hand on the table in front of him a little defeatedly. Eddie would have sworn that the former jock's hair even deflated a little.
"I don't give much of a damn if you're going to college kid." Wayne took a swig of his beer and let out a sigh "I just don't want my niece and nephew ending up like my brother."
"Dude-" Eddie had sat up, his tone accusatory but he stopped when his uncle raised a placating hand. "My brother got outta high school and almost immediately knocked up their mama. And while these two are great kids, they've had a rough go. They don't need to pass it on." He leans back in the dining chair "So I'll tell you this once boy. Detta is getting out of high school without getting knocked up. So wrap it up, or be prepared to lose it."
Steve paled slightly but nodded vigorously "Of course sir."
"Really?! I don't need to hear about this stuff Wayne" Eddie groaned from the couch, having covered his face dramatically with one hand. "That's my little sister!"
"And that's my little girl, I win" Wayne chuckles a little and leans back over the table. "And don't let that one fool ya, he's a softie."
"Am not!"
