Fem Harringrove anyone?
Stevie sighed, a sense of comfort and relief washing over her that she hadn't felt in ages, she needed more self care days to do whatever the hell she wanted. Her parents couldn't get on her case and she could blissfully take part in the mundane. Atop working part time, looking into colleges and babysitting the kids, she rarely got time to herself. Atop fighting the hell spawn of the upside down, she was constantly busy. The brief moments of peace where she had herself for company without a care in the world were her favourite. Since the moment she discovered the upside down, started fighting with the creatures that resided there and began to accept the supernatural occurrence's of the town. She didn't know a moments peace, a whole double life she lived that nobody knew about. Things she had seen and experienced that she couldn't tell anyone. She loved the kids with her entire being, her little troublemakers, they had all become the surrogate siblings she never had. She had to admit Max, El and Henderson had become her favourites. But she needed a damn break, a moment where she wasn't a babysitter, where she could just be a teenager. She had her own life to live and they were all growing up, all becoming their own person and didn't need her watching over their shoulder anymore.
Mike and El were off on a date together, being lovey dovey and catching up, the long distance had made it harder previously. But since Hopper had come back from the dead, she had legally been adopted by him again. Though he was still protective over El, he knew she was strong enough to handle herself, being in the care of Joyce for so long.
Lucas finally apologised to Max, for what had to be the thousandth time, taking her on a date and letting her do whatever she wanted. He loved Max immensely, she meant the world to him and he was always willing to take responsibility for his mistakes and truly cared for Max. While Billie had her reservations about them dating, mostly due to how Neil would react knowing about this. After moving out and finding her own place, she was happy to let them crash at hers.
Henderson was once again chatting to Suzie over the radio, the two had become closer than ever, all loved up. Even Stevie had to admit how sweet they were as a couple.
Will was still on his own but had become more comfortable with expressing himself after coming out to Jodie and his mother. He'd been through hell and back lately, after the incidents in Hawkins and the mind flayer creating the hive mind. She didn't feel her children were safe in Hawkins anymore, so she took them away. She transferred them to a new school, hoping to give them a second chance at life, which ultimately fell apart. But Will was adjusting to being home, accepting his past and finding strength in his trauma. Trying to find a boy to move on from Mike.
She was avoiding Nate like the plague, after he cheated on her with Jodie, she still hated him, she remembered it all, finding out at that party that he no longer felt anything for her. Giving him her virginity at the pool party, all their kisses, their dates, him sneaking around, never meant a thing to him. She may not have been the bratty spoiled brat she used to be, but she deserved better than being cheated on and treated as a replacement for Jodie Byers. She felt like their entire relationship had been a lie, that she had been living in a dream where she thought they were happy. When in reality she had been a scapegoat because he couldn't have Jodie. He got a summer job at a newspaper place, he'd always wanted to be a journalist, it was a good placement for him. She knew he would go far with it, he had that drive, but part of her would never forgive him for what he did. Nate knew he was on her shit list, the only time they worked together was when the upside down had yet again formed a chaos they needed to fix. But in their everyday life she barely spoke to him. After Starcourt was destroyed, she was still working at the rental shop, serving VHS to customers and trying to get into good recommendations. She'd lost count of the amount of films she had watched. Robin still by her side and her closest friend, the person who knew her best. However, she was looking into future careers, she was good with kids and nursing seemed like the best option. She was still a keen swimmer so looking into becoming a lifeguard, or a paediatrician. She was good with kids thanks to becoming a babysitter and it would suit her well. They were difficult careers, but at least she would make a decent income despite the student debt. It would help to get her dad off her case too, he already despised that she had discarded her life as the popular kid and decided to live among the commoners. She had friends who valued her, she worked a decent job and had priorities. She was studying her ass off and working through her issues, but daddy dearest didn't like that she no longer wanted to follow the plan he had laid out for her.
She lounged in her deckchair, stretching like a cat in the sun, her skin on full display. She'd learned to become more confident in her body post break up, that Nate had made her feel bad about. She may have been on the skinny side, but that had been due to her swim training and her body type. She didn't need his approval to feel good about herself, not anymore. Wearing a blue and white sailor striped bikini, ironically chosen by herself. She was learning to love herself again, regain the confidence she lost by Nate's cheating, she'd been on some dates, tried some hookups, but nothing serious. She had no plans aside from sunbathing all day and eating ice cream, she just wanted to spend the day vegging out before she had to go back to work. Having Robin in her life really made things better, she could actually bond and have fun with someone her age, knowing she wasn't being used for ulterior motives. She was so far the only person to know he was gay, about his past and current crushes. She'd even confided in him about her own bisexuality, her attraction to girls and her crushes, how conflicted it made her feel dating Nate. All the things she could never tell him. He was the type of guy she made fun of as queen bee, the kind of person she would have tormented relentlessly to make her image look good. Hipster, in a boy band, dirty blonde hair cut into a pixie style, a straggly long fringe over his eye with half of his head shaved. He was shorter than her but he was a threat to be reckoned with, but he was cute and even she had previously been attracted to him. Black nail polish, indie bracelets, kohl eyes, intense to the casual observer, but the softest person she knew in person. But he became her best friend, sarcastic, funny and didn't take shit from anyone. He supported her, called her out on her shit but was reliable, always there when she needed him. She'd grown up a lot since high school and her friendship with him showed that, how much she had grown, learned to accept and recognise her mistakes. She didn't even recognise the person she used to be, they were two completely different people.
"Hey, who's that chick? Never seen her around here before"
"She's pretty hot"
"Ain't that Harrington? Ex Hawkins queen bee bitch?"
"No way, don't her folks have a pool?"
Stevie rolled her eyes, god damn it, not one moment of peace, it seemed stragglers who remembered her from high school were always lingering. Though she'd moved on from high school, her past reputation always seemed to surface on occasion. Yes, she had a pool at home but it belonged to her parents, the only people to use it aside from herself were the kids and Robin. The emptiness of it, staring into the oblivion, wondering what could be lurking beneath the surface, it was boring to swim in on her own, empty. Memories of Barb dying there, it made it harder to enjoy, knowing she'd died, that their ignorance and negligence had allowed it. She couldn't enjoy it the way she used to, drinking beers outside with her old friends and being an asshole. Now she just saw a memory of death, the last resting place for someone who didn't deserve to die. The house was too empty to enjoy, like she was a ghost flitting between the walls, money meant nothing to her. After her dad cut her off she got a taste of reality, what it was like for the working class and people without rich parents. Wealth when your parents are overbearing, narcissistic gaslighters meant nothing, constantly pushing it in your face. Your reputation, your life, your identity, all under speculation, expecting you to be a fuck up. Her dad only approved of her, showed her attention when she behaved the way he wanted, dressed the way he wanted her to. When she made him look good, when she was obedient. As soon as she started babysitting, developed depression and anxiety, having nightmares. He became embarrassed that she started to act like a normal teenage girl. Her mum loved materialism, how it made her look good and how people viewed her, always drinking and always demeaning Stevie. Another textbook narcissist who hated when she was put in a bad light. Neither of them approved of Nate and were desperate to form an arranged marriage with someone from her fathers line of work. Never taking responsibility for how they messed her up. Yeah, she was a rich kid, she was born into money and a better life, but her parents had no idea about the nightmares, the depression, the anxiety and the loneliness. How she slept with a baseball bat under her bed in case of monsters. How she was scared to fall asleep in case something was hiding in the shadows, lurking. How she was on medications for her anxiety, her depression and sleeping pills for the nightmares.
"You think daddy pays for her college tuition?"
"Nah, I bet she fucked the teachers"
"Damn, Wheeler really cheated on that? What a loser"
Stevie growled in frustration, digging her nails into the arms of the chair, god she couldn't go anywhere without gossip these days. All the rumours of how she lived her life in secret, a peak behind the curtain into their assumptions of her. No, she never slept with any teacher to get into college, or pass a test, she god average grades, she wasn't intellectual. She had never been born with the brains for business like her father but she was no moron. She was chugging coffee and up all night studying to become a nurse, memorising, taking notes and reading study guides on how to prepare. All her past friends had only ever spent time with her for money, they never valued her as a person and constantly kissed her ass. She hated it. She wished more than anything she had just stayed home instead, if it meant she could avoid being a spectacle, sitting by her pool with privacy and peace. She would be alone but with her thoughts, nobody would oggle at her, she wouldn't have to tolerate gossip. She could have invited the kids and made an afternoon of it. God she hated this so much, she wanted to crawl out of her own skin, she could feel all their eyes on her, her anxiety running rampant. Intrusive thoughts blinding her from left and right. Why did so many people in this godforsaken town like gossip? Such a small town where everyone knew each other.
"You horn dogs done harassing her? Or do I have to kick your asses before I ban you?" a voice boomed menacingly. She'd seen Stevie arrive, mind her own business, set up on a chair and just veg out. She had study guides with her which was unusual, sun oil and some snacks. But despite her curiosity, she had left Stevie in peace. But once she got wind of some guys checking Stevie out, as well as spreading some gossip, she had seen red.
Stevie averted her gaze, directing her eyes towards the owner of the voice, she'd been so lost in her own world, ready to leave. Her cheeks darkening, embarrassment filling her, she didn't know where to look. So much had changed from high school. Billie Hargrove, her ex enemy now frenemy, someone who had once butted heads with her and started arguments.
Since her possession at the hands of the mind flayer, she was a different girl, but she could still pick a fight. She'd become open about her dads abuse, her mummy issues, her mum abandoning her and all the trauma that came with it. She was still earning her redemption, but she was nothing like the person who first appeared in Hawkins. Those glorious golden blonde curls, baby blue eyes and that golden tanned skin, her sunglasses perched on her nose. wearing black nail polish, waterproof make up and the custom red swimsuit of Hawkins pool, alongside their jacket. She still had a wound on her chest from where the Mind flayer stabbed her in the chest, but it had healed, she could cover it up, use make up. But she never tried to hide it, she just didn't talk about it. Her tattoo's on full display, a smoking skull illustration with roses on her upper left arm, some thorny roses intertwined on one of her hands, as well as two female symbols on her wrist. One of the many things that was controversial about Billie was her tattoos, the only girl in Hawkins who had some.
Glaring down at these men with a death glare, itching for a fight, the rage emanating from her like smoke. The boys shivered, their confidence slowly melting away and replaced with cowardice, everyone was scared of Billie Hargrove, she had a reputation. "Her name is Stevie Harrington, she's got one so use it. She was on the swim team at Hawkins High, she came here to get out of babysitting my bratty stepsister. You got a problem?" she growled. Yes, she called her princess and Harrington, but she was the exception, it took a long time before she could call Stevie by her first name. Before they were on good terms since being classmates. She'd seen the best and the worst of Stevie, painfully similar in many ways, two sides of the same coin.
The boys instantly scattered, panicking of the consequences.
Stevie softened, a sense of relief filling her, watching them scatter like ants upon sensing danger, showing they were truly cowards. She knew Billie worked here, but she never expected to run into her, she had no idea of her shift pattern. But then she never came here, she never had any reason to. She bowed her head shyly, like she was a small child caught in trouble "H...Hey Billie" she mumbled.
Billie stared at Stevie, her expression softening from rage to curiosity, admittedly Stevie was the last person she expected to see around here. Drinking her in, imprinting this delicious memory into her brain for later. Those long slender legs, her curves on display, her flat stomach and small chest, her lightly freckled skin, the way her bikini hugged her. Within all the bullshit she hated about Hawkins, Stevie was like a nirvana in the centre of it all, she wasn't as busty as herself, but she had some breasts, medium at least. But what confused her was why the hell she was even here, didn't her parents own a pool? She had her own private mansion she could have space in. Why come here when she could have peace in her garden? Those soft chocolate doe brown eyes, like a storm of emotions bubbling beneath the surface. Drawing her in. She removed her glasses, allowing them to rest atop her hair, perfectly stuck in place among the mass of curls. "So princess, what brings you to my neck of the woods? Doesn't your family own a pool?" Billie asked. Why come to the local pool?
Stevie blushed awkwardly, she had been caught out, she never knew what to do with herself these days when she wasn't with Robin or the kids. Her whole life circulated around them. "The kids don't need me, I can take a breather. It's no fun sitting in an empty house alone with my own thoughts, so as long as I can avoid Nate, I might as well attempt to be social" she mumbled. She needed to regain a life of her own, find her place, find some meaning. So she didn't feel like the pathetic loser her parents saw her as, a disappointment that everyone would forget existed.
Billie hummed, she'd heard around that Stevie was looking into medicine as well as becoming a lifeguard, she had to say she was impressed. If Nate did happen to show his face around here, she would let him drown, or make him someone else's problem. The guy had cheated on Stevie and didn't have the balls to admit he was into another girl, denied his feelings and lied to her. God knows Stevie deserved to have fun, everyone from her old life had abandoned her, the only friend she had in her life was Robin from scoops. She'd abandoned her own past of being the popular bitch, the one who antagonised everyone, the school bully. The girl who infamously hooked up with any girl she could seduce, using her sexuality to get what she wanted. She still listened to rock music, she still went to bars, she still got drunk and she still rebelled, but the anger was gone. She didn't beat up random people for looking at her funny, she was over the tedious bullshit that Tommy and Carol loved. She didn't bully or harass the weak or quiet, she still loved trouble she was just more cautious. She knew about the monsters of the upside down, she'd been possessed with the hive mind of the mind flayer. She'd had her free will sucked from her, becoming a puppet. She had finally moved out from Neil's after he divorced Susan, she managed to find a place of her own. She had space, freedom and she didn't have to walk on eggshells anymore. She sighed, removing her glasses and running a hand through her hair "Listen princess, I'm on until 4. How about you buy me ice cream and we can enjoy a real pool" she smirked.
Stevie blushed, she'd forgotten how confident Billie used to be, she'd changed so much from the person she used to be, yet still remained as flirtatious as ever. Was Billie inviting herself over? Oddly she wasn't mad at the prospect either, I mean she babysat her step sibling, Billie hanging around felt normal "Sure" she mumbled. The house would feel less empty at least.
Billie smirked, she was going to enjoy this, she'd always been curious of how Stevie Harrington lived her life, the life of a rich girl. But something told her it wasn't as perfect as people believed. "It's a date" she winked, walking off to get back to her shift. She'd be counting down the hours until it was over. Stevie blushed, staring into the oblivion before her brain caught up with her, what just happened?