Chapter Thirty-Two

Fight

It was weird for Veronica to wake up in a place that wasn't her small bedroom at the Byers' home. So when her large dark eyes slowly blinked awake and were welcomed with the tri-colored wallpaper that covered Steve Harrington's walls, the first emotion she felt was confusion. Till slowly the fog of sleep swept away from her mind and the memories of the night before came back to her. The soft sheets felt nice against her skin, and Veronica couldn't deny that his bed was much more comfortable than hers. She couldn't remember the last time she slept that well without the darkness of nightmares waking her from her slumber.

Outside the soft song of birds chirping could be heard, but other than that there was a calm and comforting silence that filled the large Harrington home. Veronica lay there for a moment enjoying the peaceful silence without feeling the emotions of three other people. All she felt was the all familiar calming warmth that radiated from Steve whenever she was around. Slowly and gently Veronica turned to face the other side and came face to face with a sleeping Steve. His long lashes dusted across the tops of his freckled cheeks as he slept. Veronica couldn't help the small smile that spread across her full lips, reaching across to the small space between them to brush away a brunette curl from his forehead. Steve mumbled and moaned softly in his sleep before settling, not waking from Veronica's soft touch.

She sighed softly and slowly rose up from the bed and twisted so her legs hung over the side. Veronica made sure to keep her movements slow so that she wouldn't jostle him awake. She walked around the room and found her shoes before coming back to sit on the edge of the bed, closer to Steve. He laid on his back with his arm outstretched toward the still-warm sheets where she once lay. His pouty lips were parted slightly as a soft snore came from him. Veronica chuckled and shook her head, grabbing the scrunchie on her wrist to tie back her hair.

Veronica didn't fully understand what it was about Steve that made her want to be around him all the time. She felt she was tied to him, an ache forming whenever they were apart. It was similar to her how she felt connected to Eleven. But the last thing she wanted was to voice these feelings and scare off the one person that made her feel like a friend.

"I'll see you late, Harrington," Veronica spoke, caressing his cheek and rubbing it softly with the pad of her thumb.

Veronica closed her eyes tightly and concentrated for a moment, imagining her bedroom back home. The brown shag carpets, the white walls, the twin bed with the soft lavender bedding. It wasn't long till the burning sensation of ice traveled through her body. Only seconds passed before she found herself opening her eyes and staring at the closed door of her bedroom, hearing the normal chaos of a morning in the Byers' home. The lingering sensation of using her powers stayed on her skin as she stood from her bed and started to gather and get ready for another day in school.

"I swear if I get another C- in O'Malley's class I'm going to scream, I'm barely passing as it is." Robin ranted as Veronica walked beside her through the hallway of Hawkins High.

The hallway was crowded with students as they moved from their third-period classes to the lunch room. Ever since meeting Robin Buckley in one of their classes during the school year, the two girls grew closer and closer. Veronica liked how energetic Robin came off, feeling like a dose of caffeine and sunshine. To others, Robin Buckley seemed all over the place and a little snarky and sarcastic. But Veronica liked that most about the girl.

"Maybe you need to study a little more and stop focusing on Tammy Thompson," Veronica teased with a slight smirk, as she opened her locker to throw in her books.

"Hey...that was once," Robin countered "Not like she pays attention to me, she's too busy staring at Harrington."

Veronica felt a hot flare move through her, causing her smile to falter slightly.

"D-Does he...like...stare back?" Veronica asked

Robin looked toward her as her brows pulled together tightly. She noticed the way that Veronica gnawed on her lower lip nervously as she waited for her answer.

"No, he's too busy with whatever Harrington does," Robin shrugged "He might not be as popular anymore, and hanging around with the usual people. But girls still flock to King Steve."

"I believe you when you say that Steve was a bully before because he's told me himself. But he truly has changed." Veronica defended him, closing her locker as the two girls moved toward the lunch room.

"Believe it when I see it," Robin shrugged.

Veronica laughed and shook her head, but just as she turned the corner to head to the lunch room, she felt a hand wrap around her arm. Stopping quickly she turned ready to face either Carol or Tommy, but instead came face to face with Steve. He rose his hands up quickly in defense when he saw the fire in her dark eyes.

"Just me," Steve spoke, before relaxing and placing his hands into his jacket pockets.

"Sorry," Veronica sighed and turned back to Robin, "I'll catch up in a second."

Robin nodded her head, sending a small glare to Steve, before disappearing with the crowd that was moving through the double doors. Veronica moved to walk with Steve as he lead her away from everyone, leaning against a wall that was on the other side of the hallway.

"Where were you this morning?" Steve asked

"I used my powers to get back home," Veronica shrugged "I-I didn't know what else to do, and I wasn't fully sure if your parents were home or not. I didn't wanna get you in trouble."

Steve sighed and nodded his head, "Freaked out when I didn't see you there."

Veronica frowned more, "I-I'm sorry,"

Steve's brows pulled together as he quickly shook his head, "D-Don't be sorry. I was just worried...after last night, I wanted to make sure that you were ok."

Veronica shrugged her shoulders, "I think I'm gonna go over tonight and see my dad and El. I've been avoiding them for weeks and I can only do this for so much longer. Also, it's not fair of me to take this out on El."

"That's very...mature of you." Steve smiled slightly, "I don't think most would want anything to do with Hopper or blame you if you never did again."

"He's the only family I have left." Veronica whispered, "I don't wanna lose that."

That made Steve sag with sadness.

"I'm gonna go and eat, but thanks for last night. Really. It...It meant a lot to me, Steve."

"Of course," Steve nodded his head.

Veronica moved quickly and wrapped her arms around his waist and nuzzled her face into his chest. Steve stood frozen for a moment before wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly. The two of them stood there for a beat before Steve pressed his lips to the top of her head, leaving a soft kiss in her dark curls. She pulled back and gave him a small smile before leaving through the lunchroom doors. He stood there for a moment and watched as she walked away, only looking away till she was out of his sight.

"Look's like Harrington is getting a little fresh with the freak," a voice spoke from behind Steve.

Causing his back to straighten and slowly turn around. He felt a flare of anger move through his body as he stared into the ice-cold blue eyes of Billy Hargrove. Behind him was the rest of the basketball team which included Tommy H. Steve had been trying his hardest to not associate with his former best friend and teammates since coming back from break. Basketball season was done so he didn't feel the need to. But it seemed whenever he got a chance, Billy liked to poke at Steve whenever he could.

"Don't call her that man," Steve spoke, his gaze hardening.

"Just calling it what it is." Billy shrugged his shoulders, a cocky smirk coming across his lips.

"Chief doesn't even want his freak daughter," Tommy laughed as the group moved to walk around Steve.

"The fuck you just say?" Steve spoke, not thinking about the face he was outnumbered as he grabbed at Tommy's shoulder, causing him to turn and face him.

Tommy's face dropped with the cocky smirk and instead quickly turned to the familiar anger Steve was too familiar with. It was only recently that he was on the receiving end.

"You heard exactly what I said, Harrington." Tommy sneered

"Think you need to leave Veronica alone, don't know what the fuck you're talking about," Steve spoke, stepping closer to Tommy.

"Nancy dumped you for pervert Byers so now you wanna crawl between the legs of the orphan?" Tommy taunted "Didn't think this town would figure out that she's a bastard? Only took Carol's mother overhearing the chief talking about it with Joyce. Whole fucking pack of freaks."

Steve's stomach dropped and twisted. "Watch yourself, Tommy."

"What are you going to do, Harrington?!" Tommy shouted, causing the team behind him to laugh and chuckle. "You couldn't even win a fight against Byers last year. Do yourself a favor and back off before I ruin that pretty face."

Tommy moved to turn and leave, but Steve didn't care, he grabbed at him again. But this time when Tommy was turned around to face him, Steve punched his balled-up fist right into his nose. Chaos erupted quickly as Tommy was sent to the floor and Steve straddled over him. Of course, the rest of the basketball team jumped in, and Steve's upper hand was taken over quickly.

From inside the cafeteria, Veronica could hear the commotion that was coming from just outside the double doors that were left open. She stood up and moved with the rest of the school as rushed to see what was happening. But a large gasp came from Veronica as she saw the scene in front of her. Steve and Tommy tangled within each other with Billy Hargrove moving to throw Steve off. Hargrove cocked his arm back before it was soon met with Steve's face.

"Steve!" Veronica screamed, seeing his head thrust back as his tall frame fell to the linoleum floor beneath.

Veronica watched as Billy moved toward him again, a wave of heated anger on his face that was making it all red. Veronica concentrated on him and tilted her head slightly, causing him to slip and land on his back. To others, it looked like Billy had slipped and fallen as he tried to advance toward Steve. Steve rolled over and rose up onto his knees and clenched his hand over his nose, blood quickly moving from between his fingers. Veronica scrambled speedily and moved toward Steve, caressing his face gently as she watched bruises already start to form around his eye.

"We need to get out of here," Veronica spoke frantically, "We need to go."

Steve nodded his head and let Veronica wrap his arm over her shoulder, before nearly carrying him away from the chaos. Robin moved with her and caught the other side of Steve as they dragged him away. From behind her, Veronica could hear Principal Mackey shouting and coming upon the scene.

Robin and Veronica led Steve out of the hallway and toward the bathroom, not caring they were pulling him into the ladies' room. Steve groaned slightly as Veronica moved to lean him against the wall, as Robin turned the lock on the door.

"What the actual fuck happened?!" Robin shouted, her eyes wide and frenzied as she ran her hands through her short hair.

"Robin, please..." Veronica spoke sternly as she grabbed a paper towel, quickly moving to clean up the blood coming from Steve's nose.

His eyes closed tightly as Veronica tried as gently as she could to wipe away the blood. Steve's hand clenched tightly and grasped Veronica's waist as he hissed and moaned.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..." Veronica whispered, before sighing deeply once she was done. "Your nose isn't broken, but you're for sure gonna have black eyes tomorrow."

"Not the first time I've gotten one," Steve groaned and closed his eyes tightly, already feeling his eyes swelling.

"What happened? I left you for only a minute," Veronica asked, tossing the bloody tissue into the garbage.

Steve looked down, "Tommy and Billy were saying shit...and I didn't like it."

"So you tried to take on five people all at once...thinking that was a good idea?" Robin asked

"They were being jackasses," Steve shrugged "What else was I supposed to do?"

"Let them, that's what Billy and Tommy are. They are assholes and are always going to be assholes." Robin rolled her eyes.

Veronica looked at Steve and could see that he wasn't saying something, "Steve...did they say?"

His dark eyes looked at her and softened slightly, his shoulders sagging as he let out a deep and heavy sigh. "Baby, you don't want to know what they said."

"It was about me? Wasn't it?" Veronica pressed

Steve's silence was her answer.

"Steve," She groaned "You shouldn't be getting in a fight cause of me."

"They shouldn't have said that shit about you!" Steve shouted, wincing back as he felt pain ring in his head. "You've been through enough, don't need this bullshit town adding to it."

Veronica frowned and shook her head, before turning and leaving out of the bathroom, leaving Robin and Steve alone. Steve ran a hand through his hair and slowly moved to follow after her, but when he stepped out into the hallway, she was gone.

AN: Please leave a review with thoughts, feelings, and/or predictions.