Chapter Forty

Defense

Veronica smiled at her father as the small birthday cake was placed down in front of her. It was a small chocolate cake with jagged words handwritten across the top. Hopper's smile nearly matched his daughters as he sang happy birthday slightly off-key. Though her birthday was a few days ago, Hopper had planned a small dinner at the cabin with just himself, Eleven, and Veronica.

"Make a wish," He spoke as he moved to take the seat across from her at the small dining room table within the cabin.

"A wish?" Veronica asked, her face slightly screwed up in confusion.

"Yeah, uh...you make a wish of something you want to happen for your birthday and then blow out the candles." Hopper explained, "But just make sure not to tell anyone. Then it won't come true."

Veronica sat there for a moment going through things that she could possibly want. She really had everything that she could want. A family that she loved dearly, friends that she considered family, and freedom from the Lab. No sign of that nightmare part of her life ever coming back. But then she thought a little deeper and knew the one thing she wanted, but couldn't possibly have. Her mother. Having her here to be part of the family she now had. Veronica had moments where she even ached for a hug. That thought brought a small frown to her lips, Eleven felt the change in her sister, and instantly reached over and placed a comforting hand on top of hers.

She turned toward the small girl and smiled slightly down at her, the two of them silently communicating as she thanked her. Veronica sighed softly and closed her eyes before blowing out the flames of the two small candles, only wishing that the summer that was only a few weeks away would be a good one. Jim plucked out the candles and cut into the small dessert and placed a slice on each of their plates.

"You given more thought on what you're gonna do this summer?" Hopper asked, "Know you spoke of your friend getting a job up at that new mall."

Veronica shrugged her shoulders slightly, "I-I don't know. I...I'm not really sure what I'm even supposed to do."

"Well...you're at an age now where you can sort of do whatever you'd like. Do something with your time that is going to make you happy." Jim spoke slightly.

He still hadn't fully come to terms that his daughter was now eighteen years old. It was a thought that seemed to send his heart racing with a bit of panic. He was having anxiety over the fact that he was the father of not one, but two teenage girls.

Veronica took a few bites of the chocolate cake as she sat in contemplation.

"I'll look into it," Veronica spoke softly. "Are you excited for the summer?"

The question was directed toward Eleven.

"A little." She spoke lightly, "Mike talks about all stuff that he wants to show me."

Veronica didn't miss the slight pink that seemed to appear on the younger girl's cheeks. The look in her eyes caused the anxiety within Jim Hopper to spike more.

The following day Veronica moved through the halls of Hawkins High with a quickened pace as she headed toward her locker. As she turned the corner of the hall where her locker was, she could already see Steve waiting for her beside it. Just seeing him caused a smile to spread across her face. The moment Steve's eyes landed on hers, he reached forward and pulled her into his chest.

"There you are!" Steve spoke, his chest feeling like it filled with warmth at the sound of her soft laughter.

"Jonathan had a little trouble with the car this morning," Veronica spoke as she stepped out of his arms slightly to open her locker. "How'd the game go? Sorry, I couldn't come...my dad really wanted to do a family dinner for my birthday."

"We lost." Steve shrugged "Shocking we made it as far as we did."

"I'm sorry," Veronica frowned, quickly grabbing her morning books, before closing her locker quickly.

Steve shrugged his shoulders again before stepping closer to her and bending down to kiss her lips softly. Veronica nearly instantly melted into him as she felt his soft lips pressed against her. The kiss didn't last long in reality, but Veronica, it felt like it was happening in slow motion of complete bliss. When Steve pulled back he watched as her long lashes rested against her cheeks for a moment before her dark eyes fluttered open slowly. A bright blush moved across her cheeks as she noticed how Steve was looking down at her.

"Don't know if I'm gonna get used to that," Steve spoke softly.

"Used to what?"

Before Steve could even elaborate the shrill down of giggles seemed to pop the small bubble that the young couple seemed to be in. Veronica jumped slightly at the sudden noise before noticing as Carol and the rest of her friends walked the rest of the way down the hall. Veronica stepped back out of Steve's arms as the smile she once held dropped from her face.

"Hey...don't let them get to you," Steve spoke the moment he noticed the change, reaching for her again. "They don't matter, ok?"

Veronica's lips were pressed tightly together as she nodded her head and gave Steve a small smile that didn't quite reach her lips. She couldn't help it, no matter how hard she tried, but let the looks and comments get to her sometimes. The sound of the bell caused everyone in the hallway to scatter quickly to their first hour. Veronica gave Steve's hand a small squeeze before she left in the opposite direction to her first hour. Steve stood there for a moment and watched as she left, before venturing off to his destination.

Most of the day for Veronica went as normal. She sat through her classes as she heard her teachers drone on and on about whatever lesson she was in. By the time lunchtime came around she was ready for the day to be over. Veronica walked beside Robin as she listened to the girl tell of the latest drama that was happening within the school's band.

"...and then Josh nearly charged toward Tanner, but a few of the others stopped him before he could do anything." Robin finished as the two of them walked into the bathroom.

But what the two didn't notice when they walked into the girl's room, was that Carol and a few of her friends standing at the mirrors. The moment Veronica noticed the teen's bright red hair she stopped short, causing Robin to do the same. Carol's lips turned up into a snide smirk as she stared at Veronica.

"Well, well...if it isn't the freaks of Hawkins." Carol's voice. The pitch and tone of her voice were enough to cause goosebumps to erupt across Veronica's skin.

"Not in the mood today, Carol," Veronica spoke, the heavy tiredness she was feeling evident in her voice.

"It's cute how you think I would care," She chuckled, causing her other friends to laugh with her. "It was quite pathetic to see you with Harrington this morning. Dragged him down to your loser level he had to date the freaks."

Veronica stopped short before stepping into the stall and looked over to Carol. She could see the deviant smirk on her lips as she leaned closer to the mirror, fixing whatever makeup she felt was out of place.

"Can't be getting much with Ms. Priss." One of the others, Tammy, giggled.

"Or is that how you got him? Spread those legs in order for him to take pity on you?"

Veronica felt a flare of heat move through her body as she glared at the group of girls.

"When are you guys going to ever stop," Veronica spoke, before thinking, crossing her arms at her chest.

"Excuse me?" Carol glared, moving back from the mirror and turning to face her more.

"I mean it's pathetic to see that the only way you find happiness is to drag others down." Veronica continued. "Is your life to lonely and pathetic you need others to feel worse about themselves in order to feel any happiness?"

Carol scoffed "You've got a lot of fuckin' nerve,"

"I have a lot more than that. I'm sick of the laughing, comments, and looks. Find something actually meaningful with your life, Carol." Veronica took a step forward, hardening her gaze more. "Or else I will show you exactly what kind of freak I can."

Carol opened her mouth but quickly closed them as she stared into Veronica's dark eyes, seeing something within them that caused her to shrink back. The redhead shook her head before looking back toward her friends.

"Let's go, not worth our time," Carol spoke, before pushing into Veronica's shoulder and exiting the bathroom.

"Holy fucking shit!" Robin exclaimed loudly as she looked at her friend with a wide smile. "That was badass."

Veronica deflated slightly and sighed heavily, "I don't know about that."

"Are you kidding me? You finally stood up to that fuckin' troll. I am so proud of you."

Veronica smiled bashfully, "Thanks." She spoke before going into the stall.

The two of them left not long after and headed into the noisy cafeteria. The boost of confidence Veronica felt from standing up to Carol continued as she walked toward the table that Steve was sitting at. He perked up slightly the moment he saw her ad as she slid into the seat beside him. Robin continued walking to head toward the table where her friends were sitting.

Before Steve could even utter a word to her, Veronica gently grabbed the back of his head and pulled him down to her. His lips pressed tightly against hers causing Steve to make a small noise of surprise. Around them, some of the tables fell silent for a moment before a few of them let out whistles. Veronica smiled as she pulled away with her face reddening, Steve stared down at her in shock.

"N-Not that I'm upset or anything...but where did that come from?" Steve spoke with his eyes still slightly wide.

Veronica shrugged "Cause I wanted to."

Steve smiled slightly and reached to move a dark curl from her face, "Yeah?"

Veronica nodded, "Finally stood up to Carol. Sick of her little comments and...don't like what she said about you and me."

"Really? Y-You stood up to her?"

"Robin is my witness."

"That is amazing," Steve grabbed each side of her face, before bending down and kissing her lips softly and quickly. "How about for celebration we have a movie night? Maybe get some ice cream from the general store downtown and whatever else you want."

"It's a Monday, won't your parents care?" Veronica questioned.

Steve's smile faltered slightly before he spoke, "Parents are gone for the next couple of weeks. Dads at a conference in D.C."

"Oh,"

Veronica had heard many times of Steve's parents not really being around or home, leaving him alone most of the time. She could see whenever it was slightly brought up, that a sadness caused his eyes to dim.

"Then I think a movie night would be awesome...just have to be home for curfew," Veronica spoke, leaning into him slightly, reaching over to steal a chip from his tray.

"Can do that for sure," Steve spoke, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into his side tightly.

The two of them fell into a soft and quiet conversation about the movie they were going to watch. Not caring about those that gave them looks, or the whispers as people stared. Steve made Veronica happy, bringing a new feeling that ran through her that she wasn't willing to give up any time soon.

The next chapter is going to be a time jump into Season 3!