Chapter 20

016

• 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮 •

─────✧･ﾟ: *✧･

☄. *. ⋆ “Steve!”

Stella’s brother poked his head into the girl’s room after opening the door, immediately smiling. “Oh, you look so good!”

“Can you help me tie this?” Stella asked, a smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes didn’t leave the mirror as she fumbled with the tie of her suit.

“My sis all fancy,” Steve continued cheekily, moving over to help with the necktie.

“Shut up,” Stella whined. “I’m kinda nervous.”

“You gonna ask Max to dance?”

“Steve!” Stella hurried to shut her door. “Lower your voice. If mom and dad hear you, they’ll kill me,” she said, only mostly exaggerating. Her parents have heard of Max during the times they’d be home and she’d have her over. It was the only time they’d act like normal, loving parents. They brought them cookies once, and Stella refrained from scoffing.

“Sorry,” he whispered as Stella walked back over to the mirror. Steve finished tying it, then stepped back to look at her as she started to smile to herself in the mirror.

She moved her loose braid over her shoulder, toying with the hair at the end as she admired the black bow tying it off.

“Okay, I’ll be in the car,” Steve told his little sister, and Stella nodded.

She stared a moment more before moving to her desk to grab lip gloss.

After applying it, she added some blush and a few sprays of vanilla perfume– her go-to scent –she put on the dress shoes she got, and took one last look at the complete outfit. There was no cast or sling to ruin it this time.

Stella took a slow, deep breath in and out, then started out of her room.

Careful not to grab her parents’ attention, she stepped down the stairs quietly.

Her parents’ television show played from the living room as she made her way downstairs, her shoe softly landing on the ground.

“Estelle.”

Stella’s blood ran cold, and she swallowed thickly. She turned at her father’s voice to find both of her parents staring at her coldly as they stood and approached.

“Yes?”

“What are you wearing?” Her father asked her, his voice low and dangerous.

“The school dance is tonight,” she informed him as he walked towards her, and she backed up until she hit the wall behind her. Her father nodded. “I know. Where’s your dress?”

“Um, I just… I didn’t feel like wearing it, it’s pretty cold ou–“

“What are you, a dyke?”

“What? No,” Stella immediately denied her father’s question, his voice laced with venom.

“I will not have a dyke for a daughter.”

“I’m not a dyke!”

Ellis Harrington’s balled up fist collided with Stella’s cheek when she shouted at him. Juliet spoke up while Stella’s eyes glossed over.

“Oscar Rollway is going to be accompanying you to the dance,” her mother told her, and she furrowed her eyebrows. “What? I–“

“You’re dancing with Oscar!” Ellis shouted. “And fix your tone. Have some respect. Go upstairs and change.”

“But Steve’s waiting for–“

“Go put on the dress you bought,” her father demanded, grabbing Stella’s collar as he slammed her against the wall. She had inched away from it, and she regretted it as her back thudded against it.

Stella looked at her father, fear in her eyes despite her trying to stay bold.

Ellis wasn’t gentle whatsoever with letting her go, and she stared at him for a moment more before hurrying upstairs, tears escaping and falling onto the carpeted floor of the steps.

The girl refrained from slamming her door, making her way to her bathroom and grabbing makeup wipes.

The moment replayed in her head, and she balled the wipe up in her hand.

“What are you, a dyke?”

“I will not have a dyke for a daughter.”

“Shit!” She startled out of her head when a flame rose with a woosh from the wipe in her hand. She threw it in the sink and turned the faucet on, watching the flame go out. Sighing, she opened her drawer and grabbed a new wipe, starting to clean the dripped makeup from her face.

She still didn’t have excellent control over her powers, but she was learning.

–

☄. *. ⋆ “Took you long enough,” Steve said jokingly when Stella opened the car door. He quickly noticed her change in demeanor. “Hey, what’s wrong? Where’d the suit go?”

“I’m not wearing it.”

“Why not? What happened?”

“Mom and Dad happened.”

The bruise formed quick enough, and Stella had used makeup to hide it.

“Shit. I’m sorry, Essie.”

Stella didn’t give a response, and Steve sighed before starting the car.

–

☄. *. ⋆ “Oh… my God,” Stella looked to Steve when she saw Dustin walk out of his house.

Dustin opened the door. “What’dya think?”

“It actually… looks nice. You look fancy,” Stella admitted, putting a cheeky smile on Dustin’s face.

“Also, though, you’re totally sitting in the back,” she said, and Dustin pouted. “Please?”

“Dude, no.”

Continuing to pout like a toddler, Dustin begrudgingly opened the backseat and got in.

–

☄. *. ⋆ “Okay, here we are,” Steve said as they pulled in front of the gym. “So, remember, once you get in there…”

“Pretend like I don’t care,” Dustin said from his spot in the backseat.

“You don’t care.”

“I don’t care,” Dustin echoed, trying to get into the nonchalant mood.

“There ya go. You’re learning, my friend. You’re learning,” Steve told him.

Dustin got out of his seat, leaning forward to look in the mirror, completely trampling Stella, who tried to move out of the way while staying seated. “Dude!”

“Hey, hey, hey,” Steve stopped him. “Relax, you look great. You look… great. Doesn’t he look great, Essie?”

“I dunno, he’s covering my entire face right now. God, move, Dustin!” She said, and the boy finally leaned back, whispering a “sorry.”

“Now, you’re gonna go in there…” Steve started.

“Yeah.”

“Look like a million bucks!”

“Yeah!”

“And you’re gonna slay ’em dead.”

“Like a lion,” Dustun said before purring, making Stella cringe. “You gotta stop doing that,” she told him, and Steve nodded. “Yeah… don’t do that, okay?”

“Okay.”

Steve put his hand out, and Dustin shook it.

“Good luck,” Steve said, and Dustin left the car. “See ya inside, Stella,” he said before closing the door.

It was Stella and Steve, and the girl sighed.

“You okay?”

Stella nodded. “Yup.”

There was a silence for a moment, and Steve broke it. “Are you gonna ask her?”

Stella paused before answering, contemplating. “I dunno. I was going to, but Mom and Dad set me up with some son of their co-workers that I hardly even know.”

Steve wasn’t sure how to respond, and Stella opened her door, grabbing a bag. “Welp!”

“Hey, hey, why are you bringing that?” Steve asked, and Stella smirked as she scoffed. She put the bag on the seat from outside of the car, unzipping it and pulling out her suit.

“Mom and Dad aren’t gonna determine the shit I wear, Steve. C’mon, you thought I’d listen? You know better.”

Steve smiled at her before giving a proud and understanding nod. The girl shoved the clothing back into her bag.

“Later!” Stella grinned before shutting the car door and heading into the gym.

The area was decorated gorgeously. Lights were hung everywhere, along with streamers, there was an arch of balloons, and a banner read “Snowball ’84.” Stella grinned in amazement and awe as she spun around, staring at everything.

“Hey, there, Miss Harrington,” Mr. Clarke greeted as Stella stood in front of the ticket table.

“Hey, Mr. Clarke,” she smiled, giving him her ticket.

“Have fun,” he told her, and she nodded. “Thanks.”

She made her way through the crowd, spotting her friends and making a beeline for them before she could be stopped by one of the people who deemed themselves her ‘friend.’

“Hey, guys,” she greeted, looking at the rest of the party. They all said their own greeting in reply, still chuckling about something that had been said previously.

“Um, you look great, Ess,” Max complimented, and Stella’s face reddened slightly. “Oh. Thanks,” she smiled nervously. “So- so do you.”

“Thanks.”

An awkward silence fell over the room, but their attention was pulled away from it when a slow song started to play.

Stella looked around at everyone pairing up, and felt a tap on her shoulder.

She turned to find Oscar Rollway standing behind her shyly. “H- hey,” he stammered, seemingly uncomfortable.

“Oh. Hey, Oscar.”

“Um… d’you wanna dance?” He asked, starting to fiddle with the sleeve of his plaid button up.

Stella glanced behind her at her friends, specifically Max, whose gaze avoided hers. Stella sighed quietly, wanting nothing more than to decline and ask Max, but if he told his parents, she’d pay for it badly.

Stella put on a fake smile. “Yeah,” she said, nodding. But Oscar didn’t seem too excited, and she noticed, although confused.

The boy stepped back a little bit, prompting Stella to lead him to the rest of the crowd.

Oscar shyly and awkwardly put his hands on Stella’s waist, and she joined him, putting her hands on his shoulders.

Max watched from afar, her chest aching as she watched them. But she noticed Stella’s visible discomfort, and her expression grew puzzled.

“Um…” Oscar stammered. “So our parents are friends, right?”

“Yeah…”

Oscar nodded.

“Did… did they, like…” he trailed off.

“Make me… accept the dance?” Stella asked, feeling like she was catching on.

Oscar nodded, stopping his swaying. Stella stopped as well, her hands slowly retreating from the boy’s shoulders. He let go of her waist as well, and they stood there awkwardly.

“Um, I don’t…”

Stella knew that Oscar was a reserved person. He kept to himself almost all the time, and he sat alone at lunch. Partly because he didn’t have anyone to sit with, but also because he liked being on his own. Stella could tell. She could trust him.

“I don’t really… like guys,” she admitted, finishing her sentence as it quieted towards the end. Oscar seemed surprised, his eyes subtly widening. “Oh.”

“Yeah…”

“I don’t… me- me neither,” he said quietly. “Well- I mean, like- I don’t–“

“Like… girls?”

Oscar looked up at her from the ground his eyes had landed on, a face that Stella knew was silent confirmation.

“I won’t tell my parents,” Stella assured him. “If- if you don’t tell yours. We don’t have to dance together.”

Oscar nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, o- okay.”

“Okay.”

The two reached that silence again, and it was still awkward, but there was some understanding to it.

“Is it alright if I go back to my friends?” Stella asked, and he nodded. “Yeah.”

“‘Kay,” she smiled before starting to head back over to the party.

“Oh, Stella!”

The girl turned around at the sound of the boy’s voice again.

“You can call me Ozzy. If you want.”

“Ozzy,” she nodded. “Got it. Later!” Stella put up a peace sign as she jogged back to her friends.

“Ess,” Max said, sitting up slightly with a look of some surprise. She was the only one there, and Stella wondered where everyone else had gone. “Hey. What- what happened with Oscar?”

“Oh. Nothing. Don’t worry about it,” she told the redhead, who nodded. That’s when Stella remembered her backpack, and she hesitated before grabbing it.

“Um, I’ll be right back,” she told her, and Max nodded.

Stella headed off to the locker room, not surprised when she was the only one there.

She got the clothes out of the bag, but then paused.

What if Max hated it? What if she called her a dyke, like her parents did? What if they stopped being friends?

The “What if”s ran through her mind a mile a minute, and she felt her hands start to heat up.

She never cared about what people thought. Why was she worried now?

She froze when the locker room door swung open.

“Ess?”

It was Max.

Shit.

From the other side of the lockers, Max turned the corner to see Stella.

“Hey,” Stella said, looking at her confused friend.

“Hey. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t…”

Stella sat down on the bench behind her, starting to tap her foot. Max moved to sit next to her. “What?”

“It’s nothing, just my stupid outfit.”

Max grew more confused, knitting her eyebrows together. “What about it? You look great.”

“I just wanted to wear something else,” Stella told her. “It’s right there, I’m just all nervous to wear it for some reason, even though I’ve never panicked like this over an outfit!” The girl ranted, speaking exceedingly fast.

“Well, wear it,” Max told her, and Stella finally looked at her after her eyes darted everywhere. “What?”

“Put it on, I wanna see.”

Stella looked at her hesitantly before grabbing the bag and standing up. “Wait here,” she told her before turning the corner to change.

Trying to remember how Steve did it, the girl fumbled with her necktie for a bit before giving up and letting it hang around her neck, undone.

Stella turned the corner, putting her arms up with pursed lips. “How is it?”

Max’s face reddened, and her mouth fell slightly agape before she answered. “It- it looks amazing. You look insane. Like insane- insanely good, not like… y’know…”

Stella chuckled, not missing Max’s face, but trying to act cool about it. “Right,” she grinned. The brunette stood on the bench, jumping from it to sit on top of the lockers, then flopping onto her back, staring at the ceiling as she propped one leg up.

Max followed her actions, joining the girl, but not lying down.

“Why were you scared to wear it?” Max asked, looking down at the girl.

Stella’s stomach fluttered as Max looked down on her. “Oh. Um, I dunno. Guess I thought people’d judge. Which is weird for me,” she admitted. “But… I guess it’s because of this one person… I was nervous that they’d judge. Not anyone else.”

“Oscar?” Max asked, her voice soft, quiet.

“No,” Stella quickly dismissed, the same gentle tone as she almost chuckled.

Max moved to her knees, sitting on her heels. “Who was it?”

Stella didn’t answer, and she noticed Max’s eyes flicker to her lips. The Harrington’s face got hot as she instinctively did it back.

Every Breath You Take by The Police continued to play through the speakers in the gym, muffled through the walls but still audible to the girls in the locker room. It wasn’t until now that Stella even acknowledged the song.

Max slowly started to move closer to the girl, leaning down as Stella remained lying on her back.

Stella tilted her head up the slightest bit, not lifting it from the lockers.

Max closed the gap between them, both of their eyes fluttering closed as their lips met, molding together.

“Since you’ve gone, I’ve been lost without a trace.”

Fireworks erupted in Stella’s stomach as the fluttery feeling returned, and it felt like all of her problems evaporated. Nothing was wrong in that moment.

“I dream at night, I can only see your face.”

A piece of Max’s hair fell from behind her ear, and Stella reached up, tucking the girl’s red hair back where it was.

“I look around, but it’s you I can’t replace.”

“I feel so cold and I long for your embrace.”

Max pulled away after a moment, staring down at Stella, who looked back up dazedly.

“I keep crying baby, baby, please.”

“You, ” Stella whispered. “It was… it was you.”

Max cocked her head, her face obviously questioning.

“The one I was worried about. About what they’d think. It was you. It’s always been you, Cali.”

─────✧･ﾟ: *✧･

HAPPY ENDING

sad beginning but yk HAPPY ENDING

things i almost did part 9 : i was gonna make oscar a completely different character and he was gonna like force stella to dance with him and then max was gonna swoop in and save her like hey um i need your help fixing makeup or whatever and then they’d end up in the locker room anyway and kiss but then i decided i wanted a silly little guy who was also gay and was really pookie and stuff so yeah. also stella wasn’t going to put her suit back on, but i wanted to find some way she could end up wearing it

anyway, season 2 and act. i have officially been completed 🥳

tysm to everyone that’s been reading this and/or reading any of my other stories!!!

i need to finish as hawkins falls so i can publish this already 👹 but since ur reading this it’s done so yay 😸