𓆩♡𓆪

   THE RAIN FEELS LIKE it's smacking against Brooke's face. Seven people on a roof. Seven. She's scared between the rain and shitty structural build of Indiana buildings, someone is bound to slip and die.

   Thunder claps above them and Brooke reminds herself to yell at Robin for dragging her out here. A truck beeps between the roars of the thunder. "Look for Imperial Panda and Kaufman Shoes!" Robin yells.

   Paisley huffs, moving wet pieces of hair out of her face. Dustin holds the binoculars up to his eyes. Stella and Casey are practically cuddling next to Brooke. She wonders how badly a fall from the roof would hurt and if she could just accidentally pushes one of them off, preferably Casey.

   "They're with that whistle guy, ten o'clock!" Dustin yells. Men in yellow raincoats push boxes around.

    "What could be in there?" Stella asks. "Guns, bombs?" Dustin suggests. "Chemical weapons?" Robin adds on. Brooke narrows her eyes on the bald guy with a gun, "Okay, well, he looks Russian enough and he has a big ol' gun. They're armed to the teeth, guys." Thunder claps again as Steve tries to wipe the constant rain on his face away, "Great. That's great."

   The man in the yellow raincoat is ushered into a small room with his boxes. "Oh, look, mystery room. What could be in there?" Paisley asks, moving closer to Robin. Dustin stares through his binoculars, "It's just more boxes."

   "This is a waste of time," Brooke huffs. "No, there's gotta be something. It can't be a waste of time," Casey tells her but Brooke's glare is enough to make him swallow hard. "Let me check it out," Steve says to Dustin, grabbing the binoculars from him. Dustin doesn't let him though, tugging them back, "No, I'm still looking."

   "Lemme see it!" Steve and Dustin start arguing and tugging at the binoculars. Steve nearly elbows Brooke in the process. She shoves him back, Brooke doesn't think it was hard but the binoculars drop from Dustin's hands with a loud thud.

   Stella panics as the guards hear the thud. They immediately raise their guns and Dustin yells at them all to duck. Brooke pants as one hand finds Paisley's for comfort and the other somehow finds Steve's. As the thunder rumbles and each of them look at their hands laced together, neither one of them has the heart to pull away.

   Stella and Casey lay two people away from Brooke, hands laced together the same. So many butterflies in their stomachs that one might puke over the ledge.

   "We gotta go. Move between the lightning strikes," Brooke yells. She times it just right each time, avoiding the light as they all hurry into the mall.

"Well, I think we found your Russians," Robins says.

    "Yeah. You missed a key detail about Russians, Dustin," Paisley says, walking swiftly down the hall. "What's that?" Dustin asks.

   "The big fucking guns. That's a good indicator," Paisley says. They all rush to their cars, failing to dodge the rain. "Robin, you ever drag me out into a thunderstorm again, I might have to kill you," Brooke yells as she grabs ahold of Steve's door handle.

   Robin laughs a bit, knowing Brooke would never actually harm her, "Thought you liked thunder!" Robin rushes into Paisley's car before Brooke can get another word in. "When I'm not in it, yeah," She mutters under her breath, "Bye, losers!" Brooke yells before joining Dustin and Steve inside of the burgundy BMW.

   Stella and Casey wave off their friends. Stella's light blue nails turn the dial as Casey fondly stares at her from the passenger seat.

     "Can you turn the music up?" Brooke asks Steve with a sarcastic sweet tone, batting her lashes and everything. "Why—Oh, Queen is on. That's why," Steve nods, tapping the steering wheel but still not turning the music up. Brooke deadpans at him and closes the compact mirror in her hand, "Steve."

   He doesn't respond. Steve just smiles teasingly as he continues the drive to the Henderson household. Dustin eyeballs each of them. The annoyed expression on Brooke's face and Steve's eyes in the mirror.

    "Steve!" Brooke shouts right into his ear. Steve slightly flinches and pushes Brooke away with a nervous giggle, "Oh, my God!" Steve turns the music up. Another One Bites The Dust blasts through the expensive speakers of Steve's car.

   The intro is just ending and Brooke starts to scream the lyrics, "Steve," She points at the brunette, "Walks warily down the street. With the brim pulled way down low!"

   "Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet. Machine guns ready to go? Are you ready? Hey!" Dustin joins in. The two sing the rest of the song like kids in drama class. A big sparkly smile on Brooke's face as she sings her favorite band's lyrics. Rain pattering against Steve's windows but Brooke doesn't care. She's too into the music.

    Steve taps along to the beat, trying not to crash as he watches Brooke with big eyes. His heart flutters and he tries to swallow the feeling away but it won't go away watching Brooke out of the corner of his eye just have a good time. She's not at some party but she sure as hell is making one with the three of them right now. Brooke's specialty. Her odd ability to light up a room even if she's knocked out half the people in said room.

   Dustin's house comes into view as the song concludes. Brooke bows as best as she can in her seat and turns to Dustin, "Thank you, background singer!" Dustin nods, "You did much better than I ever could, madam," He tips his hat at her and runs to the house.

   Steve waits to make sure he's in the house and safe before driving off with a few glances towards Brooke. She doesn't notice because she's adjusting her seat but when Brooke looks up, their brown eyes seem to mix together. She wishes she could see the honey brown they become in the sun but the rain and dark sky that was once her favorite weather is now annoying her. Big dark orbs turn back to the road.

   "Hey, we're okay, right?" Steve asks. Brooke smiles, "Yeah. Yeah, it was just an in the moment thing, right? Both had shitty nights."

   Steve's small smile falls into a thin line, "Yu—Yup. A fluke." There's a moment of silence. Brooke is trying to figure out if she's lying to herself. She picks at her cuticles until her pointer to finger starts to bleed slightly.

  Steve turns down the relevant song that begins to play and he takes a deep breath, "Wanna go to my house? Plenty of movies. So many—movies. My dad isn't home—but I don't mean it like that I just mean he won't be there to bother us. Do you wanna come over?" Steve rambles about. Brooke just lets him with a smile, "Yes, I do, Steve. Jesus."

    "Cool. Cool," Steve repeats and takes a turn towards his house.

  
BROOKE'S WET SNEAKERS STEP onto the rug in Steve's house. As soon as Steve shuts the door, that's the last sound that's heard for a couple seconds. Such a big house and it carries a loud silence through it.

  Her clothes aren't soaked thanks to the coat she had on but her hair is damp. It drips a bit onto the floor and Steve notices.

   "Wait, stay here. I can go get a towel!" He rushes to the bathroom and grabs the first towel he sees. "Here," Steve hands it to Brooke only to notice it's a stupid kids printed one. Rubber ducks and rainbows litter the material. Brooke laughs a bit, "What's this for? My clothes are pretty dry—"

   "Your hair. The towel wrap around thing," Steve does a swirling motion around his hair. Brooke nods, "Oh. Alright." She wraps the towel around her head, "What movie, Harrington?"

    Frankenweenie has been on the screen for a good 20 minutes but neither teen has paid much attention. They're too focused on trying not to stare at the other for too long or trying to think of what to say to the other. Brooke breaks the ice, "I don't have work tomorrow."

   Steve fakes like he is watching the movie, which he only picked because he knew Brooke would like it. "Yeah, Paisley told me. She said the burger shop might burn down if only Stella is working," He says.

   "Nah, Carolina is coming in. She'll be okay," Brooke shrugs, "I'm gonna hang out with Danny tomorrow, so."

     Steve looks back at the movie but he can't seem to put the pieces together as to what the hell he missed about this damn dog. "We should put on Friday the 13th. Do you have Friday the 13th?" Brooke blurts out. She loves Frankenweenie, yes but she's not paying attention. Brooke is oddly nervous. The last time they sat this close her lips almost brushed against Steve's. "You don't think he's cute? I think he's cute. Maybe I'm bias because I've never had a pet but, uh, let me see if dad has Friday!" Steve stands up from the couch and starts to look through the collection of movies next to the TV.

    Brooke finally fully looks at the outfit Steve has on. Deja vù hits her instantly. It's not the same sweater from the night in 1983 but it's a similar color. Back when Brooke used to hate Steve. She feels—stuck. Sadly a normal feeling for Brooke, feeling stuck in one place because of bad memories. The teal jumper Steve has on makes her shiver a bit.

      Brooke is too quiet, Steve thinks. "Hey, listen, if you wanna go home," Steve turns to Brooke's sad face. The pout from her bottom lip and the destruction of her cuticles. Steve frowns, "If you're thinking about that dipshit, Casey. You don't deserve him."

   Brooke looks up at Steve with glossy eyes. The real reason she's upset hidden behind them. Brooke goes along with what Steve thought it was. She shrugs, "Maybe I don't deserve love." It's been weird voluntarily being open with Steve. Her best guess is because she feels forgotten by Jonathan. She loves him and Nancy together but shit, if he could at least make room for one sleepover and not just an off hangout she'd be even happier.

    It didn't matter that much when she was dating Casey but now watching Robin and Paisley fall in love and Nancy and Jonathan fall in love—it sickens her.

    She can be happy for them and still want to stab her eyes out when they kiss in front of her. Nancy and Jonathan—not Robin and Paisley, those two are too scared of their feelings to do much.

   As Brooke looks up at Steve—it seems to all hit her at once. All the feelings she had been hiding, everything. Brooke did hate him at one point. She thought he was the most ignorant person a kid in Hawkins could meet and felt bad for anyone who was roped into his world. But, that's all it's been for the last three years, Brooke Martel has been roped into Steve Harrington's world.

   No, more like, webbed like a fly that would be devoured at one point in a spider's web.

   The shit he would talk about in middle school with Tommy and Carol, the long stares he'd give her in elementary school while she hung from the monkey bars, she had hated all of it. So much so that Brooke would start to crave him talking shit—it was simply a reason to get in Steve's face and make him feel like the bitch he is.

   The glances they'd steal from the other seemed to all add up in this moment but he is a good friend now. That's why he cares so much. Because they're friends and they've been through hell together and he knows exactly what Brooke has been through. Heartbreak and shared trauma.

    Every slight touch that has burned her skin years prior all seems to flutter back. His eyes stare into her as he goes on about Casey and how he's a moron.

   "......Remember when he fell off the diving board? That's stupid. That was pretty stupid of him," Steve scoffs at the memory of the older teens in his pool late at night and he totally didn't happen to push Casey off the diving board. He just sticks to his story that Casey fell.

    Brooke watches Steve's lips as he speaks and her mind is going crazy. "I mean, you might be rude but it's like—that's your go to and most of the time people deserve it," Steve sits down next to, smiling, "I still deserve it. Do you have any suggestions on how to fix that—"

   "Kiss me," Brooke spits out. Her eyes scan wildly over Steve's face, connecting the freckles on his face like a made up constellation. Steve's heart nearly leaps out of his chest. He slowly inches his face towards Brooke's to give her time to back out, forget all this happened and Steve will take her home.

    Brooke is growing impatient, "Steven, fucking kiss me," She whispers with a low tone. Steve doesn't waste another second. He collides his lips with Brooke's soft lips. Brooke can slightly feel the cut rub against the corner of her lips. Steve brings Brooke closer to him, hands wrapped in her hair.

   They're both panting as their lips disconnect for a second. Steve gently pushes Brooke by the shoulder so that she has her back to the non leather, non splitting couch.

  The light from the TV reflects in Steve's eyes. Brooke can see the movie they abandoned as soon as it started playing in his eyes but behind Steve's eyes is the movie in his head that he thought would never play out. The one where he kisses Brooke and he treats her correctly, like she should be treated. He can handle her emotions and fiery attitude. It's his favorite part of her and that hasn't changed since elementary school.

    Brooke rests a gentle hand on the side of Steve's face, "Why'd you stop?"

   "Oh, how stupid of me," Steve laughs and reconnects his lips with Brooke's. Cold hands rush to hold her at the waist. Brooke feverishly grabs at the hem of Steve's sweater. That stupid teal sweater. Steve separates from Brooke to catch his breath but also to take in Brooke's swollen lips and the glimmer in her eyes.

   "You're beautiful," Steve says breathlessly. Brooke freezes. Cheesiness. She's supposed to hate it. But Brooke laughs in response, playfully shoving Steve's face over to grab him right back by the collar, "You're decent, Steve."

   "Oh, please, angel. I'm more than decent," Steve tries his hand at the smug, confident attitude that has never really gone away. Brooke is too flustered to muster up a sarcastic comment so, she gets back to it, hands pulling Steve close again as rain hits the windows and thunder claps outside.

     "THAT KEYCARD OPENS THE door but the Russian with this keycard also has a massive gun," Dustin explains his findings from earlier. The group, all except Brooke, sit in their usual spot in the back of Scoops Ahoy!

   Casey leans his head against the wall, "Alright so, whatever the hell is in that room and whatever is in those boxes—they really don't want people to find it."

   Paisley picks her head up from the table, "There can't not be a way in." Steve blows air into his hat, "Well, you know....." He leans forwards, "I could just take him out."

   Paisley and Robin glance at each other, a mutual understanding that Steve is a dumbass. Robin looks back at Steve, "Take who out?"

   "The Russian guard," Steve answers. Everyone scoffs, hiding their laughs from Steve. "What? I sneak up behind him, I knock him out, and take his keycard. It's easy," Steve all too confidently says. Stella steps forwards, "Did you understand the part about the big guns? Because I sure as hell did." Stella knew she shouldn't have gotten involved but no, Casey did so of course she did.

   Steve deadpans for a second, "Yes, Stella, I did. And that's why I would be sneaking," He uses his fingers to walk across the table. "Well, please, tell me this, and be honest, have you ever actually.....won a fight?" Dustin's question makes Casey snort. Steve glares at the other boy.

   "It's a valid question, really but go on," Casey motions. The huffs and glares from each of them over the past few months is really starting to become more tense. If only he knew I don't want Brooke back, Casey thinks.

   "Okay, that was one time—"

   "Twice. I was there when Jonathan beat your ass. Remember?" Paisley corrects him. Odd to think two years ago Paisley wanted Brooke to kill Steve. He points at Paisley sternly, "Listen, that doesn't count."

   "Why wouldn't it? Because it looks like he beat the shit outta you. We have Paisley as a witness!" Dustin says. Paisley leans forwards, "You had a busted lip, like the one you have right now just so, so much worse. A crooked nose, swollen eye, so much blood that I remember Brooke telling me she was dizzy just looking at you—"

  "Paisley, why are you bringing this up?" Steve shrugs in annoyance. The three continue to bicker as Robin stares around the room in boredom. Her eyes land on the vent above them. "That just might work," Robin says as he pushes out her chair. Casey catches on, "The vent," He whispers, smacking Stella lightly on the arm.

    "No, no. I watched him beat your ass—Robin?" Paisley frantically follows after Robin who just burst through the doors. She's practically on her heels when Robin sticks her hand into the top jar. "Robin. Hey, Robin! What are you doing?" Steve shouts.

   "I need cash," Robin quickly explains. "Well, we have to split that between the three of us!" Steve points towards him and Paisley, "Where're you goin'?" Robin walks towards Paisley, grabbing her wrist only to slide it door to her hand, "To find us a way into that room, a safe way!" Robin shouts as she pulls Paisley away and out of the shop. Paisley nervously looks between her hand interlaced with Robin's and back at her confused friends.

   "Casey's in charge!" Paisley yells. Robin pulls her away, giggling all the way to her bike. "Robin, where are we going?" Paisley asks. Robin puts her helmet on and takes a seat on the bike, "A place we can get a map. I promise you'll be okay. Get on my pegs," Robin points to them.

   Paisley sighs, not seeing another way to get there, "Jesus, don't kill me." She grips Robin's shoulders for her life. The blonde looks behind at Paisley, "I would never. Pretty passengers are treated like gold."

   
ALWAYS CHECK THE WHEELER'S first. An unspoken rule of their large group. One she seem to have forgotten the other day.

   It's a good thing she remembered though, the last place Brooke wants to be is at the Martel household. Waking up in Steve's bed only confused her for a second, the soreness concerned her. Her legs are still slightly sore as she walks up the Wheeler's sidewalk.

   "This is what I get for not getting laid for months," Brooke whispers to herself before knocking on the door. The kiss Steve left against Brooke's temple feels like it's tattooed into her skin, she kinda hopes it is.

   Brooke knocks on the door. A second later, Ted Wheeler opens the door with a very unpleasant look on his face, "Brooke? Finally here to grab Danny?"

   Brooke shifts her weight from heel to heel, "Yeah. They're in the basement?" Brooke takes a step into the house even though she wasn't officially welcomed in. Ted sighs deeply at the girl, "Oh, yeah. Welcome in."

   "Oh, thank you," Brooke sarcastically says to the miserable man. She opens the basement door, walking down the creaky stairs of the Wheeler basement, "Daniel! I'm here!" All the kids look up at Brooke. "Brooke?" El questions. Danny feels bad, he completely forgot he was supposed to hang out with Brooke today. He looks over at his friends and stands up from the couch, "Brooke, we have a problem."

  She furrows her brows, stepping in front of the kids now, "What kind of problem, exactly?"

   "The Mind Flayer. He's back," Lucas tells Brooke. Fear glosses over Brooke's face for a second. No, the kids are here, Brooke thinks. She takes a deep breath, "Okay, how do we know that?"

   "We think it's in Billy," El says, "I saw him." Brooke internally panics even more, "Saw him? What do you mean saw him? Are you hurt?" Brooke looks over El and what's visible of her. Danny frowns, jealousy at his sister's affection not being him boils. El swats Brooke's hands away, "No, I'm fine."

   "We need you to take us to the pool," Mike states. Brooke cocks her head back, "You think the Mind Flayer is taking swimming lessons?" She laughs at her own joke but stops when only Will lets out a pity laugh.

    "Will thought it was funny. Anyway, I don't have a car. Did we forget? No proper parents....Hopper has the only car," Brooke claps her hands together. The kids stare at her in disappointment. "We will just have to walk. Come on, let's go," Max says. All the kids, including Brooke follow closely behind her and out of the house.