chapter one, roses or thorns?

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SHE was all roses and sunshine. Her lips tasted like candy and her eyes danced around the room like a small child. She hugged her stuffed bear to her chest as she smiled graciously at the familiar figure who gave her the sweet gift. He grinned back at her, his usual cocky smile as he leaned on the frame of her bedroom door. Her blond hair spilling over her shoulders as she shook her head quickly, giggles echoing in his ears and he swore his heart stopped beating.

"Tommy Hagan, who knew your love language was giving gifts?"

He scoffed playfully, watching her chew on her lip as she turned on her heel, prancing back into her room decked in shades of pink. Her blond hair moved with ease down her back. Her white tank-top and shorts hugged her beautifully as she tiptoed into her room, spinning in a circle as music played from a stereo across the room. She settled into her bed, placing the bear on top of her pillows.

"Cynthia Baxter, who knew your love language was taking gifts?"

She looked up at him with a playful smile. The same sweet flustered smile she always had when she looked up at him. He didn't move from his spot, knowing she'd move for him. She was off her bed in an instant, rushing up and wrapping her arms around him. Her lips pressed against his firmly and sweetly. He chuckled, his chest vibrating against hers as he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her there as their lips danced as they always did.

Teenage love, it's a funny thing, really. Filled with happiness, sadness, anger, sexual frustration, real frustration, and a whole lot of awkwardness. Theirs wasn't like that. Theirs was pure, but that was likely because Cynthia Baxter was the epitome of the word. She danced in the clouds, her world shielded with innocence and pretty smiles. She lived in shades of pink, purple, and yellow. Her eyes were decorated in shades of sapphire as she watched the world in rose-colored lenses. She lived in a bubble. A bubble of rainbows, sunshine, innocence, and love. Maybe it was ignorance, or maybe it was just how Cynthia Baxter was. Purely and irrevocably innocent.

People like Tommy Hagan usually wouldn't fit in her bubble. He drank, he smoked, and he's had a lot of sex. But there was something about the pretty blond he couldn't help but love. She was everything he and their other friends weren't. She was sweet, she was kind, and she was loving. Tommy was an asshole. He was rude, he was mean, and he barely understood what real love was before he stumbled upon her. And yet, she did nothing but show him, love. The unconditional kind that seemed to leave you drunk and giggly inside.

So, Tommy Hagan and his friends protected that bubble of innocence. They wouldn't dare let anything or anyone touch a perfect gold strand on Cynthia Baxter's head. Luckily, Tommy Hagan had his best friend, Steve Harrington, at his side. King Steve, who had taken Cynthia under his wing and became her protector alongside Tommy. They didn't fit in her bubble, not really, but they made sure that bubble was the way it always was.

So, as Cynthia beamed up at him in the frame of her door, Tommy felt his heart beat quickly against his chest. He leaned down, his lips meeting hers again. Cynthia giggled happily into his lips, stumbling back slightly. Tommy ate it up, stepping into her room ever so slightly.

"Hagan! Stay out or I'll kick your ass!"

Tommy pulled away slowly, watching Cynthia bat her lashes at him dreamily. His eyes darted to the Jack & Jill bathroom door on the left wall, seeing another blond poking her head into the room. She pointed at him warningly, her messy hair on her shoulders as she waved her toothbrush at him.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Evelyn," He teased, moving his hands up to either side of his head as he stepped back into the hallway. Cynthia's face was suddenly red as she looked away from her twin sister.

Evelyn Baxter, the complete contrast to her sister, glared him down as she grumbled. "It's Eve, asswipe."

She was a cluster of thorns in a sea of roses, that Evelyn Baxter. She saw the world as it was and though she sometimes found Cynthia's innocence exhausting, she wouldn't dare harm it. Much like Tommy, Eve was a protector. She fought the world with her sword the moment she and Cynthia were born. She was brave, she was headstrong, and she was independent. She was whatever Cynthia needed to be, even if they didn't know it.

Tommy looked at his girlfriend of four months again. "I'll pick you up tomorrow, alright?" He gestured to her with a smirk. Cynthia nodded eagerly, pressing a peck to his lips as he stepped further away. "See you tomorrow, Evelyn!"

"It's Eve!"

Tommy's laughter faded along with him down the stairs. Cynthia watched from her door, sighing as she slowly closed the white wood. She walked to her bathroom, seeing Evelyn standing there with her toothbrush in her mouth. "Thank you for not being as mean to him this time."

Leaning over the sink, Eve spits out toothpaste as she leaned back up. "I said I'd be nicer! What kind of sister would I be if I lied?" She asked teasingly. Cynthia rolled her eyes, moving to start her own night routine. "Did you finish my notes for the chemistry test?"

"Oh, yeah, they're on my desk." Cynthia chimed, leaning into the counter to let Eve squeeze past. The blond hummed to herself, staring at her own reflection happily. She began to brush her teeth, shaking her head to the song on the radio.

"Why is Steve Harrington's stupid face in my stack of notes?"

Cynthia leaned out into her room, staring at the photo. "Oh, it's his school picture! He was having me and his new girlfriend pick out which one to give to his grandparents." She explained easily, turning back into the bathroom.

Eve scrunched her nose. "He looks like one of those people that play golf," She turned the photo in her hand as she stuck out her tongue. "My names Steve, I have a shitload of money and I hate my parents cause they buy me everything I want!" She mocked before tossing the photo back to her sisters desk. "Give me a break!"

"He's a nice guy, Evie," Cynthia scolded as she finished brushing her teeth. She walked back into her room. "Even you said you like him!"

"No, I said he's tolerable. For you." Eve waved a bitten-down nail in her sister's direction. "They're all tolerable." She huffed.

Cynthia slid onto her bed, her hands finding the teddy bear Tommy decided to drop off by surprise. "You'd like them more if you didn't try to strangle everyone you met," She teased. Eve huffed, rolling her eyes. "We've been friends with them for two years, Evie! You have to like them a little,"

"Yeah, a little," The twin replied. Cynthia rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, Cynnie,"

"Goodnight, Evie,"

The short-haired blond closed the bathroom door behind her as she trailed into her own room. She looked out her window that peered into the street of Hawkins. From across the street, she could see a group of boys splitting from the Wheeler house and going in their own directions home. Eve shook her head, closing the curtains harshly before moving on about her night. She slinked into her bed, fiddling with the stack of cards in hand as she read the words on the paper.

Cynthia slid into her white and pink floral sheets, the teddy bear tucked into her arms as she closed her eyes tight with a sappy smile on her face. Her room was dimly illuminated by a street light outside her bay window. She sunk into her mattress, music still lowly playing, lulling her into the comfortable slumber she craved.

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Hawkins High School was just as it always was. Crowded with students of all kinds, chatter amongst all of them, and a pair of sisters in the middle of it all.

Decked out in denim and fall colors, Eve walked alongside her sister with her usual demeanor. She was wearing a tight burnt orange and brown turtleneck tucked into her jeans, a pair of black converse she got four years ago, and her denim jacket. She had her hands in her pockets, looking around the hall casually as she hugged her shoulder bag to her hip.

Cynthia had more pep in her step. She was walking in a white skirt and a light pink blouse, and her Hawkins cheer squad jacket. She always wore it or one of Tommy's jackets. She smiled wide, leaning into Tommy's side as his arm draped over her shoulders.

"Harrington! Don't tell me you forgot to meet us out front!" Tommy shouted as they walked up to a familiar boy in blue.

Steve Harrington looked up from the locker he had slipped a note into, smirking at the trio that approached him. "Sorry, had some, uh," His eyes drifted to the locker, then back to Tommy, "Business to attend to," He finished. Eve scoffed, rolling her eyes as Steve joined them on their walk through the school. The plus side of being friends with the popular kids, was that nobody messed with Eve or her sister. Not that anyone would. The reputation Eve carried after punching Jason Carver in the nose in seventh grade still followed her. Steve walked on the other side of Tommy, leaning to look in the other blond's direction. "How's the Princess doing?"

Cynthia beamed, just as she always did. "Did Tommy tell you what he did?" She gasped, her eyes widening excitedly. Steve shook his head, but he knew exactly what Tommy did. "He came to my house with a teddy bear! For no reason! No anniversary or anything!" She gushed, nearly jumping out of her white sneakers as she did.

"Wow!" Steve gasped, looking toward Tommy. "Who knew you were such a sap?" The bell above them rang, signaling there was only a bit longer before school began. "I gotta go, I got business," Steve winked before disappearing into the bathroom.

Eve and Cynthia looked at each other before back at the door. "He just walked into the girls' bathroom." Pointed out Eve with a frown.

Tommy sighed, nudging Eve and Cynthia. "Let's let the man attend his business in private." He crooned as they walked.

Groaning, Eve looked down at her bag. "Kaminsky's test is going to throw me into a meat grinder and shit me out, I swear," She huffed as she fumbled with the note cards from the night before.

Cynthia scoffed, reaching over for them. "No, it's not." She leaned back into Tommy casually, flipping through them. "It'll be easy, as long as you actually study." She stated pointedly, raising a brow in her sister's direction. Eve scowled back but knew Cynthia had a solid point.

"Cyn," Tommy hummed, leaning into Cynthia's face and kissing her cheek sloppily. It caused the girl to scrunch her nose, turning her head to look up at him. "What are you doing tonight?"

"Studying," The blond deadpanned. She blinked up at him, oblivious to any strange looks they got as they walked.

Tommy hummed, his thumb rubbing her shoulder soothingly. "What about I come over tonight? Help you study," He reasoned as he looked over Cynthia's head and in her sister's direction. Eve groaned, throwing her head back in disgust.

"But I'm helping Evie study," Cynthia replied, frowning. "And you're not allowed in our rooms," She waved a finger in Tommy's direction before poking the center of his chest.

"Then we can study in your living room! Surely your dad wouldn't mind sharing the couch," The Hagan boy chimed with a grin.

Cynthia couldn't help but smile, turning her head in her sister's direction. Eve scoffed. "I'm not stopping you!" The girl chimed as she tossed up her hands. The older blond then pointed harshly in Tommy's direction. "But you distract her from helping me, I'll shove your head so far up your ass it'll-"

"I get it! I get it!" Tommy waved her off harshly. The school bell rang over them, causing the couple to come to a stop. Eve approached her classroom, leaning next to the door as she waited. Tommy looked down at his girlfriend with his boyish smile and sparkly brown eyes. "I'll catch you after class, okay?"

Cynthia nodded happily, sneaking onto her tip-toes to kiss him quickly. She walked around his figure, reaching for Eve's hand as they trotted into class together. Eve turned around harshly to point sharply in Tommy's direction with a warning glare. "I'm watching you," She mouthed before she slithered through the door.

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Nancy Wheeler huffed as she grabbed her mom's contact book.

Steve wasn't answering her calls. For all she knew, he was already halfway to where she agreed to meet him at 8 o'clock. Except that now, because a boy named Will Byers was missing, she couldn't meet up with him. Leaving her to have him sneak into her house, but only if he knows to do so.

So, she did the only thing she knew to do and called the house across the street.

Little did she know, Steve Harrington was at the Baxter house. He was sitting on the floor in the living room with Tommy Hagan and the Baxter twins, all of them laughing as they played a board game with the girls' parents, Jim and Izzy Baxter.

"Aw, hell," Jim cursed as he realized he was about to lose another game to his wife.

Izzy smiled cheekily, "Sucks to suck, doesn't it?" She asked the table.

Cynthia was leaning into Tommy, smiling as she ate from the plate of cookies she had made with her dad earlier that evening. She smiled as she turned to Tommy, handing him the other half. He hummed graciously, taking it and eating it whole. Steve scrunched his face, looking in Eve's direction to see if she saw. She did, and she just rolled her eyes in disgust.

The phone on the wall by the front door began to ring. "Cyn, can you get that?" Izzy asked as she stood up, moving around the coffee table and teenagers. "I have to clean up the kitchen."

"And I have to make sure she doesn't blow up the kitchen," Added Jim, earning a laugh from the teens as he stood to follow his wife.

Eve began cleaning up the coffee table, looking over in the boys' directions. "I thought I said don't interrupt my studying." She replied as she looked in Tommy's direction.

"In my defense, your parents interrupted first."

Steve laughed as he reached for the stack of note cards. "Here," He handed them to the blond, taking the box from her hands and moving to put it in the chest the TV sat on.

Cynthia was in the front hallway, taking the phone off the hook and pressing it to her ear. "Baxter residence."

"Cynthia, it's Nancy,"

The blond hummed happily, "Oh, hey!" She chirped, twirling the cord in her finger. "What's going on?"

"I'm supposed to meet with Steve tonight, but my parents have me on house arrest."

"What? Why?" Cynthia looked back to the living room to see Tommy and Steve teasing and helping Eve study. They snatched the notecards from her hands and read them to her while she chased after them and shouted answers or protests.

Nancy sighed on the line. "My little brother's friend is lost, I guess." She mumbled. "But Steve isn't answering the phone, and I have no way to tell him I can't make it."

Cynthia grinned knowingly. "Lucky for you, he's at my house right now." She answered easily.

"What? Why?"

"It's family game night," Cynthia explained, leaning against the wall. "I can tell him you can't make it."

Nancy stuttered as she spoke. "Yeah, I guess so," She mumbled. Cynthia stared at the floor, waiting for more. "Can you tell him I'm sorry?" The Wheeler asked sheepishly.

The blond sighed with a smile, before realizing Nancy couldn't see her. "Sure, Nancy. I'll let him know." She chimed as the wheels began to churn. She could hear the sadness in Nancy's voice. Maybe there was an easy solution for them to see each other tonight.

"Thank you so much, Cyn. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"See you!" Cynthia turned her body to hang up the phone. She walked back into the living room, her hands clasped behind her back as she looked between the three teens. Tommy was on the couch, staying just out of Eve's reach as he read off one of her cards. Steve laughed, holding the stack of cards in his hands as Eve tried to wrestle with his hands.

Eve turned around, sighing in relief. "Can you tell these two bozos to stop being assholes and give me back my cards?" She waved her arm up in Tommy's direction dramatically.

Cynthia looked up, raising a brow. "Tommy,"

"Already on it, Princess," Tommy cooed as he handed Eve the card. He hopped off the couch, landing on the floor with a thud. Steve handed the girl her cards as he chuckled.

The blond wearing pink smiled. "Steve, I have good news and bad news for you."

Steve quirked a brow. "Oh? Like what?" He asked, not knowing what the girl could have for him.

"Bad news is Nancy can't leave her house tonight. She's under house arrest," She explained, making quotation marks with her fingers. Steve seemed down about this statement, but Cynthia was sure it wouldn't last. "Good news is I have an idea."

Tommy chuckled. "That sounds dangerous," He hummed as he looked in his friend's direction.

Cynthia rolled her eyes, waving off Tommy's comment as she stepped closer to the Harrington boy. "Nancy is just across the street," Cynthia pointed to the window in the living room that faced the road, and also faced the Wheeler house. "If she can't come to you, maybe you could go to her?" She offered the idea with a hopeful smile. Steve looked at her with an incredulous look.

"Cynthia Ray Baxter, are you saying I should sneak in?"

"What? No!" Cynthia gasped as she nudged Steve's shoulder. "Just, knock on the door like a normal person!" She mumbled with wide eyes. "I don't think you could sneak into Nancy's room anyways."

Steve seemed intrigued. "And why's that?" He asked.

The blond grabbed his sleeve, tugging him to the window. Tommy and Eve were quick to follow the pair, kneeling down to see the angle Cynthia was looking at. "Do you see that window on the side of their house?"

"Yeah."

"That's Nancy's room." Cynthia hummed. "It looks hard to get up onto the roof." She naively pointed out. Steve could tell it wouldn't be that hard, especially with practice. But he wasn't going to tell her that.

Instead, Steve clicked his tongue. "You're right. It does look difficult," He lied, earning a snicker from Tommy. The entire group stood up straight. "All right, then I'll knock on the door. Like a normal person." he quoted as he looked back at Cynthia. She smiled, seemingly pleased with his answer.

Both Tommy and Eve seemed to know this was a lie, but they didn't budge. "I should go, too." Tommy sighed, turning to his girlfriend. "I can't miss curfew, parents will strangle me."

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Cynthia asked hopefully, batting her lashes. She was almost like a puppy, totally lost without Tommy by her side.

Tommy leaned down, kissing her for a long moment. "Of course," He informed, looking back in Eve's direction. "Study hard!"

"Eat shit!" Eve called as she flicked him off, watching both boys head for the front door. Cynthia laughed, turning to face her sister. "Can you help me study now?"

And that's exactly what Cynthia did.