THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT types of people at a party. The first is the actual partiers the ones that plan on getting plastered and dancing around like it's Footloose. They're typically the ones who don't go very far in life and end up doing something that future generations scold them for. Then there's the cheerleaders, typically only there to scope out guys or to see their friends. Or in this case, to all wear pink costumes that barely cover their assses. Next we have the stoners, the ones who are getting fucked up in the bathroom on the second floor. They don't wanna be there and they're not invited but they're sure as hell keeping the party going. Then there's the tagalongs, the geeks trying to be cool, and don't forget the ones that are just hungry. But lastly, there's the ones who don't wanna be there. Betty Jones.

The moment the group of two entered the overly packed house, Betty fought the urge to just walk out and leave. Walk the four miles home. Jonathan felt a wave of this too, stopping in his tracks as he looked around. Too many lame costumes suited to lame people. Betty felt herself lean into Jonathan, something he couldn't argue against as the loud mix of Duran Duran filled the room. "Hey, what are you supposed to be?"

"Dead," Betty responded simply to the person that approached the two making Jonathan stifle a laugh. The girl dressed in a dark costume with face paint furrowed her eyebrows as she turned towards Betty's best friend. "I'm the guy who doesn't like parties. And she's my accomplice."

"Cool," She smirked before walking off leaving Jonathan utterly confused. He shook his head before placing a hand on Betty's back as she made her way through the crowd. The only time she liked doing this was when they went to concerts in Indianapolis. Shoving through swarms of people to get to the front so maybe Brian May would want to take her home. Ah, the good times.

The brunette girl passed several people whom she already despised, noticing several douches who had wronged her in the past. She rolled her eyes when she noticed King Steve dancing a few feet away from her, obviously Wheeler stood directly with him. A red solo cup in her hand as she danced away, a weird grin on Steve's face. Betty directed Jonathan away from him only a bit too late as his small smile dropped at the sight. He only wished she could just hardly notice him like she used to. Only when Will and Mike were playing together and they would see eachother every few weeks. Or a simple smile in the hallway. It hurt falling for her, especially when her eyes were always on a douchebag's.

Betty stopped the two in the kitchen, the counters full of god-knows-what. A large bowl of an odd liquid centered directly in the middle. "What's that?" Jonathan mumbled to his friend, the boy directly beside the two turning towards them. "Liquid fuel!"

"Hm," Betty nodded judgingly as she turned towards her best friend. She was doubting the title as of right now. "Thank the universe you've brought us here this evening, Jonathan. Don't know what I would have done without this."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. We can leave in a bit. I regret my decision already." He patted his hand on her shoulder before shoveling a few pretzels in his mouth. She sighed and turned around, only to be faced by the short haired girl she was oh so attempting to avoid. "Guys, you came. Yay!" The alcohol on her breath made Betty wince as Nancy pulled the girl into a hug. She politely hugged back, tapping her hand into Nancy's back. "Hey Nancy." Jonathan smiled.

"What have you been drinking?" The boy asked her as she turned and pointed towards the bowl, her face still way too close to Betty's. "Liquid fuel," She answered with a firm nod. Making the two sober ones share a glance. "Well why don't you calm it down a bit. Have a glass of water," Jonathan asked her as she gasped. "No, no. It's uh- party! No water."

"Nance..." A voice came from behind the plastered girl making all three turn their heads. Steve Harrington took off his sunglasses, the edges held between his lips as his eyes met Betty's for a moment. This interaction happened way too often but she would never let him see the light of day. Betty never knew how the boy could change so much. How he could let popularity and attention change him so much. It just showed his true colors, she had to accept. Attempting to forget his once kindness towards her, turned to laughs when his friends slapped her books out of her hand.

Steve offered the girl a forced smile as he turned towards Nancy, Betty tucking her hair behind her ear. "Maybe that's enough, Nance." He hummed as he reached for her cup. Jonathan tugged on Betty's sleeve, seeming done with the interaction. She followed him away from the kitchen and down the hallway. Jammed packed with kids.

They made their way up the stairs, attempting to find somewhere not full of jocks that they wanted to throw a football at. The upstairs seemed less noisy and less packed. Some bedroom doors shut, already anticipating what was inside. Jonathan sighed as he stopped at the edge of the stairwell, a full view of the living room now. He leaned against the wall. "This was a dumb idea."

"I like a man who owns up to his mistakes," Betty offered him a small smile to help with his sadness. It only pained her to see the girl continuously bring a sad smile to her best friend's face. Nancy Wheeler was so oblivious to the amazing soul that is Jonathan Byers. She was too wrapped up in the guy that beat him up, right in front of her eyes.

Jonathan offered her a grin before turning to look over the party. He felt idiotic attending an event he despised just for a girl who was drunk out of her mind. Dragging his best friend along with him, when he knew she would be miserable. His eyes were caught on the girl emerging from the downstairs bathroom, an expression on his face reminding him of the night they both cut their hands. A scar and a story he had yet to tell Betty about. There was something in him that began to follow after her, only stopping when he turned back to Betty. "It's okay, go. I'll be here."

"Okay, I'll be right back." Jonathan nodded hesitantly before racing off in the crowd to check on Nancy Wheeler and her tears. Following the girl was none other than her boyfriend. Stopping once he noticed Jonathan following the girl, trusting she was in good hands. Betty watched him walk off towards the back door in defeat. She almost felt bad for him in this moment, she had never seen the King so down. But the lack of information on whatever the hell just happened in the bathroom and her prior knowledge of Steve Harrington, she shoved back down any empathy she had. Replacing the emotion with annoyance.

Her attention was lacking her surroundings as two boys came up from behind her. One of the boys made his way past the girl down the stairs, making Betty furrow her eyebrows. "At least warn her before you run into her, you dumbass." A familiar voice warned as he pushed the boy making him nearly lose his balance.  Betty turned to face him, the boy smiling at the sight of her. "Hi Betty."

"Hi Eddie." The girl smiled at the long haired boy, catching his costume along with the boy who was stood below them. "Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx? I love Mötley." The girl complimented as both boys beamed. "See, this-" Eddie turned towards the other boy, placing his hand on Betty's shoulder. "This is why I wish we were cousins."

The other boy couldn't hide his confusion as he looked between the both of the two. The weird grins on their faces confusing him. "Betty's mom is the one who dated Wayne a couple years back. The serious one." Eddie explained to the Nikki Sixx dressed boy, making him have an "a-ha" moment. Betty took in the boys features in this moment. He was definitely on something by the way his eyes looked but nonetheless he was very good looking. A bat could see that.

"So this is the almost cousin. Why didn't you mention she was fucking cool?" The boy asked making Eddie groan as he leaned against the stairwell railing. "Don't know, Caughlin. Didn't want your nothing ass to try and get with her. She's goddamn brilliant too. You're nowhere near her level."

"Thanks, Eddie." The girl fought a giggle making the boy with a wig smile. "Well I'm Jake." Jake greeted as he made his way up one more step, his face directly in hers. "Nice to meet you, m'lady."

"Whatcha doing all alone up here? Where's Jonathan?" Eddie questioned, obviously assuming her plus one would be with her. She only shrugged as she looked out into the party. "Wheeler seemed upset so he went to check on her. But I'm assuming he's already forgotten me so that's fun. So glad I came here tonight."

"Well if you need a ride I gotcha." Eddie patted her shoulder once more as he turned to Jake who was staring at the girl like a psychopath. "What are you supposed to be? The girl of my dreams? Ah- ow!" Eddie interrupted the boy's proud smile by slapping him making Betty giggle. "Okay I'm gonna go get a drink. Want something?"

"Well I'll follow you like a homeless puppy because I am in fact abandoned. I'm gonna be on one of those missing people TV specials," She humored making the long haired boy laugh as the three made their way down the stairs and back into the swarms of people. Eddie Munson was not popular by any means. Him being at a party only made Betty question all things. But she knew the druggie would not take a no when it came to a party full of alcohol. So, she answered her own question.

Several minutes later, and a drink already downed, Betty Jones had concluded she had actually been forgotten by her best friend. A conversation with Jake about the most of randoms was her current whereabouts. "So why have I never seen you at school?"

"I think I've seen you. But you know I skip mostly or I tend to be in the smoking yard most of my time." The boy shrugged, his wig moving once again. He only groaned as he ripped the thing off of his head. His short messy brown hair being left in place. She smiled at him as he threw the wig on the ground, only for it to be stepped on by some random jock two seconds later. Jake only gave her a cocky grin as her eyes wandered behind him. Noticing the open backdoor. Two different couples pressed against trees and then sat on a small bench was the King of Hawkins High.

Betty assumed the boy left the moment Nancy fled with her best friend. But to her surprise the boy sadly sat, his head full of hair falling in his lap. Her eyebrows furrowed at the boy. Her empathy getting the best at her as she felt a frown approach her lips. Why did she have to be so caring? Her eyes glanced back up at Jake's who was looking over at Eddie who was failing at beer pong with the new King, Billy Hargrove. "I'll be right back."

"You really shouldn't say that. That's what all those pretty girl say before they get murdered by the Bogeyman or Jason Voorhees," Jake joked as she made her way around him backing up and out of the house. She flashed him a small smile as she made her way over towards the boy hesitantly. Her arms wrapped around herself in the chilly Halloween weather.

The closer she got the more she noticed the pain on the boys dropped head. His hands moved around anxiously, his sunglasses held in one of them. Betty frowned even more as she took a seat beside him. His head directly shooting up as he put on a fake face. "Jones?"

"Steve," She commented her words coming out as more of a whisper. He let out a sigh as he leaned back in the bench. Their thighs nearly pressed together in the small area. "What are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be at the party?"

"Shouldn't King Steve?" She asked him with a slight curve of her lips. In hopes the boy's red eyes would stop soon enough. "Well um- Nancy. Well you probably know."

"That Jonathan made sure she got home okay? Yeah, that's why I'm here. At the party I mean." Betty nodded along as she huddled her arms closer to her, the wind making the small town several degrees cooler. Steve nodded as he looked around before turning towards her. "Well I don't want to bore you with my problems. I know you would think they're stupid anyway."

"Maybe. But I'm still a good listener and I'm here so..." Steve fought a chuckle at her words as he rubbed his hands together. "Well..." He scratched his head dropping it exactly like she found him. Staring at the leaves on the ground. "Nance.... she thinks I'm bullshit. Thinks we're bullshit. Thinks... she's not in love with me. I don't think she's ever been."

Betty swallowed and watched the boy, her eyes filling with sorrow. There wasn't anything she could think to say to make the boy feel better. She was wrapped in her own confusion of the situation. Nancy always seemed so wrapped in the boy just like the rest of the school. It was something her best friend pointed out every chance he got. "She's drunk, Steve. Maybe... she didn't mean it."

"I just..." He turned to look at her, his eyes glossy. Betty placed a hand on his back in attempt to comfort him. He sighed as he got lost in her bright blue eyes. The ones that he had seen the first day she moved to Hawkins. Recalling the memory of a young Betty Jones fondly. "Um," He wiped his eyes as he sat up more straight. Betty's hand still directly on his back. "So pretty sure you and Byers came together. And now they're gone so... let me give you a ride."

"I can just go with Eddie, it's fine." Betty told the boy hesitantly as she removed her hand placing it in her lap. He let out a breath as he glanced over towards the house, a bright view of Eddie Munson drunkenly screaming at Billy Hargrove. "I think Munson's gonna crash into the Market if he takes a drive. Just cmon I had one drink like two hours ago. I think I cried out all of it."

"Okay you must be drunk for admitting that," Betty let out a laugh making Steve mirror her action. "I have no idea what you're talking about," He smiled before standing up. "Cmon it's the least I can do. For you know... you being here." And so Betty Jones stood hesitantly, following the king of Hawkins High down the street to his oh so expensive car. Because for some reason, Steve Harrington isn't such a douche.

THE AUTHOR SPEAKS!
unedited!!!!! it's taken me forever but new chapter is out!!!! steve & betty = platonic besties fr (with a capital P). i love them, you will too.