ＳＴＡＩＲＷＡＹ ＴＯ ＨＥＡＶＥＮ

𝔩𝔢𝔡 𝔷𝔢𝔭𝔭𝔢𝔩𝔦𝔫

♛

I push Steven onto my bed, climbing on top of him and kissing him fiercely. He grips my hips as I swiftly slide his shirt up over his head.

"Fuck- Ana," he interjects, pushing away from me slightly and chuckling. "Slow down."

I move my lips to his neck and pull him closer (if that's even possible). "I don't want to," I breathe.

He shakily exhales and kisses me softly, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear. When I open my eyes, his blue ones are trained on me. I can see an ounce or two of concern in them.

"Princess, are you okay?" he murmurs.

I purse my lips. "Of course I am."

I'm not.

Ever since Nikolai made that... proposition, I've been leaning more towards going with him. I love Point Place and the people here. I can't imagine ever forgetting about them. But going to New York with him would make a lot of sense. I wouldn't have to worry about college, and it isn't like I have much of a future here. My parents would have another random house if they ever (for some reason) decided to visit Point Place. Plus, I'd be closer to my brother.

The thing that really scares me, though, is that I haven't told anyone about it yet. I haven't told Steven about it yet. I don't want him to freak out and think that I want to leave him, because I don't. Hell, if I could, I'd take him with me.

I trail a hand down his bare chest. "Don't worry about me."

He gently takes my wrist and lifts it back up to his shoulder. "I'm serious, Ana. You've been really... Well, you've been horny as fuck recently."

I raise my eyebrows and he quickly covers. "Not that I'm complaining! It's pretty hot, to be honest. But, seriously! I haven't seen you like this since... since you broke up with James. It's like you're past baking. That's pretty scary."

"Yeah, sorry," I laugh sheepishly, pulling back and rubbing the back of my neck. "I don't know, I guess I just..." I swallow. "I really love you, Steven."

He eyes me doubtfully, but decides not to push it. "Love you too, Princess. Just know that you can talk to me and all that shit if you want."

"Aw, are you getting all sappy?" I tease.

"Damn!" he jokes. "I am. What are you doing to me, woman?"

I giggle and wrap my arms around his neck. "Shut up."

♛

The door of Max's office stares back at me as I stand in front of it at the radio station.

Go in.

I don't budge.

Just do it, Ana!

"Hey, Hot Annie," Donna taunts while she approaches me. "What are you doing? Your shift is over."

I jump at her voice and turn to her with a nervous laugh. "I know. I just have to talk to Max about something."

She frowns. "About what? I can pass on the message, if you want. I'm working a bit later today, anyway."

"Oh, no, it's kind of important. Thanks, though."

"Oh," she nods. "Okay, well, I'm going to go organize some records. I'll be back."

"Okay, see you."

I watch as she disappears into the studio. The door before me swings open and Max nearly walks into me. He halts and glances down at me. "Can I help you, Anastasia?"

Although I'm usually comfortable with him, I can barely speak.

His forehead crinkles. "Are you okay?"

"C-Can we, uh, talk in your office?"

"Sure. Come in." He steps back so I can enter and closes the door behind me. "What's up?"

"I... I quit."

He glances up from the papers on his desk. "What? If you're not comfortable with being Hot Annie, we can change-"

"No," I interject. "I love being Hot Annie. I mean- I don't mind it."

"So, why are you quitting? Just so I can know what we can do better and things like that."

I take a deep breath before answering. "I'm moving to New York."

His eyebrows shoot up. "Wow, Anastasia, that's great! What for?"

"My brother owns a chain of record stores in Albany, and he wants me to work with him. It's all finalized and everything, so I'm moving out of Point Place."

"When?"

"Tonight."

"Wow," he laughs. "I'm really happy for you. I'm sure you'll have a great time."

I smile as he gives me a hug. "Thanks, Max."

"You're welcome, kid."

He pulls back and slides me some papers. "Just fill these out, and I'll give you your last paycheck as you leave, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"Okay, I'll be back. I'm going to tell everyone the great news!"

My eyes widen. "No, Max, don't-" He's already out the door.

Not even a minute later, Donna storms into the office. "You're leaving?"

I sigh. "Donna, please don't make me feel worse than I already do."

"I'm sorry, I just don't understand. Why are you leaving?"

I push the finished paperwork away and turn to her. "It just makes more sense to go with Nik."

"But what about school? What about us? Our whole friend group? Leo? Buddy and Pam? Red and Kitty? Hyde?"

My eyes flicker away from her. I can't stand seeing her so upset. "I don't want to leave you guys-"

"So don't!"

"It's not that simple, Donna!" I chew on the inside of my lip. Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry. "I don't have a future here. You, of all people, can understand that, right?"

Her face softens. "Yeah, I guess I do. Sorry."

She sits on Max's desk. "Have you told anyone else?"

"No," I utter. "Nobody knows but you and Max... and now everyone else who works at the station."

"You have to say something. At least to Hyde, he's your boyfriend."

"Telling him would just make it harder."

"Sucks for you, then," she scoffs. "How would you feel if I just disappeared to... to California or something without an explanation?"

"It wouldn't be so bad."

She glares at me. "What?"

"I mean, I know you'd come back. You have family here. You've lived here all your life."

My heart pounds against my chest as she falls silent. "Are you saying that you'll never come back?"

I shrug, playing with the rings on my fingers. "I think I'll visit, maybe in a few years or so."

"A few- Jesus, Ana!" I wince as her voice cracks. "What am I going to do without you? You know, Jackie isn't always that good at comforting me. And your music taste is really good! And you're always there for us, and you're fun to hang out with, and-"

I try my best to push out a smile. "I'm sorry."

She stands and pulls me into a tight hug. "I know. God, this is giving me flashbacks to when Hyde was going to move to New York with that punk chick."

I laugh. "Yeah. How the tables have turned, huh?"

"Yeah."

"Do you see what I mean? If I didn't tell you, you'd be mad at me and you'd never want to see me again, but now both of us are on the brink of tears."

Donna gasps. "I am not on the brink of tears!"

I pat the top of my now-wet head. "Yeah, my hair says otherwise."

She shoves me lightly. "Shut up. Come on, let's go back to the studio."

We quietly slink back in, and Jerry Thunder is on air.

"This is Jerry Thunder coming to you with The Sound. That was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John, folks. Oh, and there she is, Hot Annie herself!" he says in his signature deep tone. "She's leaving us today and moving to New York tomorrow. Any last words, Hot Annie?"

Fuck. Everyone who was listening knows now. Which means it's probably going to reach everyone I know. Max urges me to approach the microphone and presses a button.

"Uh, yeah," I answer. "I just want to say thanks for the opportunity to work here, and thanks for all the love."

"Well, we want to thank you for spending her time with us, so this song is dedicated to you. Here's a classic- Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin."

He presses another button and the song starts playing through the speakers in the studio.

"Thanks, guys," I sigh. "Maybe I'll come visit some time."

Max offers a small smile. "We hope to see you, kid."

♛

I pack the last of my suitcases into my car and lean my hands against the hood. "Donna, I can't tell if I'm able to breathe or not."

She laughs quietly. "You're okay, Ana."

"I don't know if I can do this."

"Come here," she chuckles, pulling me in for yet another hug. "It's going to be okay."

"You're not going to try to stop me?"

"I already did."

"Anastasia!" I freeze as Red's voice barks at us.

We pull back and everyone - the gang, all four parents, and even Leo - is running toward us. Kitty keels over as she comes to a stop, her hands on her knees.

Red glances at my open trunk. "Where are you going, young lady?"

"She's leaving," Eric says bitterly. "And she didn't think to tell us."

"I don't get it, man!" Kelso huffs. "Who's supposed to make me cookies now?"

"And I need someone to dress up!" Jackie whines. "Donna doesn't fit into any of my clothes!"

"Man, I thought she was my mom! Moms aren't supposed to leave their kids, man," Leo frowns.

"And I never got to do it with her!" Fez complains.

"I need-" Midge starts, before she cuts herself short. "Wait, what are we doing?"

I barely hear any of their protests. All I can see is Steven. He doesn't say anything, just stares at me while I stare right back. His shades are off, which makes it even more harder.

He steps up to me and looks down at me. He just says one word, "Why?" and I crumble. I stubbornly wipe a falling tear away from my cheek.

"It isn't you, I just... I have to. I have to leave Point Place eventually, and it's easier to do it if I haven't even been with you guys for too many years."

"You don't have to," he hisses. His tone is harsh, but I know he's just upset.

"I do." I rest a hand on his cheek and he leans into my touch. "I'm sorry."

"Please," he whispers.

I shake my head. "I love you, Steven Hyde."

"Yeah, I'm pretty cool, I guess."

"Get bent," I laugh and pull him in for a kiss.

"Aw!" Kitty coos, breaking the silence from everyone else.

Steven reluctantly separates our lips and turns to them, wrapping an arm around my waist.

"So you're really leaving?" Michael asks.

"Yeah, Mike."

"Well, at least give us some hugs!"

The others murmur in agreement and I approach him. He hugs me so tightly that he lifts me up into the air. "Okay, this is your last chance to sleep with me before you go."

I roll my eyes. "Thanks, but I'll pass."

"Damn!"

"Get off of her, you manwhore," Jackie sneers, pushing him away from me and enveloping me in a hug.

I'm passed onto Midge, who pats my shoulder before passing me to Bob, who gives me a hug an nearly suffocates me with the amount of cologne he's wearing. Fez pulls me to him and wraps me in his arms, barely even trying to touch my boobs. 

Leo gives me another hug. "Bye, Spacious. You know, you should have a theme song. I'll try to come up with one."

"Thanks, Leo."

I approach Eric and he watches me in disbelief. "Man, you're like... the only thing that kept me from murdering Laurie." He ignores a scolding comment from Red.

"Yeah," I chuckle.

"I'm going to miss you."

"Really?" I say sarcastically. "I had no clue, you seem so happy that I'm leaving."

He silently grabs my arm and pulls me in for a hug with so much force that it almost knocks him over.

"Oh, stop hogging her!" Kitty chides, smacking him away and wrapping her arms around my waist. "You'll do great, sweetie. We love you."

"Thanks, Mrs. Forman."

I pull back and step up to Red, waiting for him to start yelling at me or something. He sighs and shakes his head calmly, much to my surprise. "Dumbass."

I can't stop myself from laughing as a hint of a smile quirks up at the corner of his lips. "If you ever want to come back, you're welcome to stay with us, okay?"

"Okay."

He steps forward and comfortably hugs me, kissing the top of my head. "Good luck."

Eric watches with his jaw hanging open. "She's not even biologically your child and you're being more affectionate with her than you ever have been with me!"

Red glares at him. "That's because you're a scrawny dumbass, dumbass."

"Wha-"

Donna gives me one last hug and passes me to Hyde.

"I love you." I glance at the necklace that hangs around his neck and touch it gently with a small smirk. "Idiot."

He presses his lips to mine. "Bye."

"I'll come back someday."

A small smile appears on his face. "Can't wait."

Donna shuts the trunk and he helps me into the driver's seat of my car.

I lean out the open window and glimpse these people that have become so important to me. God, this is cheesy. Weirdly, I don't mind it.

"Bye, everyone."

"Bye, Ana."

"Bye, Anastasia."

"Bye, Spacious."

"Bye, Princess."

I notice that Leo has come up with my theme song. As I wind on down the road, I hear him hum.

"As the great Jimmy Plant once said, 'And she's buying a stairway to heaven.'"

♛

DON'T CRY DON'T CRY DON'T CRY

I had to give Leo the closing line ✨

Welp

That was the last chapter folks

The epilogue and sappy author's note will come as a package on Monday

As always, feedback, comments, and votes are appreciated :)

I love you guys SO freakin much,

Lissy <3

P.S.: you know when the song is Stairway, shit's gonna get real