chapter forty-three , A couple that cuts hair for each other...

a/n : YALLLLLLLL I HAVE MISSED MY GIRL

━━━━━━━━━━

"Are you sure...?"

"I've never been more sure about anything in my life." Gus let's out a breathless laugh.

Steve swallows and nods his head. He leans forward, but before he could take the next step he stops. "Okay, but, are. You. Sure—"

"Oh my god, Steve—here!" Gus grabs the scissors and snips some of her long brown hair off. Steve slaps his hand over his mouth. Gus bunches her shoulders. "See? I'm fine. I liked my short hair from before."

"I know, it's just...why not go to a salon?" Steve asks. "That's what I do."

"Steve, with hair like yours. I would be surprised you didn't go to a salon." Gus huffs. "Anyway, I don't have money. I'm broke."

"Well, I could always—"

"No." Gus' voice was stern.

Steve had many love languages. One of them? Showering his girlfriends with gifts. He's done it in the past. And all his girlfriends accepted his gifts. All of them except for Gus. She thought they were hand outs, but that was the complete opposite. He loves treating her. Whether it was buying the tickets and snacks at the movies or paying for their dinner dates. He loved catering to Gus. Especially since it was so difficult to convince her to allow him to.

They both stay silent as Gus hands him the scissors. "Hurry before Hopper comes back."

"Right. Father doesn't like me here."

"Noooo. Father doesn't like you here alone with me." Gus corrects. "He thinks we're gonna do pervy things."

"I mean, we have done some things." Steve lets out a low laugh.

"Nothing that involves your dick." Gus hums.

"Yes, we have." Steve nods with his brows furrowed.

Gus rolls her eyes. "I mean with the insertion of your penis in my vagina."

Steve wrinkles his nose. "I don't know why you talk like that." He shakes his head.

"Makes it sound less weird." Gus meets Steve's eyes in the mirror. "Right?"

Steve thinks for a moment, his eyes on Gus' in the mirror. He then opens his mouth. "Holy. Shit. It does—"

"Riiiight?!" Gus giggles.

Steve chuckles and he keeps his eyes on Gus' glowing hazel green eyes. "Why do you trust me to do this?"

Gus raises her brows. "Well, to me, it's just hair Steve. So if you do mess up, I'm not gonna kill you."

"Also, you're my boyfriend." Gus shrugs. "Of course I'm gonna trust you."

Steve's smile lessens. Over the past few months of being an official couple, there were still people who were shocked why Gus would ever be with him. After everything he had put her through. He was always gonna have guilt about the way he treated her. That's why he was gonna spend the whole relationship fighting for her, the way she has fought for him—for years. She deserves so much more than him just now treating her like she was the only one for him. But he was just happy that he got there eventually.

"Well, then. I'm gonna trust you too."

Gus pulls her brows together and snorts. "Uh, what are you—"

Steve then cuts some of his precious and luscious brown locks. Gus' eyes widen and an audible gasp comes from her lips when she watches some of Steve's hair fall to the ground. She covers her mouth with both her hands and the couple stay silent. Gus whips her head around, "Steve. Why the fuck—"

"Because I trust you." Steve says softly. "A couple that cuts their hair together—"

"That's not a saying, dummy." Gus shakes her head. "And you do realize that I cut my own hair, right?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Steve. Have you seen my hair short. It's fluffy and dry with a mix of greasy all the time. It's weird." Gus cups his neck. "The only reason my hairs been doing so well lately is because—"

"You started asking me for advice about my hair regimen." Steve finishes her words, his eyes staring at the scissors in his hands. Gus presses her lips together and slowly nods her head. "Yeah, I know...nothing about hair, baby."

Steve's eyes gradually widen and he looks at Gus. "What did I do? August—"

"Okay...let's take some deep breaths—"

"Take some deep breaths?—I just—I cut my..." Steve stumbles back and Gus grips his waist, keeping him upright. "Don't go passing out on me now, Harrington."

"Steve, look at me, please..." Gus' voice was soft.

Her voice was the only think that could've gotten through to him and it did. He refocuses on her warm eyes. "I love my hair."

Gus softly smiles, "I know you do." She tilts her head to the side and runs her fingernails up and down his ribs.

"What am I going to do?" Steve asks, his breathing begins to quicken again. Gus tenses, realizing he was going to spiral again. "Well, here's what we are going to do..."

Steve looks back at her.

"You are going to sit in that chair and tell me how you want me to cut your hair. Step by step." Gus' voice was comforting. A lot more approachable than her normal voice she used with strangers. He loves how soft and comfortable she was with him.

"This is a relationship. We communicate." Gus whispers. "Okay?"

"Step by step?" Steve softly speaks, it coming out with a slight whimper.

A gentle smile forms on her lips. "I'm not making a move without your say so."

Gus knew how important Steve's hair was to him. And of course, she wasn't going to let him go down this rabbit hole of devastation by himself. So, she was going to take this leap with him.

The haircuts weren't bad. Gus had gone back to her usual fluffy Bob, but this time she asked Steve to give her a fringe. Then she bought a box of hair dye and dyed her hair jet black. Gus had followed every instruction on how to cut Steve's hair and the couple had been happy with how their haircuts turned out.

Now, they both ended up going out to eat. Gus and Steve were sitting in a booth, enjoying their burgers and milkshake. The now black haired girl keeps her glistening hazel green eyes on Steve as he sips his milkshake. A smile forms on her lips.

"Hey..."

Steve lifts his head up, seeing the smile on her lips. He couldn't help but smile himself. "Yeah?"

"I'm glad you trust me and all. But me cutting your hair is on a whole 'nother level." Gus giggles, she dips her French fry in her milkshake and tosses it in her mouth.

"I dunno...I kind of like it like this."

"It's exactly the same." Gus deadpans.

"Exactly! You followed my instructions flawlessly." Steve holds op an 'ok' sign. "Also, this was so much cheaper than going to a salon."

Gus raises her brows. "See...? Who needs a salon."

"So, in other words..." Steve leans forward with his brows raised, waiting for Gus to say the words.

She couldn't deny that goofy smile. Gus rolls her eyes playfully. "A couple that cuts hair for each other...stays together."

"Yeah!" Steve holds his hand out to her. Gus giggles and shakes her head up, but she can't resist. She high fives Steve and he interlocks their fingers, setting their hands on the table.

"That's still not how it goes." Gus sips her milkshake.

"But it's cute, right?"

Gus pulls her lips from her milkshake. She takes a moment to stare at Steve and her heart rams against his ribcage. "It's very cute, actually." She leans forward and kisses his lips.

"And so are you."

☆

"A date?"

Fallon stops washing her hands and looks at her mom. "What?—What?"

"A date. Do you have a date on when Robin is coming over?" Cynthia asks.

Fallon slightly opens her mouth. She then laughs, "Oh, oh right. Yeah, uh...the 18th." She scratches the side of her nose. Fallon's face begins to heat up and she looks back into the sink. Cynthia takes a moment to look at her daughter, her brows furrowed. "Honey, are you okay?"

Fallon softly hums, "Oh yeah. I'm good—great." She looks back at her mom. "Just..." she then exhales a sharp breath. "I haven't gotten anything from Princeton yet."

Cynthia raises her brows. "Well, sweetheart. You still have 4 months left of school." She sets the mixing bowl down. "You've been working toward this your entire life. You're gonna get in."

Fallon inhales a breath. Simultaneously, the mother and daughter knock on wood. They both look at each other and laugh. Fallon's relationship with her mom has gotten much better since her father left. Who knew that an affair would help these two work out their issues?

"Are you thinking about getting a job after graduation?" Cynthia asks.

Fallon folds her arms, leaning her back against the counter. "Yeah. I heard they're opening a new mall this summer, so maybe I'll check that out."

"That mall is going to cause a lot of people to lose their jobs."

Fallon's chest tightens. "Yeah, it sucks." She gnaws on her lower lip. "And I may...have heard that there are some future protests going on."

"Fallon..." Cynthia's voice was in a warning tone.

"I'm sorry—I'm sorry, it's just an addiction." Fallon seethes. "But just because we moved out of Washington, doesn't mean we have to stop Justice."

"You sound like Batman." Cynthia chuckles.

Fallon pulls her face back. "You know Batman?"

"Of course, I do. I was quite the nerd back in my day." Cynthia smiles softly.

Fallon raises her brows, "Wait, for real?" She walks over to her mom and laughs. "Like how nerdy are we talking here?"

Cynthia frowns, "Comic books, physics, time travel...and so on."

"Mom..."

Cynthia looks at her daughter. Fallon points at Cynthia and a large smile forms on her mouth.

"You're Gus."

Cynthia snorts, "Really?" She then frowns. "Huh...I never noticed that."

"That means that Gus is going to be you when she's older."

Cynthia winces, "God, I hope not. I'm a mess and I was terrible to you and her."

"Well, you're making up for it." Fallon bites the inside of her cheek. "You're doing better."

"Am I?"

Fallon sees the genuine hope and shock in her mom's eyes. It causes her eyes to soften and a gentle smile forms across her lips. "Yeah, you're doing amazing, mom."

☆

With blood, sweat, and literal tears Gus' room was finished being built.

Which meant that Gus and Steve had another place to make out at. And that meant Hopper had to worry about both his daughters hanging out with their boyfriends in their own rooms.

Gus moans softly as Steve lightly bites her lower lip. She rolls Steve onto his back and straddles his waist. Steve chuckles and grips her waist. Gus leans down and quickly kisses him. Steve slides a hand under her shirt and rolls her over. Steve presses Gus' back against her mattress.

They both stare at each other for a moment, breathing each other in. Gus gently grips Steve's wrist and slides it under her shirt. Steve swallows nervously and grips her waist. Gus lifts her head up and pulls him into a hungry kiss. Steve kisses her back, his heart pounding against his ribcage. All of their make out sessions ended in the couple almost having sex. Keyword is almost.

Steve kisses her neck and she tilts her head back. She shivers and her eyes flutter from the feeling forming in her stomach. Gus tangles a hand into Steve's hair and lightly pulls at it.

Steve pulls away from Gus, "You okay?" He breathes.

Gus inhales a breath, "I'm great." she chuckles. "You?"

Steve swallows, "Yeah, yeah. Just...sweaty."

Gus raises her brows. "Oh. Do you want to stop?"

"I mean, we can...do stuff." Steve shrugs.

Gus slightly parts her lips. "Okay."

There was a beat of silence before Gus spoke again.

"Just not...the thing?"

Gus watches as blush forms across his face. She tilts her head. "Steve, we don't have to. Just tell me what you want." Her voice was soft.

Then. Just like many times before, Steve hesitates. He retracts his hands from under her shirt and Gus feels cold.

"August, I..."

The door swings open and Hopper's eyes immediately look at the boy on top of his daughter.

"3 inches!"

Steve falls off the bed with a thud.

Gus groans, "Hop--"

"Aht." Hopper holds his pointer finger up.

Gus closes her mouth and exhales through her nose. She fans herself and Hopper wrinkles his nose. He snaps his eyes over to Steve and the boy jumps onto his feet. Steve readjusts his shirt.

"Uh, I-I'm sorry--"

"6 inches."

Gus closes her eyes and she pulls her face back, "Wait, hold on--what?! El gets to keep her door--"

"Eleven is 14. All she knows is kissing--you two on the other hand..." Hopper groans.

"You don't have to make that sound." Gus rolls her eyes. "I'm 18--"

"Do not remind me." Hopper scoffs, he walks away and keeps the door open six inches.

Gus frowns, Steve exhales sharply. Steve moves some of Gus' hair behind her shoulder and he kisses her neck.

"So, do you--"

"No."

"All righty then." Steve pulls away from the brunette. Gus didn't want to pressure Steve about any of this. But he also wasn't communicating with her. He wasn't telling her what he wanted and it made her want to rip her hair out of her fucking head.

Steve could tell it was getting to her. The walls of her room began to quake and she snapped her pencil in half. It caused him to jump.

"I think...I should start heading home." Steve says, he stands up from Gus' bed.

"Yeah, okay." Gus murmurs. "I'll see you later."

Steve's chest tightens. He leans forward and presses his lips against the crown of her head. Gus tenses and she softly exhales a breath.

"Can I...call you later?" Steve asks, grabbing his jacket. Gus' eyes were glued to her homework. She bites the inside of her cheek and her right eyebrow twitches. Gus didn't want to be angry. She shouldn't be angry, right? Gus inhales a breath and looks at him. "Of course." She manages a soft smile.

A small breath of relief escapes Steve's lips and he reciprocates her smile before he leaves.

Gus' smile then drops and she covers her eyes with her hands. "I didn't think being in a relationship would be this complicated..."

☆

"He just...stopped?"

"I mean, not stop necessarily, but...I could tell he didn't want to." Gus sighs, not bothering to look up from her comic book. "Which is fine. I swear it is..."

Fallon stops doing her makeup and turns to her best friend. She could hear that Gus wanted to say more, "But...?"

"But, he's not explaining what he wants." Gus' drops the comic onto the bed and sits up, her black hair going everywhere. "Doesn't a relationship build off of communication? Isn't that how this shit works?"

Fallon frowns, but a smile was still mixed in. She had to admit it was adorable seeing Gus this turned around over a boy she was actually dating.

Fallon then bunches her shoulders. "Most of my relationships were only just sex or I never told them how I felt about them—"

"So, you lacked communication!" Gus points at Fallon. "Just like Steve and I!"

Fallon watches as Gus continues to overthink. "How about you ask Nancy?" She looks back at the mirror.

Gus freezes, she looks at Fallon and blinks. "What?"

"Nancy would have some insight about Steve, right?" Fallon asks, spreading blush across her cheeks.

"I mean, yeah, but..." Gus shifts. "That would be weird, right?"

"Why?"

Gus let's out a laugh then she slaps her hand over her mouth. Fallon slows her movements to apply more makeup with her brows pulled together, still not understanding what Gus was getting at. Gus leans forward, "Because they used to date."

"Yeah, like a year ago." Fallon shrugs. "Also, they've found their perfect matches."

"Well, one. It's been like 6 months. And, two. thank you for calling me Steve's perfect match." Gus smiles. "I know that was hard for you."

"Thank you for acknowledging that."

Fallon shakes her head, "You and Nancy are really good friends and she's over Steve and Steve is over her. Sure it may be a little weird. But with your bluntness, I'm sure you can get over that hump."

Gus furrows her brows again and drinks her milkshake again. "You know, I'm going to trust you. Because you're my best friend. And you're very smart..." she tilts her head. "That eyeliner is super cute too—I think that might be mine."

"Oh, it is. You just never came back for it."

"Because I'm always here." Gus shrugs. She thinks for a moment, losing sight of the conversation. She then waves a hand. "Enough about me...what's going on with you and Robin?"

Fallon's heart flutters. "Nothing, we've just been hanging out."

"Okay, well, are you any closer to confessing your undying love to...him?" Gus says. "Do we say him when you're mom is in the house?" She whispers.

Fallon chuckles softly, "No. Because she knows Robin isn't a guy."

Gus raises her brows, "Right, right..."

"Well, you could know more than one Robin." Gus points out.

"I could...but that lie would just be so...much." Fallon sighs. "And you know me."

"I'm a terrible liar."

"You're a terrible liar."

The two girls chorus.

"Sucks you even have to lie about who your are and who you lo—"

"Don't even finish that word." Fallon fully turns to Gus and points at her. Gus holds her hands up, surrendering. "Really like." She corrects. "Do you think your mom would be mad about you liking girls?"

Fallon's chest tightens. She takes a moment to think about how her mom used to be to how her mom is now. Gus watches as Fallon falls into a deep thought. She sits on the edge of the bed and waits patiently for her friend to get her thoughts in order.

"I..." Fallon turns to Gus once again. "...love my mom."

"And I understand she's trying to do better. I am so proud of her too." Fallon runs a finger over her dress nervously. "But...I still think that she has a lot to learn. About a lot of things. I don't want to overwhelm her."

Gus nods her head, "Yeah, of course, I get that." She gives Fallon a small smile. "You tell her whenever you feel the moment is right." Gus grabs Fallon's hand. "There is no rush, Miss Price. Robin Buckley isn't going anywhere."

"Not if I can help it."

Fallon then rolls her eyes. "Oh, my god, August! I told you, you're not kidnapping her if she ever decides to stop hanging out with me!"

"Why not?! She would never have a good enough reason to!"

☆

Sofía giggles softly as she watches Dustin look across the crossword puzzle. "You're never gonna get it."

"Oh, on the contrary, my friend..." Dustin holds a hand up. Sofía raises her brows, Dustin looks up at her and blush forms across his cheeks before he giggles.

"...girlfriend."

Sofía smiles at the word and his giddy reaction. Dustin looks back down at the crossword. Before he starts to work on it again, his mind gets the better of him. "Hey, Sof?"

Sofía takes a chomp out of her carrot stick and softly hums. Dustin looks at her and his eyes soften. "What are we going to do when I go to camp?"

Sofía slows her chewing. "Well...I'm still gonna be here, waiting for you." She shrugs.

"I know, but...we've been together for 2 weeks and now we're worrying about this—"

"Isn't it nice, though?"

Dustin raises his brows, "What?"

Sofía smiles and continues to eat her carrots. "That this is what we have to worry about now?" She shrugs. "Kind of eases the stress of Demogorgons and Demo-Dogs."

Dustin then snorts. "Yeah, you're right."

"I know." Sofía shrugs a shoulder. She leans and kisses his cheek, causing Dustin to giggle.

"Perspicacious."

Sofía raises her brow. She looks down at the paper and sees the word written out. Her mouth drops and she snaps her eyes back over to Dustin. "How did you—"

"Know?"

"No! How'd you write that? When did you it? I was staring at you the entire time!" Sofía looks closely at the words.

Dustin bunches his shoulders. "I'm amazing."

"You are." Sofía smiles, looking back at him. "You are amazing, Dustin."

Dustin's face gets hot and he quickly opens his mouth to speak. "You should come with me."

Sofía blinks.

Dustin slightly opens his mouth. "To Camp Knowhere."

Sofía slightly opens her mouth. "Dustin, that place is for computer geniuses—"

"Which you are." Dustin grabs her hands. "I know you tell everyone you know nothing about computers, but come on; Sof. You're brilliant when it comes to this stuff."

Sofía never told anyone about her compassion for computers. That's only because she saw how excited Dustin was about those kinds of things. She didn't want to take that away from him. But Dustin saw her.

He always did.

Sofía presses her lips into a small smile. "I should ask Ms. Wallace about it, first." She chuckles. "It would be an amazing opportunity, but money wise? It might be impossible."

Dustin nods his head, "Yes, yes. Of course!"

Sofía softly smiles, but her eyes sadden. Dustin looks moves his head to the side, following her eyes. "Are you okay?"

Sofía bites the inside of her cheek. "Tori got adopted yesterday."

Dustin raises his brows. Besides the members of the party, Tori was Sofía's friend. She was the first orphan she had met when she was dropped off at Ms. Wallace's.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for her." Sofía softly laughs. "But, im just gonna miss her. Even though she used to tease me about you all the time."

"Tori was a good friend to you, Sofía." Dustin nods his head. "I get why you're sad."

"She gave me the number to the home phone at her new house. So, we'll be able to call each other." Sofía tells him. Dustin raises his brows, a hopeful smile on his lips. He holds his hands out to her, "Well, okay! That's good, right? And you guys can hang out."

"Yeah, she's moving to Texas, so it won't be often that I'll see her." Sofía purses her lips.

Dustin's shoulders sag. "Oh. Well, shit..."

Sofía softly laughs at his reaction. "Thank you for trying to get my hopes up. That's really sweet of you, Dusty."

Dustin raises his brows from the nickname. Sofía nervously bites her cheek. "I'm just teasing you."

"It's—it's cool. I like Dusty." Dustin giggles.

Sofía nods her head, "Well, all right, Dusty."

Dustin's face grows hot. He then shakes his head, refocusing. "Okay, my turn! You'll never guess which one I made." He pushes the paper over to her.

Sofía chuckles, she grabs the paper and looks over it, she then grabs the pen in Dustin's hand.

☆

Gus immediately made her way up the stairs. She gave a small wave to Mrs. Wheeler and shared a glare with Ted. Then she got to the room and pushed it open.

"Nancy, I have to talk to—"

Jonathan and Nancy pull away from each other. "Uh, August?!"

"Hey, guys." Gus huffs. "I am so glad you both are here. I need advice." She walks over to Nancy's bed. Jonathan was still laying on Nancy. But he slowly sits up and so does Nancy.

"You didn't knock."

"Yeah, sorry  about that." Gus presses her lips together and sits between the couple. "Why didn't you lock the door? I mean, if you're gonna do the dirty, ya gotta lock the door."

"What's your nickname again? Virgin Guster?" Nancy tilts her head and arches a brow.

"Just because I'm a virgin, doesn't mean I'm uneducated about the dirty sexy things in life." Gus smirks. "Now, speaking of which, I have to talk to you about Steve."

"Is that my cue to leave? I think that might be my cue..." Jonathan stands up. Gus grips his shoulder and sits him back down. Nancy pulls her face back and Jonathan grunts.

"Hey, we're all friends here, right?" Gus looks between the couple.

"Yeah, of course."

"Then sit down and listen to me rant about my boyfriend not wanting to have sex with me."

Nancy and Jonathan stay silent. Gus let's out a harsh breath, she then inhales and straightens her back.

"Gus..."

"Yes, Nancy?"

"This is a weird conversation to have with the both of us. You know that, right?"

Gus slowly nods her head. "Yeah, but, Fallon suggested it and she's a fucking genius so..." she covers her face. "Okay, this is actually so stupid. I'm fine with no sex!"

Jonathan holds his hand out. "All right, so, problem solve—"

"Who am I kidding l? I want sex so bad!"

Jonathan heavy sighs. Nancy chuckles, "Okay, well, everything you're telling me is brand new information."

"Maybe with you, it's just different."

Nancy and Gus look at Jonathan. "What?"

"Maybe...he just really likes you." Jonathan waves a hand. "Not saying he didn't like you, Nancy."

Nancy then snorts, "I don't care." She gives him a small smile which causes Jonathan's face to get hot.

Gus raises her brows, "Were you guys about to have sex?" She then cranes her neck forward. "Did I interrupt you?"

Nancy and Jonathan's face become deep red. Gus' eyes widen, "Oh, shit! Well, you guys have been helpful, but—"

"Gus, you don't have to go." Nancy quickly reassures her.

"Nancy..." Jonathan softly speaks her, almost in a whiny tone. He thought he was quiet enough for only his girlfriend to hear.

He wasn't.

Gus' ears grow hot and she taps her fingers against her thigh. "No, I'm gonna go. Seriously, I should leave you guys alone."

Gus stands up from the bed and Nancy lightly smacks her boyfriend's arm.

"Gus, I'm sorry—"

"Seriously, it's fine. I shouldn't have barged in like this anyway." Gus chuckles, but there was embarrassment rising in her with every second she was there.

Gus never got embarrassed.

Gus had taken noticed lately that everyone was busy. It wasn't something she tried to be mad at. I mean, everyone had their own lives, of course they were going to be busy. The kids were growing up. And one of those things about growing up was everyone getting into relationships. There was so much that Gus was grateful now. It sucks that it hit her this soon. But the people in her lives right now? They were everything to her. But right now...it didn't seem like she was everything to them.

Gus walks out of Nancy's room and she quietly curses to herself about not understanding personal space.

"August, wait!"

The black-haired girl stops in the middle of the stairs and turns to Nancy. The Wheeler girl timidly smiles and walks down to her friend. "You are different for Steve, y'know? I see it."

Gus raises her brows. Her face begins to grow hot and she looks to the side. Nancy presses her lips together, seeing the hesitation. "It's okay to still have doubts." She softly speaks. "You've been through a lot with him. And he's got a lot to make up for."

"It makes me feel bad that I'm asking to...be with him in that way and yet I feel unsure." Gus sighs. "And I'm a confident person, right?"

Nancy nods her head.

"But for some reason it feels like all this is too good to be true."

Nancy pulls her brows together. "What do you mean?"

Gus shrugs, "I mean, come on. Amazing friends, amazing boyfriend, my family is...amazing—everything's just amazing. I don't—"

"Don't you dare say you don't deserve it."

Nancy and Gus look up the stairs to see Jonathan staring down at them from the staircase. He walks towards them and lets out a breath. "I'm sorry for how I was up there."

"Nah, it's cool. I was interrupting you guys." Gus nods. "If anyone interrupted me like that...I'd be beyond pissed."

"Gus..." Jonathan sighs. "You deserve everything that has gone right in your life."

"After what I've done?" Gus let's out a breath. "Come on, you guys. I'm not good and Steve is...so good."

"August, stop. After everything you've been through?" Nancy grabs Gus' arm. "You have fought your whole life."

"Don't you deserve happiness?"

Gus' chest tightens. Even though Gus was seen as a confident girl, not caring what anyone said about her. Gus didn't care what other people think. She was someone who could go around and ignore the whispers. She was herself and she loved it. But deep down, Gus had doubts all the time. Doubts about herself and if she really deserved the people that meant the world to her.

☆

Steve's parents didn't show up to his graduation.

He wasn't surprised. I mean, they told him they were going on a work trip. But deep down he was hoping they would make a special rare appearance. For him. For their son.

But surprise surprise...

"Steve Harrington."

Steve sucks in a sharp breath and walks across the stage. He grabs the diploma from the Administrator's hand. Then he goes to shake each teacher's hand. Steve gets to the Principal and looks at the camera, smiling; but his brown eyes had a hint of sadness. Even though he wasn't close to his parents, he figured that they loved him.

Did anyone even care about him?

As soon as the photo was done, he heard cheering.

"GO, HARRINGTON!!!"

"FUCK YEAH, STEVE!!!"

"THAT'S MY FUCKING BOYFRIEND!!!"

Steve's eyes look across the crowd, he recognized each voice. But he wanted to see their faces. He wanted to see her face. Then his eyes light up, like they always do when he sees her.

Steve watches as the group all freak out once he sees them. Dustin jumps up and down his arms in the air. Gus places her hands around her mouth and screams again.

"I MAKE OUT WITH HIM EVERYDAY!!!"

Hopper then covers Gus' mouth and pulls her towards him. Steve laughs and he couldn't stop the tears form forming in his eyes.

They were all there for him.

They all cared about him.

"Steve, did you see us?!" Sofía shouts, running over to him.

Steve chuckles, "Yeah, I did. I can't believe you guys came."

"Of course we did." Dustin snorts.

"Gus forced some of us to come, though." Hopper speaks.

Joyce nudges her elbow into Hopper's arm. He grunts and lets out a sharp breath. "Congratulations." He grumbles. "Seriously. Graduation is a big accomplishment."

"It's a large milestone." Max says, her arms crossed. "At least that's why my mom says."

"Didn't Billy graduate too?"

"Yeah, so?"

Steve chuckles, "Thanks for coming, you guys."

"My sister was graduating today, so..." Mike rolls his eyes.

"And my brother was graduating today." Will says. "But congratulations. Seriously." He smiles.

"And we love Fallon." Hopper says. "You...we...we care about you."

Steve presses his lips together. "Appreciate it."

Laughter interrupts the group. Steve turns to see Gus and Fallon's arms looped with Nancy and Jonathan walking with them.

Gus looks forward and her eyes meet Steve's. Her heart flutters and her throat tightens. She smiles softly and walks over to him. Gus practically jumps into Steve's arms, her arms around his neck. Steve wraps his arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground.

"Congratulations, Harrington." Her breath hits his ear.

A chill rushes down his spine and he laughs. "August..." he runs his thumbs up and down her sides. "You're so fucking amazing."

Gus giggles, she stands back on her feet. She looks into his eyes, her smile never leaving her face. "What? Come on, dude. Today is about you."

"And us." Fallon motions to herself, Nancy, and Jonathan.

"Of course." Gus looks at them. "You guys are all so cute in your blue dresses."

"They're gowns. And...thank you." Jonathan says, admiring at his gown.

"So, you having a party?" Gus asks.

Steve nods his head.

"A party that—"

"You're not going to." Hopper finishes.

Gus rolls her eyes, "Daaad—"

"Kidding...kind of."

Gus looks back at Steve. "I'm so proud of you, Steve." She tilts her head.

Steve smiles, but Gus saw that the bright smile wasn't reaching his eyes. She was about to mention it, but Fallon spoke. "Yeah, so, your graduation party has to be ass. Because mine is in two days and I'm going to make sure it's a rager."

Fallon then look at Hopper, Cynthia, and Joyce. "Obviously it will be an age appropriate rager."

Hopper grunts. Joyce mouths the words 'Thank you'. Cynthia was trying to keep her cool. She wanted to be the mom her daughter was comfortable sharing things with. And obviously Fallon wasn't going to have an age appropriate party. These parents weren't stupid.

"Okay, I'm gonna go back to my place and get everything set." Steve touches the small of Gus' back, sending a chill by her spine. "I'll see you later?"

Gus raises her brows and bites her lower lip, a smile on her face. "Of course." She gives him a chaste kiss. "Go."

Steve sends Gus a small smile, he then waves at everyone else and he walks away from them.

"Okay, Gus, come on. We're going to my place." Fallon loops an arm through Gus'. "Gotta get ready."

"Oh. Okay." She looks at Hopper. "Can I stay the night at Fallon's tonight?"

Hopper squints his eyes, "No. You need to finish your homework."

"It's summer." Gus' shoulders drop.

Joyce pokes Hopper's side. Hopper looks down at her and his eyes soften. "Fine. Go ahead."

Gus rolls her eyes and snorts. "Someone's already whipped—"

"Are you really one to talk?" Hopper replies, his brows raised. Gus' mouth slams shut and her face heats up.

The kids point at Gus and laugh. Gus swats their hands away from her. "Whatever, we're leaving. Nancy, let's go."

No one knew why. But every time Gus ordered them around or she went anywhere, they gladly followed. Which is exactly why Nancy didn't question Gus.

"O-Okay..." Nancy kisses Jonathan and she quickly joins Gus and Fallon.

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