chapter three
purple eyeshadow

Billy.

Fucking.

Hargrove.

Isaac rolled his eyes at the simple mention of his name, and he hadn't even met him, yet alone spoken him.

All that Isaac knew of Billy Hargrove was what he had heard in the halls and the limited glimpses of him he'd gotten.

Yet from what he had seen, he knew he didn't like it (maybe even hated it)

Billy strolled into Hawkins High, dressed head to toe in denim. A picture perfect asshole. Text book definition.

Isaac couldn't fucking stand him. Billy reminded him far too much of himself, and that out Isaac in an uncomfortable box that he desperately wanted to free himself from.

"Lincoln!" Steve sneered, arm hanging loosely around Nancy as they passed by Isaac's locker.

Isaac's eye twitched at the sound of his voice. You could fill a book with the amount of things Isaac didn't like, and Steve Harrington would be on the first page of that book, though his name fell farther down the list than his father.

Steve Harrington was a fucking douchebag, and he, just like many others, treated Isaac like trash.

While he would never admit it, Isaac fantasized about knocking down Steve's ego one or two (or four) notches.

He wished he didn't, but the thought crossed his mind more times than he'd care to count.

But Nancy loved him, so Isaac wouldn't. He would suck it up and fake a few smiles.. only on his good days, though. Steve didn't deserve his smile.

He didn't understand what she saw in Steve, but he tried not to think too hard about it. It hurt his heart if he did.

"Harrington." Isaac replied, tone equally as bitter as he slammed his locker shut. His eyes followed the couple, focusing on Nancy as she scolded Steve (though it was barely audible).

Her eyes flickered back to him and she sent an apologetic smile, mouthing a 'sorry'.

His heart leapt at the thought of her defending him. Isaac wasn't used to being defended, he hadn't experienced someone being on his side (he didn't count his lawyer) in years.

Not since his mom and his sister.

It felt nice.. it was something that he would, ideally, like to get used to. Though, he knew that wasn't in the cards for him.

But something about Nancy Wheeler made him hopeful that maybe, just maybe, someone being on his side would be in the cards for him.

After that day in the rain, Nancy seemed to notice his existence more and more. Though. Isaac wasn't sure if they were exactly friends, even if Isaac would like to call her that. He knew she'd never want to be friends with someone like him. Even so, he was grateful for the passing greetings in the halls.

Sometimes, on weekends or after school if they were both home, they'd communicate by writing in large letters in their notebooks and holding it against their windows.

Isaac cringed when he thought about it, praying that Nancy didn't mind his messy handwriting. Especially when hers was so pretty and dainty.

Isaac settled in his chair in seventh period, glancing at the clock and sighing as the teacher began to pass out a pop quiz.

~~

"Uh.." Isaac took the flier the girl was handing out, cheeks reddening as she winked at him.

His grandma had always said some girls liked the 'dangerous' ones. He knew the woman didn't mean anything by it, yet it still hurt to think that that meant he was dangerous..

Isaac didn't want to be dangerous, though he knew he was. He was a ticking time bomb, and he hated it. He hates his short temper, he hated that people were afraid of him.. He hated everything about himself. Even the little things, like how he often talked to himself without meaning to or how he found himself enjoying cheesy romcoms his grandma would make him watch with her (he'd never say he enjoyed them, though)

"Be there or be square." She blew a bubble with the gum she chewed. "Mkay?"

Isaac smiled tightly, his head tilting to the side as he quickened his pace to get away from the crowd. "Yeah.. Sure."

~~

"Isaac!" He tensed at the sound of her voice, freezing in his place. He stayed still, ears peeking up at the sound of her shoes against the old dirty pavement.

"It's just me," Nancy said, a warm smile on her face as he turned to face her. "Don't worry. Steve is waiting for me in his car."

"Oh." Isaac breathed a sigh of relief, though his eyes darted across the schoolyard in search for Steve. "Okay.."

"You get the flier?" She asked, pulling one from her back pocket and pushing it into his chest.

"Yeah, I did." Isaac nodded, taking the orange paper from her hands. "I'm not gonna go. Probably just gonna pass out candy to to the kids."

Nancy rose her eyebrows. "No. You're going."

Isaac scoffed, looping his thumb through the strap of his backpack.

"Steve is making me go." Nancy shrugged, "He wants us to.."

Her voice trailed off as she looked down at her feet, grip tightening on the bag she held in her hand. "Be stupid teenagers.. You know? For a night."

"I've been a stupid teenager-"

"You've been a dumb teenager." Nancy clarified, "Not stupid. You're going."

"Don't have a ride." Isaac pointed out, shrugging. "Can't go.. don't want to."

"What about that girl from your French class? She's pretty, right?" Nancy suggested.

"Purple eyeshadow?" Isaac clarified, pursing his lips. He nodded his head side to side, agreeing that while she was beautiful no one could live up to Nancy. "Yeah, yeah, I guess.. But, uh, yeah, no.. No. Not gonna go there with her."

"Why not?"

Isaac felt his heart clench, smiling tightly.

Because of you.

"Uh. I-I don't know? I'm just not.. it wouldn't work out, Nance." Isaac tussled his dirty blond hair, avoiding her prying eyes.

Nancy scanned his face, eyes searching for some kind of answer. Her gaze was intense, causing him to suddenly feel nervous.

That was another thing Isaac would put on his list of things he hated: feeling nervous. He hates how quickly Nancy could have that effect on him, with a simple smile Isaac's heart was skipping a beat.

Isaac's throat grew dry and he shifted uncomfortably, avoiding eye contact with her by looking at his shoes. At the sight of the dirty, tattered and years old shoes his heart sank.

His eyes flickered to the shoes Nancy wore, pulling his lip in between his teeth.

New. Clean. Pretty.

They didn't match with Isaac's worn out pair, and suddenly it made sense why she had chosen Steve.

He was put together, his clothes weren't old. They weren't hand me downs. His shoes were new. Clean. They weren't falling apart.

It made sense, the two of them.

Girls like Nancy Wheeler, good, sweet girls like her, didn't go for boys like him.

Losers, broken boys like him.

Monsters like him.

While it hurt, and it hurt a lot, it made sense. Nancy and Steve made sense.

Golden boys like Steve Harrington always got what they wanted.. and he wanted Nancy, so he had her.

"What?" Isaac's voice was barely above a whisper. "Something on my face?"

Nancy hummed, "Nothing."

Isaac rose an eyebrow, shifting his weight as he glanced at the busses. "I'm- uh- I'm gonna miss my bus."

"I'll see you tonight." Nancy smiled, patting him on the shoulder as she passed.

Isaac sighed, looking down at the paper he held in his hand. "Yep. See you tonight."

~~

Isaac watched as Nancy tossed her head back, finishing another cup of whatever was in the punch that Isaac had already had two servings of. He sighed, crossing his arms, watching as she tossed the cup to the side before drunkenly dancing with Steve.

"Ugh, Nancy.." Isaac grimaced, scrunching his face up as he watched Nancy and Steve argue over another drink she was having.

She stumbled into Steve, which ended with the pink liquid staining her white shirt. He sighed, grabbing her wrist and pulling her towards the bathroom narrowed her eyes at him, pulling her arm to try and get away.

Isaac straightened his back, moving to get between them before he was stopped.

"Hey," Isaac jumped, turning his eyes down, tilting his head in confusion when he saw it was the girl Nancy had brought up before.

"Hey?" Isaac's tone came off as more of a question rather than a statement.

"Isaac, right?" She asked, tilting her head to the side. Isaac pursed his lips. nodding slowly. "I'm Caroline."

"That's right." Isaac nodded, "You need something?"

"Hm? Oh, no. You just looked lonely." She shrugged, rolling her wrist and watching her half finished drink splash from side to side in her cup.

Isaac nodded, leaning stiffly against the wall again, though his eyes remained focused on the bathroom door.

"You're in love with her, right?"

Isaac tensed, the music echoing off of the walls seemingly growing louder. "Who?"

"Don't play coy." Caroline scoffed, moving to stand beside him, eyes trailing over the fellow party goers. "Wheeler."

"No," Isaac shook his head quickly. "No. I don't do love."

Isaac's eyes flickered to her for a moment, becoming more on guard. The eyes of the party goers narrowed at the sight of him, each turning to one another and whispering.

Going to this party was a mistake Isaac had realized.

Caroline tipped the cup over to him as an offering, and despite his better judgement, he took the drink, downing the nearly full cup in seconds.

The alcohol burned his throat, warmth spreading through his body as it settled in his stomach.

"Oh, please." Caroline scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I know longing when I see it. Believe me... I do."

Though she was laughing, most likely due to what was in her cup, there was sadness underlying in her tone.

Isaac briefly wondered what it was about, but he didn't bother to ask. He sighed, leaning his head back to rest against the wall and his blue eyes fluttered shut. "I'm not in love with Nancy."

"If you say so." Caroline shrugged, "But don't come crying to me when you realize."

"She, uh," Isaac cleared his throat, shaking his head, the alcohol beginning to affect him all at once. "Tried to set me up with you.. tonight."

Caroline froze, clearing her throat to bite back the laughter. Though, a few stray chuckles escaped, which turned into full on laughter.

Isaac couldn't help but look away at this, pain striking his heart.

Was the idea of being with him really that much of a joke?

"Okay, ouch." Isaac mockingly rested his palm against his chest.

"Shut up!" Caroline rolled her eyes, gently punching him on the shoulder. "Seriously?"

Isaac chuckled dryly, shaking his head as he looked down at his nearly empty drink. Normally, he would be uncomfortable talking to someone so new for this long, but Caroline seemed nice.

"Oh!" Caroline gasped, hand clamping over her mouth. "Oh."

"What?"

"You don't know. That you love her! You're in denial."

Isaac scoffed, pushing her hand down. "No, I'm not!"

"Whatever! You may not know it yet, but you so love her!"

Isaac sighed, looking up at the ceiling before he turned his eyes to her. "Guys like me don't get to have love. So, it doesn't really matter? Does it?"

Caroline furrowed her eyebrows, watching as Nancy left the bathroom, followed by a heart broken Steve Harrington. "I don't believe that shit, either."

Isaac huffed, "Drop it. I don't know you. You don't fucking m know me. Got it? Fucking. Drop it, Caroline."

Caroline gulped, taking a step back and mumbling a sorry that he'd barely heard over the noise of the party.

Nancy spotted Isaac, pushing through the partygoers and stumbling into him.

"Oomf!" She huffed, pressing her hands against his chest to steady herself. Isaac tensed, carefully resting his hands on her shoulders to keep her upright.

A loud gasp left Nancy's lips as she looked in between the two of them. "I knew it! You two are perfect... What's your name, again? Cora? Carrie? Ca-"

"It's Caroline, don't wear it out." Caroline winked.

Isaac scoffed, slowly releasing Nancy from his hold.

"Hey, Hey. Come on, Nance. There you are."Jonathan said, startling Isaac at his sudden appearance. "I'm sorry, I'm gonna take her home. "

"Oh! While you're at it, mind takin' me?" Caroline asked, shyly as she handed her cup to Isaac.

Jonathan slid an arm around Nancy, stammering out a yes to Caroline as she grinned in triumph.

"Cool! Later, Isaac. Nice chattin' with you." She shrugged, "Sorta."

Isaac said nothing, watching as Nancy disappeared with Jonathan.

"Fuck." He muttered to himself, dragging a hand down his face. "Couldn't compete with Harrington, I absolutely can't compete with that."

~

a/n : steve and isaac enemies to lovers ???