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On the rooftop of the WSQK building stood the four friends who went to Hell and back together a couple of years ago. They hadn’t spoken to each other in a while, and the only reason this get-together came about was because of the Class of 1989’s graduation. They had all gone their separate ways–Nancy Wheeler, for a short time, went to Emerson, and is now finding herself wanting to explore the world and her options. Robin is now attending Smith College, majoring in Music Composition. Jonathan Byers has gone to his dream school of NYU, majoring in filmmaking. Steve Harrington opted to stay in Hawkins, choosing to coach a Little League team and be a lax sex-ed teacher.
“Alright! Well, see you guys next month!” Robin Buckley said, turning around and getting ready to get off the roof.
The group had planned to do monthly meetings at Robin’s uncle’s house in Philly. They didn’t know if this would work out in the long run or even in the short term, but they wanted to at least try.
“Yeah, see you all next month,” Nancy said, finishing her drink and moving to the ladder. “Steve, keep me updated on what happens with Kristen,” she said, patting Steve’s shoulder.
“Will do, Nance. Trust me, she’s totally better than Julie and Dawn, especially Julie,” Steve responded jokingly.
Jonathan just stood there as the exchange happened with a forced smile on his face. He never heard of Dawn or Kristen or anyone, yet both Nancy and Robin knew about Steve’s revolving door of girls.
After Nancy and Robin safely went down the ladder, Steve started on his way when, all of a sudden, a grip on his arm stopped him. Steve looked behind him and saw Jonathan holding his arm.
With a raised eyebrow, Steve turned around. “Anything you wanted to say, Byers?” Steve asked.
There was a pit in Jonathan’s stomach. He really shouldn’t have been this bothered by this, but he couldn’t shake the jealous feeling.
“Who’s Kristen?” Jonathan asked in a quiet voice. He wasn’t looking Steve in the eyes right now; he hated the way he sounded like a teenage girl.
“Huh?” Steve responded, unsure he heard what Jonathan said. What he heard certainly didn’t seem like something Jonathan Byers would say.
“Who’s Kristen?” Jonathan asked again, louder than he had really wanted it to come out.
Steve jumped at the sudden volume change and the fact that Jonathan was now looking him in the eyes. “Well, she’s someone I met at a bar one weekend. We talked for a couple of hours, and now we’ve been seeing each other.” Steve answered the question after taking a couple of seconds to regain his composure.
“And how come I didn’t know anything about it?” Jonathan said, still pretty heated. He didn’t know why all this was coming out now, but he couldn’t stop it.
“Uh, well…I just didn’t think it was necessary. I mean, you’re all busy with your cannibalism film and…” Steve was starting to explain before
“Anti-capat-not the point. But Nancy knew, Robin knew. How come I was the only one who didn’t know?” Jonathan continued his rant.
“Dude, I don’t know, I just didn’t think you would care. Should I call you every time I get a new girl?” Steve said, trying to calm Jonathan down. Steve was really at a loss for what was happening.
“Well, we’re friends, aren’t we? I mean, it would be nice if you called me once in a while. I feel like I’m always the one who initiates our calls.” Jonathan said, coming down from his heated mood and now just feeling really whiny.
“I mean, I think that’s for the best. With you going to college, I think you have a better chance of getting through to me than I do getting through to you. But…I’m sorry if I hurt you. I didn’t think it meant that much to you.” Steve said. He still didn’t know where all this was coming from, but he could tell Jonathan was hurt, and he didn’t want that.
Jonathan sighed and went over to his lawn chair to sit down. Steve shook his head a little, still bewildered by what was transpiring. He sat down in the lawn chair Nancy once sat in.
“Look, I’m sorry for the outburst. I just…I don’t know, it just kinda annoyed me that you have all these girls and you could tell Nancy and Robin, but…you just didn’t tell me.” Jonathan looked Steve directly in the eyes. Ever since Jonathan and Steve reconciled, they’d gotten closer in the 18 months. Close enough to where Jonathan would even want, allow Steve to move in with him.
Steve also felt way closer to Jonathan. Hell, he’d love to have Byers back in Hawkins, but he knows NYU was Jonathan’s dream, and he didn’t want to get in the way of that.
“Well, Byers, I’m sure you got girls coming for you over in New York, tell me about that,” Steve said as he lightly nudged Jonathan’s arms
“Nah, I really don’t-”
“Oh come on-”
“No, I really haven’t. No girls have really caught my eye at all.” Jonathan laughed as they talked about his lack of a dating life.
“So what, you’re saving yourself for Nance? Well, I’m rooting for you.” Steve said sincerely.
“No, I don’t think that’s gonna be anything anytime soon,” Jonathan said with a chuckle. Truth is, he kinda didn’t feel that way about Nancy anymore. They were still really close, and they talked every week, but he really couldn’t see anything romantic coming from it.
After a moment of silence, Steve spoke up, “Well, whoever catches your eye is lucky, Byers.” Steve praised as he lay back. “Kristen is a great girl, though. I swear she’s the one…”
Steve continued on, but Jonathan was only half listening. He was still bothered. At first, he thought what was bothering him was Steve not telling him things, and while that was part of it…he just didn’t like Steve talking about girls he’s dating.
“If Kristen told you to move to New York, would you say yes?” Jonathan blurted out the question. It shocked Steve and kinda made him uncomfortable.
“Oh, dude, come on, are you still hung up on that? You know I didn’t mean anything by it.” Steve said, standing up
Jonathan stands as well, “But would you? I mean, I’ve been asking, and you just blew me off.”
“You sound like a jealous schoolgirl right now, Byers,” Steve said, fed up and heading to the ladder to leave this conversation. Jonathan moved in front of him.
“Answer the question, Steve.” Jonathan asserted. Whenever Jonathan got like this, Steve got this little fluttering feeling in his stomach. He had no idea why Jonathan’s assertive side made his insides do a leap.
“No, I wouldn’t, Byers, okay? I would not take her offer. Does that make you happy?” Steve finally spat out.
Jonathan whispered, “Yes.” It honestly did make him feel better. Now he knew it wasn’t him that Steve was rejecting. Thought that didn't mean he’d quit pestering Steve about it.
“Why are you so hooked on my love life anyway?” Steve asked as he put his hands on his hips. The pose drove Jonathan a little crazy.
“S-shut up. I just think you going from girl to girl is getting old.” Jonathan said, turning his head away from Steve.
Jonathan really reminded Steve of one of the girls who would have crushes on him and get overly jealous of his school dates. It was almost like Jonathan had a crush on him…Steve, in that moment, decided to get a little mischievous.
“You know, Byers, it’s almost like you have a little thing for me.” Jonathan blushed at that, which didn’t go unnoticed.
“Is that it, Byers? If so, I can hardly blame you. I mean, I really am a catch. I’m surprised it took this long.” Steve continued to tease Jonathan over this, seeing that it got under his skin
“Shut up, Steve, ok? I can’t believe you’d even say that, asshole!” Jonathan, bewildered by the allegation, was now the one trying to end this conversation.
Steve grabbed Jonathan and turned him around. “Come on, if you do, just admit it. If you wanna kiss me, come on and do it. Did Nance ever tell you I’m a great kisser?” Steve started to get closer to Jonathan, and their faces, their lips, were only a couple of inches away.
Jonathan was going crazy right now. He had no idea what to do. Steve was so close. So so close. He could smell him. Oh my God, he smells so good, Jonathan thought. Every part of his body was telling him to just go for it, so what the Hell.
Steve, assuming Jonathan wouldn’t do it, was a little disappointed. He kinda wanted to see if Jonathan would do it. Oh well- just then Jonathan used a hand and grabbed the back of Steve’s head and smashed their lips together.
Steve went wide-eyed, shocked thatJonathan actually did it, and also with how aggressive the kiss was. Jonathan was rough with his kiss, not giving Steve a minute to even breathe as he started to taste Steve’s lips. Jonathan felt like he was on cloud nine right now.
After a minute longer of Jonathan passionately kissing and bruising Steve’s lips, he pushed Steve off. They stood in silence for a second. Jonathan just stared at Steve while Steve put a hand on his lips. Fuck was all Steve was thinking.
“I-I’m sorry!” Jonathan exclaimed as he almost ran off until Steve pulled him back. “What-” before Jonathan could continue, Steve now initiated a kiss with Jonathan.
Steve’s kiss was a lot more sensual and loving. After a while, Steve used his tongue to enter Jonathan’s mouth. Steve gave Jonathan a look, and Jonathan knew it meant “Let me lead,” and he did. Despite Jonathan being totally capable of turning this around, he found himself wanting to give in to Steve.
Steve was right, the bastard was all Jonathan thought. This was the best kiss he ever got. The way Steve’s tongue moves, the way he would tug on Jonathan’s lips. Even the hand placement on Jonathan’s hips. Jonathan wished the moment never ended, but sadly, it had to.
Once Steve stopped the kiss, they were both out of breath. Jonathan was still in a haze from the kiss, while Steve just looked at Jonathan contentedly.
“Nice try, Byers, but I wouldn’t let you one-up me in my home turf like that,” Steve said as he held onto Jonathan’s waist and held him close.
“Okay, I get it, you live up to the King Steve title,” Jonathan chuckled a little.
“Of course I do, and I can tell it worked in more ways than one.” They looked down and saw that Jonathan had quite the tent forming in his pants. This made Jonathan so embarrassed.
“Jesus Christ!” Jonathan got out of Steve’s hold and turned around, hiding his bulge.
Steve laughed, when all of a sudden–
“HEY LOVEBIRDS!! Can you stop making out? We’d like to get back before dark!” Robin said, standing right next to Nancy on the ground.
Steve and Jonathan couldn’t be seen, but they still blushed at that. Steve then went up to Jonathan’s arm and whispered. “If you want to have a little help, you can come to my house. You’ll have to wait. I think I need to make a call to Kristen.”
Jonathan watched as Steve left with those partying words. “ Take that, Kristen.” He said to himself before following Steve off the roof.