Wednesday, October 31st, 1984

DUSTIN WALKED INSIDE, GASPING AS he saw Bea and Steve there watching Nightmare on Elm Street.

"Hold up there Dustin, how was your night?" She asked quietly and he nodded nervously.

"Good, yeah, you're home early," he said and Bea pressed a finger to her lips when Steve started to stir, trying to get Dustin to be more quiet.

"Dusty, how was it?" Their mum asked and Bea could hear it from outside the room.

"Oh yeah, it was, uh, totally tubular," he said and their mum pulled a confused face.

"Whats wrong with you?" She asked and then she asked if Dustin was constipated and Bea had to hold in a laugh to make sure Steve wouldn't wake up.

"You're acting weird," their mum said. Bea heard Mews hiss at Dustins box and Dustin laugh nervously.

"Awesome right, I rigged the trap to have a motor so it looks like I caught a ghost," Dustin explained and their mum laughed nervously before Dustin walked into his room.

The movie had finished but neither teenagers had noticed. They had both fallen asleep, Bea's head against the back of the sofa and Steves head in Beas lap as his legs spread across the rest of the sofa.

Bea's mum walked in that night and saw them asleep but didn't say anything, knowing that sometimes she didn't need to get involved in her daughters very complicated friendships and especially over the last year she couldn't risk their latest mother-daughter bond.

☆☆☆

Thursday, November 1st, 1984

THE NEXT MORNING, BEA WOKE UP to see Steve gone. She walked into her bedroom, assuming that Steve had gone home.

nstead he was sitting on her bed, flicking through her latest scrapbook.

The last picture in it was from about 3 weeks ago of the duo and it was littered with other pictures that needed to be stuck in.

"Morning Steve," she said and he looked up at her smiling.

"Sorry, I'll let you get changed," he said and she smiled at him as he jumped up.

"What about you?" Bea asked and he shrugged his shoulders.

"I always leave a spare pair of clothes in my car," he explained before walking off, leaving Bea slightly confused.

She got changed before noticing a post it-note on her mirror. "Meet me at lunch in AV Club," it said and she knew it was from Dustin. She walked out to Steve car where she saw him sitting in the front seat topless, pulling a shirt over his head.

She turned away, covering her eyes and she heard Steve laugh from inside the car.

"Why are you getting changed in your car?" She asked, turning around with her hands still over her eyes.

"Take your hand off your eyes Bear, I'll drive you to school" he said and she hesitantly removed them before opening the passenger door.

Bea sat in Steve's car, awkwardly fiddling with her necklace like she had tended to do when she was panicked or just generally awkward - so quite often.

"About last night, thanks, I really needed it," Steve said and she could hear the pain in his voice as he spoke.

"No problem ok, I just want you to be okay. You didn't deserve the way she treated you," Bea said and he smiled, thanking her and kissing her gently on the temple before starting the car up.

They drove to school and after a long boring day it was gym class.

She sat on the bench, studying as Steve played basketball against a topless Billy.

All the girls crowded around to watch him but Bea was there to support Steve because normally Nancy would be there and everyone knew what happened the night before. Billy was talking to Steve, probably getting in his head and Bea looked up from her book to see what would happen.

Steve was knocked over by Billy and all the girls - par Bea - cheered when Billy scored.

Nancy walked in and called Steves name out and he turned to her. He walked off with her leaving Bea alone.

Suddenly Billy walked over to her, pressing her book down and she looked at him annoyed.

"What do you want asshole?" She asked and he smirked, running a hand through his hair

"Not much Morticia, just if you'll go on a date with me," he asked, some of the girls looking at her irritated.

Why would he go after someone so long on the social hierarchy when he could have those prettier girls.

"When hell freezes over Hargrove," she said, picking her book off and walking out of the room, not noticing Billy smirking as he watched her walk away.

☆☆☆

SHE MET UP WITH HER BROTHER AND his friends in the AV room.

"His name is d'Artagnan" Dustin said as he opened the box, picking the slimy lizard thing out.

"Like the Three Musketeers. This is why you were so weird last night," Bea said as Dustin held it in his hand.

"And he was in your trash?" Max asked and he offered if she wanted to hold him but Max shook her head violently.

But Dustin still put the lizard in her hand.

"Hes slimy," she said and Bea laughed as Max slipped the thing into Lucas' hand, wiping her hands on her shirt.

"At first I thought he was some type of pollywog," Dustin explained as he placed a few books on the table.

"Its another word for a tadpole," Bea explained to Max when she looked confused.

"Well dart isn't aquatic, he doesn't need water," Dustin explained as he flipped to a certain page in the book.

"Yeah, but aren't there nonaquatic pollywogs?" Lucas asked and Dustin nodded his head,

Dustin explained about Terrestrial pollywogs and how neither of them were American. Just as Dustin was about to continue his absolutely thrilling lecture on pollywogs Mike interrupted him.

"Looks like something is moving in him," he stated and everyone instantaneously turned to look at Dart. Max moved a light over and Dart screeched in pain as the light hit him and everyone looked at it in complete shock.

Dart jumped off the table but luckily Dustin caught him, putting him back down, cooing at the thing.

"Another thing, reptiles are cold-blooded, ectothermic right? They love heat the sun, dart hates it, it hurts him," Dustin explained and Bea just cringed at the sight of the thing squirming in her brothers hands.

"So he's not a pollywog, or a reptile," Lucas said and Dustin smiled.

"Then I've discovered a new species," he said with a large grin on his face, strocking Dart.

The bell suddenly rang and they left.

"We have to show this to Mr Clarke," Lucas said and Dustin whined.

"What if he steals my discovery?" He suggested and Bea sighed, "Hes not going to steal your discovery," she reassured before seeing Steve walking down the hall.

"Hope this all works out, update me soon ok," she said before running over to Steve who looked sad and actually pretty miserable.

"Hey!" She yelled out and he turned to her, wiping his nose subconsciously.

The frown faded as they walked towards each other, a fake smile reappearing. Nobody else was around as they walked to their next lesson.

"You ok?" She asked and Steve nodded.

Bea sighed, looking at someone she has known since she was little.

"Don't lie to me," she said and at that word she saw the smile dissappear and the words got caught in Steve's throat as he looked at her.

Bea didn't even hesitate to wrap her arms around him and he instantly fell into the hug. Bea heard the soft sobs escaping his lips as she tightened her hold on him.

After a minute or two Steve pulled away, wiping his eyes before the two started to walk to the next lesson again, not even discussing what just happened.

☆☆☆

AFTER SCHOOL WAS DONE, BEA STOOD outside waiting for Steve as she overheard Billy.

"Screw it, that little shit can skate home," Billy said as he wrapped his arm around one of the latest girls he was taking home.

"Also, shes not my sister," he said and Bea heard the whole thing, leaning against Steve's car and waiting for Steve to walk out.

She hadn't driven to school that morning and was now regretting it. Suddenly she saw Steve, waving him down as he ran towards her.

"Hey, sorry to be a pain. Can you drive me home?" She asked and Steve smiled, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

"Course Bear," he said, opening the car door and the two jumped in.

As they were driving Bea sighed, trying to find a way to word her next statement correctly.

"You don't have to put up this brave face for me you know," she said and he turned to her confused. "Its just. If you're sad or you want to talk. Don't be a dick and hide it if your sad," she said and Steve smiled, pulling up at her drive.

"I won't, in all seriousness, I'm already feeling better, see you tomorrow," he said and she got out the car, smiling at him,

"See you too," she said before closing the door and walking off, watching as he drove off into the distance. 

It was getting late and Bea noticed Dustin wasn't home so she got on her car and drove over to the school.

When she parked up it was empty so she got out of the car and saw the parties bikes still parked up. Bea sighed, about to walk inside when she saw Will running across the field.

She chased after him, a sickening feeling in her gut as she saw the vacant expression on his face. She felt the hairs stand up on her neck as she followed him as fast as her legs would carry her.

1567 words