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˚⋆ ┊ ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING ┊ ⋆˚
☆⋅⋆ ─ act i. don't you want me, baby?

CHAPTER FIVE — when the party's over
( episode two ; trick or treat, freak )

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⠀ ⠀ "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" The grip on her arm was growing too tight for comfort when Peyton began struggling to pull away. Finally, when they reached the front door, Billy let her go, tossing her out of the house so hard she had to regain balance by gripping the wooden beam of the porch. Other teens stared but daren't interfere, especially when the deep base of whatever song they'd resumed playing rocked the wooden steps of the porch.

Still in slight shock, Peyton whirled around with fire in her eyes, wiping the blood from her already reddened, bruise anticipating bottom lip

"You heard what she said to me!" defended the blonde, gripping, hand motioned toward the scene of the crime. But Billy remained unsupportive of her actions

"So you gotta start a fight at a party?"

"Wouldn't you?" the evens girl questioned, anger still ripe from the fight when she took a step toward her so-called boyfriend, "I sincerely hope I'm not getting an anti-violence speech from Billy fucking Hargrove," harsh shove delivered to his shoulder as she forced her way past, Peyton hurried down the stairs only for Billy to get in her way once again

"Right," he nodded sarcastically, confidence growing once the blonde stopped in her tracks just to listen to whatever bullshit was about to leave his mouth, "But in front of everybody like that? It's fuckin' embarrassing," ─ bad call, Hargrove ─ brows raising further, Peyton stifled a wry laugh as her increasingly angered arms folded across her chest

"Excuse me?"

"I had to drag you out of there!"

"I didn't ask you to do that!" yelled Peyton, only girl in the world unafraid of getting in the Hargrove's boy's face, "In fact, I didn't ask you to come save me at all," jaw tightly clenched, Billy only glowered into her eyes as the Blonde continued with a mocking chuckle, "We're not dating! I am not your girl and I don't need you to hold me back! I don't need you to protect me! I don't need you at all, alright?"

Rejection clearly wasn't an emotion Billy was familiar with feeling. He was the kind of guy that had rarely been told no. Which didn't bode well for him, considering Peyton would die before she let some guy she just met boss her around for the sake of a ten-minute hookup in the back seat of his Camaro.

"Are you done?" condescending tone paired with the lack of sincerity in his eyes was enough to send Peyton further over the edge than she'd ever been before. But she knew better than to start a physical fight with Billy. As much as she hated to admit it, he was a lot stronger than her. And she wasn't so sure he would hold back. This was something she had to walk away from

"Yeah, Billy, we are so fucking done," laughter clearly wasn't the reaction Billy was looking for, and neither were the words that sounded much like being dumped. Which, in all Billy's life, had yet to happen. He'd gotten quite used to being the dumper, and so was left standing on the porch, seething like never before

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" this time, Billy yelled. Truly bellowed after her in a way that made her stop in her tracks and spin to face him. But rather than fear, Peyton painted on the same confident expression she'd show all that had decided to cross her

"You're Mr. Popularity, why don't you find a cheerleader to screw?" allowing Billy to walk toward her, Peyton stared up, fingernails threatening to draw blood from how harshly they dug into her pocketed palms

"You gotta be such a bitch?" another step forward had them almost nose to nose, but the tension between them was filled with far more hostility than lust

"You gotta almost run my brother over, asshole?" almost shocked that she'd come to learn that, Billy laughed in her face as though that was something completely outrageous for her to be upset about

"Jesus that was a joke!"

"It wasn't fucking funny!" snapped Peyton, eyes wide in disbelief, "What is wrong with you?"

"Clearly a lot if I'm dating you!" taking the sudden change from anger to shock in her glassy eyes as a win, Billy only grinned, throwing her own words right back in her face, "Oh sorry, not dating, screwing," and there it was again, the laugh that sent white-hot rage coursing through his veins, daggers glaring into the back of her head as she once again tried to leave him behind. But couldn't just let her walk away, even with the victory of having the last word, "Guess you really are a slut, huh?" middle finger raised, Peyton made a terrible mistake in turning to face Billy as he said the words, "Like mother like daughter!" anger had never drained to sadness as fast as it did the second those words left Billy's mouth. Coming from Carol or Tommy H, or whoever else, didn't hurt, it just pissed her off. But Billy knew better. And, as much as a dick he was to the world, Peyton truly cared for him. Even if she'd never admit it out loud. Tears threatened to spill like jets of water to put out the fire once raging through her angered eyes. And, for the first time, Billy sighed with genuine regret at the words he'd so casually thrown at the young girl in front of him. But he just couldn't bring himself to apologize, "Don't look at me like that, that is so fucked up,"

Wry chuckle slipping from her lips, Peyton looked away before she gave Billy the satisfaction of seeing a tear trail down her cheek, "Screw you,"

Angered adrenaline leaving his body, Billy only watched, letting her walk down the dark, empty driveway "How are you gonna get home?" unable to tell if she was imagining his lack of concern, Peyton kept her gaze fixated on the gravel beneath her heavy boots. Deciding instead to just get the hell out of there before she broke down in front of Billy, last person in the world she wanted to share her vulnerable side with. Or, for that matter, anybody else attending what had become the worst party she'd ever attended in her life.

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⠀ PEYTON HADN'T REALIZED HOW FAR SHE'D walked until the loud thump of party anthems was a quiet hum in the distance. With no one around, a terrible sinking feeling started escaping from within, allowing her emotions to spiral the way they only would when not a single soul was there to see. With furrowed brows, Peyton stifled her cries, trying her best to take deep breaths, calm herself down, even before her fist collided with cool brick, scraping her already bleeding knuckles. It was so unsettling, not knowing whether her leading emotion was anger or sadness. Shallow breaths turned to short sobs, barely escaping her trembling lips as she looked into the stars and just cried out into the empty sky.

Not a high, fearful scream but a low, angered wail, keeling over from the energy it stripped from her body. The relief made her weightless, tears spilling down her cheeks as if racing to reach the ground first. And when she'd emptied her lungs into the night, the breathless teen ran her blood-stained fingertips through the knotted curls that once neatly bounced on her shoulders.

"Woah,"

Relief had never become anger so suddenly than in the moment after hearing Steve Harrington speak after she'd braved her way through an anxiety attack. Smudging the mascara that had tracked down her cheeks across her face, Peyton looked almost as if she was going to literally make a run for it, but couldn't before a much gentler hand than Billy's gripped her shoulder

"Hey, hey, hey!" whirling around with tearful eyes that begged Steve not to push his luck with her right now, the Harrington boy quickly let go, hands up in surrender long enough for Peyton to notice he was holding something, but not quite what, "I'm not here to argue, okay?" he desperately insisted, "I'm not,"deciding to hear him out, Peyton folded her arms defensively, acting as though she wasn't just bawling her eyes out moments ago, watching him hold up a blue and white striped dish towel with some kind of rumbling plastic hidden within, "I know you did most of the punching," seemingly nervous, Steve held out the towel, revealing his reddened palms from the frozen contents within, "but I saw her get a couple hits in and-"

Finally taking it from him, Peyton opened the towel to find a pack of frozen peas, clearly intended for her busted lip, "Garden peas?" she questioned, grimacing when her hand began to tingle from the cold

"They didn't have a t-bone in the freezer, so-" Peyton never thought she'd see the day that Steve had genuine relief upon hearing her laugh. But there he was, smiling down at her with hands buried deep in his pockets having driven a pack of frozen peas just for her

"Did you... bring these all the way from the house?" treading carefully, Peyton didn't want to seem ungrateful for the gesture. She was just truly befuddled by the idea of the guy she'd been nothing but a complete dick to all night would feel like he owed her anything at all, "Why?"

From the look in his eye, it seemed almost as though he didn't entirely know either. Leaning against a nearby lamppost, Steve watched as Peyton took a seat on the wall behind her, covering the peas back up and pressing them gently against her lip with a hissed wince.

Not wanting the uncomfortable silence to linger, Steve loudly cleared his throat, gaining an odd glance from the tired blonde, "So, what happened back there?"

"I punched Carol in her stupid face," shrugged Peyton, ever the blunt conversationist. Steve narrowed his eyes, arms tightening as a slight smirk creased the corner of his mouth

"Yeah, that I saw," Steve had never tried to get more than a sentence out of Peyton before, and all this questioning was rather unusual. But, for whatever strange reason, Steve just wanted to make her feel better. With a deep sigh, he pushed himself from the lamp, taking the free spot beside Peyton on the wall, "You can't let her get to you like that. The reaction... it's what she wants,"

Unconvinced, Peyton leaned on the arm holding the peas to her cheek to question, "You think she enjoyed the ass-kicking?" breathing in to retort, Peyton couldn't help but make one last attempt to push him away, "You would know, Right? Your friend circle and all..."

But Steve seemed more accepting than irritated, going so far as to nod in agreement as he stared away thoughtfully "Yeah, not anymore,"

A hint of guilt passed her features upon hearing his somewhat sad tone. Even if he let them go for a reason, they were his friends once. Then again, what did that say about the person Steve used to be? If he had even changed at all...

"Yeah," nodded Peyton, "You've been replaced," Steve shrugged with a short chuckle, yet to interrupt as Peyton, smirk on her face, added, "The great king Steve, dethroned by the asshole new kid,"

Slight amusement in his eyes, Steve feigned offense with a playful nudge, "What, your boyfriend?" smile quickly faded to a thoughtful frown as she chewed her lip, looking down at her feet to ponder

"He's not my boyfriend," the words she found herself repeating over and over had much more sorrow than the usual anger she'd carry behind it. If he wasn't her boyfriend before, he especially wasn't now. But, for whether reason, Steve looked more relieved than critical of that fact

"Good," stifling a smile, Steve too his gaze that was once fixated on anything but Peyton to look her in the eye, "You can do much better than that asshole," taken aback, her lips became an odd mixture of a frown and a smile as confused brows tightly knitted together

"Steve Harrington, did you just say something nice to me?" thinking back on it, this was probably the first time Peyton had heard a true, genuine laugh from the Harrington boy. Not only that, but she'd been the one to cause it to

Teasing, Steve gave a short shrug before shooting her a clearly joked glare, "You can't tell anyone,"

"Oh, my lips are tightly sealed," insisted the ever-amused blonde, finally pulling a shaky hand from her pocket, cigarette between her fingertips as she dropped her zippo from her palm into her spare hand, "We have our... 'sworn enemies' reputation to protect," wincing in pain, Peyton hadn't realized just how battered her hands were until she'd tried to actually use her lighter, "Damn it," cursing through her teeth, Peyton tried again to no avail, the clicking sound and smell of gas taunting her with their lack of flame, "Damn it!"

"Hey," fingertips touching, only for a moment, Steve gently took the lighter, igniting it with ease as he used his other hand to shield it from the wind. The end glowed as it began to burn, Peyton inhaling deeply without moving her hands to breathe out, holding the stick of nicotine between her teeth

"Thanks," she smiled with unfeigned gratitude, able to at least manage to hold her cigarette between her fingertips. She stared at it for a moment, yet to take a second drag, before holding it out toward Steve, who she could now tell also looked rather in need of some kind of heart-to-heart. Holding the burning stick toward him, Steve seemed to consider for a moment, before accepting with a shrug. Although, he only managed a short drag before he let out a stifled cough. Snickering in amusement, Peyton couldn't help but watch in slight confusion; she knew for a fact that this wasn't Steve Harrington's first cigarette

"What's up with you, anyway?" questioned the blonde, gladly accepting the smoke Steve had placed between her fingers as he squinted in confusion

"What?"

"You stormed out of that bathroom pretty fast," Peyton further explained, eager to get the subject matter as far from Billy Hargrove as possible, "Not like you to just leave your girl behind," still not realizing the genuine sadness behind Steve's eyes, Peyton continued to joke, "What, Nancy finally dump your ass?" silence was the last thing she'd expected to be left in when asking a question like that. Surely the king and queen of Hawkins High were still going strong? But from the way Steve had yet to respond, and the sorrowful look on his face as he stared into the ground, she started to get the feeling that some serious, relationship-changing shit had gone down in that bathroom, "Oh shit, seriously?" with a quick sigh, Peyton soon found herself uttering two words she never imagined herself saying to the likes of Steve Harrington, "Hey, I- I'm sorry-"

"She called it bullshit," Steve interrupted, this time simply taking the cigarette rather than waiting for Peyton to offer. But, for some reason, she didn't mind

"What's bullshit?"

"Everything," admitted Steve, "Our- our relationship..." he trailed off, exhaling smoke as he waved his arms in chorus with his words, "Our lives... I mean, we still... We're having dinner with Barb's parents every week and- and she can't stop talking about... about telling the truth,"

Heart dripping from not only shock but true fear, Peyton sat up straight, haphazardly shuffling closer to Steve without even noticing, "She could die,"

"I know," Steve passionately agreed

"Like actually-"

"I know!"

Pausing at the sudden urgency in his tone, Peyton pursed her lips in concern as Steve sighed in thought, "I just wanted us to be... normal teenagers..." Brown band that once rested between his lips now pressed between his index and thumb, he held a hand toward the blonde. Peyton's hand lingered for a moment when it suddenly dawned on her what was happening.

At no earlier than 2am, she was sitting on a wall, barely an hour since she'd literally fought one of the most popular girls in school, sharing a cigarette with Steve "the hair" Harrington. The laughter that escaped felt as though it was no fault of her own. There was just no possible way for her to keep it in. Especially after hearing the words 'normal teenagers' directed at themselves

"What?" struggling to mask his smile upon hearing the sound of infectious laughter, Steve's brows furrowed, "What's so funny?"

Barely able to get the words out between her seemingly unprompted fit of giggles, Peyton took a short breath, grin still wide though her laughter had rested, "We're not normal teenagers,"

"Alright," Steve shook his head, waiting for what he thought was some kind of insult hurdling his way. But, upon seeing his smile falter, Peyton let out a sigh, leaning over to deliver a playful nudge

"No, I mean... come on, Steve, last year we fought a... a monster that was literally from another dimension," Upon realizing Peyton hadn't been laughing directly at him, Steve relaxed, eyes fixed on hers as he visibly calmed, "With a baseball bat. That we hammered nails into ourselves,"

"Alright,"

"And a can of hairspray and a lighter,"

"Alright!" the yeah I get it attitude finally helped Peyton's incessant need to continue listing the various homemade weapons that surrounded Nancy's gun (which Jonathan seemed more than comfortable relying on, much to Peyton's dismay)

"I'm just saying," smirked the ever-irritating blonde, hands stretched in feigned surrender, "That's not normal," with a short, albeit slightly irritated, chuckle, Steve seemed to nod in agreement, brows knitted together in deep thought as they gaze once fixed on Peyton moved to examine the cracks in the pavement.

Steve stayed silent for a long moment after that. Long enough, at least, for the cigarette they'd been sharing to end with one last long drag from each nicotine-craving teen. She hadn't realized how peaceful it was. Dull orange lighting up the once familiar suburban streets of Hawkins, now left with a sense of unease at how night left her beloved hometown looking like that place.

Peyton honestly wasn't sure if it was the fact that he could sense her intently growing anxiety, or that he simply couldn't go another second without hearing the sound of his own voice, but was nonetheless grateful to have a break from simply hearing her spiraling thoughts

"I don't think she loves me anymore," the confession came from a place of honesty that shocked Peyton to her core. She'd never been the type for people to confide in, much less a person she supposedly despised

"She's drunk, Steve," An attempt at reassurance was short-lived when all Steve could do was shake his head, becoming more certain that his worst fears were becoming a reality

"Being drunk doesn't make you say shit you don't mean, it makes you admit things you're too scared to say when you're sober," eyes narrowed, Peyton scanned Steve's increasingly confused features as she, for a short moment, debated giving actual advice, maybe even confessing her worries too.

But, of course, anxiety and trust issues got the better of her.

"I think you're drunk," were the words she finally settled for, sitting up straight in hope that it wasn't obvious that she not only pulled back emotionally, but physically too. Lucky for her, Steve seemed more confused than upset at her accusation

"Why?"

"'Cause," chuckled Peyton, "no way in hell you'd share any of this with me if you were sober," cocky smirk that had, much to her dismay, began to grow on her, Steve tilted his head as a single brow raised in challenge, "What?"

Keys jingling in his pocket, Peyton suddenly remembered how she'd been approached by the Harrington boy so fast. And why there was a sudden patch of wet and a soggy towel on the otherwise pristine brick wall they'd decided to have their unlikely heart-to-heart on, "Son of a bitch,"

First to stand of the two, Steve even walked backward toward his car in a rather amusing attempt to further prove his sobriety. Though it wasn't until the words "Come on!" called rather loudly for 2am on a school night that Peyton clocked what he was implying

"Oh, absolutely not,"

"Peyton-"

"I'd rather walk," having walked to the driver's side, Steve remained standing to watch Peyton, still fixed on the uncomfortable brick, with his arms draped over the roof

"It's two in the morning,"

"I'll enjoy the peace and quiet," she protested, finally deciding to stand so that they didn't further disturb the homes of the non-nocturnal trying to get some rest before their boring Hawkins lives began again in merely hours

"It's not safe," insisted Steve, earning his first genuine glare of the evening in record time considering how long they'd actually been talking for

"I can take care of myself," she smiled wryly, though yet to storm off. Whatever charm he'd put on to impress Nancy had somehow made itself compelling enough, even for the likes of his should-be sworn enemy

"Just... get in the god damn car," Jaw clenched, as though physically biting her tongue, Peyton slowly approached the passenger side, leaning against the door with her folded across the roof to mirror Steve's (although the added accessory of a soggy dish towel made it slightly less intimidating)

"If you tell a soul-" Amused, and satisfied he was able to convince her, Steve finally let his hand click open the door, somehow in unison with the irritated blonde opposite him,

"And what a scandal that would be," he joked, peering over as she peered nosily around the surprisingly tidy interior of his car

"Talk of the town," retorted Peyton

"One for the papers," agreed Steve, not expecting Peyton's further input and self-dig as she half-joked

"Kings Steve's torrid affair with local town slut," hand frozen on the key, Steve waited to turn on the engine when her words reminded him how cruel he and his seemingly ditched friends had been to both her and Nancy

"You're not a slut, Evans," the genuineness in his tone did a surprising amount to uplift the blonde's spirits further.

Smile of appreciation painted on red lips, Peyton nodded thankfully, anxious hands buried into the pocket concealed by her seatbelt before she looked over, cheek smushed into the headrest, "You're not bullshit, Harrington,"

Mixed signals everywhere, there was no way of telling what was going on in the other person's head. Or if this conversation would even mean something come morning. When they walked into their homes. Or through the halls of Hawkins High. If it would all be forgotten, and they'd go back to plain and simple hatred and bickering. Peyton hated that the thought had even crossed her mind.

Most of all, she hated that she didn't want that to happen. To forget that, for a night, Steve was someone she really liked.

"I won't tell, alright?" Steve finally promised, hand over his heart, "I swear on..." glancing around, it was soon obvious that he was looking for something to promise on with less value than, say, his mother, or sister. Eyes landing on bright green plastic uncovered by the soaked rag on Peyton's lap, Steve decided to point rather than wet his hands, "Garden peas,"

Another genuine chuckle escaped the Evans girl's lips as she bemusedly repeated "Garden peas?"

"Yeah..." shrugged Steve, smug smirk painted on as if he'd received a studio audience round of applause for his silly joke.

Mentally slapping herself, Peyton forced her eyes away, ignoring the butterflies in her stomach as frozen fingertips reached up to press into her temples, "Can we go?" dramatically, she groaned, "I think I'm starting to sober up so much my hangover is setting in,"

Unable to resist a chance to further tease, "Probably just the sound of your voice. Happens to me all the time," hand quickly colliding with his arm, Peyton delivered a harsh shove

"Asshole. Start the god damn car," keys finally turning in the ignition, Peyton felt a sense of relief at how she was headed back to her home. To her nice comfy bed. At least she'd have a lot to think about when trying to fall asleep. Her fight with Carol was bound to be all anyone could talk about the next day. Even if her argument with Billy was by far a better story for the Hawkins Post.

But there was one good thing to come of it. A realization had been made that night. One that could change the course of Peyton's life forever.

Steve Harrington... wasn't that bad?

[ rewrite update !! ]
hiii i hope ur enjoying the updated chapters!

this felt like a very peyton only chapter, but i promise there's more sid focused stuff to come soon :)

ty for being patient w this whole process 😅

-

( previous notes )
AHH SHE'S HERE !!!

wanna start by saying that if u want ✨ the experience ✨ i had writing, u should re-read the last part (from around where Steve offers Peyton ride) of this chapter while listening to 'the first I love you' from the s3 soundtrack bc thats what I imagined playing in the background hehe (even if this is s2 idc)

also wanna apologize for all the spelling errors ! i know they're there, it's just 2am for me and i wanna get this chapter out 😎

what do we think about the first slightly non enemies evening for our protagonists ??? is it early?? sure!! but is there PLENTY more enemy-ness to come before they're even KIND OF friends?? absolutely

anyway sorry if all these hefty dialogue chapters are boring i just love in depth character development and deep conversations lol

i've got a kinda busy week but i'll try and have another chapter out for u guys by the weekend!

ty for reading and voting
and commenting it really does make my day!

<3