Danielle Henderson was always overlooked. She wasn't as pretty as Heather Holloway. She wasn't as smart as Nancy Wheeler.

Nancy Wheeler got everything, but what was so special about her? Danielle's friendship with Jonathon Byers was ruined because of her. But, of course, Danielle's younger brother, Dustin, was friends with Nancy's brother, Mike, so they saw plenty of each other.

There was a knock at Danielle's window, and she frowned, looking down at her clock. It read 7:37. The brunette made her way to the window, sliding up to allow her best friend, Steve Harrington, to enter her bedroom. "You're an hour and thirty-seven minutes late, asshat." Danielle crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for Steve's response.

"Sorry, I was at Nancy's and lost track of time." Every single of of Steve's excuses involved Nancy, who was his girlfriend. Even Steve chose Nancy over Danielle, who had been his best friend since childhood.

Danielle rolled her eyes at Steve's lame excuse for an explanation. "Hey, I come bearing gifts." Steve quickly took off his backpacked and pulled out cheese balls, Capri suns, and Danielle's favorite movie 'Star Wars : A New Hope'.

A smile appeared on Danielle's face as she grabbed the cheese balls out of Steve's hand and snapped the cap off. Her bedroom door swung open to reveal her younger brother, Dustin Henderson, rushing into her room. "Do you have any spare change?"

"Dustin, you know I don't have a job." Danielle cocked an eyebrow as Dustin checked all of her drawers. "Does it look like I have any spare change?"

"What about your boyfriend, huh?"

"Listen here, you little shit." Danielle snapped before popping a cheese puff into her mouth. "Steve's not my boyfriend. Now leave me alone."

"Woah, chew with your mouth closed, please. You're disgusting." Dustin made a face at his sister. "And, if you aren't going to give me any spare change, I'll take your snacks then."

"Excuse me?"

"Or I'll tell Mom that you sneak Steve in through the window almost every day."

"You wouldn't dare."

Dustin turned to face the closed door behind him and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Mom!"

"Alright, alright." Danielle basically shoved the cheese balls into Dustin's hands. "Now, please leave before you draw anymore attention to me."

"Yes, ma'am." Dustin saluted before running off to the arcade with his friends.

"Fuck him." Danielle spat as she grabbed a Capri Sun from box and plunged the straw into it.

"He's a funny kid." Steve chuckled as he jumped onto Danielle's bed. He grabbed her pillow and brought it to his chest, hugging the pillow.

"He's a monster." Danielle shook her head, swiping her pillow out of Steves hands and playfully hitting him with it. "He took our cheese balls. I was really excited about those."

Steve spun his car keys around his finger. "Well, we can stop by 7-eleven. I have to get gas anyways."

"You go out the window, and I'll meet you at your car, yeah?" Steve nodded and threw himself out the window.

Danielle rushed out of her room, but was stopped by her mother. "And where exactly do you think you're going?"

"I-uh- found some spare change for Dustin." Danielle faked a smile for her mother. "I'm just gonna go to the arcade and bring it to him."

Her mother nodded. "Tell Dusty that Mews and I love him."

"Okay, mom." Danielle exited her house and sprinted to Steve's car, which was parked at the end of her driveway. "To 7-eleven."

"To 7-eleven." Steve smiled as he put the keys into the ignition and drove off.

The ride was fairly quiet, but that was usual for the two of them. Of course, they loved conversing with each other, but most car rides just consisted of them enjoying each other's presence. They arrived at the station, and Steve told Danielle to grab the cheese balls while he stayed back and pumped the gas. Danielle made her way into the store. She walked into the isle with the snacks, and began her search for the cheese balls.

Right when she found the cheese balls, she heard a voice.

"Wow, Nancy Wheeler. I've heard a lot about you, but I've never gotten the chance to meet you."

It sounded like the person was speaking to Danielle, but why would they call her Nancy. "Huh?" Danielle looked in the direction the voice came from and saw a boy in a leather jacket standing there. He had curly, long brown hair and light blue eyes. He cocked an eyebrow, waiting for a response. "Uh- I'm- uh- not Nancy." She scratched the back of her neck, nervously, before grabbing the container of cheese balls.

The boy chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, I saw you leaving Steve Harrington's car, and I just assumed."

"Yeah, no. He's just my friend." Danielle frowned, wishing this boy would finally introduce himself.

"To be honest, I'm glad that you aren't Nancy. I've heard that she's a bit of a priss."

"You aren't wrong." Danielle rolled her eyes.

He smirked, placing his hand out. "I'm Billy. Billy Hargrove."

Danielle understood now. There had been talk of a boy named Billy Hargrove who had just moved from California. He was apparently threatening to rid Steve of his 'crown'.

"Ah, yes." Danielle nodded. "You're the new kid from California that everyone is talking about. It makes sense now."

"So, if you aren't Nancy, then what are you doing with Harrington?" Billy leaned against the isle next to him. His arms were crossed.

"He's my- um- best friend." Danielle looked back at Steve, who was watching them from his car. "And it looks like he wants to get going, so I'm gonna head." She grabbed the cheese balls, but was blocked from leaving by Billy.

"Wait a minute, you never told me your name, sweetheart." Billy looked down at her with a smile across his face.

"Don't worry about it." Danielle rushed around him and quickly paid for them before exiting the store.

"Who was that you were talking to?" Steve asked as Danielle sat in the passenger seat of his car. "I'm never seen him before."

Danielle looked back towards the gas station as Steve drove away and saw Billy getting into his car. "His name is Billy. He's the new kid."

Steve frowned as he watched the road. "I've heard stories about that kid, and Dani, I want you to stay away from him."

"Steve-"

"Please. I can't let you get hurt."

Danielle nodded in response and popped open the can of cheese balls. She was content again with her cheese balls.

Steve turned his car back on, and the two began their journey back to Danielle's house. The Henderson girl brought the cheese balls with her as she entered her house. "I'm back, mom." She shouted as she walked straight into her bedroom.

Right when she got into the room, Steve had fallen from the window onto the floor. Danielle let out a snort as she watched his squirm to get up. "That doesn't usually happen." Steve chuckled as he scratched the back of his neck.

Danielle laughed as she sat on her bed setting the cheese balls beside her. Steve soon replaced the cheese balls, after he had turned on the movie. While Steve was engrossed in the delight of watching Star Wars, Danielle was watching him. She smiled as she watched his eyes light up the moment Darth Vader entered the screen. The Sith Lord has always been Steve's favorite character.

There was something about the beauty of Steve's face that almost took Danielle's breath away. His soft brown eyes, his strong facial features, and who could forget his classic hair.

But, that wasn't why Danielle loved Steve.

She loved how he cared so deeply for people once he opened up to them. She loved how he always knew the perfect moment to crack a joke. She loved how he always loved bringing joy to people. And, she loved that he stayed friends with her after he became popular. Most people would have dropped their lesser popular friends very quick once their fame grew, but Steve was different. He had a soft spot for Danielle unlike any before.

He loved her as if she were his own sister.

But, that's the catch.

Steve only thought of Danielle as a friend, and he would only ever think of Danielle as a friend.

Word count - 1480
y'all, imma be real honest with you. This used to be a Billy fic, but when I started up on it again, I realized that Danielle and Steve would be so much better for each other.
So that's the direction I'm gonna take with it. Billy's still gonna like try and get with Danielle, but it's gonna be different.