Danielle Henderson stood at her locker after first period. She stared down at the piece of paper that was handed to her. It was for a party. A Halloween party. And of course, Halloween was that day. She didn't want to go, but she knew that Steve would eventually force her, so there was no use in fighting him, right?

"You're going to the party tonight."

There it was.

"Yeah, I kinda guessed you would force me to go." Danielle started to shove her books into her backpack. "It's what you always do."

"What?" Steve cocked an eyebrow. "You've never wanted to go?"

Danielle ran a hand through her hair before closing the locker. "I mean, I never do, but I always end up there don't I?"

"That's the spirit." Steve smiled as he looked around the hallway. "That Hargrove kid has not kept his eyes off you all day."

The Henderson girl's eyes widened as she closed her locker with a thud. "Really?" She glanced around the hallway, trying to find the boy in the crowd. Billy hadn't left her mind since the moment she met him. There was something about his mysterious air that just stuck with her.

"Don't be horny, Dan'. It's not a good look for you."

"I'm not horny, just surprised."

"I'm not." Steve glanced to the ground.

Danielle's eyebrows furrowed at her best friends statement. "Huh?"

Something caught Steve's gaze and he started to walk away. "Hold onto that thought." He stated as started towards Nancy Wheeler.

"Of course." Danielle muttered as she watched her best friend pick up his girlfriend from behind and swing her around. The two shared a kiss, and Danielle could not watch anymore. She softly punched her locker and turned, leaning her back against the metal. "Fuck." She shook her head before looking back at the two.

Danielle felt a pang in her heart as she saw how happy he looked with her. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Every muscle in her body was frozen as she watched the boy she loved kiss someone else. She sighed, closing her eyes.

"So, you're name's Danielle Henderson and you're in love with Steve Harrington." Danielle jumped at the sound of Billy Hargrove's voice.

"Huh?" She crosses her arms, confused as to what he just said. "Where did you get that information from?"

Billy placed a hand on Danielle's locker, slightly leaning on it. "Tommy H. He's been very friendly to me since I got to town. He'll tell me anything I need to know."

Danielle scoffed. "Yeah, well Tommy's kind of a bitch to literally everyone at this school." She thought back to what he had said before. "And I'm not in love with Steve. He's my best friend, and-"

"And you're in love with him." Billy chuckled, looking over towards Steve and Nancy. "Too bad he's dating the priss, huh? But, Steve's kind of a pussy if you ask me." The girl noticed Billy inching closer to her.

"For the last time, I'm not in love with my best friend."

"Okay, sure." Billy smiled at how he was getting to her. "Maybe you aren't. But if you were, I'd move on, sweetheart." He was inches away from her, which caught Steve's attention.

The boy's eyes widened as he noticed Billy talking to his best friend. Nancy let out a groan as Steve left her to try to scare off the new boy. "Woah... What's going on over here?"

The new kid chuckled, leaning away from the girl. "Just getting to know each other, Harrington. No reason to get pissed off." He rolled her eyes before his eyes met Danielle's once again. "I'll see you tonight at the party?" The girl nodded, honestly not realizing what she was agreeing to.

Steve frowned, raising an eyebrow. "So, then I guess you will be at the party."

*

There Danielle was, at the Halloween party that she did not even want to be at. Danielle had no idea what to wear as a costume, so her brother forced her to be him. She borrowed her brother's stupid hat for a party that she didn't even want to be at. And, of course, Steve was not even acknowledging her. He was too busy grinding on his girlfriend. Danielle rushed into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

"Alright," she spoke to the mirror, "you can do this. Steve's always telling you that you need to make more friends, and this is your chance, I guess." She placed her hands on both sides of the sink. "All you have to do is talk to people. I mean, that's not too hard. Just don't be so weird, and it'll all be fine. Everything will be completely fine." She nodded at herself in the mirror before exiting the bathroom. She started to make her way towards a group of girls, but turned back around before she was even halfway there. "This is not going to work." She needed some help. Danielle saw the punch and smiled. She just needed to get drunk. She ran towards the bowl and took a cup, dunking it in the spiked punch. She began to chug. Danielle continued and continued for at least five cups of punch.

Once she started to feel drunk, she stumbled through the party until she found Steve. She smiled as she began to walk over to him, but was stopped by Billy Hargrove stepping in her path. "Hey, Dani! You don't mind if I call you Dani, do you?" Danielle shrugged as she watch Steve leave the dance floor, following his girlfriend into a bathroom. "I've been looking for you all night."

"Why?"

"Because you're an interesting person."

"You've talked to me twice."

"Technically three times if you count this conversation."

"I don't."

"Okay, then twice."

"Your point is?"

"Okay, yeah." Billy nodded, stepping closer towards Danielle. "I just wanted to apologize for the things I said earlier about you and Steve. I don't have the right to assume anything of you and him." Danielle looked at the ground. "But, if I was him, I would choose you in a second."

Danielle was more than caught off guard. "What?" She could not believe what she just heard a boy say.

Billy smiled down at her. "I mean, you're beautiful, and you seem like a really cool person from what I've seen of you." Danielle's breath hitched as she glanced into his blue eyes. Everything in her body was telling her to kiss him, but it was only because she was drunk. "Steve has no idea what he's missing." Danielle began backing up as he stepped closer towards her until her back hit the wall. "I'm not that stupid."

"Billy, I-"

"Do I make you nervous, Dani?" Danielle hesitated before shaking her head in response. Billy smirked. "Good." His eyes drifted down to her lips. His hands landed on her waist as he leaned in even closer, their lips inches apart.

"Dani, are you okay?" The duo looked over to see Steve standing beside them.

Danielle immediately smiled as she saw Steve. "Harrington!" She exclaimed, pushing Billy out of the way to throw her arms around her best friend.

"We were just talking." Billy chuckled.

"Sure." Steve scoffed as his arms moved to support Danielle. "Come on, I'm gonna take you home."

"Okay." Danielle giggled. She enjoyed the feeling of Steve holding her as he began to walk towards the door. Danielle smiled before looking back at Billy. "Bye, Billy!" She waved to him.

"See you later, sweetheart."

"I doubt you will." Steve yelled back to him as he opened the door.

Steve led Danielle to his car, opening the passenger side door for her and helping her into the seat. The brunette smiled as she took off her brothers hat and placed it in her lap. Steve got into the drivers side of the vehicle and turned it on. Danielle noticed he was silent as he was backing out of the driveway of whoever's house they were at. Steve was never silent in the car. He was always asking Danielle questions about her day or cracking some kind of stupid joke.

Danielle's eyebrows furrowed as she realized something was wrong with him. "Are you okay, Steve? You seem a little down."

"Nancy and I kinda broke up tonight." Steve stated with almost a monotone as he kept his eyes on the road ahead of him.

"Steve, I'm so sorry."

"She basically told me that I was bullshit, our relationship was bullshit, and everything was just bullshit."

"She's bullshit."

"She's not though."

"She is though."

Steve shook his head before finally looking over at Danielle. He looked her up and down before cocking an eyebrow. "What the hell did you dress up as? Yourself?"

Danielle laughed as she put the multicolored hat back on her head. "I'm my brother."

"That's not a costume, Danielle."

"Hey, you sprung this party on me today during second period. I didn't have much time to prepare a costume."

Steve pulled into Danielle's driveway and turned off his car. "I'm gonna help you in, okay?" Danielle nodded as she opened her car door. Steve was quickly there to help her out of the car, closing the door after. He walked her into the house and into her room. "So, I'll see you tomorrow?" He turned to leave, but she quickly stopped him.

Danielle shook her head as she sat down on her bed. "Can you maybe stay awhile?" She sent him a smile.

Steve chuckled, moving to the bed to sit next to her. "Yeah, I- Uh- don't really feel like being alone right now to be honest."

Danielle watched as he friend laid down, staring at the ceiling. She could tell how hurt he was by the things Nancy had said to him. She laid down, facing her best friend. "She doesn't deserve you, you know?" Steve's eyes drifted from Danielle's.

"You have it wrong." Steve shook his head. "I don't deserve her."

"She doesn't treat you well." Steve turned to face Danielle as he listened to her speak. "And, she's so obviously in love with Jonathon. You deserve someone who is going to love you because of who you are."

"Yeah, and what is that?" Steve sighed. "An arrogant asshole?"

"You're the kindest person I know." Danielle smiled as she spoke to him. "You care so deeply for everyone you love. You're so trusting." Danielle meant to stop there, but her mouth didn't get the memo. "And, you're so pretty." Her eyes widened as she realized what she said.

Steve furrowed his eyebrows. "You think I'm pretty?"

"I didn't mean to say that."

"But you did."

"I'm drunk."

"Drunk words are just sober thoughts."

Danielle sat up, distancing herself from Steve. "No, they're not." She shook her head. "It popped out. I didn't mean it."

"You said I'm pretty." Steve sat up as well, moving closer towards Danielle.

"But, I didn't mean it."

"I think you did."

"I didn't." Danielle stated firmly. "I don't think your pretty, nor do I have feelings for you in any way."

Steve could tell Danielle was lying. When she would lie, Danielle would always pick at her finger nails, and she was doing that through their entire exchange. But, he decided to not push her.

He didn't want to lose his girlfriend and best friend in one night.

Word count - 1932
I change this chapter so much omg
But I like it a lot better this way and I'm excited to see where this goes