now starting . . . ACT THREE !

ACT THREE.
the pep rally.

NINE MONTHS LATER.

    ARLO LEANED HIS HEAD against the back of the seat he was in, his hand bringing the edible up to his lips as he listened to Robin's and Steve's conversation.

He didn't give a shit about what they were saying, but he knew it was something about Robin's crush.

Arlo knew Robin was gay, seeing as the girl had showed up on his doorstep a few months prior. Practically begging him to talk to her about Ida, who she referred to as her crush multiple times.

He was obviously supportive of the girl, still not comfortable enough to inform her of his sexuality. Which she didn't mind, it didn't take a genius to realize that Steve and him had a thing.

After all, the duo had grown tremendously touchy-feely. While Steve had attempted to convince Robin it was a dude thing, the girl knew well enough to know it wasn't.

Despite the fact that neither of the boys could admit that to eachother.

"Yes it is, and you know what else I think?" Steve asked, Arlo feeling his brain hum in peace due to the weed, the duo still arguing in front of him.

"I really don't care—"

"I think, you gotta stop pretending to be someone else when you're around her. You just gotta be yourself—Make a move." Steve encouraged, Robin turning her gaze from her mirror to him.

"You're literally quoting me to me.. You do realize that, right? And make a move? You're telling me to make a move." Robin replied sarcastically, her eyes obnoxiously glancing between Arlo and Steve.

Steve noticed the not-so-subtle glance, his eyes shooting back at Arlo as well. Glad that his crush was too busy staring at the roof to see the obvious hint.

"Hey, hey. yeah, no. It's not the same.." Steve trailed a little quieter than before, his voice returning to normal volume as he continued his argument. "And maybe you need to listen to yourself, ever think about that, Smartypants. If I listened to you maybe i'd be back in business."

Both Steve and Robin knew the Harrington boy didn't want to be back in business, he just wanted Arlo. Nonetheless, his lie didn't stop Robin from playing along, figuring he'd come clean to Arlo on his own terms.

"It's not the same thing.. Okay? You ask someone out and they say no, big deal. Nothing happens. Maybe your ego's a little bruised, but I ask out the wrong girl. Bam! I'm a town pariah."

"I'd buy that, except Vickie is definitely not the wrong girl!" Steve stared mattered of factly.

"We just don't know that, do we?"

"She returned Fast Times paused at fifty three minutes and five seconds.. Do you know who pauses fast times at fifty three minutes and five seconds?" Robin groaned, not wanting to answer which made Steve continue with his point. "People who like boobies!"

"Ew, gross. Don't say boobies."

"Boobies." Arlo mumbled, the high he was feeling causing a cheeky smile to come over his face.

"It's not a big deal, okay? I like boobies.. You like boobies—Vickie likes boobies! Definitely." Steve rambled on, nearing the school while Robin shook her head.

Once they had parked, Robin got out of the car immediately. Mumbling something about being late for pre-pep-rally practice before rushing inside, her giant band hat bouncing as she ran.

After the girl had gotten inside, Arlo took her previous seat. Now sitting in the passenger seat while Steve stayed in his spot.

It was then that he noticed Arlo's red eyes, the smile that stayed on his lips making Steve sigh in disappointment.

He then gestured Arlo closer, when the boy had leaned forward. Steve placed a hand on his head tilting his head back as he examined his eyes. "Are you high?"

Arlo cheekily nodded at the words, making Steve's hand drop downwards. Now resting on the boy's thigh. "Dude, it's seven in the morning. You've gotta lay off t—"

Steve was cut off when someone banged on his window, the boy jumping in his seat while he immediately yanked his hand off Arlo's thigh. His attention now on the kid who stood outside his window.

Dustin.

The Harrington boy huffed when he cracked the door open, Dustin moving out of the way for him to fully open it. Which he did. "We're coming, we're coming."

Arlo got out of Steve's car as well, rounding the car to stand beside the child and the teenager.

"Hi, Arlo."

"Hi, Dustin." Arlo mumbled back, subconsciously leaning some of his body onto Steve as they began to walk.

"Uh—How are you?" Dustin asked awkwardly, his question making Steve roll his eyes. Fully aware of how much his crush hated the question.

Ever since Ida's demise, the entire town treated Arlo like a porcelain doll. Being sure to never say anything remotely negative to the boy, worried he might die or something.

Arlo hated it, he hated the questions, which is why he didn't answer Dustin. Opting with silence as the trio walked closer to the school gym building. The tense air only releasing once they were inside.

     While Dustin broke off from the duo to find Mike. Steve led Arlo to the front row. Once the Leone boy took a seat, Steve left a few minutes later to grab them some sodas from the concession stand.

Arlo sat in silence for a few minutes, the silence only breaking once someone had called his name. Causing the boy to glance in their direction, his eyes now meeting with Timo.

Timo De Haan, also known as Hawkins golden boy, seemed to be on a relentless quest to become Arlo's friend.

After all, he had baked him brownies, showed him his photography collection and always attempted to sit with him at lunch.

Arlo had noticed and ignored his efforts since the start of the year. Seeing as the Leone boy had to repeat his senior year, he was sure Timo did it out of pity. Which automatically made Arlo not like him.

Nonetheless, when Timo finally reached him, Arlo didn't ignore him. "Hi Timo."

"Hey, I knew you'd be here but—but I didn't know you'd be front row.. You secretly a Hawkins Tigers super-fan or something?" Timo nervously joked, his hand running through his dark brown curls as he kept his attention on Arlo.

Before Arlo could answer, someone had cleared their throat. Causing both boys to turn towards the sound, Arlo not shocked to see Steve standing beside them. Two sodas in his hand.

"Uh—Steve, right?"

"Yeah.." Steve trailed off, taking the seat on the bleachers beside Arlo as he tried to put together who the stranger was.

Timo noticed this, sticking out his hands with a large smile. "Timo."

Steve just nodded in response, not bothering shaking the overly-happy boy's hand which made the boy slowly nod. His hand retreating back to his side. "Well, Uh—I gotta go, we're about to come out."

Timo glanced down at his cheer uniform at his words, making both the boys realize he was referring to the cheer team.

"Bye Arlo, bye Steve." He then rushed out, sending a small wave to the two before running across the empty basketball court. Heading for the locker room.

Once he was out of earshot, Steve spoke up. Examining Arlo's face for his reaction as he did so. "He's—peppy."

"Yeah.. He is——makes good brownies though." Arlo nodded along, not catching on that Steve was a bit jealous.

Before Steve could farther question his crush about the topic, the loud cheering that sounded through the air caused both of the boys to glance towards the locker-room doors. Watching as the cheerleaders jogged out onto the basketball court.

     Arlo hated everything about the pep rally, he hated how they made the crowd stand up and he hated all the noise from both the crowd as well as the band.

Nonetheless he didn't mention it, after all, Steve could already see it in his face that he definitely didn't want to be here.

Yet, when the cheerleaders sat down and the basketball team came out; Arlo could no longer keep his hatred quiet. Especially when Jason turned on a microphone.

"Not this motherfucker.." Arlo mumbled, glaring at the basketball captain as he did so.

"Good morning, Hawkins High! First off—Hey.. First off, I'd like to thank each and every one of you. Without your support, we wouldn't be here. Give yourselves a big hand." Jason spoke into the mic, his words causing the crowd to erupt in applause.

Neither Arlo or Steve clapped. While Arlo didn't because he hated the boy, Steve didn't because he wanted to support Arlo. Even if he didn't know why his crush hated Jason so much.

"And of course, of course—I have to give a special shout-out to the best and the prettiest fans of all time.. The Tiger Cheer Squad!—Chrissy, I love you, babe." Jason patted his heart as he spoke, Arlo rolling his eyes at the exclamation of love.

Arlo then took a sip of his soda, still listening as Jason rambled into the microphone.

"You know—I think I can speak for all of us when I say, it's been a tough year for Hawkins. So much loss.. Sometimes I wonder, How much loss can one community take? In dark days like this, we need something to believe in.. So last night, when we were down by ten points at half to Christian Academy—I looked at my team, and I said.. Think of Jack, think of Melissa, Think of Heather, Think of Billy, Think of Ida, Think about Jim Hopper."

Arlo could feel the stares he received at the mention of his sister, making the boy's body tense up. He hated mentioning his sister but the one thing he hated more was when others mentioned the girl.

The boy was pissed, rightfully so, and Steve knew that if this speech got any more insensitive the boy would probably make a scene.

"Think about each and every one of our friends who perished in that fire. What did they die for? For us to lose to some—"

Jason was cut off when Arlo took a few steps forward, throwing his half empty soda can at the basketball player. His lips turned downwards in anger.

"Fuck you, fucking prick." Arlo raised his voice a bit, a light gasp emitting from the crowd while Jason lowered his microphone. Now staring at the boy with the ghost of a smile lingering on his face.

Arlo could see the amusement in Jason's eyes from his spot, making him take a few more steps forward. Fully prepared to attempt to beat Jason's ass, even if he knew deep down he would lose.

The crowd watched with furrowed brows at his actions, continuing to watch when Ms. Kelley rushed over.

The counselor placed a soft hand onto Arlo's arm, her rings clashing with the black sweater that the boy had worn.

The woman was silent as she began to yank the boy away, Arlo scoffing at the action as he flipped off Jason. Who still stood in his spot on the court.

The crowd stayed silent as Arlo was finally fully pulled out of the gym, their eyes turning back to the court once he was gone.

"Yes, thank you. Thank you." Jason spoke back up, a little flustered as he thanked Ms. Kelley. Despite the fact that she was no longer in the gym. "Sorry for that, everyone. He's lashing out."

Jason's words earned a hum of agreement from some of the crowd, Steve scoffing as he stood up. Being sure to subtly kick his soda onto the basketball court before exiting the gym. Wanting to be there for Arlo.

  Arlo sighed as he sat in the all too familiar chair, his gaze placed on Ms. Kelley who had been watering a few of her plants around the room. The woman humming to avoid any silence.

When she sat in her chair, she plastered a soft smile on her lips. Staring at the boy as she sighed. "What happened?"

"Jason's a dick." Arlo answered, making the teacher shake her head.

"That's not what i'm talking about—I thought you said you were done mourning her." Ms. Kelley spoke calmly.

Arlo resisted the urge to roll his eyes, he knew she was right. After all, he had told her he wasn't sad anymore—she just didn't know it was a gimmick to get out of these counselor meetings.

He then shrugged his shoulders, not wanting to answer the woman as he played with the sleeves of his shirt.

Seeing as Arlo's high was now completely worn off, he was having a harder time ignoring his thoughts. His mind seeming to carve the image of his sister into his eyelids.

"Listen, Arlo.. What you're going through—it's hard for anyone. It's okay to not be okay, but—but what you can't do is lash out, you can't start getting aggressive with classmates. That is not okay."

The teacher's scolding only made Arlo roll his eyes, his arms crossing over his chest. "Nah—nah, he deserved it. He should get his ass beat."

"Arlo.."

"I'm just saying. He didn't know shit about Ida, she fucking hated basketball—"

"Arlo." Ms. Kelley cut off again, this time sighing. "You're deflecting.." She stated, her words causing the boy to stand up from his spot.

"Fuck this." Arlo mumbled, his words barely coherent as he began to round the chair. His feet carrying him towards the door. "I gotta go, Steve's probably waiting for me."

"Arlo... Arlo!—" The counselor's voice was raised as she called after him, her efforts failing as he exited the room. Slamming the door behind him.

The Leone boy then trudged down the hall way, his hand coming up to his face as he felt blood trickle downwards.

He wiped the blood off his nose, not that it mattered seeing as more poured out. Making the boy sigh as he placed his black sweater sleeve onto his nose.

He hoped his nose would stop bleeding as he neared the school's exit. Not planning on going to any of his classes today.