CHAPTER 25
DANCE WITH SOMEBODY

ONE MONTH LATER

THERE was no way to keep the secret of Louie's death from Edward. Veronica told him as soon as she was in his arms again. They had both survived the wrath of the Mind Flayer, and they did it as a family. Their involvement in the fight was for Louie, and only Louie, who Edward soon found out had been left in the Upside Down this whole time. Neither knew how he ended up there on Halloween of 1982, but maybe that was for the best. They finally had closure.

Hawkins was now in the national spotlight after the town's lab had their experiments leaked to the public, and said lab has now been indefinitely shut down. This called on several ranking members of the U.S. Department of Energy to admit involvement in the death and cover-up of Barbara Holland, who was one of Veronica's classmates before she disappeared last year. Everyone had thought they lived in a safe town, and so did Veronica and Edward at one point. But no town is specifically normal, or good. The Moreda family learned last month that every place had its secrets, and Hawkins had a really big one.

It was the middle of December, and thoughts of Christmas rang in the air. A soft snow had settled over Hawkins, just a day before the middle school's "Snow Ball." There were no monsters or Billy Hargroves terrorizing anymore, only the spirit of holidays. Veronica was never a fan of the snow, but she took a chance at finally building a snowman when Steve Harrington asked her to do so.

You didn't think their relationship ended, did you? No, the two outcasts of Hawkins High seemed to be inseparable, but neither had truly declared their relationship since the wrath of the Mind Flayer. Did they have to? Veronica didn't think so, especially because they hadn't gone on a proper date, and the thought of that made her apprehensive. She couldn't deny, though, that she did like the kiss they shared in the snow, just before toppling over their snowman.

Steve Harrington had fallen completely in love with Veronica Moreda over the span of one month. Granted that her breath always smelled like smoke, and she'd never have better hair than he did, but she was different. She was a new change of scenery, one that he liked to stare at for hours. But his relationship with her was different from Nancy, where Steve found himself incredibly nervous to ask her out. I know, Steve Harrington, the wonder boy, couldn't ask out the girl he liked. Tragic.

Veronica had grown closer with Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers, who were two people she was glad to see finally dating. She guessed the possible end of their world really brought people together. She no longer had contact with Billy Hargrove, and he seemed to dodge her whenever their eyes met in the hallway. Veronica couldn't blame him.

Edward got promoted to deputy chief of police, just a step below Hopper. His boss gave him the news, leaving Edward ecstatic. The two had really gotten close over the ordeal a month prior, and Edward was grateful that he could also now go out for a beer with Hopper. He frequently visited the chief's residence to see Eleven.

Dustin Henderson grew to become a younger brother to Veronica, and she advised him whenever he asked. Dustin actually requested that Steve give him a ride to tonight's Snow Ball so he could "look cool," which Veronica threatened him that they would try to crash the dance. "No!" Dustin had exclaimed. "Don't embarrass me!" What he didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

Steve pulled his car up to Dustin's house, honking the horn before both him and Veronica exited the vehicle. Veronica took the lead up the steps, ringing on the doorbell before Dustin's mom answered it, holding a small cat in her hands.

The blue-haired girl flashed a wide grin. "Hi, Mrs. Henderson." She greeted. "We're here for –"

"I'm here! I'm here!"

The two teenagers turned their heads to see Dustin, walking out of his room with the tallest hairstyle they had ever seen. Veronica looked between the kid and Steve, eyes growing wide at the sight of conflicting hairstyles. "Looks like he's giving you a ride for your money," she commented.

"You're telling me," Steve replied, slapping a hand on Dustin's back as he approached the door. "C'mon, kid. Let's get you to that ball."

Dustin's mom waved her hand wildly as Dustin entered the passenger seat of Steve's car. She blew her son a kiss goodbye, causing Dustin to sink in his seat from embarrassment. Steve started the ignition and Veronica got in the back seat. She was in the midst of almost lighting a cigarette when Steve looked at her and snatched the objects from her hands. Before she could argue, he pointed a finger and said, "Not in front of the kid."

Veronica groaned as Steve began to drive down the dirt road. Dustin lived fairly close to his middle school, so it took them minutes to get there. Snow drifted on Steve's windshield, and the frost slid down in icy droplets. Steve turned up the heat as Veronica hugged her leather jacket around herself.

Steve parked his car in front of the gym entrance of Hawkins Middle School. He turned down the Clash song that had been blasting on his stereo, and Veronica sat up, hooking her arms around the front seats of the car. Bright lights flickered inside the gym, causing a commotion. "Here we are," Steve said.

"You ready?" Veronica asked Dustin with a raised brow.

"I think." Dustin inhaled heavily.

Steve put out his hand. "So, remember, once you get in there –"

"Pretend like I don't care," Dustin finished. When he bobbed his head, his hair moved with him, causing Veronica to giggle.

"You don't care," Steve repeated.

"I don't care."

"There you go. You're learning, my friend."

Veronica rolled her eyes. "You boys suck," she added with a shake of her head. "If you see a girl you like, go up to her and ask her to dance. Easy peasy."

Dustin turned in his seat, eyeing Veronica with suspicion. "Would that work on you, Ronnie?"

Veronica opened her mouth to lie, but then she closed it and paused. "Uh – no," she answered, and then pointed out her finger. "But that's just because I'm a terrible person. Most girls here aren't like that."

Steve laughed, glancing to Veronica with sparkles in his eyes. Dustin began to reach over for Steve's rear view mirror, causing the older male to sit back. Dustin checked his hair in the mirror, but Steve lightly pushed him away. "Hey, c'mon," he said. "You look great, okay? You look great."

"Very handsome," Veronica commented.

Steve nodded. "Now, you're gonna go in there –"

Dustin interrupted, "Yeah!"

"Looking like a million bucks –"

"Yup!"

"And you're gonna slay 'em dead."

"Like a lion," Dustin bobbed his head before purring enthusiastically.

Veronica and Steve's gazes met for a moment. "Yeah," the girl frowned, "don't do that."

Dustin nodded. "Okay, okay."

Steve put out his hand. "Good luck, buddy."

Dustin grabbed Steve's hand and smiled. The two shared a knowing nod before Dustin jumped out of the car and adjusted his jacket. Veronica rolled down her window, shouting out to Dustin as he entered the middle school, "Knock 'em dead, kid!" Dustin hid his head, though a laugh escaped his lips.

Steve spun in his seat to look at Veronica in the back. A side of his mouth turned up in a smile. "What do we do now, Moreda?"

Veronica smirked the slightest bit, inching close to Steve with amusement dancing in her eyes. "Wanna crash a dance, Harrington?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

Steve drove the car in a permanent parking spot, hidden behind a tree by the middle school's doors. The two teenagers rushed out of the car, sprinting to the entrance as laughs bellowed out of them. They ran through the opening doors, being eyed by Mr. Clarke, who let them pass without a care. Nancy Wheeler was working the drinks station, and waved the two over as they entered the floor.

She put her hands on her hips. "May I see your invites?"

Veronica chuckled, pulling on Steve's hand and lifted her other hand up. She was so much more happier now, and it was a part of Veronica Steve wanted to see often. She waved her right hand in the air as she exclaimed, "We don't need invites!" She spun on her heel to face Steve. "And the party animal known as Ronnie Moreda returns –"

The energetic song quickly turned to a ballad, causing all the kids on the dance floor to assume a different position. The children grabbed their dates and swayed in a way that was more appropriate for their age, while Steve and Veronica stood there like human stick figures. Veronica looked around with confusion before staring at Steve. She saw Will, Lucas, Mike, and Max grouping together. "I guess we should –"

"Yeah, yeah," he nodded, "I know how to dance."

Steve awkwardly took her hands in his, and placed his left hand on her waist in a polite manner. Their right hands were conjoined and lifted in the air. Nancy watched the clumsy dance and laughed, but the pair still continued their shuffle. "You're a ..." Veronica paused. "You're a good dancer."

Steve was ready to reply, but accidentally stepped on the top of Veronica's foot. She yelped softly as they tried to continue dancing, and Steve quickly said, "Sorry, sorry sorry –"

Veronica waved her hand, standing back up. "No, no," she excused, "it's fine. I didn't need my toes anyways."

Steve held Veronica closer on impulse when her body met his again. He swallowed hard, watching all the kids around them dancing better than him. Veronica's heart pounded in her chest, a feeling she once hated, but now she almost welcomed it. It was usually a sign that she was attracted to someone, and she felt acceptance wash over her when she looked at Steve.

They stared at each other with nerves in their eyes. Veronica swallowed down the lump in her throat. Steve watched her lips purse slightly, and the overwhelming urge to kiss Veronica Moreda resurfaced in him– not like it hadn't been there so many times before. He found his hand that had once been placed on her hip moving to her jaw, and after a moment of hesitation, Veronica leaned on her tip-toes. She paused when their lips brushed, a smile hinting on both of their faces, before finally pressing their mouths together.

Veronica still gripped their conjoined hands tightly, while the other cupped his cheek. She had never been one for public displays of affection, especially in front of the kids around them, but Veronica's lips suddenly had a mind of their own. She kissed Steve Harrington like it had been their first, and maybe, metaphorically, it had. This was the kiss where they were comfortable, and their feelings were fully out in the open. Sober Veronica loved kissing Sober Steve; they loved it.

When they both leaned away, Steve was chuckling. Veronica was smiling. Both had expressions that none would believe that they would share with each other. Steve's hand was in her faded blue hair, and he stared at the strands with adoration. She laid her head on his shoulder blade, breathing in his Sean Connery cologne. Everything was right.

And for once, Steve Harrington and Veronica Moreda could finally be just seventeen.

END OF BOOK I

( made by JustSav )