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"Art is to console those
who are broken by life."
~Vincent Van Gogh
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A cool summer breeze blew past making Scarlett shiver. She rubbed her arms to try and stay arm.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Scarlett turned to see Steve climbing out of his bedroom window. "Shouldn't you be back at the party?" She asked while scooting over a bit and allowing Steve to take a seat next to her on the roof. "It's not my party, it's yours," He stated, throwing his head back and giving her a deadpanned smile that reminded the young woman of Han Solo. "It's your eighteenth birthday."

Scarlett only rolled her eyes and shook her head before rubbing her arms again. Steve watched her before he threw a brown sweater on her lap. At her startled expression, he laughed and told her that he imagined she was cold. Shrugging on the sweater, Scarlett nuzzled into the soft fabric. A thank you slipped from her lips as she inhaled the smell of the sweater, it smelled like Steve.

"What are you doing up here anyway? You can smoke on the ground, where it's safe," Steve commented while waving at the cigarette between Scarlett's fingers. She looked over at him with a grin. "I could, but the stars aren't as beautiful down there."

A frown appeared on Steve's face and he looked up at the inky sky above. "Looks the same to me."

"That's because you're not looking," Scarlett retorted. "I am!" Steve defended, before he could protest further, Scarlett laid back and pulled Steve down with her. "They don't look any different."

"Let me talk!" Scarlett raised a finger. "The sky is not really black, it's a mix of dark blues, purples and some pink where the sun has set," Steve followed her finger as she pointed out the elements in the sky that he had missed while he listened to every word she spoke. "Van Gogh always painted like he could see the wind flowing through the air, just imagine it dancing around the stars. Then look, every star is slightly different wether it's in size or colour...."

She continued to speak for a long time and Steve continued to listen. They shared a cigarette and a beer bottle until the night grew too cold for both of them and they creeped back into Steve's room.

The light in Steve's room was on, showing off the mess of clothes, hair products and a girl on his bed. It took a second for Scarlett to realise who the girl was and for her misplaced jealousy to wash away. The fiery red hair should have been a dead giveaway.

"Blake?" Scarlett rushed to Steve's bed and gently brushed Blake's red hair out of her face. "Blake?"

A warm hand on Scarlett's shoulder made her look up. "She's okay, just drunk. She passed out before I went looking for you so I brought her here."

They were both very drunk and happy in that moment. What happened next was undoubtably a result of that. Instead of thanking Steve for taking care of her best friend like a normal person would. Scarlett jumped up and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and a quick kiss followed. But before Steve could properly react, Scarlett pulled away and puked on his shoes.

"Great." Steve grimaced.

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The first rays of sunshine hit Blake's face. She blinked furiously and cursed, her head felt like it had been used as a football. She pulled the covers over her head and turned over in the bed. A stranger's breath mingled with her own and just like that she was awake.

"Scarlett?!?"

Said girl groaned and pulled the covers over her face as well. "Five more minutes," She mumbled. "Scarlett!" Finally that seemed enough to wake the older girl. "Wha-Blake? What are you doing in my room?" Scarlett asked slurred, she rubbed her eyes. "We are not in your room."

Finally, Scarlett sat up as well and looked around. The band and basketball posters on the walls definitely did not belong to her. Neither did the couch, double bed or walk in closet.

Thankfully the two girls looked to the open door. There hung wooden letters that spelled out a familiar name.

Blake got out of bed, she still wore her black jumpsuit. Scarlett also got up and brushed off her purple skirt and semi-striped t-shirt before the two stumbled down the stairs. Careful to not fall over seeing as both of them were verg hungover.

Backed bacon and egg smell hit Blake and Scarlett when they walked into the kitchen, where they found Steve in an apron. Steve turned around when he heard them stumble in. In his right hand there was a spatula, his left rested on his hip and an apron was thrown over his left shoulder.

Waving the spatula at the dining table, Steve told the two to take a seat before giving each a plate with fried eggs and bacon along with some water and an Advil.

"You two," He pointed in between both Scarlett and Blake. "Are not allowed to get blackout drunk ever again. Got that?" His parental tone made even Blake nod.

Steve then noticed something. "You have curly hair?" Scarlett looked up at him mid-bite, the fork still in her mouth. She nodded and looked down unsure, her cheeks tinting red. "Yeah, I put product in," She mumbled before reaching back and braiding the curly mess.

Blake leaned in to whisper in Steve's ear. "She doesn't like her natural curls." Blake's words were accompanied by small pieces off egg and spit flying into Steve's ear and neck. He shivered and quickly wiped it all away.

Blake and Steve had grown closer ever since she had moved into his guest bedroom. As long as his parents were out of town there would be no problem. When they came back, Blake's housing would be taken care off in the form of sleep overs amongst her friends.

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The next day while Dustin and Floyd were out with their friends, Scarlett and Claudia had gone over to Judith's house for a gathering of CJS Puzzle Club. Scarlett and Claudia had brought their lemonade while Judith proudly presented her chocolate rugelach.

'When Doves Cry' played in the background as the women worked on a puzzle that depicted a road with houses. Judith's natural curls were pulled into a frizzy mess atop of her head as she frantically tried to fit one blue sky piece. Claudia had her reading glasses on as she closely examined a piece that showed the ground and tried to force the piece in. Scarlett's natural curls were out seeing as she hadn't bothered to put product in, and she was the only one making significant progress.

"It fits!" Claudia exclaimed happily as she finished laying the ground part of the puzzle. She took off her large pink reading glasses, allowing them to hang from their copper chain. "Mom, it doesn't," Scarlett pointed out, laying her finger on the pieces that were clearly put in with brutal force. With a deep sigh and groan, Claudia undid all her negative process and tried again.

Judith skill fully put two pieces together and gave herself a small proud smile. She had not even gotten through one third her part, but that did not matter to her. She was doing better than Claudia, that was all that mattered. The red house and sky she was working on currently showed the chimney and some sky.

While puzzling, Scarlett mouthed along to the radio, only stopping to take a gulp of lemonade or a bite of rugelach. She was making the most progress, but compared to her two companions that did not mean much. She had just gotten over one third of her part, that consisted of the yellow house.

The phone rang loudly and Judith jumped out of her seat and quite literally skipped to the phone before answering. "Hello, Henderson residence."

Her face light up at the other caller's words and her smile broadened. "Of course! Do we have to pick you up?"

A few seconds of silence.

"Al right, we'll see you soon?"

The questioning look from the mother and daughter duo, prompted Judith to answer. "Jonathan will be here in ten minutes." The boy was also a part of the CJS Puzzle Club.

CJS after all stood for Claudia, Judith and Jonathan and last but not least Scarlett.

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A loud honk sounded and a minute later, Dustin came rushing out. He did not keep his backpack in mind and it took exactly three steps before it fully unzipped and it's contents sprawled out over the sidewalk. Comics, figurines and training cards spread out and Dustin fell to his knees and hastily collected everything.

Within five seconds, Scarlett was by his side on her knees and helping him collect his stuff. As soon as they were done, Dustin lunged at Scarlett and wrapped his arms around her neck. The force almost launched the young woman back into the grass next to the sidewalk. Laughter spilled from Scarlett's lips as she hugged her brother back.

"Did you have fun at Lucas'? Dustin nodded enthusiastically, his curls bouncing wildly. "How was your puzzle?" He asked as the two got up, Dustin's stuff in their arms. "It went great, it's now in our living room." Scarlett opened a door of her car and started to put away Dustin's stuff. Out of her sight, Dustin shivered and grimaced at the idea of another puzzle hanging in their living room.

The two Henderson's got into Scarlett's mustang and drove off. A quick stop at the Sizzling Griddle later, the two siblings drove on with fried goods between them and cavity-inducing milkshakes.

The drive in was almost full and the two Hendersons were glad to find a parking place. Dustin ripped open the bags with fries and onion rings as Scarlett manoeuvred around in her seat and grabbed two blankets and a marine sweater.

The brunette shrugged on the sweater, that was clearly too big, before bundling up in the old patched brown blanket. Dustin watched her for a second. "Where did you get that sweater?" He asked. Scarlett looked at him startled, half an onion ring dangled out of her mouth. "Wha?" She asked, trying to swallow the onion ring without using her hands.

"Your sweater," Dustin repeated, overly articulating his words. "Oh!" Scarlett scarfed down the onion ring in a very unladylike manner. "It's Steve's, he borrowed it to me."

"Why?"

"Because I was cold."

Dustin hummed at her answer, the gears in his head had already started to spin and the factory of thoughts was starting up. "Shhh, movie's staring."

The big screen in front of them came to life as Footloose began.

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Night had long fallen over Hawkins like a blanket by the time Scarlett's mustang pulled into the Henderson driveway. Soft snores and drool left Dustin's mouth as he slept in the passenger's seat. His chubby cheek pressed flat against the window.

Scarlett swung Dustin's backpack onto her shoulder before carefully lifting her little brother out of the car. She swayed dangerously on her feet while attempting to carry the boy. "You're getting to big for this," She groaned.

The front door creaked as it swung open, Scarlett dropped Dustin's bag by the entrance and kicked the door closed. Carefully she stumbled up the stairs, trying very hard—and failing—to keep Dustin from smacking into things. Bruises were starting to form on Dustin's arms, legs and head.

Star Wars covers crinkled as Dustin's body was dropped onto his bed in a very charming manner. Scarlett panted for a few seconds, hands on her hips. "This is why I need strong people in my life," She muttered, leaning over and taking off Dustin's converse before pressing a kiss to his forehead.

The young woman exited her brother's room, crossed the hallway and entered her room. Within seconds her clothes were on a pile on the floor and she wore her pyjamas. Not bothering to put any product or curling pins in, her curls were piled on top of her head. She crawled under her covers.

Reaching over for her sketchpad, Scarlett was about to start drawing before something caught her eye. On the back of her brown bedroom door hung a painting, which upon closer inspection appeared to be a copy of Starry Night. A small note that was attached to the frame made Scarlett smile fondly.

I thought you would enjoy this.

S.H.

a/n:
an update! whoop!
i love steve and scarlett so much honestly!
be sure to vote and comment, it's motivating for me and
helps this story. also, please consider checking my other stories out.

funny post

this is it. this is the scene
date published: 9 august 2021
word count: 2152