I pull into my driveway letting out a huge sigh of relief that I made it just as the sun is beginning to set. I groan as I set the stopper on my moped realizing my backpack is still in Jonathan's car. Oh well, maybe mom will be too tired to notice.

I enter the house to find her watching one of her shows, petting Mews who's curled up asleep in her lap. I smirk before slamming the door causing the fur devil to jump and scurry off.

"Hi mom." I say, rushing by to go to my room.

"Oh Toni." Mom only glances up for a second as she remains glued to her show. Oh, yes! This means she'll be distracted and in an extra good mood. "Dinner's in the fridge."

"Great I'm starving." I back track to the kitchen noticing it's awfully quiet for Dustin to not be here. "Where's Dustin?" I call out as I come across the dinner in question: meatloaf. "Ech." Guess I'm having cereal for dinner again.

"He's at the Wheeler's." She says. "Oh, Barb called a couple hours ago, said she really needed to talk to you."

Ugh, I hope it's not about anything that happened this morning. I'm sure it's just for my homework or something. Even though she's in one grade below me she always manages to get my homework for me when I'm miss.

"Okay! I'll call her now." I holler back, grabbing the phone and stretching the cord as far as possible while I pore myself some Raisin Bran.

After the first ring she picks up. "Hello?"

"Hey Barb." I stretch for the milk.

"Oh finally." She lets out a sigh of relief. "Where were you today?"

"Ohh, you know." I peak to make sure mom is still engrossed in her show before whispering, "I went to Jonathan's dad's with him."

"Oh nice." Barb says, not knowing anything about his dad so she has no idea the assholery I had endure. "Okay, sooo, I have a teensy favor to ask." Oh no.

"What?" I groan.

"Ummm, well-" She sounds very nervous to tell me and I already know I'm gonna hate it. "Nancy really wants me to go to the party with her tonight because she doesn't want to be alone with people she doesn't really know but I don't want to be around all the popular's by myself..."

"Wait, what party?" I ask, completely lost.

"The one Steve Harrington was talking about today..." She says like it's obvious. What. The hell. Is wrong with her?

"Barb-" I pinch myself on the arm real quick to make sure this conversation is actually taking place. "You want me, to go with you, and Nancy Wheeler to a party at Steve's house? With the asshole wonder twins?" She snorts at that.

"Please Toni, I know it's a lot to ask-"

"A lot to ask!" I shout before quickly falling into a hushed tone so mom doesn't hear. "Barb, you're quite literally asking me to rip my skin off and go against everything that I hate."

She sighs. "I know, I know. I don't want to do this either, but someone should watch out for Nancy-"

I snort this time, hard. "Nancy is a big girl, Barb. She can manage."

"Well yeah, look I know you don't like her and you and Steve-"

"Ahhh, la la la." I cut her off before groaning again. I'm gonna kick myself for saying this. "Fine, I'll go. But not for Nancy fucking Wheeler. For you. I don't want them pulling any shit on you or making fun of you." I can't believe I'm actually agreeing to this. But I know for a fact Nancy will be too wrapped up in Steve to defend Barb and I don't want her getting hurt. "But you owe me. Big time."

"I swear I'll make it up to you. I'll do your math homework the rest of the year." She swears.

Oooo. Hmmm. "Make it math and history and you got yourself a deal." History makes me want to bang my head against my desk it's so boring and there's too much to remember.

"Deal! It starts at ten. I can pick you up since it'll be dark." She offers.

"Nah, don't worry about it. I'll drive myself." Not like I don't know where Steve lives and can't drive myself. Besides, tonight is already gonna be stressful enough.

"Okay." She sounds unsure, always a worrier. "See you then."

"Yeah." I mutter as the line goes dead.

❁❁❁

A couple hours have passed, and I make sure mom is sound asleep in her chair before locking my door and sneaking out my widow, nothing I haven't done before. Am I really doing this?

❁❁❁

I sigh irritatedly as I pull into the driveway, no sign of Nancy and Barb. Kill me now. After like five minutes they're walking this way.

"Where have you been?" I throw my hands up as we move to the door. They look at each other.

"Nancy didn't want to park in the driveway." Barb explains.

Nancy turns to her betrayed. "Barb." She whispers.

"Well you didn't." Barb shrugs.

"Ok-kay?"

"Glad you could make it, Toni." Nancy smiles at me nervously as she rings the doorbell.

"Yeah, I'm super thrilled." I say flatly causing Barb to elbow me.

"Be nice." She whispers under breath.

"No promises." I mumble.

She lets out a shaky breath and Nancy turns to her. "Barb, chill."

"I'm chill." She defends.

Several seconds the double doors swing open to reveal Steve in a gray sweatshirt and music blarring.

"Hello, ladies." He smiles, which fades when his eyes fall on me. "Toni?" He looks at me like he's seen a ghost.

❁❁❁

Author's Note: Leaving y'all on a cliffhanger, my new fav thing muahaha.

Hope y'all enjoyed Toni stressing this entire chapter lol, she's a real one for going for Barb tho<3