Chapter Eight
🍦
Heart To Heart

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            Olivia stayed in the back of the vehicle with Steve and Robin as Dustin drove a little recklessly. It clattered back and forth, and Olivia could feel a rush of adrenaline build in her. Steve was being peculiarly clingy, latching on to Olivia. Olivia wasn't complaining, though she would like to know why they were acting.... unusual. They seemed strangely relaxed.

            "Slow down," Steve groaned, starting to play with Olivia's hair. Olivia tried gently swatting Steve's hands away, but he continued to mess with her hair. Olivia crossed her arms and sighed frustratedly. It felt like she was babysitting two children who weren't behaving, and that she wasn't really with her two best friends.

            "Yeah, what is this, like the Indy 500?" Robin complained, dragging out her words.

            "It's the Indy 300," Steve corrected, still twirling the ends of Olivia's hair.

            "No, dingus, it's 500!" Robin argued.

            "It's 300!"

            "Let's say... a million," Robin compromised with a giggle. The two of them went into a fit of laughter. Steve put his head on Olivia's shoulder, cackling.

            He stopped laughing, and put a small chunk of Olivia's hair to his nose. "You have pretty hair," Steve sighed. "And it always smells good."

            Olivia raised her eyebrows at the boy and Robin snickered at him. "What is wrong with them?" Olivia yelled to Dustin, growing worried for her friends who were acting quite unusual.

            "I don't know!" Dustin panicked.

            "Dusty, watch out!" Olivia shouted. But it was too late, as the vehicle slammed into the wall. Olivia felt her head pound and rubbed the back of her head. Steve and Robin groaned in pain. 

            "You guys okay?" Olivia asked worriedly.

            "They're fine," Dustin replied.

            Dustin and Erica hurried to the back of the vehicle, opening the back so they could get out. "Come on, we gotta go, now," Dustin demanded. Dustin extended his hand to help them out, but Steve and Robin scrambled to the ground.

            "Here goes nothing," Dustin sighed, swiping the keycard in the electronic lock to open the elevator.

            "This sucks," Steve groaned. Olivia sighed, helping them both up. Steve stumbled as he walked, and Olivia wrapped an arm around his shoulder to help his balance.

            Once again, Olivia found herself in the crazy Russian elevator. She begrudgingly walked in, but she felt a little better knowing that this was the way to escape the Russian base and go back to Starcourt.

            StarCourt. She never thought in a million years she would think this, but she missed scooping ice cream. She missed Scoops Ahoy, and wished more than anything that she was there working and making fun of Steve with Robin, rather than being stuck in this dungy Russian base.

            As the elevator began that unsettling drop, her hair was flying all over the place. At least now that she was on it a second time, she was a little more used to it, though her stomach still felt like it was going to drop.

            Steve's warm brown eyes brightened when he noticed a red carrier for the Imperial Panda and Kaufman Shoes boxes. He stood up on it and spread out his arms and legs, chuckling happily as he did so.

            "You look like your surfing!" Robin pointed out to Steve giddily, oddly impressed and amused by him.

            "They seem drunk," Erica observed.

            "Why would they be drunk?" Dustin retorted.

            "Hey Liv!" Steve called out to her loudly, even though she was right next to him, holding his arm so he wouldn't fall. "I'm a natural, check it out!"

            Robin continued to cackle obnoxiously, finding everything weirdly amusing. She slid the carrier away, making Steve collapse into the boxes on the ground. "Wipe out!" Robin snorted.

            "Robin!" Olivia huffed. She knelt down beside Steve and put her hand over his forehead to check his temperature. "He's burning up," She informed to Dustin and Erica.

            "You're burning up," Steve scoffed before laughing. "Hey, get it? Cause you're like, super hot," He told Olivia while laughing at himself. Olivia, Dustin, and Erica were unamused by him at the moment, just wanting to know what those Russians did to him. Robin was the only one laughing at his poor attempt of a joke.

            If Olivia wasn't so worried, she would have been a blushing mess. But she was currently so focused on making sure Steve was okay that nothing else really mattered at the moment. Besides, Steve was most likely drugged and he wasn't acting like himself. She studied Steve, taking in a closer look at him. Steve started to play with her hair again. "His pupils are red and super dilated," She said worriedly. 

            "Maybe he's drugged?" Erica wondered.

            Steve tapped Olivia's nose. "Boop," He smiled. "You're cute. I love you."

            Olivia shook his head at him. Dustin sat down beside Olivia, studying Steve as well, trying to slap him out of it. "Steve, are you drugged?"

            "How many times dad! I don't do drugs," He mumbled. "It's only Marijuana."

            "Steve, this isn't funny okay?" Dustin heaved.

            "Yeah, we need to know what they did to you. A-are you gonna die on us?" Olivia hesitated, automatically thinking to the worst. Steve ignored her again, wiping his nose with his shirt and booped her nose again.

            "We all die my sweet Hendersons," Robin said weirdly, playing with her blonde hair. Her eyes were turning more and more red by the minute. "It's just a matter of how and when."

            Dustin blinked at Robin in confusion, shaking his head at her. "They're gonna be looking for us up there so we need you to tell us where we parked your car," He said, turning back to Steve.

            "Oh, can we make a pit stop at the food court?" Steve said randomly, not answering Dustin's question. Dustin's irritation with the two drugged teens grew more and more.

            "I would kill for a hot dog on a stick," Robin said dreamily.

            "Oooh," Steve said, forming his pink lips into an o shape.

            Olivia and Dustin shared a glance. "Alright, yeah, food, yes, you can have as much food as you want but only if you tell me where your car is parked," Olivia told the drugged pair gently.

           "Uh-oh," Steve muttered.

            "Uh-oh?" Olivia repeated cautiously.

            "The cars off the board," Steve informed.

            "What?" Dustin asked with a heavy sigh.

            "They took the keys," Steve rummaged in his empty pockets. "The Russians, they took the keys like forever ago. That's a bummer, right?" He threw his head back and began to laugh wildly as if it were the funniest thing ever. Disappointment covered Dustin and Erica's features, starting to feel helpless. What were they going to do now? How were they going to get out of here?

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            A while later after some more walking Dustin found an exit. He bursted the doors open, and Olivia felt the warm summer night air hit her. Olivia was just happy to finally be out of that... hell hole, that they finally escaped. Steve and Robin were still laughing about God knows what.

            "Oh my God, that tastes so good. Liv, Steve, can you guys taste the air?" Robin exclaimed happily.

            "I taste it! I taste it!" Steve beamed with just as much enthusiasm. Olivia jumped when Steve picked her up and spun her around.

            The gang came to a hault when two more Russian guards busted the gate open. "Shit!" Dustin yelled, swiveling back around.

            Olivia had to pull on Steve's arm as they scurried back inside. "Why are we running?" Steve pouted. Olivia began to lead the way, knowing a safe place they could go, where the Russians wouldn't be able to find them for a while.

              "Where are we going?" Erica quizzed.

              "Just trust me!" Olivia pleaded.

              Dustin pushed the door open, peeking his head out to see if any of the Russians were there. "All clear," He stated.

            One by one, they sneaked quietly into the movie theater. Steve stopped for moment, snatching some popcorn from the garbage can. Olivia wrinkled her nose in disgust. Entering the theater, suspenseful music filled the dark room. Olivia recognized the new movie that was playing, which was Back to the Future. Dustin led them to the front row, the big screen looming over them in bright colors.

            "You two, sit," Dustin ordered, pointing at the chairs.

            "No, these seats are too close!" Robin whined in a child-like manner.

            "Then don't watch the movie," Dustin said, gritting his teeth.

            "We wanna watch it!" Robin hissed.

            "Then watch it!" Dustin sighed. A man behind Steve and Robin shushed them, and the two shushed him back. "Sorry," Dustin apologized to the man, lowering his voice and looked back at the air-headed teens. "Whatever you do, don't go anywhere," He said slowly, making sure they understood that what he was saying was important.

            "Fine, dad," Steve snorted.

            "Liv, will you stay here and watch them?" Dustin asked.

            Olivia nodded, taking the empty seat next to Steve. Dustin and Erica ducked their heads, walking over to the other end of the row. Steve pecked Olivia's cheek, and started to munch on some popcorn. Steve's eyes drifted away from the screen, gazing at Olivia. "What?" She blushed shyly.

            "Nothing," He replied with a shrug. "You just... you look really beautiful. You're like... wow."

            "Oh," Olivia smiled softly, unsure of what to say after his sweet words. "Well, thank you, Steve. I think you're handsome," She whispered into his ear. Steve may have been drugged and wasn't thinking straight, but even still, he still somehow managed to sweep her off her feet without even trying.

            "I'm in love with you," Steve grinned, booping her nose for the third time that night.

            "And you're drugged, Steve," Olivia reminded him with a small frown. As much as she wanted to say it back to him, she didn't know if it was just the drugs talking or if he really meant it, and she didn't want to have false hope. She had been in love with him for about a year now, and it would crush her if he didn't return her feelings. She'd been through a broken heart before, and she just didn't want to go through it again.

            "What's happening?" Robin queried, trying to figure out the plot of the movie.

            "I have no idea," Steve shook his head, reluctantly pulling his attention away from Olivia and squinting his eyes at the screen.

            Without realizing how tired she really was, Olivia's eyelashes fluttered and she slowly drifted off to sleep. Steve and Robin laughed quietly at the tired girl and started messing with her hair. Olivia still remained asleep. Steve waved his hands in front of the sleepy girl. Him and Robin took this as their cue to sneak out of the theater, since Olivia was completely out cold.

            A few minutes later, Olivia was jolted awake by Dustin and Erica. "Liv! Where are they? You were supposed to be watching them!" He hissed.

            Olivia rubbed her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows. Glancing to her right, she panicked. Steve and Robin weren't there. "I'm sorry! I must have fallen asleep!" She whispered. The trio exchanged looks of worry and dash out of theater, frantically searching for them everywhere.

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            "The ceiling stopped spinning for me," Robin stated to Steve. Robin was sprawled out on the tile floor of the bathroom in her stall, while Steve was in the stall next to hers. They had finally puked all the drugs out of their system, and the reality of their surroundings was finally kicking in. "Is it still spinning for you?"

            "Holy shit," Steve said under his breath. "No. You think we puked it all up?"

            "Maybe," Robin shrugged her shoulders. "Ask me something. Interrogate me," She said, imitating her best attempt at a thick Russian accent.

            "Interrogate you?" Steve chuckled. "Okay, sure. Uh.... When was the last time you, uh, peed your pants?"

            "Today," Robin confessed.

            "What?"

            "When the Russian doctor took out the bone saw," Robin admitted.

            "Oh my God," Steve laughed.

            "It was just a little bit though," Robin squeaked.

            "Yeah, it's definitely still in your system."

            "Alright, my turn," Robin stated.

            "Okay, hit me."

            "Have you... ever been in love?" Robin questioned, even though she already knew the answer. She knew that he was in love with Olivia. It was obvious, but Robin wanted to hear it from him.

            "Yep. Nancy Wheeler," Steve nodded. "First semester, senior year," He answered honestly, imitating the sound of a gun shot. He recalled back to Halloween night last year, when he was so heartbroken because Nancy had called their relationship bullshit. That everything was bullshit. But that night inevitably ended up becoming the best night of his life, because he met her. He remembered the night so perfectly. She was dressed as an angel, and she looked absolutely stunning. She had gone out of her way to make sure he was okay because he was upset. He was so sure he was dreaming at first. Olivia had taken his breath away and he will never forget that first real interaction he had with her.

            Robin perked up at Steve's answer, not expecting him to say Nancy Wheeler. "Oh my god," She rolled her eyes. "She's such a priss."

            "Turns out, not really," Steve shrugged.

            "Are you still in love with Nancy?" Robin continued, wanting to hear the full truth. She knew there was more behind his words.

            "No," Steve shook his head.

            Robin quirked her eyebrows. "Why not?"

            "I guess cause I've found someone so much better for me," Steve admitted. He paused, wanting to choose his words carefully. He had never said out loud that he was in love with Olivia. Dustin only knew because he figured it out. "Ever since Dustin came home, he's been saying, you know, you gotta find your Suzie, you gotta find your Suzie," He went on.

            "Wait, who's Suzie?" Robin interrupted.

            "It's some girl from camp. I guess his girlfriend? To be honest with you, I'm not 100% sure she's even real. But that's not- that's not really the point. That doesn't matter. The point is, this girl you know, the one that I like, she's somebody that I never really had the courage to talk to in school, not until last year at least. And I don't even know why... because she turned out to be the best thing that has ever happened to me," He spoke with a soft smile on his face. Even just the thought of Olivia made him smile.

            "And it's so stupid that it took me so long to talk to her," Steve scoffed at himself. "Because when I think about it, I should've been hanging out with this girl this whole time. First of all, she's so beautiful and she doesn't even realize it. She doesn't realize how many guys admire her and it drives me crazy. Even Tommy H. liked her. And she's smart. Way smarter than me. You know, she can help crack like, top secret Russian codes... And she's the sweetest person I've ever met. She became my best friend when I had nobody. She turned my life around, for the better. She's an angel, literally," He stopped himself after realizing he was rambling. He could go on about Olivia forever.

            Silence fell between the two, and Steve worried that maybe he had said too much. "Robin?" He tapped her stall. "Did you just OD over there?"

            "No," Robin exhaled. "I am still alive."

            Steve frowned, and slid under the wall that divided them to sit across from her.

            "The floors disgusting," Robin piped up.

            Steve shrugged. "Yeah, well, I already got a bunch of blood and puke on my shirt, so...."

            "What do you think?" Steve quizzed. 

            "About?" Robin hummed.

            "This girl."

            "She sounds awesome," Robin replied.

            "She is awesome," Steve nodded. "And what about the guy?"

            "I think the guy is crazy for not telling her how he feels, because they'd make a cute couple," Robin answered.

            "Okay..." Steve sighed. "Maybe I will tell her."

            "Look..." Robin began to say, her voice shaking with nerves. "I'm happy for you two. Really. And I'm so grateful to have you as my friends. But if you knew me, like, like really knew me, I don't think either you or Liv would even want to be my friend."

            "No, that's not true," Steve shook his head with a frown, wondering where this doubt of hers was coming from. "No way is that true."

            "Listen to me, Steve, it shocked me to my core, but I like you. I really like you," Robin smiled. "But I'm not like you're other friends. And I'm not like Nancy Wheeler," She hesitated.

            "Robin, that's exactly why I like you," Steve laughed bitterly.

            "Do you remember what I said about Ms. Clicks class, and about me being jealous? And like, obsessed?"

            "Yeah."

            "It wasn't because I had a crush on you. It's because she wouldn't stop staring at you," Robin faltered.

            "Mrs. Click?" Steve responded cluelessly.

            "Olivia," Robin breathed. "I wanted her to look at me. But, she couldn't pull her eyes away from you and your stupid hair. And I didn't understand, because you would get bagel crumbs all over the floor and you asked dumb questions and you were a douchebag. A-And when I got this job at Scoops, it became so clear to me that you two are so obviously head over heels in love with each other and I knew that you guys were meant to be. It's been so frustrating to me that you and Liv are so clueless. Because you guys are soulmates," Robin finished with a heavy sigh. She paused, waiting for Steve's response.

            "But... Olivia's a girl?" Steve said with pure confusion.

            "...Steve?" Robin said slowly.

            "Yeah?"

            "Oh," Steve widened his eyes in realization.

            "Oh," Robin repeated sheepishly.

            "Holy shit."

            "Yeah," Robin sighed. "Holy shit."

            "Steve... did you OD over there?" Robin asked, worried that Steve might not like her for who she really was. That maybe she might've had said too much. He was the only person who she ever admitted this secret to.

            The news was shocking to Steve, to say the least. Olivia was the one that Robin liked. But, Robin was still Robin. Nothing about her changed, and she was still Steve's best friend. There was nothing Robin could say to make him not like her. "No, I just, uh... just thinking. I mean yeah, I can't blame you. It's kind of hard not to fall in love with Olivia," Steve chuckled.

            "Right?" Robin laughed, glad to know that Steve accepted her for who she was.

            "Wait..." Steve paused. Robin looked up at him. "Before, when you said Olivia couldn't pull her eyes away from me... that doesn't make any sense, because she liked Jonathan then?"

            Robin shook her head at the Harrington boy. "She did like Jonathan then. But that didn't stop her from fawning over you Steve, because just about every girl at Hawkins High fawned over you."

            Steve leaned his head back, trying to processing everything. Robin started laughing at nothing in particular, which made Steve laugh as well. The two went into a fit of laughter, just having fun in each other's presence and laughing.

            The bathroom door opened revealing Olivia, Dustin and Erica. Steve smiled at Olivia because he was the girl he was just talking about. Olivia sighed in relief that they finally found them.

            "Okay... what the hell?" Dustin asked angrily, marching closer towards them. Steve and Robin went into another fit of laughter at Dustin's antics and at just the crazy situation that they were in.

            And they weren't finished yet.