Chapter Thirteen
🍦
Goodbyes Are Not Forever

◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈

Three Months Later

"Come on, pretty please Keith?" Olivia begged the tall boy as they stood behind the counter at the Family Video Store. A month ago, Keith graciously got her a job at the Family Video Store when he somehow found out that she was in a search of a job. It wasn't that much more exciting than Scoops Ahoy was, but when she told Steve and Robin about the job, they wanted to apply as well. She was looking forward to working with them again, but she knew it was going to take Keith some convincing to hire Steve.

            Keith's palm was resting on his chin and was munching on some Cheetoh's, making a mess all over the counter. "Why should I hire Steve? Now Robin, I don't mind, but Steve was a douchebag, Liv," He grumbled through a mouthful of Cheetoh's, making it slightly hard to understand him. "A douchebag. I don't understand why you're even dating him now." Keith made it clear that he despised Steve, and hated him even more now because he was dating Olivia, but that was mostly out of jealousy. After all, it was no secret to everyone that Keith had years of harbored feelings towards the oblivious girl. It may have been covered by his bluntness, and colorless (some would even say creepy) personality, but he genuinely cared for the Henderson girl. Maybe even loved her. And it was almost sad to watch Keith pine over her when he didn't really stand a chance with her, especially against someone like Steve.

            "Keith!" Olivia sighed in frustration and put her head down on the counter. Her cheeks became a bright shade of red when Keith mentioned her and Steve were dating. Even though they had been together for three months now, it still felt... unreal. Like she was in some kind of wonderful dream. When the events at StarCourt were finally over, they finally were able to admit their feelings for each other and Steve asked her to be his girlfriend. Dustin was more than happy when he first found about the two, saying that he saw it coming and was excited to have Steve as his brother-in-law, whatever that meant.

            "Look, I know you don't like him, but I promise that he's changed. He's not at all like how he used to be. Just give him a chance for me, please?" Olivia pleaded with her doe-like eyes looking up at him.

            Keith groaned, but before he could say anything Olivia spotted Steve and Robin outside through the window climbing out of Steve's BMW. "Here they come!" Olivia smiled. "Please be nice Keith."

            The door chimed open as the two of them entered. Steve smiled and tried to act confidently while he walked, but stumbled which made Olivia stifle a laugh. Steve leaned over the counter and greeted Olivia with a kiss on cheek before him and Robin handed Keith their resumes. Keith studied the resumes intently, his glancing back at them every once in a while.

            "Uh, just to be clear, we weren't fired you know," Robin pointed out. "The mall burned down and like, killed a bunch of people."

            "Thanks for sharing, didn't know," Keith said monotonously, drifting his eyes away from the resumes and looking back at them. "Three favorite movies, go," He suddenly quizzed, pointing to Robin.

            "The Apartment, Hidden Fortress, Children of Paradise," The blonde girl answered swiftly without missing a beat.

            Keith points over to Steve next. "You, go."

            "Favorite movies?" Steve repeated.

            "Did I stutter?" Keith scoffed.

            Olivia rolled her eyes and nudged him on the shoulder. "Be nice," She whispered, almost in a way a mother would when siblings would fight with each other.

            "Uh, Animal House for sure..." Steve mumbled, looking around the store nervously and then looked back at Olivia for help.

            "Hey! I know Liv is pretty, but stop staring. Eyes on me Harrington," Keith snapped his fingers in front of Steve's face, getting his attention.

            "Uh.... Star Wars?" He said unconvincingly and Olivia sighed, knowing that this wasn't going to end well.

            "A New Hope?" Keith quizzed.

            "A new what now?" Steve repeated with confusion, looking back and forth between Keith and Olivia. Olivia tried to mouth some Star Wars movies to Steve, but he didn't seem to get what she was doing. 

            Keith glanced at Olivia with an irritated look, then looked back at Steve with a heavy sigh. "Which Star Wars?"

            "The one with the teddy bears, duh," Steve answered sheepishly. Olivia sighed at her clueless boyfriend and Robin put her head on the table. Olivia was a bit disappointed in him, after all she had gushed to Steve last year all about Star Wars and they watched the movies together over the summer when Dustin was away at camp. They were Olivia's favorite movies (it may or may not had to do with Hans Solo) and she was hoping Steve would've at least knew about it more after watching it together.

            "Oh!" Steve's eyes lit up. "The one that just came out- the one with the Dolorian and Alex P. Keaton and he's trying to bang his mom," He tried to explained Back to the Future, but failed miserably.

            Keith looked at him disbelief, and looked to Olivia. "You're boyfriends an idiot," He whispered to her, then spoke louder and pointed to Robin. "You start Monday," He then turned to Steve. "You start never."

            "Steve, will you give us a minute? Robin, you stay and help me out," Olivia asked. Steve stared at her hopelessly while Keith screwed his face and glared at him.

            Steve sighed and made his way over to the shelves of movies.

            "Alright," Robin began to say. "You have to understand Keith. I know his taste is a bit... pedestrian, but Dingus has other qualities."

            "He's a douchebag of the highest order, Robin," Keith said under his breath.

            "He was a bit of a prick to us in high school, I'll grant you that. But he remains a total chick magnet. I mean, Olivia is his girlfriend after all," Robin stated slyly.

            "Yeah, and this is relevant to me how?" Keith rolled his eyes.

            "Because it will finally give you a chance to get over Olivia. Don't you want to get over her? And earth to Keith, the ladies will come in just to see him. The come in droves. Droves, Keith!" Robin rambled. "We sold so much ice cream, they had to get a second shipment in from Michigan."

            Keith narrowed his eyes at the blonde and looked to Olivia. "Goddamn Michigan, Keith!" Olivia added in. "But now that I'm with Steve-"

            "That means little Stevie is unavailable," Robin finished for her. "So he'll need assistance to help with the ladies."

            Olivia glanced down at her watch and panicked when she  noticed the time. "I'm so sorry, but I got to leave! Rob, will finish convincing Keith to hire Steve?"

            Robin nodded and Olivia rushed out of the door, ignoring Steve's questions on where she was going on. The Byers were moving today, and she didn't want to miss saying goodbye to them for the world.

◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈

            The Byer's home was empty with only a few stacked boxes. It was sad to see the home so empty after years of hanging out with Jonathan. It was like her second home, and it was hard seeing it get packed away in boxes.

            Heartbreak and sadness were what swirled inside of her as she walked into the Byer's home, the home she knew so well but was now almost empty. She smiled at the sound of Max and Lucas obnoxiously singing Never Ending Story to Dustin. Even now three months later, they still found it amusing. Max waved at Olivia while she sang, and Olivia walked to stand beside Dustin, who looked incredibly annoyed by couple.

            "Rhymes that keep their secrets will, unfold behind the clouds," The two continued, snapping and clapping along.

            "Wait— did we get that verse right? It's unfold behind the clouds?" Max's green eyes twinkled with amusement, having fun teasing Dustin. Olivia smiled softly, glad to see Max happy. This was the first time Olivia had seen her smile since Billy died.

            Dustin glared at them with a deadpanned expression. "Yeah, but you're butchering it so could you please stop?" He snapped back.

            "What I'd miss?" Olivia asked them with a smile, taking a seat next to Dustin.

            "Max and Lucas here are torturing me with Never Ending Story again," Dustin remarked. "Please tell them to stop."

            "So then join in Dusty-bun," Lucas fluttered his eyelashes and blew an air kiss.
            
            "Yeah, come on Dusty-bun, why don't you join us?" Max sang.

            "You guys are so funny, you should be on Carson," Dustin said sarcastically.

            "Cannot we just hear your rendition? Please just one verse?" Max begged.

            "No!" Dustin said firmly. "It's reserved for Suzie's ears and Suzie's ears only."

            "Come on guys," Olivia chimed in. "Leave him alone."

            Max and Lucas paused and stared at each other knowingly before diving into the song again. Olivia couldn't help but start singing along with them, nudging Dustin's shoulder as she sang.

◈◆◈◆◈◆◈◆◈

            It was now late after noon and the sun was glowing down on them. The final boxes were packed in the U-Haul truck. She had been avoiding saying goodbye to Jonathan all day, because she knew that when she was actually going to, she was going to burst into tears.

            "Hey sweetie," Joyce said, pulling Olivia's attention away from the house. "We're going to leave soon, so you should start saying your goodbyes."

            Olivia immediately wrapped her arms around Joyce. "I-I'm going to miss you," Olivia sniffed.

            "I'm going to miss you too sweetheart," Joyce said, hugging her back. "And thank you for watching Will all these years. I quite honestly don't know what I would've done without you."

            "Will is an amazing kid," Olivia smiled through her tears.

            At this, Will hugged Olivia and cried into her shoulder and Olivia wiped the tears away from her cheeks. Even though Olivia knew it wasn't going to be the last time she would be seeing the Byers and El, it was heartbreaking to see them go. Their house was so close by hers but now they were moving far away to California. Next, her and Dustin embraced El in a hug. She tried to stay strong the whole day, but she was beginning a waterfall of tears, not bearing to see the most important people in her life leave.

            Olivia hesitantly pulled out a crinkled envelope from her pocket. In her elegant handwriting, the letter was made out to Jonathan Byers. She wrote the letter when she first heard the Byers were moving, and she hadn't been able to give it to him until now.

            "Here," Olivia handed Jonathan a letter, wiping her tears away.

            "What's this?"

            "It's just some things I never told you, that I should've told you along time ago," Olivia sighed. "But don't read it until your gone, okay?"

            Jonathan knitted his eyebrows at his best friend. "Okay— oh, I have something for you to." He handed her a mixtape. "I wanted to make you one last mixtape before I left. It's all of our favorite songs."

            Olivia looked at him fondly and the two embrace each other in another hug. "I'm going to miss you," She sniffed, leaning her head into his shoulder.

            "Me too," Jonathan expressed. "I'm not sure what I'm going to do without my best friend."

            Once everyone had said their goodbyes, they huddled together and watch the Byer's get in their car. As they watched them drive further and further away, Olivia and Nancy embraced each other in a hug, neither of them wanting to see Jonathan go. And they stayed like that until it was eventually time to go home.

Dear Jonathan,
            It's still hard to comprehend that you're actually moving. I know we've sort of drifted apart over the last year, but no matter what, you'll always be my dearest friend. You'll always be that sweet boy who introduced me to The Clash when we first met and makes me mixtapes of my favorite songs to cheer me up. Now that you're leaving, I thought now would be a good as time as ever to tell you that you were my first love. I know it's sort of cowardly to tell you in a letter, but I thought you deserved to know. I have kept my feelings hidden all these years and I know that was wrong of me to do so. But it doesn't really matter now anyway— you have Nance (which I am convinced you guys are soulmates) and I have Steve. And I love Steve with my whole heart. I'm so lucky to have him in my life, and I am the happiest I've ever been when I'm with him.

The last thing I wanted to tell you was to please watch Will and El for me. El lost her dad and needs you now more than ever. God knows these kids have been through more than what a kid should ever go through.

I hope California treats you well. I'm going to miss you like crazy. Hawkins won't be the same without you.

Love your best friend,
Liv ♡