Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

October 1982
Hawkins, IN
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"Can you believe it?" Heather Holloway proceeded to babble, turning to her best friend. "I can't believe she's letting him grab her ass like that!" Heather spat, pointing towards Molly Kevins and Jake Duncan. "Gag me with a spoon." Allison Byers mumbled, snickering along with it. "I mean, seriously? In front of the entire cafeteria?" The curly haired brunette gestured to the sea of students, then shielding her eyes.

Allison Byers and Heather Holloway have been friends since elementary school, both rising to popularity in their High School Years. They both didn't care for the title, but it meant everything to their boyfriends, especially Allison's. Steve Harrington, the King of Hawkins High, no one knows how he got his reputation, maybe it was the hair, but he had been popular since the beginning of time. Sure, he was a douche bag to the majority, but he made Allison feel seen, and she loved him for that. They had also known each other since elementary school, almost always in the same classes seeing as they were the same age. They hadn't clicked until freshman year, and then they had slowly tethered together.

The Byers family was poor, unlike the Harrington's and Holloway's. Allison's brothers, Jonathan and Will, were both somewhat of an outcast in their own schools. Allison somehow was the only one to be seen as something more than a Byers kid, more than the quiet freak in the back of the classroom; but that never deterred her from calling people out when they would attack her family. The start of her sophomore school year, after her parents divorced, she had signed up for Hawkins Cheerleading; much to her surprise, she had been accepted. Being the oldest sibling, she tried to set a good example for her family name, but it seemed she was the only Byers that had been deemed normal.

"Hey beautiful." Steve said from behind Allison, startling her with the sudden kiss. "Ack, move your lovers quarrels elsewhere." Heather laughed as Tommy and Carol joined the table alongside Steve, and Christopher Evans, Heather's boyfriend. "And why would they do that? You should've heard them at the party last weekend." Tommy Hagan chuckled, looking over to his red headed girlfriend. "Oh Steve! Harder Steve!" Carol cackled aloud, disrupting the silence of the cafeteria. "Okay, cut it out Carol." Steve whispered as Allison's cheeks grew to a Crimson red, looking down to her food with a small smile.

"See, no denial." Tommy finished, slinging his arm around his girlfriend. "I can't believe I missed it!" Heather exclaimed, slouching in her chair as she poked at her mushy cafeteria food. "It's okay babe, we had our fun, didn't we?" Christopher teased, leaning in to kiss her blushing cheeks. The bell rang with that, signaling that lunch was over and fifth period was starting soon. As usual, Steve laced his fingers within Allison's, walking her to her Geometry class. "I'll see you after school, ok?" He whispered into the brunette's ear before pulling her into a kiss.

As the end of school came around, she'd hop in Steve's car, and he'd drive her home. Joyce had offered to drive her home, since she drove both Jonathan and Will, but Allison preferred to be with Steve.

Their relationship meant everything to her. After Lonnie left, she became so co-dependent on Steve that she naturally became attached to him. She wasn't the clingy type, but being without him for too long was overwhelming at times. He made her feel complete, like the piece that was ripped out of her was filled up again. She was utterly in love with him, and gave herself to him. Both of them were broken in their own ways, but being together made them feel whole.

1983

During Allison's Junior year, Joyce had invited Mike and his older sister Nancy over more frequently. While the two girls had known each other growing up, their friendship wasn't anything near Allison and Heather, or Nancy and Barbs relationships. It wasn't until Nancy and Allison started hanging out more frequently that things began to change. Allison had noticed how Steve always wanted her to bring Nancy around, how the gap between her and him grew over time, how he slowly started to slip out of her grasp and into another's.

Come October 1983, the couple had split, shocking Hawkins High. Steve had said he needed space, which she understood, but she was still hurt deep down. The two still had the same friends, but Nancy had joined along, and the tables had split. It was barely two weeks later, when November had strolled around that things started to go downhill for Allison Byers.

"Oh my god-" Heather said from their table in the cafeteria, looking from the doors to her best friend. Allison had been trying her best to enjoy her salad, feeling much more drained and sorrowful than usual. "Hm?" Allison pondered to her best friend, poking at her greens with a plastic fork. "Oh babe, I don't know how you're going to take this but um... cafeteria doors.. look." Heather said solemnly, grabbing the other brunette's hand with her own. One look was all it took for Allison's heart, and stomach, to sink. There stood Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler, hand in hand. He was whispering something into her ear as they strolled over to the table Tommy and Carol were sat at, pulling her chair out for her.

The look of heartbreak and betrayal was painted all over Allison's face as tears welled in her eyes. She tried so desperately to hide them, but they ran down her cheeks before she could catch them. She was speechless if anything, unknowing of where to start. "Oh... Allison I'm sorry." Heather whispered, holding her best friends hand tighter with a pitiful expression. "Let's go to the bathroom, hm?" She gestured, and Allison nodded.

The two exiting the cafeteria didn't go unnoticed by Steve's table. He caught a glimpse of her broken face, swallowing his guilt. He tried to ignore the remarks Tommy and Carol made, nor the hate he felt for himself in that moment, but he couldn't let it show- nor could he let his reputation be ruined over something like this.

"Scram, this is urgent." Heather demanded in the ladies bathroom, shooing the girls skipping classes out of the stalls as she pulled Allison along with her, moving to a stall. "Babe, I know what you saw out there was absolutely devastating, but listen to me. He's not worth it, he's not worth the pain. I know you love him doll, but if he's going to stoop that fucking low, you don't give him the time of day, okay hun?" Heather stated, crouched down so her hands were on Allison's knees, as Allison was seated upon the toilet.

Allison had begun to nod, but quickly burst into tears. "Speak to me babe." Heather said, holding onto Allison's hands. "I knew- I fucking knew it." The broken hearted girl stated, grasping Heather's hands back. "I asked him about... about if there was something there earlier this semester... that I saw the way he looked at her. It was the- the same way he used to look at me. He said I was being paranoid! Need space my fucking ass." She laughed through tears and frustration. "I can't believe I believed it. I knew it wasn't about space... it was because he was looking at her, and not me."

"What a fucking dick!" Heather gasped, frustration rising within her as well. "Explains why he always wanted her around." She finished, grabbing tissues from her backpack to wipe Allison's tears away. "What's wrong with me? What was I doing wrong?" Allison whimpered, eyes barely meeting her friends. "Look at me babe. There's nothing, and I mean nothing wrong with you. Okay? It's him, and it's always been him. He couldn't put on his big boy pants to own up to his actions. So, we're gonna clean you up, re-do your makeup, and you're going to walk back out there and show him how big of a mistake he made. Okay?" Heather nodded, bringing the two up from their sitting positions.

The Byers girl nodded in return, leaving the stall to go bring herself back together, and strutting back into the cafeteria right before the bell for fifth period rang. Now that she had her license, she drove herself home most of the time, or shared a ride with her brothers. Jonathan knew about his sister splitting up with the same douchebag that's friends nagged him for not meeting the 'right' expectations, but he was more glad than anything. He absolutely despised Steve, he always had. All Jonathan cared about was that his sister wasn't hurt; although he was a year younger than her, he was always extremely protective.

When Allison had gotten home, she had fallen apart all over again in her mom's arms. The Byers family, aside from Lonnie, were all extremely close. All of them got along despite their differences, and that was one thing they were all most thankful for; Lonnie leaving brought them even closer together. Joyce knew exactly how her daughter was feeling and was shocked to hear about Nancy being the one to take her daughter's place. Though Allison mainly went to his place, he had spent numerous occasions and even holidays over at the Byers residence, seemingly a kind boy, but now she disliked the boy as much as Jonathan did. Will just reassured Allison in the best way he could, being there for her whenever she needed someone.

That night, they watched Grease since it was one of Allison's favorites. They all did their best to be there for her in their own way, just as they had for Jonathan when he had first gotten picked on, and pushed around a couple times. Joyce would play with her daughters hair, and rub her back as Will let her hold his rabbit stuffed animal, Thumper, that she had given him when she was in middle school; Jonathan being there was enough, sharing the popcorn with her.

For a while, Allison thought she'd be okay with the reassurance of her family and best friend being there for her, but the events that would soon come would flip her world upside down.