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Roxie had told herself not to be disappointed.
Steve had been distant. Understandably so. After everything with Nancy, and Billy, and the tunnels, she figured he needed space. He was grieving his relationship, healing from the concussion Billy had given him.
She understood.
But still she found herself glancing towards the door every so often, as if maybe–
A knock echoed through the cabin.
Roxie blinked, surprised, as she set down the book that had been on page 84 for the last hour. She pushed herself off the couch and walked towards the door.
When she swung it open, Steve stood there, shifting from foot to foot like he wasn't quite sure he was meant to be there. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his jacket as he offered her a shy smile.
She leaned against the door frame, offering him a worried look. "You know you didn't have to show."
Steve scoffed, like she'd just said the most ridiculous thing. "I promised, did I not?"
He was right. He did promise. Her heard did a weird little jump as she ushered him in. She was so not going out in a pair of Hawkins Police Academy sweat pants.
–
The theater was packed when they got there. Littered with all the horror fans in Hawking rushing to get their tickets for A Nightmare on Elm Street before it sold out. Roxie had made Steve promise months ago that he'd take her the second it got to The Hawk. And now, November 16th, here it was.
Roxie was practically vibrating in her seat as the opening credits rolled. Steve on the other hand was.. a little less enthusiastic.
He could handle horror. Real horror. But something about the excessive, gratuitous gore in horror movies has always made his stomach twist.
And when the background music changed, and Tina started running, Steve just had to look away. So, instead he turned to Roxie.
And she was grinning.
Not just entertained– thrilled. She let out a little laugh as the screams echoed through the theater. And he couldn't help but watch.
Then, as the love interest came back in, she leaned in, whispering to him,
"Okay, but he is absolutely delectable."
Steve choked on nothing. "What??"
"Oh, come on. Look at him." She motioned to the screen which her eyes hadnt moved off of. And he let himself risk looking back to it as well.
And, yeah, sure. He was a good looking dude. But what really caught Steve's attention was the way Roxie's eyes were positively sparkling when he turned back to her. The way she fiddled with the chain of her belt absentmindedly. The way she bit her lip as she tried not to laugh out loud in the middle of the theater.
His stomach twisted again, but this time it wasn't because of the movie.
No. No, no, no.
It hadn't even been two months yet. He was still getting over Nancy. He was supposed to still be getting over Nancy. He shouldn't be feeling this way. Not about her. He shouldnt be looking at Roxie like– like maybe those grey eyes were a little prettier than they should be. Like maybe he kind of wanted to show her how freaked out this movie was making him so that she'd take that hand off her chain and offer it for him to hold.
If he liked Roxie– if he wanted her– then that meant he was moving on. That he was moving on way too fast. That maybe their love was bullshit.
Panic crept up his spine, but he shoved it down.
This was her night. That was all that mattered.
And besides. He knew her type.. and he was not it.
He tried not to think too hard about how similar he was to Glen Lantz. Who she just said was delectable.