17. Swim Captain

☾.˚˖⁺✦ Swim Captain ✦˙⊹˚☽

TW // Horror

Song Guide: Livin' On A Prayer by Bon Jovi

1984Steve's Pov

Everyone's favorite day of the week had finally arrived, Friday. But this day had become one of the most stressful days for Steve. The one thing on his mind was the swim-off that would take place right when the sun was about to begin to set.

This was going to be a big moment for him, he had the courage, for once, to invite his parents to come watch as he was pretty confident he would make captain this year. Now for them showing up, there was a 50/50 chance of it.

Steve's parents weren't exactly the ones to come support their kids in a school event or be around in general. Seeing all the other moms and dads show up for their kids during their swim meets had been something that began to hurt the boy. He wished that could have been his parents.

If they did end up coming today, he just knew this could be a big step to his parents acknowledging one of his greatest achievements of his final year of high school. Perhaps, even his dad would hug him out of joy. The possibilities made Steve smile, he just had to hope his parents would actually take the step into coming.

Walking through the halls as the last class of the day had been let out, his eyes drifted on Nancy Wheeler. The girl he loves, loved. She had hurt him in ways he would never wish upon on anyone else. Giving your all to the person you trusted most, all for it to be a complete lie can mess with a person's head. It had messed with his.

Nancy had been laughing to something the person beside her had said. The person being Jonathan Byers. Steve never considered the boy as a threat, but now that was different. It had been almost as if he had taken the one thing he wanted most in the world without even trying.

Steve tried to not let this bother him because at the end of the day, the thing that mattered to him was if Nancy was happy, even if that meant watching her love someone else.

Just keep walking, Steve told himself as he crossed paths with the two. Neither of them even glancing his way. Pushing through the crowds of students, he finally made it to his locker. His locker had been only three lockers away from Victoria Henderson's.

He watched as she too approached her own locker with her shadow always close behind her, Eddie Munson. The two had been inseparable for as long as Steve could remember.

Steve attempted to wave his hand at Victoria wanting to ease the tension day by day between them two. She hadn't noticed the gesture, but Eddie did. The taller boy eyed Steve down as he had a stern look on his face, one of discontent. Had there been something that Steve had done that he had no idea about?

Victoria's hatred towards him had felt a lot more personal then just a person she didn't get along with. He didn't like being hated, but it also was getting annoying. After everything he had done in the past two weeks, he would have hoped she would lighten up a bit.

The brunette boy had decided he was going to attempt in breaking the ice a bit. Grabbing his swim bag from his locker, he began to approach the two. With his friendly smile, he greeted the girl. "Hey, Henderson."

Eddie glanced at Victoria with a confused look as the brunette girl had the same expression. "Um... Hi, Harrington..."

He could practically feel the glare coming from Eddie burning into his skull. If one thing was for sure is that him and Eddie never had gotten along, both were from different sides of the school. He was more into the geeky things like Dungeons and Dragons while Steve was on the cooler side of school.

What he didn't understand is how Victoria was such great friends with a freak like Eddie. What did the darker haired boy have that he didn't? Not that he was jealous, but he would like to think himself to be a potential better fit of a friend for her than Eddie was.

The unpleasant silence between the three of them was beginning to make Steve feel uncomfortable. "So, um, you coming to the swim-offs today?"

A stupid question, that he knew the answer to.

"Yeah, considering I'm competing today with all you boys."

"Right..."

Steve's eyes drifted to her right hand that had been swollen and poorly bandaged up. Her eyes caught where his were as she attempted to hide her hand. "Was that all or is there something else you needed?"

He blinked multiple times not being able to understand how she would be capable to compete if she was injured from yesterday's event. The brunette boy hadn't even thought twice of the possibility that what had occurred at Jason's party caused harm to Victoria.

"How are you going to compete?", he finally blurted out.

She slammed her locker closed, "By swimming."

They both knew that wasn't what he meant, but she didn't leave room for him to further argue as she looped her arm around Eddie's pulling the two of them away from Steve.

The brunette boy leaned against her locker as he watched her walk away from him. He scoffed at himself attempting to pull himself away from looking at her too long, but he was thankful that he did because she had turned to glance back at him.

That is all he needed, that snippet of hope that there could be something more between them.

☾.˚˖⁺✦˙⊹˚☽

Steve and Victoria had been the first to arrive to the pool out of the whole team. Coach Wilson had been sat in one of the chairs with a clipboard in hand, pretending to read through some papers. The brunette boy watched the girl from across the pool as she was stood with Eddie, her mom, Dustin, and Chrissy. Everyone she loved had shown up for her, not just that, but they were extremely early right by her side.

He was envious of this. All he ever wanted was simply that. None of his friends were here. He didn't even have Nancy anymore, but he was so sure she would have at least shown up for him. The only people he was left to depend on was for his parents to show up. It was still too early from the time he had told them to come at, so there was still a chance.

Steve moved his arms swiftly around him trying to ease his nerves as he paced around the pool. His eyes glancing occasionally over to Victoria. He hated this feeling he was feeling deep inside of him. She had everyone with her. Was it guilt he was feeling?

He wasn't sure he would be able to take this away from her, but he also couldn't afford to give this up, not entirely.

Taking a few more steps back and forth he finally decided he would approach their coach. Making his way over to the other side of the pool, he watched as another boy was walking to their coach as well. It had been the blonde curly haired boy with a toothpick in his mouth speaking to Coach Wilson.

"You've got to be fucking kidding.", Steve said from underneath his breath.

Billy Hargrove had made his presence loud in clear, not only to Steve, but to Victoria as well. Steve glanced back to look at her as her face was mortified. She met his eyes for a brief second, but the brunette boy turned away to see why he was there to begin with.

"Thanks, Coach Wilson, I appreciate you letting me hop in last minute.", the blonde boy shook the coach's hand.

Coach Wilson noticed Steve approaching. "Oh, Steve! I'm sure you know Billy as you two are in the same grade. He'll be competing in today's captain race."

Steve could feel his face drop. This wasn't happening right now. He refused to believe that Billy had the balls to come to his turf and try to take him out. He wouldn't let it happen. "Coach, can I get a word with you... alone."

The coach nodded as he told Billy to get to know the other players on the team, one being Victoria. Steve's body tensed up. He glared at the blonde boy watching him carefully.

Don't you dare, Hargrove, he thought to himself.

He couldn't keep on staring to see what his next move was as Coach Wilson now blocked his view. "What's going on, Harrington?"

He sighed, "Well, you and I both know who's going to be making captain this year."

The coach smiled patting Steve on the shoulders. "Kid, you make it so damn hard for me to treat everyone as equals, but I know that's not the reason you came to speak to me about. So get on with it."

There was one person Steve entrusted more than he ever would with his parents, it had been Coach Wilson. He had picked him up at his worst times and converted him into a better boy throughout his high school years. Steve was thankful for this because he knew he couldn't get as far as he did without any guidance.

Steve cocked his head to the side to glance at Victoria again. Her body had tensed up as both Eddie and Chrissy had blocked Billy from getting to her. The girl's eyes met his a second time, but this time they had a look as if she needed his help once again. Steve knew what he needed to do.

"If I win, and get selected as captain... I want Victoria to be my co-captain."

The older man looked at him strangely, confused to why he wanted this, but he always trusted Steve in making big decisions for the team. "Alright, and if she wins?"

Steve laughed, "Make her full team captain."

☾.˚˖⁺✦˙⊹˚☽Victoria's Pov

Eddie took Victoria's hands in his. "Hey, he's not even here. It's you and the pool."

The brunette girl didn't dare look up into his eyes because if she did she knew she was going to feel herself freak out. This was supposed to be her day of conquer not Billy's. She had woken up this morning knowing she was going to take down every swimmer today, including Steve Harrington.

But Billy?

Billy had ruined this confidence. He had trained her for this moment only to snatch it away from her. The blonde boy had to have been one of the best swimmers she's met in Hawkins.

Feeling the ache and throbbing in her hand return, she glanced down at it pulling it out of its wrap Eddie had attempted to put on this morning. Maybe, punching Billy last night hadn't been the smartest idea, but nonetheless, she did not regret any second of it.

If there was one thing about Victoria, is that she would always protect her brother, no matter what.

Dustin sat beside her as he obnoxiously pushed into her repeatedly. "Yes, Dustin?"

He looked up at his sister with the biggest grin on his face. "You gonna kick his ass again, Twinkle Toes?"

She laughed at her brother's way of encouragement. Hearing the whistle blow. The time had arrived. Victoria stood up as she ruffled her brother's hair, "Always, Rug Rat."

Before she could escape from her group, Eddie held onto her arm before she can go off and compete. "Yes?"

He grasped onto her shoulders pulling her in until their foreheads were touching. "Who's going to kick some ass?"

She laughed. Eddie had always given her a motivational hype up moment before every one of her swim meets, and this is what he was doing now. "Me."

He shook his head greatly disappointed now speaking with a louder tone, "Who's going to kick some ass?"

Victoria was trying her hardest not to burst out laughing. "M-Me."

Chrissy had squished in to join them as she yelled, "Who's gonna kick some ass!"

"Me!"

Dustin had joined in, pushing through the three of them as he yelled the loudest, "MY SISTER IS GONNA KICK SOME ASS!!!"

The four of them hugged as Victoria was now off to take her spot besides the male swimmers. She felt Eddie's hand slam onto her ass giving her the lucky slap as he liked to call it.

Her mom yelled at him, "Eddie!"

"Sorry, Mrs. Henderson!"

The brunette girl found herself laughing as she joined the group of swimmers she would have to take down to be team captain.

☾.˚˖⁺✦˙⊹˚☽

It was down to the final three competitors.

Steve Harrington.

Victoria Henderson.

William Hargrove.

All the H's of the swim team. The triple threat if you will, if they all worked together which was nothing close to being the case.

Due to the limited space at the pool, there were only three lanes given to the swim team for the swim-off which meant this competition was taking longer than expected. Everyone was already tired and beat, but now it came down to the deciding factor that held the fate of the swim team to a tight hold.

Victoria eyed down the two boys as she took some sips of water to refresh herself. This was it one more final race she had to push through. Her hand was beginning to hurt a lot more than it had did this morning. Taking a better look at it, bruises had began to form around each knuckle and her fingers were swelled to the point that they looked like they belonged to a chubby boy.

"That doesn't look good, VV.", Chrissy approached the girl with wide eyes.

She shrugged her shoulders, "I just need to get through this final race."

"Jesus H. Christ, look at the size of that thing!", Eddie basically yelled.

"Shhh, tryna get me disqualified!", Victoria quickly slammed her good hand over his mouth.

"Sorry."

There was a strict rule for the swim team, if you were in any shape or form injured you didn't swim, at all.

The whistle had been blown for the final swim tonight. The sunlight was diving into the earth, as the lights over the pool were soon to be turned on to blare down at each single one of them.

Making her way over to her lane she was stopped by none other than Steve Harrington. "Hey, Henderson... How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine."

"The, um, the hand?"

His eyes had been looking at her injury with concern. "How about you worry about the race, Harrington?"

Victoria moved past him as she approached her diving board. Doing her final stretch, she felt the stares of Billy on her. "What do you want?"

Glancing over to the blonde boy, she noticed a deceitful smile upon his face. "Just wanted to wish you good luck.", he extended his hand for her to shake.

She stared at his hand blankly knowing that she would have to extend her bad one to him. Crossing her arms over her chest trying to avoid the hand shake, but their coach approached from behind. "Come on, be a good sport, Henderson."

Billy taunted, "Be a good sport."

Giving him a false smile, she extended her injured hand to him feeling his grip tighten. Holding every ounce in her body to not wince or scream out in pain. He pulled her close to him. "Just a friendly reminder who's in charge around here."

He let go of her hand finally as she stepped back holding onto her hand in pain. Victoria attempted to stretch her fingers out, but was only met by the sharp pain. Billy had worsened her hand's condition.

She gave him a murderous look, but it was quickly taken away by her friends and family all giving her a thumbs up with the biggest grins.

Taking deep breaths as the coach motioned for them to step up to the board and take their ready positions. Squeezing her teeth together as she gripped onto the board with her hands, bending down staring at the water before her.

In the reflection of the water, she could almost see the sight of a grandfather clock. Had she been already hallucinating from the pain or exhaustion?

"Pssst!"

Stay focused, she told herself.

"Henderson!"

"What!", she turned to look at Steve.

"Good luck!"

Without a second to spare the whistle had been blown, and they were off into the water.

Victoria had the mind set of this final swim going by quickly. It was the complete opposite. The pain in her hand was winding her down.

Push through, push through, push through, she subconsciously yelled at herself.

Taking a quick glance towards her left and right, Billy was about the same speed as her as Steve was slightly in the lead. This was going to be one of the closest call if she can push her way through.

Reaching the end of the first lap, she spun around and kicked off the wall as hard as she could hoping to give her the extra push to put her in first. Feeling the pain in her hand begin to spread up her arm was something she didn't know how much she could handle before her arm gave out.

Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, she yelled at herself.

She was so close, yet so far. Every pull with her bad hand was every ounce of her caving into the pain.

So close to victory.

Just a few more strokes.

And there it was the struck of pain that made everything escape from her grasp. Wincing in pain as she pulled her hand to herself, she couldn't continue on.

Feeling the rush of water from every side of her as the two boys finished before her. She froze in place not being able to comprehend that she had failed.

She failed all her hopes and dreams. This was her last day on the swim team. Victoria had been so confident there was no way she was going to lose, but her damn hand cost her everything.

It had almost felt like the world around her had turned dark, not because nightfall had approached but because all the color there was had been drained out.

She heard the cheers coming from their swim team greeting their newest captain, whom was not her. She turned to look as her eyes quickly fell upon Billy and his cocky smile. He had gotten what he wanted. He had caused her reckoning.

Eddie had ran to her extending a hand to help her out of the pool. "We need to take you to get that checked..."

She shook her head refusing to acknowledge anything at that moment. She heard all the cheers began to roar louder and louder into her ears.

"Steve!"

"Steve!"

"Steve!"

Of course, he was the one who won. It was always going to be him. She pushed past Eddie trying to hide her tears wanting to just be home and away from everyone.

"Henderson!"

And there he was trying to make things better when they were out of being helped with.

"Henderson, wait up!"

She felt the boy's touch against her arm tugging her to him. Not finding the energy to turn and face him, he had walked around her to look at her.

Steve had the softest smile on his face, "Hey, you don't have to leave the team. I spoke with coach and you can be co-captain. We can be captains together, what do you say?"

"What?", was all she managed to say.

"We can lead the team together..."

"No! That's not what I wanted. God, Steve. I don't need you to make things better, you aren't my knight and shining armor who can just fix shit."

"Wha-"

"No! No! No! Get this through your goddamn head. We will never be more than just two people who just coexist in the same world. Stop trying to save me or make things better for me cause it's just all... shit. You are shit!"

1986 - Present Day

As soon as the words left her mouth, she had realized these weren't her actual words. The words had been something she had said in the past. Seeing the hurt on Steve's face had ached her heart.

Had she actually been that mean to him?

She reached out wanting to fix everything. "Steve, I—"

But the boy vanished at her reach as she stumbled through what had once been the memory she had lived through in the past.

"No, no, no", she began to tear up, "Steve, I didn't mean it."

A clock began to chime as the sound filled the void around her. She was now met by the grasps of darkness.

"Steve!", she yelled in a panicked tone, "Steve!"

She began to run as it had felt like she was only simply running in place. Finally turning around to try to run in a different direction, she came face to face with the grandfather clock.

Her heart plummeted inside her. Something about the clock was different, she strangely felt drawn to it. Bringing her hand up to it in a need to touch it, she then felt something approach from behind. Too scared to turn she felt it's breath against her skin. "Victoria."

The voice had been the same exact one that had called out to her the night Chrissy had been killed. It was Vecna.

Finally finding the courage to face the wicked man, he was a lot more terrifying then what she remembered. Seeing him face to face, she noticed he had been deformed almost as if he was a corpse that had its skin melted right off.

Vecna tilted his head to the side watching her every move, specifically, the way each shaky breath escaped her body.

"Where i-is he?", she demanded feeling every inch of her body tremble.

"They're running out of time, you are almost out of time."