16. King Steve

A.N. Hello my lovely readers,

5 more days till Volume 2 is released!!! The days are passing by so quickly, I can't wait to see what is in store for us for the rest of the season.

In this current chapter we're still revisiting the past. I have decided I will be diving a little bit deeper into Victoria's past relationships with specific characters to build up to the final chapter of Volume 1.

I hope you all enjoy!

Xoxo,Nik <3

☾.˚˖⁺✦ King Steve ✦˙⊹˚☽

TW // Horror , Violence, Semi-Sexual Content

Song Guide: Out of Touch by Daryl Hall & John Oates

1984

Both Victoria and Eddie were hanging upside down atop of Eddie's bed. The only thing running through the brunette girl's mind was the biggest swim-off of the year. She had gone weeks begging for her coach to let her compete for swim captain this time around, which was typically only intended for male swimmers to hold up such a high standing. There was not a single year that a girl had dared to step up to the position, until Victoria did.

With many no's and plenty of annoyed eye rolls, she finally settled a deal with Coach Wilson. Offering a proposition she knew he wouldn't decline, Victoria had told her coach if he let her compete in tomorrow's swim-off and if she beat all the boys, who were selected to be most qualified to be captain, that she would be forced to be chosen as swim captain of the year.

Victoria was pretty confident in her swim skills that she could achieve this, considering most of the swim captain candidates she had defeated prior in a friendly swim competition. She had also been training with Billy Hargrove for the past few days.

This had been something he had offered to do after seeing her spend various days religiously swimming at the community pool, where he had managed to have a part-time job as a lifeguard during the school year. Nonetheless, she was ready to take on all the boy swimmers, including Steve Harrington.

Being team captain, would be the ideal thing for her. Not only is she a great leader, but it would be a big step in allowing girls to try out for team captain after her legacy ends when she graduates. There was also the fact that she needed this for the sake of her college applications. It was going to be difficult to get into her dream school, if her application wasn't bleeding with overachievements.

Now unfortunately there was the other part of the deal. If she were to fail and not beat every single male swimmer, then that meant she would lose her spot on the swim team. Also meaning, she would have to look into a different sport to play in which was way too late to learn a new sport to be the best in.

Eddie kicked Victoria's leg trying to catch her attention. "I know that look."

"What look..."

"Come on, Queen V. The one where you furrow those brows of yours and you scrunch up your small nose."

Releasing the tension in her face, the brunette girl attempted to have a regular smiling face as she normally did.

The dark haired boy laughed, "You'll get it, don't sweat it, V."

She turned her head to look at her friend. "I hope so, E."

Now sitting up, she yanked Eddie's arm to look at the time. "Shit, shit, shit."

"What?"

"Can you drive me to the pool?"

Eddie sat up with his arms crossed over his chest as he eyed her down carefully.

"Eddie, come on. I'm going to be late."

The boy shook his head at her. She frowned at him as she quickly looked around the room for Eddie's keys. Finding them hanging up right next to his door. They both met each other's eyes for a quick second. "Don't you dare."

"Try me.", she spoke back to him.

She slammed a pillow onto his face as she braced to hop off the bed to sprint to the keys only to be met by his hand wrapping around her ankle yanking her backwards. "Eddie!"

The two friends began to wrestle on the bed.

"Why are you... acting like.. this!", Victoria struggled with Eddie's strength.

"Because... he's a creep... and you shouldn't be going to swim alone with him!", was Eddie's struggled reply.

Finally caving, Victoria let loose allowing Eddie to win as he pinned her down to the bed. "I win.", he said in a proud tone.

Pulling her back up, they now sat on the bed in silence. She knew Billy didn't have the best reputation around Hawkins, but he was a good swim mentor for her. She needed every help she could get in order to achieve what everyone thought to be impossible. Eddie patted her knee, "Look I don't want you to get your heart broken by some guy who always has a damn toothpick in his mouth, okay?"

The brunette girl laughed, "Please, do you really see me to be that shallow? I would never fall for a guy like that."

Eddie turned to look at her with a knowing face, they both knew she was lying. Along with reputations around Hawkins, she also did not have the best history with boys at school. She pushed his face away not wanting to admit her past randevu's. "It's only for one more day, after tomorrow and I get elected as swim captain. I promise, bye bye Billy."

He childishly held out his pinky finger enlaced with a silver ring out at her. Ever since they had become friends it was something they did, seal a promise with their pinkies like kids did, but to them it was sacred.

A small smile formed over her lips as she wrapped her pinky around his.

"Promise, Queen Victoria?"

"I promise, E."

☾.˚˖⁺✦˙⊹˚☽

It had been two hours of vigorous swimming followed by Billy's screams for her to push through harder. The sun had set as the pool had cleared out, leaving only Billy and Victoria to themselves. She was finally done for the night as she closed in on her final lap.

Taking large gasps of air as she sat on the steps of the pool. The blonde haired boy swam up to her leaning his hands onto her thighs. "You did good, Henderson."

Feeling the rush in her veins as his hands were now touching her skin. This was trouble. Trouble she was unsure she wanted to be apart of. She nervously tried to pull away from him. "Thanks, Billy."

His eyes lingered across her body then back up to her lips as his hand met her cheek. He pulled her into him as his lips touched hers.

She was in deep trouble.

Not finding the capability to pull herself away, she dove in deeper wanting more of what he was making her feel. He spread her legs apart leaning further into her lips. Grabbing hold of her under thighs, he lifted her up turning them around as he now placed her on top of him.

Deep, deep trouble.

His hand snuck its way underneath her swimsuit grabbing hold of her left breast, caressing the tip of her nipple. A soft gasp escaping her lips.

Pull away now, Victoria, she thought to herself.

Billy's lips parting away from hers to meet the sensitive parts of her neck.

Pull away.

"Um, Billy."

The sensation spreading across her entire body. She didn't want any of it to stop, but the gutted feeling of all this being so wrong was what was eating her alive.

"Billy..."

She groaned in frustration finally pushing him off of her. "What?", he said annoyed.

Caught aback from his tone of voice, she froze. Unable to bring words to speak. Billy motioned for her to say something. "Uhm, I have to get... going."

The blonde boy laughed as he frustratingly splashed the water beside her causing her to jump. "You're something else, Henderson, you really are."

Billy rolled his eyes as he pushed past the girl to get out of the pool. Victoria's eyes quickly falling onto the large boner that he didn't even attempt to hide.

The silence had become the loudest thing around them. She stayed put for a few more seconds until she finally got out of the water. The older boy didn't bother to glance her way, but did hold out her towel to her.

Grabbing hold of it she proceeded to dry herself off as the boy began to walk away from her. She frowned hoping he wasn't going to leave without her as he was her ride home. He left.

Running after the sounds of his car engine revving, she flailed her arms at him. "Billy! Stop!"

The blonde boy ignored her as he drove past her without a second thought.

"Billy, what the fuck!", she yelled after his car.

Rubbing her arms as the cool wind began to settle over the night, she walked back to the community pool. Looking over where she had last seen her swim bag, it was gone.

Billy had taken her things and left her to walk home with only a towel to cover herself in. Sighing to herself, she slipped her sandals on and began to trek the roads of Hawkins knowing it was going to be a long walk to get back to her house.

Victoria wrapped the towel around her shoulders as she walked on the edges of the road feeling every inch of exhaustion settle onto her shoulders. She hoped for some miracle to occur of someone she knew to drive by.

Eddie?

Chrissy?

Her mom?

Anyone at this point.

Finally, after a few minutes of walking she heard a car begin to approach from behind. Quickly turning around as she waved her arms at the car coming a bit inwards of the road. The bright lights made it difficult to see whom was behind the steering wheel, but she wasn't in a position to complain.

The car came to a slow stroll as it approached the brunette girl. She shielded her eyes from the bright headlights. Victoria heard a deep sigh come form within the driver side of the car as the window rolled down. "Henderson?"

She knew that voice way too well. The car rolled to a stop as soon as the driver side was more visible to her. It was no one else, but Steve Harrington. Her biggest competitor in tomorrow's swim-off. Letting out an agitated sigh she finally greeted him. "Harrington."

His eyes were quick to drift at her body, especially at her exposed legs. Rolling her eyes at him, she snapped in his face. "Eyes are up here."

"I-I wasn't looking at yo- Why are you walking home like that?"

She looked around them unsure if she would be capable to be in the same car as Steve. Meeting his eyes, she had caught him staring at her body yet again. "HARRINGTON!"

"What?"

"Will you drive me home or not?"

"Oh."

"Oh?"

The two stared at each other with an awkward glance. Growing impatient Victoria waved her towel in the air. "Forget it."

She proceeded to walk away from Steve's car. Hearing the door open and slam close. "Hey, hey, hey! You can't walk in the dark like that."

"I've been doing it for a few minutes now, I can do it for more until I get home."

Hearing quick footsteps approach until the brunette boy stood in front now blocking her path. "Steve, move."

"No, I'm not letting you walk home... Especially dressed like that."

"Wow, such a gentleman.", she rolled her eyes.

"I'm being serious, I'll take you home.... Not like the first time."

She frowned.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just pointing out the facts, Henderson."

Facts?, Victoria thought to herself. Steve had only taken her home one time, the night she got really drunk at Tina's Halloween Bash last week.

"It was only one time."

"Twice."

"Once."

"Twice, counting this one."

"Just for that I'm walking."

Victoria stepped past the brunette boy preparing to make her dramatic walk off until she felt his touch on hers. The touch felt distinct to the way Billy's touch had felt earlier. Steve's touch had felt more safe and caring.

The pair stood side to side as they looked each other in the eyes. Something in the way Steve was looking at her had been different to the past times they stared each other down. His brown eyes were softer, he had given her a protective stare.

"Just because you're doing me this favor, does not mean I will be going easy on you tomorrow."

A soft smile arose onto his lips, "Didn't think you would."

They both got in the car, Steve turned up the music to fill the void of silence they had between them. Surprising to the brunette girl, he had good music taste. She found herself bopping her head to the rhythm of the song.

"Not gonna lie I didn't ping you to being a fan of The Police.", Steve spoke above the loudness of the music.

Stealing her glance away from the outside world, she looked over at Steve who was also tapping his thumb against the steering wheel. "What are you doing?"

"Just trying to start a conversation."

"We're not friends, so stop."

"Why?"

" 'Cause we don't do that."

"No, why can't we be friends?"

The question lingered in the car, wrapping itself around Victoria's head. She knew she couldn't be friends with the one person she hated most in the world.

She tore her eyes away from his as her attention had been brought to the sight of familiar silhouettes being of her brother's and Lucas' limping on the side of the road. "Stop the car!"

Steve stomped on the breaks, startled by Victoria's yell. She immediately hopped out the car as she ran to her brother. "Dustin!"

He spun around with his eyes immensely wide to see his sister. "Uh, hi."

Taking a closer look in the dim lighting, the two boys had been covered in dirt and scrapes. Dustin'a knee was covered in blood and slightly swollen. "What the hell happened?"

☾.˚˖⁺✦˙⊹˚☽

"HE DID WHAT!", Victoria practically yelled for the whole world to hear.

Without leaving room for the boys to interject, she proceeded to order them to get in the car. Dustin looked at her weirdly and back at the car. "Is that Steve's?"

Her brother's eyes finally glanced to his sister's attire and looked back at Steve's car. His lips opened ready to throw many questions at her, but she beat him to it by slamming her hand over his mouth. "Do not start, get in the car."

Lucas dragged the limping boy into Steve's car as the brunette boy blinked multiple times looking at his new guests. "No, no, no! I didn't sign up to be a taxi tonight."

Victoria slammed the car door feeling the rush of anger boiling through her veins. The slam startled the three boys in the car as they all jumped. Her heavy breathing was practically the only noise in the car outside of the lowered music.

"Harrington.", she finally spoke.

"Yeah?"

"Take us to Jason's."

"Jason's? The basketball kid?"

"Take. me. to. Jason's."

Steve glanced back to the two younger boys looking for any form of explanation of to what was going on. Neither of them responding as they were equally as confused as he was.

One thing that Victoria knew is that today was Jason's birthday, which meant there was a party tonight at his place. The one location she knew she would find Billy Hargrove, lurking around looking for a good time.

Steve had started to drive turning the opposite direction to her home, not daring to ask another question. Victoria's arms were crossed as she stared straight ahead trying to contain her emotion.

First, Billy had ditched her and took all her belongs.

Second, he nearly ran her brothers over.

Third, she was fucking livid.

She felt the presence of Dustin making his way through the gap between her and Steve. "So. When did you two start hanging out?"

Both, Steve and Victoria, looked at the younger boy as they both spoke in unison. "We are not hanging out!"

Dustin stared at the two of them with confusion as Lucas yanked him back. Seeing the flood of cheerleaders, basketball players and other kids they knew from Hawkins fill the road from up ahead.

The music from the inside could be heard from inside Steve's car. "Alright, here are the rules. You three, stay here. You, Steve, keep the car running. And I'll be back."

Without another word, she left the three boys.

☾.˚˖⁺✦˙⊹˚☽Steve's Pov

"Did she just walk out like that?", Steve spoke silently to himself, horrified.

Turning to look at the two boys in the back of his seat, he demanded for answers to why they were brought there. In return, he received an overlap of explanation between Lucas and Dustin.

Flailing his arms for them to stop not being able to understand anything. "Okay, enough! You two stay here or so help me! I'm going to go after her."

Lucas questioned, "What happened to not leaving the car..."

Steve frowned at the boy. "She's not in charge, I am. So stay. in. the. car."

The two boys nodded as Steve walked out the car. Feeling as if this was going to be a horrible decision, he carried on trying to find where Victoria had run off to.

Pushing through the crowd of people, ignoring all the attractive cheerleaders... barely wearing any clothes.

Stay focused, Steve, he reminded himself.

Hearing Victoria yell from inside, he rushed to her. He didn't even know what he was supposed to do, drag her out? They weren't friends or even acquaintances.

They were just Steve and Victoria.

Steve began to question why he had suddenly found himself helping this girl, out of nowhere? It seemed like in the most recent days, there wasn't at least one day out of the week that the two would cross paths and he would be forced to save her from a bad situation.

Finally spotting her quickly approaching towards... Billy Hargrove. Just great. This is the least Steve needed especially the night before one of his biggest days on the swim team.

Billy had spotted Victoria as he held his red solo cup into the air, "Ah, I was wondering when you would come begging for more."

Something in Billy's words felt twisted in Steve's stomach. He didn't like the intentions behind them neither the implication there was.

What had occurred next had felt like a moment that happened in the blink of an eye. One second, Victoria's fist had made contact with Billy's face and in the second, Billy was slamming Victoria into the wall.

The blonde boy yelling into the girl's face, "Who the fuck do you think you are!"

Oh, no, no, no, Steve thought to himself.

He pushed past the crowd roughly grasping onto Billy's shoulder, pulling him away from Victoria.

What followed next was a moment that Steve had no recollection of.

He felt the throbbing sensation in his fist, but the only thing he was focused on was the way Victoria had been holding onto his free hand. The two of them were running through the crowds of people who were now making way for them to run. His eyes met hers as a slight devious smile was plastered onto her face, yet her eyes were of panic.

This was a moment he didn't want to ever forget.