MAY 23RD, 1986, 5:05 AM
HARRINGTON RESIDENCE
HAWKINS, INDIANA

 

Pulling up to the home, Demona killed the headlights before taking a deep breath, just staring at the front door. It wasn’t her first time at Steve’s home, no, but it had been years since she had crossed that threshold. The two hadn’t even been friends – not even close. In fact, it was only because of their fathers being friends that the two even interacted outside of school, and the two times it had happened had been dreadful for both teenagers. Yes, they had more important things to worry about, but as she sat there staring at the door, one hand gripping the steering wheel tighter, she couldn’t help but remember the last time she had been in that same home.

 

 

“SUMMER, I TOLD YOU TO GET OVER HERE.”

Rolling her eyes, Demona shoved her cassette player into her pocket, headphones hanging loosely around her neck. The volume was loud enough to where she could hear the W.A.S.P. track playing, but as she approached the doorframe, she saw Steve standing at the top of the stairs, an amused look on his face.

“Yeah, welcome, Summer.”

“Fuck off, Harrington.”

“Summer.” Her father’s tone was more than serious, the blonde turning to glare up at him. He had forced her to come in place of his wife, given that she was home taking care of her brother’s football injury, and it was clear by the thick air that neither of them were happy with the arrangement. It was just a friendly dinner between the men, and she didn’t understand why she had to be there, too. It wasn’t too long, though, before Steve’s own father entered the room, and the other teen almost seemed to shrink in size. Demona, however, kept her eyes on the cop and the CEO, arms crossed under her chest.

“Ah, Mr. Lewis, I’m so glad you could make it. Welcome, welcome. I see you brought your youngest with you?”

“Yes, please ignore her antics. I apologize for her language, and I can assure you it won’t be an issue going forward.” His words were cold, but Demona’s gaze was just as icy as she glared up at him. She didn’t get a chance to answer, however, before Mr. Harrington was holding a hand out towards her. Reluctantly, she reached out to shake it, quickly snatching it back the moment she was able.

“Right.” Clearing his throat, Mr. Harrington stepped aside, gesturing for the two to enter his home. “Please, come in.”

Demona was half-pushed in first by her father, nearly tripping over the entryway in her boots, and after shooting him a look over her shoulder, she turned to look back up at Steve. To her surprise, though, his eyes were glued on his father. It was almost as if he was waiting for permission to leave, or to be told to join them, and as his father finally turned up the stairs, she watched as he stood a little straighter.

“Steve, would you mind showing Ms. Lewis the bathroom? I think she needs a moment to get herself together.”

This caused Demona to glare at Steve’s dad, but as the other teen simply responded with “Yeah, of course, come on.”, she blinked up after him before quickly following. She hadn’t expected anything nice to come from Steve Harrington, but clearly he had issues with his own father nearly as bad as hers with her own. Silence fell between them as the conversation in the dining room died, and despite how awkward it was, she was thankful to be away from the older men. Unfortunately, the silence didn’t last long before Steve was speaking, something Demona wished he would stop doing.

“Couldn’t even go a few hours without that gargled noise you call music?”

“I’ll happily turn it off.” Offering him a half-glare, half-snide smile, she turned the volume up as loud as it could go. Her headphones could barely handle the volume, but it made it loud enough to annoy Steve. “But first, you gotta stop breathing.”

“Whatever, Lewis.” Opening the bathroom, Steve reached up to ruffle his hair, gesturing with his free one as his eyes flickered over to the stairs. It was almost as if he was waiting for someone to come up after them, and for a brief moment, Demona thought about asking if he was okay . . . but only briefly. “Don’t take too long. Our dads will be pissed, and I don’t feel like dealing with it.”

“Don’t worry, I don’t even know what your father was talking about. Have fun at dinner.” Entering the bathroom, she pulled it shut as Steve turned back, immediately speaking.

“Have fun, wait, what?? What are you doing?? Demona?! HEY!!” With Steve pounding on the door, she took one glance in the mirror to see just what her father’s friend was talking about. All she saw, though, was a girl who didn’t quite fit into society the way they wanted, and flipping off the mirror, she moved over to the bathroom window before sliding it open, and slipping out. The two-story drop wasn’t soft, but she had learned to roll when falling from that height to stop herself from getting injured, and the second she had her footing, she took off. Eddie’s house was on the other side of town, sure, but she had all night to avoid her dad’s friends.

 

 

‘Hey, D??’

Blinking at Eddie’s voice, Demona turned to look at the man sitting next to her, clearing her throat. Concern was written all over his face, but her words were true by the time she finally spoke, already moving to slip her hand out of his and unbuckle her seatbelt.

“Sorry, I’m fine. Let’s go, it’s late, and I’m hungry and tired. Hopefully Harrington has some snacks we can steal.” She barely even waited for him before opening her door, and as her boots hit the driveway, she took a deep breath, eyes turning back towards the home. All she needed to do was get through this night, and survive the upcoming fight, and then she would never have to think of her father again.