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The sun shines closer to the ground than Vickie has ever seen.
She doesn’t usually pay much attention to sunsets, or the environment in general. She’s often too burdened with her thoughts and her work to really pay attention to her surroundings.
But now, with their lives at stake, she can’t help but notice.
The way the sun sits behind them, as if offering them a goodbye hug, the birds flying around the trees that sway gently with the breeze.
It’s far too calm to feel like the end of the world. Even though there’s a clock ticking in the back of her mind.
Just a few hours ago, her biggest worry was her girlfriend’s addiction. By the end of the day, it grew to be her girlfriend's life.
Vickie turns around to get a good look at her lover.
Robin looks precious under the dim sunlight. Her hair shines in yellow light, like golden threads, her eyes glim in focus, and her hands move swiftly to prepare the bombs, as if she’s done this a thousand times before (she probably has).
Then, Steve Harrington arrives.
The popular guy, the jock, the king of Hawkin’s High. Who, somehow, ended up becoming Robin’s best and closest friend.
Vickie always had doubts about their friendship. She couldn’t help her bias against Steve, and she always feared that he couldn't be a good friend to someone like Robin.
Until she saw them today.
Until the young boy showed the biggest act of bravery to confess his biggest secret in front of all of them, Robin teared up, and Steve squeezed her shoulder in comfort.
That was when she realized Steve wasn’t just a good friend; he was exactly the type of friend Robin needed.
So, she tried her best to be comfortable around him.
Robin and Steve greeted each other with the familiarity of two people who knew everything about each other.
Then, Steve greeted Vickie with a warm smile.
Vickie fucked it up and mumbled something incoherent.
“Who would’ve guessed Little Byers was that brave, huh?” Steve said.
Robin smiled, like a proud older sister.
“He is. I’m glad I met him at the right time.”
“I leave you alone for a day and you become what you criticized about me.” Steve joked.
Robin chuckled.
“Fortunately, not all of it.”
Steve pretends to be stabbed in the heart in an exaggerated show. His eyes stray away directly towards Vickie, and he smiles.
“Not all of it.” He repeats. “So don’t fuck it up and go to Enzo’s.”
Vickie’s heart stops.
Did Steve know? About Robin and... her?
Steve, despite how different he acts now, still didn’t seem like the type of guy who would be okay with something like that. He used to be the biggest douchebag. How could he be so accepting as to even joke about it?
Robin placed a hand on Vickie’s shoulder and prepared to complain to Steve. Her eyes showed a terrifying murder intent.
Then, three of the teenage boys appeared and took her away.
And she was left alone with Steve Harrington. Who knew she was in a relationship with another woman.
Vickie took a deep breath; just to ground herself and calmed down.
“How long have you known?” She asked once he gathered courage.
“About you two? Since you started going out.” Steve confessed as if it was the world’s most common thing to talk about. “Don’t let her know I told you, because she’ll kill me, but she’s liked you for a long time. She was just terrified of telling you. Despite the amount of times I told her you definitely liked girls too.”
Vickie stared, dumbfounded. She looked around, trying to catch any wobbly tree, or weird angle that could tell her that she was just dreaming; this day never happened, the world wasn’t ending, and Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington didn’t know she liked Robin.
Steve, surprisingly, noticed her fear.
“But Robin told me about her... feelings, around two years ago.” He confessed. “And it’s fine, Vickie.” He pointed at Robin, far away talking to the boys, then back at Vickie. “You two are alright. I’m glad that Robin, and you, are happy.”
It took Vickie a moment to process Steve’s words. He smiled genuinely at her, and even playfully tapped her arm. He was a good friend, better than Vickie ever imagined, and it made sense why Robin told him.
She sighed.
“Oh, thank God. When you held her shoulder during the kid’s speech my mind ran through every single possibility, and I thought that you might know, but it didn’t make sense because why would Robin tell you, Steve, that she doesn’t like boys? You know? But you’re actually so sweet, so I understand now. But I swear when you talked about Enzo’s I was a heartbeat away from turning and yelling at Robin harder than I ever will, because how does she dare?”
After Vickie finished her verbal vomit, Steve laughed. Not out of mockery, but out of friendship.
“You are perfect for Robin.”
Vickie smiled.
He was right; she was perfect for Robin, and Robin was perfect for her.