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“I, Steve Harrington, take you, to be my lawfully wedded partner, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
The priest looked at you.
“I, - , take you, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
The ring bearers slowly walked towards the altar.
“I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. I promise to give to you my love and friendship. I promise to confide in you and comfort you, To trust and support you. I promise to be there when you need me most, always and forever.”
Steve slowly slipped the ring on your ring finger.
“I will give you this ring on our wedding day. As a token and pledge of my love and vows and as a symbol of all we have promised and all we shall share.”
It was your turn to slip the ring on Steve’s ring finger.
“I now pronounce you two as lawfully wedded partners, you may now kiss!” Steve pulled you in closer to him as he reached for your hand that is holding the bouquet of flowers just to cover the kiss from everyone.
All your friends and families who attended cheered you and Steve on as he kissed you.
“FINALLY!” Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and Will screamed out. Since finding out from Robin that she had set the two of you up. The kids had been plotting and waiting for Steve to finally ask you out. Okay, to be fair, everyone, not just the kids, wanted you two to end up together.
As soon as you and Steve pulled away from the kiss, both your parents came to give you two their congratulations. You could tell how much this means to Steve, his dad had never openly shown his son any kind of support since childhood, and you’re relieved to see that it has changed.
After the congratulations from your parents, it was Robin, Nancy, and Jonathan’s turn to give theirs.
“Man, that took a while.” Nancy teased.
“Yeah, you two have been dating for so long! Insane! Now you both have jobs, and a cute little house, and a cat, oh! And a dog, and wow… It was a long wait for that ring, am I right?” Robin couldn’t help but rumble.
The five of you talked some more, mainly about the future and what it may hold. Robin was betting that you and Steve wouldn’t last 3 months without getting pregnant. She even said that she was being generous with just 3 months.
But of course, the conversation had to be resumed for another time because there was still a reception that was waiting for the two of you.
You took note of the smell of the freshly picked flowers that you were holding. “When we get home, we’re planting more plants.” Steve looked at you and nodded. You really liked how they looked while you held them, so now, you’d like to see them in your garden every morning to remember this day.
The drive to the reception was chaotic, and being in a school bus definitely didn’t help. You were regretting even inviting the kids of those relatives you don’t even know. They were throwing so much tantrum that you were sure that half of the people you invited skipped the reception, and just went straight home.
“Why did we even choose this way to go to that damn after party….” you whispered to Steve.
“We met on the old school bus, remember?” he was definitely enjoying seeing you irritated. After all, he was the one who opposed the idea in the first place, you just begged until he gave in. All you could do right now is huff and suffer in silence.
The reception was really extravagant. Steve’s parents offered to pay for it after learning that he’s finally getting married. You and Steve didn’t want to accept the offer at first because Steve didn’t want to feel indebted to his father, but after a while, he finally gave in. Despite wanting to pry and ask him why he accepted the offer, you couldn’t, it felt wrong to do so.
All the tables were decorated with fine linens, even yours and Steve's initials were embroidered. Under the lights, the fine china Steve's mom requested were sparkling. It wasn’t anything you’ve ever seen before. There were written notes on each table that said; ‘light the candle before eating’ , “what’s that for?” Steve asked, “Oh, It’s to recreate the date we had when I asked you to marry me.”
You could see the tears forming on Steve’s eyes, desperately trying not to fall. You didn’t expect him to get emotional, but here you are, proven wrong. So you reached your hand to cup his face and to wipe his tears away with your fingers.
“Don’t cry, Steve… I just might cry too…” you said in between sniffles. You tilted your head up in hopes that the tears that were forming won’t fall and ruin your makeup. Steve chuckled at your reaction, “I won’t, I promise.” it almost sounded like he was reminding himself rather than telling you he won’t.
It didn’t take long before the guests started arriving and finally sitting on their respective seats. You and Steve were seated on the stage area of the venue. It had the perfect view of the rest of the hall, and you could clearly see everyone.
You sighed, “is everything alright?” Steve held your hand. “Well… yeah- you told me you had a speech, and- and I don’t, wouldn’t it seem weird?”
“No, of course not, why would it be?”
“Because… I didn’t prepare one…”
Steve flashed you one of his smiles that would calm you down. “I’ll just tell the guests that it’s a surprise speech.” he gently squeezed your hand.
The event started, some guests sang, some congratulated the both of you, some danced, and there was even a stand up comedy that Robin hosted.
“I’d like to congratulate our newlyweds, our two lovebirds… speaking of birds… I’m just so glad Steve wasn’t a bird, we all know he wouldn’t be married right now if he were.” Steve's parents laughed a little too much at the joke, which definitely hurt his ego a bit.
After a few more jokes, the guests seemed to be a bit more relaxed than they did at the ceremony. The parents were also able to keep their kids under control during Robin's set. You made a mental reminder to thank all the parents for telling their kids to behave after the event.
While you were in deep thought, Steve stood up and clink the glass with a bread knife. “May I have your attention? Everyone!” The guests looked at Steve.
He was surely nervous. You could tell by the way he fidgets with the end of his suit, and by the way he was playing with the cord of the mic.
“Okay…” he took a deep breath, “So, I just got married to this beautiful person right here…” he looked at you, “and… I… I am the luckiest man alive…” he snorted, “I mean, look at my partner! Have you ever met someone as beautiful? Probably not- no offense dad… Anywho, let me tell you all the day I met the love of my life…” the memories were still as clear as day to you and Steve.
Robin had promised to set you up to a guy she had a class with. After a few failed attempts of Robin playing cupid, you were not exactly thrilled. “This is the last one I’m going to.” you set your foot down.
“I promise! He’s really charming! Plus he has a job, so he can definitely pay for whatever you want!”
“I’m not looking for a sugar daddy, Robin…”
“Just drop by scoops ahoy later. He’s a year above us, so he’s already out of highschool. I promise! He’s really sweet! Just give him a chance!”
And so you did. After your shift at the bakery, you made your way to the mall to visit Robin and this guy she so desperately is trying to set you up with. As soon as you got there, a guy who’s oddly familiar was standing at the cashier, waiting for customers to arrive.
“Welcome to scoops ahoy!” He greeted you enthusiastically.
“Hey- I’m just here for Robin… she has this guy she’s trying to set me up with.” As soon as those words fell from your lips, you realized who he was, and who Robin meant. Steve chuckled, “Ah, it must be you~ Hi, I’m Steve, Steve Harrington.” he reached out his hand for a handshake, “Robin said we may have had a class together, but… I don’t remember you.”
“Neither do I.”
An awkward silence engulfed the air surrounding you two for a minute before Stevespoke up again, “Tomorrow night, you and me, the drive in?”
“That’s a date then~”
“I knew at that moment that I was gonna marry this person…” Steve’s look was intense.
Your heart felt like it was going to explode. The love you and Steve share doesn’t compare to anything you’ve felt before, and for a moment, it almost felt like you might just go insane.
Steve, now feeling comfortable enough to move more freely to express his emotions did so, “You know… I remember the moment we had our… I think it was our fifth date- the date I finally had the courage to ask if my sweet to be mine~”
You and Steve had been going out for about a month and a half now. Sure you’re still not official with him yet, but he has proven that he feels something for you, and to you, that was enough.
Earlier that day, Steve had called you to tell you that his parents were out of town, and that he would like for you to stop by his place for dinner at 6. Of course you agreed.
The drive to Steve’s place was peaceful, and for once, it actually felt like you were coming home. The home being a person, Steve.
Before you could knock on the front door, Steve already opened it. He said that he heard your car pull up, and you honestly thought it was cute. Only Steve knows that it’s because he had been waiting by the window since calling you. He knew that today was the day you two made it official. Like you, Steve also felt home when the two of you were together. It was a foreign feeling, he had never felt it once with Nancy considering the fact that he was head over heels for her. You are different.
The night went according to Steve’s plan. You both ordered some pizza through delivery and watched a movie you two can’t seem to get over despite seeing it about 10 times. “I swear, this never gets old!” you laughed at one of the scenes.
“It never does, honestly!” Steve was really good at pretending to not be a nervous wreck. Whenever you thought something was up, he would manage to pretend that everything was alright, or you would chuck it up to stress at work.
“Hey- so…”
“Yeah?” you looked up at Steve’s eyes.
“I think I remember you now.” He gave you a smirk. Something in his eyes tells you that whatever memory he had of you was hilarious, unfortunately. You barely remember half of your highschool life, let alone a memory with Steve in it. Unlike the 99.9% of the population in school who probably had a crush on Steve at one point, you fell in that .01% who didn’t care about the popular kids.
“And I don’t.” you answered rather defensively.
“We were on a bus…” he trailed along, hoping that you’ll remember.
“Apple juice??” you looked even more confused, and probably stupid in his eyes.
“Come on… that was a very good memory!”
“Sorry, I just don’t remember.” you said smugly.
For about 45 minutes, Steve kept dropping hints in hopes that it’ll click for you, while you completely ignore him. Thankfully, the movie was loud enough for Steve’s whines to sound distant enough in your ears.
Unfortunately for you, as soon as the movie ends, it all clicked. Steve was the guy who was humming a commercial for apple juice, and you joined in. From that day on, he would hum different commercial songs and you would join in. You didn’t know who was sitting in front of you. You didn’t try to find out. A part of you likes the mystery of who this person could be, the possibilities. During that time, you were heavily into reading romance books that made you stay up till 4 in the morning and sleepy by the first period.
Who would've thought that it was Steve ‘king’ Harrington in front of you.
One of Steve's so-called friends at that time found out about what you two had been doing, so they did what every high schooler did, which was to humiliate a random person while they spare their friend.
You heard from one of your friends at that time that Steve apparently cut off that friend group for what they did. But it was never the same. He stopped riding the bus, and after a while, so did you. Steve stayed popular, while you faded in the background.
“You’re that guy!”
Steve smiled. He was glad that you remembered him and the inside joke you two had going on. “Finally!”
“You actually gave me the motivation to come to school you know~”
“I’m glad I helped out~” Steve sat close. Too close. You could feel how hot his body was, you could smell his soap and that one perfume he loves so much. Your eyes flickered from his eyes to his lips. He caught that. “You made that bus ride worthwhile.” As soon as those words fell from his lips, he sealed the distance between you two.
He guided your arm around his neck, while your lips were busy doing whatever it desires. In between those kisses, Steve would just look at you in awe, glad that you were in his arms. “Be mine…” it was more of a statement than a question.
“Give me a chance to treat you right… please~” both of your heads pressed together.
Your chuckled, “I suppose I can give you a chance~”
“ I would do anything to see that smile over and over again…”
The crowd fell silent, unsure if they were even meant to hear this surprise speech that has now turned into a love confession. You thought that the vows were enough to make you cry, but now this? This was another level.
“Steve…” you whispered to yourself.
Steve was already looking at you with love in his eyes. He looks at you like you had personally given him oxygen to breathe. You are his world, and he is yours.
“And like most relationships, we also had rough patches…”
“Steve, I don’t think I can just stay here! Don’t you see how miserable I am?”
Steve was scared of you leaving for college. In a way, he felt like you would abandon him like how Nancy did. You were frustrated, understandably so, after all, you already passed the entrance exam, and paid for the semester, all you had to do was show up.
“I can’t… I…” he wanted the best for you. Of course he did. But he also can’t deny that he wants to be selfish, just this one time.
His eyebrows were furrowed, his eyes teary. “I want you near me- I just-” he said in a whisper. It frustrates you that you could barely hear anything from him, when all you felt like doing was yell till he understands that you have dreams too. And you’ll do anything to chase those dreams.
Steve fell silent. So you left. You got in your car and drove off.
It took Harrington 20 minutes before realizing that he doesn’t want to live in a world without you. And if you were to leave, he definitely doesn't want it to end because of an argument. So he also got in his car, and chased after you.
Steve wasn’t sure how long he had been driving, or how fast he was going, he only knew that he had to get to you and apologize, admit that he has his own problems, and that he will do anything just to have you by his side. He’ll wait.
Both yours and Steve's parents started tearing up. Steve’s devotion moved them. You could tell that your parents just fell even more in love with their son in law.
“That night… I finally caught up to my beloved.” he chuckled, “and if you all are wondering how I got into the university to profess my love, I didn’t… I saw my world getting gas while eating beef jerky, like a true badass.” Everyone laughed.
Steve's eyes were all puffed up from crying. “And as you all can see right now… we were able to make it work despite all odds.” and by now you also started crying.
“If I had the chance to live this life once more… I would gladly do it, just so I can be with you over and over again.” Steve was now looking at you.
‘I love you’, you mouthed the words to Steve.
‘I love you too…’
The silent sniffles from the crowd made you feel proud of the man you married. After all, not everyone can say that they ended up with the boy who made riding buses enjoyable, the boy who drove for gosh knows how long, just to fix an argument and reassure you. But you did, you married that man. And you couldn’t be happier.