HAWKINS, INDIANA — 1983.

STEVE WAS SO CAUGHT OFF GUARD, he forgot how to kiss for a second.

And finally he pulled away, staring at Theresa with confusion.

"Why did you just kiss me in the middle of an argument?"

Theresa displayed a smirk, climbing from the passenger seat and throwing a leg over Steve without warning and straddling him.

"Tess–"

"I'm not about to let our first date be ruined by a stupid argument."

She leaned down and kissed Steve again, becoming more aggressive and hungry. He could not stop this now, not that he even wanted to. He had just not been able to prepare. Steve's hands began to wander around her waist, needy and pulling her closer. Tess began to grind and palm him through his jeans, hearing an involuntary moan from Steve.

"Wait," he quickly pulled away once more. "Someone could see us."

Theresa sat back, looking out of the windows. Then she shrugged, looking back at Steve.

"I've got a better idea, then."

She removed herself from on top of him, reaching over to the radio and flipping it on. Theresa turned the stereo up, Michael Sembello's Maniac playing.

Steve watched her, having no idea what was about to happen.

Theresa was on her knees in the passenger seat, leaning over for the buckle to Steve's pants. She undid them quickly, making it obvious she had done this before.

"Tess, you don't have to–"

"Steve, I swear to God," she cut him off, grabbing his chin and turning his face to hers. "Shut. Up."

Tess licked her lips, reaching down and wrapping her hand around his dick and sliding it up and down agonizingly. Steve groaned with pleasure, his eyes rolling back and one hand gripping the headrest. Theresa really knew what she was doing. Her lips parted and Tess lowered her head, moving her mouth to the tip of his cock. That was enough to make his entire body twitch, Tess continuing by moving him further into her mouth while continuing to move her hand up and down slowly. Her saliva made the job easier, Theresa incorporating her tongue in sloppy up and down motions.

"Tess, Jesus fuck–" Steve's free hand was in her hair, his eyes closing. She let him pull her hair back, resisting it by bobbing her head up and down on his cock. He could not last much longer, and Tess knew it. She continued to work her tongue down him as she pushed him further into her mouth. Luckily, her gag reflex was decent enough.

She began to taste the saltiness and knew he was close, but... she decided to be a bitch.

"I'm about to–"

Theresa raised her head, edging Steve. She looked up at him through her eyelashes, licking her lips again.

"Not until I say so."

She opened her mouth once more, leaning over when there was a sudden sharp knock on the window.

"Fuck!" She jumped back whilst Steve hurried to cover himself.

They both looked out of the window to see who it was, and Theresa could have died right then and there. It was the police chief, Jim Hopper.

"Fuck me," Tess muttered under her breath, dabbing at the corners of her mouth with her sleeve and shaking her head.

A blinding light shone through the passenger side window without warning, causing Theresa to jump again. Another officer was on her side. She raised a hand to her temple, then pinched the bridge of her nose. This had to have been the worst possible turn of events to ever happen.

"Theresa Sinclair, can you step out of the car for a minute please?" The sheriff's muffled voice came out, keeping his eyes averted from the vehicle.

Her heart skipped a beat, giving Steve a wary look. He opened his door and she opened hers and started to get out of the car as well, but Hopper stopped him.

"This doesn't concern you. Just give us a minute."

Tess frowned, shutting the car door at once and facing the other officer. He smiled briefly, then put his flashlight away.

"Miss Sinclair," Hopper's voice sounded off from behind her. She turned around, drawing in a deep breath.

"Yes?"

Hopper seemed to be analyzing her before he spoke again. "I have a few questions for you concerning the disappearance of your friend, Priya Wilson."

In the car, Steve was straining to hear their conversation. He leaned over toward the passenger side carefully, hoping to not be noticed.

"Okay," Theresa replied curtly.

Jim cleared his throat, looking down at the notepad in his hand.

"Who is the last person you know of that saw Priya?"

Tess replied without hesitation. "My other friend Sidney Flynn, and her older sister. They drove Priya home."

"From where?"

The hesitation set in. Theresa faltered for a split-second, torn between lying to save herself or telling the truth to possibly find Priya.

"The ceremony, at school. Y'know... for the Byers kid."

Hopper began to nod slowly, writing this down as she spoke. "Mhm," he mumbled to himself, then looking back up at Tess. "And does your friend have any connection to Will Byers, by any chance?"

She started shaking her head. "No, not really. I mean, my little brother Lucas was– is– close with Will, but that's not much of a connection."

Hopper jotted his notes once more, Theresa inhaling sharply.

"Is that all?" she asked at once.

Narrowing his eyes, Hopper gave a curt nod and a tip of his hat.

"And just a word of advice– you and your boyfriend might want to be home by curfew."

Tess scratched the back of her neck with a forced smile, only nodding to him.

"Yes sir. Goodnight."

Hopper and his partner left at that, Theresa reaching for the door handle and opening the car door. Steve was staring at her expectantly, waiting for her to talk.

Tess got in the car, shutting the door.

"What was that about?" he finally asked.

She shook her head. "Priya. They just asked my some questions about the night she went missing."

Steve frowned. "Did you– did you tell them about the party?"

"Of course not," Theresa immediately shook her head, looking over at him.

He leaned back, running his hands through his hair. "Oh my God, we're gonna be in so much shit."

She frowned, confused. "What do you mean? I didn't say anything about the party."

"Exactly! You lied to the police!" Steve replied with exasperation, pinching the bridge of his nose. "They're gonna find out. They'll trace it back somehow a-and all of our asses are going to go to prison."

Theresa rolled her eyes. "Okay, now you're just being dramatic. Worst case scenario, they tell our parents and our parents ground us."

Steve gazed at her for a moment, then abruptly started the car without another word. Tess buckled her seatbelt with a huff, folding one arm under the other. She didn't understand why Steve and Sidney were both giving her so much shit for trying to save all of their asses.

They were both quiet for a few minutes, until Theresa looked over at Steve.

"Everything's gonna be fine, Steve. The last thing they'd do is pin us as murder suspects or something."

"That's wonderful consolation, thank you," Steve muttered sarcastically in response, pulling up to the driveway of the Sinclair house.

Tess glared at him, scoffing. She aggressively unbuckled, gathering her things and shaking her head. "I knew I shouldn't have wasted my time with you," she angrily raved, opening the door.

Before she got out, Theresa turned and looked back at Steve.

"Find a new fucking tutor."

Steve watched her go, suddenly wanting to chase after her. Even though the night had taken an unexpected turn, he still did not want to blow it with Tess. She was the girl of his dreams, and Steve knew that if he did not act now he would forever regret it.

"Tess, wait!"

He hopped out of the car, running up the driveway to catch her. Steve grabbed her hand from behind, Theresa whipping around with fire in her eyes. She was fully prepared to cuss him out.

"I'm sorry," the words fell out of Steve's mouth quickly, before Tess could speak first. "I-I don't want to screw this up with you, Tess. You– you're the girl I've wanted since the sixth grade when you first moved here."

She stared up at him rather blankly. "How flattering."

Steve ignored her, meeting Theresa's eyes.

"I want you to tell me what you want me to do," he continued, the glint in her eyes softening. Tess felt like he was slowly chipping away at whatever was guarding her heart, and she was not yet sure if she liked that.

She drew in a breath. "I want you to move on from me, Steve."

Steve reeled at her words, shaking his head with shock and confusion.

Theresa continued, "All I'm going to do is break your heart. Like I told you, I'm not a good person. And I can't make you a promise that I won't hurt you."

He seemed at a loss for words, standing there with his mouth agape.

"I-I'm sorry," Steve repeated, unsure of what else he could say.

Tess closed her eyes briefly, inhaling slowly. "Go home, Steve. I'll see you tomorrow."

There was nothing left for him to do, now. Steve watched her walk up to her house, entering through the garage. He ran a hand through his hair with frustration, balling his fist and releasing it a few times.

He walked sullenly back to his car, putting it in drive. Steve's head was full of thoughts revolving around Theresa Sinclair, the girl he had been head over heels for since he could recall.

Now, he just had to figure out how to not screw everything up.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

THERESA WAS NOT LOOKING FORWARD to Will's funeral.

She had almost forgotten that it was today, being that she had been more concerned with the Priya situation. Theresa had briefly heard about the police finding his body at the quarry, but that was all she knew.

After what happened with Steve the night before, Tess was most definitely not in the mood to go. It was only going to make her mope even more.

The worst part was that Theresa actually felt bad. But, she at least thought that Steve deserved to know the truth. Sooner or later, she would end up hurting him.

Theresa put on a short black dress, pulling her braids in a half up hairstyle. Her mother knocked on her door at once.

"Come on, Theresa, I don't want to be late."

Rolling her eyes, Tess pulled on her shoes and opened her door, walking downstairs where the rest of her family was waiting.

Once she made it down, they all left. The last thing she wanted to do on a Saturday was spend it at the funeral of a kid she didn't even know that well, but Tess had some decency.

At the service, Theresa saw Priya's parents. They were friends with Joyce Byers. Another reason they had come was because if Will's death had been suspected as foul play, and Priya's disappearance had a relation to his, then the police thought it very likely for the suspect to show at the funeral.

Theresa looked down at Joyce and her family from where she stood behind them. Neither Joyce, Jonathan, nor Will's dad was crying. They all glanced around with tightened jaws and hardened expressions. Tess found that odd.

Lucas' other two friends, Mike and Dustin, were there with him. Mike Wheeler was the younger brother of Nancy Wheeler, whom was also there. She and Theresa exchanged a look after the service, until Nancy quickly looked away.

Tess tossed a white rose onto Will's casket, walking off to find her family. She noticed Priya's parents looking at her, grimacing.

Drawing in a shaky breath, Theresa approached them. "Hi Mr. and Mrs. Wilson," she greeted with an abrupt smile. "How are you doing?"

Mrs. Wilson dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, sniffling.

"We could be better," Mr. Wilson replied, placing an arm around his wife's shoulder. "And we– we want to thank you. For cooperating with the police and for telling us. I know how much you mean to Priya."

Theresa suddenly felt nauseous and at a loss for words. With a tight smile, she nodded.

"O-Of course."

She turned and walked off at that, ignoring the tightening feeling of anxiety in her chest. She was beginning to feel worse and worse about lying to Priya's parents and the police. Damn her guilty conscience.

When the Sinclair family arrived home, Theresa went and changed clothes.

Then, Erica barged into her room, saying, "There's some boy here to see you."

Tess frowned, narrowing her eyes. "What are you talking about?"

Erica gestured toward the door, Theresa following her out. They walked downstairs, and that was where Tess saw Steve standing in the foyer. Her mother was talking to him until they both turned as Theresa descended.

"Here she is," Mrs. Sinclair said. "You'll have to excuse us, we just got back from a funeral. I'm sure you know about the Byers boy."

Steve nodded, exchanging a look with Tess. "Yes, of course. It's really, really sad."

Mrs. Sinclair nodded back, then reached out and grabbed Erica. She leaned in close to Tess before walking off, saying, "He's a cute boy."

Theresa rolled her eyes, facing Steve. He nervously placed his hands in his pockets as he felt the burning glare from her eyes.

"Uh, hey."

Tess folded her arms. "What do you want, Steve?"

He scratched the back of his head, gesturing to the front door. "Do you– do you wanna talk outside for a second?"

She inhaled slowly, dropping her hands to her sides. "Sure."

Opening the door, Steve followed her out. Theresa began walking down the driveway, never uncrossing her arms.

"So... I just wanted to talk about last night. I-I've been thinking about what you said and I decided that if it's okay with you, maybe we could just try to be friends. Because, e-even if things may not work out with us romantically, I've still really enjoyed getting to know you as a person."

Tess stopped walking, turning to face him. She searched his eyes for a prolonged moment, chewing her inner lip in deep thought. Steve could not tell what she was thinking.

"I can do friends."

Steve broke into a small smile, nodding down at her. "Yeah? That's– that's great."

"And I want you to help me," she continued, barely giving him time to finish his sentence.

He frowned slightly. "Um, yeah. I-I can help you. What do you need?"

Theresa placed her palm to her head for a moment, sighing. She was trying to think of a way to put her words without sounding completely crazy. Steve waited expectantly for her to say something, so Theresa decided to just flat out say it.

"I want you to help me look for Priya."

notes.
hey guys! so i haven't updated this fic since august 21st, 2021 and that's MY bad fr

but the stranger things release date announcements got me so hyped, so i'm back in my stranger things phase lolz

yeah don't mind the fact that i started off this chapter with smut, i wrote the first half like five months ago and picked up where i left off a few days ago

in this chapter we get to see a more humane side of theresa! do we sense some character development maybe coming?? hehe

GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK SO I CAN BE MOTIVATED TO UPDATE AGAIN! love y'all <3