chapter one
august, 1983

BUT DON'T YOU REMEMBER
AUGUST, HONEY, WHEN YOU WERE MINE?

HAWKINS, INDIANA was experiencing the worst heatwave that the state had seen in the last fifty years. 

It was the kind of heat you could taste. The kind of heat that could turn your brain to mush, the kind of heat that made you wish you lived in the deepest depths of the arctic.

That didn't stop Adhira, as mischievous as ever, from plotting. And plot she did.

It was mid August, parents were anxious for their children to return to school for a little peace and quiet.

While the kids going back to school were dreading it. The early mornings, tests, endless hours of homework, and shitty teachers. The list went on and on. However, for Tommy H, summer coming to an end meant a party to kick off the school year.

"Remind me again," Robin started, readjusting her position on cool hardwood floor of Adhira's bedroom. "Why you want to do this?"

"Come on." Adhira dragged the word out, turning away from the vanity to face Robin. The girl in question laid in nothing but her striped underwear and plain white tank top in front of the box fan situated in the corner of the room. Adhira's coal colored eyes dragged over her body shamelessly. Sweat coated Robin's body, her hair sticking to her face. Somehow, these factors made Robin ten times more attractive to Adhira. She could feel need bubbling in the pit of her stomach, wanting nothing more than for Robin to kiss her and make Adhira her own.

Adhira felt her face flush as she forced her eyes away from Robin's body, suddenly feeling dirty for wanting to kiss every inch of it. To worship it. Not in a sexual way either, but in the way that would make Robin understand just how truly breathtaking she was in every moment.

"Adhira?" Robin's voice snapped her from her fantasy, causing her to look back at her. "You still with me?"

"Don't you want to feel cool?" Adhira ignored the question, tossing the mascara tube back into the drawer. "And not invisible."

"I am not cool, so.. No, not really." Robin laughed, grunting as her skin pulled from the floor. "I actually really like being invisible, you know!"

"Please?" Adhira begged, dramatically falling off of the vanity bench and folding her hands together. Robin gasped, a giggle escaping her lips at the sight of Adhira on her knees, lip pouted. "Pretty, pretty, pretty please?"

Robin bit her lip as she pulled Adhira's hands, fingers wrapping around her wrists. Adhira's breath hitched in her throat, heart leaping at Robin's vicinity. She found her eyes flickering down to Robin's lips. How kissable and inviting they looked. Adhira's heart fluttered, mind growing fuzzy. An effect Robin typically had on her, more often than not.

"Woah," Robin laughed nervously, "You alright?"

"Huh?" Adhira snapped into reality, quickly sitting back on her ankles and laughing nervously. "Sorry! Yeah, it's just so hot in here."

Robin brushed it off, mumbling an agreement as she twisted her body to crank up the fan to a higher setting, grumbling to herself when she saw that it was already set on that.

"One condition." Robin sighed, in disbelief about what she was about to agree to. "Never. Ever. Again."

Adhira cheered, lurching forward and tackling her to the ground. Robin let out a grunt as the full weight of Adhira's body landed on top of her. She didn't even mind the added heat, skin tingling with desire. Giggles escaped their mouths as Adhira sat up, breathing heavy. An idea hit her, followed by a gasp.

"What?" Robin's tone was unsure as she scrunched her face up at Adhira's mischievous grin.

"Can I do your makeup?"

~~

Adhira laughed giddily, stumbling into the bathroom with Robin, she put her nearly empty cup (it was her third of the night, and considering she was a lightweight, Adhira was drunk.) on the bathroom sink and locked the door. "Are you having fun?"

"They're playing good music." Came Robin's answer.  Adhira giggled, stumbling to sit beside Robin. Due to her lack of depth perception (thanks to the alcohol) she'd misinterpreted the distance between her and the tub. Adhira's cheeks heated up as bare Robin's thigh pressed against her own.

"But..." Adhira drawled, leaning into Robin. "Say it! Say it! Say it!"

Robin rolled her eyes, though she couldn't help but smile. "Alright! Alright. Just a little bit."

"I was right! You- You are having fun. You can't even deny it." Adhira grinned, dancing to herself.

Robin laughed, looking down to her hands folded hands in her lap. Her hair fell in front of her face, hiding her smile.

Adhira, without thinking, reached forward and tucked her hair behind her ear. Robin furrowed her eyebrows, eyes searching Adhira's face.

"Wh-" Robin's sentence was cut short as Adhira pressed her lips against hers. Robin's heart stopped, body tensing at the feeling.

Adhira's hand moved to cup Robin's cheek as she waited for it, for what the movies described it to be..

It was nothing like Adhira had imagined it. No fireworks. No sparks. No butterflies. It wasn't life altering.. she felt nothing. Robin wasn't kissing her back.

All at once, everything came crashing down and sobriety hit her like a semi.

"God, Robin. I'm- I'm." Adhira stood quickly, backing into the counter. Her drink tipped over, spilling onto the rug. "I-"

She frantically unlocked the door, hands shaking as she did so. Robin remained on the edge of the bathtub, mouth hung open in shock. At the song of the lock clicking, Robin came out of her state of shock, head snapping towards the door.

"Adhira! Wait!" Robin tried, but it was already too late. The bathroom door slammed, leaving Robin alone. The overwhelming feeling of loneliness and emptiness crashed over her immediately.

The booming music invaded Adhira's senses, causing her to squint as she stumbled towards the front door. Miraculously, she'd managed to make it there without crashing into anyone or knocking anything over. Adhira shakily pulled the door open, the sound of her name barely registering over the song. She recognized the voice, heart sinking into her stomach as she began to rush her actions, slamming the front door behind her. 

The sticky summer air provided little, if any, comfort to Adhira. What had happened hadn't fully processed yet, but when it did, Adhira was in for a whirl of emotions.

~~

a/n: uh-deer-ah is how you say her name <3
sorry for the short chapter :(