✺

SUMMER HAD TRULY KICKED OFF, where Carly was making the most of it. For some reason, Hawkins had crept up on her in a surprising delight. Maybe it was being back with her mom and Max again or perhaps even the charm of someplace new (or maybe it was a nice escape from the shame of her hometown).

Reminded of her hometown of Riverside, Carly found her lips tugging downwards. The Walkman headset was on her ears with Madonna a welcome distraction to drain out the negative thoughts. Carly's eyes had fallen to the sketchbook in her hands, finding another sketch of Billy had come to life through her fingers.

There was something colder about this Billy, but Carly could not place it. His eyes were hollow, skin glistening as if he was sweating in his white tank top. Deep down, Carly knew there was something more, but she could not place it.

And a part of her wondered if the something was Justin, who had freaked out and dumped Carly with all traces of love evaporating overnight. Carly's heart still ached, though time had started to stitch what damage Justin had caused back together again. Though, Carly had vowed that her dark secrets would remain just her little secret.

Then, hands were on Carly's shoulders as she let out a frightened gasp. The sketchbook quickly closed, head turning, hands pulling the headphones away from her ears as she found Ronnie Munson laughing at her.

"Ronnie, that was not funny," Carly protested.

"Sorry, Blondie, but it was," Ronnie told her, sitting down on the bench next to the perky girl in the sailor uniform. "Payback for your cheery greetings every morning."

Carly had made a habit of seeing Ronnie before her shift at the Starcourt Cinemas. There had always been a smile from the blonde, insisting that the two did something out of hours together.

"How is that payback?" Carly questioned.

"For the douchebags that always come out to see you at work," Ronnie rolled her eyes. "Seriously, you are a magnet for them around here."

"Maybe they're just being nice—"

"Right," Ronnie scoffed before she was tugging at Carly's headphones, putting them on her ears to hear what she was listening to. With the sketchbook, it was always forgotten; Carly never read Ronnie's journal nor did Ronnie ever look at her artwork. "Madonna again, really?"

"I love Madonna," Carly insisted.

"You are too sweet for Iron Maiden I suppose," Ronnie said, handing the headphones back. "Though, I would love to see your reaction, Blondie. If you wanna hang out, maybe we could go see my brother's band together."

Carly smiled brightly at that. "That sounds like fun."

"I'll think about it, I suppose," said Ronnie. "After all, we're not friends."

"Right," Carly rolled her eyes, though she was still smiling, knowing that they were friends. "Still, though, come hang at Scoops Ahoy."

Ronnie scoffed. "Where Steve Harrington works? Yeah, no thanks."

Carly giggled at that. "Steve's not so bad."

"Ew, gross," Ronnie's nose scrunched up. "You totally have a crush on him."

There was no ignoring Carly's rosy cheeks, but there was nothing she could do about her small innocent crush. In fact, Carly blamed Steve for being too good-looking.

Shortly after, the two separated for the day with Carly staying in the food court and Ronnie heading up to the theatre on the first floor. Even with the tacky uniform, Carly found it adorable, and she simply enjoyed her job.

Carly had been cleaning the ice cream scoopers during her shift that day. There was a kind smile on her face, but her mind was still stuck on her artwork. Next to her, Steve appeared with a cloth, finding something to do as he dried the utensils.

"So, uh, what about that date?" Steve asked.

Carly looked over to him with a smile still on her face. "What date?"

Holding her stare, Steve shrugged a little, trying to stay casual. "You know, you and I," said Steve, perhaps a little bashfully. "Maybe we could go see a film or get some food together? There's even this party—"

"Oh, a party!" Carly perked up at that. "Can I bring Ronnie?"

"Munson?" Stever frowned. "I was thinking, you know, just us."

Carly felt guilty as her eyes softened. If Carly was in Hawkins permanently, then she would have gone out with Steve. But, Carly didn't want to fall into the trap of another teenage boy either.

"Steve, you're sweet to ask," said Carly. "But I'm only in Hawkins for the summer."

Steve frowned at that. "So, it would have been a yes if you were staying?"

Carly failed to hide her smile, knowing it gave her away. Instead, she handed him the ice cream scooper to dry, but she caught him perking up at the thought of what could have been. As their irises locked, Carly found a slight pink tinge warming her cheeks as she was quick to look away.

"Hey, dingus," Robin called out. "Your children are here."

Steve sighed, placing down the ice cream scooper as he opened the windows to the back of the kitchen. Following him, Carly picked up another towel to dry her hands again as the chances of Max being with them were high.

"Again?" Steve questioned. "Seriously?"

In response, Mike Wheeler dinged the bell again.

"At least be grateful," said Carly. "You could get us fired for this."

"Thank you, thank you," Max said as the group of friends came into the back of the kitchen. "If we get caught, we'll blame Steve."

"Hey," Steve protested. "Don't forget I was the one that got Carly the job."

"That was actually Robin," Carly corrected.

That didn't improve Steve's mood as the group of young teenagers were escorted to the back door with Steve ushering them to move quicker. Carly leant against the door after them, shaking her head at the four, but she was relieved that Max had a good group of friends.

"I swear if anybody hears about this—"

"We're dead," they called back to Steve.

Carly, who was amused, smirked at Steve. "You gotta learn to start saying no to them."

"Max is your sister," Steve pointed out.

"Do you really think she'll listen to me?" Carly questioned.

"Probably more than she does with me," Steve replied.

The two headed back into Scoops Ahoy with Carly helping Robin up front with the customers. As usual, it was a busy evening for them with Carly eventually out on the floor, cleaning up the tables and chatting with the customers.

Though as Carly came back to the front counter with glass dishes, the lights flickered out. Carly placed the dishes on the counter with a frown, eyes shifting around the darkness of the ice cream parlour.

"That's weird," said Steve.

He walked passed Carly, flickering the light switch.

"That isn't going to work, dingus," Robin told him.

"Oh, really?" Steve questioned before he repeatedly flicked the switch.

"Do we have flashlights?" Carly questioned.

Yet, there was no need for anything as the lights came back on as quickly as they had blacked out. With the light, Steve still stood by the switch with an ice cream cone in his hand.

"Let there be light," said Steve.

Robin did not look impressed with him as Carly smiled.

Later, as Carly's shift came to an end, she closed up as Max waited in the parlour for them to finish, eating leftover ice cream from the day. It was dark outside by the time they left the mall with another day done.

"So, uh, do you want a ride home?" Steve offered to all three of them.

"I've got my bike," said Robin. "But thanks."

"Thanks, but mom is picking us up," Carly told him. "I'll see you both tomorrow, yeah?"

"For another joyful day," Robin commented. "See you then."

Robin left them then as Carly spotted their mom's car. They parted ways with Carly offering Steve one last smile before walking towards the car with Max.

"Hey, you two," Susan greeted them both. "Good day?"

"Yeah," Max replied.

"The power outage was a little odd," Carly said. "Other than that, it was all good."

Though, it was later that night when Carly felt a new day had started in the darkness. Next to her, Max was asleep with the magazines and comics still on the bed that the two had been looking through together before they had slept. Carly had woken with a fright, sticky from a nightmare.

This time, the monster had changed: a spider-like monster with bumpy, thick skin. It was different from the previous one which had more shadows and a thinner form. Though, this new monster was in the Starcourt Mall, which confused Carly.

Reaching for her sketchbook, she tried to draw the monster from memory, hating that another one was being added to the collection. The more she sketched, the more Carly was certain that the monster was inside out with the flesh raw and red. But Carly's mind turned the page back, where her eyes fell on the drawing of Billy, eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

"I don't understand," whispered Carly to herself.

"What are you doing?" Max questioned.

Quickly closing her art book, Carly shoved it back into her bag. Daylight had broken through the cracks of Max's curtains as she turned, eyes falling on her sister.

"Just using the toilet," Carly replied. "I'll be back."

Max didn't seem to believe that as her eyes fell on the bag, but she shrugged, rolling back over to sleep. Carly, though, left the bedroom to use the toilet as she hid inside the locked bathroom for a moment. From the nightmare a headache had sparked as Carly searched the cabinet for something to take, hoping it would help.

Then, leaving, Carly bumped into Billy as her heart jolted.

"Morning, Carly," Billy greeted, grinning slyly. "I like the pyjamas, but I do prefer the sailor uniform."

It was baby pink shorts and a matching spaghetti strap top as Carly now felt exposed. Crossing her arms across her chest, Carly avoided Billy's gaze.

"Where you going?" Billy asked.

"Back to my room," Carly told him. "Goodnight, Billy."

Pushing past him, Carly was quick to hurry back into the bedroom with the door lock sliding into place, coming as a relief to Carly. As Carly's eyes fell back onto Max, she was happy to see that her younger sister had fallen back to sleep.

For Carly, though, she had remained staring up at the ceiling in fear of the unknown.

✺

The next morning, Carly had her work uniform on as she headed out into the living room area of the small house. Carly's mother and her husband were already awake for the day, forcing the three to sit down to have breakfast with them.

Across the table, Carly and Max had shared a long look, unknowing what to say.

Billy sat next to his father, but Carly did not like the way he kept looking at her. Instead, she focused on her toast, occasionally sipping at the orange juice.

"So, Carly," said Neil. "This money you are earning. I do hope you will offer a decent amount to us for taking you in."

"Oh," Carly felt uncomfortable. "I was planning on saving the majority for a car, but I wanted to take mom and Max out too before I left."

"Stupid girl, Susan is not the one putting a roof over your head," Neil reminded her. "I am."

"Neil, Carly's my daughter," Susan said quietly.

"Billy's my son," Neil clarified. "And he'll be handing over his share too."

Billy was silent, though Carly could tell that it was more out of fear. With his father's eyes not on him, Billy looked angry, glaring at the table as Carly thought of her drawings.

"It's not a problem," Carly smiled at Neil, trying to stay positive. "I really appreciate you having me for the summer, so I'll be happy to pay."

"It's the least you could do," said Neil. "After all, your dad failed to provide for you, expecting us to take you in after you left your own family in the first place."

"My dad didn't fail," Carly defended her dad. "I didn't leave my family."

But she had left them.

"Neil," Susan pleaded. "This was supposed to be a nice family breakfast."

Though, there was silence after that as Carly felt the tension, not feeling welcomed in the slightest. If she dared to tell Neil that the reason she left was because of his son, then he would only call her a stupid girl again.

Both Carly and Max separated for the day: Carly headed to work and Max back to her friends. With Max busy, it was honestly a relief to have a job to keep Carly out of the house. The longer she stayed, the more relieved she was that she had chosen to move in with her dad (though, she did feel guilty for leaving her mom and Max).

"Hey, Carly," Robin greeted her, spotting her face. "Hey, what's wrong? Where's the cheery morning greeting?"

"Sorry," Carly paused at the door that led to the back of the parlour as she forced a happy smile. "Everything's great, Robin. I love your hair today."

"It's the same as yesterday," Robin replied.

"Yeah, but it's cute," Carly told her.

Then, she headed out to the back to get ready to start her shift. Steve came in a little after them as he was scheduled for the front with the two girls staying in the back during the quieter period.

"Alrighty," said Steve at the front. "One scoop of chocolate. That's a buck-twenty-five. Anything else? Oh, Purdue? Fancy."

"Yeah, I'm excited," the girl replied.

"Yeah, you know," Steve continued. "I considered it. Purdue. But then I was like, you know what? I really think I need some real-life experience, you know, before I hit college. See what it feels like. Kinda like, uh, I don't know. See what it's like to earn a working man's wage, you know? Uh..."

The register beeped, not helping Steve.

"Tragic," muttered Robin.

"Maybe we should help him," said Carly.

"He's got this," Robin replied.

"I think that's, like, really important."

"Yeah, totally," said the girl.

"Yeah, anyways," continued Steve. "This was, like, so fun. We should kind of like, you know, I don't know, maybe hang out this weekend or..." there was a clatter of coins. "Oh, sorry about that. Uh... I don't know. Maybe next weekend or—"

"Yeah, I'm busy," the girl decided.

"Oh, that's cool," Steve tried to brush it off. "I'm working here next weekend, so...the following weekend's better for me."

"No," said the girl. "I'm sorry, I can't."

They then left with Steve fumbling.

"This is...my first day here."

As he sighed, Robin pulled out her white board with Carly moving to stand with her.

"And another one bites the dust," said Robin as she added another dash under 'you suck'. "You are oh-for-six, Popeye."

"Yeah, yeah," Steve folded his arms across his chest, facing them. "I can count."

"You know that means you suck," Robin told him.

"Yep, I can read too."

"Since when?" Robin questioned.

"It's this stupid hat," Steve decided. "I am telling you, it is totally blowing my best feature."

"Oh, honey," said Carly, sympathetically. "It's not just the hat."

"Have you ever considered," Robin said. "Just telling the truth?"

"Oh, you mean, that I couldn't even get into Tech and my douchebag dad's trying to teach me a lesson," said Steve. "I make three bucks an hour, and I have no future? That truth?"

"No," Carly told him. "Getting into college or not doesn't change who you are. Look, you just think about what to say too much, Steve."

"Oh, yeah?" Steve perked up, leaning on the counter, eager to hear what Carly had to say. "And what advice do you have, Carly?"

"I don't know," Carly replied, thinking about it. "Just be cool with it and don't overthink it. Every girl likes to be complimented, so try doing that."

"Okay..." Steve took a moment with a bashful smile appearing. "Carly-Mae, you are beautiful."

Carly blushed at that, but she was smiling.

"Your smile is adorable too," Steve told her. "You have this little dimple that appears..."

Robin sighed, adding another dash under 'you suck'.

"Oh, come on!" Steve complained.

"Don't practice on me," Carly told him. "But it's progress."

"Hey, twelve o'clock," Robin pointed out with the two following her eyes onto a group of girls.

"Oh, shit," Steve panicked. "Oh, shit. Okay. Uh...I'm going in, okay?"

"You got this," Carly encouraged him.

Though, deep down, she felt a tiny flame of jealousy.

"And you know what?" Steve questioned, removing his hat. "Screw the company policy."

"Oh my God, you're a whole new man," Robin teased with a chuckle.

"Ahoy ladies!" Steve shouted, turning to face the ladies as Carly sighed. "Didn't see you there. Would you guys like to set sail on this ocean of flavour with me? I'll be your captain. I'm Steve Harrington."

"Are you sure he was popular at school?" Carly questioned.

"They called him King Steve," Robin replied. "But, oh how the mighty have fallen."

Watching him, Robin's nose had curled upwards as she added another line to the 'you suck' side.

Carly kept herself busy after that, not wanting to hear about Steve's failure with the ladies. When she had first met Steve, she had thought he was similar to Justin: cocky and arrogant enough to be good with his words, but Steve had surprised Carly too. Steve was kinder and more awkward than he appeared, but he had a big heart too that Carly liked.

Later in the day, Carly's mood perked up even more as she spotted Ronnie entering the parlour. The teenage girl was still in her uniform with a leather jacket covering it, where she was likely on her lunch break.

"Ronnie," greeted Carly with a perky smile. "You came!" Then, she was turning to her colleagues, eager to introduce them to her new friend. "Ronnie, this is Steve and Robin. Guys, this is Ronnie!"

There was a mumble of greetings that seemed awkward. Ronnie glared at Steve, making it very evident that she did not like the teenage boy (but Carly did not understand why).

"Don't we know each other?" Ronnie questioned Robin.

"Yeah, we're, uh, in the same year of school," said Robin. "We play together in band too."

"How are you two friends?" Steve asked.

"Blondie and I are not friends," Ronnie insisted. "I'm just here for the free ice cream."

"Whatever you say, Ronnie," Carly teased with a smile. "Can I make you the Carly special?"

Ronnie's nose screwed up. "What is that?"

"Oh, just everything sweet," Carly insisted, picking up a scooper. "There's vanilla, bubblegum, and then strawberry with marshmallows on top. Oh, and bubblegum sauce! You will love it."

Ronnie sighed, giving in. "I'll give it a try if you join me."

Carly beamed at that. "I'm due a break anyway."

So, Carly made an ice cream for her first friend in Hawkins, truly happy that the two were starting to get closer.

Surely nothing could go wrong.

✺

I honestly love Carly and Steve so much. It's instant feelings for them but a little slow till anything starts. I found myself listening to Enchanted by Taylor Swift as I wrote this🥺