1984
It was just another day, Nancy and Steve hanging out; Nancy trying to study, Steve wandering around trying to do anything but study. The radio was on, turned to a low volume. Mike was off with his friends, her parents were out on a date, and they were left there to keep an eye on Holly, who was in the other room, playing with her toys.
“I mean, can you believe it? That punk thought that he could tell me what to do when I’m the captain!" Steve said, complaining about one of the guys on the swimming team. Nancy gave a half reply, nodding along with what he said while going over her notes for History.
Steve continued. “Anyway, the coach made him do laps ‘cause he messed up his dive. So, everything is good now.”
“Mhm, guess so.”
Steve said something else, Nancy couldn’t be sure what, but she nodded along again as she read. It wasn’t so much that she didn’t like listening to him, she had just heard all of these spiels before. Guys on the team annoyed him, this person slept with that person, ‘Nance, you’ll never guess what happened-’. Right now, she just wanted to focus on studying for her big test coming up.
She heard the radio turn up, not paying much attention to what Steve was currently doing. It turned up more. She recognized the song from driving in the car, hearing come on now and then. She finally turned to see what her boyfriend was doing, and why he would be disrupting her reading.
She saw a huge grin on his face as he danced to the music, looking at her. He motioned for her to come over.
“I can’t, Steve. I need to study.”
“Oh c’mon, Nance. You know I’m allergic to studying.” He coughed to add some dramatic effect. Nancy just smiled at him.
“You might be, but I am not.” She went to turn back from her books.
Suddenly, there were two familiar hands sliding around, closing the book before helping her up. Steve ignored her protests, continuing to help her up before turning her around.
“Nope, time for a study break. Tears for Fears cannot wait for you.” He was grinning, dancing again, this time with his hands on her waist. She tried her best to keep herself from smiling.
He started lip syncing the lyrics. ‘I’m lost in admiration, could I need you this much?’ That broke her, a smile slowly starting to form as she slowly swayed along with him.
Suddenly, he burst out singing along with the words, “Something happens and I’m head over heels! I never find out till I’m head over heels!” He did the high notes to the best of his ability, which was not very good. Still, it made Nancy laugh. She shushed him a little, not trying to alert her sister in the next room.
He continued singing along, though quieter this time, and danced with Nancy. He took one of her hands in his, putting his other on her waist, swaying them in a circle as the song went on. Nancy smiled, putting her free hand on his chest and swaying along with him.
The two danced as if no one could see them, not that anyone could. It was moments like this that made Nancy sure that Steve was the one.
—----------
1987
‘The gang’ as they had come to call themselves were all at Family Video. Nancy and Eddie had decided to come hang out with their partners on their closing shift so all of them could head out together for their movie night.
Nancy wasn’t sure when they all fell into this rhythm of hanging out, but she was happy about it. Her and Steve had talked it out and agreed to be friends, and now they got along very well, even better than when they were dating.
She broke up with Jonathan, all on good terms, and decided to fully look at her options. That was when a certain awkward band geek caught her eye and held onto it. They started talking pretty soon after the whole Vecna thing ended, and now she was as happy as ever with her girlfriend.
Now, Eddie Munson never thought she would be friends with Eddie Munson of all people, especially with him being her brother’s new idol and the guy dating her ex. But, the two actually got along pretty well. Some would argue they were a dynamic duo, just like Steve and Robin. Well, not just like them. Those two were almost fully in sync with each other.
That is how the two had decided to come together to entertain/annoy their respective partners.
There were no customers coming in this late, but the two had to stay until closing or Keith would get on their asses. So, they busied themselves with various things, trying and failing to not get distracted by their partners.
Robin was stocking a shelf of movies, Nancy sitting on the counter near her. Nancy said, “So, you and Steve pick a movie for tonight?”
“Yeah, we picked a few options for you and Eddie to choose from.”
“Okay, lay them on me.”
“Okay well, I’ve been wanting to check out Dead Poets Society, but Steve said it looks boring and-” Robin continued rambling, listing about five options for them to choose from. Nancy smiled as she listened to her. She always found Robin's ramblings to be charming. At one point, she did find it to be a bit much, but now it just made her more…herself.
“And Steve said Ghostbusters 2 could be good, but sequels are never as good as the original. What do you think?” Nancy debated her options.
“How about we grab that new Indiana Jones movie since we’ve all wanted to check it out, grab Bill and Ted because even though it looks stupid I know the boys will love it, and on Friday we can grab Dead Poets Society and I’ll watch it with you. Sound good?”
Robin gave her a dopey smile, staring lovingly at her. “How do you always just make decisions? It takes me hours to choose what shirt to wear and you can just get up and instantly grab what you want and go on about your day.”
Nancy hopped off the counter and walked over to her girlfriend. “And you always look great in whatever shirt you pick.” She kissed her on the cheek before snatching up one of the movies they had agreed on, slipping it around to read the description of it. Robin looked ready to pass out, but managed to snap herself out of it and continue stocking.
“Uh-oh, Harrington. You hear that?” Eddie’s voice said as he walked over to the store’s radio. Nancy hadn’t even realized it was playing. Eddie’s hand reached up to turn the volume up.
Nancy immediately realized what song it was. It was always one of Steve’s favorites, she remembered him always singing it to her when it came on the radio. It’s no surprise Eddie would turn it up for him.
She saw Steve's mouth grow into a smile. He shook his head as he continued sweeping the floor. Eddie slipped behind him, wrapping his arms around Steve’s waist as they swayed together to the song. Eddie’s voice could softly be heard singing the lyrics.
Steve finally laid his broom against one of the shelves, turning around to wrap his arms around Eddie’s neck. They danced together, both with wide smiles on their faces. Nancy didn’t know if she had ever seen Steve look so happy, so content.
She had noticed since the two started dating how happy they made each other, how perfect they were for one another. Two people from such different backgrounds, with such different looks and energies. But they just worked. Like her and Robin.
Suddenly, the two were singing the chorus as loud as they could. Nancy heard their forces swirling together, both singing very off tune. “Somethin’ happens and I’m head over heels!”
Robin and Nancy both laughed at them, seeing how happy their friends were. Nancy smiled and turned to the taller woman, grabbing her hand. “C’mon.”
She dragged her over, closer to where the guys were standing. She wrapped her arms around Robin’s neck, the other girl quickly wrapping her arms around Nancy’s waist in return. The two started dancing together, just as the other couple was.
Eddie spun Steve around, pulling a laugh out of the younger man. Robin attempted to dip Nancy, nearly dropping her. They all laughed, dancing and singing until the song ended.
Steve and Robin finished up their shift, quickly grabbing their things before heading out with their partners.
Nancy wasn’t quite sure how they had gotten here, but she was so happy that they did.