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HAWKINS, INDIANA — 1986.
SOMETHING HAD CLEARLY PUT TESS IN a bad mood.
As she stormed into the Family Video store once again, Steve immediately frowned upon seeing her scowl.
"Tess?" he warily walked from around the counter, approaching her. "What's wrong?"
"Lucas is being a little asshole," she snapped, throwing up her hands. "Oh, and Rudy! You're not going to believe the audacity of that shithead!"
She paced in front of the store, Robin walking up beside Steve with a look of confusion.
"She's mad. Who made her mad? Do they know how stupid they are?" Robin questioned, Steve shaking his head.
"Hey, Tess– hey," he reached out to grab her flailing arms, having her face him. "What happened?"
Theresa tried to calm herself down. "I went to Benny's because I had a feeling that was where the basketball team went. Y'know, it's a popular spot, whatever. I found Lucas, and we kind of argued or– something like that– anyway, I'm about to leave and then Rudy... he comes up to me, blatantly hits on me, and I just– what the fuck!"
Steve immediately frowned. "Rudy did what?"
"He was flirting with me, Steve," she rolled her eyes, huffing. "Being a fucking weirdo."
He scoffed in disbelief, shaking his head. "I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch," Steve muttered, pacing back and forth.
Tess crossed her arms, briefly closing her eyes. Robin stood there, not knowing what to do now that both Tess and Steve were pissed off.
"Um... do you guys want to watch a comedy movie?" she suggested, raising her hands.
Both Theresa and Steve turned to Robin, giving her deadpan looks.
"Th-that's not helping, sorry."
She eased away while Theresa shook her head once more, picking at her nails with distress.
"I don't know what's gotten into Lucas. I don't really give a shit about Rudy, honestly, but I do need him to stay the hell away from my brother. I swear to God, I want to strangle him."
Steve raised his eyebrows slightly. "...Rudy or Lucas?"
She glared up at him with annoyance. "Now is not the time for stupid questions."
