𝐟𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 ➵ stranger things

vii. waffle shipwreck

➵

CLAUDIA MANOUVERED DUSTIN TO THE area where the booths in the ice cream shop were so she could collide her body with Dustin's while she wrapped her arms around in tighter than ever, her smile brighter than the radiance coming from the sun. Robin just finished roasting Steve because he had been friends with too many younger teenagers and it made the youngsters laugh as they looked at each other. Steve, with a fake and humiliated pout rising onto his face, proceeded to let out a few nervous chuckles before he followed after the two as he was so needy to hear how Dustin was.

Dustin was always one of Claudia's best friends, probably always will be considering he was so true to himself and everyone surrounding him. And his gentle and warm body brought such a happy vibe into the shop when the three teenagers cheered from the presence of the curly-headed boy.

"It's so good to see you again, Dustin!" Claudia excitedly spoke, her head resting on his shoulder as her smile lingered there for some time. Parts of his light brown locks tickled the side of her cheek and she pulled away slowly, "How was it?"

His face was so lit up with joyfulness and Claudia really believed it was such a nice sight to see with her own bare eyes. Dustin then sat down in on the booth with the bowl of a too sweet and sugary sundae - called a 'waffle shipwreck' - in his hands, as the other two followed afterwards. Which, unfortunately, for Claudia, she got put in the middle of the two.

Dustin exhaled happily, "It was so much fun! I got to make a fire the first time, even put up my own tent...Man, you should've come with me, Clauds. It was all nature and shit! And plus, you and Suzie would have gotten on so well with each other," He answered eagerly, the slight lisp rolling off his tongue as he spoke, the edges of his lips still trailed upwards when his mouth moved around. Dustin was right; Claudia wouldn't have minded going to the camp considering it did sound pretty fun and all. But then again, Hopper would never let her and the brunette was all of a sudden stuck wearing a stupid sailor uniform and forced to greet people with an 'Ahoy!' when she ordered customers. It's become an actual habit now to greet literally anyone like this, even the party through the Walkie Talkies.

Dustin watched as Steve's eyebrows knitted together just in perfect cue to the brunette girl's as they exchanged glances considering the new and unfamiliar name had them confused. So he sighed heavily, "Suzie is my girlfriend, guys."

The other two's jaws dropped as their mouths fell agape wide enough to fit a whole scoop of ice cream into it. It was a little bit quiet as Steve and Claudia took the new information with raised up eyebrows and wide eyes considering Dustin...You would never imagine Dustin to get a girlfriend to someone they didn't know. But then again, Claudia always imagined the curly-headed boy to branch his friends out with all of these camps he goes to, and she quite liked that at least he wasn't confronted just within the Party all the time.

 Steve made himself shake his head out of the trance before moving his hand up for a high-five, "Dude, congrats!" He exclaimed loudly, following the sounds of cheers and 'aye's coming out of Claudia's throat when she patted his back delicately yet enough to have Dustin shushing the two loud workers as a small blush rose to his cheeks. Steve wiggled his eyebrows as he continued to speak, "So...is she cute and all?

Dustin's eyes brightened like stars in a youthful night, "She's so pretty- and hotter than Pheobe Cates!"

"No, no. No way," Steve replied with a small shake of his head, "Hotter than Pheobe Cates? No."

Dustin grinned, "Mmm, she's brilliant too. And she doesn't even care that my real pearls are still coming in," He added proudly, "She says kissing is better without teeth."

Claudia and Steve were both so undeniably in shock from the words that came out of his mouth and the two nodded their heads slowly and confusingly, exchanging glances towards the other in a way of screaming 'help' since they honestly had no way to answer to that. It was literally like the cat of curiosity caught their tongues and now they were left with the aftermath of what the fuck being the only phrase running through their minds.

So Steve just decided that stuttering was now his best friend, "W-wow. Yeah that's great. Proud of you, man."

And Claudia quickly pitched in with a "That's ro- That's very romantic," She ran a hand through her brown locks, "Yeah, that's like...wow." 

A hum escape passed the boy's lips as he continued to shove his ice-cream down his mouth, "I'll have to introduce her to you two sometimes-"

Steve cut in quickly, "Actually, you're introducing her to me before Spidey over here," He smirked, only to then wince when he felt a harsh nudge expose his left arm and quickly, the boy rubbed it with his right hand.

Claudia huffed, "Don't listen to him, I'll be meeting Suzie first before this dumbass next to me," And so rather than be cocky about like some other people she knew, she assuringly smiled at Dustin while her heels rocked forwards and backwards on the ground and her fingers laced together as they relaxed on the white table.

Truly, Steve hated how quick Claudia was to hypnotize people into her trance of innocence.

Dustin couldn't stop himself as he threw his head back, the vibration of a repetitive sound of joyfulness and humour escaped his mouth, "Stop being competitive shitheads for once in your existence; you can both meet her at the same time."

Oh.

They didn't like that.

But still, Steve and Claudia looked at one another and shrugged their shoulders as if to surrender and give up, because if anyone was smarter and better in the group; it was Dustin Henderson. He had the brains and the beauty. So it was best that the two just left things with him. 

And while all the three slowly died down the chuckling that started up in the midst of their fun, Dustin folded his arms and scanned his baby blue eyes between Claudia and Steve before he let out a small breath, "Look, I know that this has been fun and all. But I need to tell you two something serious. Like...top shit secretive, ya know?" He explained thoroughly, observing as the two then stopped chuckling and their smiles dropped from the sudden seriousness echoing in his voice. 

Claudia felt a little squashed when both Dustin and Steve shuffled into the girl's sides just so they could get a more clear hearing from the other, "Did something happen?" Her voice as quiet and soft like little girls that would speak when talking about their crushes at sleepovers.

Dustin propped his elbow up on the table as he covered his mouth partially with his tenseful fingers, then he started to whisper something under his breath. This didn't help because, even if Steve and Claudia were leaning into Dustin as much as possible, they couldn't understand a single thing he said.

The older teenager blinked his eyes, "What?" He puzzlingly replied.

Dustin clicked his tongue and numerously darted his eyes around the shop as if someone had super hearing and was distinctively listening in onto their conversation. So he tried to raise his voice a little as he inhaled deeply, "Uh, I intercepted a secret..."

Claudia coughed quietly, "Dude, just speak louder," She encouraged the boy

Only did the two get bombarded by Dustin's loud voice which made them jump out of their seats, "I intercepted a secret Russian communication!"

/////

yeet soz for the small three day break lols

anyway this chapter is jus a lil break before the fun starts aye

we stan

i pROMISE I'M GONNA INTERACT ROBIN MORE WITH CLAUDIA AND THE OTHERS SOON

okie byeee

video killed the radio star :)

- indiana