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Graduation day. A day the kids of America have all dreamt of. Having your name called in front of all the people who have defined your life, walking across that stage to be given your diploma, finally leaving the hellhole that was high school.
Steve remembered his graduation. It definitely was not what he had ever imagined- leaving high school with only a handful of true friends, no idea what the future will hold, with his parents somewhere on the other side of the country, probably unaware that their only son was moving on to the next stage of his life.
The person who was there, though, was Dustin Henderson. Steve could spot his mop of curly hair from a mile away, cheering louder than anyone else in that crowd, gap-toothed smile shining brightly, igniting something warm in Steve that he couldn’t name for years. Blissfully unaware that the kid in the crowd was going to become his entire world.
But Steve is no longer 18. He’s 21 and he’s been to hell and back. That day doesn’t matter to him anymore. What does matter though, is this day.
The day his little brother graduates.
”And you’re sure it’s okay if I meet you there?”
“Steve,” Dustin groans into the other side of the line. “Yes. You have a job. Those kids need you today, plus it’s the big game, against the valley school. Even I wish I could be there. But my mom wants to help me get ready and take a million pictures like she always does, and it’s probably the last time she’ll get to, so I gotta let her.”
Steve just sighs into the phone, putting on his hat with the team’s emblem. “I guess if you’re positive. How’s your hair holding?”
”Great! Thanks for doing it.” Steve could hear Dustin’s smile over the phone. “But I can do it myself now, y’know. Got taught by the master.”
Steve let out a snort. “I know. But it’s the same thing as your mom taking pictures and helping you get ready. I dunno when I’ll be able to do it again,”
He reaches over and stuffs his keys in his pocket, a small bit of his heart twisting in nostalgia. “Besides. It reminds me of when you were half my height and not 18.”
Dustin laughs, though there’s a hint of something in there. Not sadness, really. Melancholy, maybe. “Back when I didn’t have these pearls?”
”Oh yeah,” Steve grins. “Alrighty, bud, I gotta get to the game. Tell Claudia to take doubles of the pictures. I’ll see you at the school, yeah?”
”Yep! Good luck! Love you, dude.”
”Love you too, Mr. Valedictorian.”
They say goodbye and end the call, leaving Steve to stare at the phone feeling… something.
But he can’t think about that right now because he has to go win that game.
***
They do in fact win. They ended the game with the joyful shrieks of middle schoolers and a coach who darted out of there as soon as the kids were in the hands of their parents. The coach being Steve.
Steve slid down into the cold bleachers, a direct contrast to the hot sun beaming down on his face, making the suit and tie he was wearing absolutely suffocating. But he had to deal with it though- he couldn’t have Dustin’s old classmates thinking the kid’s big brother was lame, right?
Well. Maybe he was lame for wearing a suit in the first place. Doesn’t matter.
”Hey Claudia,” He greeted, giving the woman a side hug.
She flashed back a large, slightly teary smile, her face scrunching in a mirror of Dustin’s. “Hello Stevie. How was the game, honey?”
”Good! The nuggets won 14-9. How was getting the guy ready?”
Claudia’s eyes immediately welled up again, and she dabbed at them with the cloth she was clutching in her hands. “Oh, dear, baby looks so grown up. With his cap and gown, and his hair, and oh his sash. I can’t believe my Dusty is-“
”Valedictorian.” They both said at the same time, erupting into wet laughter.
He looked up at the stage at that, trying to see if he could spot the boy. And sure enough, there he was. Sitting in the corner of the stage with his orange cap and gown, looking exactly as his mother described. Far too grown up.
Steve jumped to his feet, waving at the kid like an idiot. He didn't care if any of the people around him thought so, though, because Dustin was waving back, face stretched into a wide grin. His opinion was the only one that mattered, anyway.
“Hello, hello, H-Family!” Came Robin’s cheery voice from behind.
Steve brightened at the sight of his best friend, turning to envelope her in a hug.
“Surprised you got here in time, Rob,” He teased, pushing her shoulder as the two sat down.
Robin rolled her eyes, looking over at Claudia in a look only the two could share. “Whatever, Harrington. Just because I don’t drive 20 miles over the speed limit doesn’t mean I’m a slow driver.”
Steve was about to throw another one at her but was stopped when a hush fell over the crowd. The whispering of the students and the chatter of their family members subsided as Principle Higgens entered the stage, standing tall at the podium.
From his spot in the bleachers, Steve tried his best to make out the rest of the party and their families. He could see Joyce down over a couple rows, with Jonathan winding up his camera on the side. The Wheelers were situated on the other side of Steve, Robin, and Claudia, looking as perfect as he remembered. If he squinted he could make out the heads of Max, Lucas, and Will, as the rest of the students filed in, but unsurprisingly-
"No Mike?" Steve leaned over and whispered to Robin.
She shrugged, a conflicted look on her face. "I haven't seen him, although Will said he was debating on actually showing up."
Steve frowned, but he didn't have time to think about it due to the ringing of Higgens' voice in the microphone. He welcomed the families and staff, talking about the students and their accomplishments, noticeably avoiding speaking on the fact that they all had lived through an apocalypse. That didn't matter though. Higgens only had one thing to say that was truly important.
"And now it's my great pleasure to introduce someone who has truly excelled during their time here," Steve's heart leapt in anticipation at those words, eyes shining brightly in a mix of emotions. "Ladies and Gentlemen, give a warm welcome for your valedictorian, Dustin Henderson."
Steve immediately leapt to his feet, clapping and cheering and whooping louder than anyone in that crowd. "Yeah, Buddy!"
Robin looked up at him and laughed, but Steve didn't care. His focus was narrowed on the bright smile and curly hair of his little brother.
He could see the other kids shoot up out of their seats as well, and a rush of raw gratitude suddenly overwhelmed Steve so harshly that he had to sit back down. He owed everything to those kids. Those kids- who had protected Dustin, loved him fiercely, put every bit of energy they could into keeping the light in his eyes. Steve realized, as time seemed to stop around the kids, that yes, Steve loved Dustin more than anything. The kid was his best friend, his brother, his lifeline. But those kids adored him too. And he owed the fact that he still had that little guy with him to that.
He tucked away those emotions for later, stuffed where the rest of the bittersweet volcano of love and grief and change lay that would erupt as soon as he left Dustin in his college dorm. Right now, he turned his attention back towards the boy, who was getting ready to speak.
Dustin gazed over the crowd, locking eyes with Steve for a second, before beginning. "I just wanted a normal childhood."
And Jesus Christ, did those words hit him like a baseball bat. He inhaled sharply, focusing on what the kid had to say next.
"But that childhood was stolen from me. It was stolen from us." The crowd was dead quite now, finally listening to the boy they had tried to silence. "And this past year, if you wanna know the truth, I've been pretty pissed off about it."
Steve chuckled, glancing around at the shocked looks on parents faces at the words Dustin chose. The small laugh really only hid the guilt that was still working his way out of a small part of his mind.
Dustin continued. "But then I thought back to the past six years, and I realized that, even though there was a lot of bad, there was so much good too."
Jesus Harrington, don't cry already. Too late. Steve could feel the tears welling in the corner of his eyes, taking his sunglasses off so he could actually see his brother.
"There's this game I like to play. It's called Dungeons & Dragons," Steve barked out a short laugh and rolled his eyes, continuously surprised at how nerdy his best friend could get. He glanced over at Robin, who wore the same expression.
"And in this game, there are two types of chaos classes, chaotic good and chaotic bad. Now, bad chaos brings anarchy, destruction, war. But good chaos can bring innovation, change. And this school- frankly- it needed to change," Higgens eyebrows knit together from across the field, visibly shocked at the audacity the kid had to point that out. All Steve felt was pride. "Because we were so divided into the jocks, the nerds-"
He gestured to himself, "Freaks."
"And in the chaos, all those walls broke down, and I made new friends."
Dustin's head turned to look directly at Steve, and suddenly there was a film reel playing in the older boy's head of every moment the two had spent together. Every joke, every game, every adventure, every tear, every tight, desperate hug. Steve couldn't imagine what his life might have been like if Dustin hadn't dragged him away to help him look for his cat-eating demon dog. He didn't want to. Because despite the torture and the loss and the absolute hell they went through- Steve wouldn't trade it. Not if that meant he still got to bicker with the kid about dumb movies, or spend entire evenings losing to arcade games, or curled up together on the couch, holding each other's pulses.
Because in losing their childhood innocence, the two had found a lifelong home in each other.
Steve looked down and wiped away as his eyes as Dustin continued with his speech. "I made friends who were never even supposed to be my friends. And this wasn't just me- I saw it happen with so many others. And when you get to know people who are different from you, you begin to learn more about yourself. You change. You grow."
Nancy, Jonathan, Billy, Vickie, Robin. Eddie. The kids. El. Dustin Clarence Henderson himself. All the people past him would have never associated with had flipped his world and turned him into a person actually worth a shit. Damn, when did the kid get so wise?
"I'm a better person now. I'm a better person because of them, because of my friends. So, I'm not pissed off anymore." Steve just shook his head, totally unsurprised and overwhelmingly proud. Proud of the kid- not just in his accomplishments, but the fact he was able to get through his grief and anger and steal back that sunlight that enveloped his being. "But I am worried. Worried, because now that the chaos is over, Principal Higgens, and every square like him is gonna do their damndest to put everything back in order. And I don't want order."
Steve's jaw dropped, totally and utterly baffled.
"He did not just say that." Robin whispered, but her tone was of pride and amazement.
"It's Dustin Henderson, what did you expect?"
Dustin then points to his gown, presenting it to the crowd. "Which is why it's hypocritical that I'm wearing this thing. I mean, we look ridiculous. What is this? We look like Roman senators. I mean it's not who I am. I don't think it's who any of us are. So, honestly, screw it-!"
The scene suddenly erupts into chaos as Dustin unzips his gown and rips open his shirt, revealing a gray hellfire lives shirt underneath. An Iron Maiden song is suddenly blaring from the speakers as the crowd erupts into gasps, laughs, and resounding cheers. Kids are on their feet, Higgens is shouting some nonsense, but Dustin keeps going.
"Screw the school, screw the system," Steve's heart feels like it's about to burst in pride and astonishment at his little brother, whooping as Dustin battles Higgens for the microphone. "Screw conformity, screw everyone and everything trying to hold you back and tear us apart because this-"
He marches up to the front of the stage and roars, in words they had fought six years to say, "THIS IS OUR YEAR!"
And the crowd erupts.
Dustin slams the microphone to the ground, snatches his diploma from damn Higgens, and with the biggest, most shit eating grin on the boy's face, flips him the bird. Steve yells as loud as he can, head a whirlwind of emotions in the best way possible as he watches Dustin strut off the stage and holds his arms out wide and his head up high, watching the orange confetti swirl around as caps fly high into the sky.
And all Steve can do is stare at him. At once he sees every version of the kid. The 13-year-old with far too much brains and overwhelming bravery- yet stuck with the feeling that he didn't belong. The 14 year old who just wanted his friends to appreciate him, who could work out even the most complex puzzles and was unwaveringly loyal. The freshmen, full of smiles and laughter and admiration. Who had that ripped away from him. The angry 16 year old kid who was no longer a kid but a shell full of grief and fear, who had sobbed in his arms and begged Steve to stay. And now the newly adult. Barely an adult, really, by just a month, standing in front of everyone, forcing them to hear him. To see him. To see the people like him.
Steve loved every version of that kid. Every version he would become.
And God, was he excited to see who that would be.
***
Steve found him, after. Surrounded once again by that amazing group of friends. Laughing their heads off, not a care in the world.
They deserved that more than anyone.
Dustin glanced over to where Steve was standing awkwardly, face absolutely lighting up as he pushed his friends out of the way.
"Steve!"
And suddenly an armful of Dustin was launched into his arms, wrapping his still smaller arms around his neck. He still only made it to Steve's shoulders.
They didn't say anything for a minute, just basking in each others warmth like it was them and everyone else had disappeared. Dustin shoved his nose into Steve's neck, right on his pulse, and held tightly. Steve just held him tightly to his chest, rocking them back in fourth. There was so much Steve wanted to say- wanted to explain how much the boy had changed his life, describe every feeling watching the kid hold his head high invoked.
But he was too choked up, so he just buried his face in Dustin's hair and whispered, "I'm so damn proud of you."
Dustin pulled back, just enough where they could see each others faces. He smiled, but his head was tilted in that way it did when he didn't fully understand something. "It's just high school."
Steve shook his head, ignoring the hot tears that were not dripping down his face. Dustin grasped his forearms as Steve held his face, delicately, like he was still a little kid.
To Steve, he always would be.
"No," He whispered. He watched Dustin's eyes match the glassiness, understanding what he means. "It's not. It's so much more."
A thousand words went unspoken right then and there, but every single one was completely clear.
It was because for four years they had fought the closest thing to hell on earth. It was because Dustin had to watch two friends die in the span of a year and a half, before he was even able to drive a car. It was Dustin’s childhood and innocence being ripped away over and over- yet he still was right here. Laughing and smiling and amazing every person who got the privilege of knowing him.
So yeah, it wasn’t just high school. It was an act far greater than that. It was Dustin Henderson’s unwavering resilience.
There was nothing explained, but looking into Dustin’s glassy blue eyes, Steve knew he understood the older boy perfectly.
Steve pulled Dustin back into his arms for just a moment, pressing a quick kiss to his temple before slinging an arm around the boy’s shoulders. The rest of the kids ran up to greet him and the rest of their families, who had now gathered, yammering about this and that. He noticed Mike was among them, which eased a part of his heart.
Jonathan, Nancy, and Robin came up beside him, wearing the exact expressions, likely feeling exactly the same as Steve.
Steve turned and nudged Jonathan. “We gotta get a picture of these guys, Jon.”
Jonathan grinned at the groaning that came from the kids, and they ushered them onto the bleachers. Steve’s heart clenched impossibly tighter as the kids lined up next to each other. Their arms wound tightly around each other, keeping Dustin between them, who sat on the railing. (In which Steve’s heart flipped every time he wobbled, thankfully held up by Lucas)
They ended up standing there taking photos for a good ten minutes, getting a mix of silly and normal photos. The session probably would have gone on longer if Max hadn’t stomped off and declared, “That’s enough!”
They hung out in that field for around fifteen more minutes, just chatting away. Reminiscing on the past, anticipating the future. But eventually each of the kids got dragged away by their families, deciding to meet at Mike’s house at three. Claudia and Robin turned to the two boys expectantly, ready to get out of there, but Dustin shook his head.
”We’ll meet you guys at the house in a little,” He announced. “Steve and I have to go somewhere first.”
Claudia nodded, somehow still teary. “Okay baby. Whatever you wanna do.”
”This is your day, bud,” Robin shrugged. “A-okay with me.”
The two left towards their cars, leaving Steve to turn to Dustin. “We do?”
”Yep,” Dustin snatched Steve’s hand and began dragging him towards the truck. “We gotta tell Eddie about this.”
***
The drive to the cemetery wasn't long, but it never was. Steve practically new the route with his eyes closed at this point.
The two boys settled next to Eddie's grave. It was shiny and clean- it hadn't been graffitied for a long time, thanks to some assistance from Steve a while back. He let the kid just talk, recapping the day, how Dustin had done exactly what Eddie talked about. Steve thought to himself as the boy talked and talked, about how goddamn proud Eddie would be if he could see Henderson now.
Eventually, the two fell into a comfortable silence. They leaned against each other and basked in the warmth of the sun. Of each other. Because touch- whether clinging to each other, hugging the other person tight, holding onto their wrist with a thumb pressed against the pulse point- it wasn't laced in fear and grief. It wasn't followed by the notion that this might be the last time they'd get to hold each other. Now it was simply the idea of being by your brother. Of loving the other person's company.
"It's so weird to think about what life is going to be like after this." Dustin said after a while.
Steve turned to look at him, urging the boy to continue.
"It's just-" Dustin sighed. "Since the fourth grade, Hawkins is all I've ever known. I think I've left it, what? Maybe five times in the past eight years? And since then, I've always had the party, too. It's just been us. But, I dunno, in a couple months we'll all just be going our separate ways. I'll be off, hours away, in college."
Steve frowned. "I thought you were excited for college?"
"I am," Dustin insisted. "It's just- so much will change, after that. Hawkins is shitty, yeah, and I'm ecstatic to be learning new things and seeing the world. I am."
He pauses for a second, looking over the town that had been home to everything that made Steve and Dustin the people they are. "But that means no more of this. No more bike rides to the quarry. No more spending all my allowance on arcade games. No more movie nights with mom or hours spent in Mike's basement. No more party. No more-"
Dustin's voice drops and his eyes fill with glass. "No more you."
"Hey-" Steve protests. He pulls the kid into a hug, pressing his head down onto Steve's heart. Letting the boy be small. To be a kid, maybe for the last time. "You're not losing me. Never. You, being in college, that's not going to change anything. It just means I'll be calling you multiple times a day and driving at least once a month to drag you on a road trip. This thing- it's for the long haul. You can't get rid of me that easily."
"You're not going to forget about me after you drop me off in the dorm?" Dustin played it in a joking matter, but Steve could see the genuine uncertainty in his eyes.
Steve just squeezed the younger boy, resting his head on top of Dustin's curls. "No way. Never ever. I don't think I could if I wanted to- which I don't. Besides, I'd be a pretty shitty big brother if I did."
Dustin laughed, sinking into his arms. "Yeah, what the heck."
"Exactly," Steve agreed.
He looked down at the boy resting against him, suddenly feeling that surge of emotions again. The one that will never truly leave, because Dustin Henderson brought them and if Dustin brought them, they're forever.
"Don't think about that right now, okay?" Steve said, voice suddenly soft. "You're just going to stress yourself out thinking about the future. It's the same way with thinking about the past. Just be here. Either way, I'm your constant, man. Yeah?"
Dustin looked up at him, the history of the remarkable thing known as Steve and Dustin playing in the blue of his eyes. "Yeah."
Life is weird. It throws everything it can at you- the good, the bad, the in between. It gives and gives all it can, no matter what the outcome is. The only thing it takes is time.
You can see it the clearest when one day you're entering a classroom, and you can smell the crayons and the books, and you're greeted by bright smiles and loud laughs. When you look back and suddenly the person who has been holding your hand is gone, and it's just you for the first time in your life. You can see it when the next moment, you're walking across a stage with a piece of paper in your hand and the people who held your hand through every moment in your life somewhere in the crowd. When suddenly you're taller, and you hold your head higher, and you're much different but also the exact same. When you're about to embark on the voyage that is life by yourself for truly the first time in your life. Except it's okay because it's been a long time since you needed somebody to hold your hand.
You can't stop the slipping of time. Just like you can't stop the rushing stream that is life. That is the human experience. There's no skipping ahead or rewinding backwards, rather floating through the stream and coming to terms to accept that time is beyond your control. From there, you have two options.
The first is to fight it. To stay exactly where you are forever and watch everyone and everything around you keep moving. To be frozen in time, pulling at the sails to take you upstream on a waterfall. It's an option, but in the end you don't truly ever go anywhere. You don't really live.
The second is to ride the wave. To not look back, not peer too far over the edge, but to maneuver the sails in front of you to take you where you want to go. To see all that there is to see and have the wind take you to places beyond your imagination. But with riding the waves comes with embracing the tides of change. Because it's comfortable, swimming upstream. To go back to what is safe and familiar.
Change is terrifying, because with change sometimes comes letting go. The thing is- that doesn't have to be bad. It's just different. But it's instinct, as humans, to be afraid of it. Because pain often follows. It is just a matter of getting through enough storms to safely get to your destination. Whatever that may be. Whoever you may become. It is unknown- but really, that's the best thing about it.
And lucky for Steve and Dustin, as they sit on that hill and watch time keep moving here in Hawkins, they've realized they're on the same boat.