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Where else would Dustin be on a Saturday night? He’s at the Wheeler’s, of course; Mike's hosting movie night with Will, Lucas, El, and Max piled into the basement. Children of the Corn was a little too intense for Dustin so he volunteered to top off the popcorn.
Someone’s already in the kitchen, rummaging through the freezer. Dustin recognizes the faded crew neck and bunny slippers from when the Wheelers had the flu last year.
“Nancy?”
The freezer door swings shut, revealing a sniffling Nancy. In one hand is a pint of Rocky Road, in the other is a bottle of white wine.
“Dustin,” she greets him, voice low and puffy eyes downcast.
“Are you alright, Nancy?”
“Just peachy,” she answers sarcastically. She pulls open the silverware drawer with a little more force than necessary.
“Cause it’s alright if you’re not, you know.”
Nancy nods, more grateful for her young friend than she’d ever admit.
“Is it boy trouble?”
At that Nancy shakes her head and barks out a laugh. “Nope!” She stabs the frozen slab of Rocky Road with the spoon. “No, this time…” she gathers her treats, grabbing the Riesling by the neck. “This time it’s girl trouble!”
Before Dustin can press further, she’s shuffling back upstairs. Shit. Dustin doesn’t know what else to do but hop on the Wheeler’s phone. Steve picks up after a few rings.
“Yello?”
"Steve. It’s Nancy.”
“No it’s not, I recognize your voice, dipshit.”
“Ok, right, you’re speaking to Dustin. But I'm calling about Nancy."
"Go on?"
Dustin takes his voice down a notch. "We all get like this, it's not always newsworthy. But she’s real upset about something. I tried asking what was up, if it was boy trouble, and she said it was…girl trouble?”
Steve’s silent for a bit before he puts it together.
“Got any idea what that means?”
“Yeah, yeah, Henderson. I do.”
“Something to do with a certain co-worker of yours?”
“We’ll see. Thanks for letting me know, kid. I’ll take it from here, got a call to make.”
“Good, good. Catch ya later.”
“Buh-bye.”
With all that taken care of, Dustin can finally pop some more kernels in the Wheeler’s microwave and try not to burn their house down.
***
Meanwhile, Robin trips over the clothes scattered on her floor on her way to her burger-shaped phone. She picks up on the last ring to hear her best friend's voice.
“Hey, Robs. How was your date with Vickie?”
Robin groans. “Awful! Awful, awful, I mean, it wasn’t a date to her at all. The whole time she’s going on about how I should set her up with you.”
“Oof. No offense, I think I’ll pass. Sorry it was a shitty time.”
“Thanks, yeah at least it snuffed out my crush on her. If she does like boobies, she doesn’t wanna see mine.”
“Some girl will, don’t worry. Listen, uh, did you tell Wheeler what you were up to tonight?”
Robin has to think for a second. It’s hard to remember what she says to Nancy when there’s so much more to focus on: the sweetness of her perfume, the way she purses her lips, the brightness of her smile. But now that she’s concentrating, Robin does recall a conversation over the video store counter about their weekend plans.
“I think so, actually.”
About a month has passed since Robin inadvertently came out to Nancy while denying dating Steve. Nancy took it like a champ, like she already suspected that was a possibility. So when Nancy asked what her plans were for that Friday night, Robin answered honestly. That she had a d-a-t-e with Vickie to Hawkins’ only Thai restaurant. Robin thought she saw Nancy’s smile falter for just a second, but she chalked it up to her still getting used to the idea of dating another girl. Nothing worth getting hung up on.
“Ok, Robs, a little birdie told me—“
“Henderson?”
“Henderson told me Wheeler’s having a shitty night, too. Wanna know why?”
Robin didn’t like the sound of that, of Nancy experiencing any negative emotions. “Why?”
She could almost hear Steve smiling over the phone. “Girl trouble, apparently. The very same night she knows you’re on a date with Vickie.”
“Harrington,” she says after a second, processing. “Don’t get my hopes up for what's probably just a euphemism for starting her period."
“Not trying to, just passing on what I know. Dustin asked first if it was boy trouble and she corrected him on it. Sounds kinda gay to me. I don't know, Robin, if you’re ever gonna go for it, this might be your best chance yet.”
Robin knows he’s right. “And you’re fine with all this?”
“Of course I am. You’d be adorable together! You have to call her.”
“Screw calling. Do you remember how to climb up to her room?”
***
With Steve’s instructions, Robin does pretty well getting up to the second-story window. No broken bones or anything. Though it pains her to see badass Nancy Wheeler hugging a pillow, watching a tear-jerking Elton John record spin. Robin doesn’t want to startle Nancy, but that’s hard to avoid given where she is. Taking a deep breath, she knocks on the glass.
Nancy does not anticipate seeing Robin waving at her outside her window. If she had, she would’ve made sure all her tissues made it into the trash can and that her pajamas matched. But Nancy couldn’t pretend that she wasn’t happy to see her ridiculously cute friend.
“What’re you doing out there?”
“Peeping,” Robin jokes nervously as Nancy extends her hand. Robin takes it and the contact sets her skin on fire. Nancy pulls her in, stumbling backward slightly.
Once they’re both inside, holding hands isn’t necessary. But neither want to let go. They hold on, for a wonderful few seconds, until Nancy drops it to sit cross-legged on her bed.
”How’re you feeling?” Robin asks, deviating from the script she thought up on her bike ride over.
”Fine,” Nancy mumbles unconvincingly. “Stupidly jealous, but fine. How’s Vickie?”
Any doubts Robin had about being there disappear on hearing the pointed question.
“Boring.” she blurts, cutting to the chase and putting everyone else to the side. “It was a painfully dry, boring date and she chews with her mouth open? She kept wanting me to set her up with Steve, but the whole time, do you know what I’m thinking?”
Nancy Wheeler can do a lot but she can’t read minds, not yet. “No?”
“I kept thinking, wow, can’t believe how much I wish I was sitting across from Nancy Wheeler instead. How much more fun I’d have playing footsie with you under the table. How I don’t have to pretend to be a normal person around you. It’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
Nancy’d be hard-pressed to remember words she wanted to hear more. Robin running her mouth off about how spectacular she is and it’s just about the best thing ever. For once Nancy wants Robin to keep talking. Too bad she’d forget the specific words, too fond and blushing to pay perfect attention. It’s a lot! Nancy nods along like the fiancées do in engagement scenes in her favorite movies.
“And I’m sure I showed it from the start of knowing you, but you’re kind of my dream girl.”
Nancy’s overwhelmed with joy. It’s sort of ridiculous how quickly her heart melts into ice cream soup.
“I have a massive, debilitating thing for you.”
Nancy can’t take any more of the affection without returning it. “You’re my dream girl, too.”
Robin’s more flustered than Nancy’s ever seen her. As if in disbelief, she checks to make sure nobody’s behind her and points at herself.
“Yes, you, Robin. I mean, I didn’t start dreaming about girls ’til I met you,’ til I realized that’s something you can do.”
Robin nods with an understanding smile, stepping forward as Nancy rises. Their height difference becomes more profound with every inch closer, causing Robin to tilt her chin down and Nancy to look up through her long, smudged lashes. Up close Nancy can admire the freckles dotting Robin’s face in much better detail. Her gaze drifts down to Robin’s parted, coral-colored lips.
“I’m here to make those dreams come true,” Robin murmurs.
Nancy licks her own lips in anticipation but then tastes…chocolate? The Rocky Road! Nancy’s heart had taken over and she’d lost track of what her body had going on.
“Before you do,” Nancy blurts, “I just need a second to freshen up.”
Robin pales. “Are you—?”
“Freaking out, no. I promise. I want this. I just,” Nancy has to laugh at her own perfectionism. “I should floss.”
“Oh,” Robin’s bright smile returns. “Ok, well have fun flossing.”
“Don’t go anywhere,” Nancy can hardly bear to step back from Robin’s space. “I’ll just be a second.”
Nancy closes the door to her ensuite bathroom before Robin can add anything and distract her any longer.
Once alone, Nancy turns into a grooming machine. One hand frantically combing her hair, the other brushing her teeth and tongue. Nancy then gargles mouthwash while her PJ shorts lie bunched around her ankles. Talk about multitasking. She not only flosses but also rolls on perfume behind her ear, across her wrists and swipes down at her ankles. Despite her best efforts, Nancy still smells like hairspray though none’s in her hair at the moment. Her waves are up and loose in a scrunchie that she borrowed from Robin, actually, and never returned. Nancy wonders if Robin’ll recognize the stolen object.
Taking a deep breath in the mirror, Nancy hypes herself up before leaving the seashell-adorned bathroom. If she’s had feelings towards girls before, she’s never acted on them. This is her moment to shine.
Buzzing with excitement, Nancy takes off towards Robin. When she finds Robin pacing in her bedroom, Nance scoops up her freckled cheeks and kisses her decidedly on the lips. Robin’s hands flail around only for a second before finding perfect resting spots. Nancy and Robin fit seamlessly together in each other’s arms. The kiss is magical, but what’s even sweeter is the silent, smiling moment after both girls’ dreams are realized. Their foreheads rest gently together, each knowing this is the first embrace of forever.