october 1984
harrington residence

steve harrington sat out by his pool staring up at the pink and orange sky, sadness building in his chest. his best friend, tommy was sitting on the edge of the diving board, his bare feet dangling over the edge. he studied steve for a moment then sighed.

"what's got you so down?" tommy asked, "aren't you throwing a rager tonight?"

"yeah," steve shrugged, "but nancy still broke up with me."

"you're bent out of shape over the priss?" tommy rolled his eyes, "you have your pick of any girl in school and you're hung up on her."

"you don't get it," steve said.

"maybe i don't," tommy shrugged, "i have the perfect girlfriend so i must not."

"nancy was perfect, tommy," steve shot back, "and she broke my heart."

"if she's so important to you, win her back tonight," tommy replied.

"there's no way she's coming tonight," steve scoffed.

"it's a harrington party, of course she'll come," carol said from the doorway.

"babe," tommy's face lit up when he saw her, although he tried to hide it.

"steve, she's a woman. it's not rocket science," carol sighed as she walked over to tommy.

"you're still rocket science to me, baby," tommy grinned as she climbed up the ladder and he went to kiss her.

"yeah, well you're not a rocket scientist," carol smirked then kissed him.

steve rolled his eyes, "i called you guys so you'd help me set up, not so you'd make out by my pool."

"we came over because we thought it was a pregame," tommy replied.

"nothing is stopping you from making it a pregame," steve replied.

carol climbed down from the diving board as did tommy. he ran towards the kitchen, not bothering to look back to see if anyone else was following him. carol smiled then walked over to steve who directed his attention to her.

"you want to win her back?" carol asked.

"more than anything," steve replied.

"find her at this party, she'll probably wear pink, and tell her how much you love her, how much you miss her, how much you need her, and then before she can say anything, you kiss her," carol smiled.

"and she'll like that?" steve asked.

"of course she will," carol said beginning to walk away, "she's a woman."