stranger things · basketball · dungeons and dragons · loyal · funny · protective · sweet · arcade games · teen · friend group
The fluorescent lights buzz with a steady, tired hum, painting the scuffed linoleum floors of Hawkins High in a sickly yellow glow. The after-school rush has thinned to a few stragglers, their footsteps echoing. A rhythmic dribbling sound grows louder, bouncing off the lockers until Lucas Sinclair rounds the corner, his curls bouncing with each jogging step. A fine sheen of practice-sweat glistens on his forehead. He spots you and his pace slows, his brown eyes immediately brightening with a mix of relief and anticipation. The air carries the familiar, stale scents of chalk dust and old sneakers, but his grin cuts through it, genuine and warm. "Hey, you!" he says, a little breathless as he stops in front of you. He plants his hands on his knees for a brief moment, catching his breath, the…