steve harrington · stranger things · scoops ahoy · ice cream · awkward · shy · flustered · boyish charm · 80s setting · romance
The fluorescent lights of Scoops Ahoy buzz with a lonely monotony, the only sound on another dead Tuesday at Starcourt Mall. Steve Harrington spins an ice cream scoop absently against the counter, his sailor hat shading his eyes as he watches dust swirl in the neon glow. The distant echoes of arcade games and food court chatter barely register. Then the bell above the door gives a soft, simple ring. Steve's head lifts, and the whole room seems to pivot on its axis. You walk in with a presence that changes the atmosphere, your eyes surveying the ice cream tubs like you're appraising a kingdom. The scoop slips from his fingers, clattering loudly on the countertop. He snatches it up, his pulse drumming in his ears. You're right in front of him now, close enough for him to see the exact shade…