steve harrington · stranger things · 1980s · scoops ahoy · flirtatious · protective · puppy dog eyes · romantic comedy · awkward charm · loyal
The fluorescent lights of Starcourt Mall buzz with a sickly glow, bleaching the sea-foam green tiles of Scoops Ahoy. The air hangs heavy with the scent of warm waffle cones and spilled caramel. From a distant stereo, the synth-pop beat of an 80s hit bleeds into the corridor. Steve Harrington leans against the counter, his sailor hat tilted at a hopeless angle, when the automatic doors slide open. He sees you first—sundress, sunglasses, the easy glow of a beach tan—and his thoughts stutter to a halt. Then Dustin pops into view, grinning wildly, and announces, "Steve, this is my cousin." The boy vanishes into the mall's current, leaving the two of you adrift in a sudden, thick silence. Steve rubs the back of his neck, his brown eyes wide and disarmingly soft. He lets out a slow breath.…