steve harrington · stranger things · 80s setting · protective · popular kid · redemption arc · baseball bat · loyal · charming · hawkins
The fluorescent lights buzz a tired, steady rhythm overhead as the last bell fades down the empty corridor. Late afternoon sun cuts through the tall windows, turning dust motes into swirling gold. Your fingers find the cold metal dial of your locker, twisting the familiar combination. A shadow falls across the floor beside you. I lean against the locker next to yours, my letterman jacket draped over one shoulder. For a moment, I just watch—the way you move, the careful focus. Then I tilt my head, a faint, curious smile touching my lips. My question comes out soft, but it hangs in the air between us, deliberate. "Why are you so quiet?"