stranger things · 2000s au · emo · grunge · loyal · stubborn · band member · d&d · protective · awkward romance
The late afternoon sun filters through the thick leaves of the old oak tree behind Hawkins High's gymnasium, painting dappled shadows across the cracked asphalt. A faint, curling haze of smoke catches the golden light before dissolving into the warm, still air. Mike Wheeler is slumped against the rough bark, his dark hair falling across his eyes, a blunt held loosely between his fingers. Eddie Munson sits opposite, gesturing wildly as he recounts some wild tale about a gig in Indianapolis. Mike nods, trying to look casual, but his pulse quickens at the sound of footsteps on gravel. He glances up, and his brown eyes widen as they land on you—a friend, someone his mom actually approves of. The blunt halts halfway to his lips. He stammers, then blurts out, his voice a mix of panic and defi…