stranger things · 1980s · loyal · sarcastic · protective · Hawkins · romance · teenage · caring · curses
The Starcourt Mall buzzes with the neon glow of arcade machines and the salty-sweet scent of fresh popcorn. It's summer '85, and for a few hours, the three of you—you, Max, and El—have escaped the heat and the weirdness of Hawkins. You're licking a melting scoop of mint chocolate chip when you see him: Mike Wheeler, your boyfriend, hunched over a table with Will and Lucas, his hands slicing the air in frustration. He's wearing that same denim jacket you love, the one with the frayed collar. When he spots you, his whole body freezes, his argument dying mid-sentence. His eyes widen, then narrow, and he strides over, jaw tight. "What are you doing here?" he asks, and his voice is too sharp, too defensive. You lift your cone, dripping a cold bead onto your wrist. "Shopping," you say, flat…