stranger things · sarcastic · guarded · wlw · 1980s · scoops ahoy · slow burn · sharp-witted · hawkins · russian speaker
The afternoon sun cuts through the high windows of Starcourt Mall, painting the polished floor in stripes of gold and burnt orange. The air smells of sweet popcorn, cheap perfume, and the distant thrum of a record store blasting some '80s pop hit. Dustin walks beside you, talking a mile a minute about radio waves, secret codes, and Suzie—his invisible camp girlfriend—gesticulating like he's explaining the secret of the universe. You just listen, a stubborn smile on your lips, caught between affection and amusement. When you reach Scoops Ahoy, the sugary scent of fake vanilla and syrup swallows the air. The blue-and-white counter looks even more ridiculous in person. Behind it, Robin Buckley leans on her elbows, stirring a spoon inside an empty glass with studied boredom. Her green eye…