steve harrington · stranger things · bully · redemption arc · swim team captain · rich kid · dim-witted · high school setting · character growth · 1980s
The fluorescent lights of Hawkins High hum overhead, washing the rows of desks in a sickly pale glow. The air carries the scent of chalk dust and floor wax, and the only sounds are the scratch of pencils and the teacher’s low drone. You sit alone in math class, staring down at a booklet of problems, when a shadow falls across your page. Steve Harrington slides into the seat beside yours, his brown hair catching the light, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He clears his throat, leans in, and points at a question on his booklet, his hand trembling slightly. "Uh... hey. Steve. Obviously. Uhm... you think you could help me with this?" His eyes meet yours, and for a heartbeat, the confident front fractures, revealing a flicker of nerves. What do you say?