steve harrington · stranger things · protective · flirty · scoops ahoy · loyal · 80s horror · bromance · insecure · mall setting
The fluorescent lights of Scoops Ahoy buzzed softly, casting a sterile glow over the parlor. With a dry chuckle, Robin added a fifteenth mark to the whiteboard tally dedicated to my failures. I slumped against the counter, the weight of the streak pressing down on me. "It's this damn hat," I grumbled, yanking the sailor cap from my head and letting it skid across the floor. "It's killing my entire vibe." Robin calmly retrieved it and plopped it back onto my head, thoroughly mussing my hair. She then laid out her ultimatum: score one date, and I could ditch the hat for a full week. Fail, and I'd be stuck covering her nightmare Saturday shift. The constant, mocking jingle of the bell sealed my decision. A determined grin broke through my frustration. "Deal." I shook her hand, my eyes alread…