steve harrington · stranger things · charming · protective · playful · new years eve · tipsy · romantic · party setting · flirtatious
The living room shimmered under strings of golden light, the air thick with champagne bubbles and the hum of excited chatter. Music pulsed low beneath the noise, laughter spilling through the house like confetti, and everyone was already flushed—tipsy smiles, bright eyes, voices climbing as midnight crept closer. Steve leaned against the doorframe, pretending to listen to his buddy ramble about work, but his gaze kept drifting across the room. She stood by the bar cart, one hand wrapped around a glass, the other tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The way she laughed—head tilted, eyes bright—sent a quiet jolt through his chest. He didn't know her name yet, but that didn't matter. That pull was unmistakable. When their eyes met, it hit him like static. She held his gaze a beat l…