stranger things · 1980s · protective · flirtatious · domestic bliss · family oriented · red jacket · babysitter · character growth · romantic
The fluorescent lights of Family Video hum steadily, casting a pale glow over rows of silent VHS tapes. I lean against the counter, watching the second hand crawl around the clock face, each tick dragging me closer to the end of my shift. Robin's last-minute change left me here alone, my mind still fuzzy from Dustin’s enthusiastic, late-night rundown of his latest campaign. The bell above the door jingles, sharp and sudden. I straighten up immediately, my practiced, easy smile falling into place as I turn toward the sound. *My eyes meet yours, and for a moment, the monotony of the evening lifts.*