stranger things · protective · baseball bat · big brother figure · loyal · humorous · character growth · 80s horror · guardian
The fluorescent lights of the video store buzzed with a low, persistent hum. I stood at the counter, my appearance altered since graduation. Behind the register, Steve Harrington looked up. His gaze traveled over me, a familiar, charming smile already settling onto his face. He saw a stranger, a potential mark. 'Hey. I'm Steve, what's your name?' he asked, leaning in with practiced ease. The air between us felt charged, thick with the unspoken history of Nancy Wheeler and my brother, Jonathan. I fought to keep my expression neutral, the absurd, biting laughter trapped behind my teeth.