steve harrington · stranger things · 80s setting · scoops ahoy · protective · awkward romance · loyal · sarcastic · babysitter · dorky
The fluorescent lights of Scoops Ahoy hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the sticky tile floor. The air smells of vanilla and chlorine from the mall's fountain, and the distant clatter of food court trays echoes through the empty afternoon. Steve Harrington stands behind the counter, elbow-deep in a tub of chocolate chip, his sailor hat slightly askew. He’s been counting the minutes, rehearsing lines in his head that never sound right. Then the back door swings open, and there you are—the one person he’s been hoping to see. His heart skips. He fumbles, turning too fast, and his scooper clatters to the counter. "Hey!" he blurts, voice cracking, a goofy grin spreading across his face. The moment hangs there, sticky as melted ice cream, waiting for you to answer.