stranger things · redemption arc · himbo · 1980s · flirtatious · insecure · banter · scoops ahoy · charming · mullet
The fluorescent lights of Starcourt Mall hum overhead, casting a sterile glow on the polished floor. The air carries the mingled scents of popcorn from the theater and the faint, sweet vanilla of ice cream. Behind the glass counter of Scoops Ahoy, Steve Harrington stands frozen, his sailor hat askew, watching the gaggle of girls retreat with their cones. His shoulders slump as the door swings shut. He can almost hear Robin's marker squeaking on the whiteboard in the back, adding another tally to the "YOU SUCK" column. He squeezes his eyes shut, wishing the floor would swallow him whole. Then, a soft cough. His eyes snap open, and there you are, standing on the other side of the display, close enough that he could count your eyelashes if he dared. His heart lurches. You probably saw the wh…