Cinderella anon here! I actually like the idea of Steve and the Reader knowing each other in high school but they were on opposite ends of the spectrum. They have like one magical night together at a school dance or something. Then she transfers schools and Steve is sad he'll never see her again, only to find her years later when she returns to Hawkins and he's working at FV. No smut please! Also, there's something of hers he keeps from that night. Up to you on what that will be.
I have been SAVING this gif for something and it’s perfect for this.
Steve Harrington x Reader
Hawkins High School’s Winter Formal: 1984
The gym was decorated to the nines.
There were blue and white streamers everywhere, paper snowflakes hanging from the ceilings. White lights were strung everywhere and there were winter themed fake trees at the front entrance.
There was a sea of people on the dance floor. Girls dressed in pretty gowns. From sequins and ruffles to lace and glitter. Guys were dressed in nice suits varying in shades of neutrals, though there were some in brighter, more stand out colors.
There was one guy who didn’t need a bright suit to stand out as he always held the room’s attention. Steve Harrington, despite no longer ruling the school, still turned heads.
You knew of him, of course. You had to live with your head in the sand to not know of the former King of Hawkins High. Girls still flocked to him and guys still secretly wanted to be him; he was just way more low key this year than he was last year during your mutual junior year.
You traveled in different circles, so you’d never interacted with him, but it didn’t help that you’d harbored a tiny, secret crush on him since freshman year. But you were realistic, you knew you didn’t stand a chance and it didn’t bother you. It was just a simple fact.
That didn’t stop you from enjoying the view, though.
Typically, you thought high school dances were lame, but your friends had begged you to come with them and you’d eventually gave in.
Your dress was simple, a bright turquoise color which seemed odd for a winter dance, but you’d like the way the color stood out against your skin tone. Besides, you weren’t there to impress anyone anyway.
You’d paired it with a pair of white Mary Jane heels, a set of silver snowflake drop earrings and your absolute favorite necklace.
It was a small, silver charm of a star on a matching silver chain, long enough to rest just below your throat. Your mom had given it to you for your sixteenth birthday, telling you it was because you were her star.
Your friends were off dancing with their dates and you stood by the concessions table, sipping on your punch. You didn’t really care much anyway because after tonight, you’d never see these people again.
Your parents had told you only a month ago that by the new semester, you’d be in a new school, somewhere in North Carolina. Your dad had gotten a new job and frankly, you’d miss your friends but not much else about Hawkins. Today was technically the first day of break as school let out early, but you’d already committed to going to the dance. So here you were, leaning against the table at the dance, obviously have tons of fun.
“Isn’t it a little counterproductive to sit on the sidelines at a dance?”
You broke out of your thoughts and noticed who was standing in front of you.
He looked really good in a dark blue suit, and white dress shirt, no tie—not that that was at all surprising. His hair was combed back, held back with gel maybe, but if so, it was so unnoticeable that you’d thought he woke up with his hair perfectly placed.
The guy had great hair, you had to give him that.
His hands were stuffed in his pants pockets as he watched you. Why he was over here, talking to you, you had no idea.
“Dancing is overrated,” you shrugged, “And the punch is good.”
“Isn’t that stuff like 90% alcohol?” he asked.
“Either I must’ve been lucky to get a cup before it was spiked or this is the weakest alcohol I’ve ever drank,” you replied dryly.
He laughed. An actual, hearty, deep from his chest type of laugh. It wasn’t just to be polite, he actually found your remark funny.
“Where’s your date?” he asked, brow raised.
“Invisible,” you retorted.
“Ah. I bet he makes a nice date.”
“At least I don’t have to listen to annoying complaining,” you shrugged.
His lips twitched, but you continued, actually deciding to be honest.
“I came alone. I mean I came with friends, but I didn’t bring a date.”
“Shame,” he said, “A guy is missing out on not taking a date that cleans up as nice as you.”
“If you’re trying to flirt with me, Harrington, that was terrible. Frankly, I expected more of you.”
He looked surprised now, brows raising towards the ceiling.
You snorted, the question actually humorous.
“True,” he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, falling silent.
“Where’s your date, Your Highness?” you smirked, emphasizing the title.
“Please don’t call me that. I’m just Steve. And I didn’t bring a date.”
Now it was your turn to be shocked.
“You mean none of the girls that’s been flocking around you all night aren’t your date?”
“Definitely not,” he said.
“Must be more like your fan club, hm?”
“Something like that,” he smirked, “So, you mind if I join you?”
“Well I haven’t exactly opposed yet, have I?”
He chuckled, moving to lean on the table next to you.
“Careful of the punch though. I’m sure by now it’s more toxic than gasoline.”
“So what are you doing here if you’re going to stand on the sidelines too?” you asked, taking another sip of your drink, “Shouldn’t you be wooing and dancing with the line of girls that’s eager to capture your attention?”
He shrugged, looking out at the sea of people on the dance floor.
“Maybe I’m just waiting for something else.”
“Like what?” you questioned, curiously.
“I don’t know. A Cinderella in a sea of commoners, maybe,” Steve said.
“Sounds like someone has been watching too many Disney movies,” you quipped.
“What, aren’t all girls secretly wooed by romance and the thought of a Prince Charming to sweep them off their feet?”
“Well considering I’ve never had a Prince Charming sweep me off my feet, I wouldn’t know. I’ll get back to you when that happens, though.”
He chuckled again and you couldn’t believe you were making Steve Harrington laugh. You also couldn’t believe that he was no longer like the guy you’d once seen in action—for three straight years of high school in fact.
While Steve was a jock, the star of the basketball team, you were more a theater arts kid. You enjoyed choir, plays and music. You couldn’t have been more opposite in social circles if you’d tried.
The music, which had been several fast paced songs in a row, switched to a slow song and couples started to pair off.
You recognized the song as Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper.
“So, are you just going to stand there all night, or would you like to dance?” he offered, holding out his hand.
You threw caution to the wind and shrugged, taking his hand.
“I thought you said dancing is overrated,” he said, a wry grin on his face as his arm wrapped around your waist.
“Well it’s not every day, a King asks you to dance,” you said, amused.
His face turned serious, eyes scanning your face.
“I’m not the asshole I used to be,” he said quietly, so quiet you had to lean in closer to hear him.
“I know,” you said simply.
“You do?” he looked surprised.
“Yes. I’ve seen enough to know that you aren’t.”
He pulled you closer, your hand that was resting on his chest, keeping you a healthy distance away, sliding up around his neck as you swayed to the song.
“You know, I’ve seen you around a lot, but I’ve never got your name,” he said.
“Well, it’s nice to officially meet you, Y/N,” he grinned crookedly.
“So, got any exciting plans for the holidays?” he asked.
“Just Christmas and New Years’ with my family,” you said nonchalantly, “You?”
His face clouds for a moment.
“Just hanging out with friends. Spending Christmas with my friend’s family. My parents aren’t really around much because of working all the time.”
You felt a stab of pain, seeing the look on Steve’s face. It was obviously something that upset him and you wanted to do anything to make him smile again. Make him laugh again.
“I’m sorry, Steve. That’s awful.”
Your tone wasn’t pitying, but empathetic.
“It’s okay. What do you and your family do?”
You smiled, thinking of the memories over the years of holidays past.
“Me and my parents always watch a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve night and eat Christmas cookies,” you said, face dreamy with memories.
This Christmas wasn’t going to be as magical due to the move, but you knew there were more to come. It just now struck you while talking to Steve, how much you were going to miss the usual traditions.
“Don’t laugh, but we also always leave Santa cookies. I mean, I stopped believing in him long ago, but me and my parents do it anyway because they say it keeps the childlike magic still inside of you.”
Steve was smiling, watching you talk.
“That’s really sweet,” he murmured, “What else?”
“Christmas morning we open presents and my parents usually always go overboard. I’m an only child and they like to tease me that I’m the light of my life. My mom actually calls me her star. Anyways, Christmas breakfast is usually fresh cinnamon rolls from the oven. Don’t be confused and think they’re homemade or anything because as good as a cook my mom is, she can’t bake worth a shit. They’re from a can.”
Steve’s laugh mixed with your own chuckles.
“She likes to make sure we have something in our stomachs before we start the day. I usually help her in the kitchen prepare whatever it is we take to my grandma’s house. That’s where the whole family gathers for Christmas. I don’t have a huge family, but it’s not small either. So there’s lots of talking, eating and lots of noise when presents are being open because I have a lot of little cousins. But usually, I think the end of the day is my favorite part, even though it’s the saddest part since it means Christmas is over.”
“What’s that?” he asked, genuinely curious.
“Well, me and my parents tend to spend the night with my grandma because we help her clean up from the chaos that is my family, the next day,” you smiled, “But my favorite part is being able to snuggle up in front of the fireplace, with a piece of pie, Christmas leftovers, something from the holiday meal and watch one last Christmas movie of the year. My mom says she usually finds me asleep in front of the fireplace, well after the movie has ended.”
Steve is silent for a moment and you worry that you’ve occupied his time for too long, that you’ve babbled for too long.
Already, a rare, third slow song was coming on. You hadn’t even noticed the first one fading into the second. After this, you were sure there wasn’t going to be another song for you to dance with him to.
“I’m sorry, I was babbling—” you began.
He had a wistful look in his eyes, a small smile on his lips.
“That sounds like a magical holiday,” he said softly.
“Maybe if you’re good, Santa will bring you an invitation to my crazy family Christmas,” you chuckled.
You both fell quiet after that, for truly the first time since he’d approached you, but this time, you didn’t mind. You just wanted to enjoy tonight and this song.
You laid your head on his shoulder and you could’ve sworn you felt his arms around your waist tighten just a bit.
You were positive he was going to let you go and wander off once the song ended, but he didn’t. You both stayed there, dancing with one another, lost in your own world.
Even when the faster paced songs like The Police’s Every Breath You Take and Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called To Say I Love You came on, you kept swaying with one another, occasionally talking about different things.
Too soon though, the dance started winding down. The majority of the time you had spent with Steve had been on the dance floor and you didn’t regret a moment of it.
You had no idea where your friends had gotten to and you knew you needed to tell them a proper goodbye before you left Hawkins High for good.
“I think this is the only time I’m glad my feet are tired,” Steve joked as you finally pulled out of his embrace.
“I agree,” you smiled, hating the fact that you were going to have to say goodbye.
You didn’t give yourself time to overthink your next action as you stepped closer to him again, kissing his cheek gently. His arm enclosed your waist gently, like it was always meant to be there. He gave you a little squeeze before you stepped back.
“I had fun, Steve Harrington. Thank you.”
“I’ll see you after break, right?”
His face looked so hopeful that you didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth. He would probably forget about you before break was over, anyways.
“Yeah,” you nodded, “See you.”
You turned, heading towards the door, leaving Hawkins High and Steve Harrington behind you.
It wouldn’t be until after the move that you noticed your star necklace had disappeared.
Family Video, Hawkins, Indiana: 1986
Sometimes, Steve thought about you.
Scratch that, he thought about you often.
It had been two years now since that night at the Winter Formal, his senior year. The incredible night he’d shared with Y/N.
After years of surrounding himself with fake people and a failed relationship, he thought he’d finally stumbled upon someone he’d really connected with.
He thought of you all break. For once, he was excited for school. It had been rough after he no longer was King Steve and his breakup with Nancy. People either hated him or sucked up to him, just wanting him for what they thought he was. He’d been getting by day by day so he could grab his diploma and get the fuck out of there.
But Y/N had changed things for him. He had a reason to look forward to school again. He looked for you for a week after school resumed.
When he eventually heard that you’d moved away, he was surprised at how much the news hurt. He didn’t even know you all that well, so why was he so upset?
He did actually make it through the rest of his senior year, but he never stopped thinking about you.
Which is how he was here, telling his best friend Robin all about it, two years later.
Despite all the girls he’d taken out, no matter who he tried to date, no one seemed to satisfy him. He kept thinking about you.
“So, let me get this straight,” Robin said, finishing shelving the rental VHSes in her hands, “You have this incredibly, straight out of a fairy tale romantic night at the school dance with this girl and then she disappears forever?”
Robin, who’d recently graduated from Hawkins High herself had been a grade below him. He hadn’t known her back in high school, but he sure was glad he knew her now.
“Basically,” he sighed, stacking the return tapes.
“And she is the reason that you haven’t been able to settle down with any girl?” Robin asked, clearly amused.
“Look, I know how crazy it sounds, alright? We spent a few hours together and I’m still pining over her, yes. But I don’t know Robin, I just felt such a strong connection to her. I was devastated when she didn’t come back.”
“Honestly she sounds too good to be true. It almost sounds like a crazy fever dream.”
“I would think the same thing, if I didn’t have this.”
He reached into his jeans pocket, pulling out the silver chain and holding it out to her.
“What is this?” she asked, taking the item in her hands, studying it, “A star necklace?”
“I noticed it at my feet after she’d left. The clasp must’ve broken and slid off,” he said.
The way Robin asked it, he wasn’t sure if she found it romantic or creepy.
“Yeah,” he shrugged sheepishly, “It’s become like a good luck charm for me, I guess. I always carry it. I figured if there was ever the chance I saw her again, I could return it.”
“Steve that’s the sweetest thing I think I’ve ever heard you say,” she gaped at him.
“Don’t make fun of me,” he grumbled, taking the necklace back and putting it safely back in his pocket.
“I’m not, I swear! It’s like a chick flick come to life.”
He rolled his eyes, giving her a look.
“But back to my point. You can’t let this girl ruin you on love forever. At this point, you’re chasing a ghost, Steve.”
His eyes widened when the front door chimed, signaling a customer coming in. It wasn’t the fact that they had a customer. It was who it was.
“Speaking of ghosts,” he mumbled, frozen in shock.
You were busy looking at the end display of one aisle and hadn’t turned his and Robin’s way.
Robin whipped her head around, spitting you.
“That’s her?!” she whispered.
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
She grabbed the stack of tapes out of his hands.
“Go get your girl, Romeo!”
You’d recently moved back to Hawkins to live with your grandma. She was getting older and needing more help around the house. Even though she was in good health, you were happy to be of help. You loved your grandma dearly and would do anything for her, even move back to Hawkins.
Your two years in North Carolina hadn’t been bad. You’d made some friends, got a job after graduation, but for some reason you never felt fulfilled there. For some reason, you often missed Hawkins.
More specifically, you’d missed Steve.
You spent a good amount of time wondering what could’ve happened if you’d had more time to get to know him. You absolutely regretted not telling him you were moving away. Even if anything hadn’t happened between you two, you could’ve stayed in touch.
The thoughts of him really permeated your brain since you’d stepped back into Hawkins. You’d wonder how he was, where he ended up, if he was happy.
You remembered how sad he’d been about his parents, how wistful he’d been at your family’s holiday traditions. He deserved to be happy.
Your grandma had mentioned a video rental store downtown and suggested you stop by to rent a few movies so the two of you could watch and you’d agreed. You were eager to explore the town you’d written off so long ago.
You’d just picked up one movie to check out when you heard a voice behind you. It was one you hadn’t forgotten.
You turned around, nearly dropping the tape in your hand. You clumsily put it back before it could hit the floor.
“You look as surprised to see me as I am you,” he grinned.
He was only two years older but he seemed so much more of a man now. He was almost 20, if not already. He still looked as amazing as he did that night, though now he sported jeans, a polo and a dark green Family Video employee vest.
“Oh wow,” you chuckled, “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself,” he chuckled, “Been awhile, huh?”
You nodded like a fool, but you couldn’t help the smile that had spread on your face.
“I didn’t realize you worked here,” you said.
“Yup, been here for over a year now,” he nodded.
“I’ve only been back in Hawkins for a week. I just moved in with my grandma,” you said, still in disbelief.
“I heard you’d moved away when break was over,” he said, brows furrowing.
“I’m so sorry Steve. I should’ve told you. I wish I would’ve. But we’d had such a great night and I didn’t want to ruin it. I thought you wouldn’t even remember me by the time break was over,” you admitted, guiltily.
“Y/N,” he rasped, “I never forgot you.”
There were actual tears in your eyes, you were so overwhelmed with guilt, happiness, sorrow for all the possible time lost.
“I never forgot you either, Steve,” you smiled.
“Actually, uh, you kinda left a part of you with me that night,” he chuckles, reaching into his pocket for something.
Only when it’s dangling from his hand do you recognize it.
“My star necklace,” you gasped, “I thought I lost it forever.”
“I found it on the floor at my feet after you left,” he said, smiling the tiniest bit, “I’ve kept it with me all this time in hopes I could return it one day.”
You have no words for how touched you are.
“May I?” he gestures to your neck, unclasping it, “Apparently it broke when it fell off, but I got the clasp fixed long ago.”
You couldn’t help the smile that brightened your face as you turned your back to him, lifting your hair off your neck. He carefully lifted his arms, the necklace coming over your head before resting gently against the hollow of your neck, where it had rested so perfectly before. He secured it, making double sure that it wasn’t going anywhere before letting you know you could turn around again.
Your fingers brushed the silver star, the comfort in it just the same as it always was. You gazed up at him, halfway believing he wasn’t actually real, that you were just dreaming all of this.
“Thank you,” you said demurely.
Opposing your shy words, you stepped closer to him, putting a hand on his chest and leaned up to kiss him. Not on the cheek as you’d once had, but on the lips, like he deserved.
You kissed him for that amazing last night at Hawkins High. You kissed him for the time you’d lost. You kissed him for saving your most treasured item. You kissed him because all this time, you wished you had that night.
Lastly, you kissed him like you life depended on it.
He looked just as dazed as you felt when you pulled back, no words being able to describe the type of fireworks that went off behind your eyes and in your heart when your lips had met. The kiss had thrown him off guard, but he’d kissed you back just as passionately as you had kissed him, one arm coming around your waist to hold you there.
Maybe it was his dazed state to blame why he was so confused by your next question.
“Have you been a good boy this year, Steve?” you asked.
A husky laugh left his lips and he looked as confused as he sounded.
“Well Christmas is coming up soon,” you murmured, looking up at him intently, “I was wondering if you’d like Santa to bring you that invitation to my family’s Christmas.”
His eyes softened so much, you wanted to melt with them. They were dark pools of chocolate, full of all the emotions he was feeling.
Then you kissed him again, in the middle of Family Video, during his shift and you did not care one bit. Neither did he.
You pulled back suddenly, a thought occurring to you, an amused smile on your face.
“Wait. Does this mean I’m your Cinderella?”
There was an equally amused glint in his eye, complimenting the look of pure happiness on his face.
“I suppose it does. Just as long as I’m your Prince Charming.”
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