Freaky Saturday | Steve Harrington <3
pairing: basketball!captain steve harrington x cheerleader!captain reader henderson
wc: 7.9k
warning: IDIOTS WHO SECRETLY ARE IN LOVE, fluffy, crack fic, tooth-rotting fluff, comedy, rom-com, dumbest slowburn, denial of feelings, bestfriends in love, idiots inlove, friends to lovers, body swap, FREAKY FRIDAY au, obvious & oblivious, mutual pining, accidental magic, dustin causing problems, eddie being a menace, robin clocking everything.
summary: steve harrington and you have always been inseparable—best friends, partners in crime, and professional survivors of whatever weird disaster hawkins throws your way. so when the two of you accidentally drink a suspicious pink “potion” in eddie munson’s basement, waking up the next morning in each other’s bodies is… less than ideal. now steve has to survive cheer practice, you have to survive basketball practice, and somehow the two of you need to figure out how to undo a very real body-swap spell before monday. unfortunately, the solution might involve admitting something you’ve both been avoiding for years. and honestly? that might be scarier than the spell.
You and Steve are friends—no, best friends.
Somewhere between the disasters Hawkins seems to produce every year and the quiet fallout of your old group, the two of you became each other’s safe place. Senior year somehow sealed the deal. If one of you was somewhere, the other wasn’t far behind.
Right now, Steve is slouched on the gym bleachers, watching cheer practice with the patience of a saint or a man who already finished basketball drills and has nothing better to do.
You clap your hands sharply.
“Again from the top! And if Tina trips over her own feet during halftime again, we are not taking the blame.”
The squad laughs nervously before falling back into formation. Music crackles from the old gym speakers as you run the routine again—sharp motions, jumps, a clean ending pose.
Steve leans back against the bleachers, whistling low.
When practice finally ends, you dismiss the squad and jog over, slightly out of breath. Steve already has a water bottle waiting.
“Hey,” you say, grabbing it. “How was the routine?”
Steve shrugs like he’s judging an Olympic event. “Fine. Good enough that we probably won’t embarrass ourselves.”
You narrow your eyes at him. “Okay, Harrington. Watch your mouth—and your shot.” He smirks.
“Hey, my shots are legendary.”
“Yeah, legendary for missing.”
Steve presses a hand dramatically to his chest. “That was cruel.”
You roll your eyes and wipe sweat from your forehead.
“Alright,” he says, standing and tossing his gym bag over his shoulder. “Fix yourself up and I’ll drive you home.”
You hesitate for a second. “Can we stop at Eddie’s first? I need to pick up Dustin.”
“No worries, princess.”
You gag loudly. “Ew.”
Steve grins the entire walk to the car.
જ⁀➴
Eddie Munson’s house looks exactly like what you’d expect: loud music, mismatched decorations, and a porch light that flickers like it’s haunted.
As you walk up the driveway, you shake your head.
“Dustin mentioned Eddie found a spell book at a thrift store,” you say. “Apparently it’s his new obsession.”
Steve snorts.“Well, Dustin is a sucker for knowledge.”
He pauses. “Any knowledge.”
You ring the doorbell. A moment later, Eddie’s mom opens the door, smiling warmly.
“Hi there! What can I help you two with?”
“I’m here for Dustin,” you say politely.
“Oh, they’re all in the basement,” she replies, stepping aside. “Go on in.”
Steve mutters under his breath as you walk inside. “Why are they always in a basement?”
જ⁀➴
The basement is chaos. Dungeons & Dragons books everywhere, soda cans, wires, candles—actual candles and a group of teenage boys huddled around a table like they’re performing a ritual.
Eddie, Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and a couple of Eddie’s friends look up.
“Dustin,” you say immediately. “Let’s go home.”
“Wait!” Dustin protests.
Steve stretches his arms. “God, I’m thirsty.”
Without really thinking about it, he grabs two red plastic cups sitting on the table. The liquid inside is a suspicious shade of pink. He hands one to you.
You glance at it. “Where did this come from?”
Steve shrugs. “Probably punch.”
Across the table, the boys suddenly look horrified. You and Steve drink at the same time.
“NOOOOOOO!”
The entire basement erupts in panic. Too late.
You swallow the last drop and grimace. “That tastes terrible.”
Steve makes a face. “Yeah. What the hell was that?”
Eddie slowly lowers his hands from his head like someone watching a car crash. “So… uh… how do you guys feel?”
You shrug. “like I just drank melted bubblegum.”
Steve points at Dustin. “and slightly suspicious.”
Lucas crosses his arms. “Told you, Eddie, that book is bullshit.”
Mike sighs. “Yeah, the spell didn’t work.”
You freeze. “…What spell?”
Steve slowly turns toward them, eyebrows knitting together. “What did you say?”
Dustin winces. “Well… technically… we were experimenting.”
Steve blinks. “Experimenting.”
“With a body-swap spell,” Mike adds helpfully.
You stare at them. “…You what?”
“Relax,” Dustin says quickly. “It obviously didn’t work.”
Steve scoffs. “Yeah, no kidding.”
Dustin points at the empty cups. “Also not our fault you just grabbed random drinks and chugged them.”
Steve throws his hands up. “Not my fault you left mysterious science potions lying around!”
“Dustin!” you snap. “You little—”
You take a deep breath. “Let’s go home. Now.” You grab Dustin by the collar of his jacket and start dragging him upstairs.
Behind you, Eddie leans against the wall with a mischievous grin. “If anything weird happens,” he calls, “you know where to find me.”
You and Steve answer at the exact same time. “Bullshit.”
જ⁀➴
Next morning, the alarm clock buzzes loudly beside your bed. Half asleep, you smack the snooze button without even opening your eyes.
Five more minutes.
You stretch under the blankets, groaning softly, and slowly open your eyes. The ceiling is unfamiliar.
You blink. Once. Twice.
“…What?”
This is not your room. Your room has posters, fairy lights, and a window facing the street. This one has plain walls, a basketball trophy shelf, and a jacket tossed over a chair.
A very familiar jacket. You sit up slowly. “…Steve’s room?”
You rub your face. “Okay,” you mumble. “I must’ve crashed here last night.”
That happens sometimes. Movie nights turn into sleepovers. No big deal. Still half asleep, you stumble out of bed and shuffle toward the bathroom.
When you walk past the mirror, you stop.
You slowly step backwards. The person in the mirror steps backwards too.
Your heart stops.
A tall guy with messy brown hair and a confused expression stares back at you.
You stare. He stares.
“No,” you whisper.
You wave a hand. He waves a hand.
“No no no no.”
You pinch your arm hard.
“OW.” You stare at the mirror again.
Still Steve.
Still very much Steve.
“This is a dream,” you tell yourself firmly.
Then you shift slightly and suddenly feel something… very wrong. Your eyes slowly drift downward. There’s something very noticeable happening under the basketball shorts.
Your brain processes it.
Slowly.
Horribly.
“…oh.”
Beat.
“Oh.”
Your eyes widen.
“OH MY GOD—”
Your scream echoes through the entire neighborhood.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!”
Meanwhile, at the Henderson House, Steve wakes up feeling great. Like, really great. He stretches lazily under the blankets.
“Man,” he mumbles. “I actually feel rested.” He yawns and opens his eyes. The ceiling is wrong. Steve squints.
“…What the hell?”
He sits up. The room looks smaller. Different. Messier. He looks around. Posters he doesn’t recognize. A dresser that definitely isn’t his, and a mirror across the room.
Steve frowns. “…Why am I in—”
He stops. Something feels… different. He looks down and freezes. Two very obvious things are now attached to his chest. Steve stares.
“…Huh.”
He blinks.
“…huh.”
He reaches down cautiously and pokes one. It moves. He pokes the other.
“…Okay.” He squeezes them, very real.
“Okay,” Steve says slowly. “Either I’m dreaming…”
He squeezes again. “…or I am currently a girl.”
He pauses. Then, suddenly, bolts out of bed.
“WAIT—”
He runs to the bathroom mirror.
A very familiar face stares back at him, your face. Steve grips the sink. “Nope,” he mutters. “Nope. Nope. Still dreaming.”
He slaps himself. Hard.
“OW!”
Steve stares at his reflection in horror. “…Oh my god.”
At that exact moment, the phone in the bedroom starts ringing.
Back in Steve’s room, you sit on the bed, nervously biting your nails while staring at the phone.
“Pick up, Harrington,” you mutter. The ringing stops.
“Hello?” Steve says on the other line.
Relief floods through you. “Steve, I am freaking out. I am YOU.”
There’s a pause. “Yeah,” Steve replies calmly. “Imagine how I feel. I’m you.”
You groan. “How did this even start?!”
Silence. “Steve?”
More silence. “STEVE ARE YOU STILL THERE?!”
“Yes!” he says quickly. “I’m thinking!”
Another pause. “…Do you remember Eddie’s house?”
“Yes.”
“The spell.”
Your stomach drops. “The body swap spell?”
Steve sighs heavily. “…Yeah.”
Another pause. “Well,” he says. “I think it worked.”
You immediately start panicking. “Oh my god. No. No no no—”
“Hey, hey!” Steve interrupts. “Don’t cry! We’ll figure it out.”
You sniff. “…How?”
“After practice, we go to Eddie’s.”
You nod even though he can’t see you. “Okay.”
Then the panic returns. “Wait, how are we supposed to do today?! I have cheer practice!”
“Yeah,” Steve groans. “And Coach is gonna murder me if I miss today.”
Silence.
“Okay,” Steve says finally. “New plan.”
“What?”
“We pretend everything is normal.”
You stare at the phone. “Steve.”
“Yeah?”
“That is the worst plan you’ve ever had.”
“We’ve had worse.”
“…Fair.”
Steve chuckles softly. “We got this, princess.”
You groan. “Stop calling me that.”
Then suddenly you remember something important.
“Steve?”
“Yeah?”
“Whatever you do—”
You lower your voice dramatically. “Never open the bottom drawer of my dresser.”
Steve laughs. “I won’t! I won’t!”
Then he pauses. “…What’s in there?”
You immediately snap: “Steven James Harrington.”
He gasps. “Oh wow, full government name.”
“DON’T open it.”
“Okay, okay!”
Steve clears his throat. “Oh, and avoid Robin.”
You blink. “Why?”
“Because she knows me too well.”
“…Fair.”
You sigh. “Okay. I have rules too.”
Steve chuckles. “Alright, boss. Let’s hear them.”
“When you shower, close your eyes.” Steve laughs.
“I’m serious!”
“Okay, okay.”
“No peeking,” you warn. “Or I will pluck your eyes out and feed them to birds.”
“Noted.”
“And avoid Dustin.”
“Good idea.”
Steve smirks. “Relax. There’s nothing here anyway.”
You nearly choke. “I HATE YOU!” Steve laughs loudly, picking up a hairbrush and starts to brush his hair.
“I’ll pick you up later,” you say. “From your house, wait, I’m at your house. You pick me up.”
“Roger that.”
There’s a pause. Then you hesitate.
“Steve?”
“Yeah?”
“…how do I get rid of this morning wood?”
Steve goes completely silent, then he explodes with laughter. Full hysterics.
“Oh my god,” he gasps. “This is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to me.”
You grip the phone tightly. “Steve.”
He keeps laughing.
“STEVE.”
He finally manages to breathe. “Cold shower,” he says. “Take a cold shower. It’ll go away.”
“kay.”
“And hey?”
“What?”
“Don’t peek either.”
You immediately hang up. Across town, Steve stares at the phone.
“…Hello?”
Pause.
“Hello?”
Then he bursts out laughing again.
જ⁀➴
Steve jogs downstairs into the Henderson kitchen, trying very hard not to panic. It’s weird being here. Not because he hasn’t been here before—he practically lives here at this point but because he’s currently you.
Your body. Your voice. Your hair. Your mom. Your little brother who asks too many questions.
Steve grabs a piece of toast and focuses very hard on looking normal. Normal. Totally normal. Nothing suspicious happening here.
Dustin is already at the table eating cereal and scrolling through a comic book. Steve avoids eye contact. Dustin squints at him. Uh oh.
“Morning,” Dustin says slowly.
Steve nods stiffly. “Morning, buddy.”
Dustin freezes. “…Buddy?”
Steve coughs and quickly turns toward the stove. “Uh…mom?” he calls.
Mrs. Henderson turns around from the sink. “Yes, sweetheart?”
Steve nearly jumps at the word. Right. That’s directed at him now.
“Uh… can I borrow the car today?” he asks awkwardly. “I have cheer practice.”
“Of course, darling,” she says warmly. “But isn’t your boyfriend supposed to pick you up?”
Steve blinks. “my what?”
Mrs. Henderson tilts her head. “Your boyfriend.”
Steve frowns. “She has a boyfriend?” he mutters under his breath.
“What was that?” Mrs. Henderson asks.
“Nothing!” Steve says quickly.
Dustin slowly lowers his spoon. “You okay today?” he asks suspiciously.
“Great,” Steve says immediately, too immediately. “Fantastic. Never been better.”
Dustin stares. “Why are you talking like Steve?”
Steve nearly chokes on his toast. “I am not!”
Dustin squints harder. “weird.”
A few minutes later, Steve escapes the house before Dustin can interrogate him further. He walks to Mrs. Henderson’s car and exhales.
“That kid is terrifying,” he mutters.
Steve finally started the car and drove to his house to pick you up. Just as he opens the car door—
“Morning.”
Steve jumps. You’re standing on the sidewalk, leaning against the fence outside his house, wearing Steve’s basketball hoodie and duffel bag slung over your shoulder.
Seeing you in his body is… unsettling, and kind of hilarious.
You raise an eyebrow. “Nice hair,” you say.
Steve glares. “You’re brushing it wrong.”
He looks down at himself—at your body. “Well excuse me, your hair has like six different personalities.” You snort.
Steve gestures toward the car. “Wow. Thanks for preparing my practice bag.”
You roll your eyes. “I expect you prepared the pom-poms.”
Steve grins. “Yes, sweetheart.”
You groan loudly. “Ugh. Did my mom call you that?”
“Duh,” Steve says. “I am you, remember?”
You climb into the passenger seat while he gets behind the wheel.
For a moment, the car is quiet. Steve pulls out of the driveway.
Then he glances at you. “So,” he says casually, “your mom mentioned your boyfriend was supposed to pick you up.”
You blink. “What?”
“Yeah,” Steve continues. “How come I don’t know about this?”
You roll your eyes. “Because it’s nothing.”
Steve points at you. “Hey. Don’t roll your eyes.”
“…What?”
“Especially when you’re in my body,” Steve says. “My reputation cannot survive that level of sass.”
You scoff. “Oh please, Harrington. Your reputation already survived Farrah Fawcett hair spray.”
Steve gasps dramatically. “Take that back.”
You ignore him. “We’re lucky it’s Saturday,” you say. “No one’s at school unless they actually want to be there.”
Steve nods.
“Yeah.”
Then he pauses.
“…Wait.”
You sigh.
“What now?”
Steve grips the wheel.
“I have to lead cheer practice.”
You grin. “Oh yeah.”
He groans. “You better not make me do flips.”
You shrug. “Don’t worry.”
Steve relaxes.
You smile sweetly. “You’re definitely doing flips.”
Steve slams his head gently against the steering wheel. “This is karma.”
જ⁀➴
The moment you walk into the gym, you realize something. Steve Harrington is taller than you thought. Not just taller. Longer legs. Longer arms. Bigger hands.
You bounce the basketball experimentally. It feels… different.
“Yo, Harrington!” You turn.
Three members of the team jog over. One of them tosses you a towel.
“You good today?” Nick asks.
You nod quickly. “Yeah. Totally.”
You’re trying very hard not to stare at your own hands. God, Steve’s hands are huge.
Then the coach blows the whistle. “Locker room, five minutes! Practice starts now!” The team heads toward the locker room.
You follow. Big mistake. The moment the door opens, a wave of pure teenage boy smell hits you like a truck.
Sweat.
Deodorant.
Something that might be pizza.
Your nose wrinkles. Then you notice the rest. Half the team is already changing clothes.
Shirts off.
Shoes flying.
Someone throws a sock across the room.
You freeze. Absolutely not. “Nope,” you mutter.
Nick pauses. “Harrington?”
You slowly back away from the door. “Changing later,” you say quickly.
Nick frowns. “You literally never change later.”
“Trying new things,” you say.
Nick shrugs and disappears inside.
You wait in the hallway, staring at the wall like your life depends on it. “God,” you whisper. “Men are disgusting.”
Once practice starts, you feel slightly more confident. Basketball, you understand. At least… in theory because once or twice, maybe thrice you once attend Steve’s practice.
The ball gets passed to you. Your heart jumps.
Oh god. You shoot.
Swish.
The ball goes straight through the net.
You blink. “…Oh.”
Nick whistles. “Nice shot, Harrington!”
You stare at your hands again. Oh. Right. These are Steve’s arms. These are Steve’s muscles. You grin slightly. Okay. Maybe this won’t be terrible.
Practice continues, pass and bounce here. Jump and shoot there. And the weirdest thing happens.The team keeps looking at you.cNot annoyed.Not judging.
Just waiting...
“Alright Harrington,” someone says. “What’s the play?”
You freeze. They’re asking you. Afterall, Steve is the captain, because Steve leads them.
You clear your throat and remember what Steve said on their last practice. “Uh… let’s try corner pass and drive?”
The team nods immediately. No arguing. No questioning. They trust you, no. They trust him. . They trust Steve. You suddenly feel something heavy in your chest.
Wow. He actually carries a lot. Practice ends with a scrimmage game.
You shoot.
Score again.
The guys cheer. “Harrington’s on fire today!”
As everyone starts grabbing their stuff, one of the players, Kevin, walks over.
“Hey man,” he says. You glance up.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks again for babysitting my sister last week when I was taking an extra shift.”
You blink. “What?”
Kevin smiles. “My mom said you stayed late even after your shift.”
Oh, rght. Steve babysits, and you make fun of it.
Kevin continues. “She won’t stop talking about it. You’re like her hero now.”
You feel a weird warmth in your chest. “…No problem,” you say quietly.
Kevin pats your shoulder. “You’re a good guy, Harrington.”
When he walks away, you stare at the court.
You suddenly realize something. Steve isn’t just the popular guy.
He’s the captain.
The babysitter.
The guy who helps people.
The guy everyone relies on.
And for the first time today, you think:
Wow. Steve Harrington is kind of amazing.
જ⁀➴
Meanwhile, across campus, Steve stands outside the cheer practice room holding a duffel bag full of pom-poms. This is humiliating.
You suddenly appear around the corner in his body. “Okay,” you say quickly.
You grab his arm and pull him aside. “Nope. Change in the bathroom.”
Steve frowns. “But I am a girl.”
You glare. “Don’t make me pluck your eyes out.”
Steve raises his hands. “Aye aye, captain.”
You shove the uniform at him. “I’m serious.”
Then you walk away toward the gym. Steve sighs dramatically. “This day just keeps getting better.”
Inside the girls’ bathroom, Steve locks himself in a stall like he’s preparing for war. He holds the cheer uniform up like it might bite him.
“This is humiliating,” he mutters.
Still, he changes. Jogging pants off. Cheer skirt on. He stares down at it.
“Wow,” he says slowly. “That is… shorter than expected.”
The top goes on next. Then the sneakers. Then the pom-poms. Steve steps in front of the mirror. A girl stares back. Your hair tied up in a high ponytail. Cheer uniform perfectly fitted. Confident stance.
Steve tilts his head. “huh.”
He turns sideways. Then spins once experimentally.
“Okay,” he admits quietly. “That’s actually kinda cute.”
He adjusts the ponytail. “Don’t let this go to your head,” he tells your reflection. Then he grabs the pom-poms and walks out of the bathroom, and immediately regrets it.
The hallway outside the gym is mostly empty, except for two basketball players leaning against the lockers. Steve recognizes them instantly.
His teammates.
One of them is Tyler, a sophomore who joined the team this year. Decent player. Huge ego. Thinks he’s funnier than he actually is.
Tyler looks up. His eyes immediately scan Steve—from ponytail to skirt to sneakers.
Steve already doesn’t like that look.
Tyler nudges his friend. “Well well,” he says loudly. “Look who’s here.”
Steve keeps walking.
Please ignore them.
Please ignore them.
Tyler doesn’t. “Hey,” he calls.
Steve sighs internally and keeps walking. Then—a loud whistle echoes down the hallway.
“Looking good, babygirl!”
Steve stops.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He turns around.
Tyler is grinning like he just told the greatest joke in history. His friend is snickering beside him. Tyler pushes off the locker and walks a little closer.
“You heading to practice?” he asks.
Steve crosses his arms. “Yes.”
Tyler tilts his head. “You should come to one of our games sometime,” he says, leaning casually against the locker. “I could save you a seat.”
Steve stares at him.
Tyler smirks. “What? Don’t like basketball players?”
Steve takes two steps toward him.
Tyler keeps talking. “Because I could totally teach you a few—”
Steve stops directly in front of him. Up close, Steve realizes something strange.
Tyler is looking down at him because Steve is shorter right now.
Weird.
Annoying.
Tyler grins again. “C’mon, don’t be shy—”
Steve cuts him off. His voice drops completely flat. “Do that again,” he says calmly, “and I will cut your throat.”
Silence.
Tyler blinks. “…What?”
Steve doesn’t move. Doesn’t blink. Doesn’t smile.
“Whistle again,” Steve says quietly, “and I swear I will make your life miserable.”
Tyler’s friend stops laughing immediately. Tyler suddenly looks less confident.
“Geez,” he mutters.
He steps back quickly. “Was just joking.”
Steve tilts his head slightly. “Sure you were.”
Tyler grabs his friend’s arm and walks away fast.
Steve watches them disappear around the corner. Then exhales slowly.
“ooOkay,” he mutters. “That was weird.”
He leans against the locker. For a moment, he just stands there. Then the realization hits him. That wasn’t flirting. That wasn’t a compliment. That was… uncomfortable, and suddenly Steve understands something.
You deal with that.
Probably a lot.
The catcalls.
The staring.
The random guys thinking they can say whatever they want.
Steve runs a hand through his hair. “That sucks,” he mutters.
Now he understands why you’re always so quick with a comeback. Why do you glare at guys like that. Why do you walk like you’re ready to punch someone.
It’s not attitude.
It’s defense.
Steve pushes off the locker and starts heading toward cheer practice. But as he walks, he mutters one last thing.
“Oh, Tyler…” He grins slightly.
“Once I get my body back, you are running a hundred laps.”
He pauses.“…actually make that two hundred.” Then Steve jogs into the outside field like nothing had happened.
Cheer practice takes place on the outside field behind the gym, where the grass is still a little damp from last night’s dew. The morning sun is already bright enough that Steve has to squint as he jogs toward the squad.
He’s holding pom-poms, actual pom-poms. He stares at them. “…This is my life now,” he mutters.
The rest of the cheer squad is already gathered on the field stretching—splits, toe touches, backbends that make Steve’s spine hurt just watching.
A few of them wave when they see him. “Morning, captain!”
Steve lifts a hand weakly. “Morning.” Captain. Right. He’s the captain now.
Oh god.
Someone drags a portable speaker onto the grass while the others fall naturally into formation.
Then everyone turns toward him, waiting. Expecting instructions.
Steve blinks. “…Why are you all looking at me?” he whispers.
Ashley tilts her head.“…because you’re the captain?”
Right.
Right.
Steve clears his throat and claps his hands awkwardly. “Okay!” he says loudly.
The squad straightens. Steve’s brain scrambles. Think. What does she usually say?
“Uh… stretch first!” The girls nod. Good. That sounds normal.
Steve tries copying the stretches he’s seen you do: Toe touch. Quad stretch. Arm swings. Except he nearly loses his balance halfway through and has to pretend it was intentional.
“Nice stretch, captain,” someone says.
Steve nods solemnly. “Yes. Stretching is… very important.”
After a few minutes he claps again, trying to look confident. “Alright! Let’s run the routine from the top!”
The girls snap into formation immediately. Steve quickly moves to the front.
Oh.
Oh no.
He has to lead it. The music starts.
Clap.
Step.
Turn.
Jump.
Steve moves automatically.
Left step.
Right step.
Clap.
Turn.
It feels strangely familiar. Then it clicks. “Oh,” he whispers.
Of course. He’s watched you practice this routine like twenty times while sitting on the bleachers waiting to drive you home. His body starts remembering the movements.
Clap.
Jump.
Turn.
Spin.
And suddenly he’s actually keeping up, not perfectly but not terrible either.
“Nice energy, captain!” someone shouts. Steve grins.
Okay. Maybe this won’t be a complete disaster. Then the music reaches the flip section.
Steve freezes. Oh no.
The flip. You do this like it’s nothing. Steve Harrington, however, has never done a flip in his life.
Ashley shouts from the formation. “Let’s go, captain!” Everyone’s watching him. Waiting. No pressure. Steve takes a deep breath.
Alright.
Just jump.
Worst case scenario: humiliation not breaking his neck. He bends his knees. Jumps—and suddenly the world flips.
Literally.
Sky.
Grass.
Sky again.
Then he lands perfectly on both feet. Steve stares at the ground. “What?”
The music stops. The squad stares at him. Steve slowly looks up.
“Holy shit.”
Ashley raises an eyebrow. “Language.”
“I DID A FLIP.” The girls exchange confused looks.
Steve jumps again.
Another flip.
Perfect landing.
His eyes go wide. “I CAN DO IT.”
He tries again.
Flip.
Land.
Again.
Flip.
Land.
Again.
Flip.
“Holy—this is amazing!”
For the next ten straight minutes, Steve does nothing but flips.
Back flips.
Side flips.
One slightly crooked flip that still somehow works. At one point he jogs in a small circle and flips again like he’s showing off a new trick. The cheer squad just stands there watching their captain turn into a human trampoline.
Ashley finally grabs his arm mid-bounce. “Okay!” she says firmly.
Steve is breathing hard but glowing with excitement. “Did you see that one??”
Ashley stares at him. “All twenty of them.”
Steve wipes sweat from his forehead, still grinning. “This body is incredible.”
Then he pauses because something clicks.
You do this.
Every practice.
Every game.
Flips. Jumps. Full routines under the sun.
That takes serious strength. Steve glances at the squad stretching again behind him.
“…Damn,” he mutters quietly.
Maybe cheerleading isn’t as easy as he thought. He claps his hands again, trying to regain captain composure.
“Alright!” he calls.
The girls look up. “Let’s, uh… run it again.”
Ashley smirks. “Without the ten-minute gymnastics routine?”
Steve sighs. “Fine.”
During the break, Steve wanders toward the benches on the edge of the field to grab a water bottle. He sits down, still catching his breath. His legs are shaking slightly from the flips.
“Worth it,” he whispers. Then he notices someone sitting further down the bench.
Short hair.
Striped shirt.
Robin.
She’s reading something while waiting near the gym doors.
Steve immediately forgets everything. “Hey, Robin!”
Robin looks up. Her eyebrows slowly climb toward her hairline.“Hi?”
Steve freezes.
Oh.
Right.
He is currently not Steve. He’s you. And you and Robin barely talk.
She studies him carefully. “Why are you talking to me?”
Steve’s brain scrambles for an explanation. Instead he blurts the first thing that comes to mind.
“So… how’s Vickie?”
Robin freezes. “What?”
Steve realizes instantly that he has made a terrible mistake. “You know,” he says weakly. “Vickie. From band. The one you’ve been secretly dating for like… two weeks.”
Robin slowly lowers her book. Her eyes narrow. “How do you know that?”
Steve scratches the back of his neck. “…lucky guess?”
Robin stands up. “That is not a lucky guess.”
She crosses her arms. “Did Steve tell you that?”
Steve shakes his head quickly. “No.”
“Then how do you know?”
Steve sighs. This is going to be weird.
“…Okay,” he says carefully. “Please don’t freak out.”
Robin’s eyes widen. “I know this is crazy but blink twice if it’s you, Harrington.”
Steve blinks.
Once.
Twice.
Robin stares. Then smacks his arm. “HOLY SHIT.”
Steve rubs the spot. “Ow! I’m sensitive now.”
Robin grabs his shoulders. “How are you in her body??”
Steve shrugs helplessly. “…long story.”
Robin leans closer.
“Does this involve Dustin?”
“Yes.”
“Eddie?”
“Yes.”
Robin groans and drags a hand down her face. “I knew it.”
Steve sighs. “We drank something.”
Robin stares at him. “Of course you did.”
Steve nods.
“Yeah.”
Robin gestures toward the field where the cheer squad is stretching again. “Okay but before we deal with the magical body-swap nightmare…”
She points at him. “why were you doing gymnastics like a caffeinated squirrel for ten minutes?”
Steve grins. “I can do flips.”
Robin stares. “You cannot do flips.”
“I can now.”
Robin pinches the bridge of her nose. “This is going to be the longest day of my life.”
The Henderson car screeches into Eddie Munson’s driveway like the fate of the universe depends on it, because, technically, it might.
You jump out first—still in Steve’s body and storm up to the front door. Steve follows behind you, still wearing your cheer uniform and carrying pom-poms like a disgruntled mascot.
Robin trails behind them both, rubbing her temples. “I cannot believe this is my Saturday.”
You pound on the door.
Hard.
The door swings open.
Eddie Munson stands there holding a soda can and looking extremely relaxed. “Well, well,” Eddie says. “If it isn’t my favorite jock.”
Then he notices something strange. Steve—except not Steve is standing behind you in a cheer uniform.
“Okay,” Eddie says slowly. “That’s new.”
You grab his arm. “We need to talk, Munson.” and immediately drag him inside.
Eddie stumbles along behind you. “Whoa, Harrington, slow down. Didn’t know you were this eager to get me alone.”
You glare at him. The exact same death glare you’ve given him a hundred times. Eddie stops mid-sentence.
He squints. Then points slowly at you.
“no.”
Then he points at Steve.
“…NO.”
His eyes go wide. “No fucking way.”
You and Steve shout at the exact same time: “IT FUCKING WORKED.”
A voice suddenly pops up from the basement stairs. “I KNEW IT!”
Dustin Henderson appears like an overexcited gremlin. “This morning,” Dustin continues dramatically, “my sister called me buddy.”
He points accusingly at Steve. “SHE HAS NEVER CALLED ME THAT.”
Steve shrugs helplessly. “It slipped out!”
Robin crosses her arms. “And she knew something about a girl I’m dating,” she says.
Everyone turns to her. Eddie grins. “Oh, this just keeps getting better.”
You point a finger at him. “Edward Munson, if you don’t fix this right now, I swear I will trap your soul in a rat.”
Dustin nods approvingly. “That seems fair.”
Eddie raises both hands. “Okay! Okay!”
He gestures dramatically toward the basement. “Let’s consult the ancient texts.”
Everyone piles downstairs.
The basement looks exactly the same as yesterday: candles, soda cans, and the suspicious thrift-store spell book sitting on the table.
Eddie snaps his fingers. “Dustin, the book.” Dustin eagerly grabs it and hands it over like a sacred artifact.
Eddie flips through the pages. “Alright, let’s see…” He clears his throat dramatically. Then reads aloud in a fake wizard voice.
“To know the other as your own, trade the vessel, flesh, and bone. Mind and spirit intertwined, two must walk in bodies twined.”
Robin leans against the table. “you guys really drank something after hearing that?”
Steve points at Eddie. “He said it was punch.”
“You just fucking drink it.”
You slam your hands on the table. “Okay! Great! Body swap achieved! What’s the part where we fix it?”
Eddie flips the page. “Hmm.”
Steve leans forward. “What?”
Eddie squints.
“Oh.”
Steve narrows his eyes. “What do you mean ‘oh’?”
Eddie shrugs casually. “It says we need to buy volume two.”
The room goes silent.
Steve and you both scream: “EDDIE!”
Eddie bursts out laughing. “I’m kidding! Relax!”
Robin pinches the bridge of her nose. “I hate all of you.”
Eddie keeps reading.
“To break the bond and end the spell, speak the truth you guard too well. Words concealed within the heart, only truth can pull apart.”
Everyone goes quiet.
Dustin blinks.“What does that mean?”
Robin answers immediately. “They have to confess something they’re hiding.”
She gestures between you and Steve. “To each other.”
You both freeze. Steve clears his throat. “Cool.”
Then he points at you. “You go first.”
You stare at him. “Why would I go first?”
“Because you’re the cheer captain.”
“You are a captain too!”
Steve shrugs. “Fine. I’ll help.” He leans closer. “What’s in the last drawer of your vanity?”
You immediately point back. “You have a locked safe in your closet.”
Steve’s eyes widen. “That’s different!”
“Oh really?” you say sweetly. “Then tell everyone what’s in it.”
Robin covers her face. “Oh my god. I cannot watch this.”
Eddie whispers to Dustin. “Ten bucks they’re both secretly in love.”
Dustin whispers back. “I already knew that.”
Eddie flips another page. “Oh.”
Everyone looks up. “What now?” you ask.
Eddie reads slowly. “If the vessels remain exchanged beyond forty-eight hours…”
He pauses. “…the swap becomes permanent.”
Dustin gasps. “PERMANENT?”
Then he points at you—Steve in your body. “I DO NOT WANT STEVE AS MY SISTER.”
Steve looks offended. “Wow.”
Dustin crosses his arms. “Just say the secret!”
You sigh. “Fine.”
You point at Steve. “On three.”
Steve nods. “Okay… princess.”
You both close your eyes. “One.”
Dustin leans forward. “Two.”
Robin grabs popcorn from Eddie’s desk. “Three.”
You both blurt at the same time.
“It’s a journal about the girl I like!”
“It’s a childhood picture of my crush and me!”
Silence.
Everyone waits.
Nothing happens.
You open one eye.
Steve opens one eye.
Still swapped.
Eddie sighs, “Well.”
Robin shakes her head. “That was the most useless confession I’ve ever heard.”
Dustin groans. “OH MY GOD YOU IDIOTS.”
જ⁀➴
Sunday afternoon smells like stale soda, dust, and whatever incense Eddie swears is “mood setting” but actually just smells like burnt cinnamon. The five of you are gathered around the coffee table in Eddie’s basement like a very dysfunctional council.
On the table:
the spell book
two empty red cups
a bag of Doritos
three candles Eddie insists are “ritual necessary”
and Dustin’s comic for absolutely no reason.
Steve—still in your body is sitting cross-legged on the floor, aggressively braiding and unbraiding a strand of your hair.
“I’m bored,” he announces.
“You’re in my body,” you say flatly, from inside Steve’s body. “Stop playing with my hair.”
Steve pauses.“It’s really soft.”
Robin groans from the couch. “I cannot believe this is still happening.”
Across from her, Eddie flips through the spell book again, frowning like a wizard who misplaced his homework.
“There has to be something we missed,” he mutters.
Dustin is pacing. “If you two are still swapped tomorrow,” he says dramatically, “this will ruin the intramurals.”
Steve raises a hand. “Counterpoint: it will make them way more interesting.”
You glare at him. “Munson,” you say. “Fix. It.”
Eddie holds up the book. “I’m trying, Your Majesty.”
Robin leans forward. “Read the poem again.”
Eddie clears his throat and reads dramatically.
“To break the bond and end the spell, speak the truth you guard too well. Words concealed within the heart, only truth can pull apart.”
Robin nods slowly. “Okay, so the problem is obvious.”
Dustin crosses his arms. “You’re both lying.”
You and Steve both protest immediately. “We are not lying!”
Eddie points between you. “Oh you are absolutely lying.”
Steve throws his hands up. “I confessed something!”
“Yeah,” Dustin says. “You confessed to a freaking journal.”
“That’s emotional!”
“You practically made an evidence,” Robin says.
You sigh. “Okay, genius,” you say to Eddie. “What do we do then?”
Eddie thinks for a moment, then snaps his fingers. “I have an idea.”
Five minutes later, everyone is standing in a circle. The lights are dimmed. The candles are lit. Eddie looks extremely proud of himself.
“This,” he says, “is a truth ritual.”
Robin squints at him. “Did you just make that up?”
“Shh,” Eddie says.
He gestures dramatically. “Now, we recreate the moment.”
Dustin pushes the two empty red cups toward you and Steve. “Drink.”
Steve sniffs the cup. “It’s empty.”
“Use your imagination,” Dustin says.
Steve sighs and pretends to sip. You do the same.
Eddie raises his arms like a theatrical sorcerer. “Now,” he says, “confess your deepest truth.” You look at Steve. Steve looks at you. Nothing happens.
Robin waits.
Dustin waits.
Eddie waits.
Steve clears his throat. “…i once cried during a dog food commercial.”
Nothing happens.
Robin pinches the bridge of her nose. “That is not a deep truth.”
Steve shrugs. “It was a sad dog.”
Eddie points at you. “Your turn.”
You cross your arms.“I hate olives.”
Dustin throws his hands in the air. “OH MY GOD.”
Robin slumps back on the couch. “You two are impossible.”
Eddie flips through the spell book again. “There’s gotta be another method…”
He pauses. Then looks up slowly.
“Oh.”
You narrow your eyes. “What.”
Eddie shrugs. “Some spells are triggered by physical contact.”
Steve stiffens.
Robin’s eyes widen. “No.”
Dustin grins. “Oh.”
You immediately step away from Steve. “Absolutely not.”
Eddie wiggles his eyebrows. “It’s just a theory.”
Steve crosses his arms. “You are not suggesting we kiss.”
Dustin raises a finger. “Scientifically speaking—”
“NO,” you and Steve shout at the same time.
Robin bursts out laughing. “Wow. That was defensive.”
Eddie sighs dramatically. “Well, if you two won’t cooperate with the science, I’m running out of ideas.”
Dustin groans. “This is a disaster.”
He points at Steve. “If this doesn’t get fixed, you’ll be my sister forever.”
Steve gasps. “I would be an amazing sister.”
“You would eat all my cereal!”
Robin looks between you and Steve. “You realize the obvious solution is still the first one, right?”
You already know what she’s going to say. “No.”
“Yes,” Robin says.
“You two just have to say the real thing you’re hiding.”
Steve leans back on his hands. “There is no real thing.”
You nod. “None.”
Robin stares at both of you.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Then she turns to Eddie. “They’re both idiots.”
Eddie nods. “Massive idiots.”
Dustin claps once. “Great. Glad we established that.”
Silence settles over the basement. Eddie closes the spell book. “Well,” he says. “That’s everything I’ve got.”
Steve groans.
You stare at the floor. Tomorrow is Monday. The games. The cheer competition. And you're still trapped in each other’s lives.
Your chest tightens. This is not funny anymore. You stand suddenly.
“I need air.”
Robin looks up. “Hey—”
But you’re already walking up the stairs. The basement door swings open. Then shuts behind you. The room goes quiet.
Eddie slowly turns to Steve.“You should probably go after her.”
Steve is already standing. Dustin crosses his arms. “Don’t screw this up.”
Robin nods. “For real, Harrington.”
Steve runs a hand through your hair—still not used to the feeling. “Yeah,” he mutters.
Then he heads upstairs. And follows you outside.
The sun is dipping low behind the trees, the sky washed in soft orange and pink. Cicadas buzz somewhere in the distance. Munson's porch light flickers on with a quiet click.
You’re sitting on the porch steps, elbows on your knees, face buried in your hands and you’re crying. Not the quiet, single-tear kind either. The frustrated, overwhelmed kind. A few minutes later the front door creaks open.
Footsteps.
Then someone sits beside you. You don’t have to look to know who it is.
Steve Harrington.
For a moment he doesn’t say anything. He just sits there, close enough that your shoulders almost touch.
Then gently—“Hey,” he says softly. You sniff and wipe your face with the sleeve of his jacket.
“Don’t cry,” Steve says, awkward but sincere, reaching over to brush a tear from your cheek.
You let out a shaky laugh. “Can’t help it.” Your voice cracks. “It’s just… a lot.”
Steve nods slowly. “I know.”
You shake your head. “No, you don’t.”
He doesn’t argue. Instead he looks out at the street for a moment before speaking again. “I do now.” You glance at him.
Steve shrugs lightly. “Living in your body for two days? Yeah, turns out cheerleading is not just jumping around with pom-poms.”
You let out a quiet laugh through your tears. “You were doing flips for ten minutes.”
“They were good flips.”
“They were unnecessary flips.”
Steve grins for a second, then his expression softens. “But seriously,” he says. “I get it now.”
He gestures vaguely. “The pressure. Everyone expecting you to lead. Everyone watching you.”
His voice lowers. “You carry a lot.”
You stare down at your hands. “And you don’t?”
Steve scoffs lightly. “Please. Basketball is easy compared to what you do.”
You finally look at him. “I sat on that bench yesterday,” you say quietly. “In your body.”
Steve raises an eyebrow. “And?”
You hesitate. “Everyone listens to you.”
He shrugs. “Yeah.”
“You keep them together.”
“That’s the captain job.”
“No,” you say, shaking your head. “That’s a you job.” Steve goes quiet. The porch light hums softly above you. You inhale slowly.
“Robin was right,” you say finally.
Steve tenses slightly. “About what?”
You don’t look at him. “I know what the spell meant.” A pause. You swallow. “I knew it the moment Eddie read the poem.”
Steve says nothing.
You pick at the sleeve of his jacket. “And if I say it out loud,” you continue quietly, “then it becomes real.”
Steve watches you carefully. “Maybe real isn’t such a bad thing.”
You shake your head. “It is when you might lose it.”
“Lose what?”
You finally look at him. “You.” Steve blinks.
Your voice trembles slightly. “You’re… amazing, Steve.” He immediately makes a face.
“Oh god.”
“No, don’t,” you say quickly. “I mean it.” You take a breath. “You’re reliable. People trust you. You show up when it matters.” Steve looks away, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. “You make people feel safe,” you continue. “and I really admire that.”
The words start spilling out faster now. “And what we have right now? I don’t want to ruin it. I don’t want to make things weird. I don’t want to say something and then suddenly you’re not my best friend anymore.”
Your voice drops to a whisper. “I don’t want to lose you.”
Steve is very still beside you. Then he exhales slowly. “yeah.”
You glance at him. “Yeah?” you ask.
He nods. “Yeah.”
Steve runs a hand through his hair. “I’ve been scared of that too.”
Your eyebrows lift. “Really?”
Steve laughs softly. “Are you kidding? Do you know how terrifying it is liking your best friend?” You stare at him.
Steve looks back at you, half nervous, half determined. “But here’s the thing,” he says. “What if you don’t lose me?”
You frown slightly. “What?”
“What if,” Steve continues, leaning forward, “you risk it and it’s actually better?”
You open your mouth, but he keeps going. “Because I’d risk it.”
Your heart starts beating faster. “For me?” you ask.
Steve snorts. “No, for Dustin.”
You shove his shoulder. “Steve.”
He smiles softly. “Yes. for you.”
His voice turns sincere again. “I’m not the kind of guy who sticks around hoping for half of something.” He looks right at you. “I want all of it.” Your breath catches.
“I want you.”
The words hang in the warm evening air. You swallow hard. “So… we should probably say it,” you whisper.
Steve nods. “Yeah.” Then he winces. “That sounded way easier in theory.”
You laugh quietly. “Yeah.”
A long pause.
“You first,” you say.
Steve sighs dramatically.
“Fine.” He takes a breath, then looks at you. “I like you.” A beat. “I’ve liked you since sophomore year.”
Your eyes widen. “That’s not fair.”
Steve blinks. “What?”
“Because I’ve liked you longer.”
Steve stares at you.“…wait, what?”
You shrug. “Freshman year.”
Steve groans. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“Wow,” he says. “We’re idiots.”
“Massive idiots.”
They both laugh, and then the laughter fades. Now you’re just looking at each other. Closer than usual. Quieter than usual.
The world feels very still.
Then a strange warmth rushes through you. The air seems to ripple. Your stomach flips. And suddenly You’re not looking at Steve’s face from your own eyes anymore.
You’re looking at him from below. Steve blinks. You blink both of you pull back.
You look down at your hands. Your hands.
“Oh my god.” You jump to your feet. “I’m me!”
Steve stares at himself. “Holy—” He pats his chest. “I’m Steve.” He pauses. “Steve Steve.”
You burst out laughing and without thinking, you both jump forward and hug each other. Right as the front door opens. Slow clapping echoes from the porch. You both freeze. Standing in the doorway are: Robin. Dustin. And Eddie.
Robin grins.“Well that was adorable.”
Your eyes widen. “How long were you standing there?”
Dustin shrugs. “Long enough.”
Steve groans. “Oh my god.”
Eddie spreads his arms dramatically. “You’re welcome.”
You point at him. “Shut up, Munson.”
Dustin squints suspiciously at both of you. “So you’re dating now, right?”
Steve and you look at each other. Then back at Dustin. “Maybe,” Steve says.
Robin pumps a fist. “I CALLED IT.”
Eddie nods proudly. “Love and witchcraft. My two specialties.”
You roll your eyes but you’re still smiling, and Steve hasn’t let go of your hand.
જ⁀➴
The gym is packed. The bleachers squeak under the weight of cheering classmates, parents, and faculty. The scoreboard reads 89–89, the crowd buzzing with tension. Thirty seconds left on the clock.
You’re on the sideline, pom-poms shaking in your hands, shouting until your voice feels raw.
“Defense! Defense!”
Steve dribbles past defenders, sweat running down his face. The crowd’s roar feels like a physical force, but his eyes are locked on the hoop. He fakes left, steps back, and shoots—
Swish.
The buzzer sounds. The gym erupts into chaos. Your knees buckle as you throw your arms around Ashley, squealing.
“Oh my god! We won!” you yell.
Steve runs toward you, adrenaline still pumping. His jersey is damp with sweat, his hair sticking to his forehead, but his grin lights up the entire court.
“We won, princess!” he shouts, wrapping you in a tight hug. You don’t even notice the sweat soaking his shirt he still smells like him: basketball, hairspray, and somehow just… Steve.
“I know! I can’t believe it!” you laugh, burying your face in his shoulder.
He pulls back just enough to look at you, breathless and wide-eyed. “You were incredible out there,” he says softly.
“You were incredible!” you reply, teasing. “Especially that last shot!”
He chuckles, brushing a strand of hair from your face, his thumb lingering. “You know… I kinda missed this,” he murmurs.
“You mean cheering? Or… me?”
He grins sheepishly. “Both.”
You blink, your heart hammering. “Steve…”
Slowly, carefully, he leans in. The first kiss is soft, tentative, a testing of waters. Then it deepens, arms wrapping around each other instinctively. The sound of the cheering fades into the background the squeak of sneakers, the squeal of the crowd, the referee’s whistle—they all disappear. There’s only the warmth of him, the relief, and everything you’ve both been holding back.
He pulls back slightly, forehead resting against yours, breath mingling. “I’ve been waiting for that for a long time,” he admits.
“I’ve been waiting too,” you whisper, smiling against his chest.
This time, the kiss lingers. Longer. Gentle, playful, soft, but full of everything: relief, joy, and the kind of love that was always there, quietly waiting. You feel the laughter, the tears, the chaos of the week, and the triumph of the game all mix together into this perfect moment.
When you finally pull back, slightly breathless, Steve grins, leaning his forehead against yours again.
“We did it,” he says softly.
“We did,” you echo, wrapping your arms around him once more.
A beat. Two beats. The world around you fades a little—Robin cheering wildly on the bench, Dustin and Eddie hugging each other like the world is ending, the team swarming Steve but all that matters is the space between the two of you.
“God, we won!” Robin shouts, wiping her eyes.
“I knew it, Steve would never let us down!” Dustin yells, pumping his fists.
“That’s my boy!” Eddie shouts, throwing his hands in the air.
Steve laughs, holding your hands tight. “Yeah… we won. And now, I get to celebrate with you.”
You squeeze his hands, smiling. “Best. Victory. Ever.”
The gym is buzzing, the team lifting each other into the air, the crowd cheering like it’ll never end but right here, right now, it’s just you and Steve, finally together, finally able to breathe, laugh, and love without secrets.
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