𖦹 when steve is on the search with dustin chasing a ‘suspicious looking russian’, he catches sight of you. the girl in the workout class.
“Henderson. Henderson!” A snap and a yell rings throughout Scoops Ahoy, and Steve’s panick levels are high.
A few minutes before this, Dustin was replaying the Russian code over and over again- the sound drowning out of Steve’s ear and into the other. It was like that all day, with Robin even helping out, making it even more of a big deal. It seemed important, sure, but he couldn’t wrap his head around the whole Russian thing.
He was rustling out the booth, one that Dustin was already pacing out of and towards the other shops in the mall. Towards the nearest potted plant on the second floor, he followed Dustin into a crouch that made him feel ridiculous, especially in his uniform.
“That guy.” Dustin states with his head poking out, pointing his finger, one that Steve smacks away.
Regardless, Steve still followed his eyesight. There was the man holding a bag. Wearing all black with long blonde hair, making him stand out from the colorful crowd that bloomed in Hawkins. Steve scoffed.
“Okay, yeah- he’s douchy looking. We’re supposed to be working on the code?”
“…Be serious. We have to rule out anything suspicious.”
And then suddenly Dustin pulls out a pair of binoculars from god knows where that were too big to even comprehend. This whole situation for Steve was already mind boggling as it- Russians, codes, and now chasing after a guy in the middle of the mall? Scooping ice cream was better than this.
“I am serious! I’m just.. confused.”
Dustin shot him a look, one that Steve returned back to him.
“That guy,” he points against and Steve doesn’t even bother to shove it away again. “He has a dangerous looking duffle bag, a weird face, just a weird everything.”
Steve blinks and his eyebrows furrow, “We’re just following a guy with a… duffel bag?”
“A Russian duffle bag!” Dustin huffs loudly.
“Jesus man!” Steve yanked the binoculars away from him to get him to shut up and reattempted to look in the area Dustin was.
The higher tone that escaped him earned some heads to turn from the mall, alert but quickly turned away. He huffed and grabbed the binoculars back from Steve, slowly getting up to hide in another spot.
“Hey hey hey, I’m not- we’re not actually following this guy are we?” Steve felt surprised how easily he was following Dustin around, with his whole life. He told himself there was no point in even asking.
It was a ten minute chase throughout the whole mall, desperately trying to catch up to the man, Steve’s cheeks bright pink. If any girl who he used to go to school with saw him, he thinks he’d pass out and never return back. He thought he grew out of that phase of impression, but he was Steve after all. After countless times of reaching for Dustin in an attempt to stop him front running, he stopped.
His chest collided to Dustin’s back before they both quickly hid behind a vending machine. Dustin slowly turned his head up to look at Steve, eyes squinting with a smile lingering.
“…Shut up.” He flicks Dustin’s hair to look ahead to not lose sight. Turns out he was invested in this after all.
Steve’s lips were parted and his whole figure was tense as he followed where the blonde man was going. Inching towards a door and opening it, his eyes followed to the sign. It was a workout class, a really trendy spot in Starcourt. One where only the women went, mostly middle age, which stood out for why that man was there.
“What the hell?” Dustin’s voice cracked. He cleared his throat in embarrassment.
Steve didn’t say anything as he watched the man zip open his bag. He pulled out a huge boombox and muffled a yell that had all the women squealing and smiling. It was truly an unusual sight.
“This is bullshit!” Dustin exclaims. Throwing a fit, he slightly kicked the vending machine and went onto his routinly rants.
Normally Steve would listen, maybe agree, but he felt like his heart dropped right then and there. In a good way, he didn’t know, but it was an unfamiliar feeling. But his whole neck and face creeped up in red- his body feeling hot.
In an attempt to keep his eyes on the man and whatever he was doing, it just naturally strained to you. The girl with the beautiful hair, perfectly done, with your bright yellow workout clothes that reminded him of the sun by how pretty you looked in it.
The girl in the back of the class who was rolling out a mat. You stood out from all the women. You were young, they weren’t.
And your smile. God, your smile. Steve thinks he’s never seen anything like it, the way it reached your eyes and the way it looked so real. He thought it was brighter than his own future.
How come he’s never seen you before? In this small town, with only one big place to hang out? You looked his age, definitely, so has he seen you at school before? He felt stupid for not noticing such a beautiful girl sooner.
He didn’t even know the Russian. Well, not anymore, he was normal. But the way you seemed so excited for him to show up just had him so curious. He just wanted to see you closer. Face to face, hear your voice that must’ve been sweeter than your smile.
He didn’t even know you. He felt like the earth put him there by fate.
“Hellooooo??” Dustin snaps him out of it when he felt a small nudge. “Earth to Steve.”
With a scoff of annoyance that wasn’t directed at Steve, he continues, “He’s not one of them. I mean- how? This is so stupid, how are we ever going to figure this shit out?”
Steve blinks again and nods, forgetting why they were behind a vending machine in the first place. “Right, yeah. Shit that.. that sucks.”
Dustin squints his eyes once more and starts to walk back towards Scoops Ahoy, continuing his rambling plan B on what they needed to do to uncover the code. Steve quickly looked back one last time, being dragged by Dustin, just to see sight of your smile again.
But your back was now turned to the instructor, your arms held up high as you stretched. His heart skipped a beat again and was quickly shut down when he was on his way back to his dreaded job.
He would ask Robin if she knew you. She probably wouldn’t, maybe no one did. For now, you were just the girl in yellow with the pretty smile. The girl he wanted.
From then on, Dustin didn’t even bother bugging Steve for assistance on the code. His mind was completely somewhere else, a mix of his job and the lingering memories he had of you, which were limited
Nights passed where he looked through the yearbook of Hawkins High. Nothing. He flipped through every single one around 20 times and he still couldn’t find that same face.
He thought back to that day.
Maybe if he waited a little while, he could’ve caught up to you after the class, could’ve gotten your number.
He was wearing that stupid uniform, unfortunately. And with you looking like the prettiest girl he’s ever laid eyes on, maybe he didn’t have a chance. He couldn't believe how easily his heart got pulled to you, just by a simple glance from a window.
He was frustrated with a mix of curiosity, which was deadly for him. Work was not enjoyable anymore- mainly because Robin drained out his hearing as she bossed him to serve customers while she decoded with Dustin
His breaks only lasted around 15 minutes. And he spent his glory time walking back to the workout class.
It was the same middle-aged women, but no you. No yellow or bright outfit that caught his eye. He scoffed every single time and walked back to work, forgetting his break.
It was a Saturday and Steve really wasn’t in the mood to go to work. His hair wasn’t cooperating right, his uniform felt uncomfortable, and he knew the mall would be packed. Especially with Dustin and Robins bickering as he tried to work.
Customers came and went and he smiled every time. Tired, but he still did. He wish he could just go home.
When the counter was clear, he turned curiously just to observe the progress that Dustin and Robin were making- not that much. He leaned foward to say something but a familiar ding! was heard from the counter.
He felt his heart drop. He was sure it did.
There you were. In your same yellow outfit that he remembered, talking with a girl as you scanned the flavors with such awe. Your face was a bit flushed and your hair was frizzy. You must’ve just finished your class.
And there he was. With his cheeks completely feeling hot and embarrassed, and his pupils completely dialated by how pretty you were up close. He cleared his throat and immediately snatched the hat off his head, his hair poofing up.
“Hey, ladies. Welcome.” He says with a soft but enthusiastic tone and a smile but it only made him sound stupid.
Somehow you caught onto it and you shot him a sympathetic look, but there wasn’t anything rude behind it. It was a look that girls gave him when they thought he was cute. It was sweeter than that, though, not anything flirtatious. But you smiled anyway, and that’s all that mattered. It was a quieter one, a smile that he didn’t see in the workout class.
“Can I try a sample?” You ask, batting your eyelashes at him.
God, you truly looked like an angel. You were glowing and it made him rethink every decision of his life.
It completely caught him off guard and his heart stuttered for the 20th time.
“Yeah yeah, ‘course.” He grabs a little spoon, trying to ignore how his fingers were slightly shaking.
“What flavor were you thinking?”
Your eyes scan over all the flavors. It was the cutest thing he’s seen. The way your eyes were wide and sweet, so soft in a way that made him just want to kiss you.
“Could I try the banana one?”
“That’s my favorite one.”
It wasn’t. But the sparkle in your eye was worth a little white lie.
Your finger brushed against his when you handed it to him and he almost passed out. His eyes stayed glued to you the whole time, your reaction, not even looking at your friend who was scanning around.
You stuck with the banana and got it. Your friend got something too and she went to sit at the booth while you payed.
“I get why it’s your favorite.” You say with a kind tone, flipping through your money. His eyes lingered on you.
His lips parted and for once in his life, he didn’t know what to say. He just didn’t want to be perceived as an idiot- but he was glad you were too focused on the money to see his bright red face.
“Well I uh, I like this one better.” He taps to the butterscotch flavor, “it’s pretty good.”
“Oh!” You peek over to see the tub with your eyebrows furrowed. “That looks tasty.”
The innocence in your voice was almost deadly to Steve.
You slide the money to him, maybe a little more than what it cost as a tip, and grabbed your ice cream cup again. You gave him a shy but genuine smile, shrugging lightly.
“I’ll have to come by again to try it.” You suddenly spill out before turning around and quickly skidding away.
He blinked. And saw the way you sat at the booth with your back faced to him, your ears red. Giggles were heard, a mix of yours and your friends, and he tried not to let it boost his ego. It didn’t really.
He didn’t know your name, barely talked to you, has only seen you up close once. But he’s never felt lighter.
Over the next days that Steve was working, he noticed a pattern. Which was you showing up more after your workout classes, always around 2. Sometimes with a friend, sometimes by yourself. He preferred just you.
It was hard to talk to you since it was only at the counter, but he tried his best whenever it was those days where you sat at a booth.
Robin teased him for acting so weird. Dustin got annoyed bit by bit as Steve slowly stopped involving himself with the code.
You always got the same flavor. Banana.
And he was pretty sure your excuse of wanting to try the butterscotch was wrong, because his heart just had this feeling. The way you lingered a little to long at the register, with a look of longing in your eye that wanted more. Or how you asked him questions. Tilted your head with genuine curiosity as you talked to him.
He’s never seen you before because you had just moved in that summer. Still living with your parents, still struggling. Just like he was. It was something to relate over, although the topic of parents was quickly lost whenever some flirting was lingering in the air.
“Why do you take off your hat?” You giggle, leaning over the counter when no customers were there.
“It’s so dumb.” He shakes his head, “you know, I had a five year old laugh at it.”
“Yes! And mind you, he was laughing at me, not with me. Which I wasn’t.”
You grab the hat that was next to him and go on your tip toes, placing the floppy hat on his hair. It was a little tilted, but he kept it like that.
“Don’t let some lameo kid ruin the coolness of a sailor hat.”
Your face was only close to his for a second before the moment was lost.
He smiled, a real one, for the first time. His shoulders visibly tensed and he felt like he was on top of the world. He didn’t feel so guarded anymore, so stressed, so bummed. And it was really over simple words.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He chuckles, “but don’t even get me started on the uniform.”
“It’s cute! Adds character.”
His head jumped, “…Yeah?”
He chuckled again but it slowly grew quiet when he saw how you looked at him. You were watching him, laughing, eyes crinkled out of pure happiness. And you seemed happy too, with your cheeks blatantly pink.
He watched you a lot also. Robin called him weird again. He still did. On the quiet days at the mall, on the loud ones that were packed with a thousand kids. His attention always landed back on you, because after all, he wanted to have something more with you.
You stayed, sometimes a little longer that normal, just to say bye when you didn’t really want to leave. It made his day everytime.
It’s been a month already, and the July heat in Hawkins was starting to kick. Which meant more customers, more shifts, and less time with you.
Your classes continued and Scoops Ahoy was officially your spot to go once it was done. Sometimes you wouldn’t even order ice cream, you would talk to Steve. Or Robin, who you’ve become friends with.
He wanted you to talk to him, though. There was that lingering feeling deep in his heart that wanted you so badly. And not just in Scoops Ahoy. Out in Hawkins, for him to adore in front of everyone or in the quiet moments.
It was a random night when his heart finally had enough.
He was going to ask you out, plain and simple, in his stupid uniform. His mind just flashed to you, you, you- to the smile, eyes, and voice.
He knew what he wanted. He knew you could fill the lonliness in his heart.
Your class was brutal. You got a new instructor who was far less generous than the last, and he didn’t have sympathy when the women around you struggled.
Your steps slumped into Scoops Ahoy with your Walkman dangling from your neck. You were wearing your yellow outfit today, which was your favorite.
And maybe you wore it for Steve. That was still processing to you- the fact that his smile had you completely gone and the fact you may have had a crush on him.
You must’ve had a big frown on your face. You could tell by how Steve looked at you.
His eyebrows were in a sad bunch, his head tilting in a patient way as he went up to your booth.
“You okay?” He asks in such a delicate voice that it made you want to just breakdown.
He just looked at you because he knew you wanted to say more. You sighed that was unusual for you.
“We got some shitty new instructor and he was just- he was so rude. And it was really hard, the workout. It felt so… pointless.”
“But you like going there, right? That’s not pointless.”
Your eyes meet his and you realize that he’s been looking at you this whole time, with his eyes sad and his pupils dialated. He cheeks were pink. They always were.
“I do.” You mumble. “M’ just.. frustrated. It’s fine.”
Your voice didn’t sound fine. It sounded moody and angry, and you felt a little embarrassed that you let it slip so easily in front of Steve. He noticed it again, like always, with no shame behind it.
“…Banana split today? We got that whipped cream you like.” He says softly.
You look at him again like he heard your mind. Because Steve Harrington always knew what you wanted, how you wanted to be talked too, just by your face. He always made your day have a little more purpose, since at home, it was the complete opposite of that. And he was so very patient. It made you felt like you belonged.
It made your cheeks flush like his.
“Yeah.” You say quietly with a small smile that was trying to be hopeful again.
He looked at you again and nodded, returning it back with more of a softness to it. Some days were more energetic between you two, with laughs with made your stomach hurt. Some days were like this, where the two of you understood that gentleness was needed.
You fidgeted with your rings the whole time, looking down at your hands as you try to distract yourself. You tried to calm yourself, and not explode over something so frustrating.
It was hard to be a person who got anxious and upset easily. Usually it happened when your parents weren’t there, leaving you alone, seeking a warmth you’ve never had but always needed. So when there was that day you heard Steve felt the same, you didn’t feel so out of place anymore.
You felt someone lingering over the table and you looked up, Steve. Looking down at the plate with his eyes barely blinking and his eyebrows stressed, his body rigid.
Then his eyes locked with yours and he took a deep breath.
“Added a little something.” He says quietly before placing it down.
You blinked at what it was. Your banana split was there, looking perfect from Steve’s work, always just for you. But in front of it, you could see sticky and brown syrup on the plate.
You couldn’t even believe it. Steve Harrington, whose eyes always gleamed around you, who took everything you said with the utmost attention, was asking you out.
A smile was already creeping on your face and on the process of hurting. You looked up at him and almost melted at his face. So nervous, so patient.
Just there. Like how he was when he talked to you for the first time.
In a shy tone and with your eyes slightly watering, you said, “Steve…”
You jumped out the booth and hugged him. You heard his breath hitch and felt his eyelashes flutter against your neck, his breath shaking against your skin. It was the best feeling ever. He was so warm and his body enveloped into yours like it was the easiest thing he’s ever done.
“Yes.” You giggle while pulling away.
And that’s the closest you’ve been to him. You wanted to stay like that, until it your feet were planted on the ground. You don’t think you’ve ever seen his eyes look at the way he was now. Awe.
“Yes?” He breaths out in relief.
You nod multiple times and you couldn’t stop letting out small giggles.
“You asked me through chocolate syrup.”
“You like chocolate syrup.”
The funny thing was is that his arms never let you go. They grew even tighter around you, and your arms slid around his neck, there and stable. His hand was rubbing the lower part of your back like he’s done it 100 times, and your head was tilting closer to his like clockwork. Screw work policy.
“I do.” You hum with a shy smile.
You roll your eyes and nod, feeling something like never before. Just hopefullness over this new relationship that was slowly seeping into your life, one that was so new to you.
You stay quiet for a while. “That... made my day, Steve. Really.” You say. “Thank you.”
That’s when his thumb brushed over your cheek and you knew you wanted to be touched like that for the rest of your life. Only by Steve, by his soft skin and his soft gaze.
“No need to thank me.” He says. “Been wanting to do that for a long time, believe me.”
“And you did it in the best way possible.”
“Only the best for you.” It was so cheesy but it had you melting anyway.
He watched how you smiled, how you giggled- and he took note that he craved to make you react like that all the time. He didn’t fully have you yet, but it was a step. And he wasn’t going to let go.
“Come by tomorrow after your class and you can hang around till my shifts over.” Steve says with a shy smile that reflected yours. “Then I’ll take us somewhere nice.”
He would respond, he would lean closer and say something back, but the loud dinging of the bell was being heard. It was a huge family with multiple kids and they shot a glance at him, glaring at the sight of the two of you.
You cupped his cheek in return, rubbing your thumb against the little mole on his cheek. Cute.
“Don’t forget about tomorrow.” He says with a small but noticeable pout, since he didn’t want to go.
“I won’t.” You say quietly.
“Okay.” He nods, his frown fleeting.
You nudge him softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow, sailor.”
He winces in embarrassment. “Please don’t let that stick.”
He gives you one more final look, one that was so admirable of you, his arms slowly slithering away but tight, before going back behind the counter.
You bit the inside of your cheek as you sat back down at the booth, eating the banana split that he made for you. You didn’t even bother messing up the syrup because it made your heart feel tingly.
For now, you sat there. With your eyes glued to Steve, your heart still racing. You caught him glancing at you every single time, even when the customers were talking.
You two smiled when your eyes met his, your gaze straining away when you got too shy. He still looked anyway, regardless if you weren’t, he always lingered just to make his heart skip a beat.
You think that going to Scoops Ahoy after your class was the best decision you’ve ever made.