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Steve Harrington swears heâs fine.
Totally fine.
Fantastically, unbelievably, absolutely not in love with his best friend.
âŠExcept he totally is.
And everyone knows it.
Robin knows it (she mimics throwing up whenever he smiles too long at you).
Dustin knows it (he said, âSteve, youâre looking at her like sheâs the last Eggo on earth.â)
Even Eddie knows it, and he only hangs out to steal snacks.
But you?
Youâre blissfully, beautifully oblivious.
Floating through life in those soft, gorgeous outfits that make Steveâs brain short-circuit. Pretty silhouettes, flowy skirts, delicate tops that show your figure just enough for him to lose his place in whatever story heâs pretending to listen to.
He swears heâs not staring.
Robin swears he is.
The Scene
Youâre at Steveâs houseâthe one safe place that magically becomes the hangout spot whenever monsters arenât trying to kill you. The gang is there, sprawled on couches, floors, beanbags. Steve somehow ended up on the couch with you stretched across his lap like thatâs the most normal thing in the world.
And for everyone else?
It is.
Youâre ranting about somethingâsome girl at the mall, some homework, something Dustin said. Steveâs not really listening; heâs too busy brushing your hair away from your face and pretending his heart isnât doing backflips.
ââŠand like, can you imagine it?â you sigh dramatically. âMy name would sound sooo good with the last name Harrington.â
Silence.
Robin chokes on her soda.
Max freezes with a chip halfway to her mouth.
Dustin grins like Christmas arrived early.
But Steve?
Steve goes completely still.
Like a statue.
Like someone unplugged him.
âUhhâŠâ he manages, voice cracking because apparently heâs twelve again. âWhyâwhy would you think about that?â
You shrug, still very much lying on him like youâre not dismantling his entire emotional stability.
âI dunno. It just sounds pretty. I tried it out in my notebook once. Donât freak outâeveryone does that!â you say, waving your hand. âBut seriously. It flows so nicely. Like a main-character name.â
Robin, under her breath: âYou have no idea.â
Steve swallows. Hard.
Because heâs thought about it too.
Not once.
Not twice.
Enough that he knows exactly how your first name looks scrawled next to his when he doodles in boredom at work.
You stretch, your shirt riding up just a little, and Steve almost ascends to a higher plane of existence.
âI mean,â you continue casually, âif I ever marry someone with a cute last name like yours, Iâd honestly feel like I won the lottery.â
Everyone stares at him.
Eddieâs eyebrows are up to the ceiling.
Erica whispers, âThis is painful.â
Dustin dramatically mouths: TELL HER.
But Steve?
He just sits there, hands carefully resting on your waist like youâre made of something too breakable to confess to.
âYeah,â he says softly, eyes locked on you. âIt⊠it would sound really good.â
You look up at him with that pretty smile he loves too much.
âRight? Harrington just hits.â
You have absolutely no idea what youâre doing to him.
And he still doesnât confess.
The entire room groans.
LaterâŠ
When everyoneâs gone and itâs quiet, youâre still curled up next to him. Steveâs heart is still pounding. And heâs still thinking about what you said.
Harrington.
Your name.
His name.
Together.
He blushes just thinking about it.
âYou okay?â you ask softly, nudging him.
He looks at youâreally looksâand something inside him shifts.
âI will be,â he says, âonce I figure out how to tell someone something important.â
You tilt your head. âLike what?â
He smiles nervously, cheeks pink.
âLike how perfect their name already sounds with mine.â
This time, you freeze.
And Steve finally doesnât.















