Summer of 1985

It had been months since Max and I had first moved into Hawkins and finding out about the dark secrets the small town held. We also made some friends since moving here. Max became friends with Mike, Will, Lucas and Dustin but she barely got to see Eleven as Hopper had to keep her secret and safe at his home.

And also, Lucas and Max were dating which I thought was great, Lucas is a good kid. Robin and I became best friends but I also grew close with Steve as we started talking and hung out after school. About a month ago, we both graduated from high school and Steve had tried to get into college but he never got accepted. And because of that, he had to get a job at an ice cream parlor, Scoops Ahoy, in the brand new mall called Star-court Mall.

And he wasn't alone in getting this job. Robin and I ended up getting this job as well. I needed this job cause I wanted to save up to get an apartment as I wasn't gonna go to college because I didn't want to go. The only downside to this job was wearing these ridiculous sailor outfits.

The three of us were working tonight, which was extremely busy, and Steve and I were in the back parlor as I was cleaning up and he was gathering up supplies when we hear the bell ring and Robin call out to us. "(Y/n), Dingus, your kids are here!"

Steve goes over to the window and open it up while I come up next to him to see Max, Mike, Lucas and Will at the front desk and I sighed. "Again? Seriously?" Steve asked them and they all look at us, trying to look all innocent.

Steve and I lead them to the back of the parlor and into the door that connected to the back area of the mall where they could get around to stores or the movie theater without anyone noticing. "I swear, if anybody hears about this..." Steve threatens the kids as they walk out of the door. "We're dead!" They replied in unison as they keep walking.

Steve sighs and I shake my head. "Kids." I muttered as we walk back into the parlor and got back to work. Then a few minutes later, the power to the whole mall went out and everyone gasped as we look around. "That's weird." I muttered as Steve goes over to the light switch and keeps flicking it, like that would do something.

"That isn't gonna work, dingus." Robin said. "Oh, really?" Steve said and he aggressively flicks the switch, repeatedly, as a way to annoy Robin. I place my hand over my face and shake my head at this while Robin was beyond annoyed.

Finally, the lights came back on and Steve shrugs. "Let there be light." He said, smugly, and he walks away and Robin scoffs then she turns to me. "You seriously have a crush on him?" Robin asked me, quietly, and I shoot her a glare. "Shut up." I growled at her before I walk away and got back to work.

Yes, in the last couple months I've developed a crush on Steve. I mean sure, he can be an idiot at times and a bit irritating...but he can also be sweet and caring. He did try to protect the kids and I from Billy after all. We really got to know each other back in December and never stop talking through out the rest of the school year. Before I knew it, I had developed feelings for him.

The next day, I was driving Max over to Lucas' house since Billy went to his work as a lifeguard at the pool. Dustin had been gone this past month at camp and today he was supposed to arrive back home, and the others wanted to surprise him.

"So, you excited to see Dustin again?" I asked her. "Yeah, honestly, I missed that nerd." Max said and I chuckled. "Yeah, that kid's special." I said. "So, how's it at Scoops?" Max asked me. "Not too bad. Although, Lucas' little sister is getting on my nerves on coming in every day just to taste test the flavors we got. I'm about to charge that little brat." I grumbled and Max giggles.

"Yeah, and I'm sure it's nice to work there since you got Steve there to look at." Max teased and I scoff as she starts to make kissing sounds at me. "Stop it!" I said and she laughs again. "Come on, (y/n). It's obvious you like him." said Max. "No, I don't." I said, defensively, and I glance over to notice her giving me that look that said Really?

"Okay, fine, I like him! But I don't even know if he likes me in that way." I said. "Have you ever tried talking to him about it?" Max asked me like it was so obvious. "It's complicated." I said. "How? Just go up to him and say hey, Steve, do you like me or not?" Max said. "When you get older you find out dating is a lot more complicated and complex." I said and Max scoffs.

"Or maybe you're just making it complicated." She said and I rolled my eyes. "Look, it's just...I don't want to ruin the friendship we got now. Because I just know that if I ask him and he turns me down, then it'll just be weird between us and I don't know how to handle that." I said before I let out another sigh. "Besides, he hits on any pretty girl that comes into the parlor to get a date with them. Robin's been keeping scores." I added.

"Is it bad?" Max asked and I chuckled. "He's had five girls reject him." I said. "Oh, damn." Max mutters just as we pull up to Lucas' house. "Okay, enough talk about my nonexistent love life. You go and have fun." I tell her as she unbuckles her seatbelt and gets out of the car. "Will do." Max said. "Love you." I said. "Love you too." Max said. "Tell Dustin hi for me." I called out as she shuts the door.

At work, Robin and I were in the back area of the ice cream parlor when Robin looks out then pats my shoulder. "Oh, he's trying again." She said and we stand by the open window that leads out to the front desk where I see Steve serving ice cream to a couple of pretty girls.

"Alrighty, one scoop of chocolate. That's a buck-twenty-five. Anything else?" Steve asked but one of the girls, who was wearing a college shirt, hands him the money. "Ooh, Purdue. Fancy." He said. "Yeah, I'm excited." The girl said and he ran she friend chuckle.

"Yeah, you know, I considered it, Purdue, but then I was like, you know what? I really think I need some real-life experience, you know, before I hit college, see what it feels like. Kinda like, uh, I don't know, see what it's like to earn a working-man's wage, you know? Uh..." Steve stumbles as he works on the register. Both Robin and I share a look at this as the register beeps.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I think that's, like, really important." Steve said, embarrassed. "Yeah, totally." The girl said. "Yeah, anyway, this was, like, so fun. We should kind of like, you know, I don't know, maybe hang out this weekend or..." Steve said as he tries to hand the girl her change but either she didn't catch it or he missed her hand.

"Oh, sorry about that. Uh...I don't know. Maybe next weekend or..." Steve stammers. "Yeah, I'm busy." The girl said, obviously not interested. "Oh, that's cool. I'm...I'm working here next weekend, so...the following weekend's better for me." Steve said. "No. I'm sorry, I can't. Okay. Thanks." The girl said as she chuckles, politely, then her and her friend leaves.

"Board?" I asked Robin and she nods and I grab her board, which on one side that said You Rock and the other side said You Suck which had five tallies under it, and hand it to her. "And another one bites the dust." Robin said. "You are oh-for-six, Popeye." She said as she adds another tally. "Yeah, yeah, I can count." Steve grumbles as he turns to us.

"You know that means you suck." Robin said, a bit proudly. "Yep, I can read, too." Steve said, annoyed. "Since when?" Robin asked, in fake surprise, and I chuckled a bit. "It's this stupid hat. I am telling you, it is totally blowing my best feature." Steve groans, gesturing to the sailor hat on his head, as Robin sets the board aside. "Yeah, company policy is a real drag." I said. "You know, it's a crazy idea, but have you considered...telling the truth?"

"Oh, you mean, that I couldn't even get into Tech and my douchebag dad's trying to teach me a lesson, I make three bucks an hour, and I have no future? That truth?" Steve asked me and I shrugged. "Honesty is the best policy." I said, obviously, and Steve scoffs then Robin looks over Steve's shoulder.

"Hey, twelve o'clock." She said and he turns and I look over to see a group of girls walking in. "Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Okay... Uh..." Steve mutters as he turns back to us. "I'm going in. Okay? And you know what?" Steve said and he grabs his hat and tosses it aside. "Screw company policy."

"Oh, my God, you're a whole new man." Robin said, sarcastically. "Right? Ooh." Steve said then he turns around to the girls. "Ahoy, ladies! Didn't see you there." Steve said, loudly, making the girls gasp. "Would you guys like to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me? I'll be your captain. I'm Steve Harrington." Steve said and the girls laugh a little.

"Can I get you guys a little taste of the Cherries Jubilee? No? Anybody? Banana Boat? Four people, four spoons? Share it in the booth? Anybody? It's hot out there." Steve said and Robin and I share a look before she hands me the marker and I go over to the board and add another tally.

*3rd Person POV*

"Suzie! This is Dustin. Do you copy? Over." Dustin said into his radio that he built at camp. He brought all of his friends outside to a hill just so he could show off that he has a girlfriend that he met at camp. But as the day turned to evening and no response from Suzie, Mike and Eleven had already left to go to her house.

That left Lucas, Will and Max with Dustin as he continues to try and contact Suzie but still nothing as the evening turns into night while the other three were laying in the grass. "Suzie, this is your Dustin. Do you copy? Over." Dustin said again but nothing but static. "Suzie..." Dustin said again but then Max speaks up.

"Dustin, come on! She's not there." Max said, exasperated. "She's there, all right? She'll pick up." Dustin said, defensively. "Maybe Cerebro doesn't work." Will suggests as he sits up. "Or maybe Suzie doesn't exist." Lucas says, annoyed. "She exists!" Dustin exclaims. "She's a genius and she's hotter than Phoebe Cates? No girl is that perfect." Lucas said and Max sits up and glares at him.

"Is that so?" She asked and Lucas sits up, realizing his mistake. "I mean...you're perfect. I mean, like, per...perfect in your own way. In your special...your own special way." Lucas stammers and Max chuckles. "Relax, I was teasing. I'm obviously perfect and Dustin's obviously lying." Max said and Dustin frowns as Max gets up.

"Come on, Don Juan." She said as she helps Lucas up and they start walking. "Where are you going?" Dustin asked. "Home." Max replied and her and Lucas leave. "Well...guess it's just you and me, Byers." Dustin said. "Um... it's late. Sorry. Maybe tomorrow we can play D&D. Or something fun. Like we used to?" Will suggests. "Yeah, sure." Dustin mutters, upset.

"Welcome home." Will said and he walks away, leaving Dustin all by himself. "Yeah. Welcome home." He grumbles but then his radio starts to chatter. "Shit." He said as he gets down on the ground. "Suzie? Suzie, is that you?" He asked into the radio but it wasn't Suzie.

It was a man speaking a foreign language.

He was speaking Russian.

*(y/n)'s POV*

I walked out from the back of the parlor, finishing up closing down the place, only to notice Max sitting in on of the benches outside of the parlor. "Hey, what are you doing here? Figured you'd be at Lucas'." I said and she shrugs. "I'm a bit tired. Wanted a ride with you." Max said and I nod. "Okay, well I'm done here." I said and we start to leave.

"How did it go with Dustin?" I asked and Max goes on to tell me how they're day went and that it kinda go boring when Dustin tries to contact a girl he claimed was his girlfriend from camp. "Dustin has a girlfriend?" I said, surprised, as we get into my car. "Well, he says he has one but I think he's full of shit." Max said and I shake my head. "I don't know, Dustin doesn't seem like a kid that would make that up." I said and Max gives me a look of disbelief.

"Well, I mean, yeah, he has a great imagination but...lying about getting a girlfriend...I'm not sure." I said. "Seriously? You believe it?" She asked me as I start the car. "I don't know. Maybe it's just I want to see you guys happy, especially after what happened a few months ago." I said and Max shrugs and we leave the mall and head back home.