(Ep. 1: Suzie, Do You Copy?)

Starcourt Mall had become a summer sensation. Since its grand opening, the majority of Hawkins waste their entire day shopping and spending money they don't have. The new, flashy stores are to blame because let's face it, some have amazing deals that are just too hard to resist.

And not only are there just retail stores, there's also the food court where every brand sells themselves to every person.

Just like the ice cream shop with the name of Scoops Ahoy. The place that makes their employees wear the most ridiculous uniform and force their underpaid workers to be overly nice to rude customers and annoying kids... like right now.

"Hey, love birds, your children are here!" Robin exclaimed, causing them to roll their eyes at the daily interruption of their kids.

"Do we really have to sneak them in?" Steve complained while kissing her one last time before she pushed him off.

She smiled, "At least they bring us popcorn after."

Leaning his head back in frustration, Steve slid open the divider and glared at them, "Again? Seriously?"

Gwen opened the door to the back as she motioned them to walk in, "Just hurry up." Before Mike was able to pass, she grabbed his shoulder to stop him, "Remember to bring me popcorn with extra butter."

"Can I have some money then?" he asked, smiling teasingly while placing his hand out front.

"Dude, I gave you money last time and besides..." she reached down into her pockets for any leftover change she might have. "I only have like 8 dollars."

He was quick to snatch the bills from her and begin rushing off, "Thanks for that!"

"I expect change!" Gwen demanded. "Max! Make sure he brings it to me!"

Max held a thumbs up, "You got it!"

Steve continued glaring at them as they walked off, shaking his head before warning them, "I swear, if anybody hears about this-"

"We're dead!" All of them annoyingly responded from hearing those same words every time they're snuck in.

Just when they turned the corner, Steve began pressing his lips onto her neck, sending those usual goosebumps only his touch is able to bring.

"Now, where were we?"

As much as Gwen wanted to continue, she didn't want to upset Robin and leave all the work to her. "I'd love to, but we need to get back out there."

Steve groaned, "I really wish we can just quit."

"Come on, it's not that bad." Just as she said those words, the lights started flickering before shutting off, leaving them in complete darkness with only the emergency lights turned on, "Scratch that out." Gwen walked to the front, seeing a puzzled Robin who just shrugged at her.

"That's weird," Steve stated as he walked to the light switch. He started flipping it up and down continuously, staring up at the lights as he waited for the source to return.

"That isn't gonna work, dingus," Robin pointed out.

Gwen agreed, "The rest of the mall doesn't have electricity either, you idiot."

"Oh, really?" Steve glared at the two before continuing to flip the switch even quicker to annoy them.

"You're going to break it if you keep doing that," Gwen began trying to get him to stop, but he was now using both of his hands to continue while smiling at her all teasingly.

Robin just stood back and watched the two fight over the light switch. She rolled her eyes, but smiled at the fools they're making of each other.

Not even a minute later, the lights turned back on as if nothing happened. Steve smiled at Gwen all proud before announcing, "Let there be light."

"Wow, I'm so amazed," she sarcastically said before being forced to return to the work they're being paid to do.

Robin leaned over to her and asked, "How are you even dating him?"

"Believe me, I ask myself that every day."

"Hey!" Steve exclaimed as he pouted while scooping up ice cream.

Gwen couldn't help but laugh at his adorable face, "Oh, you know I love you."

Steve walked over, kissing her cheek and immediately walking away knowing he'd be tempted to drop everything to just do it right here.

Robin fake gagged, "You guys are so disgusting that I actually want to vomit now."

Gwen laughed while Steve annoyingly stared at Robin. He turned back to his girlfriend and asked, "When's Dustin coming back? It feels weird seeing the others without him."

"Tomorrow. They actually planned a surprise welcome back party type of thing," she scooped up a round of mint ice cream and handed it to the young girl over the counter. "I'd ask you to come, but I feel it's better if he sees you in your full glory."

Steve rolled his eyes, "Very funny." He pointed to his hat, tempted to remove it despite company policy, "It's this freaking hat. It's just not working for me."

Gwen chuckled, "Yeah, that's what's not working. The hat."

"Or maybe it's the fact that you have a hot girlfriend," Robin chimed in.

"Exactly!" Gwen agreed, smiling at Robin who winked at her.

"Oh I know my girlfriend is hot," he said, "I just meant-"

Before he was able to finish his sentence, the bell on the counter rang, causing them to turn their heads abruptly and stop their conversation.

Their regular customer, Erica Sinclair, stood in front with a girl that looked around the same age as them. Gwen was able to recognize her as Daphne Sinclair, Erica and Lucas' cousin.

"Stop chit chatting and take my cousin's order," Erica demanded.

"Daphne?" Gwen questioned, amazed at how much she's changed since the last time they saw each other was before high school started.

She smiled and said, "Missed me?"

With open arms, they ran to each other and nearly slammed against the counter. It's been far too long since she last visited.

Daphne had been the first girl she befriended. Just like Gwen and Jonathan were disliked by everyone, Daphne also was, which made all three become great friends.

"What are you doing back here in Hawkins?" she asked, "Are you moving back?"

"I wish," Daphne admitted, "Just here for the summer before heading to New York."

New York? Does that mean...?

"I'm going to New York!"

Steve's smile faded as he had spent all summer trying to forget that she's leaving and he won't be able to see her as much. Sure there'd be the holidays, but it's not enough like seeing her every day.

Robin cleared her throat, slightly offended at not being introduced to the beautiful girl, "Care to introduce us, Gwen?"

Daphne smiled at her and walked over to the counter, "I'm Daphne Sinclair and you must be...?"

"I'm Robin," she really hoped the pink forming in her cheeks wasn't noticeable considering luck isn't always on her side.

Steve offered his hand to introduce himself, "And I'm Steve Harrington."

The youngest Sinclair rolled her eyes and began complaining, "Great, so now that introductions have been made, why don't you give her some ice cream?"

His arm was still in air, causing Gwen to whisper, "Lower your arm. It's embarrassing."

Steve just teasingly rolled his eyes as he headed to the back room, but not before motioning her to follow him. A clear indication that meant their previous session would be resuming.

Damn it, Harrington, she thought, but eagerly went after him.

__________________

"This is Gold Leader, returning to base. Do you copy? Over." Nothing but static was heard, making Dustin repeat his message once more, "This is Gold Leader, returning to base. Do you copy? Over."

Nothing again.

"I repeat: This is Gold Leader, returning to base. Do you copy? Over."

Gwen rolled over in the backseat, covering her ears to drown out his constant repetition. It was tempting to reveal the surprise awaiting him back home, but the party would for sure never let her hear the end of it if she ruined it.

"I repeat: This is goddamn Gold Leader-"

"Dustin!"

"Dusty!"

Both she and her mother exclaimed at the same time.

"What?" he complained.

"Just relax! It's not like they're going to carry their walkies everywhere," Gwen told him, hoping he wouldn't take their silence as them forgetting him.

"I'm in range. They should be answering," he whined.

"You've been away a whole month, honeybun. Maybe they just... forgot," Claudia tried to reassure him and looked through the rear view mirror at his sister for help.

His expression saddened at the fact that maybe his friends did forget about him. It had been a long time, but he hoped they missed him just like he missed them. Perhaps he was wrong.

Gwen just wished things were running smoothly back home. She had trusted the key to Max and Lucas since that's where the surprise gathering was happening, and knowing how much they love seeing El use her powers, she worried anything could get broken. Not that she cared, but her mother would lose her mind if any of her antiques got ruined.

The rest of the car ride turned silent. She was growing more impatient, counting the minutes until arriving so she wouldn't ruin the surprise. Instead, she raised the volume and screamed the lyrics to "Everybody Wants To Rule The World."

"Sing it Dustin!"

He denied as he was still upset at his friends forgetting him, but just hearing his sister sing incredibly off key made it easy to forget even for a minute.

Both siblings belted out the words in unison, "There's a room where the light won't find you. Holding hands while the walls come tumbling down. When they do, I'll be right behind you!"

They arrived just in time as the song finished. Even as they walked inside, they were still singing and swaying to the imaginary music. She helped bring his stuff to his room, only as they entered, he turned quiet and plopped down to his bed.

"What happened? I thought we were having fun just now." At any moment now, the party would begin whatever surprise they planned, but they needed to hurry if they don't want to face an upset Dustin.

He smiled gently at her, "At least someone's happy I'm home."

One of Dustin's toy robots started whirring from a distance. A clear sign of the plan coming into action, "Are you sure I'm the only one?"

More of his robots started entering the room. His remaining toys that were already here started taking a life of their own. He slowly got up, startled as he wondered what in the world was happening. The toys began walking out, indicating that he should follow them.

"Gwen, what's happening?" he questioned.

"How should I know?" She expected him to follow his toys, but he reached over to his desk for his can of Farrah Fawcett hairspray before walking out.

Yeah, this was definitely not good.

Even though Gwen wanted to know what's going to happen, she needed to get to work since Steve and Robin were covering for her. She hurried to her car and was nearly inside when the screams of Lucas and Dustin were heard.

__________________

Business at the parlor was fairly slow. Customers would come in and out and sometimes they'd look at the menu and decide not to order. The three were bored out of their minds that Gwen and Robin pushed Steve to attempt flirting with one of the customers.

They stood in the back room and watched him converse with a girl in a Purdue shirt, "Ooh, Purdue. Fancy."

The girl gave him a friendly smile, "Yeah, I'm excited."

Pressing the keys to the cash register, he continued with his attempts while giving his most charming smile, "Yeah, you know, I considered it. But then I was like, you know what? I really think I need some real-life experience before I hit college..."

"Where's he going with this?" Robin whispered.

"I have no idea, but based on how this looks, you got another tally for your board."

Reluctantly, Steve began his final attempts to see if he still had his charm. He really didn't want to ask this question, but his girlfriend and annoying coworker were betting against him, "We should kind of like..." he swallowed hard as he was barely able to say, "Hang out this weekend."

"No. I'm sorry, I can't," the girl said as she walked away.

Thank god, he thought as he turned to the laughing girls, noticing Robin had that dreadful whiteboard in hand.

"And another one bites the dust," Robin commented, "You are oh-for-six, Popeye," she placed a tally on the You suck column.

"Yeah, yeah, I can count," Steve said in defeat with arms crossed even though this didn't feel like a complete loss since he wasn't trying at all.

"You know that means you suck," Robin noted.

"Yep, I can read too."

"Since when?"

Gwen laughed obnoxiously loud, receiving a look from Steve.

"I still have my charm," he argued and walked to her, "I'm doing pretty good considering I have a girlfriend."

"Who I still can't believe is dating you," Robin said loudly as she placed the board down, catching the customers' attention.

Gwen chuckled and started reaching out for Steve's hat. It was covering that beautiful hair of his which was definitely a crime, "Take the hat off. Let's see if anything falls."

His eyes widened, confused on why she seems comfortable with him "flirting" with other girls. "Why are you insisting?"

She raised the board again, pointing to the You rule column with no tallies. "Because I want to prove Robin wrong."

He smiled, leaning over to kiss her before he agreed to this very strange plan, "You know what? This next one is for you, so screw company policy." Steve tossed his hat, running his hands through his hair before facing the swarm of girls eager to get their hands on ice cream.

"He's still going to fail."

"You bet," Gwen agreed.

"Ahoy, ladies! Didn't see you there. Would you guys like to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me? I'll be your captain. I'm Steve Harrington."

Gwen tried not to smile, but seeing how dorky he acted just made her heart flutter. She ignored Robin's staring and simply focused on watching the man who she couldn't believe was her boyfriend.

Robin frowned at the openly lovey eyes of hers, grabbing the marker as she placed another tally on the You suck column.