Chapter One
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Mr. & Mrs. Harrington!

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It was the summer of 1985, and the town was buzzing about the new mall that recently opened called Starcourt. It brought excitement to the small town of Hawkins. Olivia wasn't super fond of it as it shut many small businesses down. However, in the beginning of the summer, Steve asked her if she wanted to apply at stores in the mall with him and Olivia couldn't say no to him. They ended up getting a job at a charming little ice cream parlor called Scoops Ahoy.

            Their coworker, Robin, was a bit of an oddball, but that's what Olivia thought made her so lovable. Olivia recognized her from school, though they never really spoke to each other, only waved at each other when they crossed paths. However, when it was their first day on the job, they instantly bonded and had fun teasing Steve in his sailor uniform. Olivia secretly thought he looked adorable in it, but she would never dare say it out loud. Robin would just tease Olivia endlessly if she did.

            In the back of the parlor, Steve and Olivia were chatting about random things while it was Robin's turn to scoop ice cream at the front. Steve was mindlessly spinning his sailor hat as he leaned against the table and Olivia was standing next to him, leaning her head on his shoulder about to fall asleep, exhausted from her long and draining shift. Olivia was used to working in the food industry as she used to work as a waiter at Benny's Burgers, but she had forgotten how tiring it could be. Steve smiled at her, and kissed her softly on her forehead. That was sort of their thing, kissing her forehead was something he always did, and every time it made her heart race.

            "So," Steve began to say. "When does Dustin get home?"

            Olivia smiled at this, Steve has been asking her every day when Dustin would be back from summer camp. She loved how close those two were.

            "He comes home tommorow," Olivia answered, her eyes lighting up at the thought. Dustin had been away for a whole month, and she missed him a lot. Truth be told, she was counting down the days just like Steve was. The siblings have never been apart for that long before, so she was excited that he was finally coming home. "I'm really excited, I wish you could come with my mom and I to pick him up."

            "I do too," Steve sighed. "But I have to work. I hate this stupid job."

            "It's not so bad," Olivia shrugged. "At least we get to work together. And I get to see you in the sailor uniform everyday," She laughed.

            "Stop," Steve shoves her playfully, though a small smile was on his face. "It's not fair, you look way better in it than I do."

            Olivia scrunched her nose. "I look ridiculous in it."

            Steve smiled and a comfortable silence fell between the two. So far, Olivia has been having a great summer. Her and Steve have been inseparable since last year, and she even started to grow feelings for him. Her feelings for Johnathan finally disappeared, but now she was bottling her feelings again, only this time it was with Steve. She hated how easy it was for her to fall in love with someone and get too attached. She tended to bottle her feelings because she found it easier than dealing with heartbreak. Plus, she didn't want to ruin what she had with Steve. Everything was so amazing at the moment. She wouldn't know what to do if Steve rejected her.

            "Hey, um, I was wondering, maybe if you wanted to..." Steve trailed off his words and paused, looking nervous. A swarm of butterflies were fluttering in Olivia's stomach.

            "Yeah?" Olivia said shyly.

            As Steve tried to form his words, Olivia could hear Robin calling their names from the counter. "Hey Mr. and Mrs. Harrington, your children are here!"

            Olivia rolls her eyes. Robin always likes to joke that her and Steve were a married couple struggling to make money for their children. The thought of marrying Steve made her stomach flutter. She couldn't help but think of how nice Steve and Olivia Harrington sounded.

            Steve let out an annoyed sigh and walked over to the window to slide it open. This past week, he has been trying to get the courage to ask Olivia out and finally tell her that he's in love with her, but something always goes wrong and he would just end up loosing his confidence afterwards.

            "Again?" Olivia heard him say.

            Olivia walks over to stand beside Steve. She sighs when she sees Mike, Max, Lucas, and Will waiting impatiently on the other side of the counter.

            "Seriously?" She heaved and folds her arms. Mike stares at her and rings the bell on the counter repeatedly. Will sends her an apologetic smile.

            "Sorry mom," Max teased as Robin snorted at the nickname Max often called Olivia.

            "Hey, Nancy told me to tell you she says hi," Mike told Olivia as her and Steve lead the kids to the back.

            "Oh, how is Nance?" Olivia wondered. The two friends haven't been able to see each other all summer. Nancy was busy working at The Hawkins Post with Johnathan, while Olivia worked at Scoops. She missed hanging out with Nancy, who was her best friend, but their schedules always conflicted.

            "She's okay, I think," Mike shrugged. Olivia sighs at his answer, knowing the Wheeler siblings weren't really close. "She misses you though."

            "Well, tell her I miss her too, yeah?" Olivia asked the Wheeler boy.

            "I will," He nodded.

            Steve and Olivia lead the kids to the back hallway that had different doors leading to different parts of the mall. "Come on, come on," He ordered. "I swear, if anybody hears about this!" He warned them.

            "We're dead!" The kids chorused.

            As the kids walk away, Max turns around quickly and gives Olivia a side hug. "Thanks Liv, your the best!" She said before walking back with the others. Olivia smiles at her, then looks over at Will.

            "Wait, Will!" Olivia stops the boy, who had considerably grown over the summer. The once small boy was now slightly taller than she was, and it dawned on her how the time really does fly by. Will turns around and looks at her confused. "You okay?" She asked with concern.

            "Yeah, I'm fine," Will replied unconvincingly. Even though things were finally starting to feel back to normal again, Olivia still constantly worried about the boy who she thought of as family. The boy had been through so much the last two years, and what he went through wasn't just something you could recover from. She noticed that he had been quieter than usual the last few weeks, and it worried her. All she wanted for Will was to be happy.

            "Okay," Olivia nodded, not wanting to push things. "Well, have fun, alright?" She smiled and kisses him on the cheek.

            "I will," His eyes lit up and he smiles at her. The small gesture from her seemed to significantly change his mood, and that made her smile. He heads back to catch up with the others.

            Steve sighs and gives a pointed look at Olivia.

            "Hey, why are you looking at me? Your the one who thought it was a good idea to tell the kids about the secret passageway to the movies," Olivia reminded him.

            "Yes, and I know that." Steve sighed. "But we all know those kids love you, and probably just wanted some excuse to see you. And little Byers totally has a thing for you," Steve exclaimed. He couldn't blame the young boy for crushing on her though, it was hard to not fall in love with her. He had even tried to think of something he didn't like about Olivia to try and get rid of his feelings so he could avoid getting heartbroken again, but he couldn't think of anything.

            "He does not!" Olivia rolled her eyes. "He's basically like my little brother."

            As the two continue to banter, they walk back into the parlor and Robin gives the pair a knowing look.

            "What?" Steve and Olivia chorused.

            "Nothing, nothing," Robin sang. "You guys just sure have been busy to have so many kids, if you know what I mean."

           "Robin!" Olivia hissed, a blush rising on her cheeks. Robin just snorted.

            "Yeah, really Robin? We're not married!" Steve exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.

            "But you wanna be," Robin sang. "I mean, think about it, Mr. and Mrs. Harrington. You basically already are. The two of you are clearly in love with each other, and your raising children."

            "Would you please stop calling us that?" Olivia begged, though she couldn't help but wonder if Steve really did feel the same way as she did. Robin was one of the only people who really knew about her feelings for him, and she took any moment possible to tease her. As much as Olivia loved the girl, she hated her at the moment.

            "Nope!" Robin chirped. "And I can't wait to tell you I told you so at your wedding."

            Steve and Olivia looked at each other. Olivia couldn't tell what he was thinking, but she wished she did. As Steve starts to take his turn scooping ice cream, the power suddenly goes out. Olivia's breath hitches and has flashbacks again of being in the upside down. Even though the mall could've been a weird glitch, Olivia felt like something was wrong.

            No, El closed the gate. It couldn't be.

            "That's weird," Steve commented and flicks the light switch over and over again to try and turn it back on.

            "That isn't gonna work, dingus," Robin quipped.

            "Oh really?" Steve flicks the light vigorously after Robin's comment. After a few more seconds, the power finally comes back on.

            "Let there be light," Steve grinned proudly.

            Robin shook her head and looked at Olivia who seemed to be in a trance. "Hey Liv, you alright? Robin asked her friend worriedly. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."

            "Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine," Olivia nodded. Robin looked at her unconvincingly.

            "You sure?" Steve asked, knowing that she still had nightmares about the upside down. He wished Olivia wasn't so stubborn sometimes, because all he wanted to do was make her feel better.

            "Yeah," Olivia assured, and started to scoop ice cream for the customers waiting in line, even though it wasn't her turn.

            Steve frowned and he looked at Robin with concern. They wanted to help her, but knew she would just keep saying that she was fine if they did.

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            The next morning, Olivia and her mom picked Dustin up, and they were driving back home through the green and woodsy town. She was so excited to see Dustin, she forgot about the power going off last night. After a while of driving, Dustin starts to try to contact his friends in the backseat through his walkie talkie, but to no luck. Olivia and her mom look at each other, not sure how much longer they could stand him trying to contact his friends. Olivia mindlessly fiddles with her necklace Steve had given her back at the snowball as she listens to Dustin talking. Irritably, might she add.

            "This is gold leader returning to base, do you copy? Over." He paused, waiting for any kind of response. "I repeat, this is gold leader returning to base, do you copy? Over." He pauses again. "I repeat, this is goddamn gold leader-"

            "Dusty!" Olivia and Claudia chorused.

            "What?"  He spat at them. Olivia shook her head at him.

            "Relax, for goodness' sake," Claudia sighed.

            "I'm in range, they should be answering." Dustin complained. Olivia frowned, she knew about the plan the kids made to surprise him. She hated seeing him so upset, but she didn't want to spoil the surprise.

            "You've been away a whole month honeybun. Maybe they just, forgot." Claudia said soothingly.

            Olivia swivels her head around to face Dustin. "I'm positive their excited to see you!" She said, trying to cheer him up. "If it makes you feel any better, Steve has been asking me everyday when would you be getting home."

            Dustin's eyes light up a little. "Really?"

            "Yeah," Olivia nodded.

            "Hey, speaking of Steve, how are things going between the two of you? Have you guys gotten together yet?" Dustin asked with hope in his eyes. He was hoping that while he was away at camp, that would give Olivia and Steve some alone time to get together. Not only did he want his sister to be happy, he also wanted Steve to be his brother-in-law.

            Olivia looked at him weirdly. "No," She answered. "We've talked about this Dusty. I don't think Steve and I will ever get together."

            "Shit," Olivia heard him mutter under his breath. "My plan isn't working."

            Olivia eyes him suspiciously. If Dustin was planning something, it couldn't be good. "Plan? What plan?"

            "Nothing!" Dustin replied a little too quickly.

            "Sweetheart, I think you should be honest with Steve, and tell him how you really feel," Claudia advised in her motherly tone. "What's the worst that could happen?"

            "He could hear me," Olivia quipped.

            Claudia sighed at her daughter and wished that she thought better about herself. "Livy, Stevie is a sweet boy. Its obvious that he's in love with you. And you're a beautiful girl, why wouldn't he?"

            "I appreciate what you're saying, but you kind of have to say that. You're my mom, after all," Olivia explained to her.

            "That's not why I'm saying that Livy," Claudia denied. "You should feel better about yourself and have more confidence. I know your a little scared because of what happened with Johnathan, but I know that Steve loves you, believe me."

            "He looks at you the way dad looked at mom," Dustin added in. The car became quiet for a moment, and Olivia put a comforting hand over her mom's. It's been a few years since her dad passed away, and sometimes it was still hard for them to cope with it. Olivia missed her dad so much, and she wished more than anything that he were here now. She knew he would have loved Steve, and the thought made her smile sadly.

            She decides to change the subject to the lighten up the mood. "Hey Dusty, who was that pretty girl I saw you hugging when we picked you up?"

            Dustin smiles brightly. "Oh, that's Suzie! She's my girlfriend."

            Claudia and Olivia smile at each other, and Olivia looks back at him with raised eyebrows. "Girlfriend? I can't believe it, Dusty's got a girlfriend! Awww," She pauses. "Wait, you didn't use Steve's advice, did you?"

            "I did! And it worked!" Dustin told her.

            Olivia wrinkles her nose. "I still think you should just be yourself," She said honestly. "But I'm happy for you. You're just growing up so fast. Isn't he mom?"

            "Yeah," Claudia smiled and wipes away tears from her eyes. "I can't believe it, my baby's in love."

            Once they finally arrive home, Dustin plops on the couch and rubs his temple. "At least someone's happy I'm home." He smiles, looking over at his pet turtle.

            "Hey," Olivia piped up. "I'm happy you're home!"

            "Yeah, but you're my sister. Doesn't really count," Dustin mumbled.

            Olivia breaths a heavy sigh at her brother and grabs her car keys. "Well, I'm headed off to work. See you tonight, yeah?"

            "Okay. Oh and hey, nice sailor uniform by the way," Dustin chuckled.

            "Oh shut up Dusty," Olivia scoffed. "And hey, it's good to have you home," She gave him a quick hug before heading out the door.

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            Olivia was standing in the back of the parlor again, only this time with Robin. They were enjoying watching Steve attempt to flirt with girls only to fail miserably. Robin even had a white board with a chart she drew on it with "You Rule, You Suck" written on it, tallying a point on the You Suck side every time girls rejected him. Olivia couldn't believe that Steve 'The Hair' Harrington, the guy every girl in Hawkins High swooned over, was now having trouble getting a girl to go on a date with him. She couldn't understand why, Steve was absolutely adorable. If he asked her out, she would say yes in a heartbeat.

            "You know Saundra Dee," Robin piped up. Olivia rolls her eyes at Robin's nickname for her. Robin said she liked to call her that because Olivia was a good girl who never rebelled or got into trouble. And Grease was one of Olivia's favorite movies, so the name just fit her. "If you want Steve to have a point under You Rule," Robin continued, "you could just ask him out."

            Olivia's eyes widen just at the thought of asking Steve out. "Have you met me, Robin? I'm one of the shyest people around, I could never have the courage to ask him out."

            Olivia heads over to the window to see what was happening, with her hand on her chin. He was talking with two girls, who were actually in her English class last year, Jessica and Anna.

            "Oh Purdue? Fancy," Steve pointed out to Anna, who was wearing a Purdue sweatshirt.

            "Yeah, I'm excited," Anna nodded with a smile.

            "You know, I considered it, Purdue. But than 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 rage, you know? " He rambled on as both of the girls started to look bored.

            "Yeah, totally," Anna replied awkwardly.

            "Yeah anyway, this was like, so fun," Steve laughed nervously. "We should kind of like, you know,  I don't know maybe hang out this weekend, oh sorry about that," He stammers, accidentally dropping the change. "...or uh, I don't know maybe next weekend."

            "Yeah, I'm busy," Anna chuckled.

            "Oh yeah that's cool, I'm working here next weekend so, the following weekends better for me," Steve said, stumbling over his words.

            "No. I'm sorry I can't," Anna laughed. "Oh, hey Olivia!" Anna smiled when she notices the girl behind Steve. "You work here?"

            "Yeah," Olivia exhaled. She was surprised they even remembered her.

            "Sorry you have to work with him," Anna pointed at Steve, and her and Jessica chuckles.

            "It's his first day here," Olivia lied sheepishly, trying to help him out.

            "Alright, well it was nice seeing you Olivia," Anna waved and looked back at Steve. "Thanks," She giggled, walking away with Jessica.

            Robin appears next to Olivia, holding the whiteboard. "And another one bites the dust," She stated, marking another tally on You Suck. "You are oh-for-six popeye."

            Steve rolls his eyes and turns around to face the two. "Yeah, yeah, I can count," He huffed.

            "You know that means you suck," Robin pointed out.

            "Yep, I can read too," He heaved.

            "Since when?" Robin retorted.

            Olivia swats Robin's shoulder. "Hey, leave the poor guy alone. He's smarter than he looks."

            "Wow, thanks Liv," Steve told her sarcastically. "It's this stupid hat I am telling you, it is totally blowing my best feature."

            Olivia wanted to say she thought he looked cute in the uniform, but she decided against it, not wanting to embarrass herself. "He's not wrong," She said instead with a shrug.

            "Yeah, company policy is a real drag. I think Liv here is the only one that can pull it off," Robin pats her shoulder.

           "Yeah and it's totally not fair. At least when you wear the hat, it doesn't hide your long hair," Steve told her and Olivia scoffs. She did think the uniform was cute, but she didn't like it on her.

            "You know, it's a crazy idea," Robin trailed off, "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 scoffed.

            Olivia frowned, hating Steve think so lowly of himself. "Your dads an asshole, Steve. Don't believe what he says. And you do have a future, I think you just haven't found it yet," She comforts him.

            Steve smiles at the girl. I want a future with you, he wanted to say. She always saw the good in people, so when she called his dad an asshole, it made him laugh. The two look at each other for a moment lost in their own little world, and Robin lets out a frustrated sigh. She has never met anybody more oblivious than those two.

            "Why don't you just practice flirting with Liv?" Robin suggested.

            "He does not need to practice with me Robin," Olivia sighed, but she really just didn't want to be a stuttering mess in front of Steve.

            "Oh, I could totally woo you Henderson," He teases, and a blush rises on Olivia's cheeks.

            "Oh yeah?" She says, folding her arms. "Okay then Harrington. Show me what you got."

            As Steve started to stumble with his words again, thinking of the perfect thing he could say to her and win her heart, Robin interrupts them.

            "Hey, twelve o' clock," She pointed to some girls who were walking in to the parlor.

            "Oh shit, oh shit, okay... uh. I'm going in, okay? And you know what?" Steve takes his hat off and throws it to the side. "Screw company policy."

            "Oh my God, you're a whole new man," Robin said sarcastically.

            "Right? Ooooh," Steve said walking backwards, sending a wink towards Olivia, but he accidentally bumps into the counter. Robin chuckles and gives Olivia a knowing look. Steve turns around quickly to face the other girls, embarrassed with himself for messing up in front of the one girl he actually did like.

            So much for wooing her, he scolded to himself.

            "He so likes you," Robin whispered to Olivia. "He just made a fool of himself in front of you."

            "Oh stop, give him a break," Olivia giggled, and puts her attention back on Steve.

            "Ahoy ladies!" He spoke a little to loudly, causing the girls to jump back a little. "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."

            Olivia silently shook her head at the boy and put her hand on her forehead. The girls gawk at Steve.

            "Can I get you guys a little taste of cherries jubilee? No, anybody? Banana boat? Four people, four spoons? Share it in the booth? Anybody?" He rambled.

            "You're in love with an idiot Liv," Robin chuckled, walking over to the white board to tally another two points on You Suck.

            Instead of denying Robin's comments as Olivia normally would, a shy smile appeared on her features instead.

            "I know," She finally gave in, her voice just below a whisper so Steve wouldn't be able to hear her.