Chapter Text
Nothing really changed much in Hawkins, Indiana. It was always the same people working the same jobs or going to the same high school. However one thing that was definitely different was the fact that a giant, glass-topped complex decked out in neon signs and flashing lights stood tall in the middle of town square- a stark contrast to everything else around it. Starcourt Mall looked severely out of place in your small town, but then again it had been almost six years since you've been here.
Your gaze swept over the impressive building, swarms of teenagers weaving in and out of the stores. Your eyes suddenly settled on a cute blue and white striped sign that read 'Scoops Ahoy!'
“You up for ice cream?” you asked.
“I'm down,” your brother said from the passenger seat.
“Good, because I was going to pull over anyways,” you grinned.
You backed into a nearby parking spot, getting out of your car and stretching out your arms. The ten hour road trip from Rochester to Hawkins did not do great things for your body or your sleep schedule, especially when you had to live off of nothing but McDonalds and 7-11 food for a few days. As ready as you were to flop face first onto your old bed, some ice cream sounded really good in the sweltering heat.
You headed into the ice cream shop as you took out your wallet, a cute little bell ringing out as you opened the door.
“Ahoy,” a pretty girl with shoulder length blonde hair greeted you as you walked in. She wore a sailors uniform and hat and looked like she couldn't wait to go home. However, she seemed to regain a bit of energy as she saw you. She stared at you curiously for a moment, looking you up and down before smiling.
“Hold on just a second,” she said.
“Uh, sure?” you said, a bit confused by the girl as she quickly disappeared into the back room,
“You're gonna want to take this one, Harrington,” Robin said.
“I'm on break,” Steve said, his feet up on the table.
“You've been 'on break' for over an hour, dingus,” Robin rolled her eyes, “Besides, you'll thank me later if you play your cards right.”
She reached behind the table he sat at, pulling up a white board with two columns reading 'You Rule' and 'You Suck'.
“You're 0 for 6, Popeye,” Robin said, “Let's see if you can flip the odds.”
She gestured over to the window where you stood in front of the display case, looking around for another employee. Steve seemed to perk up at the sight of you. It was a rare occurrence in Hawkins for Steve to run into someone he's never seen before, and hell if you weren't beautiful.
Robin chuckled as he shot up out of his seat, straightening out his uniform with new enthusiasm.
“Alright, I'm going in,” he said, pausing for a moment before he opened the door, “And you know what? Screw the company policy.” He took off his hat and threw it over his shoulder with a flourish, “Totally hiding my best feature.”
“Yeah,” Robin said under her breath, “That's what's holding you back.”
“Ahoy there!”
You nearly jumped at the overly-loud greeting you received as the door to the back room swung open, revealing a guy about your age in an equally ridiculous sailor uniform as his coworker.
“Sorry for the wait, I hope you're still available to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me. I'm your captain for today, Steve-”
“Harrington,” you finished, surprising the boy behind the counter. He blinked a few times, letting his brain catch up with itself.
“Do. . . do I know you?” he asked.
“Probably not,” you chuckled dryly, “We went to school together up until sixth grade, though.”
“Oh,” he said, feeling kind of bad. A lot had changed in the last year- mainly that he almost got killed by flesh eating beings from another dimension on no less than two accounts. But he'd also changed a lot as a person. He was one to acknowledge that he wasn't the greatest person in the past; Maybe it was better that you didn't know him in high school.
“Well, I'm sorry we didn't get to know each other back then,” Steve said honestly.
That took you by surprise. This wasn't the Steve Harrington you knew. He was the King as far back as elementary school and, as far as you knew, a grade-A asshole. He seemed a lot different than when he was smacking down lunch trays in the cafeteria, but he was still just as stupidly attractive to you.
“Let's start over, then,” you said, “I'm (Y/n), and this is my brother Kyle.”
Steve looked over to the (h/c)-headed boy who looked only a year or two younger than you and gave him a little salute-wave.
“Nice to meet you,” Steve said, “What can I get you two?”
After taking your orders Steve started scooping up the ice cream, piling them into waffle cones. As he handed you yours he seemed to hesitate before talking.
“So, are you just back in Hawkins to visit, or. . .” he trailed off.
“I'm back here as long as my dad's business is,” you said, “He moved us out to New York for work, but he's setting up base back here.”
“Oh, New York!” Steve said, trying to come up with something to say, “That's, uh, the- where the Statue of Liberty is and. . . hot dogs, and. . . taxis?”
“Yeah, that pretty much sums it up,” you laughed, the sound making Steve smile.
You looked over to the wall clock and bit your lip as you saw how late in the afternoon it was.
“Hey, we have to get going,” you said reluctantly, “I still need to finish moving in. You know, unpacking everything I own and all.”
“Uh, yeah, no, I totally get it,” Steve said, mentally kicking himself as you turned around to leave.
Just before you closed the door you turned to look at him over your shoulder.
“You know, I start my senior year in a few weeks at a little place called Hawkins High,” you said.
Steve rose an eyebrow, his expression a little more hopeful, and you grinned.
“Who knows? I might see you around,” you said, a mischievous glint in your eyes.
Robin smirked as Steve watched you walk away, a little in awe.
“I like her,” she said, “Although, I'm not really sure if this one counts as a win or a loss.”
Steve was fine with that, so long as he got to see you again.
~2 weeks later~
Hawkins High was always bustling with activity, even in the early morning. Chatter from groups of students walking to school together along with the hum of car motors filled the air. Everyone was either sitting on the steps of the school or leaning against their cars to show them off, trying to avoid going to first period as long as they could.
Suddenly, a low rumble sounded out in the air as an unfamiliar vehicle rounded the corner. It seemed like everyone in the school was watching as the sleek, black car pulled into the parking lot with the windows down, music blasting.
You enjoyed the feeling of the wind on your face as First Blood from AC/DC's new album sounded out through your car's stereo. You turned it down slightly only to talk to your brother.
“Got everything you need?” you asked Kyle.
“Everything but a doctor's note to get me out of here,” your brother joked.
You chuckled as you grabbed your jean jacket from the trunk; You slung it over your Black Sabbath t shirt before killing the engine and locking the door.
You were about to start walking in until you were tackled into a hug from multiple children.
“(Y/n)!!” Dustin yelled, running towards you from the middle school next door.
“You're here!” Mike said, grinning wildly as he joined the group hug that Will and Lucas piled onto.
“Hey, guys,” you smiled, “Good to know you avoided setting fire to this town without me.”
“Hey what am I, chopped liver?” Kyle said.
The group quickly shifted their attention from you to your brother, each of them doing the secret handshakes they'd come up with together when they were little.
“I didn't know you guys were coming back,” Will said, “Why hasn't anyone said anything?”
“Your mom wanted it to be a surprise,” you admitted, “I already talked to her.”
“Are you kidding me?!” Will exclaimed.
You noticed two girls you didn't recognize were standing somewhat awkwardly to the side, not really sure what was happening.
“New party members?” you asked, smiling at them.
“This is El and Max,” Mike said, introducing you, “El, Max, this is (Y/n) and Kyle. They used to live across the street from us.”
“Nice to meet you,” you said to them before turning back to the boys, “Damn, I'm gone for a couple years and you all go and get girlfriends?” you teased.
Mike and Lucas blushed and your smile widened.
“How do you know them again?” the redhead girl named Max questioned, “It's just. . . I don't know, you actually seem cool.”
You laughed at that, much to the boy's chagrin.
“I used to baby sit them when we were kids,” you explained.
“God knows why,” Lucas said, “It's not like you were any less trouble than us. You were only, like, thirteen.”
“Ok, but you were, like, seven and completely out of control,” you countered, mimicking his tone of voice.
“Woah, hold up, hold up,” Dustin said, circling around your Jaguar, “You have a fucking car?!”
“Hey, language, you little shit,” you said playfully, ruffling his hair, “And yes, I got it last year.”
“Sweet,” Dustin said, wide eyed as he continued to stare at your new ride.
“If you guys want I can drive you to the mall this weekend,” you offered.
Excited shouts followed, effectively giving you your answer.
“Ok, but there's no way you'll all fit back there, so someone's riding in the trunk or I'm going to have to strap one of you to the roof,” you said, only half joking as you tossed your keys up, catching them with your other hand and pocketing them.
“I'll see you guys later. Hell awaits,” you said, gesturing to the school building. Kyle fell into step next to you as you walked up the stairs.
As you entered the halls of Hawkins High you couldn't help the sigh that escaped you. Sure, it was good to be back in some ways, but school was not one of them. You liked your school back in New York. It was so different from here. The people were more diverse, more open minded, and just less dickish overall.
One of the biggest downsides of a small town like Hawkins was that you were pretty much stuck with the same kids from kindergarten until high school, and you knew you'd have to see the same people that made your life hell in middle school for another year.
“Well shit, look who's back!”
Speak of the devil.
Your expression immediately hardened as Tommy and Carol walked up to you, looking just as pleased to see you as you were to see them. Among their posse were a couple of brainless football players and a guy you didn't recognize.
He had long, curly, dirty blond hair and blue eyes that took no shame in raking over your body. He had his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket as he chewed absentmindedly on a piece of gum.
“You just had to come and infect this school again, huh?” Tommy sneered.
“Nice to see you too,” you said sarcastically. Carol said nothing, just glaring at you behind her protective shield of a boyfriend. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes; you both knew she wouldn't do shit.
“You know, I don’t think New York changed her at all, guys,” Tommy said, leaning into your face, “You still a bitch?”
You shot back without skipping a beat.
“I don’t know, Tommy. You still finger banging cheerleaders in the bathroom behind Carol's back?”
The new guy let out a small chuckle at that while the rest of the group looked stunned.
“You what?!” Carol said, eyes wide as she shoved Tommy away from her.
“Carol, she's lying!” Tommy panicked as she started walking away, “Babe, it's not true, I swear!”
You sighed as you finally got them out of your hair, turning to your brother.
“You better get to your first class,” you said, “I'll meet you at lunch, okay? And let me know if any assholes give you a hard time.”
“Will do,” he smiled, “See you.”
And with that he bounded up the stairs.
You started to make your way across the hall to get to your locker when you found your path blocked by a muscular chest, barely covered by a half-unbuttoned shirt.
You looked up to see the guy who was with Tommy just now and your breath caught in your throat as you tried to put some distance between you two. Everything about this guy screamed red flags, from the scent of his cologne to the slit in his eyebrow, but wow he was handsome. Then again he was friends with Tommy, so that placed him in the category of 'shittiest humans ever' by default.
“You've got a smart mouth on you, I like that,” he drawled, his voice smooth and deep. He hooked his thumb through one of his belt loops, pulling his tight-fitting jeans down even lower. “I don't think I've seen you around here. The name's Billy Hargrove.”
“Cool,” you said before walking away. You were going to be late at this rate, and you knew he was nothing but trouble no matter how hot he was.
Billy was slightly taken aback at your disregard towards him, but he was persistent. He caught up with you easily, sliding into your view again as he walked backwards in your peripheral vision.
“So-”
“No thanks,” you said, shutting him down fast.
Billy's face fell slightly as he kept up with your quickening pace.
“No thanks what?”
You stopped at your locker and started putting in your combination. He leaned against the wall as you did.
“I’ve heard about you, Hargrove, and I know your type. You’re good looking, you know it, and everyone in this place seems to follow you around like a herd of sheep. You’re gonna make some kind of lame pass, ask if I wanna take a ride in your mediocre car which is definitely a euphemism for something else, expect me to jump into your pants, and then never talk to me again afterwards. So to that I say: no thanks.”
Under ordinary circumstances Billy would have been in uproar about you reading him or calling his car mediocre, but instead his lips twisted upwards into a shit-eating grin.
“So you think I’m good looking?”
You sighed as you slammed your locker shut. Of course that’s all he got out of that.
“If I say yes will you go away?”
Billy laughed at that, still insistent on following you.
“Quite the opposite, sweetheart.”
“I’m not your sweetheart,” you glared.
“Would you like to be?”
You rolled your eyes. This guy just doesn't know when to quit.
“Do you pull these cheesy one liners out of your ass with every girl you see?” you asked, a wry smile tugging at your lips.
“Not every girl,” he said suggestively.
“Oh, really? Because I’ve only been here for half an hour and your hand’s slipped into the back pockets of at least five different willing participants,” you said.
“Jealous?” he smirked.
It was at this moment that you realized when you stopped walking he basically had you trapped between his body and the rows of lockers lining the walls. His gaze was hot and heavy as he loomed over you, purposefully giving you a full view down his shirt. A sudden spark of confidence made you smirk right back at him as you replied:
“You'd like that, wouldn't you?”
As the bell rang out into the hall you used it to get past Billy and continue on your way to your first period. He turned around, staring at your retreating figure.
“I never caught your name,” he said.
You stopped in your tracks to look at him over your shoulder.
“I never threw it,” you said, a playful tone to your voice, “(Y/n) (L/n). Don’t rack your brain too hard trying to remember it. If you’re a friend of Tommy’s we won’t be talking much.”
Your words were harsh, but the way you said them and the grin on your face made it sound like a challenge, and Billy Hargrove has never backed out of one of those.