Summer was always your least-favorite season. For starters, it was too hot to wear your usual tank, flannel, and leather jacket, though you settled for sweating your ass off in the first two. There were also too many kids running around town, unoccupied with their education. But most of all, you had to go into town and socialize with your old classmates, catching their judgmental gazes and hushed whispers.

Though you didn't quite hold the reputation of a "freak," you were most definitely considered a disappointment. Your mom had died a few years back, and your dad quickly followed, leaving you no choice but to drop out of your junior year and start working at a small bar at the edge of town. It wasn't much, but you picked up every available shift, enjoying how quiet they usually were.

Occasionally, your boss would let a few bands play on the weekends, one belonging to an old classmate of yours. Corroded Coffin had been Eddie Munson's dream, and honestly, you enjoyed the nights he and his friends brought life into the dull environment. 

You doubted he ever recognized you, but it wasn't upsetting seeing that you usually made an effort to stay in the back away from prying eyes. That's why the idea of heading into town to grab groceries made your stomach turn, but it was either that or don't eat for the next three weeks. You settled on quickly getting what you needed, keeping your interactions as little as possible.

Your eyes were drawn to the video store across the street as you pushed a full cart towards your car. Though you didn't keep up with the latest trends, you loved a good horror movie and had been dying to get a copy of The Return of the Living Dead.

It didn't seem too busy, so you caved and quickly ran across the street after loading your trunk full of canned goods. Your fingers gingerly grasped the door handle as you pulled it open, cringing at the sound of a bell alerting the workers of your presence.

You tried to ignore the mocha brown eyes that snapped towards you as recognition crossed your mind. Of course, Steve "The Hair" Harrington had to be working today. You fought the blush that covered your cheeks, rushing towards the horror section with determination.

You had managed to avoid Hawkins golden boy since dropping out. It had been relatively easy since your crowds didn't mix, but now you were trapped in a video store with him. Lovely.

At least he didn't try and talk to you as you busied yourself down an aisle, though his eyes watched you with curiosity.

"Why don't you go talk to her?" Robin snapped starling Steve from his trance.

He whipped around, pointing his finger at her accusingly. "I thought we talked about sneaking up on me," his voice was low with embarrassment as his hand nervously ran through his hair.

Robin leaned against the counter, shrugging her shoulders. "We did, but I just chose not to listen. Besides, can we call it sneaking up on you when you were so occupied creepily watching a customer?" Her lips pulled into a warm smile as she tilted her head towards you.

They both watched as you smiled to yourself, grabbing a movie and clutching it to your chest. You had been unaware of the conversation, too occupied in your little world as you searched for another film.

Steve turned away, pretending to busy himself with returns in silence. "Was I being creepy?" He finally muttered, looking up at Robin through his lashes.

She laughed, shaking her head back and forth before reaching for his arm. "Oh honey, it's like your a dog, and she's a bone." Her ocean blue eyes met his, a touch of pity in their depths. "Look, I know you're trying to get your mind off Nancy, but don't take it out on that poor girl."

"Robin," he snapped dangerously, pulling out of her grasp. "You know that Nancy is off limits, so there's no point in talking about her."

"Yeah, you've made that very clear." Her short brown hair swayed as she looked behind him, opening her mouth to speak again.

"Seriously, I mean it! No more talking about my love life," he hissed, resting his hands on his hips as he bubbled with frustration.

"Steve, you-"

"Robin, I mean it!" He yelled, cutting her off before stilling at the sound of a throat clearing behind him.

His heart raced as he slowly spun around, meeting your gaze. God, you were even prettier up close, your long hair glowing under the fluorescent lights overhead.

"Sorry to interrupt—I just need to buy these," you said softly, setting two packages before him.

Honestly, you were shocked at the flustered look he gave you, the once confident persona he wore nonexistent. Maybe he recognized you from school you thought as Steve fumbled for the boxes, scanning them quietly before speaking up.

"Do you uh, live around here? You could always just rent them and save a few bucks," he rambled, looking down at you with a timid smile.

Your heart fell slightly at his words, and you sighed. "You don't remember me do you?" Your eyes searched his, hoping to find some recognition in their depths. 

His hands stilled at the sound of your voice, not quite registering what you had said, too fixated on how soothing your tone was. As he dumbly watched you, a small chuckle escaped your lips, drawing his eyes towards them.

"Sophomore chem?" You questioned, leaning your crossed arms against the counter, raising a brow as you challenged him, frustration rising in your small form.

His expression shifted into confusion, and you couldn't help but mutter, "it's fine. You were probably too busy chasing after Nancy Wheeler to notice the girl who did all your homework for you."

At that, recognition seemed to dawn on him, and he opened his mouth only to close it again. Hot anger rose in your chest as you held back a nasty comment, feeling smaller than ever. Of course, the most popular boy in school couldn't remember the countless assignments you did for him or the way you used to get lost in his eyes when you were lucky enough to have a conversation.

"Forget it," you huffed, slapping a twenty-dollar bill on the table before grabbing your movies. "Keep the change, King Steve," you threw over your shoulder, pushing your way out of the store, eyes growing mistier with each step.

As you marched towards your car, you missed Robin scolding him for his silence and the utterly embarrassing turn of events.

"You are a dingus, aren't you?" She snapped, flicking him in the head with a frown. "You didn't even recognize her? Y/N used to watch you just as much as I did, though clearly for different reasons," her tone was angry as she smacked Steve's shoulder.

He pulled back and watched as you fumbled to unlock your car across the street. "Y/L/N?" His eyes snapped back to Robin as he waited for confirmation. You looked nothing like the nerdy girl with braces and a short blond bob that helped him pass chemistry.

As she nodded to confirm his question, Steve jumped over the counter, running out of the store towards you. He heard his friend yell something inaudible before skidding to a halt at your car door. His knuckles rapped against the window, causing you to leap in surprise. Once you realized who it was, you pushed the door open, stepping out to face Steve again.

"What do you want, Harrington? Haven't you already embarrassed me enough?" Your tone was short as you crossed your arms across your chest, hands balled into fists. The urge to punch his ridiculously handsome face grew with every passing second.

Steve let out a few breaths, eyes meeting yours empathetically. "I'm an asshole," he panted, catching his breath. "The person you used to know doesn't exist anymore, and I'm sorry for whatever he did to you. My best friends are Robin and a bunch of middle schoolers if that proves anything. Plus, Nancy and I aren't together anymore. Hell, she never loved me to begin with, which makes my inability to get over her even more pathetic." 

You eyed him up and down once he finished rambling before relaxing your form. "I'm gonna hope that these children you're hanging out with aren't too impressionable," you quipped, smiling slightly. "And as for Nancy, if she didn't love you after a year together, she probably never will."

His chest tightened at your words, expression falling. You sighed before grabbing his hand, your rings cool against his skin. "That doesn't mean there isn't someone else out there for you, Steve."

He met your gaze, shocked at how perfect your small hand fit in his own. "Yeah?" His voice was shaky as he focused on your intertwined fingers.

It took all your willpower not to squeal like a teenage girl, trying to ignore the fact that you were having a moment with the same guy that used to haunt your dreams. "Yeah, I promise." You felt him squeeze your hand tighter, pulling you a step closer.

"Thank you," he whispered, looking down to meet your eyes. His mind raced with thoughts of how beautiful you looked in the setting sun, freckles shimmering atop your cheeks.

It took a moment to find your voice, but once you did, you hesitantly asked, "for what?" 

"Helping me pass sophomore year," Steve replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. 

A laugh escaped your lips, and you bit your lip nervously before looking up at him. "You have changed, haven't you, Harrington?" 

He looked hopeful as his thumb smoothed over your hand, an adorable smile crossing his lips. Just as they parted to respond to you, a loud shout rang across the street. You both turned to reveal three boys standing outside the video store with Robin at their side.

"Your children are here!" The brunette shouted, watching the two of you with amusement. 

Steve's skin was red with embarrassment as he looked back towards you, still clutching onto you like a lifeline. You couldn't help the butterflies that swarmed in your stomach at his touch, shaking your head slightly to form a coherent thought.

"So you weren't lying about your best friends being middle schoolers," you said softly, pulling out of his grasp to reach into your car.

Steve watched you, his chest slightly empty now that you weren't close to him, though you quickly returned to his side with a receipt in hand. "Technically, they're gonna be freshmen this year," he grumbled, snapping his attention to the slip of paper folded in your palm.

Your eyes met his, and something shifted between the two of you. "Here," you stated, boldly tucking the receipt into his jean pocket before pulling away. "My number's on the back if you ever want to hang out with someone your own age."

Steve's eyes rolled to the sky at the feeling of your hand on his hip, almost incapable of responding to your statement. He could only imagine what kissing you would do to him.

"Steve!" Dustin called to him, pulling his gaze towards the store. By the time he turned back, you had already started your car, pulling out of the parking lot. His eyes followed your every movement as you slowed down beside him. 

The driver-side window rolled down, and you cast him a wink before pulling off, silently celebrating your ability to make the King of Hawkins speechless. As you watched him cross the street in your rearview mirror, you couldn't help but think that he wasn't the same self-absorbed boy you used to know. Maybe you would give him another chance.

Once your car faded out of sight, Steve reached his friends, hand stuffing into his pocket to pull out the flimsy paper with your number on the back. Under the digits, you had written: "call me if you need help with chem ;)." 

"So what happened?" Robin asked eagerly, smiling as her best friend stood silently, staring at the receipt with a dopey grin.

"I'm not sure," he whispered, looking down the road where you had disappeared. Suddenly, the family that he had been envisioning for the past two years began to change, and instead of Nancy standing by his side, you were there taking her place. 

His heart skipped a beat as Dustin, Lucas, and Mike began to tease him, pushing their way into the Family Video. As he shoved your note into his pocket, he couldn't push the image of your beautiful face from his mind, and for the rest of the day, Steve worked with a grin on his face, thinking about the next time he would be able to see you again.