Harringtonsbunny

After adapting to the new environment you learned your so called place in high school hierarchy. You made new friends, got good grades, stepped out of your comfort zone and became someone new. Someone who didn’t let people get under your skin the way steve did freshman year. You avoided him, kept distance and learned to not let it bother you until one day he and your younger brother dustin became some weird kind of friends and now he was showing up to your house casually like nothing happened between you two. And oh you fucking hated it.

July came with heat, sweat, melted ice pops and starcourt mall your new favorite way to escape the sun.

“ i don’t understand why you won’t just say yes he’s been begging to go out with you for like months” mary said as you two casually walked through the mall swinging The gap bags in your hands.

“ Cole is too.. i don’t know not me” you say looking at the floor

“ you mean he’s so much like steve” mary deadpans

the mention of him name makes you snap your head at her with a confused look. it had been years since you spoke about him as your about to be a senior in high school the upcoming fall.

“ don’t look at me like that you know it’s true i mean come on cole’s on the basketball team he’s got girls throwing themselves at him left and right and he does have really nice hair kinda like you know who” she says looking at you observing your reaction

“ok that really makes me wanna go out with him now” you say through laughter as you walk past scoops ahoy not realizing that who mary was comparing cole to stood right inside catching a glimpse of you almost letting it weigh on him. Almost.

Over the next few days you decided that you didn’t want to let your hatred of jocks because of steve hold you back anymore and maybe cole would change your presumptions. To be fair cole was nice to look at, tall, Blonde, Sharp blue eyes and wide shoulders you wouldn’t mind holding on too. You knew steve hated cole in high school and maybe that would have stopped you from going for it in the past but now the thought of letting an old friends past opinions stop you felt wildly stupid.

On your next trip to the mall you and mary ran into cole and his friends and all your fears flew out of the window.

“hey y/n” Cole said walking over to you looking you up and down meeting you half way to stand conveniently directly in from of scoops.

“ Oh hey cole nice uh.. shirt” as soon as the words came out of your mouth you internally cringed but decided to not let that stop you.

“hey thanks came here a few days ago and got it had to come back though i figured id need something nice to wear to the fair since i plan to ask someone special to go with me” he says casually running his hands through his blonde hair looking at you like he was implying something that you didn’t pick up on for a moment.

And then it clicked “ oh really i’m sure she would have a great time with you… and your new outfit” you say offering him and sweet smile but you were internally screaming at yourself because the talking to a boy like this felt so foreign to to since you swore of men at 14.

The conversation continued with mindless flirting and awkward looks until he handed you his phone number written on the back of a half crumpled receipt and told you to call him later before walking away only to turn back and wink at you. You had been so in your own world trying not to sound like a freak but also trying to flirt successfully with no practice that you didn’t realize the eyes looking at you from inside the ice cream shop.

“whatcha looking at sailor” robin said to steve who had been awkwardly standing still scooper in hand. her eyes followed his until they saw you right before you walked away giggling with mary holding the receipt with both hands.

“ohhhhh who’s that, do you know her, should i add a tally under you suck” she said poking his side as he finally moved from his spot he had been in during your whole interaction with cole.

ripping of the sailor hat and trying to fix his hair that’s too far gone he mumbled “ not anymore i used to this isn’t a tally moment robin” he said giving air quotes.

“ this is gonna sound … weird but since i gave up the whole “king steve” act i’ve been thinking about the stupid crap i did” he said as he pushed himself up to hit on the counter behind robin.

“awww self reflection you know that’s a good sign right it’s like stage 3 in becoming less assholey”

“what did you do to her stand her up or something, call her another girls name” she dramatically stopped and turned to face him “did you give her an STD” she said pointing a finger at him.

“ ok what… one i never even had an STD two i didnt stand her up or whatever else your saying… she was my best friend and i kinda went ghost a few years back you know peak assholey phase” steve said hands up in defense.

“ oooooh i see typical prime bird brain steve” robin said before turning to wipe the counter.

“she’s dustin’s older sister” steve blurts out causing her to whip her head around and stare.

“ so you dropped the older henderson and moved on to the younger one… what is it with you and that family” the girl said laughing as steve rolled his eyes and whent to help a customer.

The phone call with cole went better than expected later that night and you finally caved and officially planned to go to the fair with him on saturday giving you three days to try and learn how to flirt but you weren’t hopeful.

The fair was bright and loud, running wild with kids and families. The multicolored lights flashed across the warm July sky as the sun slowly disappeared behind the horizon. The smell of popcorn, cotton candy, and funnel cakes drifted through the air, mixing with the sounds of laughter and music from the rides. Ferris wheels sparkled with glowing lights distracting you from the hand that was wrapped around your own .

“Are you having fun?” Cole asked, smiling as you walked past the game booths.

“Yeah, actually. I was kind of nervous before tonight, but this is really nice,” you admitted.

“I was nervous too,” Cole laughed. “I spent way too long deciding what to wear.”

you smiled. “hey i thought you went and got a new outfit for this specifically”

“I did but the weather is so unpredictable… it’s really damn hot” he said shyly whipping sweat of his head.

you continued walking through the crowded fair, listening to the music and watching the rides speed past and children buzz with excitement.

Cole pointed toward the Ferris wheel. “You know, I think that has the best view here.”

You looked up at the towering ride. “It does look pretty amazing.”

Cole hesitated for a second before speaking. “Would you want to go on it with me?”

“The Ferris wheel?” you asked.

“Yeah. Unless you’re secretly terrified of heights.”

You laughed. “A little, maybe. But I think I can survive one ride.”

“Good,” Cole said, grinning. “Because I’d hate to miss the chance to see the whole fair from up there.”

“Then let’s do it.”

As you joined the line, Jake glanced over at her. “I’m glad you came tonight.”

You smiled. “Me too.” realizing maybe he wasn’t so bad after all

“Dude, why do you keep asking about her?” Dustin asked. “I told you she doesn’t care. Like, seriously. You’re making this way weirder than it needs to be.”

Steve sighed. “I know.”

“No, I don’t think you do,” Dustin said. “You’ve brought her up three times this week. Three. That’s not normal people behavior.” the boy said pointing a finger in steve’s face.

Robin snorted “He’s obsessed.”

“I’m not obsessed.”

“Sure,” Robin said. “And I’m secretly the mayor of Hawkins and you totally didn’t stare at her at work the other day for like ten whole long painful excruciating minutes”

Steve rolled his eyes “I’m just thinking about it.”

“Thinking about a friendship that ended four years ago?” Robin asked. “That’s somehow pathetic but makes total sense for you.”

“Thanks for the support.” steve said.

“Anytime.” Robin said shoving her face with more cotton candy.

Dustin looked between them “For real though, man. You guys barely talk. Actually, scratch that—you don’t talk at all i mean she acts like you don’t exist when your at my house and you do the same so what’s with the change of attitude harrington .”

“she got boobs, nice ones” robin said smirking

“Ew, Buckley, that’s my sister. Can we not?” Dustin said, pretending to gag.

Robin shrugged.

“What? I’m just saying. It’s not like he’s suddenly interested in her sparkling personality after ignoring her for four years.”

Steve groaned.

“Can both of you stop talking about me like I’m not standing here?”

“No,” Robin and Dustin said at the same time.

Robin pointed her cotton candy at him “Then explain it, Harrington.”

“Explain what?”

“The sudden interest.”

Steve opened his mouth, then closed it.

“See?” Robin said. “He doesn’t even have an excuse.”

“Maybe I just feel bad.”

Robin burst out laughing“Oh, that’s pathetic.”

“Thanks.”

“No, seriously. You spend years not talking to each other, and now you’re wandering around looking like someone kicked your puppy because she won’t magically start being your friend again?”

Steve rubbed a hand over his face “You’re making this sound worse than it is.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.”

Dustin looked at him suspiciously “You know what I think?”

“I don’t, actually.”

“I think something happened at my house that I missed.”

“Nothing happened.”

“That’s exactly what someone says when something happened i mean you are over like all the time.”

Robin gasped dramatically “Oh my God. What if they made eye contact?”

“Robin.”

“Maybe she said hi.”

“Robin.”

“Maybe she asked him to pass the salt and he’s been thinking about it ever since.”

Dustin laughed.

Steve pointed at her “You’re the worst.”

“And yet,” Robin said, smirking, “I’m still not the one asking about Dustin’s sister every five minutes.”

For once, Steve didn’t have a comeback.

That was all the confirmation Robin needed “Oh my God.”

“Don’t.”

“OH MY GOD.”

“Robin.”

“You totally miss her.”

The fair was beginning to wind down by the time Cole walked you back to his car. The bright lights that had seemed so overwhelming hours ago now felt softer, reflecting off the nearly empty parking lot.You held the stuffed bear he had won for you at one of the game booths against your chest as the two of you walked in comfortable silence.

Cole unlocked the passenger door before you could reach for the handle.

“Thank you,” you said.

He gave a small shrug. “Yeah, sure.”

The drive home was quieter than the fair had been.Not awkward.Just calm.The radio played softly in the background while warm July air drifted through the cracked windows.

Cole rested one hand on the steering wheel “I had fun tonight.”

You glanced over “You did?”

He laughed “Was that really that surprising?”

“A little.”

“Why?”

You smiled at the passing streetlights outside “I don’t know. You just seemed nervous.”

Cole groaned “I was nervous.”

“I could tell.”

“Great.”

“You asked me if I was having fun like six different times.”

“Okay, first of all, it was maybe four.”

“It was six.”

“It was not six.”

For a moment neither of you said anything.The houses in your neighborhood began appearing through the windshield.The night suddenly felt like it was ending too fast.Cole pulled up in front of your house and put the car in park.Neither of you immediately moved.

“Well,” you said quietly.

“Yeah.”

The porch light was already on, You looked down at the stuffed bear “Thanks for tonight.”

Cole looked over at you “No problem.”

Another small silence settled between you Not uncomfortable Just neither of you wanting to be the first person to open the door.

Finally you smiled “I had fun too.”

Something in Cole’s expression softened “Good.”

You reached for the handle before pausing “I wouldn’t mind doing this again sometime.”

Cole blinked. Then a grin spread across his face “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay,” he said, trying and failing to sound casual. “I’d like that.”

You stepped out of the car and started toward your front door.Halfway up the walkway, you turned around.Cole was still there.Watching to make sure you got inside safely.When he realized you’d caught him, he rubbed the back of his neck and looked away with an embarrassed smile.Your smile only grew wider as you headed inside.And Cole didn’t pull away from the curb until the front door closed behind you. Maybe boys weren’t so bad after all.

The days after your date with Cole should have felt normal. Hawkins was still Hawkins the same quiet streets, the same familiar faces, the same routines everyone had followed for years. Yet something felt different. The air seemed heavier somehow, thick with the humidity of late summer and an unshakable feeling that settled in the pit of your stomach. Maybe it was because your mind kept drifting back to Cole and the way he smiled when he dropped you off that night. Maybe it was because the town felt strangely tense, Hawkins felt different. Not wrong exactly—just off. Like the familiar town you had known your entire life was holding its breath, and you had no idea why.

The doorbell rang just as you were walking through the living room.

“Dustin!” you shouted. “Your ride’s here!”

No answer. Typical.

With a sigh, you crossed the room and pulled open the front door. The words died in your throat.

Steve Harrington stood on the porch.

For a second, neither of you spoke. You hadn’t expected him.And judging by the look on his face, he hadn’t expected you either.

“Oh.”

“Hi.”

The greeting came out at the same time. An awkward silence followed.Steve shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket.You tightened your grip on the doorknob.

“Uh… Dustin’s still getting ready.”

“Right.”

Another silence, A painfully awkward one.

You glanced toward the stairs. Steve looked at the welcome mat.

The years between you seemed to stretch across the doorway. Finally, Steve cleared his throat.

“So… how’ve you been?” The question caught you off guard.

Good, you wanted to say.

Busy.

Fine.

Instead, all that came out was: “Good.”

Steve nodded “Good.”

Silence.

Somewhere upstairs, something crashed “DUSTIN!” your mom yelled.

Steve laughed before he could stop himself. The sound surprised both of you.For the first time, the tension eased slightly.

“Some things never change,” he said.

You couldn’t help smiling. “No. They really don’t.”

Steve noticed Just for a second.

Then Dustin came barreling down the stairs “There you are!” he said, grabbing his backpack. “Why are you both standing there looking weird?”

You immediately stepped back from the doorway “We’re not.”

“You totally are.”

“Dustin.”

“What?”

Steve rubbed a hand over his face “Can we just go?”

Dustin looked between the two of you. Then a grin slowly spread across his face “Oh my God.”

“What?” you and Steve asked simultaneously.

Dustin pointed dramatically “You both still do that.”

“Do what?” Steve asked.

“The talking at the same time thing.”

Neither of you had a response to that.

Dustin’s grin widened“Interesting.”

Before he could say anything else, Steve grabbed the strap of Dustin’s backpack and steered him toward the driveway “Get in the car.”

“You can’t silence the truth, Harrington!”

You rolled your eyes as Dustin continued shouting nonsense all the way to the car.

Steve opened the driver’s door before pausing.For a moment, he glanced back at the porch.

You were still standing there.

Watching.

His expression softened “See you around.”

The words were casual. Simple even.But they were the first real words either of you had spoken to each other in years.

You nodded “Yeah. See you around.”

Steve gave a small smile before climbing into the car.

You tried not to think about Steve after he left with Dustin.You really did.There was no reason to.Years had passed since the two of you had been friends, and even more time had passed since either of you had made an effort to fix whatever had broken between you. Somewhere along the way, ignoring each other had become easier than dealing with it.At least, that’s what you had always told yourself.But for some reason, seeing him standing on your front porch had unsettled something.Not in a bad way.Just enough to leave you confused.

You found yourself replaying the interaction at random moments throughout the day. The awkward silence. The way he looked just as uncomfortable as you felt. The small laugh the two of you had shared when Dustin nearly destroyed something upstairs.Most confusing of all was how normal it had felt.Not the awkwardness.The familiarity underneath it.

Like no matter how many years had passed, some part of your brain still remembered what it was like when Steve Harrington had been someone you talked to every day.

You hated that thought.Especially because things with Cole were going well.Cole was easy to be around. Easy to talk to. You found yourself smiling whenever you thought about the fair or the way he’d waited until you got inside before driving away.

So why was Steve suddenly taking up space in your head?t wasn’t like you missed him.At least, you didn’t think you did.Maybe you were just bothered by the fact that there had never been any real ending. No conversation. No closure. Just years of silence that had slowly turned two former friends into strangers.

The more you thought about it, the less sense it made.Because when you looked at Steve standing on your porch, he hadn’t felt like a stranger.And maybe that was the part that bothered you most.You weren’t sure whether you were remembering who he used to be or realizing that you never completely forgot.

Sleep refused to come.No matter how many times you rolled over or fluffed your pillow, your thoughts kept circling back to Steve.

To the awkward conversation.To the way he had looked at you before leaving.To the fact that seeing him again had stirred up feelings you couldn’t quite name.

By midnight, you finally gave up.You changed into your favorite pajamas—a soft oversized T-shirt and plaid shorts—and settled into bed with a book, hoping it would distract you.It didn’t.

The house had gone completely quiet.Your parents were asleep.Dustin hadn’t been home for hours.The only sound was the occasional creak of the old Henderson house settling for the night.

Then came a loud bang.You sat upright immediately. Another noise followed.The unmistakable sound of someone stumbling into a wall downstairs.

“Dustin?” you called.

No answer.A knot formed in your stomach.

You slipped out of bed and pulled open your bedroom door.The moment you stepped into the hallway, you heard frantic footsteps on the stairs.

Then Dustin appeared Half dragging, half supporting someone beside him.

Your heart nearly stopped.

Steve.

His arm was slung over Dustin’s shoulders while Dustin struggled to keep him upright.

“Dustin, what happened?” you asked, rushing forward.

“I need help,” he blurted That alone was enough to make your stomach drop.

Dustin never asked for help.

Not like this.

Steve’s head lolled slightly as he looked up His eyes seemed unfocused.

Distant.

Like he couldn’t quite figure out where he was.n“Hey,” he said suddenly.

You froze.“Hi.”

Steve pointed vaguely in your direction.“You’re real.”

“Okay,” Dustin muttered. “See? This is what I’ve been dealing with.”

“What happened to him?”

“I’ll explain later.”

“Dustin—”

“Please.”The panic in his voice stopped you.

For a moment, you simply stared.

Steve looked exhausted. His clothes were dirty. There were cuts along his arms and face.Dark bruises spread beneath his skin, blooming in soft patches of purple, blue, and red that reminded you of watercolor paint bleeding across wet paper, color spreading beneath the surface in uneven shapes.Evidence of something painful.Something neither boy seemed ready to explain.

Your chest tightened.“Dustin…”

“Please help me clean him up before Mom sees.”

Steve blinked“Oh.”

Everyone looked at himHe pointed at Dustin “He’s tiny.”

Dustin closed his eyes “I know.”

“And angry.”

“I know.”

“You yell a lot.”

“Dude.”

Steve frowned thoughtfully “I think you’re my friend.”

For the first time all night, Dustin almost smiled “Yeah, idiot. I am.”

Steve nodded like this was the most important revelation he’d ever had “Good.”Then his gaze drifted toward you.

His expression softened immediately “Oh.”

You swallowed“Oh?”

A slow smile appeared on his face “There’s two Hendersons.”

“Oh my God,” Dustin groaned.

You couldn’t help it. Despite everything.Despite the confusion.Despite the bruises and whatever terrible thing had happened.A laugh escaped.

Steve smiled wider. Like hearing it was enough.

Dustin pointed toward the bathroom You nodded immediately.As you hurried away, you couldn’t shake the image of Steve leaning heavily against your brother, bruised and exhausted, yet somehow still trying to smile.

And for reasons you didn’t understand, that frightened you far more than the injuries themselves.

The bathroom door clicked shut behind Dustin “ill be right back,” he said. “Just… make sure he doesn’t fall over.”

“Dustin—” Too late. He was already gone.

You stared at the closed door. And Steve sat on the edge of the bathtub while you carefully cleaned the cut near his eyebrow.

For once, he wasn’t talking.

He just watched you.The kind of stare that made you aware of every movement.

Every breath.

Every second.

“You’re still doing that.”

You glanced up“Doing what?”

“The concentration thing.”

“What concentration thing?”

Steve smiled softly “The one where your eyebrows pull together when you’re focused.”

Your hand paused “You remember that?”

“Of course I remember that.”

The answer came too quickly. Too honestly.

Something twisted uncomfortably in your chest.“You remember weird things.”

Steve laughed quietly “No.”

His eyes dropped to the floor “I remember everything.”

The smile disappeared from your face.Neither of you spoke for a moment.

Then Steve shook his head.“God.”

“What?”

His laugh was softer this time.

Sadder.

“We were such idiots.”

You looked down at the bandage in your hands“Yeah.”

“No.”Steve rubbed a hand over his face. “I mean me.”

The words surprised you.Steve wasn’t usually the type to admit fault.Not even before everything happened.

“I spent years convincing myself I didn’t care.”

You froze. The confession seemed to surprise him too. Like he’d only realized he was thinking it once the words were already out.

“I’d see you at school and pretend it didn’t bother me.”

Your chest tightened. “Steve—”

“I’m serious.”His gaze stayed fixed somewhere on the bathroom floor. “Every time.”

The room suddenly felt too small. Too warm.

You weren’t sure what to do with this version of him. The honest version.The one that wasn’t hiding.

“You’d walk by with your friends and I’d act like I didn’t even notice.” A hollow laugh escaped him. “Then I’d spend the rest of the day thinking about it.”

The bandage in your hand suddenly became very interesting. Because looking at him felt impossible.

“Why?”The question came out before you could stop it.

Steve blinked. Then looked at you. “Why what?”

“Why did it bother you?”

For a second, neither of you moved. The answer seemed obvious. And somehow impossible.

Finally Steve smiled. Not his usual smile. Something smaller. More fragile.

“Because you were my person.”

The words stole the air from your lungs.

Steve immediately looked away As though hearing himself say it had embarrassed him. “We told each other everything.” His voice had grown quieter.

“You knew me before everybody else did.”

The lump in your throat became impossible to ignore.

“Then one day we just…” He gestured vaguely.

“Stopped.”

The silence stretched.

Years of hurt packed into a single unfinished sentence.

You looked down “I thought you didn’t care.”

Steve laughed. The sound was almost heartbreaking.

“Yeah.” His eyes met yours again “So did I.”

Something in your chest cracked slightly.

Not broken. Just shifting. Changing shape.

Steve stared at you for a long moment.The drugs had made him honest. Painfully honest and all of The usual walls were gone. for the first time in years, you were seeing exactly what was underneath.

“You know what’s stupid?”

“What?”

His smile returned.Small.

Fond.

“I saw you on the porch today and all I could think was that you’re still pretty.”

Your breath caught.

Steve’s eyes widened immediately. “Oh.”

For the first time all night, he looked genuinely alarmed. “I wasn’t supposed to say that one.”

Despite everything, a laugh escaped you.

Steve dropped his head into his hands “Oh my God.”

“You said it.”

“I know.” His voice was muffled. “I am having the worst day of my life.”

You laughed again. And when Steve looked up, he was smiling too.Like hearing you laugh was worth every embarrassing thing he’d accidentally admitted.

The moment lingered.Neither of you looking away. Neither of you quite sure what to say next.

Then the bathroom door burst open.Dustin stepped inside carrying an ice pack.

He stopped immediately.

Looked at Steve.

Looked at you.

Looked back at Steve.

“…Why does it feel like I interrupted something?”

Steve immediately pointed at him “Your sister is really pretty”