she’s lovely baby

hi!!! call me shiv <3

i’m from the uk but originally i have tropical roots lol!

anyone can interact with my blog :) 💗

things i’m really really into (that isnt directly joe keery):

the colour PINK, posters, vinyls/record players, BOOKS, highkey crying (but like not in a sad way IDK how to describe it its just nice to let it out), JOE KEERY😙

MUSIC: •djo, •post animal, •billie eilish, •maya hawke, •kendrick lamar •arctic monkeys, •frank ocean, •tyler the creator, •sza, •clairo, •tessa violet, •big thief, •pink floyd!!

TV SHOWS/MOVIES: •the office us, •one tree hill, •superstore, •you, •stranger things, •fargo (especially s5 😛), •just go with it, •marmalade, •anythung mcu, •true crime docs

songs i’m currently listening to on repeat: •mortal projections, •pie in the sky, •chateau (live), •who you are, •kamikaze comic, •devil you know,•velvet ring, •maitreya and the way back,•paul •vampire empire, •nuevayol, •lithium, •young lust!!

have a listen to my favourite albums!! i hope you enjoy them <3 🍎🎱🦷🦖🍳

thank you so much for the tag @coldalpsmcu 😙

last song: feelings - central cee

currently watching: one tree hill! i’m on season 2 (idk the episode) but so far its SO good i’m in loooooove!

current obsession: drawing little tattoos on my body for no reason with eyeliner or black face paint. idk its fuuun and it helps me to waste my free time :)

currently reading: girl in pieces by kathleen glasgow!! i’ve read it so much its honestly so good

currently working on: i have a wattpad series i’m doing rn :) buuut i’m also locked in with school because of exams :(

currently wearing: a very oversized white t-shirt and my ‘chip n dale’ pj bottoms from primark

last google search: ‘has djo played who you are live’ me and bayley were curious okay because of some other songs that havent been played live and some interviewsss

favourite flower: a sacred lotus, they’re GORGEOUS

joe keery x reader smau!

summary: reader and joe have been co-stars since season 1 on stranger things! reader plays 'lottie ralphie' who is 'steve harringtons' love interest. you've developed a small crush for joe, and by small you mean you're head over heels for that man. joe feels the same way but everytime something happens you both are idiots and blame it on alcohol. this time? its different. you even make it KNOWN this time. but but of course, its ruined.

info/warnings: face claim is nina dobrev!, this is NOT. a ship. i repeat this is NOT A SHIP!, y/n used, mentions of drinking/getting drunk, i coa to get everyones instagram users so i just made them up Imaoo, fwb mentioned kinda(not in this part), friends to lovers to friends to distance to co-stars to lovers trope LMAOO!, lowk slow burn be they're all idiots

wc: 2-3k

taglist: @sexyvixen7 @beth-mirrorball @amirafloral

part 1 || part 2 || part 3 || part 4 || part 5

you’re trying.you really are. your friend is mid story, hands flying everywhere, the table laughing but everything sounds distant. like you’re hearing it through water.

you nod at the right times, smile when you’re supposed to. but your mind is still stuck. at the bar. on him. on everything you just said.

“like i care more than you do.”

you swallow, reaching for your drink again. “okay” one of your friends says suddenly, narrowing her eyes at you, “you’re not here”

you blink. “…i am?” “no, you’re not”

your other friend leans in slightly. “you keep staring over here like you’re trying not to look over there”

you let out a small breath. they already know. of course they do. “…we argued” you admit. both of them immediately react. “what??” “like..bad?”

you hesitate. “…i brought up before.”

they both go quiet for a second. “oh..”

“like… before before?”

you nod. “yeah.” they exchange a look. “okay” one says carefully, “that explains the face.”

you huff out a quiet laugh, dropping your gaze to the table. “he said sorry”

“for tonight?”

“…for everything.” that gets their attention. “oh.”

“okay wait - that’s actually-”

“i didn’t answer him” you cut in. they pause. “you didn’t?” you shake your head. “i didn’t know what to say”

because sorry doesn’t erase standing alone in that closet. it doesn’t erase years of pretending nothing happened. it doesn’t erase how easy it was for him to walk away and how hard it was for you to forget.

outside the bar, the cold air hits him immediately. joe exhales, like he didn’t realize how tense he was inside. his phone is already in his hand. your chat open. he reads your name like it might disappear. then types.

j- i’m sorry

j- not just for tonight

j- for before too

j- i should’ve handled that differently

he stares at it. then sends it before he can overthink. a second message from him.

j- i’m gonna go

j- text me when you get home?

j- please..?

he locks his phone. waits. nothing. he nods to himself slightly. “yeah. okay.” like he deserves that.

back inside, your phone buzzes. you freeze for half a second. your friend notices immediately. “…him?” you nod slightly, already reaching for it. his name on the screen makes your chest tighten. you read the messages. once. twice.

“for before too”

your fingers hover over the keyboard. you start typing. stop. delete it. lock your phone. set it face down. “i’m not answering” you say quietly.

your friends look at you. “are you sure?”

you nod. even if it doesn’t feel solid. “yeah.”

20 minutes later

you last twenty minutes. that’s it. twenty minutes of pretending everything’s fine. twenty minutes of thinking about replying. twenty minutes of not replying. you grab your bag. “i’m gonna go”

your friends look up. “already?” you nod. “yeah. i’m tired.” they both soften slightly. “text us when you get home, okay?”

“i will” you hesitate. then add, quieter “…i’ll text him too.”

they don’t say anything. just nod.

the air is colder now. quieter. you step outside, pulling your jacket around you, finally letting your expression drop. no more pretending. your phone is in your hand before you can stop yourself. his messages are still there. you read them again.

please.

your chest tightens. you type.

- i’m leaving now

you stare at it for a second. then hit send.

his phone buzzes. he almost ignores it. almost. but something in him says don’t. he checks. and the second he sees your name

he stops.

i’m leaving now

it’s small. careful. but it’s not silence. and that’s enough. he turns around immediately.

you’re halfway down the street when “yn-!”

you stop. slowly turn. and there he is. again. slightly out of breath. like he didn’t think, just moved.

“you said you were leaving” he says. “…i am.”

“i know, i just-” he exhales, running a hand through his hair. “i didn’t want you to go without trying again.” your heart stutters. “we already tried.” “no” he shakes his head. “we argued.”

“…same thing.”

“not to me.”

the street is quiet.no music. no distractions. just you and him. again. “i meant what i said” he continues. “about before.” you swallow. “okay…”

“no, not just okay” he says, stepping closer. “i really mean it” you don’t respond. you’ve waited years to hear that and now that it’s here, it doesn’t magically fix everything. “i didn’t leave because i didn’t care” he says.

your eyes flick up. “then why did you?”

he hesitates.. he cant respond because he knows that no matter what he says, he doesn’t have an answer for you.

not yet.

you turn first. start walking.

“goodbye, joe.”

“wait- yn!”

you don’t look back. you don’t trust yourself to. but you can feel it. it’s something different because this time, he doesn’t walk away first. and for once neither of you is pretending this meant nothing.

you’re lying in bed. lights off. phone in your hand. you’ve read your messages at least six times. you still haven’t texted him. your thumb hovers over his name. you think about the bar. the argument. the way he didn’t leave this time. the way he stayed. you exhale and finally type.

- i’m home

you stare at it for a second. then hit send. it delivers instantly. he replies even faster.

j- thank you for texting me

j- are you okay?

your chest tightens slightly. you type.

- i don’t know

three dots appear. disappear. come back.

j- that’s fair

j- can i see you? not tonight

j- but soon?

you stare at the message. your heart does that stupid thing again.

- maybe

- i need a few days

his reply comes slower this time.

j- okay

j- take all the time you need

j- i’ll be here

you read that one twice.

i’ll be here.

you don’t respond. but you don’t need to.

three days later…

you almost don’t knock. you stand there for a solid thirty seconds, staring at the door like it might open on its own. your heart is racing. this feels bigger than it should. but it isn’t. not really. not with him.

you finally lift your hand and knock. a few seconds pass. then the door opens. and there he is.

joe.

he looks surprised. but not confused. like part of him was hoping it would be you.

“…hi”

“hi.”

there’s a pause. a quiet one. “can i come in?” you ask.

he steps back immediately. “yeah - yeah, of course.”

his living room is quieter than you expected. no music. no distractions. just you and him again.

but this time there’s no running, no crowd to disappear into, no excuses.

you both just stand there for a second. then..

“i’ve been thinking” you say. he lets out a small breath. “yeah. me too.”

you nod. “i don’t think i handled that night very well either.”

his brows knit slightly. “you don’t have t-”

“i do” you cut in. “i kind of… dropped something huge on you and expected you to just - handle it.”

he shakes his head. “no, that’s not-”

“joe..” you say softly, “i told you i loved you in a closet at a party.” he lets out a small, breathy laugh. “…yeah. you did.”

“that’s a lot.”

“it didn’t scare me because it was too much” he says.

you pause. “then why?”

he looks at you. really looks at you. “because it felt right.” your breath catches. “…what?” “that’s what scared me,” he says. “not that you said it but that part of me wanted to say it back.”

your chest tightens, hard. “then why didn’t you?”

“because i didn’t trust myself not to mess it up” he admits. “and then i messed it up anyway by leaving.” you stare at him. “…yeah well.. you did.”

“i know.”

a small, sad smile tugs at your lips. “we’re kind of idiots.”

“yeah” he exhales. “we really are.”

there’s a pause. but it’s softer now. less sharp. “and now?” you ask quietly. he steps a little closer. “now i don’t want to pretend anymore.” your heart stutters. “you say that, but-”

“i know!” he cuts in gently. “i know i’ve said things before and then done the opposite.” you nod slightly. “so what makes this different?”

he doesn’t hesitate this time. “you.” you blink. “me?”

“yeah” he says. “because you’re about to walk away from me for real this time. and i don’t think i could handle that” your chest tightens. “joe-”

“no, let me finish” he says softly. “i’ve had years to figure this out. and i didn’t. but the second you actually started pulling away?” he shakes his head. “that scared me more than anything you’ve ever said.”

your eyes soften slightly but,

“that doesn’t fix everything” you say. “i know”

“you hurt me”

“i know”

“more than once..”

“i know”

you cross your arms slightly. “and you don’t just get to decide you want this now and i fall into it”

“i’m not asking you to fall into anything” he says. “i’m asking you to choose it”

you hesitate. “…i don’t know if i can trust you”

“then don’t” he says.

you blink. “what?”

“not fully” he clarifies. “not yet. just… enough to try”

your heart pounds. because that - that feels real. not perfect. not ideal. just honest. you step a little closer without meaning to. “and what happens if it goes wrong?” you ask. he meets your eyes. “then at least we didn’t spend another few years pretending it wasn’t there”

silence. thick. heavy. but not bad. you look at him and for the first time you don’t feel like he’s going to run.

“…i hate that you’re making sense” you mumble. he huffs a small laugh. “yeah, me too.”

a tiny smile slips onto your face. and that’s when it shifts. again. something softer. closer. you’re standing a lot nearer now. neither of you really noticing how it happened. until

“yn?” his voice is quieter now.

you look up. “yeah?”

he hesitates. just for a second. “can i kiss you?”

your breath catches. and for once, you don’t overthink it. “yeah”

he doesn’t rush it. his hand comes up slowly, brushing lightly against your jaw before resting there. like he’s making sure you’re still here. like he’s not about to lose this again. and then he leans in. the kiss is soft at first. gentle. but it doesn’t stay that way. because this time you don’t hold back.

your hand grips his shirt, pulling him closer, and he responds immediately, his other hand finding your waist, pulling you in like he’s been waiting years to do it properly. it’s not rushed. not careless. it’s intentional, every second of it. like you’re both making up for every moment you didn’t let this happen.

you pull back slightly, breath uneven. foreheads almost touching. “i meant it” you whisper. his thumb brushes lightly against your cheek. “yeah” he says softly. “i know”

a small pause. then

“…i love you too by the way” your heart literally stops. “you don’t get to say that so casually” you whisper.

he smiles slightly. “i’ve had a lot of time to think about it”

you let out a breathy laugh and then kiss him again. this time deeper. real. no hesitation. no fear. just, finally.

one week later

you’re staring at your camera roll. specifically a photo of joe. not even a big moment. just him sitting across from you, half-smiling, looking at you like he forgot anyone else existed.

your thumb hovers over post. “are you doing it?” your friend asks. you glance up. “…i don’t know.” “you literally have been seeing him all week.” “i know.” “soft launch. do it.”

you look back at your phone. then post it.

no caption. just a photo of him.

@ynuser

mayaha, finnwf and 23.1k others liked this story

his phone buzzes so he naturally opens instagram sees your story and immediately smiles. then takes a picture of you. sitting across from him now. not looking at the camera. just there, smiling to yourself he posts it.

but he adds a caption.

@.djotime

caption: gorgeous girl🤍all mine. @ynuser❤️

nattyyd, sadiees and 62.5k others liked this story

your phone buzzes again so you open it and freeze. because it’s his story. it’s you. your heart does that thing again. but this time it doesn’t hurt.

and just like that. it starts.

it’s real, its exciting, its magical.

but most importantly.

its you two. together. and that’s all that matters.

EEEEKK!! i cant believe this series is overr

joe keery x reader smau!

summary: reader and joe have been co-stars since season 1 on stranger things! reader plays 'lottie ralphie' who is 'steve harringtons' love interest. you've developed a small crush for joe, and by small you mean you're head over heels for that man. joe feels the same way but everytime something happens you both are idiots and blame it on alcohol. this time? its different. you even make it KNOWN this time. but but of course, its ruined.

info/warnings: face claim is nina dobrev!, this is NOT. a ship. i repeat this is NOT A SHIP!, y/n used, mentions of drinking/getting drunk, i coa to get everyones instagram users so i just made them up Imaoo, fwb mentioned kinda(not in this part), friends to lovers to friends to distance to co-stars to lovers trope LMAOO!, lowk slow burn be they're all idiots

⚠️: implied sex + kissing!!

wc: 1.5k words!

taglist: @sexyvixen7 @beth-mirrorball @amirafloral

this part doesn’t have the “smau” feel to it but we’ll get there hopefully next part!!

read the previous ones so yk whats happening <3

part 1 || part 2 || part 3 || part 4 || part 5

you don’t expect him to follow you. you really don’t. so when you turn to leave and feel his presence still right behind you, it knocks the air out of your chest a little. “yn”

you stop. your shoulders tense before you even turn around. then you keep walking. “yn, wait!” closer this time. you shut your eyes for half a second before turning back. “what joe?” he looks a little breathless, like he got here faster than he meant to. like he didn’t think it through. he just reacted. “can we not end it like that?” you blink at him. “end what?”

his hand lifts slightly, gesturing between you like he’s trying to grab something that doesn’t have a name. “this” a quiet, hollow laugh leaves you. “there is no this joe” his jaw tightens. “that’s not true”

“isn’t it?” you shoot back, your voice sharper now. “because from where i’m standing, it feels like we’ve been stuck in the same place for years”

people move around you, brushing past, music vibrating through the floor, but everything between you feels still. too still. “that’s why i asked you out” he says. “to stop that..”

you cross your arms tightly. “yeah. for like five hours” he exhales hard, dragging a hand through his hair. “we’re not doing this again”

“again?” you repeat, your chest tightening. “you mean like every other time something almost happens and then what? we pretend it didn’t?”

he hesitates. and that hesitation. it pulls something loose in your chest. because suddenly you’re not just here anymore.

you’re there.

the room is louder. brighter. messier. someone’s yelling across the living room, music blasting too loud for the size of the space, half the cast piled onto couches and the floor.

it’s early days of your stranger things days. everything still new. exciting. a little chaotic. “seven minutes in heaven!” someone shouts. groans. cheers. laughter.

you’re sitting on the floor, legs tucked under you, shaking your head. “no way-!”

“yes way!”

someone points. “YN AND JOE!” the room erupts. you feel heat rush to your face instantly. “are you serious?” you laugh, looking around like someone’s going to save you. but no one does. of course they don’t because joe is already standing. smiling, whilst offering you his hand.

“c’mon” he says softly. “it’s just a game.” just a game. you take his hand anyway.

the closet is small. too small. dark except for the thin line of light under the door. you can still hear everyone outside: laughing, shouting, counting down.

you lean back against the wall, trying to act normal. “this is so dumb” you say, a quiet laugh slipping out.

joe huffs softly. “yeah. definitely” but neither of you moves to open the door.

and the longer the silence stretches, the heavier it feels because it’s not really about the game. not anymore.

“we don’t have to actually do anything” he says after a second. “i know”

another pause. then, quieter “do you want to?”

your heart stutters. you don’t even think about it. “…yeah.”

he hesitates. just long enough to make sure and then he steps closer.

the first kiss is soft. careful. like he’s giving you space to pull away. but you don’t.

your hand comes up to his shirt without thinking, gripping lightly as the kiss deepens. his hand finds your waist, pulling you closer until there’s no space left, like he’s been waiting for this longer than either of you realized. it stops feeling like a game. fast.

everything slows down instead. your heartbeat. your breathing. the way his hand shifts slightly, the way you lean into him without even noticing. it turns into something else. something quieter. more real.

the kind of moment that doesn’t feel like it belongs in a loud party with people right outside the door. time blurs. you don’t know how long you’re in there.

long enough that the noise outside fades into the background. long enough that it doesn’t feel like seven minutes anymore. long enough that when you finally pull back, everything feels… different.

he’s still close. really close. you can feel his breath, uneven like yours. and you don’t think. you don’t stop yourself. you just say it.

“i think i’m in love with you..”

the words fall between you. too heavy. too real.

and instantly, everything shifts. joe freezes. completely.

like whatever just happened between you—whatever this was, suddenly means something bigger than he’s ready for. “i-” he starts but he doesn’t finish.

his hand drops from your waist and you feel it. that absence.

like something just slipped through your fingers. “wait” you say quickly, your voice softer now. “i didn’t mean-i just-“ but you did mean it. and he knows that. that’s the problem.

he takes a step back. your stomach drops.

“joe!” he turns toward the door. “hey-no, don’t-please!”

he opens it. light spills in. voices crash back in. someone cheers. and just like that.. it’s over.

he walks out and you’re left standing there. alone. heart racing for a completely different reason now.

after that night, nothing is ever said. not the kiss. not the way it turned into something more. not the words you said. you both just go back. to normal. to friends. to pretending like it didn’t change everything for you.

“you don’t get to act like this is new” you say, your voice tighter now as you’re pulled back into the present. joe frowns. “what are you talking about?”

you shake your head, a quiet, disbelieving laugh escaping you. “you really don’t remember?”

his expression shifts. “…remember what?”

“that party” you say. “seven minutes in heaven”

recognition hits him. you see it. “yn-”

“yeah” you cut in. “thought so..” he runs a hand through his hair, tension written all over him now. “that was years ago”

“exactly” you say. “and we’ve been doing the same thing ever since”

“that’s not what that was”

“really?” your voice softens but it hurts more. “because from my perspective, i told you how i felt and you walked out”

he looks like that lands harder than he expected. “I didn’t know what to do” he says. “so you left..”

“you said you loved me” he shoots back, voice rising slightly. “we were in a closet at a party-”

“and i meant it!” you say.

quiet. steady. real. the words hang between you again. just like they did that night. joe stares at you. “you still-”

you shake your head quickly. “that’s not the point”

but it is. it always has been. you swallow. “the point is every time something real happens between us… you disappear”

his expression tightens. “that’s not fair”

“isn’t it?”

“i came here” he says. “i asked you out. i didn’t ignore what happened last night”

you let out a quiet breath. “you also told me i shouldn’t need reassurance” his face falls slightly. “that’s not what i meant”

“it’s what you said”

silence stretches. heavy. uncomfortable. you take a small step back. your chest feels tight again. too tight. “i just-” you start, then stop because you don’t know how to say it without sounding like that girl again.

the one in the closet. the one who said too much.

“i don’t want to feel like that again” you say finally, quieter now.

joe’s expression softens. “like what?”

you look at him. really look at him. “like i care more than you do”

that one lands. you can see it. he doesn’t have an answer right away. and that.. that silence, it hurts more than anything he could’ve said.

you nod slowly. “yeah. okay.”

“yn-”

“i’m not doing that again” you say. your voice is steady now. even if your chest isn’t. you turn before he can respond. walk back toward your table. back to your friends. back to the noise. but it doesn’t drown it out because even when you sit down, even when you laugh, even when you try to pretend you’re fine, you can still feel it.

that moment. that night. him walking away. and now he’s standing across the bar, watching you.

like he doesn’t know how to fix it this time. .

joe keery x reader smau!

summary: reader and joe have been co-stars since season 1 on stranger things! reader plays ‘lottie ralphie’ who is ‘steve harringtons’ love interest. you’ve developed a small crush for joe, and by small you mean you’re head over heels for that man. joe feels the same way but everytime something happens you both are idiots and blame it on alcohol. this time? its different. you even make it KNOWN this time. but but of course, its ruined.

info/warnings: face claim is nina dobrev!, this is NOT. a ship. i repeat this is NOT A SHIP!, y/n used, mentions of drinking/getting drunk, i cba to get everyones instagram users so i just made them up lmaoo, mentions of kissing/more (not in this part) not really smut, fwb mentioned kinda(not in this part), friends to lovers to friends to distance to co-stars to lovers trope LMAOO!, lowk slow burn bc they’re all idiots

wc: like 3-4k

part 1 || part 2 || part 3 || part 4 || part 5

enjoy readiingg :)

joe doesn’t see your messages. he sees your new instagram story.

he’s sitting in the back of the car heading across the city when he opens instagram without really thinking about it, mostly trying to distract himself from the fact that you still haven’t replied.

your profile pops up at the top of his screen. he taps it immediately. text across the screen reads:

@ynuser

“yeaaahh okayy, i didn’t want to go out with you anyway😐”

joe blinks. “oh… that’s not good” he mutters. joe exhales slowly, dragging a hand down his face. “yeah” he says quietly to himself. “that’s definitely about me”sitting beside him, sabrina glances over from her own phone.

“what’s definitely about you?”

joe turns his screen toward her. she watches the video once, then again and then she bursts out laughing. “oh my god.”

“it’s not funny,” joe groans. “no it kind of is,” she says, still laughing. “she’s clearly mad at you.”

“i didn’t even do anything!”

sabrina raises an eyebrow. “except get photographed leaving dinner with me.” joe leans back in the seat with a frustrated sigh. “this is such terrible timing.”

he opens your chat again. still nothing.

j- hey

j- i think you might have the wrong idea about something

he stares at the screen for a second before typing again.

j- sabrina and i weren’t on a date

j- it was just a meeting after interviews

he presses send. the message delivers. but the typing dots never appear. sabrina watches him check the chat again. and again.

“you realize if she posted that she’s at a club, she’s probably not going to answer” she points out. joe rubs the back of his neck. “yeah. i know.”

but that doesn’t stop him from checking again two minutes later

across the city, the bar is loud enough that you have to lean across the table just to hear your friends. neon lights glow along the walls, people packed around the bar counter while the music shakes the floor beneath your feet. one of your friends slides another drink toward you. “okay” she says. “now explain again why we’re here”

you lift your glass and take a sip. “because it’s friday?” she stares at you. “no” she says flatly. “we’re here because you rage posted on instagram”

your other friend snorts.

“saying ‘no men needed wanted’ is crazy, yn” you groan and lean back in the booth. “i didn’t-”

“yn, you posted it thirty minutes after you saw the pictures with joe and sabrina”

you glare at her. “you weren’t supposed to remember that part” she folds her arms. “oh no, we’re definitely remembering that part”

you sigh and rub your forehead. the night had started so differently. you’d spent most of the afternoon thinking about tonight. thinking about the fact that joe had actually asked you out. a real date. not a drunken party kiss. not another moment you’d both pretend never happened. an actual date.

and for a few hours, you’d felt stupidly happy about it.

until you saw the photos. your friend nudges your arm.

“show her” she says to the other one. you reluctantly unlock your phone and slide it across the table. the photos are still open. joe sitting across a restaurant table from sabrina carpenter.

both of them smiling. laughing. looking comfortable. your friend studies the screen. “…oh.”

“yeah” you mutter. she glances back up at you. “did you ask him about it?” “no…”

“why not??”

you shrug, staring down at your drink. “because what if the answer sucks?” neither of them says anything for a moment. your friend gently pushes your phone back toward you. “or..” she says carefully, “it could be nothing”

you laugh softly. “right”

“i’m serious yn!”

you shake your head. “he literally asked me out today”

“yeah??”

“and then he’s photographed having dinner with someone else”

your friend tilts her head. “…okay but technically that picture doesn’t prove it’s a date”

you sigh “i don’t want to be the girl who asks ‘hey are you secretly dating someone else’ an hour after he asks me out”

“fair”

you lean your head back against the booth. “besides” you say quietly, “it’s not like he owes me anything” but the words still sting a little when you say them. because you can’t stop thinking about last night. about the way he kissed you outside under the streetlights. about the way he looked at you afterward like the moment meant something. you swallow the thought down and grab your drink again. “anyway” you say quickly, “that’s why we’re here”

your friend raises her glass. “to men being confusing” “to men being annoying” the other one adds. you clink glasses with them. “to not checking my phone tonight”

back in the car, joe opens your story again. he watches the video of you laughing with your friends. and something about it makes his chest tighten slightly. because you look happy. but he also knows you well enough to recognize when that laugh is just a little forced. “you should go there” sabrina suddenly says.

joe looks up. “what?” she shrugs casually. “go talk to her”

“she literally posted that she’s not checking her phone”

“exactly”

he frowns. “…how does that help?”

“because” she says, “if she’s ignoring her phone, texting her isn’t going to fix this”

joe glances down at his phone to look at your instagram. the bar in your story is familiar. he knows exactly where it is. it’s only fifteen minutes away. he exhales slowly. “showing up sounds like a terrible idea”

sabrina grins. “letting her think you took me on a date instead of her sounds worse”

joe runs a hand through his hair. “…you’re enjoying this way too much”

“a little”

he hesitates for another second. then he leans forward and taps the driver’s shoulder. “hey” he says. “can you change the route?”

back at the bar, you’re halfway through your second drink when one of your friends suddenly leans forward. “…wait” you glance up. “what?” she’s staring toward the entrance. “yn…”

“what?”

“…don’t freak out”

you frown slightly “why would i-” then you turn to see what she’s looking at. and immediately freeze because standing just inside the doorway, scanning the crowded bar is joe, and judging by the way his eyes are moving across the room he’s very clearly looking for you.

and a few seconds later, he finds you.

his shoulders drop slightly like he’s relieved to have finally found you. “oh my god” one of your friends whispers. “that’s him” the other one says quietly.

your stomach twists because joe doesn’t hesitate. he immediately starts walking toward your table. people glance up as he passes, a few recognizing him, but he barely notices. his eyes are fixed on you the whole time.

you feel your chest tighten. “i’m going to the bar” you mutter quickly, sliding out of the booth. “yn-” your friend starts but you’re already walking away.

you reach the bar counter just as joe catches up to you. “hey” his voice is a little breathless, like he walked here faster than he meant to. you stare straight ahead at the row of bottles behind the bar. “hi”

there’s a short pause. “you’re ignoring my messages” you shrug slightly. “i said i wasn’t checking my phone tonight” joe exhales. “yeah, i saw that”

you finally glance at him. “then why are you here?”

the question comes out sharper than you meant it to. he blinks slightly, clearly thrown off by the tone. “because you stopped replying”

“so?”

his eyebrows knit together. “so i thought something was wrong” you laugh quietly under your breath. “nothing’s wrong” joe studies your face for a second. “okay” he says slowly. “then why does it feel like you’re mad at me?”

you cross your arms. “i’m not mad.”

“yn”

you look away. “i’m not” he lets out a small frustrated breath. “then why did you suddenly stop answering me?” you turn toward him fully now. “maybe i realized you were busy”

“busy?” “yeah” you say, voice tightening. “busy having dinner with someone else”

joe’s expression shifts immediately. “oh” the single word makes your chest twist. “yeah” you say quietly. for a second neither of you speaks. the noise of the bar fills the silence between you. joe runs a hand through his hair. “that wasn’t a date”

you raise an eyebrow. “sure” “i’m serious”

“joe there are literally pictures of you and her laughing and giggling over a candle lit-”

“because we had dinner.” “exactly”

he stares at you in disbelief. “after interviews”

“right”

“with our publicists...”

you blink. “…what?” “it was a work thing” he says, frustration creeping into his voice. “we finished press and grabbed food with our teams”

you hesitate. “then why did it look like-”

“because paparazzi cropped everyone else out” he interrupts. you open your mouth then close it again. the tension between you doesn’t disappear though because the feeling in your chest is still there.

“you still could’ve told me” you say quietly. joe frowns. “i tried” you look at him. “after you were already there” “because i didn’t know you saw those pictures!” “well i did..”

he exhales sharply. “okay but instead of asking me about it you just assumed the worst and stopped talking to me?” your jaw tightens. “i didn’t assume anything.” “yn-” “you asked me out this morning! and then i see you not even 6 hours later out on what seemed to be a date!”

joe gestures helplessly. “that maybe there was a normal explanation?”

you scoff. “right”

“why is that so hard to believe?”

“because” you say quietly, “this is you”

his expression shifts slightly. “what does that mean?”

you look down at the floor. “it means every time something almost happens between us… it never actually goes anywhere” joe goes still.

“that’s not fair”

“isn’t it?”

he shakes his head. “i literally asked you on a date today” “and then took someone else to dinner” “that wasn’t a date!” people at nearby tables are starting to glance over now.

joe lowers his voice slightly. “i came here to see you”

you swallow. “why?” he looks at you like the answer should be obvious. “because i thought you were upset”

“maybe i am”

“then talk to me instead of posting passive aggressive instagram stories” you stare at him. “you showed up at the bar i’m at” “because you wouldn’t answer me!”

the words hang between you. both of you breathing a little heavier now. after a moment joe runs a hand through his hair again, frustration clear in the movement. “i was trying to take you out tonight” your chest tightens. “well you’re here now”

he lets out a short, humorless laugh. “yeah” another long pause stretches between you. the music from the bar suddenly feels way too loud. joe studies your face for a second. “are you actually this mad at me?” you hesitate because the honest answer isn’t anger. it’s hurt and that somehow feels worse to admit. you look away instead. “i’m out with my friends tonight” joe’s jaw tightens slightly. “right”

he nods once, like he’s trying to decide something. “okay” you glance back at him. “okay?” “yeah..” he says quietly. “okay..”

but the look in his eyes says the conversation definitely isn’t finished.

i love love love you all❤️

joe keery x reader! SMAU!!

summary: reader and joe have been co-stars since season 1 on stranger things! reader plays ‘lottie ralphie’ who is ‘steve harringtons’ love interest. you’ve developed a small crush for joe, and by small you mean you’re head over heels for that man. joe feels the same way but everytime something happens you both are idiots and blame it on alcohol. this time? its different. you even make it KNOWN this time. but but of course, its ruined.

info/warnings: face claim is nina dobrev!, this is NOT. a ship. i repeat this is NOT A SHIP!, y/n used, mentions of drinking/getting drunk, i cba to get everyones instagram users so i just made them up lmaoo, mentions of kissing/more (not in this part) not really smut, fwb mentioned kinda(not in this part), friends to lovers to friends to distance to co-stars to lovers trope LMAOO!, lowk slow burn bc they’re all idiots

wc: not sure but nothing over 3k!

i recommend reading part 1 if you haven’t, just so it makes sense! also comment if you want to be on the taglist :)

taglist: @sexyvixen7 @beth-mirrorball

part 1 || part 2 || part 3 || part 4 || part 5

part 2: ‘why internet, why?’

the next morning, your head is fuzzy in the way that comes from staying up too late rather than drinking too much. for a moment you just stare at the ceiling, the quiet of your apartment slowly waking you up. and then the memories from last night come back all at once. the party.

dancing with joe. the way he kissed you under the streetlights before you both finally said goodbye.

your stomach flips slightly because this time it hadn’t felt like the other times. it hadn’t felt like a drunk mistake everyone would laugh about the next morning.

this time it had felt… real. your phone buzzes on your nightstand. you reach for it, half expecting a message from one of your friends asking about the party.

instead, it’s from joe’

you stare at the notification for a second before opening it.

j- morning :)

j- how’s your head?

a small smile pulls at your mouth.

- surprisingly alive..

-which is impressive considering how loud that party was

the typing bubble appears almost immediately.

j- yeah that place was insane

j- also.. we still on for our date on today?

you sit up slightly in bed.

- yeah!!

a few seconds pass before the next message appears.

j- i have a few interviews today so how about i meet you at the new sushi place at 7?

your heart skips. for a moment you just stare at the screen. after years of weird almost-moments, late-night kisses you both pretended didn’t matter, and the one sober kiss you never talked about again… he was finally serious about it

- okay. sure :)

j- perfect. see you then x

you bite your lip, smiling despite yourself.

- yeah, see you :)

the afternoon drags.

you try distracting yourself, cleaning your apartment, scrolling through social media, half watching something on tv, but your mind keeps drifting back to tonight. a real date with joe.

not a party. not a blurry late-night moment. an actual date.

around early evening you check your phone again, wondering if his interviews are done yet. instead of a message, the first thing you see is a new post from a celebrity news account.

you almost scroll past it. until you see joe’s face. your thumb freezes.

the photo shows him walking out of a restaurant in the city, laughing beside sabrina carpenter

another photo shows them sitting across from each other at a table through the restaurant window.

@celebgossip

the caption reads: joe keery spotted grabbing dinner with sabrina carpenter tonight 👀

liked by sabrinafaanter, djo0917fan and 27k others

8817 comments

| user82828: weren’t yn and joe going out today?

| joekeeryyayaya: i mean.. he’s living his life..? right.?

| joekeerywifey: NOOO HES MIIINEE :(

| julliieee: uh.. okay.? does he know this?

| sabrinanjoeshiipp: YAYAYA FINALLY!!!

tap to view more

your stomach drops. what about tonight? you stare at the pictures for a long moment. maybe it’s just a coincidence. maybe it’s work.

but the more you look at the photos, the worse the feeling in your chest gets. because they look comfortable. like it isn’t the first time they’ve gone out together. your phone buzzes again.

a new text from joe.

j- hey

j- FIIIINALLY done with interviews

j- are you still free tonight?

you stare at the message. then back at the photos. a tight feeling settles in your chest. maybe you misunderstood last night. maybe you misunderstood everything. because if he really wanted to take you out… why would he already be out with someone else? and why would he be lying about interviews instead of just saying he was with her?

your fingers hover over the keyboard.

you type a reply. then delete it. another message appears.

j- i found this place i think you’d like

j- it’s open late so we’d still have time

you swallow, suddenly feeling stupid for getting your hopes up. without replying, you lock your phone and set it down on the bed. a minute later it buzzes again. and again. you don’t look at it.

across the city, joe stares at his phone in confusion. your chat is still open. no reply. he frowns slightly.

j- hey?

j- everything okay?

still nothing. he glances up from the table where he’s sitting.

“sorry” he says to sabrina, who’s sipping from her drink across from him. “i think i might’ve accidentally scared someone off” she raises an eyebrow. “the mystery date?”

joe rubs the back of his neck. “i asked her out this morning. she said yes. now she’s suddenly not answering”

sabrina leans back in her chair, thinking. “did you do something stupid?”

“not that i know of.” she shrugs. “give it a little time.”

joe nods, but the uneasy feeling in his chest doesn’t go away. when they leave the restaurant about twenty minutes later, a couple cameras flash from across the street. joe barely notices. his phone is already back in his hand.

j- hey

j- if something came up that’s okay

j- just let me know❣️

back in your apartment, your phone lights up again. you glance at it this time. another message from joe. another twist in your chest. you think about answering. about asking him why he’s out with someone else when he asked you out. but the photos are still stuck in your mind. so instead you flip your phone over on the bed. and ignore it.

outside the restaurant, joe sighs quietly when your chat still shows no response. sabrina glances over his shoulder. “still nothing?”

he shakes his head. she pulls out her own phone. “hold on.”

a few seconds later she turns the screen toward him. it’s the same post you saw earlier. the photos of them leaving the restaurant. the caption speculating about them dating. joe groans.

“oh you’ve got to be kidding me”

sabrina laughs. “oh my god”

he runs a hand through his hair. “she definitely saw that”

“yeah” sabrina says sympathetically. “you’re screwed”

joe exhales, already pulling up your contact again. because now he’s almost certain why you stopped replying. and he has absolutely no idea how he’s going to fix it.

meanwhile, you’ve decided to go our on a girls night with maya and sadie. you get all dolled up and then decide on post on your instagram.

you tell yourself you’re just posting it for the fans.. but are you really? part of you wants joe to see what he’s missing out on.

you looked SO hot. like damn. you’re plan for tonight was to get as shitfaced as you can and try to forget any real feelings you felt towards him.

@ynuser

caption: night out with the girls getting absolutely SHITFACED!!! no guys needed wanted.

liked by mayamayamaya, sadieieie and 62.4k more

3682 comments

mayamayamaya: this night #RUULLEDDD

|—> ynuser: hell yeah girl!

sadieieie: no boys inviteddd 💋

|—> ynuser: never ever🥂

user8163627: anyone else notice that its friday and her and joe were supposed to be on a date?

|—> djoo0fan: DID U NOT SEE HIM AND SAB TODAY?

ynismyfav: so i’m guessing no joe..?

| ❤️by creator

tap to view more

after posting it, your phone buzzed again. fuck. its joe.

j- saw ur post.. u look so beautiful

j- i also saw that comment you liked.

fuck. you thought to yourself.

j- we should talk

j- please let me explain its not what you think i promise

j- i saw the post that celeb gossip posted. please yn. just see me?

first time doing a SMAU! joe keery x actress!reader :)

summary: reader and joe have been co-stars since season 1 on stranger things! reader plays ‘lottie ralphie’ who is ‘steve harringtons’ love interest. you’ve developed a small crush for joe, and by small you mean you’re head over heels for that man. joe feels the same way but everytime something happens you both are idiots and blame it on alcohol. this time? its different. you even make it KNOWN this time. but but of course, its ruined.

info/warnings: face claim is nina dobrev!, this is NOT. a ship. i repeat this is NOT A SHIP!, y/n used, mentions of drinking/getting drunk, i cba to get everyones instagram users so i just made them up lmaoo, mentions of kissing/more, not really smut, fwb mentioned kinda, friends to lovers to friends to distance to co-stars to lovers trope LMAOO!, lowk slow burn bc they’re all idiots

wc: not sure but i doubt its more than 4k!

taglist: @sexyvixen7

part 1 || part 2 || part 3 || part 4 || part 5

part 1: ‘wrap party’

@ynuser

caption: oh lottie, how you’ll be missed🩷. being the role of lottie for over 10 years has taught me so much about myself and my life.

i’m so grateful for the duffers and the amazing team that has kept this series going on💗. as sad as i am to see stranger things come to an end, i’m so glad i had this opportunity to meet my amazing co-stars, who i can now confidently call my best friends. i started this series when i was 21, i’m now 31 and god, it feels like yesterday when we first did the chemistry read and it was me, joe, charlie and natalia. from that day forward i knew i’d end up being family with these guys. i’m so honoured to have a family with all my co-stars. thanks to stranger things i can confidently say i went into this tv show being an only child, and i’m coming out with so many little siblings. the ones who feel like they are blood. i’ve watched you all grow and i’m ready for the world to see our series come to an end💋

i love you lottie and you’ll always be in my heart. i love you all🩷

liked by: keerryyjoe, natalia_dyer and 972k more..

1863 comments:

| keerryyjoe: stottie forever ❤️

| —> ynuser: always 💋

| sadieesinkkk: my big sister 🥹

| —> ynuser: my lil sis🫂

| mayamayamaya: robin and lottie = no1 besties <3

| —> ynuser: ugh fr. they’re awesome.

| dufferbros: we love lottie! #stottie!!

| —> ugh real! @keerryyjoe see? they’re on our side

| keerryyjoe: good.

tap to view more

shit. you’ve JUST found out that you apparently “need to bring a date” to the duffers party. you think about inviting joe. i mean you guys are.. well whatever you are. its confusing. one minute, you’re watching a movie and there’s a little distance between you two. the next minutes you’re allowing his tongue to slide into yours whilst you rock your hips on his lower half.

so maybe more than friends.. but not enough for a label? ugh. he’s confusing. you’re confusing. maybe that’s why you’d so perfect together, right? whatever.

after thinking long and hard for.. 3 minutes? you decide you should invite joe. it would be casualll.. and maybe a “fun night” with joe if you end up drunk, like usual.

the music is already loud when you and joe walk into the party, bass vibrating faintly through the floorboards before the door even closes behind you. colored lights spill across the living room, people packed shoulder to shoulder, someone shouting your names from the kitchen.

joe leans closer so you can hear him. “this is… a lot of people” you laugh softly, taking the plastic cup someone presses into your hand. “you’ve been to cast parties before”

“yeah” he says, glancing around, “but somehow they always get worse” you stay close together as you move through the room. for the first hour it’s easy, you’re talking to people, laughing at stories from set, occasionally bumping shoulders when someone squeezes past. every now and then joe drifts into another conversation, but he always ends up back next to you again like it’s automatic.

it’s comfortable. dangerously comfortable. because somewhere in the back of your mind is the quiet reminder that this has always been the problem with you and joe. the first time it happened was during the early days of filming stranger things season one. everyone had gone out after a long day of shooting, half the cast crammed into a tiny bar. you and joe had ended up laughing about something stupid, leaning too close across the table.

you barely remembered the kiss the next morning. only the way everyone teased you about it. after that it happened a few more times over the years, but always the same way.

late nights. parties. too much alcohol. and every single time the unspoken rule was the same:

we were drunk. it didn’t mean anything.

by the third hour of the party tonight, the room feels warmer and louder. the alcohol buzz settles comfortably in your system, the music switching to something with a heavier beat. you take another sip from your drink before suddenly grabbing joe’s arm. “come dance with me!!” he raises an eyebrow. “is that a request or-?”

you’re already pulling him toward the dance floor. people are packed together in the center of the room, the bass thumping through your chest. joe laughs as you drag him into the crowd. “i should warn you..” he says, lifting his hands defensively, “i’m a terrible dancer”

“good” you grin. “so am i”

the two of you start moving anyway, swaying with the music. joe attempts something ridiculous with his shoulders that immediately makes you laugh. “what was that?”

“my signature move!” he says seriously. you shove his shoulder. “never do that again.!” but you’re still laughing, and he’s laughing too, and somehow the space between you disappears. at one point he spins you once just for fun, and when you stumble slightly afterward his hands land on your waist to steady you.

the touch lingers. your breath catches for a second. it’s stupid how familiar this feels. you lean closer so he can hear you. “okay maybe you’re not that bad at dancing”

“wow” joe says. “high praise” when you pull back your faces are closer than you expected. for a moment neither of you moves. and suddenly another memory slips in. uninvited.

season two. late evening at your house after a long day of filming. scripts spread across the table, the two of you running lines and laughing whenever one of you messed up. that night had been different. no party. no alcohol. just the quiet hum of your kitchen light and joe sitting across from you.

you remember the exact moment it happened. the way he had looked at you after you finished a line, smiling slightly like he’d forgotten what he was supposed to say next. “what?” you had asked. “nothing” he said. and then he leaned forward and kissed you.

slow. careful. completely sober.

you’d both pulled away a second later like the moment had surprised you. neither of you ever talked about it again. the music drags you back to the present.

joe is still looking at you the same way he did that night. “what?” you ask quietly. he shakes his head a little. “nothing” but a few minutes later you’re both laughing again after he almost bumps into someone behind him. he leans down suddenly and presses a quick kiss to your cheek.

your laughter stops. the warmth of his lips lingers against your skin. “sorry” he says with a crooked smile. “you just looked very kissable”

“that’s a terrible excuse”

“worked though”

the next song slows down. the crowd shifts, people swaying closer together. you step forward without thinking. this time when joe’s hands settle at your waist, you don’t move away. your arms slide loosely around his shoulders, fingers brushing the back of his neck as the two of you sway with the music. your heart is beating a little too fast. because you know this pattern. you know where it usually ends.

another kiss. another blurry morning. another we were drunk, forget it happened. but when you tilt your head up to say something, joe is already looking down at you. his hand shifts slightly, pulling you closer. and then he kisses you.

his lips meet yours softly at first. its hesitant, like he’s giving you time to stop him if you want to. when you don’t, when you lean in instead, the kiss deepens just slightly.

it’s warm and slow, his hand steady at your waist while the music pulses around you. your fingers tighten lightly against his shoulders, grounding yourself in the moment. for a second everything else fades. the lights. the crowd. the noise. just the familiar warmth of his mouth against yours.

when you pull back you’re both smiling a little, breath slightly uneven. joe laughs quietly. “okay… maybe we should stop doing that at parties” you shake your head, half amused, half nervous. “yeah”

but neither of you actually moves away.

another couple of hours pass like that: dancing, talking, drifting through the party together like you’re orbiting each other.

eventually joe glances toward the door. “you wanna get out of here?” he asks. you nod immediately. outside the night air is cool, the distant music muffled behind the closed door. the street is quiet compared to the chaos inside.

you walk side by side down the sidewalk for a moment. then joe nudges your shoulder. “so” he says. “are we blaming that on alcohol again?” you glance at him. the memory of that night in your kitchen flashes through your mind. season two.

the first sober kiss. the one you both pretended never happened.

“i don’t know,” you say softly. joe stops walking. when you turn back toward him he gently catches the front of your jacket and pulls you closer. his hand slides up to your cheek, thumb brushing lightly along your skin.

this kiss is slower than the ones inside. more deliberate. when his lips meet yours again there’s no hesitation this time. it’s warm and lingering, his hand steady at your jaw while you tilt your head slightly to deepen the kiss. your fingers curl into the front of his jacket, pulling him closer without even thinking about it. the moment stretches, soft and quiet under the streetlights.

when you finally pull apart, joe is smiling at you in that same thoughtful way. “yeah” he says quietly. “we’re definitely not pretending that one didn’t happen”

@ynuser

caption: the fit for the final wrap party. miss you all already :) last photo taken by @mayamayamaya.

liked by keerryyjoe, mayamayamaya and 26.3k more

3982 comments:

| keerryyjoe: you’re gorgeous btw.

|—> ynuser: says u🫣

| keerryyjoe: who’s that super cool, handsome, tall guy who’s carrying you? he seems super amazing and cute btw.

|—> ynuser: he’s acc super weird

| keerryyjoe: right..

| mayamayamaya: DAMN girl chiiill i’m on this app🫣

|—> ynuser: tell christian to watch out!

| christianlhudson: hey what now.

| mayamayamaya: ladies, ladies chiill!

| mayamayamaya: HEYYY i got photo creds! you both look supa cute :)

| ynuser: you should see him rn. adorable

| winnyryder: what a night!!

|—> ynuser: MOTHER!

| ynsibling: thats my sister!!🎉

|—> ynuser: hell yeah it is

| dufferbros: last ever party🥹

|—> ynuser: stfu. ur gonna make me cry :(

| dj0fan: is that joe?? *liked by creator*

| user992363: okay soft launch!?!

| j03swifey: that better not be joe he’s mine.

|—> ynuser: @keerryyjoe shit. ur taken. no date on friday then?

| —> keerryyjoe: i didn’t even know i was owned..?

| user972: so we’re just gonna ignore that joe and yn we’re having a date on friday!?

| julesottiubs: wait because literally?

tap to view more comments

steve harrington x reader

part 1 || part 2 || part 3

summary: steve and reader have been BEST FRIENDS for ages - they even work at the same place (scoops). reader is in love with him so she tells him at work. he turns her down. now they have to go to the upside down. but something happens to reader to make him rethink eveyrthing

info/warning: emotional themes, injury, blood loss, can be read with any pronouns as “you” is used, no y/n, puuree hurt/a little angst? and fluff!, mutuals pining at different times, steve being his oblivious self, times when steve thinks he’s being smart, NOT proofread! lmk if there are any mistakes :)

taglist: @littlemissvenom0 @g0ldenline @offbrandhandymanny @ehlareym @amirafloral @sexyvixen7 @mandylynn22

wc: 2k

my note: this was super super fun to write :) please send me more requests and i’d LOVE to do them :)

the hospital hallway smells like antiseptic and quiet exhaustion.

fluorescent lights buzz softly above the rows of pale walls and plastic chairs. somewhere down the corridor a machine beeps steadily and a nurse’s shoes squeak against the tile floor.

everything feels too bright. too still. too normal. like the world kept moving while something inside steve is completely shattered. he hasn’t moved from the chair beside your hospital bed in hours. maybe longer.

his elbows rest on his knees and his hands are clasped together so tightly his knuckles have gone pale. there’s dried blood still under his fingernails. he hasn’t noticed.nhe hasn’t noticed much of anything since the moment the doctors rushed you through the emergency doors.

machines hum quietly beside your bed. the slow rhythmic beep… beep… beep of the heart monitor fills the room. it’s the only thing keeping him breathing.

your arm lies weakly on the mattress. a thin hospital bracelet around your wrist. your skin looks pale against the white sheets. too pale. steve stares at your hand like it’s the most important thing in the world. like if he looks away something terrible might happen.

the door creaks open softly. robin slips inside carrying two cups of vending machine coffee.

she studies steve quietly for a second. his hair is messy. his eyes are red. he looks like he hasn’t slept in a year. she sets one cup beside him. “you should drink something” he doesn’t look up. “not thirsty”

robin sighs and sits in the chair across from him. “steve you’ve been sitting here for like seven hours” “eight..” his voice is hoarse. quiet.

robin watches him carefully. “you should sleep” he shakes his head immediately. “no”

his hand finally moves. reaching slowly across the bed until his fingers gently wrap around yours. like he’s afraid you might disappear if he lets go.

“what if she wakes up?” robin’s expression softens. “then she’ll see you looking like you fought a war” steve gives a weak humorless laugh. “feels like i did”

silence settles between them. the machines continue their quiet rhythm.

robin glances at your sleeping face. then back at steve. “d’ you know i’ve been waiting months for you two to figure this out?”

steve exhales slowly. “not really the timing i imagined” she leans back in the chair. “yeah well you both waited until a life threatening dimension monster situation to confess your feelings so honestly that tracks” steve runs a hand through his hair. his eyes never leaving you. “i almost lost her” his voice cracks slightly on the last word.

robin doesn’t joke this time. she just nods quietly. “i know” steve’s thumb gently brushes across the back of your hand. a soft nervous motion.

“she told me she loved me” his voice is barely above a whisper. “and the only thing i could think was that i didn’t deserve it” robin tilts her head. “that’s stupid” he lets out a quiet breath. “yeah” another pause.

then robin stands. “i’m gonna go find actual food” she grabs her jacket. “try not to spiral into emotional self destruction while i’m gone” steve nods absently. “no promises” she gives him one last look. then leaves.

the door clicks softly behind her. the room grows quiet again. steve leans forward slightly. his free hand brushing gently across your hair.

“hey” his voice is soft now. softer than robin’s ever heard it. “you’re missing the part where you wake up” he swallows. his throat tight. “that part would be really great right about now” the monitor continues its steady rhythm.

beep… beep… beep…

steve sighs quietly and rests his head against the edge of the mattress beside your arm. still holding your hand. hours of fear and adrenaline finally pulling at his exhaustion. his eyelids slowly grow heavier.

“you scared the hell out of me” he murmurs drowsily. “don’t ever do that again” his voice fades. sleep finally taking him. his head resting beside your hand. still holding it tightly. like he promised himself he would never let go again. the room stays quiet for a while. machines humming. night settling outside the hospital windows.

then, your fingers twitch. just slightly. barely noticeable. but enough. your eyes slowly flutter open. the ceiling above you feels unfamiliar. blurry. it takes a moment for your vision to focus.

then you notice the weight of something warm around your hand. you turn your head slightly. and there he is. steve. asleep in the chair beside the bed. his head resting against the mattress. your hand still clutched tightly in his. even in sleep his grip hasn’t loosened. his hair is messy. his face exhausted. but peaceful in a way you’ve never seen before. your chest tightens softly.

“st-steve?” your voice is weak. raspy. but it’s enough.

his head lifts instantly. like he woke up before the sound even finished leaving your lips. his eyes snap open. confused for half a second. then they land on you. awake. looking back at him. the relief that floods his face is immediate. overwhelming.

“oh thank god” he stands quickly nearly knocking the chair over. his hands gently cup your face like he’s making sure you’re real. “you’re awake”

your lips curve into a small tired smile. “hi”

steve lets out a shaky laugh. his forehead dropping against yours. “you’re unbelievable you know that” you blink slowly. “why?” his thumb brushes softly across your cheek. “because you nearly died and the first thing you say is hi” you smile weakly. “seemed polite”

steve shakes his head softly.

then without thinking he leans down and presses a gentle kiss against your forehead. lingering there for a second.

his voice quiet. full of something warm and terrified and relieved all at once. “don’t ever scare me like that again” you squeeze his hand faintly. “can’t promise that”

steve sighs. but he’s smiling now. soft. real.

and for the first time since the upside down everything feels okay.

three weeks later

a few weeks later the familiar bell above the door jingles as someone walks into scoops ahoy. the smell of waffle cones and sugar fills the air again. everything feels normal. almost. you lean against the counter carefully still a little sore but much better.

steve stands beside you in his ridiculous sailor uniform pretending to reorganize the straws. in reality he’s watching you. again. he’s been doing that a lot lately. like if he looks away you might disappear.

robin notices immediately. she groans loudly. “oh my god” steve glances over. “what?!”

she gestures between the two of you. “the staring”byou laugh softly. “what staring?”

“the constant googly eyes” steve scoffs. “i do not have googly eyes”

robin raises an eyebrow. “steve harrington you literally carried her through the upside down while crying and confessing your love”

steve immediately turns red. “robin!!” you hide a smile behind your hand. she continues casually. “it was very romantic actually”

“robin please stop talking”

“i’m just saying you could’ve confessed months ago and saved us all the trauma”

steve sighs deeply. but when he looks back at you his expression softens again. the teasing fades instantly. he steps closer. his hand gently brushing yours behind the counter.

“you feeling okay?” his voice is quiet. concerned.nyou nod. “i’m okay” his shoulders relax slightly. “good”

robin watches the entire exchange with a smug expression. “this is disgusting”

you laugh. “you’re just jealous”

“i absolutely am not” she pauses. then adds “okay maybe a little”

steve rolls his eyes. but then he turns back to you. his hand still holding yours. “so..” his voice softens slightly. “there’s something i’ve been meaning to do” you tilt your head. “what?”

instead of answering he gently lifts a hand to your cheek. his thumb brushing softly across your skin. his eyes searching yours like he’s still making sure this is real. that you’re really here. alive.

then he leans down slowly. this time the kiss is soft. careful. like something precious. but warm and certain all the same. when he pulls back he rests his forehead against yours again.

smiling quietly. “should’ve done that weeks ago”

you smile back. “yeah”

robin loudly pretends to gag behind the counter. “okay that’s enough romance for one shift” steve laughs softly. but he doesn’t let go of your hand.

not this time. not ever again.

steve harrington x reader

SERIES: part one || part two || part three

summary: steve and reader have been BEST FRIENDS for ages - they even work at the same place (scoops). reader is in love with him so she tells him at work. he turns her down. now they have to go to the upside down. but something happens to reader to make him rethink eveyrthing

info/warning: emotional themes, injury, blood loss, can be read with any pronouns as “you” is used, no y/n, puuree hurt/a little angst? and fluff!, mutuals pining at different times, steve being his oblivious self, times when steve thinks he’s being smart, NOT proofread! lmk if there are any mistakes :)

taglist: @ehlareym @sexyvixen7

wc: 1.3k

ash drifts through the air like dying snow. slow. silent. lifeless.

the upside down stretches around you in endless shades of grey and black. broken houses stand like hollow skeletons in the distance and the air smells like rot and storm clouds. nothing here feels alive.

except the panic ripping through steve’s chest. you’re still in his arms. your blood is warm against his hands but the rest of you is growing colder by the second. his fingers press desperately against the torn fabric at your side where the demobat bites ripped into you.

blood seeps between his fingers anyway. too much. far too much. “stay with me” his voice is rough and shaking. “please..”

beside him robin kneels on the dead ground, her flashlight trembling in her hand. she can see the blood. she can see the way steve’s hands are soaked in it. and she knows. the realization settles like ice in her stomach. steve leans closer to you, his forehead pressing against yours. “hey” his voice cracks. “hey look at me” your eyelids flutter weakly. your breathing is thin. fragile. like each breath might be the last.

steve swallows hard. panic climbs higher in his chest. “you can’t fall asleep” he whispers desperately. “you hear me?” your lips move faintly. “steve…” the sound of his name almost breaks him. “yeah yeah i’m here” his hands slide up to cup your face, leaving faint streaks of blood on your skin. “i’m right here”

your eyes try to focus on him. everything feels distant. foggy. like the world is slowly drifting away. “i’m sorry” the words barely leave your mouth. steve freezes. “for what?” “for telling you” his chest tightens painfully. “don’t.”

your voice trembles. “it made things complicated” steve shakes his head immediately. hard. desperate.“no..” his voice cracks again. “no it didn’t” he presses a trembling kiss to your forehead. “you telling me was the best thing that’s ever happened to me”

tears fall freely down his face now. hot against the cold air of the upside down. “i was just too stupid and too scared to say it back” robin turns away slightly, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her jacket. she’s known this for months. the way steve looked at you. the way you looked at him. two idiots orbiting each other but never brave enough to say it. until now.

steve gently shakes you again when your eyes start slipping closed. “hey hey” his voice rises with panic. “stay with me”

you exhale softly. “i’m tired steve..” the words hit him like a knife. “no” his hands tremble violently now. “you don’t get to be tired” he pulls you closer against his chest. like he can keep your soul from leaving just by holding you tighter. “you’re staying with me”

your breathing falters slightly. robin looks back at steve. her voice quiet. worried. “steve we need to move”

he nods quickly. like the idea finally clicks into place. “yeah” his arms shift carefully beneath you. lifting you fully off the ground. your head falls weakly against his shoulder. your body feels frighteningly light. steve stands slowly. his legs feel unsteady. but he refuses to stop. “we’re getting you out of here” he mutters softly. his voice shaking. “you’re not dying in this place”

robin grabs the flashlight and walks beside him. the beam cuts through the grey fog as they move through the ruined streets of upside down hawkins. every step feels endless.

steve’s arms ache. his breathing grows heavier. but he doesn’t loosen his grip for even a second. your breathing grows quieter. more uneven. he looks down at you again. fear floods through him. “hey” he whispers quickly. “talk to me”

no response.

his heart begins to race faster. “remember scoops?” his voice tries to sound lighter but it breaks halfway through. “remember how robin kept eating the samples and pretending it was quality control?”

robin sniffs beside him. “that was a legitimate strategy”

steve barely hears her. his eyes stay fixed on your face. “you used to steal my fries during breaks” his voice softens painfully. “said they tasted better when they were mine”

your fingers twitch instantly around his shirt, weakly. steve stops walking for a second. hope flashes through him like lightning. “hey” he breathes out shakily. “that’s good” he presses another quick kiss to your hair. “stay with me, okay?” the gate finally comes into view in the distance. a faint rip in the air between worlds.

robin points. “there” steve forces his legs forward again. every step burning. every second heavier with fear. your breathing falters again. then pauses. for just a second. but it’s enough. steve feels it immediately. “no”

the word leaves him in a broken whisper. he shakes you gently. “hey” panic floods his voice. “don’t do that” his forehead presses against yours again. tears falling freely now. “please don’t die on me”

his voice cracks completely. raw. desperate. “you can’t leave me here okay? because if you do, who’s gonna watch movies with me? who’s gonna complain about me ‘wasting precious time’ when i’m doing my hair? who’s gonna want to sleep in my bed with me when i’m too stubborn to admit i hate being alone?”

robin’s eyes fill again as she watches him. she’s never seen him like this. never seen steve harrington this shattered.

steve’s voice drops to a quiet trembling whisper. “i love you” his thumb brushes weakly across your cheek. “i’ve loved you for so long” another tear falls. “i was just too scared to say it” he takes another step toward the gate. then another. his voice breaking into quiet pleading. “just stay with me a little longer” the gate grows closer. closer and closer.

your hand twitches faintly against his chest. steve freezes. his breath catching in his throat. “robin?” his voice barely exists now. “she moved”

hope flickers in his chest. small. fragile. but alive. he clutches you closer and keeps walking. toward the gate.

toward home. toward whatever waits on the other side.

NEW SERIES!! part one || part 2 ||

steve harrington x reader

summary: steve and reader have been BEST FRIENDS for ages - they even work at the same place (scoops). reader is in love with him so she tells him at work. he turns her down. now they have to go to the upside down. but something happens to reader to make him rethink eveyrthing

info/warning: emotional themes, injury, blood loss, can be read with any pronouns as “you” is used, no y/n, puuree hurt/a little angst? and fluff!, mutuals pining at different times, steve being his oblivious self, times when steve thinks he’s being smart, NOT proofread! lmk if there are any mistakes :)

WC: 1.9k

at scoops

the fluorescent lights of scoops ahoy hum softly above you.

the shop smells like sugar cones and melting ice cream and the faint salty air that drifts in whenever the door opens. outside the mall is loud and bright and alive but inside the moment feels strangely quiet.

robin is in the back pretending to reorganize the toppings station but really she’s just watching the two of you again. steve harrington stands beside the counter stacking napkins that don’t actually need stacking.

his sailor hat is crooked. his hair keeps falling into his eyes and every few seconds he pushes it back with the same distracted motion. you’ve watched him do that for months. years maybe.

your chest feels tight. heavy.

robin glances between you and steve and sighs under her breath. “you two are exhausting”

steve looks up. “what did we do?”

robin points at both of you with a spoon. “nothing that’s the problem”

you frown. “robin..”

“seriously” she says “the pining in this room is unbearable” steve chokes slightly on nothing. “pining?”

robin rolls her eyes. “i’m going to the back before i have to watch either of you dramatically stare at each other again” she disappears behind the door.

the silence she leaves behind feels bigger. heavier. steve clears his throat and keeps stacking napkins. you stare at him. your heart beats louder. harder. until the words finally slip out before you can stop them. “steve?”

he glances up. “yeah?”

your fingers twist nervously together. “can i tell you something?”

he shrugs lightly. “you always do”

your throat tightens. “it’s… different this time”

steve pauses. really pauses. then he slowly sets the napkins down. “okay” the moment stretches. fragile. delicate.

you take a breath that feels like it scrapes your lungs. “i think i’m in love with you”

the words fall into the room like something breaking. steve freezes. completely still. his eyes widen slightly.

there’s a flicker there. something soft. something terrified. for a second you think he might say it back. but instead he looks away. his shoulders tense. “you… shouldn’t be” your stomach drops. “what?”

he runs a hand through his hair like he’s trying to pull the thoughts out of his head. “i mean… you’re my best friend”

“steve..”

“and i don’t want to mess that up”

your voice shakes. “that’s not what i said”

he exhales slowly. like he’s forcing the words out.n“i can’t do this right now” it feels like the room tilts. “why?”

he laughs softly but there’s no happiness in it. just something hollow. something tired. “because i ruin things” you stare at him. “that’s not true”

“yeah it is..” his voice is quieter now.bquieter and sadder. “everyone leaves eventually”

your chest aches. “i wouldn’t”

steve finally looks back at you. his eyes are dark. stormy. like he’s carrying too many shadows behind them. “you will” he shakes his head. “and i can’t… i can’t lose you too”

the words settle like dust. heavy. painful. so you nod slowly. trying not to let him see the way your heart is quietly shattering.b“okay” the word is barely a whisper.

the byers house

the living room of byers house feels smaller than usual. Not physically smaller. just heavier.

like the walls themselves know something bad is coming.

the lights are dim, yellow and tired, casting long shadows across the room. the curtains are drawn tightly and the air smells faintly of dust, old wood, and the sharp metallic scent that always seems to follow the upside down.

everyone is there.

maps and papers are scattered across the coffee table. flashlights. walkie talkies. a coil of rope. a baseball bat leaning against the couch.

someone’s left a box of eggo waffles half open on the counter, forgotten.

no one is eating.

no one is laughing.

even the usual chaos of the group feels muted tonight.

robin is pacing slowly near the wall, arms crossed, reading over the same notes for the third time. every few seconds she pushes a loose strand of hair behind her ear and glances toward the map again like she’s hoping it might change.

it doesn’t.

on the couch, steve sits hunched forward with his elbows resting on his knees. the baseball bat lies across his lap. his fingers drum restlessly against the handle. tap. tap. tap.

you’re standing beside the armchair, arms folded, trying to listen as nancy points at the map spread across the table.

“we think the gate should still be open here she says quietly, tracing a finger along a rough pencil circle “if we go through that one, we can cut across and find the nest faster”

across from her, jonathan nods slowly.

“the bats usually circle around that area” he adds. “if we’re quick we might avoid most of them”

the word might lingers in the room like a bruise. no one says anything for a moment. the house creaks softly in the silence. steve finally exhales. “you mean if we’re lucky”

robin stops pacing. “that’s literally what might means steve” he gives her a tired look. “i’m aware”

She softens slightly. “you’re just saying it out loud”

steve runs a hand through his hair, pushing it back in frustration. “yeah well I’d like the plan to include less ‘maybe we survive’ and more ‘definitely we survive”

you can’t help the small smile that pulls at your mouth. even now he’s trying to keep things lighter. trying to carry the weight for everyone. robin notices your smile and nudges steve with her elbow. “look harrington someone appreciates your sarcasm.”

steve glances over at you. just for a second. but the moment his eyes meet yours something tight settles in his chest again. you look away first. the silence between you stretches. fragile. unspoken. robin notices immediately. of course she does.

she looks between you both with a sigh. “okay this tension is unbearable” steve frowns “what tension?”

“you two” she gestures vaguely between you. “it’s like watching a tragic romance movie that refuses to end”

you groan quietly. “robin..”

steve rubs the back of his neck. “can we maybe focus on the demobats trying to kill us instead”

robin raises her hands in surrender. “fine fine” but she mutters under her breath as she turns back toward the table. “still think you’re both idiots though”

nancy clears her throat, trying to redirect everyone. “alright. when we get through the gate we stick together. no splitting up” she looks directly at steve. “you stay in front”

steve nods without hesitation.

“yeah”

of course he will. he always does.

robin grabs a flashlight from the table and tosses it to him. “You’re the human shield, remember?” steve catches it easily. “encouraging”

you step forward, grabbing a walkie talkie from the pile. your fingers brush the cold plastic absently. across the room steve is watching you again. hos expression is quieter now. concern etched faintly into the lines of his face. “you good?” he asks.

the question is simple. butt it carries more than that. it carries the weight of earlier. of what you told him. of what he couldn’t say back. you nod slowly. “yeah” it’s not entirely true. but it’s enough. steve studies your face for another moment. like he wants to say something. like he almost does. instead he just nods once and stands up from the couch.

the room shifts with the movement. everyone grabbing gear. flashlights clicking on. the quiet preparation before the storm. robin slings a backpack over her shoulder. “alright dinguses” she gestures toward the door. “time to go ruin another dimension”

steve picks up his bat and spins it once in his hand. the motion is familiar. comforting. but when he walks past you he slows for half a second. just half a second. long enough to murmur softly. “stay close to me in there okay?” his voice is low. careful. like the words mean more than they should. you nod. “always”

steve swallows quietly. then he pushes the front door open. the cold night air rushes inside. and the plan begins.

in the the upside down

later that night the sky above hawkins feels wrong. too dark. too still. the air tastes metallic and cold. the gate to the upside down yawns open like a wound in the earth.

steve grips his bat tightly. robin stands beside him adjusting the flashlight. you’re just behind them. steve glances over his shoulder. his voice is softer now. gentler. “stay close okay?”

you nod. “always”

the three of you climb through the gate. the world on the other side is quiet. dead. ashes drift through the air like grey snow. everything smells like rot and dust and something ancient. the sky churns above you in slow dark clouds.

your footsteps echo softly in the emptiness. steve walks slightly in front of you. always in front. always between you and the danger.

then the screech comes. sharp. violent. demobats. they burst from the darkness like shadows with teeth. steve swings his bat. robin shouts. everything becomes chaos.

flapping wings. screaming. blood. you try to run. try to fight. but one of them slams into you. then another. their teeth sink into your arm. your side.

burning, ripping.

you scream. steve turns. “HEY!!” he swings wildly. the bats scatter. but when he reaches you your knees are already buckling. you collapse into his arms.

everything feels cold. too cold. your vision blurs.

“hey hey hey” steve’s voice breaks “no no no stay with me” his hands press desperately against your side. they come away red. so red. too red. “robin” he shouts “ROBIN”

robin runs over but the moment she sees the blood her face falls. silent. grim. steve’s breathing becomes frantic. ragged. his hands tremble as he presses harder against the wound. “you’re gonna be okay” he whispers shakily “you hear me?? you’re okay”

but you can feel it. the warmth leaving your body. the slow drifting darkness pulling at the edges of your vision. you cough weakly. “steve?”

his eyes snap to yours. wide. terrified. “don’t talk just stay awake okay please just stay with me” your lips tremble. “i guess… this is really bad huh?”

“no..” his voice cracks. “don’t say that”

you try to smile but it feels fragile. broken. “it’s okay”

“it’s not okay” his hands shake harder now. desperate. helpless. “please don’t do this please”

the world feels dimmer. quieter. like everything is slowly fading into soft grey silence. “steve?” your voice is barely there. “i meant what i said earlier”

“don’t..” his face crumples. “i love you” the words fall between you like a final breath. “so- so much...” steve shakes his head violently. tears blur his vision. “no no you’re not dying on me do you hear me” his voice breaks completely. raw, shattered.

“i love you too” the confession spills out like something torn open. “i’ve loved you for so long” his hands cup your face now. gentle. desperate. “i was just scared” tears stream down his cheeks. bsilent, endless. “i thought if i let myself have you i’d lose you”bhis forehead presses against yours.

his voice dissolving into quiet broken whispers. “please don’t die please please please” robin kneels beside him silently crying. the upside down wind howls around you. cold. lonely, endless.

steve presses a trembling kiss to your forehead.bthen another. his voice barely more than a breath. “stay with me..” his tears fall onto your skin like rain. “please”