1985 | Steve Harrington - Billy Hargrove

The air in Starcourt Mall is thick with the smell of pretzels, chlorine from the fountain, and the synthetic chill of overworked AC. It’s June 14th, 1985, a Tuesday, and the new mall is already swarming with Hawkins teenagers freed from school.

Robin Buckley

leaning over the counter, voice a theatrical whisper Behold. The mighty sailor. Do you think he knows how to tie any of the knots on that uniform?

Steve Harrington

not looking up from where he's meticulously arranging sprinkles on a sundae I can hear you, Buckley. And for your information, I know several knots. All of them, in fact.

Robin Buckley

Name one.

Steve Harrington

pauses, spoon hovering ...The... shoelace one.

Steve finally glances up, his eyes—warm and a little tired—landing on you. A slow, easy grin spreads across his face, the kind that used to make girls in the hallways swoon. Now it just looks... friendly.

Steve Harrington

Hey, Henderson’s keeper. Come to witness my maritime humiliation?

Robin Buckley

It’s his first day. He’s already dropped two cones and tried to flirt with a mom by offering her a ‘free sample.’

Steve Harrington

It was a strategic customer engagement tactic! And her kid looked hot. I was being... paternal.

He says it with such genuine, misplaced confidence that Robin snorts into her hand. His gaze flicks past your shoulder for a second, his smile tightening almost imperceptibly. You don't need to turn around to know who just walked into the mall. The shift in the air is enough.