I still like you | Steve Harrington x Reader

chapter 5

Another sunny day in Hawkins. You put on your sunglasses and prepared to head out when the phone rang. 

"Yeah, it's (Y/N)?" 

"Finally!!! I've tried calling you for dayyys." 

Mia. Yeah. You've tried to avoid her for dayyys. "Hi, girl. What's up?"

"There's a party tomorrow at Maya's. She also tried to call you to invite you!" 

"Ohhh. Okay. Well, thanks for the invite. I'm about to head out, but can I call you back?"

"Where are you going?"

Err, back to 'Scoops Ahoy' like Robin asked yesterday? No. "Uhm, shopping. With my mom. Yeah. But I'll call you back." You hung up and took a deep breath before leaving your house. You reflected over the different interactions with Steve - you knew his game and was not planning to be a part of it. But he seemed chill and even Robin got along with him. 

"Hey, look who's back!" Steve greeted you as you walked inside the shop. You didn't find him attractive for a lot of years but all of a sudden he looked super cute. Hmph.

You smiled, "Is Robin here?" 

"Ouch, straight to the point." He chuckled and opened the window behind him. "(Y/N)'s here." 

"Yayy!" Robin came out the door and started to prepare something for you. "Let me guess what you like. Hokey Pokey? Chocolate chip cookie dough?" 

"Don't say something boring like chocolate or vanilla, (Y/N)." Steve furrowed his brows. 

"Mint chocolate chip?"

"Surprise me." You said and lifted your chin. 

"Get inside," Robin pointed to the door and you did as you were told and settled down in the cold open room.

Steve leaned over the window. "It's uh, hot outside today, huh?"

".. Yeah." 

"You going to the pool?"

"Billy's working there. I actually went with some friends a couple of days ago and... you can probably imagine what he was like. So no, I'm not planning on going there."

"Ah, that sucks, (Y/N)." Steve muttered but then continued, "Yeah, well, I have a pool. You know?" Oh god, maybe you were right all along - Steve was just like every other boy. 

"Leave my friend alone." Robin walked inside and closed the window. "Here, try this. It's pretty much every single flavor in the store so, I hope you'll like something."

You laughed and tried what happened to be cherry. "Yum, thank you, Robin." 

"Actually I think it's your turn to be at the counter." Steve opened the door and held it open for Robin to go out. You raised your eyebrows when Robin actually left Steve alone with you. 

You quietly waited for him to sit down on the opposite side of the table. "What' so important?"

"I uh, realized that I might've come off in a way that I don't want to." At least he was self-aware? He started off a bit hesitant but then kept going, "About yesterday with the date and today with the pool. I just meant if Billy makes you uncomfortable.. you seem nice and I am not trying to ask you out, but.."

You narrowed your eyes. Right. "Oh, it's fine, don't worry. You seem... nice, too." You took another spoon of ice cream. It was hard to trust boys. 

"That did not sound convincing." He scoffed with a smile. "Is that a no?"

"No... to what?"

"To, I don't know. Do something?" He fidgeted in his seat. "Like, anything? If you stay here and keep us company, we could do something when my shift's over. You and I?" 

You couldn't help but smile and feel your cheeks blushing slightly when you realized that he had trouble maintaining eye contact. "Alright, Harrington." Steve was always more laidback, cool, nonchalant. Confident. What he portrayed to you were sides you had never seen of him. You didn't really know how you felt about it all. One thing was for sure though - you liked this version of Steve better than the picture you had of him in your head.

Steve gave you a bright grin but before he could say anything, you heard voices outside. He stood up and hurried out the door. Okay. You followed slowly after.

It was Dustin Henderson, the kid that was friends with Nancy Wheeler's brother and Billy's stepsister. Steve's reaction to Dustin was yet another surprise. 

"Henderson." Steve said as he pointed at him before taking a happy leap up in the air. He jogged over to him, shouting "Henderson! He's back! He's back."

"You got the job!" Dustin exclaimed.

"I got the job!" Steve imitated a trumpet and you and Robin exchanged glances. 

They proceeded to do some handshake and pretended to fight with lightsabers until Dustin 'stabbed' him in the stomach. They both laughed and you and Robin watched in awkward silence.

"How many children are you friends with?" Robin finally interrupted. 

Steve looked at you two and his smile immediately dropped. He looked back at Dustin while he gestured at you and shrugged one shoulder.