HAWKINS, INDIANA — 1985.

     AFTER GRADUATION, THERESA KNEW her parents were going to make her get a job.

Even if it was just for the summer, since she would be going off for college in the fall, Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair were pressuring her to start working 'for the experience'. That sounded like a load of bullshit to her.

However, Tess decided to do it. She knew her parents were not going to fund her shopping sprees much longer, so she might as well start getting used to financial independence.

Plus, the Starcourt Mall had just opened up in Hawkins. It quickly became Theresa's favorite place; her siblings could barely drag her out of there. There were many options to choose from for employment, so Tess chose the most obvious one: a department store. The employee discount was her new favorite thing.

It was six o'clock, which was the end of Theresa's shift. She knew Jonathan and Nancy had been wanting to drag her to some new movie, but Tess did not know how to tell them that she was tired of being their third wheel. She liked hanging out with them, sure, but sometimes it got so tiring watching the two be in a happy relationship.

If only Tess could have said the same.

She and Steve were... still complicated. After that one night a few months prior, Theresa knew it was going to be painfully awkward seeing him around. But he still smiled at her when he saw her, giving a wave. Yet, it could not change the fact that they felt like strangers again.

Theresa began to realize how much she missed him, and how much she really regretted not being able to confess her feelings the way she wanted to. It had taken her a lot of self-acceptance to get to where she was now, but Tess could genuinely say she was not the same person she had been a year ago.

She had changed, for the better.

And sometimes, on a lonely Saturday night at home rewatching Sixteen Candles, Theresa considered calling Steve. Just to hear his voice again, before she had made the biggest mistake of her life.

Theresa really just wanted him back.

Grabbing her purse, Tess told her coworkers goodnight and left the department store. She knew where Steve worked, due to having seen him around in his funny little sailor uniform, so she figured that now might have been a good time to stop for a visit. Plus, she wouldn't mind getting some ice cream.

She arrived in front of the Scoops Ahoy ice cream parlor, inhaling sharply. Theresa walked inside, stepping up to the counter where a teenage girl stood. Tess was slightly disappointed, as she had been hoping to see Steve.

"Hi, what can I get for you?"

Theresa pursed her lips, tilting her head in thought. "I don't know... what do you recommend?"

She glanced at the name tag, seeing that the girl's name was Robin. Tess watched as Robin looked at all of the flavors, tapping her chin in thought.

"Well, personally, I think the cotton candy is pretty great."

Theresa gave a nod. "I think I'll try that then. I'll just take a single scoop in a cup."

"Tess?"

She looked up to see Steve walk out of the back, blinking in surprise as he saw her standing there. Theresa began to smile, raising her hand.

"Hi."

Tess could feel her heartbeat in her throat, wondering why she had suddenly become nervous. It was just Steve, she had talked to him a million times.

Steve took a few steps closer, then realized he was wearing his stupid sailor hat and pulled it off. Brushing his hair back, Steve tossed the hat aside and leaned against the counter with a charming smile.

"W-What are you doing here?"

Theresa gestured to Robin who was scooping her ice cream with a small, timid smile.

Steve quickly nodded. "Duh. Of course. I-I should've known that."

She laughed a little, taking her ice cream from Robin.

"Okay, your total is–"

"No, this one's on me," Steve interrupted Robin, who raised her eyebrows.

"...Okay."

She turned around and walked to the back while Theresa gave Steve a look.

"You didn't have to do that."

Steve smiled, trying to act casual. "You're a special customer."

Tess glanced down with a smile, her face flushing a little.

"I'm sure you say that to every pretty girl who comes in here," she remarked, eating a spoonful of ice cream.

Steve quickly shook his head. "Oh no. I uh... I haven't really been– on the market lately."

"That's shocking," Theresa replied, taking another bite of ice cream. "What is Steve Harrington without tons of girls swooning over him?"

He laughed her off, dropping his head for a moment. "What– what about you?"

Tess pursed her lips, giving a small shrug. "I went on one date with this frat guy from Indiana State and he was a total douche, so..."

Steve was surprised to hear this, trying to hide his disappointment from Theresa's answer. He had really been hoping she would say that she had not been seeing anyone.

"Yeah, I think you have a thing for that type," Steve responded, Tess quirking an eyebrow.

"Wow, okay," she halfway laughed, giving him a look. "Being brutally honest tonight, are we?"

Steve pushed his hair back as he opened his mouth, trying to think of a response.

"Sorry," he gushed, "I-I didn't mean–"

"It's okay," Theresa laughed lightly once more, meeting his eyes. God, Steve had really missed that laugh.

She drew in a breath. "Well, I'm gonna get going now. Thanks... for the ice cream."

Steve nodded vigorously. "Y-Yeah, of course. Any time."

Theresa paused, turning back to him. She inhaled sharply, licking her lips.

"Do you want to do something later?"

Steve had to blink a few times to make sure he was hearing her correctly. Even then, he stared at her for a few moments before replying.

"Oh– uh, I– y-yeah. Sure, yeah. I get off at eight if you want to wait until then."

Tess nodded. "Okay. I will."

She gave him another smile, turning to walk away and bumping directly into someone.

"Hey!"

Tess glared, then her expression turned to confusion as she saw that it was Mike she bumped into. Alongside him were Lucas, Will and Max.

"What are you doing here?" Lucas asked, making a face. "You never come to Scoops Ahoy–"

"Minding my damn business, like you should be doing," Theresa cut off with an eye roll and walking away.

Once she was gone, the four kids all turned to Steve with expectant looks.

"Again? Seriously?" he sighed.

Mike reached out, tapping the bell on the counter.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

STEVE HAD NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY TO see the clock hit eight.

He had already changed out of his uniform, flipping the light switch off as he and Robin left the parlor.

"So, who was that girl that came by a little while ago?" Robin inquired, Steve glancing at her.

"Uh, she's just a friend. Yeah, we uh– we graduated together."

"Seems like you like her as more than a friend," Robin snidely replied, earning an eye roll from Steve.

He checked the time on his watch, dismissing her.

"We– we dated. And then broke up. And kinda... got back together, but not really. It's– it's a long story."

Robin nodded slowly, taking this information in. "And... you still have feelings for her?"

"What?" Steve scoffed, waving a hand. "...Is it that obvious?"

Raising an eyebrow, Robin halfway shrugged as Steve closed his eyes with a sigh.

"She's just– kinda complicated. Sometimes I just don't really know if I'm saying the right thing."

Robin began to reply when they turned the corner, Theresa standing there with her purse on her shoulder.

"Hey," she smiled as they saw her, Steve's eyes widening at her sudden appearance.

"Hey," he replied, clearing his throat.

Tess glanced at Robin, then back to Steve. "You ready?"

Steve nodded, Robin giving him an amused look before she waved and walked away. He turned back to Theresa, who started toward the door.

"So... where are we going, exactly?"

She walked out into the parking lot, her keys jingling in her hand as Tess gave him a rather mischievous grin.

"You'll see."

Steve eyed her, reaching for the passenger side door handle and getting in at once. She started up the car, humming to herself as she flipped on the radio.

"How's your summer been?" Tess questioned, Steve giving a small shrug.

"I've been working. So... pretty boring."

Theresa laughed a little. "Yeah, me too. Although I can say that I really like my job."

Steve smiled. "I'm sure you do. You work at the department store, right?"

She nodded with confirmation.

"Yep. My coworkers are kind of bitches, but whatever. I'm only there for the summer."

That painfully reminded Steve: Tess was going off to college soon. The University of Notre Dame was only an hour away, but it still made him a little sad.

Theresa turned off of the road at once, going into the woods. Steve had some sudden flashbacks, wondering if that was what Tess was planning. He had mixed feelings about that.

"You know where Skull Rock is, right?"

Steve made a face. "Are you kidding? I discovered Skull Rock."

"What?" Tess side-eyed him. "No you did not! I did."

He turned to face her as Theresa put the car in park, shutting off the engine.

"You're joking, right? I found this place when I brought Diana Stevens here," he replied factually.

Tess narrowed her eyes. "If I remember correctly, you had a thing with Diana in September of eighty-two. I came here with Rudy Daniels in February of eighty-two."

Steve sat there in silence, taken aback.

"Really?"

She nodded, opening the car door and getting out. Steve followed suit, Theresa going to her trunk and opening it.

"You don't still have that gun back there, do you?"

She smirked, not replying. Tess shut the trunk, walking back around with a blanket in her arms. It was quite a warm summer night, and the sky was completely clear so that the bright full moon gave them plenty of light. Steve followed Theresa as she walked past the giant skull-shaped rock, continuing along until they were at the shoreline of Lover's Lake.

"I don't where I was expecting you to take me, but if definitely wasn't Lover's Lake," Steve muttered, Tess giving him a grin.

She laid out the blanket and kicked off her shoes, taking a seat and patting the spot beside her.

"Sit."

Steve complied, sitting down beside her as she pulled her knees up to her chest.

"I haven't been here in so long."

He turned his head to her, still trying to figure out what her motive here was. Steve could never tell with Theresa.

"Me either," he replied at once, looking up at the stars.

Tess twisted her fingers, trying to settle her nerves for what she was about to say. She looked to Steve, admiring the way the moonlight complimented his face. He really was quite beautiful.

"So," Steve turned his head to her. "What did you bring me all the way out here for?"

She drew in a shaky breath, shuddering a bit as she pulled at her fingers even more.

"Um, well... I just wanted to talk. It feels like it's been so long since we've just... talked."

Steve sat up a little straighter, his heart beating a bit faster as he gave her a nod.

"What do you want to talk about?" he returned.

Theresa felt a lump form in her throat, trying to force the words to come out. God, she was terrified.

"I–"

She paused, Steve tilting his head with a frown as he waited for her to continue. Tess grimaced, taking another deep breath.

"I want to be with you, Steve."

He swallowed, not realizing his mouth had slightly fallen open. Steve regained his composure, stumbling over his words.

"C-Could you, could you– could you repeat that?"

Theresa buried her face in her hands, starting to laugh. She no longer felt nervous, a wave of relief washing over her.

"I said that I want to be with you. As in, in a relationship with you. And I don't want to screw it up this time," she brought her hands away from her face, peeking at him warily.

Steve thought he was going to black out, suddenly feeling a little dizzy as he tried to make sure he was not having a very vivid dream.

"A-Are you– are you serious?" he responded, unable to sit still.

Tess knit her brows, trying to contain the urge to laugh as she nodded again.

"Yes, I'm completely serious. I just– I want to start over."

Steve was quiet for a moment, which worried Theresa. She was beginning to grow anxious when he raised his head with a smile, holding out a hand.

"Hi, I'm Steve Harrington. Former captain of the basketball team, co-captain of the swim team, all around stud–"

"You're so stupid," she fell into a fit of laughter, pushing his hand away. Steve grabbed her own hand and pulled her closer as they began to playfully fight, Theresa falling on top of him.

Their smiles became more serious as Tess' face was only inches from Steve's, their breathing heavy as the tension settled in.

Steve reached up to kiss her, grabbing her waist to pull her closer. Theresa got lost in the kiss for a moment, but finally pulled away.

"Wait," she caught her breath, getting off of him. "Maybe we should try to... take things slow. This time."

Steve sat up, giving a nod of understanding. "You're right. Yes. We can go as slow as you would like."

Theresa met his eyes for a prolonged moment, tapping her fingers as they stared at each other in silence.

"Fuck it."

She jumped on top of Steve, kissing him again.

notes.
sobbing shitting crying throwing up oh my god please when is it my turn to be happy

actually tho, i am very happy. as a matter of fact, i am overjoyed. because THERESA AND STEVE ARE FINALLY HAPPENING!!!! FOR SURE THIS TIME!!!!! WE NEED A CAKE TO CELEBRATE

of course it will still take bby girl some time to work up to saying the i love you's, but she has developed such a significant amount and we love to see it! theresa's the loml actually

this season's mostly gonna be just cute and fluffy, there might be some angsty moments but i promise it won't be nearly as painful as the acts one and two were. tess finally learned how stop being so wishy washy 😍

exes to lovers is the superior trope fr, that and best friends to lovers are my top two fav tropes ever

so. if not steve, who would you want to see theresa with? (i promise this is just purely out of curiosity, i don't plan on doing anything crazy)