Chapter Text
The First Time: The Championship
You had been friends with Steve since you were little, and sure you still spent time together when your families met at the holidays, but that didn’t mean neither of you were insusceptible to being dragged into the harsh grouping in High School.
From afar you’d watched Stevie Harrington turn into Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington of Hawkins High, Captain of the basketball team and constantly surrounded by a stream of fellow gorgeous popular Jocks.
That wasn’t to say you weren’t unpopular, but running the student paper and occasionally dabbling in Hellfire campaigns had meant you were meant to hide on very different sides of the social landscape.
Steve would still always offer to walk with you between classes, even at the eye roll of his peers and it got to the point you felt bad, regardless of how close you once were, there was no denying he was now way out of your league to be seen with. Plus you always had an inkling that he actually had his eyes set on your friend Nancy.
One thing that hadn’t changed as you got older, is that you would still religiously go and watch his games. Every 2nd Friday after school you’d take the same seat watching the Hawkins Tigers battle their way through until finally in your final year together, Steve led the team to the championship.
The environment was buzzing, everyone from Hawkins High was amped up in a way that they hadn’t felt in a long time, the spectators roaring as the team came into view. The game was tense, with both sides battling hard, at half time you were shocked when you felt someone sit heavily in the chair next to you, only to look up and see Steve.
“What are you doing?” you asked, looking at his sweaty exterior
“You came” he said almost accusatory
“I’ve never missed a game, why would I miss this one?” you asked curiously. Almost taken aback by his question.
“Sorry sorry, no you’re right.” he seemed to pause, looking slightly deflated.
The Tigers were only a few shots behind, but enough that a gap could easily start to open up if they didn’t catch up soon. Looking at the scoreboard, and the team on the other side of the court , you leant your head closer to murmur quietly to Steve.
“ I heard on my way over that their number 13 had a bit of a fall on his ankle, can’t do a lot of twisting at the moment’
Steve quickly followed your eye line, spotting the person before looking back to you, a big grin and awe on his face. You quickly continued
“ You are Stephen Harrington. You’ve got this” you confirmed, chucking him a warm grin. ‘Go get ‘em tiger”
He looked at you, a special gaze he usually reserved for when you’d help him last minute with a project, or helped him hide coming home late from his parents by being his scapegoat.
‘You…. You are the fucking best” he said with a grin going to stand up, his energy suddenly buzzing back up he started to job away backwards
“Love ya!” he shouted before heading back to the team huddle, relaying some of your information, the energy pouring off of him.
You felt slightly giddy at his proclamation. Obviously he didn’t mean romantic love, but the way he’d looked at you. You couldn’t help but feel that gentle thrum of your childhood crush flutter a bit in your chest, no matter how unrealistic it was.
Of course they won, they were the Hawkins High Tigers led by Steve fucking Harrington.
As the buzzer rang, you were with everyone else cheering at the win. You caught eyes with Steve smiling and chucking him a thumbs up. He smiled back at you, big and toothy before he quickly looked down, Nancy Wheeler had arrived next to him and enveloped him in a big hug.
The flutter twanged in your chest.