spring 1985
wheeler residence

it was warm outside as the sun began to set. the street lights would be going on in about an hour or so and dinner was almost ready at the wheeler house. mike was out in the driveway, saying goodbye to will byers, his best friend. before will could leave, a maroon car pulled up into the driveway.

out from the car, wearing his signature gray windbreaker and a smile was (y/n)'s boyfriend, steve harrington. he smiled at mike and will who simply stared back at him.

"you staying for dinner, byers?" steve asked will.

"no, i was heading home," will replied.

"be safe out there," steve said knowingly.

jonathan, (y/n), nancy, and steve had all gotten involved in the upside down with mike and all of his friends. in fact, (y/n) had been the only one who wasn't involved with any of it when will had first disappeared almost two years earlier.

"thank you," will replied.

"i'll meet you inside, mike," steve smiled and continued to the front door.

once he was gone mike said, "what does (y/n) see in that guy?"

"what doesn't she see?" will replied, "he's a good guy. he saved all of our asses, remember?"

"yeah," mike nodded.

"i don't understand what nancy sees in jonathan though," will joked.

"none of us do," mike smiled and so did will. "be safe getting home, okay?"

"i will be, trust me," will smiled.

mike walked into the house where he saw (y/n) float down the stairs and embrace steve, who was standing in the foyer. they laughed and then shared a kiss, which made mike roll his eyes.

"is steve here?" mrs. wheeler called out from the kicthen where the aroma of pot roast was coming from.

"he just got her, mom!" (y/n) called out, grabbing his hand and guiding him into the kitchen.

"hello, steve," mrs. wheeler grinned.

"hello, mrs. wheeler, it's a pleasure to be here for dinner tonight," steve said.

"the pleasure is all mine," she replied, "you're a delight to have around."

"we'll go set the table," (y/n) said, grabbing the silverware and placemats off the island.

"thank you," mrs. wheeler said, returning to the pot roast.

steve and (y/n) began setting out the silverware and placemats and he couldn't take his eyes off of her. she was practically gloving as she went about her work. her hair was longer now and her shirt was pastel, but he could still remember that winter night almost two years earlier. she was evergreen, always and forever perfect to him.

"is something wrong?" she asked him.

"everything's perfect," he replied.

"i'm so glad you're here," she said, walking over to him and hugging him.

"i'm glad i get to be here with you," he smiled, holding on tight.

mike looked on from the stairs, wondering what it was that made two people so in love. his parents certainly didn't have it and nancy and steve hadn't had it when they were together. but now jonathan and nancy had it as did steve and (y/n). it was like some sort of magic.

mike wondered if he and eleven would have that kind of magic. or if they already did. but who was to say, love was a stranger thing than anything else.