when you know, you know ; steve harrington

ten ─ first love

How could she lose them that easily?

Teddy's breath hitched as she hurried through the darkened corridors, nerves bubbling beneath her skin. She, Dustin, and Erica had split up in different directions to search for Steve and Robin. And while the others seemed mildly annoyed, Teddy was terrified. Steve and Robin were drugged—vulnerable—and if something happened to them...

Her boots skidded slightly as she turned another corner, heart hammering wildly in her chest. Every second felt like a countdown.

Then—laughter.

She froze. It echoed faintly, just ahead.

Her brows knit in confusion as she followed the sound. It was coming from the bathroom. Quiet, muffled laughter. Carefully, she reached for the door handle. But just as she gripped it, her entire body stilled.

Robin's voice floated through the door.

"Have you... ever been in love?"

Teddy's heart slammed against her ribs.

Inside the bathroom, Steve replied without pause.
"Yeah. Nancy Wheeler. First semester, senior year," he said, followed by a comically exaggerated pew-pew. Laughter.

Teddy shut her eyes. The ache that bloomed in her chest was familiar—like reopening a wound she had spent years trying to forget. She turned around, ready to walk away.

But then—

"Well, I thought I was in love with her... but I wasn't, actually."

She froze mid-step.

"I had a girlfriend. We were dating during middle school, and honestly, those were the best moments of my life. It's just crazy, like—I still remember how genuine my smile was. She was everything to me back then. I was new to Hawkins, and I was an introvert—"

"Seriously?" Robin chuckled softly.

"Yeah," Steve hummed. "Heck, I was such a dork, and still she chose to be with me. She was the first person to talk to me in that stupid school, and I actually made it quite difficult because... it was all so new to me. I never had friends. And when she started talking to me, I was scared. Scared she might just turn her back on me one day."

"Did she?" Robin asked gently.

There was a pause.

"Oh boy, I was wrong," Steve said with a quiet laugh. "I was totally wrong. That girl is amazing. Seriously. She's beautiful, kind, selfless—and what not? I could go on. She made me feel things I couldn't even understand back then. It was all new... And luckily, she felt the same. She was the first one to confess."

Teddy's chest tightened, her hand trembling slightly by her side.

"How many years were you guys best friends?"

"Two years," Steve answered. "Then we dated for seven months. She liked me... but her dad didn't. He tried to take her away from me. And I thought she'd never leave—because she'd promised me. I was cocky about it, y'know?"

His voice changed—quieter. Sadder.

"But one stupid incident changed everything. She was taken away from me. And that was the worst time of my life. I was sixteen, I got influenced by everything around me, became King Steve... dated Nancy Wheeler, thinking it would help me move on."

"Did it?" Robin asked.

"I didn't." His answer was immediate, unshaken. "I couldn't. I know it sounds cliché, but I don't care. All I could think about, even when I was with Nancy, was her."

Silence.

"Sounds like you're still in love with her," Robin said gently.

"I am, Robin." His voice broke into a whisper. "Always."

And then—

"But Dustin told me you and Teddy had a thing back then?"

Teddy's breath caught.

"I was talking about Teddy this whole time, Robin."

Her knees nearly buckled as she cupped a hand over her mouth, tears sliding silently down her cheeks. Her heart cracked open, every memory of him flooding back like a tidal wave. The boy who made her laugh so hard she'd cry. The one who learned how to braid her hair because her mom was gone.

Steven Harrington was still in love with her.

And all this time, she thought he had resented her for leaving.

She was wrong.

"Teddy, why are you crying?" Dustin's voice snapped her back to the present. His wide eyes looked up at her, worried.

"Are you hurt?"

Teddy shook her head, unable to form words. Her lips trembled as she tried to breathe.

"Hey, come on... don't cr—" Dustin stopped mid-sentence. His head tilted toward the bathroom door as he picked up the muffled voices.

Understanding slowly spread across his face.

Teddy wiped her tears and stood up straighter, swallowing the lump in her throat. The three of them quietly approached the door.

Dustin reached out, opening it.

The bathroom lights flickered slightly as the door creaked open, revealing Steve and Robin sitting on the floor, sharing a quiet moment. Robin smiled at first—then paused as her gaze met Teddy's tear-streaked face.

Steve's smile fell instantly. His eyes locked on her, confusion flickering across his features, then alarm.

"Teddy?" he breathed.

She looked away, arms crossing tightly over her chest.

"What are you guys doing here?!" Dustin barked, more to cover the awkwardness than out of real anger.

"I feel gagging! Gosh!" Erica grumbled behind them, scrunching her nose.

"No shit," Robin muttered. "We just puked."

Teddy didn't speak.

But her heart was screaming.

—

Sorry for the short chapter!

I loved writing this one — especially exploring Steve's raw side and Teddy's emotional unraveling.

Do you think she should tell him what she heard? Or should Steve be the one to finally confront her?

Let me know in the comments!

With love,
T <3