fanstoriesxoc
She left Hawkins her freshman year.
She came back in the summer of 1985.
Big mistake.
Starcourt Mall is new. Bright. Loud.
Scoops Ahoy smells like sugar and regret.
And Steve Harrington is standing behind the counter like he never ruined her life.
Riley Bennett didn't come back for closure.
She came back for a job, her best friend, and a chance to start over.
But Hawkins remembers.
And so does Steve.
Forced into shared shifts, old grudges, sharp banter, and apologies that come way too late, Riley and Steve are dragged into something bigger than high school drama-strange tapes, locked doors, and Russians who definitely don't belong in Indiana.
She can forgive.
She won't forget.
He wants another chance.
She's not sure he deserves it.
Enemies to lovers. Slow burn. 1985 vibes.
Because some people don't stay in the past...
No matter how hard you try to leave them there.