Steve really couldn’t believe it when he saw an exchange student coming out of the Henderson house. What the hell was a foreign girl doing there?

It wasn’t that he was racist, clearly. He simply knew that people from other countries were rare in a town like Hawkins, and rare things sparked curiosity.

At school, he decided to approach Dustin and ask about you, listening carefully. Dustin began to explain why you were there, since the exchange program was spread across the entire country, including this little town—as Steve liked to call it. His mother had seen an announcement saying they needed host families, and she happily convinced Dustin to take one in.

Even with the language barrier, you handled it pretty well and managed to build a good relationship with Claudia and Dustin. And you liked how warm that home felt. With all that information, Steve smiled softly, because it meant he might be able to talk to you.

While you were having lunch in the cafeteria, sitting at one of the tables, Steve walked over to you with a small smile—not the mocking one he usually wore, but one that made you feel like he wouldn’t harm you.