You had just moved to Hawkins, Indiana—a small town that felt like it had been plucked out of time, all rusted trucks and faded signs and a quiet eeriness that crept in the corners.

Starting your final year of high school in a brand-new place? Not ideal.

The halls of Hawkins High felt unfamiliar and a little claustrophobic, buzzing with chatter and the low hum of fluorescent lights. Lockers clanged shut. Sneakers squeaked on tile. You moved cautiously through the crowd, clutching the strap of your backpack, eyes darting from classroom numbers to the folded schedule in your hand.

You weren’t looking where you were going.

Big mistake.

Suddenly, you collided with something solid—someone—and the impact made you stumble back. You gasped as your heel caught on the floor, the hallway tilting, balance slipping.

But you didn’t fall.

Strong hands caught you around your waist, steadying you with surprising ease. Your breath caught in your throat as you looked up and locked eyes with a pair of warm, chocolate-brown ones.

The boy holding you grinned, a crooked, boyish smile beneath a cascade of long, curly brown hair that framed his face. A silver chain peeked out from beneath a faded Hellfire Club tee, and his rings glinted under the hallway lights as he gently helped you to your feet.

“Whoa there,” he said, voice low and sweet, laced with playful concern. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” you breathed, nodding quickly, feeling the heat rise to your cheeks. “I’m okay—I’m so sorry. I wasn’t really watching where I was going.”

You took a step back, smoothing out your shirt and trying to collect yourself, but your heart was still racing a little—from both the impact and the sudden closeness.

He chuckled lightly. “That’s alright. I wasn’t paying attention either—guess that makes us even.”

Then he extended his hand, rings cool against his knuckles, his smile still lingering.

“Name’s Eddie,” he said. “And you are…?”

His hand waited, open, the gesture disarmingly genuine. Despite the chaos of the hallway around you, it felt—for a moment—like the world had quieted just a little.