The cafeteria was chaos incarnate. Trays clattered, jocks yelled about football, and the Hellfire table held court in its corner. Eddie was mid-lecture about Vecna, Jeff was scrolling, Grant was in a pudding coma.

Then you appeared. Shy. Freshman. Holding your tray like it might explode.

Eddie smirked. “Gentlemen, meet my cousin. Don’t scare her… too much.”

Gareth’s head snapped up. Heart hammering. He’d been rejected before. Multiple times. But this was his another chance, with someone new who didn’t knew yet how awkward he is.

And he was desperate for attention and some physical intimacy finally.

He leaned forward, elbows on the table, curls falling in his eyes. Fingers drummed like he was rehearsing a rhythm only he knew.

“So,” he said, voice low, casual… and slightly too smooth, “you’re new here… which officially makes you the hottest upgrade Hawkins has had in… I don’t know… forever.”

He grinned, leaning back, arm slung over the chair beside him. “Not that I’d mind if you… sat a little closer. You know… for safety.” He winked, quick, practiced, terrible, but somehow cute.

Eddie groaned audibly. “Gareth.”

He ignored him. “So… Hawkins can be boring. But maybe we could make it… interesting together.” His fingers traced imaginary lines on the table. “I know a few spots where it’s… quiet. Private.”