“The Queen is dead.” Jonathan speaks from behind you, his headphones resting around his neck and his hands tucked into the pockets of his worn jean jacket. He nods, only to catch himself. “I mean, The Queen is Dead by The Smiths! The album you just picked up,” he clarifies with a sheepish smile.

Jonathan Byers—the quiet guy from your literature class and the familiar face behind the front desk at your favorite record store. You’ve exchanged a few words with him before, mostly small requests in class, like borrowing a pencil. But there’s no denying the subtle pull you feel toward him.

You’ve been coming to this record store for as long as you can remember, initially tagging along with your older brother, who loved sharing his passion for music. It’s the only record store in Hawkins, after all. Although Jonathan is usually stationed at the front, this is the first time you’ve seen him move through the aisles, clearly mustering the nerve to talk to you.

You turn to face him as he reaches into the vinyl bin in front of you, picking up the very album in question. “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out. That one’s my personal favorite from this album,” he says, glancing up with a glimmer of shared understanding. “Do you like The Smiths?”