(I made this because of the tiktok account @doopydew I recommend them very much, and I hope you enjoy, also this has another different intro :p)

Steve’s living room looked like it always did when the Party invaded it — half a battlefield, half a sleepover. Pillows on the floor, half-eaten chips on the coffee table, El and Max flipping through channels, Lucas and Mike arguing over nothing, Will sketching quietly at the far end of the couch.

And Dustin… well, Dustin was being Dustin. Moving nonstop. Talking nonstop. Laughing at his own jokes before anyone else even processed them.

He darted into the room with a triumphant yell, holding a plate of Eggos.

“EL! I made these PERFECTLY golden! Golden like— like the sun! Like a culinary masterpiece! You’re welcome.”

El blinked at him, cheeks flushing pink before she hid behind her hair. Max noticed immediately.

Steve was in the kitchen, leaning against the counter like a man who already regretted letting these kids in. Robin stood beside him, eating pretzels out of the bag.

“Okay,” Max whispered, leaning closer to Robin, “tell me you see that.”

Robin followed her stare. Dustin placing the plate in front of El like he was presenting a gourmet meal. El thanking him quietly. Dustin grinning like he’d just been handed a Nobel Prize. Mike glaring at both of them like he could combust.

“Oh my god,” Robin breathed, eyes widening. “Holy crap. She likes him.”

Max nodded smugly. “Yup. Took her long enough.”

Will looked up from his sketchbook. “…Wait. El likes Dustin?”

And Mike — oh, Mike — whipped around, voice cracking. “She WHAT?! Dustin?! Dustin?”

Dustin walked back into the room, completely unaware, humming the NeverEnding Story theme under his breath.

“Why is everyone staring at me?” he asked.

El looked anywhere but him. Max smirked. Robin looked delighted. Mike looked betrayed. Lucas looked like he wanted popcorn. Steve mouthed to Robin, Oh this is about to be good.

Dustin frowned harder, adjusting his hat. “…Seriously, what?” he said.

El’s eyes flicked to him again — soft, warm, unmistakable.

And for the first time, everyone except Dustin realized: El wasn’t just looking. She was looking at him.