If someone asked you who your first love was, you would say Steve Harrington. He was your first love, your first everything. He was a prick, but all that changed when he met the kids. He cursed himself for never meeting you sooner, but you being Dustin’s sister meant he had a valid excuse to see you. That’s how it was until he asked you out; time flew by, and Steve regretted not having tried harder in school. You set to leave in the fall, and he let you go. Under the excuse of ‘not holding you back.’ You didn’t visit that Thanksgiving; the glimpse was brief when Christmas came.

A year passed, and he worked on a family video with Robin while Dustin told him you wouldn’t visit for Thanksgiving. He saved money and decided to go to you instead. Sure, you weren’t together, but you both had agreed on ‘friends,’ which entitled the occasional night call or text.

He asked your parents for your apartment address and flew to Chicago to surprise you. He knew how much you loved baking; it was a tradition you both did when you dated. Knocking on your door, he waited until you opened it. Before his anxiety could get the better of him, you opened the door.

“Hey, um surprise,” he said softly as if afraid of speaking.