Chapter 1: Introduction
The air filled with the heady scents of cheap perfume, sweaty bodies, and alcohol, mixed together in an almost intoxicating blend that permeated every corner of the college basement party venue. As if drawn irresistibly toward the source of this heady concoction, the tall, handsome figure of Steve Harrington made his way past throngs of dancing students, squeezing between clumps of teetering drinkers, and finally arriving at the farthest reaches of the crowded space.
With a slight smile playing upon his lips, Steve looked around, quickly spotting a solitary individual huddled near the edge, staring into their glass with melancholic eyes—a rare sight amongst such revelry. Recognition dawned across Steve’s face; it was Y/N, whom he had met earlier at the start of the night. As Steve approached Y/N, there seemed to be an invisible connection binding them despite the roar of the party surrounding them.
Sensing something unspoken between them, Y/N raised his gaze from his now empty cup and offered a small smile back. “Hey,” he murmured softly. Their voices were barely audible against the din, yet somehow felt like an intimate whisper that no one else could hear. "So... you're still here?" Steve asked, casting a knowing glance towards the abandoned dance floor behind Y/N.