Work Text:
normally, the holidays filled you with cheer. but this one was rougher than most. last year, right before christmas, your boyfriend had broken up with you, shattering your heart and tainting the holiday joy for you. and what ruined it more, perhaps, was seeing him with a new girl on christmas day when you were outside greeting extended family who were visiting for christmas dinner. so not only did he break up with you, but he had been cheating on you as well. bah humbug.
this year, however, everything felt off for other reasons. sure the lights on your neighbor’s houses looked pretty, and christmas music played in all the stores you went to, but the air felt different. maybe, just maybe, you were going to force yourself to be jolly and merry and full of cheer. why should one guy ruin it for you? how was that fair? and what better way to start lifting your spirits than with a good old fashioned holiday film?
you went into the family video to escape the cold winter air, but also on a mission. you wanted to find a good old fashioned christmas film. could be for kids, could be for any age, you didn’t care. you just wanted a movie. you didn’t see anyone behind the counter, so you shrugged and made your way into the store, perusing the rows and rows of videos in the hopes of finding a good christmas movie. you went a bit further back in the stacks and your eyes lit up: you’d hit the jackpot. while there weren’t many movies left, you still had some options, and that was better than nothing.
“ah, looking for a christmas movie, huh?”
you looked up and saw the one and only steve harrington, the former king of hawkins high, carrying a stack of video tapes past you.
“oh, yeah. christmas spirit has been kinda dull around my house, so i thought i’d try and lighten things up with a good movie. any suggestions?” you asked.
“hold on, gimme one sec. a pretty girl like you shouldn’t be in distress for too long.” with a grin and a wink, he carried the stack of tapes to the front counter and set them down, then made his way back to you.
“now, if you couldn’t already tell, i’m something of a christmas movie expert, if i do say so myself,” he said, and you chuckled.
“oh really? so, in your expert opinion, which is better? claymation rudolph or this christmas story movie?” you asked, holding up a tape of each.
“ooh, tough call. see, i’m more of a charlie brown man myself. i find him relatable,” he said, and you laughed.
“you know what? with the way this year has gone, so do i,” you said, and he smiled.
“but it’s a good movie, even with the wimpy tree and all,” he said.
“i think the point of the movie is to appreciate the spirit and cheer, no matter how wimpy the little twig tree is.”
“maybe you’re the real expert around here, then. that sounded good.”
you laughed as he took the tape from the shelf and held it out to you. you set the other two down and took it from him, your fingertips brushing his as you grasped it. you could feel your cheeks flush, and he smiled down at you again.
“can, uh, can i ring you up then?” he asked, and you nodded. together, you walked back up to the front. he got behind the counter and moved the tape stack to the side, allowing you both to look at each other again. the checkout was quick, over far faster than you wanted it to be, and part of you didn’t want to head back out into the cold.
“you know,” steve said, snapping you from your thoughts, “you’re the first live person we’ve had come in all day. and my coworker robin isn’t here.”
“damn, really? that sucks. must be, uh, pretty lonely in here,” you said.
“yeah, it can be. but i have videos to put away, you know?” he took the stack into his arms, and before you knew it, you reached for a few.
“maybe you wouldn’t mind some company, or some help?” you offered, and he smiled.
“you know what? that doesn’t sound too bad.”
with a warm smile, you two set off, returning videos to their shelves, talking and laughing, and you were the happiest you’d felt all year. maybe this christmas wasn’t going to be so bad after all. maybe steve harrington could be someone special.