𝓜𝓪𝔁 ❁

XI

***

There were two things Max didn't expect.

1. A large van outside her new house.

2. All her friends inside of said van, packed and ready to go to her old home.

These shitheads really care about you Max.

I know.

She smiled as she hoped into the van. "Where did you guys come from?"

"Your moms v-"

"We asked our parents if we could take a trip to California. They said okay." Mike smiled at her. "You came just for me?" "Why wouldn't we! A party member is never alone!"

A party member.

"Ok shitheads! We rented two Vans. Girls in one boys in the other." All the kids groaned. "Yea yea come on hurry up."

Both cars were eight seaters. Autumn, Robin, Joyce, Nancy, El, and Max were together. The boys all together. Johnathan, Steve, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will.

Joyce was driving while Autumn was giving her directions. Robin and Nancy were sitting in the middle row leaving the back for El and Max. The redhead was playing with her fingers, picking at her skin. "Hey El?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Everything."

***

The two vans pulled up to a tacky hotel. "Wake up."

The two girls groaned as they woke up. Grabbing their bags, they walked to the hotel room. El took the bed next to the window while Max took the one next to the door.

"Hey I'm gonna go shower."

"Ok."

The redhead took a towel and walked to the bathroom. She closed the door and locked it. She hung the towel up and started to strip. She looked at the mirror and saw an unrecognizable girl staring back.

Skin and bones.

That's all she was. The light from her eyes was gone. Her ribs and bones stuck out, her cheeks hollow. She was pale, as pale as a ghost. Bruises and scars littered her hip bones. The inside of her thighs still healing. Cuts littered her arms. None of those were caused by Sma or Neil. They were caused by her own pain and suffering. By her own hand.

The girl she was staring at was no longer innocent. That girl was no longer Max Mayfield.

***

She flopped onto her bed, wetting the pillow in the process. "Hey! How's your shower?"

Had the other girl heard her sobbing?

"Nice."

"Cool."

"Yeah..."

They sat there, saying nothing. It was awkward. El looked over and sighed, she made her way to Max's bed.

"Hey."

"Hi?"

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Yea. El- yeah I'm okay."

El shook her head and pressed her lips together tightly, "no you're not."

Max flipped over so she was facing the burnette. Tears filled her eyes as she eyed her bestfriend. El could feel her heart break. Watching her best friend cry was horrible.

"El I'm okay i-i swear." She could hear her voice break.

The burnette wrapped her arms around the smaller girl and let her sob into her chest. She stroked her hair until the sobs turned into soft sniffles. El pulled the girls head away from her chest and looked at her. She brushed her hair out of her face and smiled. It was quiet, but nice.

Both girls forgot themselves and just stared at each other. Max slowly leaned in and kissed El. Soft lips meeting her chapped ones. It was wrong, so wrong. But it felt so right. The kiss lasted for about three seconds before El pushed her off the bed, disconnecting their lips. "What the hell Max?!"

Max looked up from the floor, "i- I'm sorry i-" the redhead got up at looked at her bestfriend. "I-" "what's wrong with you?! I have a boyfriend Max!" "I-im- I-" the redhead ran out of the room.

"Fuck!" El's heart was racing. She enjoyed the kiss, wished it had lasted longer, wished she didn't react the way she had. She wanted to be with Max. Of course she did! Who wouldn't? But with Max came her pain and suffering. The pain and suffering El wished she could take away.

She wanted to take care of the girl when she was sick. She wanted to help the girl when she was upset. Wanted to be there for her when she couldn't be there for herself. Wanted to hold the girl and rock her back to sleep after she had a nightmare.

El loved Max in a way no girl should. Girls were NOT allowed to like other girls, she knew this. Hopper explained it to her, also explaining that those mouthbreathers were dumb. There was nothing wrong with girls liking girls and boys liking boys. El asked him if she could like both. That's when she came out to him.

***

"Max? Max what's wrong!" Robin led the sobbing girl to her bed, Nancy looking up fron her book with concern. "I-" "I can leave." Max nodded as Nancy walked out of the room, going to Max and El's instead. Robin shut the door and sat on her bed, pulling Max with her. She held the girls small hands in hers. "What happened?"

"I- I don't know! We were talking then she came into my bed and hugged me? I don't know! But I kissed her!"

"Wait you like El?"

Max looked up at her, eyes full of tears. "You- Max."

The redhead shook her head.

"You're in love with El."

***

"Why did I do that?! Why did I push her Nance?"

"I don't know sweetie I don't."

"Do you know where she went. Oh my god she left and I let her! She could be hurt! Shit we have to go find her! Nancy get the car please we-"

"Shes with Robin, El. She's okay."

El fell into the older girls arms, crying her eyes out. "Did I hurt her?"

"I'm not sure El. But everything will be okay in the end, I promise."