Hypnotized ❀ Steve Harrington

TWO: freaks

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Josie sat in a crouching position as she inspected the girl sitting in front of her. She still wore Hopper's coat as she sat in complete silence, not even mumbling a single syllable. The three boys surrounded Josie as they tried to piece together what to do next. Water droplets fell from Josie's wet hair, falling onto the soft basement carpet.

"Is there a number we can call for your parents?" Mike asked from behind her, offering his assistance.

Dustin cut Mike off, "Where's your hair? Do you have cancer?" He whispered cancer as if it was a bad word.

"Did you run away?" Lucas asked. He was the least happy to help, feeling annoyed with the helpless girl sitting in front of them. Josie picked up on his attitude, giving him a small glare before turning back to the girl.

"Are you in some kind of trouble?", "Is that blood?" Lucas and Dustin switched between questions, not even letting the poor girl give answerers if she wanted to. Josie shut her eyes in annoyance, feeling her eyes reach the front of her brain from how hard she was rolling them at their immature behavior.

"Stop it! You're freaking her out!" Josie shushed the boys behind her, turning her head away from the strange girl, now looking up to the three boys who hovered over her. 

Lucas held his hands up in protest, "She's freaking me out!"

"I bet she's deaf." Dustin concluded. 

"She's no-" Josie was cut off by Dustin clapping next to her head as loud as he possibly could, trying to determine if the mysterious girl had hearing troubles. She flinched at the noise, covering her ears to protect them the best she could. 

"Not deaf." Dustin answered.

Josie held her glare on Dustin to give him the hint to stop talking, "you don't say?" He rolled his eyes as he noticed her gaze, taking a deep breath to start a retaliation.

"All right, that's enough, all right? She's just scared and cold." Mike spoke up, breaking the argument that Josie and Dustin were about to get into. At Mike's words Josie dropped her anger, nodding her head along with Mike. 

"Do you have anything she could change into?" Josie questioned Mike, roaming her eyes around the small basement. Mike nodded his head quickly before walking over to a laundry bin. He brought back a sweatshirt and sweatpants for the girl to change into.

Mike offered the clothes to the girl, "Here, these are clean. Okay?"

She nodded her head and accepted them before shrugging off the oversized jacket. Without warning she stood up, getting ready to change in the open. 

"No, no, no!" The boys yelled, stopping her in her tracks. They faced the opposite direction with their hands covering their eyes to avoid seeing the girl change. How Josie wished high school boys were that respectful.

"See over there? T-that's the bathroom. Privacy. Get it?" Mike tried explaining while still looking away. Josie rolled her eyes before rising to her feet. She held her hand out before looking over to the small girl.

"Come on, I'll show you." Josie insisted, still holding her hand out delicately. The girl looked at her hand in curiosity, not used to such kind touches. Understanding Josie wasn't intending any harm, she slowly accepted the touch. Josie smiled softly at the exchange, already feeling a slight protectiveness over the innocent girl.

She led the girl to the bathroom, turning the small light on for her before moving to close the door behind her. Before she could, the girl raised her hand quickly to stop the door from fully shutting. The action surprised Josie, making her lift her head to where she stopped the door at.