Lady in Red [Max Mayfield]

[20]

now that stranger things 4 is out, obviously most of this book is incorrect, but we're just going to have to see past that i guess? i'm too lazy to go back and change everything so most of it didn't actually happen in the show. sorry!!

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"Max?! Max, can you hear me?" I whisper. I don't want to scare her.

Max looks around, wide eyed.

"Max? Max, please, can you hear me?" I say again.

Her eyes flutter to mine, and she looks at me.

I've missed those eyes. Those blue, bright eyes.

"Max! Max, I'll be right back! I promise." Relieved tears start to drip down my cheeks as I run out of Max's room, down the hall, and to the nearest nurse.

"Max is awake! She's awake. My girls awa-" I stop myself. What the hell was I thinking?

The nurse nods quickly, grabbing several other nurses and doctors as they all rush to her hospital room. I sprint after them, but as everyone else runs in, a nurse puts herself in the way of the door and me. In between Max and me.

"Wait, what? I need to see her!" I plead.

"Not now. She's just waken from a coma. She needs time." Before I can argue, she puts her crusty pointer finger up and waves it around in my face.

Bitch.

I turn around, and sprint to the waiting room. By the time I arrive, I'm out of breath, and my face is all red and puffy from crying.

"What? Is she okay? Is Max okay?" Ms. Mayfield says as she practically launches herself out of her seat.

"She-she woke up. They won't let us see her. I was just in there and she, she woke up and I didn't know what to do so I just got a nurse and they all ran in there but the nurse wouldn't let me go in and, and I need to be in-"

"Honey, it's going to be okay." Joyce puts her hand on my shoulder, and pulls me in for a hug.

I don't resist, and pull myself closer to her. I let my tears fill her shirt as I try to catch my breath.

When I finally calm myself down, I look over at everyone, staring at me. I must look like an ugly mess. I hate that I'm letting them see me like this.

I take a deep breath before removing my head from Joyce's shoulder. Ms. Mayfield walks over to me, and puts her hand on my shoulder.

"It will be okay. I know you care for her so much. Everything will be fine." she says. But something tells me that I'm not the only one she's trying to convince.

I nod, not knowing what to say. Here I am, losing my shit over a girl I've known for four weeks, while her mother is right next to me, telling me that everything is going to be okay.

"I-I'm so sorry." I tell her.

Ms. Mayfield gives me a shocked look, "What? What are you sorry for?"

"I just, I didn't keep her safe. I don't even know why I fell asleep. If I stayed up... I could've kept her safe." I look down at the ground.

"Are you kidding? It's not your fault. If anything, it's my fault. I didn't pay enough attention. I thought I was helping her by keeping busy, leaving her alone. But I wasn't." As she speaks, tears roll down her face.

"Listen, you two" Joyce says, "it is not the fault of either of you. I can promise that. Susan, you are a wonderful mother. I know it's hard not to feel guilty, and I understand, but it is not your fault."