𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙒𝙊𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙎 𝙒𝙀 𝙎𝙃𝘼𝙍𝙀 ᵉᵈᵈⁱᵉ ᵐᵘⁿˢᵒⁿ

☼ 3

; L O C K S
habits of my heart by JAYMES YOUNG

The local hardware store was only two miles away from Hawkins High School, so Matilda decided to ditch her homework and take a trip there instead. She'd wanted to buy an extra lock for her trailer from the moment she'd signed the lease, simply because she knew there were a lot of people who expected her to still own some nice things. Why they'd think that after she moved into a trailer, she wasn't sure. She was just sure that they would.

Because she didn't have a ticket or money for the bus, she had to walk. While it were only two miles, it still felt like more in the heat of the afternoon and Matilda questioned if it was even really autumn.

Hawkins Hardware was located right in front of the entrance to a small forest, looking exceptionally creepy when the sun started to set. For a moment, Matilda reconsidered her need for a lock, but the thought of someone breaking in and stealing one or more of her only belongings was scary enough to enter it anyway.

The dim lights made her skin look pale and a little yellow in the isle mirrors and the music was horrific. Without acknowledging either one of the other two customers she walked straight trough the isles, silently praying to find the remote locks without help. Her prayers weren't heard.

"You need help finding something?", a male voice asked from behind the counter, not actually sounding interested in helping her. She just shook her head and took a left. Not because she'd found the locks, but to vanish from the cashier's view. To avoid him finding her, just in case he decided to follow, she took a couple more turns and eventually ended up in the right isle.

She hadn't known there were so many different locks in so many sizes or so many mechanisms. Apparently Hawkins had a real safety issue, at least judging from the supply here.

"You seem lost. Are you sure you don't need help?" The voice again. In any other situation, Matilda would have mumbled a "no" and a "thank you", but she was hot, she was tired and she was overwhelmed.

"I already said, no!", she answered, a bit too heated for her own liking. And as she turned her head, she recognized him. Dark long hair, Hellfire shirt, dark jeans with chains. The only thing different was the ugly blue west he'd lit on fire at least once, judging by the sown away but still clearly visible brown spots.

"Oh, it's you", he smirked, immediately looking less bored. Matilda rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"You stalking me or something?" He chuckled and pointed at his vest. Hawkins Hardware, the stitched writing said. Of course.

"If anything, I think you're stalking me." He winked and walked toward her, inspecting what she was looking at on the isle. "You wanting to buy a lock?" Because she technically had no reason to be mean to him, she just sighed and nodded. He frowned and moved closer towards the tags on the items, seemingly looking for a suitable one.
"Why?"
"To lock something."
"Never would have guessed. What are you locking?" As he asked that, the smirk on his lips grew wider and Matilda immediately scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"A door."
"Huh."
"Yeah, huh. Are you done now? Could you leave me alone?" He ignored her and let his fingers slit along the tags, until he finally picked a lock out of its place.