Stranger Things: Clash of Both Worlds (A Prequel Novel)

Chapter 2: "It's now or never."

"I hate this town." I mutter while wandering down the miserable pavements of Hawkins.

Steve perks up and responds with, "You need to find something new to complain about."

I wouldn't even contemplate bringing Steve with me to escape Hawkins at any point, after what happened with the mall, I feel like I'm tied here. I've never believed in the supernatural, the rational part of my mind will never believe what I saw then. The rest of the group weren't even phased at that point, it's as if they had a duty to be there. 

I think this includes me at this point, I can't just run away like a coward, I couldn't do that to my parents or any of my friends (Which includes Steve). Most of the friends I had around a year ago have moved on from me, Milton got adopted into the popular group after Steve was booted, Kate and I still interact on minuscule levels but she's gotten right back into dating after Dash which has left me as a lower priority.

All I have now is Steve and all Steve has now is me, weirdly. I can't mess anything up now, Steve has one of my biggest secrets and if that got out, the only option would mean escape. 

"Where to next?" Steve asks me while I was in my dream like state of crisis.  

We're blindly wandering downtown trying to look for any signs advertising work, I think I made a mistake of letting Steve write his own resume...

We both pile into Steve's car and I pull out a list out which is composed on a ripped notepad page. I trace my finger down the page to find which places we haven't visited yet. 

Family Video

I point to it on the page, "You know where that is right? Next to the arcade?"

Steve focuses in on the page and squints his eyes like an old man trying to inspect a newspaper, "Oh, the new place that just opened up."

He shifts into gear and we fly off.

We swing into parking in front of the store and there are teenagers everywhere wearing tacky branded designer jackets. Bursts of different colors pop out of their outfits as they haul bikes around our car as if we don't even exist. 

We both avoid hitting the bikes and pile out of his car, I swing around the poles of the store and head straight for the entrance in full confidence. 

15 minutes later

Using my irresistible charm and Steve's looks? We managed to pull through and get the job, Steve completely flopped when he was asked his favourite movies. I thought he'd at least know three movies, disappointing. We both start tomorrow, Keith taught us the ropes hesitantly as he dead-eye'd Steve the entire time, whatever happens comes around I guess. He was one of Steve's main victims in middle-school so it makes sense. I should be glad we've gotten this far.

Steve drops me off in front of my house, I give him a wave and he speeds off. He had to pay for that car completely from his own pocket, he doesn't tell me much about his parents but he exclaims that they prioritise not spoiling him, I guess living in a literal mansion isn't spoiling him. He goes on these colossal rants where he'd complain about his father trying to teach him a lesson for failing his classes by forcing him to work for his own possessions. Most of us are forced to purchase our own stuff anyways without the guilt trip so maybe he doesn't have it as bad. 

The Family Video store is uberly and surprisingly a family owned business which means we get better pay than the mall's cheques. The mall basically thrived on poor teenagers trying to scrape together funds for scholarships and such. Thinking about college sends me into a panic, my hands get sweaty and my heart starts going. I freeze up whenever I'm asked what I want to proceed with into higher education. I've always been working in these small businesses being down right exploited that I haven't had time to consider my options when it comes to education. I always perform to the least expected standard which won't get me into Harvard, I'll tell you that. 

I pull the spare key from under the house mat and unlock the door, I feel a bone-deep tiredness after the disaster of a day I've had. There's at least one win I can thrive on. My parents seem to be out for the night, this is quite a usual occurrence. Nights like these, I'd just throw whatever we had left from last week's shopping trip into a pan just hoping for it to be edible enough. I'd then just throw on some music and lay with my assortment of rebellions.

As I'm laying here, I pick up a photo from the night of prom with my thrifted dress and my disgustingly permed hair which for sure still had gum remains in. I looked so determined to fight for my freedom unknowing of how bad everything could get. This was the girl who only just felt comfortable in her identity. I was too scared to even face the possibility of liking another girl, I even rejected Steve Harrington and told him point blank and his weirdly great reception to it lifted such a weight. That night of the prom where I danced with Sheila, another girl in the middle of mass amount of couples slow dancing, completely unfazed of who was watching was the most relieved I ever felt before.

I want to go back to that place, I don't want to hide my personality anymore, not for some band kids who I will never see in a year's time. 

It's now or never.