Trial By Hellfire

Chapter 4 - Family Video

After I parked Steve's precious car, I walked inside the building. Before I even entered I heard a girl, probably Steve's coworker yelling at him because he was late.

"Steve I thought you were gonna give me a ride!! I waited and ended up having my mom drop me off!" She screamed at him while organizing the videos on the shelves.

"I planned on it but my cousin just moved to town-"

"Oh my God she's here?!?" She sounded excited, did he talk about me?

"When do I get to meet her?"

"Well," He pointed to me.

"Hi! I'm Lizzie!" I said sheepishly.

"I know who you are!" She ran over and hugged me.

"Lizzie, this is Robin. She's one of my best friends."

"Oh my gosh hi! It's so good to finally meet you! Steve has been so exited about you moving here!"

"Really?" I said, with a shocked expression. I knew Steve cared about me but I never knew he could be excited about me moving to Hawkins of all places.

"Yeah, it's nothing really. I also though it would be really good for you two to meet because I think you'd be great friends. And Robin also goes to Hawkins High, so she's someone you could hang out with." Steve rambled and blushed a bit.

"Oh my gosh, yeah! You can totally sit with me at lunch!! We're totally gonna be besties I just know it!" Robin and I laughed.

For the next few hours I hung out at the video store, mostly to get to know Robin more but partly because I was scared I would get lost on the way home. Robin and Steven let me hang out behind the counter with them since it was a slow day. I was sitting on the ground looking through videos that were recently returned but not put away yet. The bell on the door rang, meaning that they finally had a customer.

"Finally! A chance for you guys to do your jobs!" I laughed.

"Holy shit! Is that Lizzie?!?" I shot up. I'd know that voice anywhere.

"Dustin!!" I ran around to the other side of the counter as he ran towards me and we hugged like we hadn't seen each other in ages; because we hadn't. I was so excited to see Dustin I didn't notice the girl that walked in with him.

"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Hi, I didn't introduce myself, I'm Lizzie."

"Hi, I'm Max."

"Oh, right! I've heard so much about you!"

"Really?" She looked shocked.

"Yeah my cousin Steve," I said while gesturing back to him, "Had to fill me in on a lot last night." I laughed.

For the rest of Steve and Robin's shift Dustin and I spent time catching up, while Max and I got to know each other a little bit better. We all walked out of the store and Steve locked the door behind him. We all piled into Steve's car and he made his way to Max's place first. Max lived in a trailer with her mom. After she got inside safely we pulled away and Steve and Dustin gave me a brief rundown on what happened to Max within the past year and why she's been living in a trailer. We dropped Dustin off at his house, and then Robin at hers.

"I can't wait to hang out with you more Lizzie! This year is gonna be so fun!"

"Me too!! I'll see you soon!"

Not long after that Steve and I were pulling up to the house. My parents were back home as well. We walked inside just as my mom was done making dinner.

"Mmm! Smells great mom!!"

"It better! It's your favorite!" She yelled from the kitchen. I ran upstairs into Steve's room where I moved most of my clothes so they weren't taking up too much space in the living room while we were here. After I changed into something more comfortable I ran back downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Ooh!! Brownies!!" I heard Steve say right before my mom smacked his hand.

"Ow!"

"Not before dinner! You'll ruin your appetite!" I laughed.

"Steve you should know better!"

"Yeah, yeah." My parents, Steve and I sat down and had a nice dinner. Yeah, maybe Hawkins wasn't gonna be so bad after all.