ARTEMIS | Max Mayfield

- Chapter 3 -

- A R T E M I S -

- MADMAX -

- 3RD Person P.O.V -

         The sky was a vast ocean of indigo, stretching above the world as specs and dots of sparkling stars formed intricate constellations on their canvas that was the sky.

On a chilly evening in the month of October, so close to Halloween, the cold air nipped at Artemis Whitelock as she leaned against a wooden beam, just outside the doors of Palace Arcade. Though the tips of her fingers had started to feel numb, and the skin on her knuckles reddened along with her nose and cheeks, Artemis felt satisfied sipping on the straw of her cold strawberry milk juice box.

Outside of Palace Arcade, multiple cars were parked on the vacant parking spots, kids and teens loitering or hanging out with friends or lovers, inside and out of the arcade. She chose to ignore the idle chatter around her, leaning her head back on the beam.

It was seven in the evening, the day after yesterday, Sunday.

Artemis was in the middle of spending her shift break, opting to get out of the stuffy arcade to get some fresh air. Her steely eyes traced and puzzled together images formed by the stars. So far, the girl had formed a bird and a cat. She was on her way to outlining the silhouette of a dog when she heard a chorus of whiny voices arguing and bike bells chiming.

The girl bit at her straw when she recognized three boys directing their respective bicycles into the bike racks next to her.

Artemis sipped the last of her juice box carton, squeezing it to get the last drops before tossing it into a garbage bin.

She wiped her numbing finger onto her jeans as the three boys locked each of their bikes.

Artemis, still leaning on the wooden beam turned to the boys.

"Hey, Arts!" "Art." The boys greeted the Whitelock girl, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair the more enthusiastic ones while Mike Wheeler did the least.

She smiled, kicked off the beam and walked towards the three, she stood next to Dustin, flicking his cap and greeting them, the Henderson boy swatting at her hands.

"Hey boys, is Will coming too?"

Just as Lucas was about to answer the girl, a car-horn's beep was heard and all the teens whipped their heads to see Joyce Byers' car, pulling up in front of the arcade's parking lot.

Inside the car, Will Byers was giddy and bursting to get out and greet his friends as the boys loudly holler and call to him, Artemis smiling and waving to him. Just as he was about to unlock the passenger's side door, Artemis saw his mother stop him for a quick talk and some reminders like they usually did now. Artemis understood why Joyce would be concerned and worried about Will if she herself wasn't around to watch him.

The three boys next to Artemis were all loudly and excitedly discussing which games they'll play -- Hog – for the night. The dark-haired girl saw Will get out of the car, prompting her to walk away from the chatting boys behind her as she heard the last of Will and Joyce's conversation.

"- Okay, but sweetie --" Joyce called to Will.

Will turned back to his mother, urgent and excited, "Mom, I have to go,"

A soft motherly smile took over Joyce's lips as she looked at her son, "Have Fun."

With that, Will grinned, got out, and shut the car's door close. He beamed at Artemis as she waved at him still nearing the car. They met halfway and she opened her arms to receive a quick hug from the Byers boy.