Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Chapter 1, Mad Max (Ep. 1: Mad Max)
Nearly a year had passed since life had turned upside down.
Secrets, nightmares, guilt, trauma, they were the lingering effects of an unexplainable phenomenon. Burdens were weighing down everyone involved and tormenting them with the memories of something that should have never happened.
But that wasn't the worst part.
It was pretending.
Having a normal life was something unattainable for Gwen Henderson. Pretending she and her friends didn't fight off a flesh eating monster along with learning of an alternate dimension seemed unfathomable to do, especially with the anniversary coming up.
Normalcy was a forgotten concept, because what was normal nowadays?
Apparently, it was pretending.
Hawkins believed Will Byers was just a kid who went missing and was fortunate enough to have been found. While a part of that was true, no one would know the complete truth; how Will had been taken by a monster, trapped in another dimension, saved by his mother and the chief of police, and was only found because of a young girl with powers.
No, the truth would never be known.
Gwen often tried not to think about the fall of '83. She tried returning to usual endeavors and simply focus on keeping her grades up. If she was intent on graduating early and applying to NYU for early admission, dwelling on the past couldn't take part in her life.
Of course, that was easier said than done.
Sometimes she wanted to speak with her friends about last year. She wanted to share how much it changed her, how it was a nightmare that constantly tormented her, but she could never bring herself to. Not when it was an event that affected the Byers much more.
So she did what she knew best.
Stay silent.
Now in the present year of 1984, Gwen stood by the entrance of the gym with her arms crossed over her chest. The next big game was coming up, so an encouraging pep rally was made in the basketball team's honor. School functions were never her favorite, but this one was taking place in the hour when calculus was supposed to be happening, so she wasn't complaining.
However, not every member of the team was present. Gwen was able to notice that Steve Harrington was nowhere to be seen. Meaning he's probably somewhere off with his girlfriend instead of facing his responsibilities. Well, what more could be expected from him?
The team captain arrived last, as if the best had been saved for the end. He looked at the chanting crowd and smiled widely as he took the microphone, "Good morning, Hawkins!"
Gwen rolled her eyes once the speech that was reused every year began to be said. She sighed heavily and tried tuning him out, but she was then met by the heavy glare of Natalia Cortez – the girl that despised her for some unknown reason.
