Don't Stand So Close To Me

Lyra wasn't new to Hawkins but was fairly new to Hawkins High, having transferred from a private school about six months ago due to an 'inappropriate incident' with one of the class technicians who just happened to be the headmaster's son. So naturally, they kept their position, and Lyra had to change schools.

Despite being here for nearly six months already, Lyra hadn't made that many friends. She just felt as though after what happened at her previous educational institution, she best just get on with her work and graduate. Of course, what had happened wasn't entirely her fault, but she did recognise that it wasn't something that could have happened to just anybody.

Lyra loved to learn and revelled in being intelligent, but her kryptonite was when someone taught her something she didn't know. Guided her to a new piece of knowledge. To be bested by someone in smarts, but not belittled, just sent shivers down her spine.

That's why the incident occurred the way it did. It would have been fine if it had been a teacher and Lyra pairing. Teachers were much older, and it was their job to know more, but a typical jock-type guy who just happened to be an expert in chemistry, who was only four years older, when Lyra just happened to need assistance with a project, and the teacher had a Bunsen burner emergency.

All the pieces just fell into place, and the series of interactions that followed had caused a wildfire in Lyra's endocrine system for this, Curt, ultimately leading to her expulsion.

Walking down the hall one average Monday morning, she noted how It still felt strange to not be in uniform. Stranger still to be around swarms of people also not in uniform. Walking down the hallways was like being visually assaulted by hundreds of personalities, or lack thereof in some cases.

Though it was a lot more fun for someone obsessed with analysing human behaviour to pick apart these glaring displays of teenage peacocking and figure people out very quickly.

Lyra knew you had to look beyond the glaring adverts and find the subtext. For example, a group of letterman's jackets and cheer uniforms. One might argue that the team outfits made them all one unit, a want to be the same, to fit in. While that was correct for the most part, the more minor differences identified a person. For example, a bracelet that stands out to scream quietly 'I'm not like the others, a haircut that only they had originally but now thirty per cent of the school copied, shoes not as bright white as their teammates, or the tell-tale scuffs on knuckles from nights of frustration.

Finally approaching her locker, Lyra's daily nemesis, she takes out a pen and shoves it on the side of the door before unlocking it and then frantically wrestling it to open. Why couldn't they just replace the dumb thing was beyond her.

"You know...there is a much cooler way to open that." A voice says from behind the door.

"Yes, Eddie, I'm sure there is, but this is the only way I can do it, ok?" Lyra says, rolling her eyes behind the door, exchanging her books and closing the locker back up.

"Well...I'm only saying because..." He starts to say, and Lyra joins in with him

"...it used to be my locker," they say in a duet. Eddie frowns a little at Lyra, imitating his voice.

"You must tell me this at least once a day, Eddie," Lyra says before walking away.

"Well! Excuuuuuuse me for trying to help!" he says after her with wide eyes.

Lyra turns back, nods her thanks at him, and continues her walk to class. She probably could use his help, but she couldn't risk it. Having just been expelled, and, ok, if the worst happened, she wouldn't get expelled about it, but her parents would probably disown her if she started swooning over the devil incarnate.