"I just thought I'd always be alone,"
Jaime Gonzalez, a lonely girl with only one friend. Until her friend goes missing and strange things keep happening in her small town.
Season 1: ✓
Season 2: ✓
Season 3: ✓
Season 4: ✓
Season 5: ✎
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WHEELER RESIDENTS MARCH 1986
WARNING: THIS CHAPTER DOES MENTION SA AND GUILT THAT MAY COME WITH THAT
That night, everyone settled down in the Wheeler's basement, drifting off as midnight came and went. But Mike stayed awake with Jaime.
"Mike, you should get some sleep," Jaime urged gently.
"So should you," Mike replied, concern in his voice. "But you're not sleeping."
"That's because—"
"I know," he interrupted. "But let me stay up with you. We can talk."
Jaime hesitated. "I did say I'd tell you about what Vecna was making me see."
"No! You don't need to relive any of that tonight," Mike insisted, his voice full of worry.
Jaime sighed. "Mike, it's life or death. Vecna's chosen for me." Mike's face tightened with concern at just the mention of Vecna.
"You remember that party Chrissy invited me to? The one Lucas and I left early?"
Mike nodded slowly. "Yeah... Did something happen?"
Jaime froze, the memory weighing heavily on her. "I-I... don't remember much. Chrissy was gone, and Jason handed me a drink. It was just water, I swear, but the next thing I knew, I was on a bed... Jason was on top of me... and then Lucas burst in. We just ran."
Mike's expression shifted from confusion to anger. "What?! You never told me that! And Lucas... he didn't say anything either?"
Jaime began to cry, her voice trembling. "I asked him not to... I'm so sorry."
Mike's anger softened immediately. He moved closer, wrapping her in a comforting hug. "No, I'm sorry for getting upset. This isn't your fault, or Lucas's."
Jaime looked up at him, surprised. "You're not mad at me?"
"Mad? No. I'm just upset that you felt you couldn't talk to me," Mike said, his voice breaking slightly. "You're the most important thing in the world to me, Jaime. I don't want you to ever think you can't come to me."
"I just didn't want to disappoint you," she whispered. "Your opinion means everything to me. I didn't want you to think less of me."
Mike gently wiped away her tears with his thumb. "I could never think less of you. You're the love of my life."
Jaime stood there, enveloped in the warmth of his embrace, feeling the steady beat of his heart against her. His large hands gently cupped her face, their touch both reassuring and tender.
