Hidden Secrets

"You deserve it.."

        The group is in an open field prepping for the fight. Robin and Steve prepped Molotovs while Eddie and Dustin made shields.  They went to the weapons store Eddie had recommended and cleaned it out. Leena was sitting a few yards from everyone training her powers so she had better control when Max came over.

    "hey.." She said softly as she looked at the ground. Leena looked up at her and saw the worry in her eyes.

    "you ok?" Leena asked as she stood up from the grass.

    "Scared fits it better." Max replied as she started messing with her sleeves.

    "I would rather die than let something happen to you Max. It's my job to keep you safe in their and I will do so until i die."

    Max's head falls as she starts to cry. "He keeps showing me Billy..and I know Billy was a real dick.. but.. he was still my brother.."

    "give me your hands.." Leena said as she lifted her hands.

    "why?"

    "trust me.."

    Max placed her hands in Leena's and they both closed their eyes. After a few seconds the black of their eyes was replaced with a beach. As they let go of each other's hands a voice said something behind them.

    "Hey Maxine! How's my favorite annoying ass sister." Max and Leena turned to see a blond curly headed boy with a surfboard. "Who's your friend?"

    Max couldn't hold back and simply wrapped her arms around the boy pulling him into a hug. The boy was confused but he returned the hug.

    "I miss you so much Billy.." Maxine whispered under her breath between sobs.

    "I missed you too Max.."

    Max let go of the boy and turned to Leena. "Thank you.."

    Leena only nodded with a sad smile. Billy looked at the girl in confusion before finally understanding who she was.

    "you're Henderson's cousin right?"

    "yeah.." Leena said with a small smile.

    "How's Hawkins treating you?"

    "other than my boyfriend being hunted down for murder when it wasn't him; and being harassed by a nasty looking creature whose mind is connected to mine. I'm doing swell." The girl said with a laugh.

    "that'll do it for you."

    "actually.. Billy, what was it like being connected to the mind flare?" Max asked as she stepped into the conversation.

    Billy was silent as he tried to remember it. Leena stepped close and held out her hands. "May I?"

    Billy nodded and she placed her hands on his temples and dove into his mind. She watched every emotion he felt during the mind flare. Most of it was fear which made sense and was obviously Billy but there was something else. Not fear but Grief and sadness. However, just past those emotions was anger. As she emerged from the boy's mind she began trying to put everything together. Was 001 doing this out of his sadness from his own grief. But why was the anger separate? Who else was connected. That's when it hit her.

    "Max, Vecna isn't in control, Skylar is!"

    "What?!"

    "Skylar and 001 are still connected. What if when she was killed her mind stayed working with Vecna even though she was reincarnated as me. Which is why I still can't remember anything."

    "what?"

    "All this thinking is gonna give me an aneurysm. Anyway, we should probably get back to everyone, we have a battle to win.."

    Max nods before turning to hug Billy one more time.

    "I'm sorry for being a dick when I was alive.." he whispered.

    Max laughed through her tears. "I forgive you Billy.."

    Billy let go of her as Leena slowly pulled them from the spiritual world to reality. When they opened their eyes Max pulled Leena into a hug. She didn't say anything because no words can express her thankfulness to Leena. As Leena looked up from Max's shoulder she saw Eddie and Dustin practicing fighting and it made her laugh. Max pulled away and turned around to watch with the older girl as the two boys run around like fools.

    "I have a boyfriend to calm down." Leena said with a smile.

    "And I have a boy to act distant to even though I really wanna be with him."

    Leena turned to Max with a genuine smile. "Give Lucas another chance.. it's quite obvious he's still head over heels for you." She said before walking off to go see Eddie.

    As Leena reached everyone else she watched as Eddie and Dustin continued to practice fighting. After a few seconds Eddie realizes she's staring and comes running over picking her up off the ground. As Eddie's holding her he spins her around in circles and places a kiss on her soft lips.

    "Marry me!" He said with a big grin.

    "what?" Leena said as her eyes went wide.

    "Marry me.." He repeated.

    "Eddie we're still in high school"

    "I don't care that we're still in high school. All I know is that I love you... and I wanna spend the rest of my life with you."

    Leena's hand cups Eddie's cheek as tears pool in her eyes. A worried look passes over Eddie unsure if the woman he loves will say yes. The group crowds around the pair waiting for the answer and the girl keeps staring into Eddie's eyes unable to speak. A few seconds pass and one word is heard escaping her lips. "Yes.." Eddie's eyes lit up as he buried his face into her neck.

    "don't worry I'll save up and buy you the perfect ring and I'll give you the perfect wedding because that's what you deserve."

    Leena doesn't say anything, all she does is hold Eddie close as he rocks her back and forth. As the couple is holding each other Nancy and Steve exchange a smile that Robin catches. When the couple finally separate, Robin runs to hug her best friend. While Dustin goes to high five Eddie.

    "I thought you didn't like me and your cousin together?" He asked.

    "you're the best option for each other if I'm being honest.." Dustin responds before going to go hug his cousin.