Better babysitter // Steve Harrington x Reader //

max's letters

I sat in between Steve and Lucas as we all looked at Max worriedly. Suddenly Max turned around to look at us, making us turn our heads and pretend like we haven't just watched her.

"I know you guys are staring at me," Max said.

"What, sorry?" Steve asked before grabbing a ball and throwing it over his head.

"You said you needed something?" Lucas asked as he grabbed the newspaper, Dustin grabbed a book, and I grabbed the pop-tarts that were on the table, pretending to read the ingredients.

"Just hanging out," Steve said, still throwing his ball.

Max sighed before speaking. "How you think your eyes boring into the back of my head is protecting me from Vecna, I don't know." Max got up to walk over to us. She stopped in front of us as we pretended to not notice her. "You can look at me now."

The three of us apologized as we placed the stuff back onto the table.

Max sighed again before handing the letter to Dustin whose eyes widened. "For you." Dustin grabbed the letter as Max moved on to Steve, handing him the letter as well. "For you." Steve smiled softly at her as he grabbed the letter as well. The next one in line was me. "For you." I thanked her before taking the letter from her. "And, um, you." Max stopped in front of Lucas who took the letter that she was holding out.

"Oh, and, um, give these to Mike, El, and, Will." Max smiled softly as she handed the other letter to me. "If you ever get a hold of them again." 

Steve and Dustin began to take out their letters but Max stopped them. "What are you doing? No, don't. That's not for now. Don't open it now."

"Don't...okay," Dustin whispered as he placed the letter back into the envelope. "I'm sorry. What is this?"

"It's, um..." Max looked at the floor before looking back at us. "it's a fail-safe. For after. If things don't work out."

We all looked at each other before looking back at her.

"Wait, whoa." Lucas piped up. "Max, things are going to work out."

"No!" Max snapped. "No, I don't need you to reassure me and tell me it's all gonna work out. People have been telling me that my entire life and it's almost never true. It's never true. I mean, of course, this asshole curses me. Should've seen that one coming." Max inhaled deeply before making her way over to the table and grabbing the radio that was on it. "If we go to East Hawkins, will this reach Pennhurst?"

"Yeah, it will," I answered.

"Why are we talking about East Hawkins?" Steve asked before looking at Max finally figuring out why. "No. No. No!"

Max ignored him as she walked out of the room and outside. Steve and I immediately got up from the couch and hurried over to her.

"Max, wait," I called, but Max ignored me.

"Max, Max. Seriously." Steve said as he finally caught up to her. "Seriously, I'm not joking. I'm not driving you anywhere, and neither is Y/n."

"If you think I'm going to spend what is likely the last day of my life in the armpit that is Mike Wheeler's basement, you're out of your mind." Max turned her head to look at Steve. "Either take me where I need to go or tie me down, which is technically kidnapping of a minor. And if I live to see another day, Steve, I swear to God, I prosecute." 

We made it to Steve's car. Max went to open the door but the doors were locked. "Open the door," Max said seriously.

"Uh, no." Steve shook his head.

" I know a good layer." Max threatened.

Steve looked at her in disbelief before looking at me. I shrugged as I was as shocked as him. Steve shook his head before scoffing and opening the car door. "Henderson, that super walkie of yours better reach Pennhurst."