Daisies || Max Mayfield

62: Billy Pt. 1

Robin and Nancy reappeared in the basement with a fuming Steve. Nancy had some kind of pink and blue plaid blazer and skirt, with a white button-up underneath. Robin looked extremely uncomfortable in her floral skirt, white cardigan, and pink frilly shirt. Her hair had been curled, with a white barrette clipping it back. 

"Just so you know, I'm not happy about this," Steve muttered, sitting next to Lucas and Dustin on the couch.

"You'll be fine Steve," Nancy smiled, glancing at the boys on the couch. "You guys take good care of Max. We're going to Penhurst."

"And please don't die," Robin added, running after Nancy up the stairs.

I nodded, glancing at Max. Everyone was watching her. She wrote one more line and set the pen down. 

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

"What?" Steve grabbed a ball off the table, tossing it above his head.

"Sorry?" Dustin picked a comic book from the bin next to him.

"You said you needed something?" Lucas asked, looking at the newspaper.

"I am," I stated.

"Just hanging out," Steve muttered, continuing to toss the ball.

"How you think your eyes boring into the back of my head is protecting me from Vecna, I don't know." She shuffled a stack of envelopes, spinning in her chair and walking over to us. She stopped in front of the table, staring at the boys. I waved, and she nodded. 

"You can look at me now," She finally said.

"Thank you." 

"Sorry."

"Sorry."

She sighed, picking an envelope from the pile. She held it out to Dustin. "For you, for you." She held the next out to Steve. "And you." She handed Lucas one as well, then turned to me. "And uh, you." I took it, staring at it. My name was on the front, just Daisy. "Oh, and uh, give these to Mike, El, and Will." She muttered, passing Lucas three more envelopes. "If you can ever get a hold of them again."

Dustin glanced at it, lifting the flap to open it.

"Hey, what are you doing?" She exclaimed. "No, don't, don't open it now. That's not for now."

I fiddled with the corner, listening to her speak.

"I'm sorry what is this?" Dustin asked.

"It's um. It's a fail-safe. For after. If things don't work out." She smiled.

"Max-"

"Wait, woah, Max." Lucas sat up. "Things are gonna work out!"

"No! No, I don't need you to reassure me right now and tell me it's all gonna work out. Because people have been telling me that my whole life, and it's almost never true. It's never true." She stared at her feet. "I mean of course this asshole curses me. Should've seen that one coming."

She took a deep breath, scanning the room. She grabbed Lucas's walkie off the table, holding it up in front of us. "If we got to East Hawkins, will this still reach Penhurst?"

"Of course, yeah."

"Wait, why are we talking about East Hawkins?" Steve asked.

"No. No, No!" Steve exclaimed.

She grabbed her backpack, running up the stairs. I followed her, taking my back and jacket, and pulled it over my shoulders as we exited. Steve, Dustin, and Lucas were right behind me.