It's You and Me

Chapter One

Tuesday, October 30

Nobody liked Tiffiny Wheeler. She was too standoffish, too volatile, and too loud. She didn't dress right, had too many piercings, and spent a good portion of her college funds on a 1980 Harley Davidson (which infuriated her parents). Growing up, she was often overlooked for her twin, Nancy.

Nancy was praised for everything. She was tall, pretty, and smart. That's not to say Finny wasn't also those things, but she'd never let the sharks of Hawkins High know that. She had survived three years of high school flying under the radar, with very few friends. She was used to being in Nancy's shadow. Until she wasn't.

Nancy and Finny had never really gotten along, with Nancy often (although unintentionally) always getting what Finny wanted. It started with Steve Harrington. Finny had been in love with the boy since he helped her up in the playground in third grade after Tommy H. had pushed her off the monkey bars. It started with Steve Harrington and ended with Jonathan Byers, who had been Finnys best friend since fifth grade.

Contrary to popular belief Finny wasn't stupid and knew her siblings and friends were hiding something big from her and it hurt her more than she thought it would. She further alienated herself with each lie they told her. For the entirety of her junior year, she had to watch as Steve pursued Nancy and the sudden budding friendship between Nancy and Jonothan. She watched as they held secret conversations and formed their own little tight-knit group- one that didn't include her. And so she decided that this year would be different. She wasn't going to let herself be bothered by it anymore.

Sure, she missed Jonathan and watching Steve and Nancy was like drinking molten lava, but she wouldn't let that control her life. She would make an effort to make new friends, and she wouldn't let the anger and betrayal she felt take her over. She would be the bigger person. Finny Wheeler was done being a background character in her own life.

Senior year is going to be her year, she'd make sure of it, she had been repeating this to herself every morning since the start of the semester, and once again as she whipped into the parking lot of Hawkins High, sending gravel flying and relishing in the dirty looks Tina and Carol gave her.

She rolled to a stop next to a beautiful Camaro and kicked out her bike stand. Her eyes caught Nancy's from across the lot and her twin's exasperated look made her grin sharply. A low whistle caught her attention as she took off her helmet.

"That is a lovely ride for a pretty little thing like you." An accented voice drawled to her left.

Finny glanced over at the boy leaning against the Camaro. She didn't even notice him exiting the vehicle. She took a second to take him in. His blue eyes looked at her over a pair of sunglasses, blond curls framed his face, and he smirked around an unlit cigarette. Finny peeked over at her sister. Nancy scowled at them, and Steve looked concerned. It was apparent why, anyone could see the blond in front of her was trouble from a mile away.

Turning her attention back to him she finally replied, "I could say the same to you darlin', what is she a '78?"

He laughed, rich and deep, and took the now lit cigarette from his mouth, "Close, she's a '79 actually. Names Billy Hargrove." He held out his hand to shake.

Finny placed hers in his and gave it a little squeeze before letting go. "Tiffiny Wheeler, but friends call me Finny."

"Oh? Are we friends Finny Wheeler?" He drawled out. Finny laughed loudly and felt the burning stares of her peers, all of them watching the interaction between the attractive new kid and Freaky Finny.

"We could be Billy Hargrove, if you play your cards right." Finny plucked the cigarette from his dangling hand and took a deep drag. Smiling at him, she blew the smoke in his direction before turning and walking away.

She could feel his eyes on her even as she walked into the bustling halls of hell. Her good mood was promptly ruined by the demanding call of her name from her lovely sister.

"What was that?" Nancy demanded grabbing her arm as she neared her locker. Finny flashed her brown eyes in annoyance.

"What was what Nancy?" She asked grabbing her books for first period and depositing her riding jacket.

Nancy sighed at her sister's cropped band tee and the chains on her belt.

"I thought mom threw that shirt out after the fifth time she told you to stop wearing it. And you know what. You and that guy? He's bad news Tiffiny. You didn't see the way he looked at you when you left- like you were his last meal on death row. It was weird and creepy. Also, you shouldn't be smoking!" Her sharp features were set in determination and Finny rolled her eyes.

"God Nance. One, mom obviously didn't throw it out if I'm wearing it, she doesn't care how I dress. Two, I have told you thousand times to call me Finny. It's the name I prefer.

And three, in case you missed it- I was looking at him the same way. It's called, gasp, sexual attraction. Maybe you've heard of it? You don't dictate who I can and can't talk to Nancy. And I'll fuckin smoke if I want to, as I have been for the past two years, jesus. Mom never nags me for this shit, you're the only one who cares."

Finny slammed her locker shut with an eye roll and walked away before her sister could respond and make her day any worse.

Her classes seemed to drag on, and they bored her to death. By the time Finny made it to lunch, she was ready to scream. Grabbing her bag, she strolled outside to the unused picnic tables that sat neatly between the high school and the middle school. She made her way to the only occupied table and stuck a cigarette between her lips as she greeted the hunched-over form.

"Hey nerd." She grumbled, ruffling Will's hair. A lot of her peers found it quite odd that her only friend these days was her ex-best friend's preteen brother.

When Will went missing last year, she was one of the first people to help search for him, and held out hope for the longest, second only to Joyce. She had always been close to the boy, seeing him as her own little brother, and in turn he looked up to her more than his own brother. She had always been a constant in his life, and that hadn't changed no matter what.

He smiled up at her and whispered a quiet greeting, before handing her an apple, "How was your day Fin?"

"Eh, very boring. We got a new kid today, seems like he could be interesting though." She replied.

"We did too! Her name is Max and she has a skateboard! The other guys think she's really cool, but she didn't really talk to us." He frowned.

"Well, she doesn't know what she's missing bud. You and your brat pack are the coolest eighth graders I've ever met, excluding Mike of course." She chuckled and took a bite out of her apple as they fell into a comfortable silence. After a few minutes she turned to look at Will.

"How have you been doing kid? Any more panic attacks or nightmares?" She asked gently.

He sighed and looked at the table, "Nothing new. The doctors think I have PTSD and that my hallucinations are just a manifestation of that, but they feel so real Finny, it scares me." She shuffled closer and put her arm around his thin shoulders.

"You are one of the bravest kids I have ever met William Byers. I don't know how you do it, I'd have run screaming for the hills if I'd been through what you have. You have every right to be scared, but just know that if you ever- and I mean ever- need me I am one phone call away.

Hell, you could even reach me on one of the brat packs' dorky walkies. I know things have been rough, but I will always be here for you okay?" She waits for him to nod and then gives him a tight hug before standing up. "Head on over to the middle school punk, bells about to ring and I don't want you to be late."

"Bye Finny, I'll see you tomorrow okay?" He waved as he began to walk back to his school.

Finny watched him until he had made it safely through the doors and then began her own trek to her last class of the day. She glanced back at the middle school, and felt an odd sense of foreboding before shrugging it off and walking in.