𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐟𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫

sixty-five

Y/n and everyone minus Robin and Nancy were back in the basement. They were all looking over at Max, who was still doing whatever it was she was doing. Steve, Lucas, and Dustin all sat on the couch. While Y/n was in the recliner with an open book in her lap.

"I know you guys are staring at me." Max suddenly said catching everyone off guard.

"What, sorry?" Steve asked as he began to throw a baseball above him, and catching it over and over while staring up at the roof.

"You said you needed something?" Lucas asked pretending to read the newspaper he had.

"Just hanging out." Steve added on as Dustin grabbed a book.

Y/n looked away from Max and looked down at the book in her lap "You guys are ridiculous." She said with an amused smile.

"How you think you eyes boring into the back of my head is protecting me from Vecna, I don't know." Max mumbles.

Y/n shrugged "It's a strategy." She says

"Not the best one." Max says falling silent for a moment "You can look at me now."

"Thank you. Sorry." Dustin says tossing his book, and looking up at Max.

"Sorry."

"Sorry."

"Not sorry." Y/n says closing her book, and looking over at Max "Whatcha got?"

Max ignores the question "For you." She says holding out an envelop to Dustin, who takes it with confusion "For you." She adds handing one to Steve. She then moves on to Lucas "And, um, you. And one for Mike and Will." Max adds, she then looks to Y/n "And for you, and El." She mumbles.

Y/n takes the two envelopes, one with her name and the other with El's "What is this?" She asks.

"Hey, whoah. What are you doing? No, don't." Max quickly says when she turns around, seeing Steve and Dustin almost opening theirs "Thats not for now. Don't open it now."

"Don't...okay." Dustin said frowning "You didn't answer Y/n, what....what is this?"

"It's, um....it's a fail-safe." Max answers with hesitation "For after. If things....if they don't work out."

"Wait, whoa. Max, things are gonna work out." Lucas says.

"No!"

"Max." Y/n says gently looking up from the envelopes.

"No, I don't need you guys to reassure me right now, and tell me it's all gonna work out. Because people have been telling me thay my entire life, and it's almost never true." Max quickly rants, "It's never true. I mean, of course this asshole curses me. Should've seen that one coming."

Y/n shakes her head "We you can't just give up!" She exclaims, "We're going to try and find a way to break this stupid curse, no matter what it takes."

"And what if it doesn't work?" Max snaps looking at Y/n.

Y/n falls silent, and looks down at her lap. She didn't know what to say, or what could possibly give Max hope.

"Thats what I thought." Max mumbles walking off somewhere in the basement "If we go to East Hawkins, will this still reach Pennhurst?" She asked.

"Of course. Yeah." Dustin answers without hesitation.

"Wait why are we talking about East Hawkins?" Steve asks looking between everyone, "No. No. No!" He quickly says when the kids all look at him.

ꕥ

"Max, Max. Seriously." Steve calls rushing after her as she leaves Mike's house, "Seriously, I'm not joking okay? I'm not driving you anywhere." He sternly says.