"clank, clank, clank"
The autumn night cool breeze flows, as the sun set finally sets leaivng the once colourful sky black and dull. Satisfying crunchs come from the fall leaves being crush beneath our shoes as we march down the railroad. Im not sure where were headed exactly we the train tracks lead the way as we follow in the darkness of the night.
"you're positive that was dart." lucas says aside me breaking the restful silence
"yes, he had the same yellow pattern on it no I'm in his butt." dustin says in front of us waking aside steve.
"He was tiny two days ago." i say trying to wrap my head around how any of this is even possible.
"well he's malted three times already.
"molted?"
'Malted he shed his skin to make room for growth, like hornworms. Dustin explains
"Whens he's gonna malt again." I ask
"It gotta be soon. when he does, he'll be fully grown or close to it. An so will his friends."
"Yeah, and he's gonna eat a lot more cats." Steve laughs
"Wait, cat?" Lucas stops abruptly pulling on Dustin's shoulder.
"Dart ate a cat?"
"No, what? No." Dustin stumbles I bite my cheek to keep a giggle from slip out my throat at how bad a liar Dustin is.
"What are you talking about he ate mews?" Steve's says
"Mews? Who's mew?" I look between them confused catching Lucas glare on dustin as he gapes his shoulder; and Dustin's. Deadly glare on Steve. If I didn't know any better I'd say Steve better count his days by the way Dustin's burning holes in his forehead.
"It's Dustin's cat." Steve's goes on oblivious to whatever cat fight that's about to go down.
"STEVE!" dustin yells warning in his tone.
"I knew it!" Lucas pushes on Dustin's shoulder.
"No! Dustin screech's No, I... No.." Dustin turns away guilt draw in his expression.
"He missed me. Dustin confesses he want to come home."
"Bullshit!"
"I didn't know he was a demogrogan, okay."
"Oh, so know you admit it"
Steve and I watch their endless bickering. The cold breeze brush's over me bring goosebumps to my skin. I'm suddenly aware of our surroundings we stand in the middle of woods on the busted train tracks at a time of night only fools would be dumb enough to go out in.
"Guys who cares? We have to go!" I advert my attention back to dustin and Lucas.
"I care!" Lucas yells looking at me for a split second before bring his attention back to Dustin.
"You put the party in jeopardy! You broke the rule of law!" He points his finger at dustin
"SO DID YOU!"
"WHAT?"
"you told a stangerr- dustin yells lifting his flashlight pointing it to my face. The truth!"
"A-a I scoffle blinking the burning sensation from my eyes. A stranger?" I take a step closer to the two. I've been hanging out with them for weeks now. I think they could give me credit for being a little more than a fucking stranger.
"YOU WANTED TO TELL HER TOO!"
"YEA, BUT I DIDN'T, OKAY LUCAS! Their screamig match echoing in the emptiness of the night. I didn't tell her"
"We both broke the rule of law, okay? So we're even." Dustin holds his arm out for a handshake.
"No, no we're not! Don't even try that that. Lucas pushes Dustin hand to the side. Your stupid pet could've ate us for dinner!"
"That was not my fault! And he wasn't going to eat us." Dustin retaliates
"Oh, so he was just crawling to come say hello?"
"GUYS! steves yells we advert our attention to him I hadn't noticed moved. He's now standing at the end of the train tracks near the woods.
*Screeccchhh* high screech's can be heard from the distance.
Steve pauses for a second before the throwing his spiked bat over his shoulder. He chases after the sound; Dustin and Lucas following after him.
'No, no, no. I yell as they walk away Hey, guys why are you heading towards the sound?"
"HELLO?" they continue to running into the darkness of the trail ignorning me. "hello." I look around in the eery night. No long hearing leaves beening crunched under thier footsteps "shit." a mumble slips under my breathe, before Im left with no other choice but to run after them.
____
After a few minutes of reckless running, Im finally able to catch up to them. "Look who finally decided to show up." steves looks over pointing his bat at me. Unable to speak without sounding like a dying pig I send him a harsh glare. He chuckles as we walk through the open field. Apperently harsh glares dont appear that harsh when your forehead is pooling in sweat from a light jog. We continue to walk through the field, before being met by a clif overlooking the dark dense forest and the boys flashlights with the glowing street lights makng small town hawkins look like home back in california. Seeing the lights spark across the town causes a sense of nostalgia to wash over my body. Bring back mourning I didnt even know was there. An ache prudes my chest as I think of life back in california, my dad, sarah.
"I dont see him." I hear dustin say he stands behind me but his words sound distant.
"Its the lab." lucas says after a moment of slience
"we have to go now!" dustin says
"Yeah kids lets go!"
I finally tear my gaze from the illuminating lights. My eyes a met with Lucas's holds his gaze on me. His eyebrows forrow as his expression is painted with a sorrowful look.
I Ignore him; An begin to follow behind Steve and Dustin. "Max." Lucas calls after my name. I pause turn to look at him. "Your crying." He says his tone soft.
"Not I'm n-" I lift my hand to my cheek to be met with wet salty tears. I hadn't realized I was crying. Why am I crying?
Before another thought could intrude my mind, I'm being snapped back by Lucas hands on my shoulders forcing us to be face to face. His eyebrows and lips turned over as if he's being painted by seeing me cry.
"It's nothing, I guess the run over here really took a toll on me." I swipe my forehead with my sleeve for extra affect.
He keeps a firm grip on my shoulders keeping a steady gaze.
"For a girl who skateboards you think you'd be use to a little running." Lucas say breaking out into a smile.
"Nope." I say. I can't tell if he's being oblivious on purpose or he just doesn't wanna push it. I'm grateful it anyway and smile back at him.
He lets go of his firm grip and swing his shoulders around my arm. I feel my smile growing bigger and any ache and pain that was once in my chest has fully vanished. His arm loosely swing on my shoulders as we walk to catch up to Dustin and Steve.
