The Hawkins Boys

Chapter One - Peta

There was something strange happening in Hawkins. I was certain that everyone was blind to this besides the small party of Hawkins high students -past and present - I had self righteously named the Clusterfuck.

Not that anyone in town had a reason to be suspicious. Sure, weird shit happened that was just the norm for the world these days. I'd taken note of how the Will Byers incident changed the kids around here. His disappearance and reappearance had bought some of us closer and had made the people of Hawkins believe that if they prayed a little harder, if they were more neighbourly then all would be right.

Shit, I was one of them. For a while.

After the Starcourt Mall disaster five months ago, I had begun to notice that when people whispered about the town being cursed, that they didn't take the chance to listen to what wasn't being said and who wasn't talking. For one, the Clusterfuck so closely linked to the mall fire and Billy Hargrove who had died in said fire.

At first I had some suspicions about Steve Harrington's involvement in the Byers incident. Rich, popular, too cool for anyone in Hawkins, why would Steve Harrington go out of his way? But he was dating Nancy Wheeler and her little brother was friends with the missing kid. I had simply put it down to him being a good boyfriend and a nice guy. Like anyone else in the town, he was willing to help.

But then Barbara Holland in the grade below me died mysteriously and then Bob Newby who managed the RadioShack died too. So what was the deal? I couldn't just put it down to something as simple as, "People die everyday, Peta." like my had father told me.

Yeah well, not every day did thirty people die in an electrical fire in a mall in the middle of the night, including the Chief of Police. My father hadn't wanted to hear my truth, he hadn't believed that I had spotted Steve Harrington leaving the empty parking lot of the Starcourt Mall in a stolen car with Robin Buckley and two other kids the night of the fire.

My father had only looked at me bewildered. I had expected him to ask me what the hell I was doing at the Starcourt Mall on the Fourth of July but his right eye twitched and he pinched the bridge of his nose,

'We are broke, Peta. No lies you create about this Harrington kid will make his father pay up for any damages done to my investments. You're smart but not intelligent. Maybe it's a good thing I've had to use your college fund to save our asses from bankruptcy. All of my money was in that goddamn mall. Even your mother is contemplating leaving this cursed town.'

That had been the end of that. Daddy dearest made it damn clear that college was off the cards and he was making me contribute to the household now that I was an adult.

'Unmarried and unemployed. Take you pick sweetheart, money or a man.' he had told me shortly after the mall fire. I had never a reason to hate my father, dislike maybe but hatred wasn't a word I ever thought I'd associate with my parents.

I was spoilt, privileged with a life of ease. A deeper part of me was glad for the mall fire, having my father home more, working out our problems together as a family. Anything I had asked for I had been given with a smile. My father was a hard worker -his words - and a provider - my mother's words.

Turns out he's just an asshole and an egomaniac. I had no business in his business. So I got a goddamn job so he could stay out of mine.

Family Video wasn't exactly my first pick for a job but the manager Keith who I went to Hawkins High with didn't pity me or make underhanded comments about my fathers questionable business investments and fraternisation with ex-mayor Larry Kline.

'Favourite three movies', he had asked me, peering over at me from behind the counter through his beady eyes.

I blinked, sure I hadn't heard right before racking my brain.

'The Terminator, Conan the Barbarian and Commando.' I told him not totally sure if my answers were supposed to tell him more about me as a potential employee.

Keith nodded his head, looking me up and down, even leaning over the counter and smacking his lips obnoxiously loud.

I raised my brows at him as he shifted back to narrow his eyes at me,

'You don't look the type to be into action movies.'

I looked over myself too, what the hell was he expecting? Maybe not pretty little rich girl Peta Allen with her pearls and long hair. I enjoyed imaging myself in those scenarios, guns, fire, action, danger and a barbarian who would claim me.

'I like the strong hero type.' I told him honestly.

'Fine. But you won't be rostered on with Harrington. His taste is as pedestrian as yours and the people in Hawkins need to experience real cinema not just the bloody drivel Hollywood is selling the youth of today.' Keith didn't give me a chance to answer as he disappeared out the back of the store.

I tried not to get too caught up in his admission about Steve but figured eventually I'd have to have a shift with him. It wasn't the end of the world, Robin Buckley was my chance at getting to know more about Steve and what secrets he was keeping underneath that glorious hair of his. Plus, I had as long as it took me to save up for college. Or find a rich man to marry. In other words time was of no worry to me because neither would ever be my reality.

'You aren't an Arnold Schwarzenegger fan?' I asked Keith as he returned and slid a horrendous green Family Video vest over the counter toward me.

Keith looked at me funny and reached for a bag of Cheetos,
'Of course I am.' He said stuffing a handful into his mouth. I tried not to cringe at the flakes of orange Cheeto dust falling on my vest on the counter.

I took the vest, giving it a good shake before folding it neatly.

'You can start tomorrow. Three o'clock.'

'Thanks.' I started for the door before turning back, 'Wait, it's Saturday tomorrow?'

I had plans with Tony, my sorta boyfriend. Though recently he had made it clear his intentions with me were less romantic and more platonic. After losing all of my friends after the drama with my dad and the mall fire, I was holding onto whatever relationships I could. I was fortunate to have Tony's pity.

'I hadn't realised.' Keith replied sarcastically, licking his orange stained fingers.

I figured I'd pick my battle. Steve Harrington and the Clusterfuck held my interest more than Tony and all his talk of one day becoming the chief of police and changing the town for the better.

'Who am I working with?' I could better prepare myself if I knew it was Robin. I knew little to nothing about her besides the fact she's a senior at Hawkins High and in band. Not a total loser, but definitely not someone Steve Harrington would fuck around with.

I wasn't jealous.

'Robin.' Keith breathed a heavy sigh, 'She can teach you about real cinema.'

'Right, three o'clock. I'll be here.' I held up the vest in thanks for the job and headed for the door.

I tried to hide my smile as I started toward the car, so giddy I was almost skipping. If my fathers job taught me anything it was how to get someone's interest when there was none to begin with. What better way to convince Steve Harrington to come crawling my way then take his new friend Robin away from him?

And if he was as predictable as I imagined he would be, then it wouldn't be hard to convince him to let me be a part of his little cult.