Basic Instinct [stranger things]

2. Awkward Run-ins

CHAPTER TWO
AWKWARD RUN-INS

Two days later, and Kimmy was slumped into a chair in her math class first thing in the morning half asleep, her face resting contently in her palm as she did her very best to send across the false narrative to her teacher that she was in fact listening to any of the bullshit that spewed past her lips.

Truth be told, Kimmy was doing anything but, instead all her attention and efforts were focused on her managing to keep her eyes open - which was not an easy challenge. To say that the girl hadn't received a good sleep the night prior would be putting it lightly. Though, it wasn't a rare occurrence, she failed to recall the last time she had managed a full night of sleep.

Some would say dreams are scapegoats. Used when one wants so desperately to escape the stress filled issues thrown their way while awake. A place that is safe, a fantasy land which possesses the purpose of simply comforting and consoling its creator. Sleep is peaceful, the only time of day when one can truly be alone with their thoughts as a warm, calming feeling flows throughout their body and sends them down a river of a much needed, tranquil sleep.

Unfortunately the same could not be said for Kimberley Jenkins.

Kimmy dreaded nightfall, dreaded the feeling of eeriness that would engulf and blur her mind as she allowed sleep to take her, though not down a calm, quiet river. No, it seemed whenever the girl would close her eyes, her safety boat would drift left while the others went right. And she'd be forced to face a series of incidents that sent shivers down her spine and caused an ache to deepen in her chest.

So, in order to prevent that awful feeling, she wouldn't sleep at all. Well, not until it finally caught up to her - and it did. Each and every night the dark haired girl would lose the battle. Sleep would sneak up in many ways, ensuring the girl was unprepared from which direction it would stem from and break down her walls of tiredness. Clouding her thoughts with visions and terrors that Kimmy would wish never to see again as it pushed itself into the depths of her mind.

The night before, she estimated she had managed a total of maybe two hours sleep - neither of the two leaving any trace of comfort for the girl. Which was why she found herself in the situation of forcing her eyes open that very evening. In all fairness, the day had passed fairly quickly, though Kimmy suspected it was because she had only been semi-conscious for the majority.

No, Kimmy hadn't attempted anything drastic as she had the two nights previous, no matter how much she had wanted to. She was too scared of getting caught again. It was embarrassing, no matter how the blond boy viewed it, that may have been the most embarrassing thing to have ever happened to the girl.

Kimberley Jenkins - always alone, tucked away under deep covers of isolation - getting caught in a moment of deep vulnerability courtesy of a boy whom she hadn't as much as glanced at before?

It embarrassed her.

Which was why she hadn't seen him since - she was avoiding him.

Just as Kimmy's eyelids became too heavy for her to keep them open any longer, the girl flinched, her eyes snapping open as she sat up straight in her seat. Truth be told, it did take a moment for the cloud of grogginess to clear from her mind. It had been a voice that had broken her from her much needed trance of sleep, she just didn't know whose.

Though the question didn't go unanswered for very long, as one glance up to her right confirmed it all. Kimmy scrunched her nose up in confusion at the sight, utter perplexity taking over her as she fought through her memories for an explanation as to who the older woman stood at the entrance of the class, dressed in blue head to toe was.