epiphany ~ lumax

Episode 1

Lumax - Hospital

Max had been in a coma for a week now, and Lucas would spend most of his days beside her, praying for her to wake up, although he was also dreading the things he had to tell her. If he even got the chance. The doctors had told him she could be paralyzed, blind, or worse, dead.

Eddie hadn't made it out of the Upside Down. Their plan hadn't worked, and Vecna was still on the loose. But the worst part was, her mother, Susan, hadn't survived the opening of the portal at her trailer. Lucas just assumed that she would stay with his family if (when) she woke up, but he didn't exactly know how to explain why they couldn't just send to foster care.

All he could do right now was look at her. She was so pretty, her gorgeous red hair, her faded freckles, and her perfect little nose. He promised himself that when she would wake up, if she would wake up, that he would try and make the most of it. He missed her so much, and couldn't believe he had spent the last school year so distant from her.

The silence was really loud, but he didn't mind it. Erica had come to see her as well today. She never really had an interaction with Max, but he could see that she still cared about her.

Erica was just looking out the window, probably having flashbacks. Lucas felt bad. He was kind of used to the upside down, and all that trauma, but Erica wasn't, and witnessed Max's almost death. He felt responsible. When this was all over, he would make an effort to be a better big brother to her.

California + Alaska crew - Hopper's cabin

Hopper's cabin was currently very cramped. El hadn't lived in many big places, but she knew when people were lacking in personal space. There were two bedrooms; one was occupied by her, Hopper and Joyce, and the other was where Will, Jonathan and Argyle slept. Murray slept in the living room, which seemed to bother Joyce in the morning because he took up the entire sofa and no one could watch TV.

It didn't bother her, not really. She couldn't focus on things like Murray taking up space, when people like Max weren't.

She missed her best friend. She missed her laugh, she missed her hair, she missed her standing up to people for her. She missed her attitude. She missed her sarcasm. She missed her bravery. She missed her.

It was obvious how much she missed her when people who were here, that she liked- loved even, tried to talk to her and she couldn't even bother to answer.

"Do you want eggs, dear?" Joyce asked her this morning as she made breakfast for everyone.

El couldn't even open her mouth to respond, only letting out a small grunt of acknowledgement when Will dropped three Eggos on her plate.

All she could think about was how she could have saved Max, but instead, she let Vecna get to her.

Soon after, Hopper, came out of his room, yawning. "Morning kids. Joyce" he said as he kissed Joyce good morning. They had announced their relationship not long after coming back. El was happy for them, and she was even happier that he had come home, but that also reminded her of Mike.

He had finally said what she wanted him to, but that 'I love you' didn't feel real, not when Will was whispering in his ear, encouraging him the whole time. She still wasn't ready to forgive him for breaking her heart, and for not trying enough to fix it. She wasn't even sure she wanted a relationship right now.

She just wanted to exist for once, to just breathe and be El. But how could she be El when there was no Max?

Jonathan and Argyle were sitting at the table with them for breakfast, and she could only smell the 'Purple Palm Tree Delight' they had smoked the night before. Although El didn't know exactly what it was, she now knows it's something they don't want Joyce or Hopper to know about.

Lumax - Hospital

"And then, he took her sword, and-" Lucas stopped reading abruptly, after he heard Max's breathing quicken.

"Max?" but all he got in response was a soft grunt.

Lucas ran towards the door of her room, and yelled for a doctor to come, his heart beating against his chest.

"Max?? Max, it's me, Lucas" he said as he ran back to her.

She opened her eyes, but instead of her sky-blue eye color, Lucas could only see light gray. She was still blind.

"Max, hey, it's okay, it's me, Lucas!" He couldn't believe she had just opened her eyes. It was one of the best days of his life.

She opened her mouth, but the words that came out weren't the ones Lucas was expecting.

"Who are you?" 

Hey guys, hope you all like this beginning, I'm going to continue a second chapter soon. Sorry for the cliff hanger :(

Please write some feedback if you have some!

~THANK YOU FOR READING~