even weirder stuff || stranger things x female reader (season two)

twenty - the star life

Tuesday, November 6, 1984

"Hey darling," you smile faintly as you see Mona standing near the school entrance, looking extremely uncomfortable. She hastily turns to see you, her fingers that were previously fiddling with the hem of her shirt reaching for your hand. As usual, her pinky wraps around yours, as it always does in the morning when she's still half asleep and needs you to lead her through the corridors.

Except today, you're the exhausted one and she walks way closer to you than usual.

"Hi babe," Mona chuckles nervously.

"It's gonna be fine," you say as her shoulder bumps into yours and stays close enough for it to graze your arm with every step.

"Okay," she murmurs back, taking a deep breath before you gently pull her into the hall.

It is swarming with people, a typical Tuesday morning at school. Even though you're not the scared one, you feel like it's infested with things that could trigger Mona's anxiety. You steal a glance at her, seeing that she looked absolutely jaded.

"How you doing?"

"I'm fine," she smiles, a giggle sounding in her voice. "I feel safe when you're here."

You bit your lower lip in a poor attempt to contain a smile. This touched you deeply, making a chill of joy run through your body.

"Well, of course," you play it cool. "I'm big and strong. Especially with a tray."

"I'm taller than you."

"Don't underestimate my strength," you say enthusiastically. "Just yesterday, I-"

You stop yourself before revealing you had fought monsters the prior night, since you were supposed to be at the hospital with Steve.

Steve who had been discharged yesterday, having to wake you up from your nap to make the journey from his hospital room to Joyce's car, who had kindly accepted to drive you to Dustin's house after Will assured her he wouldn't get possessed again in her absence. At Dustin's house, Steve had gotten his car back. The vehicle had been waiting there ever since Dustin asked him for help with Dart, his baby Demodog, and your brother was delighted to sit behind the wheel again. The ride home was short and silent, but still comfortable. And your parents were out for work, unsurprisingly so.

What was the point of being grounded if nobody was home to check if you followed the rules?

Steve made dinner for the both of you. You decided you liked sitting in the kitchen watching people you love cook. It made you feel like a child again. And watching Steve cook for you made you feel like a little sister again.

While eating, you made some bittersweet jokes about the last few days, then talked about more serious matters.

Steve asked about Bob. You sighed and said you'd be fine. He didn't believe you, but didn't elaborate.

You asked about Nancy. He smiled and said he'd get over her quickly. You didn't believe him, but stayed quiet.

Then you went to bed. Steve didn't like the idea of going back to school, but he did agree that he was well rested after his day at the hospital and wanted to go out to see normal people. He drove you this morning, took one look at the building and decided to skip and spend the day in town. You couldn't blame him.

A guy from the army had ended up coming to talk with you at the hospital. Made you sign up loads of confidentiality papers. Said they'd cover up for the school days you'd skip, without your parents knowing.

That was the least they could do, honestly. You deserved the rest.

So what were you doing here with Mona? Helping her out, of course. And attending one of the three days of school you'd have this week.