"either way, we're not alone..."
In which Sophie Hargrove struggles to close off her heart, especially when she starts to let Steve Harrington in.
STRANGER THINGS
SEASON TWO - SEASON FIVE
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
***
A MONTH LATER...
Her winters weren't usually this cold. Despite the weather, the Californian sun would still keep them warm. But this was Indiana, and their climate was on a different scale.
It snowed a lot more here. She'd always dreamt of having a white Christmas and dancing in the snow, getting flurries in her blonde hair. It was a kind of magic few get to experience. Sophie didn't envy those trapped in blizzards, though.
Over the last month, she had grown closer to the Mayfields. And because of her bond with Max, Neil seemed to be laying off her a bit. Of course, the smallest things would set him off once in a while, and his arguments with Billy seemed neverending. That seemed expected, though -- Billy could never get anything right in his eyes. The Hargrove twins would remain Neil's burden for as long as possible.
Her father wasn't around on the night of the Snow Ball, claiming he was getting some work done elsewhere. But with empty beer cans and bottles popping up around the place, Sophie knew he was turning back to alcohol again. He always did.
Susan shoved another pin into her daughter's hair. "Ow," Max winced, cringing at the slight pain, "ow. That hurts."
Her mother smiled, playing with Max's red hair. "It's gonna be worth it. Promise."
At Hawkins Middle, the Snow Ball was a huge deal. The dance was the height of the kids' social season, almost like a winter formal. It's a second-to-last hurrah before they all head off to high school and go through the intense stages of puberty.
Sophie stood on Max's right, her arms folded. She leaned over Max's shoulder, gazing at her reflection. The teenager smirked, muttering. "At least you didn't let her do your whole outfit."
The sisters shared a casual giggle, agreeing with one another. Max was given the liberty to choose what she wore to the party, refusing a dress and instead wearing a jumper and trousers. Max wouldn't be seen dead in a skirt.
In the corner of their eyes, the girls noticed a figure appear in the living room. They turned their heads, their wide smiles faltering. Billy observed his sisters from afar, his fists tensing then releasing. He'd barely spoken to them since November, ignoring them as much as possible.
Though, once in a while, he'd stop and glare -- as if he wanted to start an argument. He wore rage like a shirt he'd never wash. His words burned into his chest, the way a cigarette would. Keeping all the things he wanted to say under wraps was like withholding smoke; it choked him.
Max lowered her eyebrows, shooting him an evil glare. But the look Sophie returned was a mix of pity and grief -- losing someone so close to her wasn't something she was used to yet.
Their staring contest went unspoken, Billy stepping out of sight soon after. Tension simmered and abruptly dissipated -- Susan barely acknowledged the shared animosity.
