Basic Instinct [stranger things]

27. Homemade Lunches

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
HOMEMADE LUNCHES

Months had past since Christmas Day, now March and while Kimmy did occasionally do things with the entire party, it was usually just her and Aaron. She wasn't usually invited out with the party, not if the hangout was held at Mike's house anyway.

Kimmy did her best not to take it to heart, reminding herself that he was still very much so saddened by the loss of Eleven - but it was difficult not to. Not when it was obvious her only friends didn't want her around.

Well, that was a lie. She hung out with Lucas, Aaron and Dustin, but never Mike or Will. Not unless they were all out doing something planned in advance.

One day when she had been out getting ice cream with Aaron, he'd accidentally let it slip to her that Mike felt Kimmy had been trying to steal Will's place in the party - Aaron made sure to add he felt his friend was acting ridiculous.

After that day, she began over analysing everything she did while in Mike's presence. She rarely spoke around him now, scared she'd upset him.

Kimmy couldn't help but allow her feelings to be hurt upon finding out Mike didn't really like her, she'd thought they'd become closer and had developed some sort of a friendship, but she supposed that all changed when Eleven went missing.

She tried to see it from his point of view, she really did. But it was difficult when she was so hurt over the matter.

Will didn't really speak to her either, but that didn't really bother her so much. He was always with Mike, and he hadn't known her before. Kimmy had tried with the boy, but she began to suspect that Mike had told him about her and that's why he didn't really talk to her.

At school was where it really bothered her, lunch especially. He made it a point to ignore her in discussions, only talking to the boys in the group.

Kimmy thought maybe if she was a boy he wouldn't have a problem accepting her into the party just as everyone else had done. Maybe the fact she was a girl was just too much of a reminder of Eleven, she didn't really know.

Kimmy was now sitting in the cafeteria with the party rather than her old content spot on the steps. However sometimes she wished that she was still back there picking on the school food she didn't really like alone. Sure, she'd be alone, but she felt as if she was tearing the party in two.

Everyday when she'd walk over, Mike would look less than pleased, but he never said anything about it.

Kimmy just hoped the boy would realise she wasn't trying to take Will's place before and that she wasn't trying to take Eleven's now. She just wanted friends.

Aaron had kept his promise, he'd made her lunch everyday so she wouldn't have to eat the food at the cafeteria.

He got her the same everyday, a ham and cheese sandwich with a cola soda and a packet of chips. Usually she received a different packet of chips everyday, so she never really knew what she'd get in that aspect.

He'd give it to her everyday before their first classes, not wanting to give it to her at lunch in case she didn't want the others to know.

Kimmy was embarrassed at first, knowing she couldn't pay him back in any sort of way, seeing as she nor her parents had any money what so ever.

"Excited for after school, Kimmy?" Dustin asked from his spot at the table across from her with a grin, stuffing his face with his pizza.

Kimmy smiled at him, placing down her sandwich as she laughed. "Definitely."