Basic Instinct [stranger things]

32. Halloween

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
HALLOWEEN

Upon arriving home that day, Kimmy was a nervous wreck.

She didn't know what to do with herself as she entered the home, closing the front door quietly behind her.

Her dad was lying on the living room couch, just about slipping away from consciousness as empty bottles lay on the floor next to him.

Kimmy took a shaky breath, knowing that now was her chance - he was almost passed out, he would hardly be able to process her words. Surely she could convince him to let her go to Max's when he was like this.

She lowered herself to the floor, sitting on her knees as she gently shook his shoulder, slightly panicking as he turned to face her with dull eyes. Evidently so drunk that he was unaware of what was happening.

"I won't be here tonight." Kimmy blurted, trying to sound much more confident than she actually felt.

Kimmy remained silent for a moment, waiting for a response nervously, however she didn't get one.

Kimmy sighed, knowing he was far too drunk to even process her words, his eyes snapping shut as he blacked out.

Kimmy frowned, standing from her spot on the floor and climbed the stairs, deciding that it was probably best for her that she could sneak out while he was passed out so she wouldn't be faced with punishment.

Kimmy supposed if worst came to worst and when she returned home the next day and was punished, then she'd just have to deal with it. However Kimmy genuinely doubted that her mom or dad would be awake for the time she would leave for school, so she hoped she would be fine.

Kimmy dumped out her school bag, only keeping the books that she absolutely needed for the next day so she had room to pack a bag to stay over at her friends.

Kimmy was incredibly nervous to spend the night, she'd never had a sleepover before, she didn't know what to suspect. That and also the fact that she'd only known Max two days, but the girl seemed happy that she had a friend, and Kimmy wasn't going to complain. If Max hadn't moved she would have probably grown into misery.

Yes, Aaron was nice to her, Dustin and Lucas too. But there is only so much someone can take of being pushed away, left out and ignored by the only people who could seemingly tolerate her.

Aaron always did his best to make sure she was included, but even on the times when he could make Mike cave and invite her to things she never felt welcomed. An awkward tension hung over the group when she was there and she truly felt it was best when she pretended not to know the group had made plans without her.

However, she now had the chance to form a friendship where she wasn't secretly disliked, or she didn't have to worry Max hated her or was forced to invite her to things.

She finally had a chance to form a genuine friendship and she wasn't going to throw it away, she would do her best to make it work.

Which was exactly why she was packing her bag to head over to her friends house, no matter how nervous she may be, she was forcing herself to go. At least she knew Max actually wanted her there.

Kimmy often scolded herself for having such thoughts criticising her friends, but she couldn't help herself. She just felt like a constant second option when around them. She didn't fit in, she didn't have the same interests, and two of her so called friends apparently disliked her so much that they wouldn't even speak to her.

Whether it were related to Eleven's disappearance or not, it hurt the girl, despite trying not to show it.

It also bothered her to no extent that the only way she had finally managed to make a friend was because Aaron had caught her trying to kill herself the year before. She was only befriended because he was scared she'd do it again and she'd be on his conscience, he didn't tell her this, but she knew.