Stranger Things: Riley's Version

Act One Epilogue

Going back to school had been hard, her disappearance had been kept quiet for the most part. People knew something had happened, her missing fingers were hard to hide, but for the most part she was able to fly under the radar. Will on the other hand once he got back to school there was plenty of staring and whispers. The party tried their best to try and keep things normal, ignoring the stares to the best of their ability. Riley had gotten in her share of fights trying to defend the rumors spread about Will, and her dad, while understanding of the situation, wasn't too pleased with her. Especially with the principal on his back so she was grounded more often than not.

    She also missed El, when the boys had explained what had happened to the girl she was upset. She hadn't known the girl well and they hadn't been super close but she was upset that she may never get to see her again. So she mourned for the loss of her friend and partially her childhood along with her fingers.

    She tended to get nightmares often waking her up in the middle of the night and leaving her unable to get back to sleep. Her dad would often find her outside on the porch staring up at the stars in the early morning. That was another thing that changed, her dad was taking off a few weeks from work. Not wanting to leave her alone, and he was trying his best to support her. She knew she was making it hard, often shutting him out, but she couldn't talk about it. She didn't really want to talk about it. Lucas knew probably the most out of anyone, mostly because she often ranted to him while he was over at her house shooting hoops.

    And that was one of the worst parts of the whole deal. She had been forbidden by her dad to play basketball until her fingers heeled up better. After her and Lucas had played a quick game of pig and she had come into the house with blood seeping from the bandages covering her fingers. So now she had to sit and watch as her best friend shot around on her hoop instead of getting to play with him. Lucas tried his best to engage her in what he was doing, asking for pointers but it most often turned into her talking to him about her feelings or her experiences or a nightmare she had. But even he didn't know what all had happened to her in the upside down.

    But hopefully today would be a good day, she had a doctor's appointment at the lab. They tried their best to go there minimally but for her fingers they found it best to go back to the dreaded place for the check ups. Less questions were asked that way so less excuses were needed to be made. She normally hated the appointments, too many memories in the building that haunted her. But today she would hopefully be cleared to play basketball again. So when her dad dropped her off at school she smiled at him and waved a happy goodbye before taking off to meet the boys at the bike racks. Her dad wasn't quite ready for her to ride her bike to and from school, Will was in the same boat with Joyce but hopefully today's appointment would loosen him up again and give her back some freedom.

    She greeted Lucas with their handshake and joined in the banter about their next D & D campaign. As they entered the school she was even able to ignore the whispers and stares the group got. But her luck ran out pretty quickly. In between fourth period and lunch her and Will got cornered by Troy and James. They started picking on her hand and the scar that ran through her eyebrow. Before turning their attention on Will, she can take it all the poking and prodding, but when they started in on Will she lost it. She shoved James back away from them quickly, then threw a punch at Troy. The boy dodged it and was about to swing back when Mr. Clarke stepped in     between the group.

    "Troy, James, don't you have lunch to get to?" He questioned the two before turning to Riley and Will. "Riley with me please, and Will go on and find the rest of the group for me yeah. Meet us in my classroom." He told the boy who nodded and scampered away, giving Riley a worried look. But she smiled at him slightly before walking after Mr. Clarke towards his classroom.