Stranger Things: Riley's Version

Chapter Ten: MADMAX

Riley wiped her brow as she entered the kitchen basking in the cool air from the fridge door when she opened it. She reached in her pocket, pulling out her inhaler, shaking it before taking a puff in. After holding her breath she slowly breathed out releasing the air she had been holding in her lungs. She shoved the thing back in her pocket, her lungs feeling cleared up and open as she breathed. She grabbed out the milk from the fridge and poured herself a glass, gulping it down quickly.

She then ran to the bathroom and took as quick a shower as physically possible. She and Lucas had been doing yard work all afternoon to get some money for the arcade. She normally did it alone throughout the week to gain some extra cash, but after seeing her last haul Lucas begged her to let him help. So being the good friend she was, she let him mow old man Humphrey's lawn while she cleaned up Miss Walstad's flower bed. She still got a decent chunk of cash with a solid five dollars. After hopping out of the shower feeling refreshed she changed into her normal jeans and t-shirt making sure her pocket knife was attached to her belt and her inhaler was stowed in her pocket.

She threw her dad's dog tags and wedding ring on her neck and made her way down the hall and to the front lawn. Calling out to her dad that she was leaving for the arcade. At first when she had gotten back from the upside down her dad insisted on driving her everywhere. But after a few month's and him trying to juggle work he decided to allow her to go back to biking everywhere, as long as she was with someone else. So she drug Lucas with her everywhere, to the arcade, the movies, before if you thought the two were attached at the hip. Well now they might as well have been, and Riley didn't think the boy minded. After last year's events he seemed to get a little more protective of her, but they also grew closer if that was even possible.

She grabbed her bike from the lawn as she waited for Mike and Lucas to make their way to her house. It was the designated meeting place for the three kids that lived on Maple street. Lucas pulled up beside her and they greeted each other with their handshake, they started talking about the latest pacers game and the rookie Michael Jordan who seemed to be doing pretty good.

Finally after what felt like an hour-long wait Mike zoomed past the two on his bike. They smiled at each other before taking off after the boy. Dustin joined them once they drove past his street and they biked together to the arcade. Racking their bikes, the group got off just in time for Joyce Byers to pull up honking the horn at the group. They all waved as they saw Will talking to his mom as he tried to get out of the car. Will hadn't been as lucky as Riley, his mom dropped him off and picked him up everywhere. He wasn't allowed to go anywhere by himself, and Riley couldn't blame her, Will had almost died in the upside down. But she still felt bad for the boy always being mother henned.

Will jogged over to them a smile plastered on his face. Riley high fived him in greeting as they all stumbled their way into the arcade that was full of kids of all ages coming to play video games. They made their way over to the open dragon's lair game and staked it out as theirs, all gathering around the machine. Dustin was up first to play the game, inserting his quarter he started the game up. He was passing level after level trying to save the princess.

"Oh, Jesus! I'm in uncharted territory here, guys." Riley glanced over the boy's shoulder as he played.

"Down! Down! Down!" They all yelled at him, he followed their directions and his player ducked below the dragon's claws. They all kept yelling directions at the boy, shouting over one another. Dustin slammed his fingers into the buttons controlling the joystick to move his character all while yelling back at them to shut up. He was suddenly blasted by the dragon's fire breath and Riley threw her head back in defeat.

"No! No! No! I hate this overpriced bullshit! Son of a bitch! Piece of shit!" Dustin yelled, hitting the machine. Riley just patted him on the shoulder in consolation.