Stranger Things: Riley's Version

Act Two Epilogue

Riley let out a sigh as she dropped the shovel she was holding to the ground. Throwing her head back she let out a groan as the snow kept falling down around her. She had just spent the last half hour clearing off the driveway of snow and by the morning she would have to do it all again. She picked up the shovel from where she had dropped it and trudged up the front porch propping the shovel against the wall before heading into the nice warm house. She was greeted by laughter and warmth as she opened the front door, the warm air reaching her cheeks as she took off her mittens and went to unzip her coat.

    "You get it done?" her dad called from the kitchen where he was making snacks for the game. She just hummed out in response, focusing on unzipping her coat with her slightly numb fingers. She was cursing as she tried to get the zipper unstuck.

    "Let me," came a soft voice from in front of her, as hands reached up and grabbed hers before pulling them away from the zipper. Riley looked up meeting her girlfriend's eyes and gave her a small smile.

    "Alright I guess. But just so you know if I could feel my fingers this would be no problem," she told the red head with a cheeky smile. A laugh came from her dad as he walked by plate in hand of all sorts of good snacks.

    "Well maybe if you did it earlier like you were supposed to when it was warmer instead of fooling around you would be able to feel your fingers." Her dad chimed in as he sat beside Lucas on the couch.

    "Yeah fooling around with Max," Lucas teased. Riley felt heat rushing to her cheeks at that, making them even redder than before. Max let out a laugh but Riley could see a blush growing on her face at the jab as well.

    "There, all done," Max said as she stepped back Riley's coat unzipped. Max pulled the hat off her head running her fingers through Riley's hair helping calm it down as Riley pulled off her coat. She hung her coat up before following Max down into the living room. Max sat on the couch beside Lucas and Riley plopped down in front of her sitting on the ground and leaned back into the girl.

    "Well at least I have a girlfriend," Riley told Lucas once she got comfortable. That drew a snort from her dad and a kick from Lucas.

    "I could have any girl I wanted," Lucas told her. "I just choose to live the bachelor life." Everyone in the room laughed at that. Riley blew into her hands trying to warm them up as everyone kept poking fun at the boy. Max noticed and shoved a mug full of hot chocolate in her hands and she gave her a grateful smile. Feeling the heat from the drink seep out into her hands.

    "Figured you would be a bit cold after being out there for so long," Max whispered to her. Riley leaned back into her girlfriend's legs with a content hum and rested her head on the girl's knee.

    "Thank you," she told her, meeting her eyes and couldn't help the smile that grew on her face as she looked at the girl. Max smiled back and opened her mouth to answer but was abruptly cut off by Lucas.

    "Stop with the flirting, the game is about to start," He told them, shoving his knee into Riley's shoulder. Riley let out a grunt but turned her attention to the T.V. where sure enough the Pacer's game was on and the players were getting set for tip off. This had always been the tradition, going to either her or Lucas's house to watch the pacer's game and pigging out on snacks instead of having an actual dinner. But recently they have added a new member. Max knew almost nothing about the game but she seemed to be having a good time and Riley isn't complaining about getting to spend time with the girl. It's even better that her and Lucas seem to be becoming close friends so it's never awkward when they all hang out together. The Pacers scored and they all yelled and highfived. Riley relaxed back into her girl as they all enjoyed the game.