brutal ━ mike wheeler

one. the game of the season

ONE━━━━
THE GAME OF THE SEASON

stranger things;
season 4 ep 1

DEAR FRANKIE, TODAY IS day 185.

Feels more like ten years. Joyce says that time is funny like that. Emotions can make it speed up or slow down. We are all time-travelers if you think about it. For example, this week is going very fast. I think because I am so busy. I have to make something called a visual aid. I hope Mrs. Gracey will give me an A.

Some exciting news. Joyce got an amazing new job. She gets to work at home. She says she loves the "freedom."

Will is painting a lot, but he. . . but he won't show me what he's working on. Maybe it is for someone he likes. I think there is someone he likes, because he has been acting weird.

Jonathan is acting weird also. I think he is just nervous about college. He is still waiting for his big letter. I hope he and Nancy get to go together. But I don't know how he'll get to college because his car is still broken. His funny friend Argyle had been taking us to school. His hair is longer than mine and yours! He and Jonathan like to smoke smelly plants together. Jonathan says the plants are super safe because they come from the earth, but to not tell Joyce.

Me? I am soooo much happier now. You were definitely right. It just takes a little bit of time and getting used to things. I think I have finally adapted.

I even like school now. I am still best at math, but my grammar is getting good now also. It helps that everyone is so nice here. I have made lots of friends.

Even so, I am ready for spring break, mostly because I get to see you. I'm a little sad that Adrian won't be able to come down with you, but I'm super excited for you to come down! Are you excited too? I think you will love it here like me. I think we will have the best spring break ever.

I'm sorry if my spelling still isn't as good, but I hope it's better than last time. See you soon!

Love, El.

The smile on Frankie's face didn't leave even as she walked through the halls of Hawkins High School. She was super excited that she was going to get to see El over spring break. It was all thanks to Adrian, too. He had managed to get her a ticket, but said that he wasn't allowed to go down that time. She knew it was a different reason, but she didn't want to pester him about it.

As she walked down the halls, she waved at a few students passing by, all of them giving her a wave back. It had taken a while to get adjusted to the new school, but she found her calling soon enough.

The cheer team.

She became close friends with the captain of the team, Chrissy Cunningham, and she had managed to convince her to join after a few months.

She had to be there a little earlier that morning because of a pep rally for the big basketball game they were having that night. What's so great about it was that Lucas was going to be playing. Maybe not playing, but he was on the team.

She tugged at the skirt of her uniform as she walked into the gymnasium, waving at Chrissy, who beamed at her. "Hey, Fran! Good to see you made it on time." Frankie smiled at her happily and made her way over to the girls. "I can't let my team down, now can I?"

"It sucks that you're going away for spring break. Won't get to see each other." Chrissy said with a small frown and Frankie shook her head. "I'll make sure to call you, don't worry." Chrissy seemed to straighten out at that with an even bigger smile on her face than before. "Perfect!"