Stranger Things: Riley's Version

Chapter Twenty-One : The Case of the Missing Lifeguard

Riley was laying on the couch in the Wheeler's basement mind racing at how she could get back in Max's good graces. This was new territory for her, in the six months her and Max had been together she had never found herself on 'thin ice' before and she was not quite sure what that entailed or how to get off thin ice.

In fact the most they had argued was when Riley forgot to pick Max up because she would get distracted with something and lose track of time, but she would just apologize because she knew she messed up and promise to not do it again. She would end up doing it again but Max never seemed really and truly mad, if anything she seemed endeared, like she thought it was adorable that Riley sucked at time management.

    "What's wrong with me? What did I do wrong?" Mike asked Lucas from his spot sprawled on the recliner. Riley felt the urge to tell the boy off rear up in her, because if he hadn't been stupid and lied they wouldn't be in this situation. Mike offered her the bag of Doritos he had but she just shook her head, she couldn't stomach eating right now she was too worried.

    "Nothing," Lucas told him from where he stood in front of them.

    "What did I do wrong? What could I have done wrong?" Mike asked, still trying to defend himself.

    "Mike, do I have to go through this again?" Lucas asked.

    "I don't understand what I did to deserve this." Mike stated sitting up straighter looking at Lucas who was pacing. Riley felt her headache rearing up again and she closed her eyes trying to relieve some pain.

    "Nothing! Nothing! That's my whole point....you are the victim here!" Lucas told him, Riley felt her eyes snap open at that looking at her best friend.

    "You can't be serious," Riley asked. That gained both boys attention, "I mean sure did El need to break up with you no. But you were the one who lied to her. She has every right to be pissed that you used your Nana dying as a way to get out of hanging with her." Mike and Lucas looked at her before Lucas scrunched his face up like he had just eaten something bitter.

    "No." He told her before turning back to Mike.

    "What did I do wrong? WHAT DID I DO WRONG?!" Mike started yelling, and Riley grimaced, turning so her face was stuffed in the back of the couch. They kept going back and forth but Riley tuned them out trying to rid herself of the headache all while trying to figure out the Max situation. She could always just apologize, but she didn't know exactly what she was apologizing for, being worried about her friends safety. She thought what Max did, while out of a good place, was dangerous and she couldn't just ignore that. She groaned in frustration, she really wanted to just talk to Max.

    "Because women act on emotion and not logic." Mike's annoying voice stated and Riley felt herself tuning back in.

    "Precisely. It's a totally different species." Lucas agreed. Riley turned around and looked at her best friend mouth wide open.

    "You did not just call me a different species," Riley told him. His eyes widened as he looked at her.

    "I-uh, well you see, you uh you're not, you don't count," he told her and she rolled her eyes at his response but let him be. She didn't have the energy to argue with him right now.

    "Guys, it's ready." Will chimed up and Riley looked at him. Honestly the last thing she wanted to do was play D & D right now.

    "Will, not right now." Lucas told him.

    "They broke up with you. What else is there to talk about?" Will shot back and Riley felt her brow furrow.

    "She didn't break up with me," Riley said looking at the boy confused. "That wasn't a break up... right?" She questioned glancing at Lucas and Mike, they both just shrugged not helping a bit and Riley collapsed back onto the couch with a groan.