LOVE HEARTS- max mayfield

Chapter 8- The Funeral

Like being jolted from a terrible nightmare, Ruby awoke with a start after a restless night at the Wheeler house. Alan and Vecna had plagued her dreams, infiltrating them and warping them. She could only think of what they had said, that her suffering would end soon too. She glanced around wildly at her unfamiliar surroundings before becoming accustomed to them.

"Are you alright?" came the melodic voice of Nancy Wheeler. Ruby turned around to see the brunette holding Dustin's walkie, looking concerned.

"Shit..I.. yeah," Ruby nodded as she realised she'd been hyperventilating when she woke.

Nancy raised an eyebrow and gave her a look like an accusing mother.

"That's a lie," she spoke in a matter of fact tone. "Come on, help me find Max and I'll fix you up some breakfast Carver," she smiled softly, not prying but still trying to show she wanted to support the girl. Nancy knew how Ruby felt about losing someone close to her and feeling like it was her fault.

"Where's Max?" Ruby asked worriedly as she scanned the basement to see the dead head had moved from her spot on the sofa.

"I don't know," Nancy shook her head. Dustin! Wake up!" she yelled softly as she shook the sleeping boy who promised he'd watch Max throughout the night.

"What?" he groaned as he entered the land of the awake, smacking his head back on the TV.

"Aren't you supposed to be on Max watch?" Nancy asked agitatedly.

"Yep. Yep, yep, yep. Sorry," Dustin nodded as he wiped sleep out his eyes.

"Then where the hell is she?" Ruby asked, gesturing wildly to the empty sofa.

"She's right there!" Dustin replied until he saw it was empty. "A second ago. I swear, I just dozed off for...an hour."

"Shit Dustin!" Ruby exclaimed as the trio leaped up from the floor and pelted into the kitchen. They slowed down and breathed a sigh of relief when they entered to see Max at the table colouring with Holly Wheeler.

"Morning, guys. Everything okay?" Karen Wheeler asked with an immense amount of enthusiasm in her tone.

"Yeah. Yeah, everything's okay," Nancy breathed out in relief as she nodded.

"I think it's so sweet that you guys are sticking together like this," Karen grinned as she dished out pancakes onto plates.

"Could try sticking together at a different house for a change," Ted sighed.

"You know you're welcome anytime," Karen smiled at Dustin and then furrowed her brow when she saw Ruby. "I'm sorry, have we met before?" she asked with a warm grin.

"Ruby Carver ma'am," the blonde smiled flatly. "I'm sorry to intrude, I'm just hanging out with these guys while my brother deals with this grief."

"Oh how sweet of you!" Karen smiled once again. "Well you're welcome here anytime. Your brother is an excellent basketball player!" she continued with the relentless enthusiasm that never threatened to fade.

"Thanks mom, you can stop boring Ruby now," Nancy smiled impatiently at her mother and steered Ruby towards the table where Max and Holly were sat by placing her hands on Ruby's back and guiding her.

Ruby blushed and remembered why she had a crush on the girl back in middle school.

While Dustin helped himself to pancakes, Ruby and Nancy sat beside Max. Ruby could hear Kate Bush blasting in her ears. She didn't think Max would ever stop listening to it after the previous day.

"Hey," Max muttered with a tight lipped smile.

"Hey. You okay?" Nancy asked supportively.

"Just couldn't sleep. People kept blasting music in my ears, for some reason," Max smiled sarcastically. But Holly let me borrow some of her crayons. We've been having fun, right, Holly?" she spoke.