In the Name of Love | lumax AU-stranger things

~Changes~

Max was now in Lucas's arms as the couple lay in his bed late at night.  After embracing outside his house, Lucas took his hand in Max's and walked her into the house.  His parents said she could stay the night and that they didn't have to go to school the next day.  The couple then went upstairs to Lucas's room, climbed under the covers and snuggled up next to each other.

Max had one hand placed on Lucas's chest and her head resting on top of that hand.  Lucas rested his chin on Max's long tresses of fire. 

"Max?" Lucas whispered. 

The girl winced in response.

"Are you going to tell me why you're here?"

Max turned over, now on her side.

"Hey, we don't have to talk about it, unless you want to—"

"No, Lucas, it's not that, it's just..." Max began.

Lucas put his arm over her body, at an attempt to bring her closer to him, she stopped his arm before reaching her.

That was new.

"Lucas, I promise you, I want to tell you everything, but it's so hard," Max continued.  "...To explain how I'm feeling.  It's just that, when Billy left my life, his father turned all of his rage to alcohol and my mom, and I want to get her out of his hands, but then he would attack me."

Lucas's eyes began to droop.  The picture of his girlfriend being controlled by that evil man put a crack in his heart.

"And Lucas I'm so scared.  I'm worried that the changes to my life will never end, and that I'll loose more and more.  I lost my dad when we moved to Hawkins.  I lost Billy because of the mind flayer.  I lost El because Joyce wanted to have a fresh start.  And my biggest fear now is loosing—"

"Max!" Lucas shouted.  He stood up from his bed, walked around to the other side and crouched down in front of Max.  "You're never going to loose me.  Wherever you go, I'll go.  I promise."

Max's eyes were moving in all directions except Lucas's. 

He knew how hard it was to get through to her.  Really the only people in the party that could even see a shred of vulnerability in Max were El and him.  Lucas was grateful to have that ability, but it was exhausting.

"Max?"

Lucas reached his hand out on the bed.  Max pushed herself away slightly.

"I need you to trust me."

Max's eyes finally met Lucas's.  "Ok, I'm gonna tell you something that I've never told anyone.  Even my mom or El."

Lucas leaned forward a bit and his ears and eyes perked up.

"So—the day, that day at the arcade, when I got home, Billy realized that he couldn't hurt me with breaking my skateboard again, so he came up with a new idea, one that I couldn't forget."

Max thought of the dream she had earlier that day.  Her younger past self scrambling away from Billy in fear but being forced back to him.

She closed her eyes tightly before opening them and continuing her spiel.  "That day...he did something awful.  Something no twelve year old girl would be able to handle.  Especially not me."

Lucas's face had gone from concentrated to horrified now.  His eyes were enlarged.  Lips parted slightly in shock.  Even his hands were shaking a bit now.  "Did Billy...r—r..."

The girl placed a hand out in front of herself, telling Lucas he didn't need to finish the word.  "Yes Lucas."

"Is that why you get so scared at my sudden movements?"

She nodded.

"Max..." Lucas stuttered.  "I would never do anything to hurt you.  Just say the word and I'll stop."

"I know, I've always known but I was too scared to admit it because—"

"You didn't want me to think of you as anything less?"

She nodded again.

***

She felt better like this.  For the first time out of many that she had slept in Lucas's bed with him, there was a pillow between the two.  As much as Max enjoyed the comfort of her boyfriend against her, it felt relieving to feel a sense of bridging.

***

A/N

I know this chapter is kinda short and cheesy but I kinda like it.  The next one or two chapters might seem kinda rushed because I really want to get to some bigger plot points in this book.  Stay tuned!  ❤️❤️❤️