You take the man out of the city, not the city out the man

chapter sixteen

Summer of 1985

Mike and I are in my room, the radio playing as I'm laying down as Mike's on top of me. We continue kissing as the beat drops.

"And nobody wants to know you now!" Mike sings along as he imitates the guitar as I smile and sit up.

"Mike! Mike, stop!" I say as I cover his mouth with my hands.

"So if you're lost and on your own!"
"Mike! Stop!" I say as I laugh.
"You can never surrender!" Mike says as he holds my hands.

"What, you don't like it?" Mike says as I laugh.
"No!" I reply with a laugh as we lean into each other again.

"Addy! Don't you guys have the movie soon?" My mom yells from downstairs and I check the time. 10. Shit.

"Shit, we gotta go." I say as I turn off the radio and grab my backpack.
"What time did they want us there, again?" Mike asks as I put on my converse.
"10:15." I tell Mike as we run downstairs and I grab my skateboard while Mike grabs his bike.

"Okay, bye mom, bye dad. I'll see you guys soon!" I yell as we quickly go to the street and head towards the mall.

Over the winter, Hawkins built Starcourt mall, which has been a huge hit this summer. Steve got a job at this ice cream place, which connects to the movie theather so basically, we can watch any movie for free.

Dustin hasn't been home all summer, since he's been away at summer camp so it's just been us 6 these past few weeks

We make it to the mall in 10 minutes as we see Max, Lucas, and Will.

"On time, I see?" Lucas says as I roll my eyes.
"We're always on time." I say as I walk towards the mall.
"We're always on time." Lucas mocks as I shove him.
"Okay, dude. Just please stop talking." Mike says.

"Let me guess. You were busy." Lucas says as he smacks his lips together and I roll my eyes.

"Real mature, Lucas." I say as I walk by Max.
"Oh, Addy, I wish we could make out forever, and never hang out with any of our friends." Lucas says.

"Lucas, stop." Max says as Will laughs.
"Will thinks it's funny."
"Because it is."
"Yeah, it's so funny that I want to spend time with my girlfriend. We've been dating for 2 years now." Mike says as we turn the corner.

"I'm spending time with my girlfriend." Lucas says as he puts his arm around Max.
"You guys are idiots." I say with a laugh as we push past people down the escalator.

"Sorry, excuse us." We all say as we push people.
"Watch it!" Someone says.

"Yeah, watch it, nerd!" Someone says and I look to see Lucas's little sister, Erica.

"Isn't it past your bedtime?" Lucas asks.
"Isn't it time you died?" Ericas replies as I laugh.
"Psycho!"
"Butthead!"
"Mall rat!"
"Fart face!" Erica yells back as Lucas sticks out his tongue.

Mike holds my hand as we turn to Scoops Ahoy. Mike rings the bell, Robin, a girl with short dirty blonde hair looking at us.

"Hey, dingus, your children are here." Robin says as the sliding window behind her opens, revealing Steve Harrington.

"Again? Seriously?" Steve asks as Mike rings the bell again.

Steve let's us through with a sigh.
"Come on, come on." Steve says as we walk down the hall.

"I swear, if anybody hears about this-" Steve starts.
"We're dead." We all say at the same time.

Mike opens the theater door.
"All clear." Mike says as we follow Mike.