Home Doesn't Always Mean Safety, But Maybe With You It Can?

Chapter Two - Learn Your Place

Preview- Max and Nancy talk, we meet a certain ice-cream girl and Max realises she's made a really big mistake.

AN: I apologise in advance for the further angst and suffering for Max in this chapter....

Trigger Warning: Please be warned this story deals with heavy physical and emotional child abuse. Alcoholism and Drug addiction as well.

Chapter two - Learn your place.

Max shuddered as her breath hitched again, slowly calming from the earlier panic and sobs, eyes still shut tightly as she clung to Nancy waiting for the pain to completely leave her body. She could feel Nancy still rubbing soft circles onto her back over the top of her hoodie, the feeling calming her to no end. If she wasnt still in pain and anxious she would likely have fallen asleep while standing, the comfort relaxing her so much. It was soothing, and made her feel safer than she had felt in years. If anyone had told her three weeks ago she would be standing in Mike Wheeler's kitchen holding onto his older sister for comfort she would have laughed in their face, but here she was.

They had stopped swaying some time ago when her tears had calmed. Nancy had tried to pull away, likely to ask her questions but Max had clung to her desperately. Nancy must have known somehow through this action how much Max needed comfort, as she didn't comment on the odd behaviour, instead opting to tug her closer again and let the younger red-head cling to her like a lifeline.

Max liked Nancy.

She always seemed so cool and collected the few times they had met previously, before that night in the cabin. She had looked so fierce and brave with that shotgun the night in the cabin, it was that night that cemented Nancy Wheeler in her mind as officially cool.

Mike himself may be annoying as hell but his sister was awesome, in Max's eyes anyway.

They had the kind of sibling relationship Max had dreamed of when first introduced to her new family by her mother back in California. They annoyed each other that was easy to tell, but they cared about each other too. Max had seen that with that way they hugged at the cabin, she wished she had that.

An older sibling that actually cared.

That didn't try to manhandle her, scare her.

Didn't try to hurt her friends, just because of their skin colour.

Didn't laugh as her step dad hurt her with his belt.

She would rather have Nancy as her older sibling over Billy anyday.

"Max?" A soft voice called, pulling Max out of her thoughts. Her body jerked in response causing Nancy to squeeze her softly before pulling away, just slightly in order to see her face, "I was worried you were falling asleep on me for a moment there." Nancy said with a smile, Max only blinked up at her in response, slightly dazed, "Are you feeling any better?" Nancy asked softly, a worried expression showing on her face.

Max nodded in response, dropping the arm that had been around Nancy's back to her side, however not yet letting go of the older girl's sweater.

Something which didn't go unnoticed by Nancy who gently brushed a strand of red hair behind Max's ear, watching her carefully.

"Let's go and sit in the other room, we can talk privately there," Nancy suggested, keeping one arm wrapped around the younger girl as she led her through to the living room and towards the Wheeler's comfy looking couch. The sight of the couch causing an involuntary shudder from Max, her hand also tightening around Nancy's sweater slightly in response.

Again something that did not go unnoticed by Nancy, concern now turning into a frown.

Once in front of the couch Nancy gently pushed on Max's shoulder to signal for her to sit, she waited patiently as Max slowly let go of her sweater and gingerly sat on the cushions, the small wince very easy to see on the younger girl's face. Nancy quickly sat beside Max, draping her arm loosely over the girl's shoulders, an open invitation for contact and hoping to seem friendly as though saying 'I'm right here, you can talk to me' through actions instead of words.