Hard Habit to Break

Chapter 21

 Tori was on sensory overload as she tried to take in the sights and sounds around her. Skateboarders and rollerbladers were tearing up and down the walkways and doing tricks in the skate park. The sound of laughter and music was billowing out of the arcade that was packed with people trying their hands at the latest video games. Street performers and vendors selling tie-dyed clothes and handmade jewelry lined the walkways, calling out to passers-by. Kids beamed brightly as they went around and around on the vintage carousel and she heard a distinctive shriek from the massive Ferris Wheel that had just been put in this year, standing high above it all in the background.

The Santa Monica Pier had a distinctly beachy and bohemian feel. It was everything you pictured when you thought of California. The vibe was relaxed and carefree, people just out and about enjoying the ocean breeze and the laid-back atmosphere. It was hard to hold onto any tension in the midst of such a free and easy environment. She couldn't imagine this being just a short ride away from where somebody lived.

How nice it must be to just spend your weekends strolling through the unique shops. Or lazing down on the sand with a book in your hand, the waves the soundtrack to your afternoon. She loved Lover's Lake but it had nothing on this.

"Oh! Be right back!" Robin yelled, darting off to one of the vendors, clearly having seen something that had caught her eye.

"Yeah. We'll see her again in about five hours," Steve snorted in Tori's ear. He probably wasn't wrong. Robin was easily distracted and here, there was no lack of things to distract her.

"I'm going to win you the biggest stuffed animal they got," Mike told El confidently, his fingers wound tightly around hers. "As big as you!"

She giggled, "And how, exactly, are you planning to get that on the plane?"

Mike's smile dropped quickly. He clearly hadn't thought about the logistics of that. A life-sized plush was not going to be easy cargo to carry. He'd probably have to pay for the stuffed animal to have its own seat if he wanted to get it home.

"Tell you what Wheeler," Jeff said, coming up and clapping him on the back. "If you can actually win a stuffed animal that big, I will pay to have it shipped back to Hawkins for you."

Max was gazing longingly over toward the skatepark where people of all ages were zooming up and down ramps, sliding over rails, and going around in something that looked like a massive bowl. The former California girl was clearly dying to get back out there. Luckily for her, Lucas noticed her look of yearning, slipping his arm around her waist.

"You want to head over there?" he asked.

Max shook her head, disappointment apparent, "There's no point. I mean, I'd love to. We don't have anything like this in Hawkins but I don't have my board. I didn't even think about it. I don't know how I didn't think about needing my board in California. I guess I just didn't think we'd be anywhere where I could skate."

Eddie grinned, "Well, lucky for you, Red, you don't need your board. You can rent one." At the look of uncertainty on her face, he laughed. "I know it's not the same as your own but it'll have to do if you want to take a turn out there. Come on. I'll get you all set up." He turned around, facing the group, opening his arms wide. "Any other takers for skateboarding or rollerblading?"

"Oh, yes!" El squealed, glancing over at Mike, lifting her eyebrows in question.

"But I was gonna win you a prize," grumbled Mike.

El grabbed his hands, pulling him forward, "And you can. You can win me the biggest stuffed animal they got...after we skate."

Mike groaned, his head dropping back, "I'm gonna look like Bambi out there, El. You know I suck at skating."