"'Cause if I'm gonna learn how to love you
I need to unlearn how to love too
Need to unlearn how to run when it feels right"
max mayfield x fem!oc
[SEASON TWO-FIVE]
cover by @hellfiresoulss
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Julianna sat on her bedroom floor, the space dimly lit by a small lamp on her nightstand. Her eyes were locked on the small, crackling orb of fire hovering between her palms. She breathed in rhythm with it, the flame responding to her focus, flickering and pulsing as if it had a heartbeat of its own. She'd been practicing her energy manipulation for hours now, trying to hone her powers, to tame the chaotic spark inside her. But as always, the energy felt like a wild creature barely contained, each flicker and twist in the flame a reminder of the lab and what they'd done to her.
Just as she closed her eyes, centering herself for another round, a sharp knock against her window shattered the silence. Her focus snapped, the flame extinguishing instantly, leaving her room in darkness. She blinked, eyes adjusting as she turned to look at her window. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw a face staring back at her. She squinted, and the familiar features of Lucas came into focus, illuminated by the faint glow of the streetlamp outside.
Rising to her feet, Julianna crossed the room cautiously, her curiosity mixed with a lingering trace of annoyance. She slid the window open, cold night air rushing in as she leaned out slightly. "Lucas? What are you doing here?" Her voice was hushed, yet tinged with surprise.
Lucas looked at her, his expression unreadable but serious. "So... you weren't lying," he said quietly, nodding toward her hands, where faint remnants of the energy she'd summoned still crackled, barely visible but unmistakable. "You really are from the lab."
Julianna's eyebrows drew together, her face shifting to an expression of guarded surprise. She didn't usually let people see this side of her, but Lucas's presence somehow felt different. He'd always been kind, but this was the first time she'd sensed a raw intensity from him. She crossed her arms defensively. "Yeah, I am. And?"
Lucas shook his head, as if trying to process it all, then gestured urgently behind him with a thumb. "Look, this isn't the time. Come on, we're going to Max's place. We need to get her."
She stared at him, confused. "Why? What's going on?"
He sighed, glancing over his shoulder as if to make sure they weren't being watched. His voice dropped to an urgent whisper. "Dustin called a Code Red. We need to help him and Steve."
Julianna blinked, the term unfamiliar to her. "Code Red? What does that even mean? And... who's Steve?"
Lucas let out a frustrated sigh, clearly thrown off by her questions but determined to explain. "Code Red means something bad—really bad. It's like... a serious emergency. It's what the Party calls when everything goes south. As for Steve... well, he's a senior at our high school. Kinda like a big brother to Dustin. He's helped us with... stuff before."
