𝐑𝐄𝐁𝐄𝐋 𝐆𝐈𝐑𝐋 ! robin buckley [rewriting]

001. rebel girl

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮
ONE!
rebel girl
╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

───────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ─────────

The grand opening of Starcourt Mall was the most exciting thing to happen in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. The cartoonishly large fluorescent sign that was hung up at the very edge of town was enough to draw interest from the population, who were used to the simplicity of everyday life but the reveal about the dozens of new stores, the sleek food court and a theatre that would feature the latest films was enough to spark mass excitement. Many eager eyes ready to explore upon opening day.

The small town had never experienced the pleasure of having a mall before. The population's needs had only been fulfilled by the dozens of local family businesses that were situated on the Main Street for decades at this rate but the opening of the mall was proclaimed as the start of a new beginning in Hawkins, a step into the bright future. The days of their past, which had suddenly been riddled with uncertainty and controversy, would be left behind and a newfound purpose would take its place instead.

From the moment that the satin ribbon had been cut by the mayor, commencing the grand opening of the sparkly new mall, the people of Hawkins had not been able to contain their excitement. They ravaged the new environment, almost akin to hungry dogs finding something to eat, desperate to fulfil every desire that this new mall promised to offer to their town. Their weak appetites could barely keep up with the new demands of capitalism but they forced themselves to push through, viewing consumption as secondary within their lives.

But Ashley Parker didn't dare to hide her hatred for Starcourt Mall, believing it only existed to ruin everyone's lives. She didn't understand what was so special about the mall when the local businesses could easily accommodate the town's needs. She believed the mall was nothing more than a giant scheme to coax people into spending more money than they'd like on items that didn't need. It was a vicious cycle at the end of the day.

Ashley could spend all day on her soap box, preaching about the horrors of capitalism but she couldn't deny that she too was a bit of a hypocrite, especially since she desired to have a part-time job at that said mall. She was in desperate need of money, not wanting to rely on her parents to afford the things that she desired. This was a complete contrast from her entitled step-siblings, who were content with mooching but she could never allow herself to do that, knowing the guilt would eat away at her.

Ashley needed the money to buy her very first car, a symbol of independence that she had desired. Since moving to the small town, the lack of public transport had made her forced to depend on others to get around and she was sick of not being able to do things on her own. She knew that having her own car would her grant her the freedom that she so desperately craved but she couldn't achieve that without money, which is what led her to job hunting.