𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻.

twenty five.

THE HELLFIRE CLUB

edited.
1339 words.

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Charlie glanced over at where El was seated at her desk. She was hot gluing the last pieces of her diorama together, her brows twisted together in focus. She'd been at this for the last few days. She wanted it to be perfect. Not that her sister blamed her.

Despite my warning she had insisted that this was going to be her historical figure and nothing me or Will said would change her mind.

Sighing, Charlie grabbed her backpack and poster, marching into Will's room. She threw her stuff on the bed, collapsing beside it. "Painting again?"

Her brother nodded. "Knock next time."

The girl grumbled, flopping onto her back. She missed the days when they shared a room. When they were together all the time, attached at the hip. Rolling onto her side, she drew her eyes to the nightstand.

Framed photos of their friends stared back at her.

She missed them. A lot.

The only ones she really spoke to with any regularity were Steve, Dustin, and Lucas. Max had gone off the grid for some reason and Mike had been too consumed in Eleven to focus on anyone else.

At obnoxious honking, Charlie sat up and looked out the window. Argyle was here to pick them up for school in his big yellow pizza van.

Will rolled his eyes, setting his paintbrush into a water cup. He grabbed his backpack and poster of his own. "Let's go."

The two filed into the hallway, Jonathan and Eleven right behind them. They made their way outside to the van, Charlie taking her regular seat in the back between Will and Eleven.

"Hold onto your butts brochachos!"

Just as Charlie turned to look out the back window, Joyce stepped outside, Argyle tearing off down the street.

She waved. "Slow down!"

Her call went unheard as Argyle continued to speed down the street, rounding a sharp corner.

This was how life was now.

***

"And that is why I have chosen Helen Keller as my hero."

The class applauded, Charlie doing so to be polite though she disliked the blonde. She was mean to Eleven and thought she was better than everyone else.

"That was wonderful, Angela. Truly wonderful, what an inspiring story." Ms.Gracie flipped on the lights, making her way back over to the bowl on her desk. "Now let's see who has to follow that." She slipped on her glasses, digging a hand into the bowl. She pulled her hand out after a moment, smiling. "Jane."

The class began to applaud once again, Charlie giving Eleven a reassuring glance as she stood, making her way to the front. "Hi." The class stayed silent, Eleven shifting uncomfortably. "For my hero, I...I chose my dad."

A few people began to laugh, some even going as far as to whisper to one another. Charlie shot glares at the students around her, smiling back up to Eleven to continue.

"For my visual aid," She began to turn her project, revealing a handmade diorama of her old home. "I made a direyama of our cabin."

Charlie grinned. Although she hadn't technically followed the rules of the project, she had worked hard and it had turned out great.