It works for them... why not?

A Cooler Guy

A Cooler Guy

Gordie walked nervously toward the building... it was much bigger than the one the entire Castle County shared.

Sure, he knew that "technically" this was also just a relatively small town... but for him, who had lived his whole life in a village of only 1,281 people, Hawkins, with 10 times that number, was very... overwhelming.

As he walked past the other students, he briefly absorbed some of their stories.

Like when he passed a woman dropping off her unusually tall son, whom she reprimanded without hesitation -And you'd better go to the debate club, UNDERSTAND THAT, JIMMY?-

He just replied listlessly -Yeah, yeah, Mom- though he didn't seem convinced at all.

Gordie decided to go out of his way; he was supposed to be trying to make friends, but he was unnervingly fixated on Axe's vibe.

He walked around the back of the parking lot, eventually passing a car from which a blond boy his age and an older teenager were getting out, both in... very good shape.

They approached a girl who was waiting there, and the older boy said -Well, Miss Newby... you are hereby presented with a top-quality little brother- in a theatrical manner.

She asked with feigned seriousness -Does he have all his vaccinations? Has he been dewormed?- The annoyed boy snapped at them -Shut up, idiots!- which made the two older children laugh.

A moment later, the boy joined in their laughter. He seemed like a nice kid. Their eyes met, and he waved.

Gordie nodded back, almost going over to greet him, but then he remembered.

" You gonna meet a lot of new guys... smart guys. "

"Meet a lot of pussies is what you mean... not going to meet a lot of pussies, forget it!"

So he changed course and continued walking toward the woods.

There he felt very lonely, but at the same time the overabundance of stimuli had subsided. Then he noticed a very familiar smell, and a cough further away.

He approached with hesitant steps and saw a girl with black hair leaning against a wooden bench that looked brand new, covering her mouth and coughing with a cigarette between her fingers.

Gordie thought about leaving, but as he stepped on a branch, she turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and she said shyly –Hi- raising her hand.

He swallowed and moved closer, replying -Hi, I'm...- He was speechless for a moment, but then he remembered.

"I always wanted to name you after my granpa... but your father forbade it."

So he finished -...Lonnie... Lonnie Byers-

She clarifies -Ly... Joyce Maldonado, nice to meet you- her throat still a little sore.

Lonnie, in a slightly nervous voice, asks -Can I have one?- as he approaches the table.

Joyce raises an eyebrow and asks -How old are you?- He shrugs and replies -About the same as you-

They both laugh as he, with a trembling hand, takes a cigarette from the pack, picks up the lighter, puts it to his lips, and lights it.

At that moment, his body relaxes considerably, and he exhales the smoke calmly through his nose.

She laughs and comments sarcastically and sharply -You look way cooler than me...- Lonnie laughs too and adds -It's an acquired taste... you just have to get used to the flavor beforehand- and takes another drag.