Taking On Hawkins (ST cast x Reader)(Dustin x Reader)

Chapter 6: Thanks for Pudding Up With Me

Y/n's POV

After the awkward encounter at the door, the three boys stepped aside to allow Dustin and I to walk in.

"Lucas, Will and y/n you guys can head on down to the basement, me and Mike are gonna grab some snacks and meet you guys down there." Dustin said as a way to break the tension in the room.

"We are? -"

"YEA-" Dustin cleared his throat, "I mean, yes we are. Come on Mike."

I raised one of my eyebrows slightly and wondered what was going on with Dustin and the boy who I now knew as Mike. I shrugged it off as the other two boys lead me downstairs.

Dustin's POV

"Ok Mike," I glanced at the basement door making sure it was closed before returning my focus to Mike.

"I just wanted to talk to you to make sure you were cool with getting to know y/n, since...well, you know..."

"Since El's gone, I know I get it. You've moved on to new people-" Mike spit out.

"Hey, Mike! That's not fair and you know it. I will always want to have El back with us. I will always hope that she's still somewhere out there but just like you helped El, I need to help y/n. She's new and I don't want her to have to go through what I did when I was new before I met you guys."

"Yea, I guess that makes sense. Sorry Dustin. I'll try my best to get to know her but I'm not promising anything." he said pointing his finger at me. "Remember the party's still a democracy so if it turns out she doesn't fit well-"

"I think she'll be just fine." I snapped back at Mike. "She's got some stuff going on right now so let's stay civilized and worry about all this later. Okay?" I sighed. I hated arguing but I'll do it without a thought if it's for someone I care about.

"Alright, now let's get the snacks. They're probably wondering where we are."

-Meanwhile downstairs-

Y/n's POV

"It's y/n, right?" the boy with a brown bowl cut and pale skin announced with uncertainty to break the ice.

"Yep. And you are...Will?" oh gosh I hope I guessed right, it was a 50/50 chance between the two names I recalled hearing from Dustin moments earlier.

"Yes." he smiled at me, satisfied that I at least knew of his name.

"That means you must be Lucas, correct?" I said turning to a boy with dark, chocolate skin wearing a camo bandana across his forehead.

"Right on."

"It's nice to meet you both."

As soon as I finished talking I could tell the room was going to go dead silent.

The problem?

I cannot start a conversation with strangers to save my life.

Right as I mustered up the courage to try and face my fear of starting a new topic (after a solid minute of silence) I sighed with relief as I heard the basement door hinges whine and the stairs shift signaling the weight of someone walking down them. I looked up to see Dustin and Mike carrying lots of...pudding? Well, Mike was carrying a variety of snacks but pudding was the sole item in Dustin's arms.

I laughed at him and teased, "Think you got enough Dustin?"

He looked taken aback for a moment and closely followed it with a smirk as he replied, "Rule #1: There is NEVER enough pudding!"

"Oh, my apologies. Thanks for pudding up with my insensitive cluelessness." (A/N: Heh. ;) I love puns)

The four boys looked at me for a second with wide eyes. Oh boy, please like my stupid joke before I embarrass myself further...

My thought was interrupted as all four boys started laughing and I felt a wide smile creep across my face. Whew. Between the laughter I could see Lucas gasping as he tried to talk.

"Dude!...Dustin!...Where'd you find this one?... I like her! She just sassed up your smartass response!"

I smiled to myself and looked down at the ground glancing up every so often as the boys calmed down and Dustin told them how we met. That we were neighbors.

A/N: Sorry for being M.I.A. but I guess we can blame that on SCHOOL UGH. Hope you like it! I will probably post again this weekend. Thanks loves!