Bad Ideas - a Stranger Things story

Chapter 1: The Arrival

Nicole's POV:

I stand at my front door, suitcase in hand. I had left California without looking back and now I'm in Hawkins, Indiana, a small town filled with oddities and mysteries.

Hawkins had caught my eye while I was watching the news with my mother. Talks of monsters, demagorgons, and mind flayers haunted this town from a secret news channel, reserved only for Hawkins Lab workers and former workers. One of the reasons I had become so obsessed over Hawkins was because of these monsters. There was a voice deep inside of me that told me I could stop them. It was my powers speaking to me. Telling me to make a difference in this town. As the days went on, that voice inside me became louder and louder until it was screaming. Once I graduated, I bought the first ticket to Indiana. Mother was supportive, of course. She says if you are set on something and are very committed to something, you should pursue it. She knew I was destined to come to Hawkins.

Now I stand here, key in hand, staring at the door to my cousins' house who she just so happened to be selling at the time I was thinking of moving here. She willingly gave it away, saying she didn't want to be in this shithole anymore. She sold it to me for a good price considering how big it was. I slowly unlock the door to the big two-story house in the perfect neighborhood with its perfect houses.

I walk in, thankful that Rebecca left all of her furniture for me. She claimed it was cursed and it was all mine. I toss my stuff on the floor and plop myself on the couch. I pick up the newspaper from today, starting to search for"Help Wanted" ads so I can get a job.

It seemed the only job I was currently qualified for was on at the Starcourt Mall for an ice cream place called Scoops Ahoy. I grunt as I get up to go dial the number on the ad. I twirl my finger around the cord until someone picks up.

"Hello, this is Scoops Ahoy, how may I assist you?" a male voice greets.

"Erm, hi. I saw your help wanted ad in the paper and I was wondering if I could apply?"

"Oh, yeah?" I could hear a smirk in his voice,"What's your name?"

"Nicole. Nicole Brooks," I say.

"Well, Nicole Brooks, it's your lucky day because we are so short on staff right now that you don't need an interview. I'm Steve Harrington and I will be your captain at Scoops Ahoy! When can you start?" Steve asks.

"Um, I could start tomorrow if you'd like?" I smile into the phone and let out a small laugh.

"That would be great sweetheart. Nine AM sharp."

"Okay, bye!" I hang up. Thank god that was straight-forward. I wonder how understaffed they actually are since I didn't even have to come in for an interview. I focus hard on the tv, making it turn on without getting up. I watch reruns of Saturday Night Live until I pass out on the couch.

***

A young girl stands in front of me. Her brown hair almost touches her shoulders. Her brown eyes seemed to be red, maybe from crying. She was looking down, still having not noticed me.

"Who are you?" I ask curiously. Her head snaps up and she stumbles backwards. She immediately brings her hand up and I feel a force act against me, trying to push me back. I raise my hand up stopping myself and pulling her towards me so that she was only about a foot or two away from me. "You're like me." I put a hand on her shoulder,"Now, who are you?"

"E-El," she stutters, shocked.

I give her a friendly smile,"I'm Nicole."

"Nicole," she says slowly,"Where am I?"

I put my hand down and look around,"It looks like my Mind Cave. We must be linked somehow. Where were you before this?"

She scrunches her eyebrows,"I was with Mike. I blinked and when I opened my eyes I was here."