Into The Fire~A Stranger Things fanfiction

Watching and Waiting/Crush

   I parked my motorcycle outside the front of the Starcourt Mall at night, ignoring the looks of shock and wonder I received, pulling the helmet off my head. My white blonde waves cascaded down to my shoulders, and I hung the helmet on one of the handlebars, climbing down onto the ground, a cigarette dangling between my lips, almost gone. I eyed the mall with anxiety, given almost every time I walked inside, every member of the male species I passed tried to hit on me. I honestly couldn't see what they saw, what with my wide, grey eyes, elven features, and plump lips, I thought I looked too much like a perfect pink princess to be loved. Little did those boys, or anyone else, know that I was far from perfect or pink..And I was definitely no princess. A group of girls wearing frilly dresses and skirts passed by me, and one of them snickered, before telling me, "Nice Halloween costume, freak!" I just smiled, and raised my middle finger in the air, before yelling back, "Thank you! At least my costume is original!" She just wrinkled her nose in disgust, and hurried on with her friends.

    I smirked, and finished the cigarette, snuffing it out under my boot, then slowly made my way inside the mall, already receiving stares. I was wearing a black tank top, skintight black skinny jeans, my black leather jacket, and a bit of eyeliner, but nothing too fancy. I sighed, eyeing the stores all around me, and settled on the ice cream parlor, Scoops Ahoy, where my best and only friend, Robin Buckley, worked with Steve Harrington, the douchebag of Hawkins High School. Until he graduated, he liked to torment me nonstop, calling me names and slurs, all because of my lifestyle choice of liking girls over boys. Now, he was acting nicer, but it was too little, too late, in my opinion. I made my way to the counter, and rang the little bell, my smile genuine, as Robin popped out from the back room, her red hair and freckles accentuating her piercing blue eyes. She grinned, and shouted, "Ana!" The wind was knocked out of me, as she raced around the counter, and tackled me with a bone crushing hug. I returned the favor, being careful not to actually hurt her, and felt relaxed in her arms. That was the only place I could feel at home, given that otherwise, I was  filled with anger, pain, and darkness. But with Robin, it all melted away, leaving me with a light feeling in my heart. Standing there like that, I nearly forgot why I had to go to the mall in the first place, which I could never tell Robin, or anyone else.

   If they ever found out what I was really doing in Hawkins for the past year, they'd be in grave danger, and could even be killed, or tortured, and I wouldn't let that happen to anyone, especially Robin..And when my father and his company's work was finished, we'd leave Hawkins, Indiana, and I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. My smile faded slightly at the thought of leaving Robin behind, and my heart throbbing at all the secrets I constantly kept from her, when she was like an open book to me. She noticed my change in mood, and frowned, letting go of me. She asked, "Hey, what's wrong? You know you can tell me anything..And the dingus is in the back, so he won't hear a thing." I just shrugged, and muttered, "It's nothing..Honest. I'm just having one of those fucking moods again, I guess." She sighed, and lightly grabbed my hand, sending chills up and down my spine, then froze, as her thumb brushed against my wrist. She quickly yanked my jacket sleeve down slightly, to where only we could see, revealing the bandage wrapped tightly around my wrist. The pain and sadness in her eyes was sharp and clear, as she swallowed hard, before looking up at me. "What is that?" I instantly regretted ever going to the mall, even though I really had no choice, and yanked my a away. I shook my head, pulling my sleeve back down, and replied darkly, "Nothing. You weren't supposed to see that."

    I went to leave, and her face fell. Her shoulders slumped, and guilt was written across her features, as she ran after me, ignoring the line of customers piling up in front of the counter. She called, "Ana, wait!" I sighed, and stopped dead in my tracks, letting her catch up to me. She whispered, so no one else could hear, "I'm sorry, okay? I don't know what I was thinking. What you do is none of my damn business, and I shouldn't have done that. It's just-" She sighed, and wrapped me in her arms, and I could feel her shaking slightly. "-You're my best friend, and I worry about you. I mean, you have fading bruises all the time, and you're always getting drunk, and I just don't wanna lose you. Okay?" My heart melted at that, and no matter how much I tried, I couldn't stay mad at her. I sighed, and told her, "I forgive you..And I get why you did it. I would probably do the same thing, because you're my best friend, too." I felt her body relax, and buried my face in her shoulder, inhaling the scent of strawberries, ice cream, and what I thought might be a bit of cologne, before letting go of her. I told her, "I've got some time left before I gotta run. Mind grabbing me a Banana Boat?"