PANDEMONIUM [ 2 ] ↠ STRANGER THINGS

14. A DAMN GOOD FIGHT

PANDEMONIUM
CHAPTER FOURTEEN

➝ A DAMN GOOD FIGHT

COLLEEN STOOD BESIDE MAX AS THE TWO GIRLS HELPED HOPPER PULL AS MUCH SCRAP METAL THAT THEY COULD FIND FROM THE SHED. Colleen was completely out of breath and she had definitely done enough work outs to last her many years between this and the junkyard. She looked over towards Max who looked to be focusing hard on each piece she picked up, so Colleen leaned over and whispered to the girl, "How come we are the ones who keep getting the crap jobs?"

Max heaved a sigh out as she pulled another piece out, before passing it along to Colleen. The redhead's cheeks were bright red and her breath was heavy, "Boys suck."

"They really do," Colleen agreed before Hopper stepped out of the shed with a handful of items and tossed them onto the ground. Which made both of the girls open their mouths in unison, leave it to Hopper to make it look easy. But their pride returned when Mike walked out next, struggling to carry what was in his hands. Colleen let out a laugh and walked over to help her cousin, "Let me give ya a hand, Mikey."

Mike gave her an appreciated smile, "Thanks." But then his brown eyes landed on Max who was standing behind her, and he rolled his eyes before storming back inside.

"What was that about?" Colleen asked.

Max shook her head and threw a piece of metal  down onto the ground harshly, "He's got a stick up his ass."

Colleen let out a chuckle, "I love the kid, he's my cousin so I have to, you know?" Max's eyes widened when Colleen revealed that she was related to the tormenter himself. But Colleen batted her hand nonchalantly and continued, "But he's definitely got a stick up his ass. But he's been through a lot."

"With Eleven?"

Colleen chewed on her bottom lip and nodded her head, an ache in her chest from still not knowing where she was. And now knowing that Hopper hasn't seen her either... "Yeah, Eleven. Lucas told you the full story, right? Everything that happened last year?" Max nodded, so the brunette chewed on her bottom lip and blew out a heavy sigh, "Eleven wasn't just special to Mike, she meant something to all of us. But when he lost her, he lost his first crush."

Max swallowed hard, "Like Lucas."

Colleen smiled when the girl finally admitted her feelings towards Lucas and she rubbed the redhead's arm, "Yeah, like Lucas."

Max gave a smile back in return and they went back to helping Hopper empty out the shed. Colleen grabbed Christmas ornaments, lawn chairs, old books, boxes full of Byers' family memories. Hopper grabbed the final lawn mower and tossed it outside before letting out a deep breath as he turned back to the empty shed. "Great going, guys— girls."

Colleen playfully nudged his shoulder before she wrapped her arm around Max, and pulled the redhead back towards the house. Hopper's voice ringing loud in the background, "Hey! Where the hell did everyone else go? How come the only ones helping were the two girls?"