voltage ; stranger things

three ; the last day

"Colleen Hopper." The audience filled to the brim with nearly everyone in town claps as the teenager climbs the stairs to accept her degree. Their cheers, though the other students don't mind much, are quite a bit louder than they have been. Everyone in Hawkins knows what hell that poor girl has been through in the past few years - it's a miracle she didn't drop out by her senior year.

Smoothing out her blue graduation robes, Colleen grins from ear to ear as she takes the scroll of paper and shakes the principal's hand. He gives her a nod, then moves aside as the cameras start flashing. She looks into the crowd and, if it's possible, her smile grows even more.

Hopper seems to be cheering the loudest, what with his whistles and jeers that startle everyone around him. He couldn't be any prouder of his daughter than in this moment. Their family has triumphed death and shadow monsters and unworldly powers, and now, finally, high school.

Beside the sheriff is Joyce, who waves up at her son's girlfriend enthusiastically. Colleen has been like a daughter to her for her entire life, a miniature version of her, even, in some ways. She's watched her grow, watched her fall and get back up through hell and back. She deserves this. At her side, the four boys and Max scream at the tops of their lungs, yelling and clapping and jumping for joy. How could they not be proud of the badass, lighting-struck girl who's saved their lives time and time again?

And finally, off to the side with his camera clicking and flashing away, is Jonathan. Sweet Jonathan Byers, who's stuck by her side and loved her with everything he has nearly their entire lives. When he catches her looking, he lowers the camera and gives her the biggest, most loving grin he can offer. He waves at her, then raises the device and snaps away.

Click!

•••

"Two black coffees, one green tea, and a bagel?" the barista asks, looking up from her notebook.

"That's me," says Colleen and steps up to take her order. She glances behind her for a moment. Of course it would be her; she's the only one in the cafe.

Since the new Starcourt Mall has opened, several of the family-run businesses in the middle of town have been forced to shut down. Most of them are now closed, their doors chained and their windows blacked out. Colleen feels a bit guilty, for even the store Joyce works at is beginning to put everything on sale, but tells herself she needed her job at Radio Shack. It's the best possible place for her to work, what with her abilities and all.

"Same time tomorrow?" she jokingly asks the old woman who stands behind the counter.

The barista shakes her head and flashes her a sad smile. She says, "Afraid not, dear." She pulls the washcloth from her shoulder and begins to wipe down the already-clean tables. "Today's the last day. I have to close up shop for good this evening."

The guilt begins to grow in Colleen's chest, tugging her heartstrings. She swallows thick and wishes the woman well, then hurries from the empty cafe and down the street. Hopper needed the truck today, so she's forced to walk all the way to Hawkins Post, and then from there across town to the mall. She told her father that her legs were going to give out before she got there. He told her to hush up and call him if she needed a ride.

Balancing the drink carrier in her hands and eating her bagel that's stuck in her mouth, she makes her way down the few blocks to Hawkins Post, the town's local newspaper. Jonathan hadn't called last night to tell her what Tom had thought of their story, so she decided she would bring her boyfriend and Nancy coffee and find out for herself just what happened. Either way the story could have gone, she's ready to reward or comfort her boyfriend with whatever it takes.

By the time she reaches the Hawkins Post parking lot, she's finished her bagel and is checking her wristwatch. Tony should be opening the store right about now; he promised to cover for her being just a few minutes late today. She starts for the front door, then pauses upon seeing Jonathan's car down the lot. She can see the silhouettes of people inside; they must have just arrived as well.

Colleen starts her stride towards the car, already congratulating herself on how delighted they'll be with their drinks, until she catches a glimpse inside. She freezes in her tracks. Her heart skips a beat. Her mouth falls agape and the carrier slips from her hands, smashing to the ground at her feet.

Inside the car, Jonathan and Nancy are pulling their shirts and pants on - their hair is mussed and there's the faint outline of a hickey on her boyfriend's jaw.

Nancy stops mid-sentence upon seeing her friend just outside the car, her eyes widening. Jonathan looks at her a moment, then follows her gaze and catches sight of his girlfriend. Oh, god.

"Collie," he says as he steps from the car, his work shirt half-buttoned. Up close, she can see yet another love bite on his neck. "Collie, hey, it's-"

Alarms blare in Colleen's head and her mouth is suddenly so dry her tongue sticks to the roof. This is happening. This is really happening. How could they do this to her? How dare they do this to her, after everything they've all been through together?

"What the hell?!" she screams, unable to contain her fury and panic any longer. Her gaze switches to Nancy for a moment as she emerges from the car, then flick back to the boy standing in front of her. "Wh-what-"

"Collie, it's not what it looks like-" Jonathan is cut off as his girlfriend raises a hand and strikes him across the face. He stumbles back a step, touching the stinging spot where she hit him.

"You're an asshole!" Colleen shrieks. She steps backwards, tears already cascading down her cheeks and dripping from her chin. Her head is pounding, getting louder and louder. "How dare you?! What did you do?!"

"Collie!" He takes a step closer, his arm outstretched.

"Enough!" Her eyes flicker to a pale shade of white that match the scars lining her face and a trickle of blood begins to deep from her nostril. She throws out a hand and it seems as though the world shatters around her. Bulbs explode in the streetlights and sparks fly from the Hawkins Post sign mounted above the building. The headlights of the car begin to malfunction and the alarm suddenly sings its shrill scream louder than should be possible.

Colleen grasps her bag strap across her shoulder and turns on her heel, sprinting away from the life-altering scene before her. Her eyes return to normal as she hears them calling after her, but the tears remain. Blood drips down her face from her nose and stains her work uniform. She runs for what seems forever, knowing Jonathan will get back in the car and race after her. She slips through an empty side alley, emerges on a street corner, and bolts to the nearest payphone. Her hands tremble as she grabs the receiver and dials the number.

"Hello?" asks the voice on the other end.

"I need you to come pick me up," she says in a shaky voice. "Now."