MARLEY // Max Mayfield

MADMAX

"Steve..." Marley smiled softly and the boy ran over to her, picking her up in a bear hug and swinging her around, she let out a loud 'Oomph' sound on impact but didn't voice any discomfort, instead opting to hug back.

"Marzipan!" He yelled out excitedly, dropping her back to the floor but keeping his arms at her shoulders.

"I'm seriously regretting telling you that story, it was one time," she sighed, grinning broadly at her brother.

"I may have never seen it but I will make sure to never let you live it down," he smirked and held out his hand, "Come on, I already did your room, mom and dad are on a business trip," Marley smiled and grabbed her things from her carers car, flipping her off as she drove away. She turned back to Steve and took his hand, letting herself get dragged by the over-excited boy.

Steve swung the door open, the air inside of the home hitting Marley with a surprising amount of nostalgia. She took in a deep breath and exhaled. "Never thought I'd say this but it is so good to be home..."

"I know! I know! I'm so excited to finally talk to you in real life and not on the phone!" Steve buzzed, hopping about dramatically, Marley rolled her eyes, finding the whole scene strangely endearing. "Hey! I'll race you to your room, readysetgo!"

"What? Steve that's unfair!" Marley whined but ran after him nonetheless, she passed him easily and leant against her door frame with a smirk, watching as he panted. "Kiss my ass, Stevie boy,"

"Language!" he warned and she shook her head, sticking her tongue out at him.

"Sorry MOM!" She teased, plopping onto her bed and laying the box of stuff she had on her chest. She could not remember the last time she had laid on something so comfortable. The Grouchers made her sleep on a mattress that slid out from underneath their daughter's bed and honestly, it felt like sleeping on concrete.

"God, you've grown," Steve got out disbelievingly, "Look at you!"

Marley looked at him as he stood in the doorway, shoulder against frame and arms crossed. She didn't give a reply, a more pressing matter at the tip of her tongue. "You didn't tell them I was back right?" He shook his head with a small smile, "I can't believe mother and father made me leave just after everything went down, they didn't even let me say goodbye properly, not even to you..."

Steve sighed and stepped inside, tentatively sitting down on the girl's bed and moving her box of stuff to beside his feet, "Mike, Lucas and Dustin almost crashed into me when I was on my way back from the shop," he recalled and then chuckled lightly, "they were in such a panic, Dustin was even crying, they said you had suddenly said you were leaving through the radio, we rushed back here and well, it wasn't pretty."

Marley looked up at the ceiling guiltily, thinking she probably just shouldn't have said anything. Steve placed a careful hand on her shoulder. "It wasn't your fault, mom and dad are just jerks. It's their only personality trait."

"I know it's just, with Will in hospital at the time and Eleven gone, I'm sure it didn't help with me leaving," Steve smiled softly and stood up, walking out and then stopping just outside Marley's door, she looked over at him quizzically.

"Well, I was going to suggest rewatching Grease and pints of icecream buuuut, a little birdie told me the four boys were at the arcade," he hummed and Marley sat up to look at him, leaning on her elbows.

"Was that little birdie Nancy Wheeler by any chance?" Steve's eyes went wide with embarrassment and Marley laughed.

"Shut up Marzipan," he reached into the room and grabbed the softest object he could find, throwing it at the girl who caught with ease, "your bikes in the garage, I kept it nice and clean while you were gone."