MARLEY // Max Mayfield

Baiting

Laying down raw, uncooked meat, to lure out a potential Demogorgon was something Marley Harrington, would never, in a million years, see herself doing. Not only was it something she'd never do, but it also was something she knew was absolutely idiotic and would most probably end in a lot of blood. Scratch that. Would definitely end in a lot of blood. Marley set her gaze in front of her, careful not to trip up any broken planks in the track, her, Steve and Dustin were walking down.

"Dustin...what about your mom. I mean...she loved that damn cat!" Marley yelled after a moment of too-long silence between the three.

"I -- I'll get her a new one or something! One that's identical!" Dustin stammered, waving a chunk of meat around erratically.

"She's gonna notice!"

"She won't notice!"

"Oh god, none of this would have happened if you hadn't kept it!" Marley hissed, throwing a slice of steak into the woods, she'd underestimated her throws trajectory.

"For the last time! I didn't know it was a Demogorgon!"

"Alright alright, so let me get this straight," Steve started interrupting their little argument, "You kept something you knew was probably dangerous in order to impress a girl who...who you just met?"

"All right, that's grossly oversimplifying things," Dustin said in his defence. Marley rolled her eyes and kicked at the ground, the wooden plank beneath her snapping in half with ease.

"I mean, why would a girl like some nasty slug anyway?" Steve questioned.

"An interdimensional slug? Because it's awesome!"

"She wouldn't even know it was an interdimensional slug, you imbecile!" Marley shouted, turning around to him and pointing a piece of meat in his face. "Why didn't you just get to know her!? See what she likes instead of assuming and making her uncomfortable whilst also simultaneously, somehow, putting the party in jeopardy!"

"I'm sorry!" Dustin cried out desperately, "he understood me and I -- I thought--"

"Because he likes Nougat!?"

"Why does everyone keep saying that!? No, it's not because of the goddamn nougat!" Dustin yelled. The three of them stopped, dropping their buckets of bait to the floor. Steve looked between the two of them worriedly, waiting for a moment to step in, "It's because Dart is weird! Like me!"

"We're in a group full of weirdos, Dustin!"

"No! No, you don't get it, even in a group of weirdos! I'm the weirdo!" Marley stopped and blinked, staring at Dustin, mouth slightly parted, "You're not even weird! So what? You like games, you're all nerds and stick out at in a crowd! But you're not, me, weird! Dart is --!Or I thought he was! Because he's not like other reptiles and pollywogs and...he was just different!"

"Dustin..."

"So I'm sorry!" He shouted, his shoulders rising and setting in rapid motions, "I'm sorry I kept a potential Demogorgon, knowing how you felt about them and what they did to you. I just..."

"I get it...I'm sorry we made you feel like you were alone, so much so that you risked your own safety to not be," Marley smiled softly, pulling the boy into a hug but making sure to not place her bloody hands on his back. "I...I think I can picture how it feels. Not exactly of course because you're you and I'm me but...I can relate in some way. I mean...Dustin, I'm a lesbian."

"Yeah...I know -- I know you can," Dustin sniffled, pulling away and picking up his bucket again, "Come on, let's go," he broke out into a toothy smile, leading the front once more. Marley sighed and picked up her own bucket, Steve coming to a stop beside her and pulling her into a sideways hug as they walked.