MARLEY // Max Mayfield

Alone

Back and forth conversation was a constant hum in the background of the Byer's residence. Marley had taken up residence at the table, fingers picking at the bandage tightly wound around her hand as they all waited, she flexed her fist, grimacing at the resistance, the pain as her hand shook with the exertion of it but watched as it went still when she didn't try and move the tender muscle there. She sighed and looked over at Dustin, relieved to see he was nearing the end of his conversation.

She was startled, however, when someone prodded at the bandage of her palm and turned to see Eleven peering at it curiously, the girl's eyes flitted from the wound and then to Marley, inquisitive. Marley went to speak, to tell her she probably didn't want to actually see the damage because it was pretty gruesome when Dustin returned the phone to its receiver with a loud crack. Both girls turned to look over at him then, wound forgotten.

He had turned to Joyce, "do you still have that kiddie pool we bobbed for apples in?"

"I think so. Yeah," Joyce turned to Jonathan.

"Yeah," he confirmed.

"Good. Then we just need salt. Lots of it." Dustin supplied. Marley stood up and wiped her uninjured but incredibly sweaty palm down her front, looking around briefly before turning back to Dustin.

"How much is lots?" She asked. Dustin looked down at his notepad and Marley peered over at it, waiting for him to reply.

"1500 pounds," he told and Marley sighed.

"Well, shit..." she muttered.

"Where are we gonna get that much salt?" Nancy piped in looking around hopelessly.

"The school..." Hopper muttered. Marley grinned as she realised what the Chief was getting at. 

"What?" Mike said. Marley looked at him and rolled her eyes.

"De-icing salt idiot!"

At once they gathered their things and left, their cars kicking up clouds of dust and rocks that flung somewhere off into the darkness as they drove. Hopper was going well over the speed limit but the kids in the car did not seem to mind, instead, they all seemed to thrive, sans Marley who looked rather green.

When they arrived, Marley practically threw herself from the car and ran far from it, towards the School Gym, she held the door open for Dustin and Lucas as they set the kiddie pool onto the floor and rolled it into the hall, Dustin grunting all the while as he passed Marley. She rolled her eyes playfully and let the door swing shut behind her.

"Damn this thing is heavy," Dustin groaned. Marley grinned and undid the string that bound it together, the pool rolling out into a line of its volition, the plastic slapping against the floor. It echoed around the hall and Marley walked backwards, crossing her arms to enjoy the show of struggle from the boys. "Come on, it's upside down."

"No this way..." Lucas bit, pulling at the pool violently.

"How does this thing even work?"

"Try that side."

"Son of a bitch!"

"Pull it back, pull it back," Lucas guided. Dustin huffed as he grew increasingly annoyed with the contraption while Marley had half the mind to get some popcorn.

"I am!"

"One, two, three." They both grunted as they tried to set the pool up straight.

"Shit!" Dustin exclaimed, giving up and throwing his part to the floor. Marley gave in and rolled her eyes at them. She muttered under her breath as she set the pool straight about how she was glad to be a lesbian because she then wouldn't have to deal with idiotic boys.