Complicated • Stranger Things

10 - MADMAX

It's been a year since everything happened, and everything seems to have gone back to normal. There's been no missing kids, no unusual flickering lights, no monsters. I've even got a job now. I thought that I should probably have some money for when I graduate so I can leave this town. I work at Arcade Palace, which is pretty cool because I love games and I get to hang out with my four favorite middle schoolers.

Basically, the only bad thing is that Steve and Nancy are still dating, but, hey, it's none of my business, though I still disapprove. I may not completely hate him now, but I still don't like the idea of him and Nancy together.

Right now I'm working at the arcade. Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will just walked in and I give them a wave and a smile, which they return before going to their games. I continued on with my work when I heard yelling.

"I'm not prostituting my sister!" Mike exclaimed.

"Woah, woah, woah. What about prostitution?" I asked, interrupting the four kids' arguing as I approached them.

"Keith said he'd tell us who Madmax is if I set him up on a date with Nancy." Mike explained and I glared at Keith. Keith is, sadly, one of my coworkers. I mean, sometimes he's interesting to have conversations with, but most of the time he tries to hit on me, which never works.

"You could work too." Keith stated and I gave him a look of disgust.

"Get lost, Keith." I told him and he walked away. "I know who Madmax is."

As soon as those words left my mouth I was bombarded with questions like who are they, what do they look like, do we know them, and so on.

"Hey. Calm down or I won't tell you." I said and all four of them instantly became quiet. "It's a girl with long orange hair. She's only been here a few times, but she's really good."

"Nice one. We all know you suck at games. Really, who is it." Mike replied.

"I wasn't talking about myself. She's around your guys' age." I told them. "And I do not suck."

"Yeah right. Girls don't play videogames." Dustin stated.

"I'm not lying." I said, putting my hands up in defense. "You'll see."

» » »

I ended up spending the night at Jonathan's house because I didn't feel like driving all the way home. My dad decided to move us into some small cabin in the middle of the woods so it takes a little longer to get there.

The next day at school as Jonathan and I were walking into the building, we heard the sound of a really loud car engine. I turned around and immediately recognized the car. It was the car that always dropped off 'Madmax', but I've never seen the driver.

Jonathan looked at me with a confused look, which I sarcastically returned.

"Come on, it's probably just some douchebag." Jonathan stated.

"Hey, don't judge a person by their car. And plus, I'm curious." I told him and he just let out a sigh as he leaned on the wall.

I watched as the driver got out of the car. He was wearing jeans, a white t-shirt, and a jean jacket. He was smoking a cigarette as he approached the school. Every female that was in the parking lot couldn't keep their eyes off him, including me.

"Nice car." I said with a smile as he approached us. He just winked as he took one more drag from his cigarette before dropping it on the ground and entering the school.

"Douchebag." Jonathan repeated.

"Hot." I smirked before going into the school, Jonathan right behind me.

» » »

In between one of our classes, Nancy, Jonathan, and I were walking together in the hallway. As we passed through a doorway, Tina, one of our classmates, was handing out flyers for a Halloween party.

"Hey, Jordan. You're coming, right?" She asked as she handed me a flyer.

"Of course." I replied and she smiled before handing one to Nancy. I'm kinda known for being 'the party girl'. Whenever I go to parties I go all out. I haven't been to a party since last year, so I was beyond excited.

"You're coming to this." Nancy stated as she handed Jonathan a flyer.

"Come and get sheet faced." Jonathan read off the flyer.

"Hell yeah. You are so going." I told him.

"Why? So I can bring your drunk ass home? No thanks." He said.

"Ouch." I replied.

"You can't just sit all alone on Halloween. That's just not acceptable." Nancy stated and I nodded my head in agreement.

"Well, you can relax. I'm not gonna be alone." He replied. "I'm going trick or treating with Will."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yep." He said.

"All night?" Nancy asked.

"Yeah." He confirmed.

"Well, you have fun trick or treating. I gotta get to class." I stated before walking away.

» » »

After school, I went straight home since I had tons of homework to do. When I approached the door I knocked twice, then once, then three times and I heard the door unlock and it opened to reveal Eleven.

"Hey, El." I greeted her as I gave her a hug before shutting and locking the door. "Sorry I wasn't here last night. I spent the night at Jonathan's."

"It's okay." She replied.

Last year, not long after everything happened and we moved into this place, my dad showed up with Eleven. He gave me no answers to the questions I asked and all I was told was that nobody can know that she is here for her own safety, which I obviously agreed to, although it does suck to have to lie to her friends all the time.

"I have a lot of homework to do, so I'll talk to you later, okay?" I asked and she nodded before I headed to my room.

A few hours later I heard my dad come in from work. I heard him and Eleven talking a bit before my door was opened by Eleven.

"Dinner." She simply said.

"Okay, I'll be there in a sec." I told her and she left the room.

I finished the math problem I was on before joining the two at dinner. There was a bit of small talk, but after that, we ate the rest of our dinner in silence.