What We Lost | Fillie

Chapter Twenty: You're Going to Hate Me

Finn's sleep is tumultuous to say the least. His mind flitting between numerous dreams of varying intensities and themes until his subconscious brain begins rehashing the day he found out that Millie was pregnant. A revelation that came right out of left field and knocked him upside the head so hard that he almost turned into a vegetable. He hadn't expected it in the least but it did make him realize just how much he loved Millie. That day, while difficult, is still one of the best days that Finn can remember because it felt like it was him and Millie against the world, and he hasn't been able to top that feeling since.

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It's a bright and cloudless Georgia day, hot as can be and the second to last day of filming for Stranger Things 4. While Finn is sitting in the cafeteria on set, eating a much needed hamburger, he notices his girlfriend approaching, flanked by her red-headed best friend. Millie's face looks concernedly at Sadie, while her hands gesture small sharp points with whispered words leaving her mouth at a rapid pace.  Sadie is listening intently while staring pointedly at Finn as they near the table making him feel as if he's about to get a serious reprimand. He can't make out a single word of what Millie is saying, he's always been terrible at lip reading, but he can tell that she is seriously on edge.

They get to the table and sit across from him, slowly sliding into their seats. Sadie still eyeing him like he's about to explode but Millie is as stiff as a board, refusing to make eye contact with him at all. She has been acting evasively for a little over a week now and he is scared that she is mad at him or worse, that she is going to break up with him. It makes no sense, but why else would she be acting so elusive?

"Uh, hey, what's up?" He asks, setting his burger on his plate before resting his elbows on the table in front of him, trying hard to hide his fear. His girlfriend draws in a long breath and looks to their friend who raises her eyebrows and motions toward Finn with her eyes. Millie's eyes flick to him briefly then back to Sadie before she exhales shakily.

"Okay." He says, dropping his hands on the table heavily, "What's going on with you two, you've been acting weird since last week. Is everything okay? Did—did I do something, Millie?" his eyes pulse with concern as he reaches across the table for her hand.

She reaches out slowly, takes his hand in hers and squeezes it gently but he can feel the tremors in them. She finally makes solid eye contact, "Can we um. . . can we take a walk?" she nods her head toward the door that leads outside.

Icy goosebumps prickle on Finn's arms and up the back of his neck. His heart feels like a revving motor. He can't shake this burning feeling in his gut that something bad is about to happen."Yeah. Yeah, sure." he finally answers and stands up on legs that hold him about as well as a bowl of jello might. 

The girls also stand and Finn watches nervously as Sadie wraps her arms consolingly around Millie while wishing her good luck, "You can do this." she tells her quietly, holding her by the shoulders with reassurance in her eyes. After one more squeeze, Sadie turns to Finn and mouths good luck, sending another shiver down his already icy spine.

Millie walks to Finn and takes his hand, bringing some warmth back to his body, and silently leads him to the door.

There is a trail into the woods not far from where the cafeteria exit is and the young couple make a bee-line for it, Millie leading the way. They walk in complete silence for a couple of minutes until they are deep enough into the tree-filled path that they can no longer see or hear evidence of their bustling set. It's just them and mother nature in all of her humid glory.