𝓜𝓪𝔁 ❁

VIII

***

Lucas and Will made it to the school two minutes after she had fallen asleep. "Boys or girls?"

Lucas gave Will a look. "Girls dumbass!"

The two of them ran into the school, both splitting up to go to the locker rooms. Will going to the boys, Lucas going to the girls.

"Fucking shit! I told him girls locker room," he pulled the door open and walked in, flinching when the door slammed shut. "Max?" He heard a small whimper and stared walking around the locker room.

"Max?"

He saw a strand of bright red hair on the bench. He picked up his speed and quickly walked over to Max. "Shit!" He ran over to her and knelt down on one knee, holding her face in his hands. He stroked her cheek, begging for her to wake up. "Come on Max, get up. Please Max." He got up from the floor and saw that she was wrapped in only a towel. "What did they do to you?"

Lucas picked her up, bridal style, and walked out the door. He carefully walked to the boys locker room to get Will. The door opened on it's own when he went to touch the handle. He jumped back, holding the girl tighter. "You found her!"

"You scared me!"

"I'm sorry!"

"Will go call your mom. Tell her we need her to pick us up."

Will nodded and ran to the front office to dial the motel's number.

***

Joyce drove to the school quickly. It had started raining sometime before she left. She made it to the school five minutes after Will called. She saw the two kids standing in front of the school, Max in Lucas' arms.

She got out and opened the back door quickly, allowing Lucas to get in and set Max on his lap. She closed the door as Will got in the passenger seat.

The three prayed she would be okay.

***

Max wake up!

Shhh.

Max.

Sh I'm sleeping.

Max wake the fuck up!

Her eyes shot open. She looked up to see her head was laying on Lucas' lap. She groaned and tried to sit up. He noticed, "hey hey shh its gonna be okay. Don't move, we're almost there."

"W-where?"

She was terrified of hospitals after... well everything. "Joyce's motel. She needs to check if you need to go to the hospital Max." Her breathing got heavy, "no! No hospitals!" Will looked at the back, "shes awake!" Lucas gave him a small smile and turned his attention back to girl in his arms. "Max, you might need to go. We need to-" "No!" He stroked her hair, "Max-"

That action. That stupid action that's supposed to bring comfort. Her whole body froze in fear.

"Please! Please I'll do anything you want!"

He stroked her red hair and smiled down at her. His soft strokes stopped as he grabbed her hair hard and pushed her into the wall, holding her there. He spat in her face, beginning his-

"MAX!"

The plae girl looked up at him, shaking. "P-please don't-" she broke out into sobs. He put his hand on her cheek. Instead of allowing herself to melt in his comfort, she grabbed his hand. He brought his hand back up, and she flinched.

' Did she think I was going to hit her?'

***

Joyce parked in front of the motel and got out quickly. She opened the back door, allowing Lucas to get out. She picked the small girl up as Will got out of the car. The three of them quickly walked to the Motel room, unlocking the door. Will pushed the door open, rushing in.

She put the girl down on the little couch the room came with and sighed. She went to the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit, praying she didn't have to make a hospital trip today.

Joyce got out the things she needed and began working on Max's arm. "Who did this Max?" She pointed to the redheads arm.

"I did."

"You- what? Max why?"

The girl looked away, not wanting to talk anymore. Joyce sighed as she moved her so she was sitting up. "Okay sweetie. I need you to tell me what they did."

Max shook her head and Joyce sighed, crouching down in front of her. Joyce was now on the floor in front of the girl sitting on the couch, holding her hands. "Max please." She noticed the girl only had a towel on. "El! Can you bring some clothes please!"

The burnette ran out of the small room with some of her clothes, hoping that they will fit her. Joyce handed Max the clothes and led her to the bathroom. "C-can I take a shower?" Joyce smiled and nodded at her, "of course sweetheart. Come to the couch when you're done okay?" She closed the door and walked to the tiny "kitchen" area.

"Hello?"

"Hi Autumn? Its Joyce."

"Oh hi Joyce! How are you darling?"

"I'm good! There was a slight incident."

"Oh no! What happened?"

"Well school ended and Max's friends came here and told me that hadn't seen Max since first period. I sent my son, Will, and Lucas to go back and look for her. They found her and Will called me from the school to go pick them up. She was well some girls had done something to her, but she wouldn't tell any of us what had happened. She's in the shower right now."

"Oh my. That poor girl, she's been through too much!"

'More then you know,' Joyce wished she could tell Autumn about everything going on in Hawkins. It would cause too much chaos.

"Is it alright if I come over after work?"

"That's perfectly fine! Just thought I should let you know."

"Thank you so much Joyce."

***

"Hello?"

"Is this Autumn Buckley?"

"Yes who's this?"

"This is Larry Alexander. I suggest you get yourself a lawyer, Sam Mayfield will be fighting for custody of Maxine Mayfield."

Fuck. He's alive.