#max Mayfield angst
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Soon You'll Get Better
Chapter Three: Neon Kitchen, Bright Sky
↢ chapter two | series masterlist | chapter four ↣
summary: Max can never seem to catch a break and things are no different when Billy's dad comes back into the picture. When everything takes a sudden turn and the one person who was supposed to have her back fails her, you and Steve don't hesitate to step in.
word count: [16.7k]
: ̗̀➛ pairings: big-brother!steve x max & big-sister!reader x max
: ̗̀➛ romantic pairing: steve harrington x fem-college-student!reader
: ̗̀➛ warnings: angst, physical altercation, mentions of slapping, cursing, billy's abusive dad, mentions of death (billy), bruises, and mentions of absent parents (max & steve)
“Get the fuck out!”
Her shouts echoed against the walls of the trailer, resounding off the metal as she pointed at the door and stood face to face with the man she didn’t want to see. He snarled at her, face practically red as he turned to her mother who stood off to the side, not daring to get in between them like she should’ve been doing in the first place.
“Are you going to let her speak to me that way?” He asked ridiculously knowing that she didn’t have a backbone, and when it came to him, she would ultimately betray her own daughter.
The thumb she had been biting down on dropped from her mouth, shaking her head vigorously. She turned to her daughter and looked at her with wide, pleading eyes.
“Maxine, he’s staying. End of discussion.”
Max rolled her eyes, glaring just as harshly at her mother for this bullshit that she was putting her through. The last thing she needed was to see her former stepfather right before her eyes, claiming he was back in their lives all of the sudden. The same one who abandoned her and her mother after Billy died and couldn’t even be man enough to stay for his funeral.
What possessed her mother to think that Max was ever going to let this slide was beyond comprehensible. Maybe it was some sort of mid-life crisis she was going through or desperation, but over her dead body would she allow this man to live under the same roof as her and her mother after everything that had happened in the past.
Max clenched her fists to her sides, reminding herself that she wasn’t going to get physical no matter how angry she was. The most important thing that she needed to do was try to stay somewhat composed and get it through her mother’s head that this wasn’t going to happen.
“No, he isn’t! Did you forget everything he put us through? What about what he did to Billy? All those years of abuse and you’re letting him back in!” She protested, unclenching one of her hands to point brutally at the man who towered over her.
Her mother wasn’t a stranger to the abuse Billy’s father had inflicted on his son. Verbally, physically, and psychologically — he was horrible to him, the same way that Billy had continued the cycle and was horrible to Max.
She looked down guiltily, shaking her head as if she was trying to believe her own lie, “He—He’s changed Max…you don’t know how hard it was for him to lose his son—”
“And I lost my brother! I watched him die with my own eyes, so what about me?”
Max didn’t mean to get emotional so quickly, but it felt like this was all something that was building up from last week’s events that were just as heavy as this. Even more so, she wished she had spent the night at you and Steve’s apartment, taking you both up on that movie night you had suggested, but instead she picked to stay home for once and try to spend more time with her mom.
Just for the night to turn into this bullshit.
Billy’s dad swatted at her pointed hand, slamming it back down to her side where she clenched her fist, wondering if this was a free pass for her to plant it towards his jaw — but she stayed calm, ignoring the stinging feeling on her skin.
“You’re the child and we’re the adults, you obey us!” He roared, causing Max to flinch slightly, yet she knew this game he was playing.
Threatening — the same thing he used to do to Billy.
But if there was one thing she learned from her late brother, it was that sometimes the best thing to do was strike back…with words of course. Because while his father usually always started it, Billy was the one to finish it.
“You’re not my fucking father and I don’t have to obey shit you say.”
She didn’t mean to look so smug after she said that. Max was actually supposed to be putting on that signature glare, but she couldn’t help it. Watching the sorry excuse of a man’s face drop before her and the vein in his neck nearly about to combust over the harsh truth she had spat right at him.
SLAP!
But the palm that connected with her cheek surely replaced the smugness with shock. Tears instantly pricking at her eyes as her hands clutched at the skin that prickled with a hundred nerves burning beneath the surface.
Her mother gasped, but not daring to scold the man for his actions, too frightened to do so. Instead, trying to grab at Max’s wrists to pull them away from her cheek in order to assess the damage that had been done, but that wasn’t what Max wanted of her.
She wanted her mother to scream.
To yell.
Fight back.
Tell him to get the fuck out of her home.
Call the cops.
Put him in jail.
Then hold her in her arms and apologize.
But she didn’t.
Max nudged her mother’s hands away, blinking wildly, and the tears rolled down her skin.
“It’s me or him.”
The ultimatum she laid before her mother should’ve been an easy one to answer. Obviously her blood, the girl she had given birth to and raised all by herself seemingly fine before she met Billy’s dad.
But the only thing in the eerily quiet trailer was now silence.
She could see her mother’s hesitation through the blur of salty puddles in her eyes. The eyes that darted between her daughter and her ex-husband’s, as if he was worth more than her even after she was the one that had stuck by her mother’s side and held her up even when she couldn’t even keep herself together.
All of this for a man.
Max swallowed the lump in her throat, disappointingly shaking her head as she brushed past her mom, heading down the narrow hallway to her bedroom, slamming and locking the door shut. There was no way in hell she was going to spend the rest of the night or the upcoming days with him in her presence.
She wasn’t going to before and she sure wasn’t going to now after he had just put his hands on her. Easily, she could’ve reached for the phone that laid on her bedside table, dialing El and asking for her father to come down to the trailer park to arrest the son of a bitch, but the first thing on her mind was getting out.
And she knew where she was going.
Stuffing a drawer full of clothes into her duffle bag, it was enough to last her a few days before she would need to borrow some, but it would do for the meantime. The excess space was filled with her childhood stuffed animal: Bubbles the Dino and the rest of her tapes and Walkman that would get her through.
She zipped up the oversized jacket that once belonged to Billy, pulling the hood over her head, hoping this was enough to keep her warm for the journey. She walked out of her bedroom back into the living room where he was still berating her mother as she sat on the couch with her head in her hands not knowing what to say or do.
Max didn’t pay them any mind, heading straight to the front door so she could make her exit before anyone tried to stop her. The creaking of the hinges prompted their attention, but she was already down the front porch steps before they could move.
“Maxine, you’re not going anywhere!” Her mom hollered, frozen in the doorway with the man right behind her.
Max rolled her eyes once more, hands tightening on her bike handles as she turned her head and looked towards the one person who was supposed to choose her all the time.
“You can both go to hell.”
With that, she ascended on the night, leaving everything that she thought was supposed to be her home behind her. The tears she had been holding back to avoid humiliation now falling out of her orbs and rolling against her cheeks. Her feet pedaled faster as each second went by, hoping to get to her destination before it was too late.
Your body twitched at the sound of knocking, eyes slowly blinking to unblur them from the sleep that overcame you suddenly. The movie that you and Steve abandoned still playing through the television while your boyfriend slept soundly beside you with Ollie cuddled to his chest.
“Steve,” you yawned, stretching your arms out and nudging his shin with your foot.
He moved slightly at the contact, groaning out without opening his eyes. Another set of knocks sounded through the front door and this time you were sure it wasn’t the movie playing tricks. Your heart raced instantaneously, not knowing what was real or not.
“Steve, someone’s at the door.” You hissed sharply, letting your arms fall to his chest where you shook him firmly.
His face scrunched up, one eye opening to see you hovering above him looking back at the door, “Baby, it’s just the movie—”
Another set of knocks followed, this time accompanied by a small voice just loud enough to pierce through the wood of the door.
“Are you guys awake?”
Neither you nor Steve could mistake her voice. Instantly worried, you didn’t hesitate to jump up from the couch, startling Ollie who jolted up from his slumber and raced towards the front door where you were already unlocking the latch.
Steve threw off the blankets, blindly shutting off the tv and slapped on the light switch, brightening up the living room with the yellow fluorescence.
You pulled the door open, Steve right beside you as you both were greeted by the anxiety inducing sight of Max all cried out with her bags weighing her shoulders down.
Her cheeks were a bright crimson, which you would assume was from the cold of the night, however her bloodshot eyes told a different story that it was a combination of the weather and crying. Her lips looked frostbitten, almost chapped as the soft teetering of her teeth rang in the wind.
“Hey, it’s okay…get in, c’mon.” Steve ushered, reaching out and grabbing her wrist gently as you opened the door wider and wrapped your arms across her shoulders where you could feel her shivering.
She instantly dropped her bags, letting them rest on the floors as she collapsed onto the couch. Her elbows going to rest on her knees as she covering her face with her hands.
You were next to her in an instant with Steve reaching over to grab the stray blanket, draping it over her body as he sat on the other side. His hands squeezed her shoulders over the thick fleece in order to try to warm her up quickly, hoping she wouldn’t catch a cold.
You caught his eyes, quietly voicing your concern, as he nodded swiftly and looked back down at her. Soft sniffles coming from behind her hands where she was trying to hide it.
Not that Max ever liked crying in front of both of you, but she never tried to conceal it like she had been doing now. It all seemed so odd and out of character for her as she knew you and Steve would always be all ears in a heartbeat and listen to whatever she had to say, but not tonight.
“Max, honey, tell us what’s going on.”
Your voice was on the verge of pleading, not knowing how much longer you go could without knowing what had her this upset that she had to bike all the way here.
“J—just some stuff a-at home.” Her voice gave way.
Stuff at home could mean many things and you both knew that Max and her mother weren’t necessarily on the same page considering how their relationship had faltered with her mom prioritizing work more than raising her daughter.
Steve gulped, rubbing his hands over her shoulders warmly. “You can talk to us, bug. Could’ve called, and I would have come over and gotten you… it’s dark out and—”
She pulled her hands away from her face, swiping her fingers along her cheeks harshly before looking up at the two of you and nodding, understanding your concerns.
“Billy’s dad was over… he came back.” She said dryly, moving her eyes to her lap not knowing how you both would receive it after so long with him gone.
The silence was telling. Clearly the two of you were shocked seeing as though Billy’s dad, Neil, left before his son’s funeral procession, leaving it all up to Max’s mom who was devastated and had to deal with two losses she wasn’t anticipating.
“H-he’s back?” You stuttered, swallowing back your distaste as you kept your focus on the girl.
“He showed up while I was at arcade and my mom let him in and n-now she’s saying that he’s gonna stay with us and I—I just…I couldn’t….I w-won’t.”
And like that, her chest rose nimbly, tears beginning to well in her eyes once again before she could even try to piece together her broken words that already told a story of their own. Hunching over, her face found solace behind her hands again and the cries rattled the walls of the apartment and broke the hearts in your chests.
Steve leaned closer, guiding her into him as support. “Bug, take a deep breath…in and out, you got it. Everything’s alright, we’re right here.”
His hand rubbed her back gently as you cooed more words of comfort. The two of you working together to try to ground her and make her feel as safe as possible. Neither of you took it personally when her cries didn’t die down and only got heavier, a kind of sadness that you knew she was feeling deeply and needed to feel instead of trying to fight back.
If your hearts were just broken by the scene of her so frantic, you couldn’t begin to imagine what she was feeling. Her breathing only got more ragged, struggling to catch it with her mind racing with the flashbacks.
Steve noticed the signs before Max could even fathom them, rising up from the spot next to her, he hurriedly charged towards the kitchen for a glass of cold water and a warm rag before he was back at her side in an instant.
“Shhh…s’okay, let’s get you a sip of water yeah?” His fingers wrapped gently around her wrists, bringing her hands away from her face, as he showed her the glass.
She sniffled roughly, nodding her head as she took the cup from him — the water that had been beading around the surface meeting her hot hands zapped her nerves, bringing her back as she gulped it down. The warm rag rested on the back of her neck calming her down a bit as the hiccuped cries began to shallow out while the seconds passed.
She had nothing to be afraid of when you two were here right beside her. You both had seen her at her worst and even then neither of you left her side. It was going to be no different now or ever, even when she was unsure of it all. She had you both and that was what mattered most to her.
You took the empty glass away, placing it on the coffee table, “You wanna talk about it some more? Or we can talk in the morning if you—”
“He hit me. J—just slapped me once, but still…”
She dropped it like glass, letting it shatter without trying to cushion its fall because there was no way of doing so. The truth was all she had left in her and the sting on her cheek was a biting reminder of what he did and most importantly what she didn’t deserve.
The room was quiet, only Max’s sporadic sniffles and the whirling of the ceiling fan above you filled the heart-stopping silence. So many things spun through your heads, questions that Steve wanted to ask, and answers that you desperately wanted, but all you could muster to say was—
“I’m sorry.” You exhaled at a loss for words, skeptically reaching for her hand as she nodded and slotted hers in yours giving you the permission.
She squeezed yours securely as if she was trying to reassure you, like you were the one who needed the strength as you sat there and broke internally, trying to stay strong when you knew you were moments away from breaking down but that wouldn’t be fair to her — not right now.
Steve pulled his brows together, confusion splaying his features despite the anger brewing inside of him.
“What did your mom do?”
He knew her mother wouldn’t let anything happen like this slide, sure she had taken the hits from Billy’s father herself and watched helplessly when Billy became the punching bag, but she couldn’t have just sat around and watched him do the same to Max.
“Nothing.” Max said quietly, nearly hushed as she did, too ashamed to say it out loud because that would mean that her mom became the enabler of the behavior she swore she’d never tolerate.
The silence was even louder then. More questions wanting to be asked, on the tips of your tongues just pleading to be babbled out, yet you both could tell that now wasn’t the time.
Max was clearly traumatized, put through something incredibly heartbreaking yet was sitting right before you as stoic as ever — not feeling anything inside because she’d been so numb to the feeling of sadness and disappointment for a while now.
You swallowed the lump in your throat to keep from crying though your voice still cracked.
“Y-you’ve had a night. Why don’t you take a hot shower and take our bed tonight? Ollie can cuddle with you, yeah? He’s missed you so much.”
“Please.” she said, nodding at you with a sullen face.
You nodded, standing up and reaching out for her, “C’mon, let’s get you some clean clothes.”
You wrapped your arms across her shoulders, guiding her along to your bedroom in hopes that a goodnight’s sleep would bring her a dream to forget about the real life nightmare.
Steve ran a rough hand up and down his face, sighing heavily as his chest ripped out a quiet sob not knowing how something like this could happen. He’d done everything to protect her to the best of his ability and the one place that should have been her safest, her home, was the place she had been hurt and the one where he wasn’t at to shield her from it.
He tore his hands away when he heard the bedroom door shut softly, followed by your hushed cries that made its way closer to him. He stood and wrapped you in his cages, letting you cry every angry and heartbroken tear you had out.
“H-How could she let that happen?” You tried to keep your sobs down, letting them die against his clothed chest to prevent Max from hearing it, but you couldn’t help but to feel so helpless and frustrated.
Steve could only hold you, cooing away your anguish and wiping the tears away because there was no answer he could give you. Everything in his soul wanted to tell you what he knew and give you all the answers in order to piece it all together, but there was nothing left to piece.
The harsh reality was that something terrible had happened to Max, and no one tried to stop it.
“Everything is gonna be okay,” He told you, holding your face in his hands as he thumbed away the remnants of tears. “She has us and we’re gonna stick by her side and try to make this better.”
It was the only thing in Steve’s soul that he knew right then to be true. You both were always going to be there for her and if it took months maybe even years to right this situation, then you’d both be there every step of the way, no doubt about it.
“I know.”
His lips pressed in a tight line, giving you a firm nod, making sure that you were alright before he spoke, “I gotta go for a little, okay?”
You stared at him confusingly, not knowing where he would be off to at this hour. “Where?”
“Clear my head.” He said it plainly eyes dead set on yours.
You read between the obvious lines, knowing exactly where he was going. There was no use in trying to stop him because you knew he had his mind set on the very thought of making sure things were done right by Max, no matter what it took.
He was her protector and in many ways he would do anything for her — even kill if he had to.
You grabbed at his hand, squeezing it in a stern yet tender manner, “Promise you won’t do anything stupid? Max needs you, you know that.”
To be quite honest, he feels that he needs her more than she does him. Steve didn’t know what he’d do with himself if Max had suffered worse tonight. The slap itself left a bitter taste in Steve’s mouth, but if Max had shown up battered and bruised, he’d be sure that a death wish would be granted tonight.
Despite his anger and the things that he could do to make him pay, there was a way to get it done, and he wanted it done the right way so that Max wouldn’t need to suffer more than she already did.
He cradled the back of your head, pulling you into a hug, nodding his head against the top of yours and placing a kiss there.
“I swear, just… just make sure she gets some sleep, and you, too. I’ll be back in a bit.”
You locked up as he gave you one last look through the screen door, mouthing, “I love you,” before you shut the wooden door and he was jogging down the steps towards the car park.
The second he slammed the door shut, the shouting began as instantly as the salty tears he’d been holding back poured from his eyes. This wasn’t about him and the last thing he wanted was for Max to hear and worry about his own wellbeing when she was supposed to put herself first.
“Son of a bitch!”
He cursed, beating his palms against the steering wheel, breathing hard as he cried, so heated and disheartened at the world because why did it have to be her?
Why couldn’t the universe give it to him?
He could take the anger, he could take the hits, he could take it all and deal with it if it meant that Max got to finally go a day or two without worrying when the next breakdown or anxiety attack was going to occur.
She had already gone through so much and she deserved for it to be over by now.
“She’s okay… she’s okay, c’mon Steven.” He roughly wiped at his face, sucking in deep breaths, talking himself through it.
He started the ignition, his foot pressed firmly on the pedal as he made his way to the trailer park, his mind echoing the faces of you and her — the people he needed to make it back home to safe and sound.
It was a scene, Hopper police car parked out front of the trailer with its driver’s door swung wide open and the vehicle still running, headlights flashing brightly. The neighbors who should have been asleep were wide awake, gathered outside their homes, and rightfully so when there was a ruckus going on.
“Where is he?” Steve demanded loudly.
He didn't even bother to take the keys out of the ignition, placing the car in park behind the police car and hopping out to get his hands on the suspect.
Across the Mayfield trailer lived Eddie and his uncle Wayne, the both of them taking notice of Steve’s presence, aware of how close he and Max were and how he must have known something that the entire park didn’t.
“Fucking shit…” The metal head cursed, throwing his cigarette the ground and calling out to his friend, “Harrington! C’mon man, let the chief handle it!”
Eddie's voice was nothing to him. Steve instead made a beeline for the front door of Max’s trailer, bursting through it, catching everyone off guard. Her mother looked as though she had seen a ghost, Billy’s dad was confused with the intrusion, and Hopper knew that something was about to go down from the death stare Steve was wearing.
The only thing Steve heard in his mind was the voice telling him to get him.
“You son of a bitch!”
Lurching across where Hopper stood, Steve threw a fist in the air over towards the disgrace that sitting on the couch acting holier than thou beside a mother who failed her child.
He hoped it connected, spreading pain across his jaw for payback, yet the arms of Hopper and his friend Eddie encase his effort, hauling him back with all their might.
“What the hell, kid? Are you out of your mind?!” Hop shouted.
The flimsy notepad and pen dropped to the ground, and he hastily grabbed ahold of the boy whose fist was millimeters away from connecting to Neil’s jaw.
“Steve, that’s enough! C’mon, relax!” Eddie attempted to deescalate the situation, knowing it wouldn’t do Max or you any good if Steve left there in handcuffs.
“Did you tell him, huh?” Steve spat, still struggling in the grips, glaring at the two on the couch.
Neil sat up, pointing a finger at him.
“Listen, I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but you better get—”
“He hit Max.” Steve declared, completely stopping the struggle and moving his eyes towards Hop who stared at him confused, tight grip loosening only so that he could move and look back at the man.
“That true?” He asked, raised brow taking in a sharp breath.
Neil scoffed, turning to look at her mother, who sat emotionless, neither confirming nor denying the accusation, but she was just as guilty as him.
“Chief, I have no idea who this boy is… we called because our daughter is missing.”
He tried to lie, looking over at her mom with the most sincere and worried look that would’ve been convincing had Steve not seen right through it.
The audacity that the man had to call Max his daughter when he was barely even a father to Billy? It only made Steve’s blood boil even hotter, the anger dissipating into something uglier that dared to do more than just sock the son of a bitch in the jaw, but to make sure he never saw another waking day.
“She’s not your daughter, and she isn’t missing. She showed up at my doorstep crying her eyes out after she biked miles to come and tell me and my girlfriend that you put your hands on her and you did nothing about it.”
His eyes skimmed from the man to the woman, who guiltily broke into tears, covering her face knowing that the truth had been unveiled. Steve would have had more remorse for her if she at least defended her daughter and tried to do something to stop it. But knowing that Max stood in that very spot in the trailer almost an hour ago left with no one to help her made his fuse blow short.
The cries of the woman nearly set Neil off, turning back to her with a hardened look on his face like he was silently threating her to shut up before he gave her something to really cry about. Yet with the presence of the other three in the trailer and the neighbors that began growing curious with the shouts — he caught himself whipping his head back to the men, staring indifferently.
They could hear a hairpin drop with how eerily quiet the trailer became after Steve’s admission. Eddie cursed under his breath, closing his eyes as he got filled in on what he missed. Hopper swallowed so thickly, not knowing if he was going to put Neil into cuffs or give him a taste of his own medicine first.
The chief knew something wasn’t adding up when he got the frantic call from her mother. Sure, Max was a rebel at times, but even then, the chief knew that the girl wouldn’t just up and leave in the middle of the night for no good reason.
His daughter was her best friend, and they told each other everything, the good, the bad, and the ugly — granted he never liked to stick his nose in anyone business, but El had always voiced her worries for Max and that stuck with him, especially now.
And Hopper was a father himself, a true and present one. It just didn’t add up that Neil had bailed when his son died and now that he had returned, it just so happened that Max had run away.
Neil spoke lowly eyes shooting daggers through Steve, “You ain’t got any proof,” he started before turning his sights to the one wearing the badge.
“And even if it was, don’t you ought to agree, chief? Children who give their parents lip should be disciplined?”
Hopper and Eddie tightened their holds, feeling the small inch that Steve had moved, ready to lurch once again, but he stayed glued to the floor, knowing neither of them would be letting go.
“Is that why you hightailed it after Billy died? You lost your punching bag, so you decided to leave only to come back and try to make Max your next?” Steve seethed, not letting the fire die out so quickly.
“Shut your damn mouth!"
The man stood, pointing a sharp finger at him, but Hop pushed a hand out, creating distance between the two.
Steve scoffed a sarcastic laugh, eyes squinting pointedly. “Or what? You’re gonna hit me too? You’re a fucking deadbeat disgrace of a father who should’ve been the one in the ground, not your son.”
He knew what he was doing, granted it wasn’t the original thing he had planned to do, but if Steve was right about the kind of man Neil was, it would only be a few more seconds until he would strike.
“Don’t talk about my son,” Neil warned, stepping closer and ignoring the hand and demands that Hop gave him to step back towards the couch.
Steve jutted forward just an inch, smirking because he knew what exactly he was going to say next.
“So I can’t talk about him, but you could beat him to a pulp?”
The pang isn’t as nearly bad as it could’ve been seeing as though Hopper had tackled the man to the floor the second his fist grazed his cheek.
The entire trailer shook with the tussle happening on the ground, cursing flying off the walls as Hopper held his hands behind his back and pressed his cheek roughly to the ground.
Eddie stumbled back, arms remaining wrapped around his friend, wringing his face forward to check for damage. “You good, man?”
“Fine.” He replied, running his tongue over the inside of his cheek, only a slight sting that would probably become a little bruised by morning.
“Shut up, Neil. You’re under arrest for assault.” Hop grunted, clicking on the metal cuffs as tightly as possible.
Even as victorious as it should have felt to see him getting what he rightfully deserved, Steve didn’t feel an ounce of victory knowing that Max had gone through what she went through tonight. At the end, something terrible had happened and now it was going to be about her working through it.
Eddie pulled his friend out of the trailer, fresh air being breathed in followed by the gasps of the onlookers who didn’t know what to make out of all of it. Making their way to his car for some privacy, Steve leaned against the door, rubbing at his face while Eddie stood in front of him, arms crossed not knowing what to say.
“H-how is she?” He dared to ask, wondering if it was too touchy of a subject or not.
Steve looked up, frowning with a shake of his head. “Not so great. Did you hear anything before she left?”
Eddie shrugged, trying to remember anything that stood out, but the trailer park was used to fights and yelling but never to this magnitude. If anything, everyone around there avoided calling the cops as much as possible.
“Just a few shouts, but nothing too clear. Her mom started knocking on every trailer, asking if we saw where she went and before you know it Hop was here.” Eddie replied.
Steve nodded still trying to piece together everything. Both of their eyes trailed back to the trailer, as Hopper read aloud the Miranda rights, walking the cuffed man to the police car.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law.” He spoke before throwing him into the backseat, slamming the door to finally silence the hissy fit Neil was throwing.
The man was obviously exhausted. The last thing he wanted to do after he had already clocked out for the day was to drive all the way to the trailer park for some runaway. But when he heard that it was Maxine missing, he couldn’t stay at home knowing his daughter’s best friend was out there, probably scared and alone — the same way he found El.
It hit too close to home, and he was going to do everything he could to get her back home safely.
“She’s still at yours?” Hop called out, walking over to Steve with his notepad out for some info.
Steve nodded, backing off his car to look at his watch. “She should be asleep now, but yeah, she’s got to ours almost an hour ago by bike.”
Hop grunted out a disapproving curse, jotting everything down for the report. He clicked the pen closed, shoving it in his pocked before pointing up at Steve.
“Good. I want you to keep her at yours and I’ll stop by in the morning to ask some questions, alright?”
There was a sort of silent understanding between them both, one that even Eddie could read despite the missing words. They all knew how close Max was to you and Steve, and if she was going to be anywhere tonight, or maybe for a while, it was going to be with you both.
“What about her?” Steve pointed his chin at her mom, sitting on the steps still crying to herself. Hop took a deep breath, shaking his head.
“She’s gonna get an earful right about now, but you should probably go before then.” He advised, knowing that it would be best if Steve weren’t around despite his understandable anger.
All of the mean names and insults that spun in Steve's head and dared to leave his mouth but never did. Honestly, the sight of her crying alone was hopefully the wake up call that she needed to be a better mother, a present one that would pick her before anyone else, even kill for her if she needed to.
“You hurt her you know,” Steve declared out loud, knowing it was the least he could say for Max’s behalf.
Her face hidden behind her hands not knowing what to do with herself. She pulled them away, staring at him guiltily as she sobbed some more. But he didn’t have anything else to say to her and even if he did, he was sure the only words that would leave his mouth would be fueled with anger and disgust.
Eddie garnered his attention, patting the hood of his car gently.
“Go on man, it’s getting late.”
As a friend, Eddie cared a lot about you both. He even had a special place in his heart for the redhead who sometimes fed the strays with him when she was bored at home. It wasn’t often, but it was enough for conversations to begin where Max bragged about having Steve wrapped around her finger, ready to fight anyone who got in her way.
Steve and Max had an undeniable sibling sort of bond that tied them together — everyone could see it.
Max grew up with a step-brother who was dog-shit nothing, and Steve practically raised himself once he turned thirteen. It was clear that the both of them were fated together, a kind of chosen family that not even blood could touch.
“Tomorrow, okay?” Hopper said once more, patting him on the back and ushering him to get in the car.
Steve nodded, offering a kind handshake to both men before he got into his car, and took one last look — all the neighbors heading back into their homes after Hop waved them off, and Eddie wielding another goodbye before he jogged back to his trailer.
The drive home was a stark contrast, no more tears shed or shouts leaving his mouth. Just pure silence as his blood simmered down and his mind thought of you and Max — and of course, Ollie. His little family that he would vow to protect no matter what.
He parked the car, locking it and jogging up the short flight of stairs towards the apartment door. He dug the keys out of his pocket, quietly opening it, hoping to not wake anyone up. But of course, Ollie was already at the door waiting as Steve smiled, bending down to pet him as he shut the door behind him.
The floor lamp was left on, illuminating your sleeping figure on the couch with two layers of blankets pulled over your body. He thanked all the gods in the universe that you were asleep, knowing it wouldn’t do you any good if you had stayed up waiting even if it was out of love.
You knew that Steve would handle things and keep his promise. He always did.
He shrugged his shoes off, propping them on the rack before rounding the hallway towards your shared bedroom where the door was left open. Stopping in the doorway, he let out a sigh of relief, glad that Max was also asleep and safe. All the while Ollie hopped up on the bed, snuggling into her side for the night.
There were a lot of things that Steve was unsure of, so many questions still desperately wanting to be answered, but he knew that whatever was going to happen next was going to be in the best interest of Max.
No more of her feeling like she was second place or her own mother’s second choice. He was going to do everything in his power to give her the life she deserved — full of love and safety.
Heading back to the living room, he lifted the blankets up slowly, squeezing in beside you, doing his best not to wake you up. But it was nearly impossible as you stirred slightly, peeking your eyes open just enough to decipher his figure through the darkness.
“W-was everything okay?” You croaked softly, wrapping your arms around his midsection and pulling him closer to you.
“Yeah," he nodded, kissing your temple as he settled his body into the cushions. “Hop was already there when I arrived and he’s gonna stop by in the morning.”
“Where are you hurt?” You sought, already knowing that Steve was going to try to hide it from you for your own sake if you didn’t ask yourself.
He gulped, turning his jaw to show you where he was hit. “Just grazed me a bit…I’m gonna be fine.” He assured you as your fingertips skimmed over the area, trying to feel for a forming bump.
“Okay,” You took a deep breath nodding as your hand fell away from his face, “Let’s get some sleep…we’ll talk more in the morning.”
There wasn’t possibly anything more that you could’ve asked nor did you want any of the full details of what Steve had done to get things handled. He knew it too — that sometimes ignorance when it came to this sort of situation was bliss to you.
Your focus was on Max, and as long as Steve was safe and sound back in your arms, there was no need to worry about him. Right now Max was the person you needed to be thought of the most — and neither you nor Steve were going to stop doing so.
Max woke early the next morning, rubbing sleep and dried tears from her eyes as she was aware of the sun beating down past the curtains and the voices talking softly down the hall meaning you and Steve were already up.
She tossed around the duvet for a few minutes before mustering the strength to throw them off and let her feet hit the floorboards, taking her to the kitchen.
“Morning,” she croaked weakly, wincing at the pain in her cheek where her fingertips had slid against the skin carelessly.
You and Steve looked over your shoulders. Her sleepy figure taking a seat at the kitchen table and resting her face in her hands. Clicking off the burner, you both quickly gave her your attention.
“Hey bug,” Steve said quietly, reaching over for a clean glass, filling it up with water before he approached, sliding it over to her.
“How’re you feeling?” You sought, taking a seat beside her and smiling gently as she laid her head on your shoulder.
“A bit better. It’s the best sleep I’ve gotten in a while.” She admitted, with a weak laugh, happy that she didn’t have to endure a night of a loud TV playing or her drunk mother whining about the cable cutting out.
But she’d be lying if she said she was out like a light after she got out of the shower. Sleep didn’t come to her so easily, playing back the memory of what had unfolded and knowing that Steve wasn’t home. She didn’t have to peek out of the living room to know it, but she could feel it in her bones that he had left.
“What happened to you?” Max asked him. Her gut already knowing the answer to her own question, yet she just wanted to see what he’d say.
Steve shook his head, tapping his cheek, “It’s nothing, just a little bruise. I took care of it.”
She couldn’t be upset with him, even if she wanted to. The energy in her body was completed depleted and the last thing she wanted was to act as if she didn’t need the help. Steve was protective of her and she knew whatever he did to “take care of it” was coming out of the goodness of his heart.
“Thanks,” She pursed her lips into a tight line, tilting her head at him to which he nodded.
You stroked the hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ears as she turned her eyes up towards you.
“Hopper is gonna come over and get some statements about the situation. He said it’s gonna be easy peasy.”
“Will you guys be able to stay in the room?” She crossed her fingers, hoping that she wouldn’t have to endure it by herself.
“Of course,” Steve nodded assuringly, rubbing her arm up and down, “He might bring some other people from the department, but they’ll be in and out before you know it, I promise.”
“Okay,” she breathed, relieved that it wouldn’t be so bad with you both there.
Max had only spoken to the cops one other time in her life — obviously talking to Hopper casually didn’t count. But after the fire at StarCourt, she and her friends were all questioned by law enforcement, even the FBI. They showed her pictures of the damage and asked about Billy and the details of his death.
She went home that day feeling numb as everyone else, not knowing if she’d ever be the same, and to know one’s surprise, she wasn’t. A few days later, her mom had planned out the funeral with the help of Karen and Joyce who tried their very best to pick up the pieces while her mom struggled to deal with the loss of her stepson and the sudden departure of her husband.
Max would never forget that week. So much chaos, heartache, and guilt that would only continue to follow her wherever she went, no matter how hard she tried to get back to normal, it just wasn’t possible, not with the emotional abuse of life that she had endured.
She tried not to think about it so much, knowing that Hopper was gonna make sure no lines were crossed. If anything, the questions would go straight to the point that way it wouldn’t force her to relive every single detail of the night.
The three of you ate breakfast together, her and Steve occasionally feeding Ollie bits of scrambled eggs while you weren’t looking, lightly laughing to themselves as you went on about something that you wanted to do with the kitchen.
After you cleared your plates, she suggested she did dishes, but you and Steve waved her off, telling her to relax and watch some television or read some magazines before Hop arrived.
A little after eight, there was a knock on the door, a firm and loud one indicating that it was most definitely the Chief on the other side. Max switched off the TV, getting up to join you and Steve at the front door, greeting him warmly.
“Hey kid,” Hopper greeted, widening his arms as she grinned and walked into his side, hugging him — hugs from Hop weren’t typical, but she knew it was his dad side coming out and comforting her.
“Hey, Hop.” She patted his back before stepping away and letting you and Steve greet him.
You peeked back out the door to see if any other person from the department would be joining, “Just you?”
He hummed out an ‘mhm’, removing his hat and taking a seat on the couch before pulling out the same notepad and pen from last night.
“Didn’t wanna overwhelm her with too many people 'round. I know it’s a touchy subject, still fresh and all.” Hopper spoke thoughtfully, eyes darting over to Max who was very relieved as she plopped down on the opposite side of the couch.
“Thanks.” Steve nodded, going to sit beside her.
The pen clicked, and Hop jutted his chin out towards the kid, silently asking if she was ready or if she still needed a few minutes to prepare herself to speak about it. She nodded quickly, wanting to rip the bandaid off and get it over with.
“Where were you before you got back home?” He began.
“I was at the arcade with Dustin and Mike. I biked there at 6 p.m., left at 8:30 p.m. and got home at about 9ish.”
He jotted everything down as she went, knowing that while the details weren’t about the scenario that took place, he needed to know everything that had happened before and after.
“And when you got home what happened then?” He proceeded, looking up from the notepad.
Now the hard part, getting into the details that she wanted to bury in the back of her mind and forget. She knew that Hopper was here doing his job and the last thing he wanted was for her to revisit last night, but in order to make sure things were done correctly, he had to get some insight.
You patted her knee encouragingly, while Steve murmured kind words, “you’ve got this,” and “it’s gonna be over soon.”
“I—I noticed a car out front, but it didn’t look familiar, so I didn’t think anything of it. Thought that maybe mom had gotten a ride home from a coworker and they were inside talking, or that maybe one of the neighbors had a guest and they just needed parking.” She explained simply.
“And when you walked in?”
“Neil was there sitting on the couch and my mom was making dinner in the kitchen. There were a few empty beer cans lying around, but they could’ve been my moms, or his…I d-don’t really know, but they were there.”
“Okay,” Hop nodded, pen moving quickly against the paper, occasionally looking up to give the girl a warm look, telling her she was doing great so far.
“How did things escalate?”
“I told him to get the fuck out and that he wasn’t welcomed in our home.” She said bluntly not caring about trying to lay it down easy.
“How did he take that?”
“Not so well,” She shifted, sitting up and swallowing thickly, “for some reason, my mom wanted him to stay, and I kept going on about horrible he treated us—how he treated Billy, and he didn’t like that I was talking back.”
“And it’s from my understanding that he hit you?”
Max nodded, “He slapped me across the cheek,” She turned her face, showing Hopper the side that was hit, though the red hand-mark had waned through the night, “Just once, but it was pretty hard.”
“M’sorry that happened, kid.” Hopper shook his head, huffing out a deep breath as he took it down.
“I gave my mom an ultimatum… him or me, but she didn’t say anything, so I knew—I knew I had to go and leave.” Her voice died with a whisper, hating the fact that repeating the words out loud was just as hurtful as seeing her mom do it to her face.
You and Steve could tell that it was starting to get heavier for Max. The mere thought of retelling what she had gone through was like reliving it again. Steve reached for her hand, giving it three encouraging squeezes.
“S’okay, we’re right here bug, not leaving okay?” You whispered, wrapping your arms over her shoulder, letting her lean it toward you.
“And you biked all the way here?”
She nodded, watching as Hopper mentally did the math of the times, knowing she didn’t bother to check it once she left. “So would you say you left Forrest Hills at about 9:30 and got here at almost 10?”
“Maybe 10:30,” she clarified, “I got tired halfway and stopped for a second to catch my breath.”
“And when you got here?”
“I knocked on the door, and they answered and let me in.” Max spoke gesturing to you both.
Hopper nodded, turning his attention to you and Steve now.
“What was she like?” He asked looking between you both.
You swallowed, going first. “Shaken up, cold obviously, but most sad and shaken.”
“She gets um, panic attacks sometimes?” Steve looked over at Max apologetically, but she nodded, letting him know it was okay to go on.
“S-she said it was just some stuff at home, and it kinda triggered one, so she got her a glass of cold water and warm rag to help calm her down.”
“What happened after that?”
“I told them what happened…about the slap, I mean.” She clarified with the tilt of her head as Hop nodded and jotted it down.
“Got it.”
“A-are we done, now?” She furrowed her brows, shifting a bit in her seat just enough to catch the notepad that was filled with his writing, not even room left in the margins.
Hopper flipped the pad over, clicking his pen shut as he nodded. “Yeah, no more talking about it. Got everything I need to keep him behind bars.”
She let out a breath of relief, sinking into your side as you smiled down at her, pressing a kiss to the side of her head lovingly. You hated that she had to go through this, but you knew it was the process to make sure everything was handled properly and Neil wouldn’t be able to get out easily.
“I’m assuming you’re not wanting to go back?” Hopper proposed, smiling a bit at Max’s comfortability that was visible now that the hard part was over.
Max nodded sternly, looking back at him. “Not if I don’t have to.”
“You guys okay with letting her stay here for a while?” Hop asked you both.
Without hesitation, you and Steve nodded. That wasn’t even up for debate. Your door would always be open for Max no matter what.
“Then it’s best you go back over there, let Max pick up a few things and try to get her mom to sign this.” He reached into his pocket, slipping out a folded piece of paper that he handed over.
Steve grabbed it, unfolding it to read the contents as you and Max leaned over to do the same.
“What is this?” Steve shook his head confused.
“It’s to have you and Steve become Max’s legal guardians. Her mom is obviously still going to be her parent and I doubt she’d sign away her rights, but this is mainly to protect Max. To make sure that she has people she can go to when she doesn’t feel safe at home, and things to get messy with the court and stuff like that.”
“So, we just get her to sign this and then Max can stay with us?” You questioned.
“For as long as I want?” Max added with an excited glint in her voice causing Hop to push out a laugh.
“Obviously, I’d encourage that your mom tries to make things right with you eventually, but I can understand that you don’t want to be near her right now. So yeah, if she signs it, you can stay here as long as you want.”
Max perked up at the thought, sitting up straighter and looking at you and Steve with hopeful eyes — it was as if she was brought back to life for a moment just at the idea of getting to stay with you and Steve.
You smiled softly, rubbing her back, “Why don’t you go get ready and we’ll head out to get this done, okay?”
“Okay!”
As the bedroom door closed, Hopper turned to you both wearing an apprehensive expression, sighing deeply and rubbing his hands together.
“It isn’t going to be easy.” Hopper spoke softly, not wanting Max to hear, “She’s gonna be a little hesitant to sign it, but I gave her a little spiel about it last night.”
“How’d she take it?” Steve wondered, scratching the back of his neck.
“Telling a mother that she isn’t fit to raise her child and that her child was going to be better off in the hands of two early twenty-year-olds?” His forehead creased as he lifted his brows, shaking his head, “She was pissed.”
You rolled your eyes, tsking because she had done this to herself and you had no remorse for her, at least not after what she had done to Max.
“Well, she should’ve thought twice before letting an abuser back into her and her daughter’s home and letting that same man hit her kid.” You retorted sharply.
Hop nodding sympathetically, understanding your indignation.
“I know you’re upset, but you’ve gotta try to make her understand that way Max is put first.”’
Steve rubbed your knee gently, doing his best to calm you down knowing that while you were visibly upset at the entire situation, you both had to see it through for Max’s sake.
“We hear you.” He spoke, giving Hop a grateful look for the time and energy he was taking out of his day to help you both with the process.
“The kids are worried about her…” He revealed with a sigh, “They basically stayed up all night and grilled me when I got back home.”
Hopper didn’t mean to overstep his place and tell El and Will about it before Max had the chance to, but the second he received the call, the only thing he could do was burst through their bedroom door and ask when they had seen her last.
Safe to say that once they were awoken with the news that their friend had runway, they couldn’t bring themselves back to sleep — pacing the living room restlessly as Jonathan and Joyce did their best to soothe them while Hop had drove down to the trailer park.
“Do you think they could by a little later? They just want to check up on her and give her a hug.” Hopper proposed, since it was the one thing El and Will had made him promise he would do for them.
“That’s sweet of them.” You smiled with a nod, “After we head out, I’ll ask Max and have her call them up in advance.”
“Great.”
Hopper left after saying goodbye to you all, wishing you luck on getting the paperwork signed and reminding you and Steve that you guys could give him a call anytime if you needed anything.
The last place Max wanted to go was back to the trailer park, but she knew in her heart that avoiding it forever wasn’t something that she could do considering that she still loved her mom, but right then, she just couldn’t stand to be around her after everything.
You three agreed that you would do most of the talking in hopes of getting the signature on the forms while Max headed inside to pack her stuff. Max had nothing to say to her mother, nor did she have to even utter a work to her — she owed her nothing.
The only thing keeping Max’s hopes up was getting to finally pick up somewhere else, somewhere safer where she knew you and Steve would never put her in danger and give her the home that she was always longing to have.
Her blood started rushing quicker as Steve turned into the park, driving up to the trailer and placing the car in park. She closed her eyes, leaning head back against the seat, taking a few deep breaths attempting to prepare herself to face her mom.
“Hey,” Steve looked back, tapping on the console to grab her attention, “It’s gonna be okay. We’ll be in and out as quick as we can be.”
“You don’t have to say anything at all, just go in there and grab whatever you need, alright?” You added, twisting your body to face her, grabbing her hand gently.
She took a final deep breath, nodding as she glanced out the window, “Let’s get this over with.”
Steve jogged up the steps, knocking firmly on the metal before heading back down with you and Max. It felt like forever for her, hearing her mom’s voice call out from the inside and footsteps moving across the floors, but it was only seconds after the creaky door swung open.
A look of relief washed over her mother’s face, hands resting over her heart as she walked towards her daughter.
“Maxine! Oh honey, I was so—”
Your hand came out, blocking her from getting any closer than she already was, putting distance between her and Max.
“She’s here to get a few things, then she’s leaving.” You said sternly, locking eyes with her keeping your gaze hard.
Her mom looked between you and Steve, eyes wide as she swayed her head puzzled.
“L-leaving? To where?”
“Ours. She’s gonna be staying with us for a while.” You told her, not missing the way the confusion instantly spread to denial.
Max took the opportunity to push her way in, brushing past her mom through the door and making a beeline for her room. She shut and locked the door, quickly moving and grabbing bags to stuff full of the things while you and Steve waited outside.
Max’s mom shook her head, eyes pleading to you and Steve, “You can’t take her away from me. She’s my daughter. Please.”
You didn’t even look affected by her begging, still keeping your composure with your arms moving across your chest.
“We’re not taking her away. She’s picking us, and we’re choosing her. The same way you should have last night.”
Steve had never seen you be so cold as you were being in that moment. It was totally out of your character to act out that way, but he knew this was just as hard for you to do. You weren’t doing this to punish her mom.
You were acting this way because Max needed someone who wasn’t going to just give up on her and let her fend for herself. She had done enough of that already, and with you and Steve there was no need for her to do it anymore.
“Please, you have to know that I didn’t mean for him to hit her.” She reasoned, clasping her hands together like a magical prayer was going to change your view.
“But you did know how violent he could get, and you still let him in. You put your life and Max’s in danger. For what?” You scoffed, shaking your head.
“He said that things were going to be different.” She whispered, furrowing her brows trying to get you to understand where she was coming from.
“And you really fell for it? After all of this time, you would think that you would know better.”
“We could be an actual family.” She said, pointing into the trailer where Max was gesturing to you both that it could finally be a home with a mom and dad waiting for her.
That ticked you off beyond everything she had pervious said. You couldn’t keep your composure any longer, tightening your fists to your sides, doing everything to keep the anger at bay and remember what you and Steve were here for.
“Just stop it!” You yelled louder than you had anticipated, prompting Steve to lay a calming hand on your shoulder, murmuring out for you to take it easy.
“Max doesn’t need anything more than a mother. Someone who is going to put her and her needs first. Not some delusional idea of a family that never existed in the first place.” You retorted sharply, bursting the bubble around that stupid dream of hers.
“That’s not true—”
You pointed your finger at her, nearly seething at that point.
"You dragged her into this town, and you left her to fend for herself when Billy treated her like crap and you did it again when Neil did the same thing. As much as it hurts you to admit, you know you’re not fit for the role. At least not right now.”
You didn’t mean to be so harsh, but it was what she needed to hear and she didn’t even bother to defend herself. Shrinking back, you could see the way her eyes washed over with a sheen of tears, jaw quivering slightly as you went on without missing a beat.
“Do you even know anything about your daughter at all? Do you know that Steve and I are her emergency contacts? He had to drive down there last week for an incident that you should have been there to handle, but you weren’t.” You explained to her, trying to keep your voice low for Max’s sake.
“You’re barely around, and on the rare occasion that you are, you don’t even try to be apart of her life, or even try to scratch the surface of everything she’s been hiding because she wants to protect you.”
You had gotten worked up by then; the anger floating away and instead replaced with pure disappointment for the mere fact that you and Steve even had to be here in the first place. Had she done her job as a mother, none of this would have happened, and she wouldn’t be standing here getting an earful from you right then.
“But you’re her mom.” You swallowed, shaking your head at her sobs leaving her mouth.
“You’re the one who’s supposed to be protecting her, and you failed at that.” You said, letting your voice die, watching as she broke down even more at those words.
You felt terrible for making her cry despite knowing she deserved it. You weren’t an evil person; you didn’t gain anything by making her feel bad about the way she parented, but every single thing you had said played a role in how awful thing had turned out for Max.
Her daughter, a girl going through the most pivotal developmental years of her life, was protecting her own mother who was neglecting her. She could have easily picked up and left long ago, even before Billy died, but she didn’t. She stuck around and beared the weight of everything else meanwhile she was the one suffering most.
“I’m her m-mom…she only has one mom, and that’s me.” She croaked, pointing to herself while the tears ran down her face.
“So if I were you, start acting like it and get your shit together so you can be the one she trusts again. The last thing she needs is forcing herself to live with her only mom who shattered her heart.”
You took a shaky breath, reaching behind you to retrieve the papers that Steve was holding onto. Passing them over to her, you watched as she looked over them, seemingly having no objections any longer.
“Y-you promise she’ll come back home?”
You and Steve looked at each other, neither nodding nor shaking your heads before you finally mustered the strength to look at her again.
“Prove she should first.”
Before you knew it her signature was printed on the pages, the three of you standing awkwardly outside listening for the bustle of footsteps and drawers shutting before finally the door whipped open. Max wobbled as she made her way down the short stairs, keeping her eyes on you and Steve.
“She sign it?” She finally spoke, watching as you both smiled and nodded.
Steve stepped forward, taking the bags from her arms and going to put them into the trunk of his car as you stayed near the porch with Max and her mom.
“Max, I’m sorry.” Her mom sniffled, going to reach out to her before quickly pulling her hands back to her chest understanding that she didn’t want to be touched.
Max looked over her shoulder, staring almost emotionless as she muttered, “I hope you are.”
“I—I’m gonna change, I promise…I’ll be better for you.”
They didn’t share a hug or a kiss on the cheek goodbye, Max simply opted for nod not wanting to keep her hopes too high when it came to her mom. You three loaded back into the car, watching from the rearview as her mom waved goodbye while you all set off back to the apartment.
You met her eyes in the mirror, heart warming at the small smile that splayed over her face, leaving the park without looking back.
“Why don’t we have a day with El and Will, huh? We can go shopping for your new room.” You suggested cheerfully.
A short gasp left her mouth, a little confused and surprised. “My own room?”
Steve chuckled nodding as he glanced back at her for a second. “You’re gonna be living with us for a while, so yeah, you’re own room. We’re gonna turn her study into a bedroom for you.”
“Thank you, thank you thank you!” She bubbled, unbuckling her belt as she reached forward and draped her arms over your shoulders as you and Steve laughed, urging her to buckle back up.
“Give El and Will a call when we get home and then we’ll swing by to pick them up, okay?”
It surprised her just as much as it did you, how upbeat she was despite the events that had unfolded less than 24 hours ago. Perhaps it was just her running on the high of actually getting to stay with you and Steve, but you had a feeling that it was the genuine relief she felt knowing that she’d get to come home to a safe space every day from now on.
Steve had given you the keys to his car, steering you and Max out of the apartment right after you had dropped off all her belongings and she had phoned her friends. The second you made it to the Hopper-Byers residence, El and Will were already waiting on the porch, racing towards the passenger side to greet their Max with the biggest hug in the world.
Joyce even came out, pulling Max into a sweet hug, murmuring even sweeter words that a mother would give her child. A little sliver of your conscious felt guilty that you were depriving Max of that mother-daughter connection that she always wanted, something every girl craves to have.
“Do you want to tag along?” Max extended the invitation, looking back into the car where you nodded with a smile, patting the empty passenger seat that you would hope Joyce would occupy.
And alas, she did, which was a great excuse for you and her to talk about adult things while the kids helped Max pick out stuff for her bedroom. They ran off to the knick-knack section of the thrift store, hoping to find some decor, while you and Joyce sorted through the hangers of curtains trying to find something that would suit her style.
She nudged with her elbow, causing you to looking over at her as a small smile took over her features before she whispered softly, “You and Steve are doing the right thing.”
You inhaled deeply, giving her a shaky laugh as you exhaled. “You think so? I’m honestly a little scared.” You admitted, hoping she wouldn’t think you were second guessing it because you weren’t.
There was just a lingering worry living in the back of your head, wondering if you could actually do it. Without a doubt, you knew that Steve could. He practically handled all six children by himself at one point in time, but you were still new to it. You were always there for all of them, but Max’s situation meant not just being there, but being present and ready to be at her side at any moment.
You couldn’t stomach the thought of her bottling up her feelings and hiding away in her bedroom while you went on unaware of it in the next room over. You didn’t even know what you’d do with yourself if she came home in tears not wanting to talk about what happened before shutting the door in your face.
There were so many things you weren’t prepared for and that was what made you the most scared: the thought of not knowing and it ending up hurting Max more than she already had.
Joyce had been in your shoes a few years earlier, taking in El, a child she didn’t birth, but felt immensely protective over. Though her circumstances were different from Max’s, there were more similarities in the fact that all they really needed was a safe space with people who loved them for who they were.
She reached out, giving you back a comforting rub while you shifted to face her completely.
“They say people are never really ready to be parents and it’s the same way for you guys, but you and Steve are the perfect fit for her.” She said softly, watching as you took in her words with a nod, continuing to listen for what advice she had left to graciously give you.
“She trusts you enough to tell you about everything in her life without being scared that she’ll be in trouble. She chooses you guys because you choose her. I know it’s not an ideal situation, but sometimes things happen for a reason…for the better.”
It was a motto that Joyce Byers lived by, the fact that things happened for a reason and even if it wasn’t the way things were envisioned, it was always for the better. She would have never thought that she would be a single mom of two kids, leaving behind Lenny in order to give her two boys a better shot at living a life without the risk around. But she also would have never thought she’d find love again and adopt a girl like El, who completed her life in so many ways.
Their families meshed together like one without even skipping a beat. It just felt right even after all those years of going through it without each other. When they were finally found on another, it was like the missing puzzle piece finally being put back in its place—a kind of harmony that was difficult to replicate.
You saw it covering her face, the certainty and confidence she had in you to do it.
“I needed that.” You closed your eyes, wrapping her up in a tight hug. “Thank you so much.”
“I’m here for you all, no matter what. We all are.” She reminded you, rubbing comforting circles over your back.
She smiled where you couldn't see, catching Max from afar as she watched on with a grateful look, giving Joyce a thumbs up before running along to find her friends.
You realized that it was a lot of pressure, and right now it felt like the weight of the world on your shoulders to make sure you were giving Max everything she needed, but sometimes it wasn’t as complicated as you were making it out to be in your head.
Giving Max a place to stay and the knowing that she was cared for was already enough for her and all the rest were just extras she was glad to be given by you and Steve.
After a few hours of strolling through countless stores and picking up the right pillows and bedspread, Steve’s car was officially packed to the brim. You weren’t sure how you all managed to Tetris fit everything, but it worked perfectly and by the time you had dropped the kids and Joyce back to theirs, the empty seats were occupied by everything that was once on their laps.
“My arms are dying!” Max huffed dramatically, slogging up the apartment complex staircase as you lingered behind her, trying to catch your breath with each slow step.
“I’m getting too old for this. I should’ve picked the apartment on the first floor instead.” You fretted with the shake of your head, finally making it up to the top with a loud stomp.
You and Max stood at the top of the stairwell for a couple seconds, deep breaths filling the silence as you pressed yourselves up against the brick wall. Then suddenly, as your eyes locked, laughter erupted not being able to take each other seriously over the silly situation.
Despite the cramp that you were surely going to catch in your leg at any moment’s notice, it was all worth it knowing this was going to be a memory you’d both look back on and crack up at.
Taking another deep breath, you tilted your head down the hallway.
“C’mon I bet Steve and Ollie miss us.” You both walked the short way to your front door.
You let your arm’s weight down, bags falling softly against the concrete as you fished the car keys out of your purse, beginning to unlock it. Ollie’s little barks came from behind the wood door, getting louder when you unlocked the screen and finally pushed the second one open.
The second the gap was cleared, the pup excitedly jumped up on his hind legs, greeting you both with a few more barks.
“Oh, hi boy! I missed you so much.” Max quickly stepped through, placing the bags down and going to her knees in order for him to surge into her lap.
You grinned sweetly, bending down to pet behind his ears while you toed your sneakers off, lugging the bags behind you.
“Where’s your dad, huh? Did you keep him company the whole day?” You wondered aloud, mostly talking to your dog who wasn’t paying you any mind with the pets he was getting from Max.
Before you could even call out his name, Steve strolled from the hallway, dusting off his hands as he smiled at the both of you. His hair was slicked back more than usual, which you assumed was because of the sweat that accumulated from all his hard work.
He didn’t tell you much about what he was going to do before you left, just that he was going to fix up the bedroom for Max and get everything in order.
“He did keep me company. In fact, he couldn’t stop following me around, that is until he heard you guys all the way from the stairwell.” He snickered, knowing that Ollie could hear your combined laughter from a mile away, instantly darting towards the front door the second he heard it.
You walked over to him, placing a peck on his lips before pushing past him into the living room in order to get yourself a glass of water.
He turned his attention to Max. “Did you have fun today, bug?” He proposed, scanning the shopping bags, which wasn’t even half of what you had picked up.
She nodded, bringing Ollie closer to her chest as she waddled over to the couch to get comfortable.
“The best day ever! Joyce even joined us and we all got ice cream afterwards as a treat for all the sale findings we did.”
Steve glanced over at you with a suspiciously raised brow not believing either of you could be gone for as long as you were and only have a couple of shopping bags.
You were especially good at finding the items that were somehow always on sale or marked down, which is how you justified every purchase claiming you were getting a bang for your buck—Steve didn’t know if that was always true or not, but who was he to argue?
“I’m assuming there’s more in the car?” He looked back and forth between the both of you.
You gulped down your water, nodding with a wide grin.
“You are correct!” you said, tossing him the car keys that he quickly caught and stuffed into his pocket with a grin.
“Before I lug whatever the hell you guys bought up here, let me show you a surprise.” He announced with the clap of his hands, motioning for you both to following his lead.
Max’s ears perked up, shuffling off the ground and following him closely. “A surprise?”
“You heard that right.”
The three of you stopped in front of your old study, now Max’s bedroom where the door was pulled shut. You and Max had no idea what was behind the door, but you both were excited to see what he was hiding, knowing he could have done anything while you were gone for the day.
In true dramatic Steve Harrington fashion, he shot Max a semi-worried, yet semi-cheery look, placing his hands on her shoulder as if he was bracing himself for a bad reaction already.
“Now Max, if you hate it by all means, don’t be afraid to tell me,” He cautioned.
She glared playfully, flicking his arm in a scolding manner.
“Stop, I’m not gonna hate it!” She guaranteed to him, waving her hands out in the air as in telling him to hurry about revealing it.
“Fine, then…surprise!” He blurted, reaching back to twist the doorknob and press the door open, revealing its interior.
Shock wasn’t even enough to describe what Max was feeling, let alone fathom the work Steve was able to pull together with just a couple of hours. She wasn’t even sure how he managed to get all the furniture, considering he was left without a car all day, but she was sure he had pulled some strings to make it possible.
The rattan bedframe was pushed up against the wall to maximize the space along with a newly packaged mattress laying within it. Beside it was a small two tiered bookshelf that would also act as a bedside table. Even though it was still empty, he was sure all her comics and little knick-knacks would find their home there when she officially got unpacked.
A tall oak wood dresser stood on the opposite side of the room, and while the room itself did come with a small closet, Steve just wanted to make sure there was enough room for her to store all her things. And last, on the adjacent wall, was a small desk that used to be yours, one that you had told Steve to leave in there for her so she could have a spot to do all her studying and whatnot.
The walls itself were bare, Steve wanting Max to have the creative reign to do whatever she wanted with them or if she wanted to paint it a different color, then they could make plans to go to the store over the weekend and pick a few swatches to choose from the.
Steve anxiously waited as she quietly looked around the room, taking it in without saying a word. She hadn’t even seen the room all too much to remember what it even looked like before all the furniture was put in. The only time she would ever come in there was to grab some pens and markers from your desk, but it was never long enough for her to notice how much natural light and space the room truly had.
Steve crossed his arms over his chest nervously. “Do you like it? I know it’s not much, and it’s still kinda bare, but we can—oh!”
Before he even had the chance to discredit all his hard work more than he already did, the young girl launched herself into his arms, hugging him like her life depended on it.
“Thank you so, so much! This means the world to me. You don’t even know how thankful I am right now!”
You clasped your hands together, heart warming at the sight as you watched how slowly the relief covered Steve’s face before being plastered with complete and utter joy for successfully doing something special for her.
To be fair, you were sure Steve could have blown up an air mattress for her, and Max would have the same reaction since it was the utter thought that counted the most—but this was definitely better.
“You’re welcome, Max.” He smiled, patting her back kindly, still reeling from the reaction he had received while you flashed him a big smile and a thumbs up.
“How did you even get this on time?” She finally pulled away, going for the bed and jumping back first against the mattress with the plastic covering crinkling beneath her. “You didn’t even have a car to pick this up.”
Steve beamed proudly, beginning to explain how he made it all happen. “I made a few calls, and I got Eddie to come and pick me up and we were able to go grab it. And Hop was getting rid of some stuff from the cabin and he let me keep some of the furniture for you.”
Surely getting Eddie’s help was the easy the part, the hardest was convincing him to stick around and help carry it all up the flight or stairs. Steve promised to give him a discount on all the tapes he wanted for a full month just for the favor alone—but Eddie could have gone without it, knowing that Steve was doing it not for himself, but for Max.
“Look at you being resourceful,” you half teased, poking him in the arm while he rolled your eyes at your chiding.
Max sat up slightly, arms spreading out towards the both of you as she jutted out her chin. “Come on. Group hug.”
You and Steve laughed, practically toppling into her side when she pulled you both into her, hugging with all her might trying to physically push all the gratefulness she had into it. She was sure that she could never repay you and Steve for all the things you’ve done for her, but if she could hug you both every day and make you feel it, then she would be doing it forever.
“I’m so glad you love it.” You hummed, laughing through it as she hugged you tighter for just a split second more.
“Well, thank you guys again… for going out of your way for me and giving me a place to stay.” She said kindly, patting the tops of your heads before your dog had jumped up, wanting to be included,
“And thank you, Ollie, for letting me crash at your parents’ place.” She cooed with a giggle, placing the dog on her chest where he settled snugly.
“You’re always welcomed here, you know that.” Steve ruffled at her hair, sitting up on his elbow to watching how comfortably Ollie was already liking the new room as much as Max—you were both certain, he would be crashing there every night instead of the living room or at the end of you and Steve’s bed.
After a few minutes of Max taking in her new room and getting spoiled with cuddles from Ollie, she began unpacking all her belongings, starting off with the clothes since it was the easiest to get sorted. You helped her with folding and organizing them in the drawers, while Steve placed all her heavier jackets and coats on hangers to store in the closet.
Once that was done, you all decided to take a break to snack on food, since neither of you had yet to have a proper lunch. But after a full day of being on your feet and having little to know food in your system, you were pretty much out after finishing half a bag of Doritos and a can of Coke.
Your fatigued body sprawled out on the couch where you had settled, claiming your back needed the extra cushion that the kitchen chairs didn’t have. Max and Steve decided to give you a break, doing their best to not wake you as they cleaned up and headed back to the room to finish unpacking and decorating.
It was a bit of a challenge for them to get the plastic wrapping off the mattress without your help, but they managed to find a way—Steve lifting one corner at a time as Max carefully ran the box cutter over the tarp and tugged it away section by section. The fitted bedsheet also gave them a bit of trouble but after 10 whole minutes of fighting the stupid elastic and getting confused on the right corner, it was done and her bed was properly made with the pale quilted bedsheets.
While Steve went to search for screws and the drill, Max occupied herself by filling the bookshelf bedside table with her collection of comic books and magazines. The ceramic jewelry dish she found at the thrift sat on the countertop, filled with friendship bracelets El made for her and some spare hair ties. On the bottom shelf, she shoved her Walkman and headphones into a wickered basket she also picked up at the thrift that surprisingly matched the rattan bedframe.
Some of the posters she managed to pull off the trailer walls without ripping but were bit crumpled and creased from her rushed packing, found their new homes on the walls in a collage like arrangement.
She was sure Steve would laugh and tease her when he saw the Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio, hanging right beside her dresser, but she also knew he would eventually pick her up tape and suggest it for movie night in a few days. She continued on, taping the rest of the posters up before she heard Steve’s footsteps coming back in.
He did, in fact, chuckle a little teasing her a bit at the way he knew she and El had a crush on the actor due to the fact that they screech every time he came on screen and the sole reason that had gone to see the movie in theatres three times in the same day.
Finally, they worked together to put up the hanging shelf that you had found for a deal, but without any instructions. Steve was totally going to lecture you about how no matter how good the deal was he wasn’t an instruction booklet that just knew how to put things together on the spot. But thankfully, this one didn’t give him too much trouble, at least in the beginning.
“How about now?” Steve gently lowered his hands, backing up from the wall with a single step.
With no level in sight, Steve had to continue readjusting the shelf’s position to make sure it was sitting perfectly flush and leveled against the wall. Neither he nor Max was sure how you slept through the shrill of the drill gun going through the drywall, but they were successful—in not waking you up and finally getting on the shelf right after three attempts.
Max tilted her head from where she sat on the floor. “Yeah…yeah, that looks about straight.” She shrugged not seeing it tilt to one side more than the other.
“You sure? I don’t want your tapes to fall and crack.” Steve frowned, stepping back up more to it to see if it was leveled correctly.
“They’ll survive, Steve.” She snickered at his concern, going to grab the small shoe box which contained all her adored belongings.
Her beloved, always on repeat, Kate Bush tapes found their place in a short stack, not too high in case they accidentally fell and the plastic casing cracked. A few drawings Will had sketched up for her, clipped together and stored in a folder for safekeeping. A few of Billy’s items that she kept like the ashtray that was now used to hold her spare change. And, of course, the koala plush that Steve had won for her at the arcade.
But there was one more thing at the bottom of the shoe box—a framed photo of her and her mom, from way back when she was a little girl in California. Her father took the photo, the two of them standing with wide smiles right in front of the Ferris wheel on Santa Monica’s pier.
Trips were always rare since they were on a tight budget, but her dad always claimed it was the perfect excuse to be stuck in traffic together and then get to stretch their limbs by riding all the rides.
The photograph sat at the bottom of her drawer back at the trailer, and she hadn’t even realized she packed it in the haste until now. Steve who had been sweeping up the dust that fell on the floor from the drilling, noticed her unmoving figure staring into the pit of the shoebox.
He set the broom aside, peering in to see as his lips curled up curiously, “What is it?”
Her lips pursed together into a fine line, picking up the frame and handing it over for him to see. Young Max, no older than six, smiling cheekily beside her mother with an ice cream cone in hand. Her front teeth were missing, but she still sported her signature plaits and freckled cheeks—a lot had changed, but still she was the same spunky girl who just got taller and got all her adult teeth in.
Steve looked up, glancing over at her. “Santa Monica, right?”
“Mhm,” she hummed, wondering how he could’ve known without seeing any specific signs in the photo.
“Do you miss California?” He wondered aloud.
Max shrugged her shoulders not really knowing how to go about it.
“Sometimes. I used to miss it more back when we first moved here, but after a while I kinda stopped because I had made friends and it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
Steve chuckled, jabbing his elbow gently into her side. “Until you found about the alternate dimension?” He half joked to which she snorted with a roll of her eyes.
“Obviously…but even then, at least I wasn’t alone.” She said, nudging him back at the memory where he was the one who saved her and her friends during her first run in with those demodogs.
She twisted her fingers through each other, shoulders lifting curiously, “I—I do miss my dad sometimes, though. I always wonder what he’s up to, if he ever misses me or my mom.”
“You don’t really talk about him.” Steve said, tapping his foot on the ground suddenly aware of his limited knowledge on her dad’s side.
She nodded understandingly, knowing she didn’t share a lot about him with other people in the first place. Even El didn’t really know too much about him.
“Part of me wishes I could’ve stayed back with him, but I guess he just didn’t want to bear the full responsibility of a kid all by himself.”
“Did you ever try calling him?” Steve wondered, looking at her watching as she nodded with a small smile, recalling those moments for him to hear for the first time.
“We used to talk all the time when we first moved. He would call super early in the afternoon because of the time difference, and he didn’t want to miss me before I went to bed. He used to ask about my day at school and tell me that he was saving up to come visit…” Her smile faded, eyes darting down sadly.
“But he never did.”
“I’m sorry, bug.” He apologized quickly, hating how he had to ask such questions when she was already going through a lot. He didn’t mean to trigger anything, it was just pure interest to learn more.
“No, it’s fine,” she assured him, shaking her head when she finally looked back up at him.
“I know it probably wasn’t easy for him to see his only daughter get up and leave to live with her mom and her new husband who was practically replacing him. I just didn’t think it would mean he’d stop being my dad you know?”
Max knew Steve didn’t have much of a father's presence in his life either, let alone parents at all. It was one of the many things they had in common, something they were both painfully self-aware of.
Their parents were so far away, literally and figuratively. Steve didn’t even know when was the last time he saw his parents’ faces in person, while Max didn’t know when was the last time she had a proper conversation with either her mom or dad.
At some point in time, they became even more self aware that they had to look out for themselves—Steve obviously realizing this first. He hated to know that Max was essentially going through the same thing he did, and it was as if the cycle was repeating, but in other ways the curse was also breaking.
Steve placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing tenderly.
“Sometimes the people we love stop trying and no matter hard we want them to care, it’s not up to us to make them.” He said delicately, hoping his words would travel deep within and stick with her.
He wasn’t always the best with words and by a long shot he felt like most times he never made the most sense, everything getting misinterpreted or coming across the wrong way. And while Max never liked the idea of unsolicited advice, she really appreciated Steve’s knowing he gave some of the best and most straightforward ones of them all.
“Do you think the same thing is gonna happen to my mom?” She wondered, hoping he would have an answer for her, but Steve didn’t want to compare his parents to hers.
Steve shrugged his shoulders unknowingly, not wanting to give her a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when he could never truly know for sure. “I think one day she’s gonna come around and she’ll make up for not trying as hard as she should have.”
She took a deep breath, thankful for the careful words, before feeling another squeeze upon her shoulder as Steve spoke again, “But for now, we’re here and we’re not gonna stop trying and we’ll never not care for you.”
That was all that she needed to hear for the waterworks to begin. A trail of happy tears pooling withing her eyes as she sunk into him, letting him bear her weight as he hugged her tightly. It was the kind of hug that replaced the words “thank you,” and “I love you,” because the action alone spoke volumes—in fact it screamed it out loud without even uttering a peep.
Steve Harrington and Max Mayfield surely did not share a drop of blood, but what they did was know that they had each other to lean on. He was always going to be that protective older brother who hated to see her grow up so quickly, and she was always going to be that little sister trying to give him the childhood he never fully got to experience himself.
You didn’t let yourself be seen or heard, back pressed against the hallway wall, biting down on your lip to keep you from letting out a weak cry. You had awoken minutes ago, about to wander into her room to check their progress, but hearing their little heart to heart on your way there made you stop in your tracks and listen.
They needed that moment more than you did, and you’d be damned if you cut it short. As they pulled away, you took a quiet deep breath, swiping your eyes gently to clean the teary look before you knocked softly on the door, letting them know you were there as you walked through, letting out a short gasp.
“I fell asleep for an hour and this place is already looking complete!” You said, looking around in amazement.
Max chuckled, gesturing to the walls, “Don’t you like my Ralph Macchio poster?” She wiggled her brows while Steve muttered an “oh god,” under his breath.
You pointed at her with a nod before winking, “Get one of Matthew Broderick and that’ll complete the whole thing.”
Steve pretended to gag as if he wasn’t once a teenager with all the hot bombshells up on his wall. “What do you guys want a shrine of all the heartthrobs or something?” He accused, peering at you both with a comical look.
You pouted, going towards him to ruffle his hair. “If it makes you feel better, I think you actually resemble a little of Matthew Broderick just with better locks.”
“You think,” Steve blinked self indulgently, looking down at himself while you and Max repressed your laughter, shaking your heads at each other.
“Okay seriously though, I need some real food.” You stated, patting your stomach as they hummed in agreement.
Steve checked his watch, realizing how much time had passed and the sun that was setting sooner than anticipated.
“Too lazy to cook.” He groaned not wanting to do more work.
“But too lazy to go out.” Max added, plopping down on her bed.
You grinned, clapping your hands, “Why don’t we order some pizza? I got that coupon in the mail for an extra topping for free.”
“Pineapple!” they declared in unison without skipping a beat.
You laughed, shaking your head at how much they were truly long lost siblings in this lifetime and probably all the other ones out there.
“I’ll go call it in.” You sing-songed, spinning on your heel about to walk out towards the living room as Steve followed behind you.
“Oh!” Max sat up, looking at you both with a hopeful smile. “Can we at the table and use fancy plates and drink Coke out of the nice glasses?”
You and Steve smiled, nodding your heads at the simple request that seemed like such a big deal for her. Whatever it was that she wanted you and Steve would do the best to give to her.
In this lifetime and on this day, it was a neon kitchen filled with the laughter and smiles as you three ate dinner like royalty and the bright sky faded to night before it’d greet her again in the morning.
💌 reblogs, tags, comments, + likes are greatly appreciated! leave a comment and let me know if want to be added to my taglist!! 💌
a/n: hello hello hello sygb lovers -- the new chap is finally here!!! after months and months and months of on and off working on this chapter i finally finished it and i really hope you all enjoy it. i dont write angst as much but getting to dive deeper into max's life has allowed that for me and defintely challenged me as a writer who primarly sticks with fluff. i love writing steve and max's sibling dynamic but i also really love writing steve's gf's dynamic with max -- they both love and care for her so much as if she is their own. i really hope you guys like this chapter and let me know what you think <3
taglist: @translatemunson @kennedy-brooke @manda-panda-monium @tvserie-s-world @givemeth @steveharringtonswife @the-alchemys @loving-and-dreaming @awkotaco24 @engenelxver @elfiaaaa @pbs-theundeadmaggot @johnricharddeacy @gaysludge @keerysfolklore @micheledawn1975 @ihatepeanutss @bakugouswh0r3 @a-simpfortessa-lesbriean
#munsonsreputation#max mayfield angst#max mayfield stranger things#max mayfield fic#steve harrington fic#max mayfield imagine#max mayfield#steve harrington imagine#steve harrington angst#steve harrington stranger things#steve harrington fluff#max mayfield fluff#max stranger things#big brother!steve#stranger things x reader#stranger things imagine#steve harrington x reader#steve harrington#stranger things#steve harrington x taylor swift#taylor swift x stranger things#stranger things imagines#stranger things fanfiction
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just a little something i wrote because i can't escape the idea of being like a big sister to Max, being Hopper's daughter AND dating Steve
You had that burning sensation in your eyes that you have become familiar with in the last few days, the dim lights of the hospital room made you feel even more exhausted if possible. Sometimes you sat next to her bed, holding her hand carefully and drawing circles with your thumb, other times you sat in front of the bed, painfully watching her lying on the bed and talking to her, or reading her a book or just telling her how sorry you were for not being able to do anything for her. Max's limbs were in casts, her neck with a cervical collar, and her breathing connected to a machine. You got used to seeing her like that, but the first time you went to the hospital you almost collapsed in Steve's arms and the nurses had to give you a tranquilizer.
The first week Lucas and you took turns. One of you staying during the day and the other one staying during the night but at some point you got used to the disgusting smell of the hospital, to sitting in that uncomfortable chair for hours doing nothing but keep her company, to the nurses telling you that you should go home and the doctors trying to cheer on you. At some point it was harder to leave the hospital than go to it. Lucas didn't stop visiting Max, it was that you never left.
It was common for Steve to visit the hospital every day, approaching Max first and placing a kiss on her temple while caressing her hair. Then, he made sure that you had slept and that you had had breakfast and if not, he'd go to the cafeteria and buy something for you. He insisted every day on staying with Max and you going to shower, get some sleep in a bed and not in a chair, and change your clothes, but you refused every time. He packed a bag for you with some change of clothes, one of his hoodies, the book you were reading before all of this happened, and some snacks. He also brought you to the hospital a small pillow and a cozy blanket which were the only two things you used to help you sleep in the chair, because the bag was still packed in the corner of the room that Steve placed it. Steve was starting to get worried. He tried to talk to you but you didn't listen. There was only one person you would listen to.
The knock on the door made you blink and run your hands over your face to brighten you up. By the time it was, you assumed it was either Steve or Lucas, but you weren't expecting both of them. Much less with your dad.
"Steve! What a surprise!" Joyce opened the door to him, quickly encircling her arms around the boy. "Oh, but I'm afraid y/n is not home. She's at the hospital." Steve nodded. "I know, I came to see Hopper." Joyce's eyebrows furrowed. She asked no more questions and moved aside so Steve could go inside.
"The infamous Steve Harrington in my house." Hopper greeted him, not needing to move his eyes from the newspaper to know that it was Steve. "Y/n is not–"
"She's not here, I know. That's why I came." Hopper frowned and left the newspaper on the table, noticing Steve's worried look. Steve caught Jane and Will's attention, the two of them entered the living room, greeting Steve and sitting on the couch. Jonathan stopped working on his birdhouse to listen to the boy. "She doesn't leave the hospital. She's not okay. She's not eating, she's not sleeping, she's not showering. And I've tried to talk to her but she doesn't listen to me–" Hopper was ready to leave the moment Steve said that you weren't leaving the hospital. He never said anything about you spending your days there because your dad knew how much affected to you what happened to Max, but Hopper thought that you were taking care of yourself.
"I wanna go." Will stated.
"I wanna go too." Jane added.
"No, I'm going." Jonathan said.
"No, no, no. No one is coming but me and Harrington. Let's go."
"Hi, baby." Jim approached you and kissed your the top of your head. He didn't need much time to appreciate the redness in your eyes and the bags under them. You were partially curled up in the chair, probably trying to find a comfortable position to rest. "How are you doing?" You nodded to his question as Jim grabbed one of your hands and played with it while sitting on his ankles by your side so he could be at your height. Even though you nodded, it was pretty obvious that you weren't okay. He waited a few seconds. "Jane and Will miss you, they both ask for you all the time, and Jonathan too because he doesn't know how to handle them both without you. And Joyce–"You shook your head, you knew what he was trying to do. He waited again. "We need to go home." You shook your head, more determined this time, Jim nodded, closing his eyes and kissing your knuckles.
"I can't go home."
Hopper pressed his lips together.
"I don't want her to be alone. She can't be alone in here, if she wakes up, she's gonna be so scared–”
"She won't be alone, baby. Lucas will be here with her while you're gone, and then you can take turns like you used to do." Steve never heard Hopper talk in such a sweet tone before. You turned to look at the boy and Lucas nodded, reassuring you that Max was going to be fine. You let out a sigh and tears started rolling down your cheeks. Being by her side was the least you could do for her and now you couldn't even do that. "Hey, hey, no, no..." Hopper stood up and hugged your body against his, you resting your head in his belly as your tears wetted his shirt. Steve had to pinch the bridge of his nose to keep himself from crying, Lucas felt a lump forming in his throat. Your dad hugged your head closer to him. "You will come back, but you need to take care of yourself first, okay?" Hopper kneeled in front of you, holding your cheeks between his big hands and wiping your tears with his thumb.
"I might even let your boyfriend sleep over." You smiled softly. Hopper kissed your forehead and glanced at Steve. Your dad shook his head for him to approach you while Hopper went to take your things. "Hi, love." Steve kissed your cheek, you hummed in response. "He's letting me sleep over so we should go before he changes his mind." You showed him the little smile he was looking for. Steve helped you to stand up from the chair, holding both of your hands. "I wanna say goodbye." Steve followed your eyes and nodded.
You walked to the bed where Max was lying, your eyes getting glossy with tears again at the sight of your best friend. You took one of her immobile hands between yours. "I'm sorry, Max. I'm so sorry. I'll come back as soon as possible I promise." You leaned to kiss her forehead and caressed her hair with your free hand. Then, Lucas hugged you, rubbing your back and Steve wrapped one of his arms around your waist. Your dad carried your bag and opened the door for both of you.
#stranger things#stranger things fluff#stranger things angst#stranger things smut#stranger things imagine#stranger things x reader#stranger things headcanons#stranger things x fem!reader#steve harrington#steve harrington fluff#steve harrington smut#steve harrington angst#steve harrington imagine#steve harrington headcanon#steve harrington x fem!reader#steve harrington x reader#max mayfield#max mayfield fluff#max mayfield angst
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Die First
Max Mayfield x fem!Munson!reader
Warnings: cursing, st4vol2 spoilers (but also incorrect quoting so--), blood, vomiting, unbelievable amounts of angst (‘cause I like it for some reason), making out, happyish ending, reader has asthma
WC: 4.2k
Someone dies or someone gets hurt, but if one of us dies
I hope I die first, ‘cause I don’t wanna live without you
I don’t wanna ever learn how to fall asleep without you
Tell me what’s worse: losing you now or later
Maybe I can break the curse and I can be in love forever
If I die first
Max was cursed. You knew that. But if anyone was gonna die, you’d want it to be you. Max had already been through so much and she didn’t need to be scared that she was gonna end up like Chrissy or Fred or Patrick. It wasn’t fair to her. If she rose in the air and her fragile bones broke--
“Hey, Y/n.” Max’s voice cut through the dim ringing in your ears and you snapped your eyes open to look at her. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. A-are you?”
“I’m okay as someone hurtling towards a gruesome death can be.” Max shrugged. “You look like you’re gonna be sick, Y/n.”
“I’m okay, really.” You patted the seat next to you and Max sat by you. You started to reach a hand out to hold hers, but Lucas took the seat next to her, forcing you to retract your hand.
Max’s face broke into a smile as she looked over at Lucas, who smiled back.
“Max, are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Max smiled bigger as she looked at Lucas, making you feel like you were intruding. You silently got up and moved seats to sit by Robin, watching their exchange.
Robin looked between you and Max, then back again. She rested a gentle hand on your shoulder, “I know how it feels, Y/n.”
You startled, “I don’t know what you’re talking about?” You hadn’t meant it to come out as a question, but it was too late.
“The way you’re looking at Max, the forlorn expression on your face, how I know you wish you were Lucas right now… you like your best friend.”
“Wh-what? I do not!” You spluttered, red-faced.
Robin gave you a look. “I’ve made that face before. I’ve felt the same way.”
“Don’t diagnose my feelings, Robin. You don’t know what you’re talking about,” You pushed her hand off your shoulder. “I don’t like Max like that. I would know if I did.”
Robin looked down, hurt. “I’m not trying to tell you that you like her, Y/n.”
“Yeah? Well, stop. Stop whatever you’re doing. I’m not about to end up in Pennhurst because of your bullshit explanation.”
“Why would you end up in Pennhurst?”
“Because you’re freaking crazy, Robin. You can’t just yell out in an RV that I like Max. Someone will think I’m psychotic and they’ll send me away.”
Robin scoffed. “It’s an easy secret to keep, Y/n.” She folded her arms across her chest. “And there’s always a chance that this won’t work, so you’d better tell her.”
“Wait, you- you think this won’t work? You think that we won’t be able to save Max and Hawkins?”
“No, no, I didn’t say that.”
“Yes, you did! You think Max is gonna die, that we’re gonna lose, that Vecna’s gonna take over the world--” You began hyperventilating.
Max looked up, hearing your loud breathing.
“Y/n!” Max moved quickly, grabbing your inhaler and placing it between your lips. “On three, okay? One, two, three.” She pressed the trigger on three and you inhaled the medicine. “Are you okay?”
You looked up at her, the sunlight haloing her head and glowing gorgeously across her face.
“Y/n?”
“Oh, yeah. Thanks, Max.” You avoided her eyes, choosing instead to look at Robin, who gave you a knowing look.
Max slid into the seat across from you. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Thank you,” You continued avoiding her gaze, focusing on Lucas behind her. “You should get back to Lucas.”
Max frowned, “Uh, okay.” She slid out of the bench seat and went back to Lucas.
Robin opened her mouth to speak, but you cut her off. “Shut up.”
She grinned. “I wasn’t going to say anything. But you should tell her, Y/n.”
“No, I can’t. When we kill Vecna, she’ll avoid me. She’ll hate me, and if you couldn’t tell, Lucas is trying to get up the courage to ask her out again. Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”
“You’re suppressing your feelings--”
“Robin!” Steve called from the front. “Stop harassing a kid and get your shit together. Max, Lucas, Y/n, Erica, this is your stop.”
The four of you gathered the lanterns and pads of paper and moved toward the door. Steve caught your arm as you went out the door. “Good luck.”
You furrowed your eyebrows and shook your wrist out of his grip, turning to receive Eddie’s worried look.
“We’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, I know. Just be careful, okay?”
Your brother’s worry scared you, and you nodded. “Okay.”
You stomped down the steps of the Winnebago and Lucas shut the door behind you. Max pulled her headphones over her ears again and clicked play on the tape. You gave her a worried glance, which she ignored. Erica went up the steps of the Creel House as Steve pulled away from the curb. Twisting the knob, you pushed the door open and clicked your lantern on.
Oh my God, I’m so scared.
Max was looking around the attic when she was intercepted by Erica, who already had you and Lucas in tow. Erica held up the pad of paper. “I found him.” Max read off the sheet, then nodded and followed the three of you to the living room, where Erica’s lantern glowed bright and subdued shades of blue.
Erica deposited the three of you in the living room and then crossed the street to call Steve, Robin, and Nancy.
The awkwardness and tension in the air were almost palpable. Lucas shot Max a smile, who then scribbled something down on her pad of paper.
“Hi,”
“Hi,” Lucas returned, shielding his paper from you.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too.” Lucas wrote, adding a smiley face. And, after a moment’s hesitation: “Movies on Friday?”
Max grinned and began to write something, hiding her pad when Lucas leaned over to look. When she showed him, you saw that she had drawn two stick figures holding hands, and immediately felt sick to your stomach. The three lanterns on the table suddenly went dim. Shit. Max stood, retrieving her shoes and tying the laces. You and Lucas got your lanterns and followed Max up the stairs in socked feet.
Max stood in the center of the attic, lantern shining brightly on a crate in front of her. “Come and get me, asshole. I’m right here. No music this time.” Max set her cassette player on the crate beside the lantern to prove her point. Then she sat on the floor and began to speak. She spoke of Billy, of how she was glad she wasn’t dead but at the same time wished she was, how she was happy that Billy was dead. That’s when her eyes rolled back in her head and Lucas dove to her side. You ran to the window and were flashing your flashlight toward the playground when you heard a loud thudding behind you-- someone was coming up the stairs.
Jason’s blond hair became visible first, then his bloodshot and tired eyes, green letterman jacket, and finally, the shiny, silvery steel of a revolver. You felt bile rising in your throat and swallowed hard.
“Sinclair,” Jason said, diverting Lucas’ attention from Max. “What are you doing? Wake her up.”
“Jason, I can’t.” Lucas stood, shocked, and moved away from Max.
“Why not? Is this another devil, cult thing? I said to wake her up!” Jason raised the gun and trained it on Lucas, loading the chamber with a click of his thumb.
“No, Jason, don’t!” You stepped out of the shadows. “You don’t understand, this has to happen.”
“Another Munson. I should’ve known.” Jason sneered, then turned his gun on you. “Why does it have to happen, freak? So you can open a gate for Satan?”
“We’re not devil spawn, Jason,” You scoffed, then realized how poor a decision it was to antagonize a person with a gun, let alone someone who seemed willing to use it on you. “Just… we can’t wake her up, but we’re not killing her.”
Jason let out a brutal laugh, then got down beside Max, making sure to keep his gun pointed at you. “Hey, wake up.” Jason shook Max’s shoulder lightly, attempting to wake her up from the trance. “Wake up!” You could tell that if he couldn’t wake her up, Jason would do anything in his power to force you to bring her out of it, including threatening you at gunpoint or possibly shooting you.
Jason stood and pointed his gun at Lucas again. “Wake her up, Sinclair.”
“We already told you, we can’t!” You shouted, trying to pull Jason’s focus away from Lucas. “Please, Jason, you have to trust us.”
“I can’t trust you if your cult killed Chrissy and Patrick. Especially if you’re planning to kill this girl.”
“We’re not,” Your voice broke and you could feel tears wanting to well up in your eyes, but you forced them away. “I would die for Max, I-I never want to lose her. Honestly, I hope I die first because I don’t wanna live without her.”
“Then wake. Her. Up.” Jason menacingly shook the gun at you and then Lucas let out a primal cry and tackled Jason. Their bodies collided with the crates, spilling the contents to the floor. The gun fell out of his hand and skittered across the floor, the shine lost in the darkness of the attic. Lucas punched Jason in the side and Jason returned a punch to Lucas’ face.
“Shit, shit, shit!”
The walkie crackled with static and you heard the front door slam, feet pounding up the stairs.
The doorknob rattled and Erica yelled, “Let me in!”
You attempted to get around the boys, but Jason’s arm rocketed out and tripped you. You fell and broke your chin and, to your horror, the cassette player on the splintering wood.
“Son of a bitch!” Bile again rose in your throat, forcing its way out of your mouth. You held back a cry of anguish. Blood and vomit leaked down your chin and stained the collar of your shirt. With a loud crack of glass breaking, the room went quiet. You spun, expecting Jason, but Lucas was keeled over, hands on his knees, panting heavily. He looked from Jason to you, to the broken player on the ground, then to Max, whose legs were uncrossing themselves as she rose into the air.
“No!” Lucas yelled, standing under her and reaching for her feet. Too late, Max’s eyes went almost white. She convulsed and then her limbs went taught, the bones in her arms and legs pressing against her skin harshly before snapping loudly.
You let out a dry sob and Max fell into Lucas’ arms, who was sobbing freely. You knelt by them and brushed Max’s hair out of her face, tears springing to your eyes. “Shit, Max, no!”
“L-Lucas? Y/n? I-I can’t see, I’m scared… I’m not ready to die, I don’t want to die!” Max’s eyes were white, thick drops of blood dripping down her cheeks.
“You won’t, Max, okay? You’re gonna be fine, I promise, I swear on God that you’re gonna be just fine,” You reassured, despite the sobs building up in the back of your throat. A sense of helplessness was beginning to overtake your body, starting in the pit of your stomach and rising to your head, echoing in your skull.
“Stay with me, Max, stay with me!” Lucas cupped Max’s cheek as he sobbed, brushing his tears off her pale face.
Max’s breathing began to slow to a painful pace and she heaved once, blood splattering her lips and chin, then stopped altogether. You and Lucas watched in agony as her eyes fell closed, hiding the white irises from you.
The ground split open, dark red light spilling from the fissure, and you helped Lucas pull Max away before following the fissure’s progress. It ripped through the attic floor towards Jason, who lay partially conscious near the bay window. He let out a pained moan as it tore through him, killing him almost instantly and disintegrating him, forcing you to turn away from Max and throw up on the floor. Your breathing increased in pace as you watched Lucas attempt to wake Max, as the dreadful realization settled on you- Max was dead. They hadn’t stopped Vecna. Robin had been right, and you still hadn’t told Max your true feelings for her. The door finally opened and Erica stopped cold at the sight of Max.
“Erica, call 911!” You yelped, nearly choking on the lack of air. “Hurry!”
Erica turned and rushed down the stairs, footsteps thudding loudly against the horrible backdrop of silence, save for your ragged breathing.
“Erica, help!” Lucas called in an earth-shattering voice, which caused you to sob against your better judgment, which knew you were having an asthma attack- but you’d left your inhaler on the RV, which was parked at your trailer. You gasped and clutched your throat, trying to avoid looking at Max or Lucas.
“Sh-shit,” You coughed, and then you could hear the sirens. Erica had called emergency services and they were close. Max let out a small gasp for air and you swiveled to her, still gasping. Lucas startled at the outburst and gently grabbed her wrist, checking for a pulse. You locked eyes with him and he gave a slight nod. However faint Max’s heartbeat was, it was there. Max was alive. It was impossible, unthinkable, you knew you had to be dreaming, but you thanked God nonetheless for the development and smiled softly, still hacking out breaths.
The EMTs rushed up the stairs, closely followed by Erica, and immediately transferred Max to a stretcher. They carried Max to the ambulance and attended to you and Lucas quickly. They put antiseptic on Lucas’ face and gave you a quick dose of albuterol before flipping the sirens and lights on then driving off, leaving you, Lucas, and Erica on the sidewalk in front of the Creel House.
Lucas held his sister close, the pair of them shell-shocked. You went back upstairs, ignoring the red rip in the floors and ceilings. Retrieving the walkie, you called Steve.
“Steve?” You choked out, noticing the dark stain of blood on the ground. “Robin, Nancy? We kind of have an emergency here.”
The walkie screeched once and then Steve’s voice came through. “I know. We’re going back through the gate now. Be there soon.” Then, nothing. Radio silence from the older teens. You went back downstairs after collecting the pieces of Max’s player.
You sat on the curb next to Lucas and Erica, “They’re on the way. I don’t know anything else.” You whispered. “I have a feeling that something really bad happened.” You coughed, hiding a sob. “And, Lucas, Max is gonna be fine, okay? She’s alive, and that’s better than--” You stopped short as car lights turned on across the street and someone wearing a Hawkins High letterman jacket got out of the car.
Hands deep in his pockets, Andy crossed the street and stood in front of you three.
“Where’s Jason?” His voice was deep as if he was keeping himself from crying.
You looked up at him, suddenly sympathetic, understanding of Jason’s motives. “He didn’t make it. I-I’m sorry.”
Andy’s eyes shot from his shoes to your eyes. “You’re lying. What did you do to him?!”
“I didn’t do anything,” You replied, somewhat calmly. “I’m sorry, Andy. Go home.”
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to punch you. Then he turned around, went back to Jason’s car, and got in the passenger side. You looked away as he started to cry, partially out of embarrassment and partially out of sympathy. Headlights glowed down the road and you turned to see the Winnebago turning the corner. You forced yourself to your feet, then pulled Lucas and Erica to their feet.
Steve parked the RV on the side of the road and killed the engine, to your surprise. The door swung open and you waited until everyone was out of the RV, but you only counted four pairs of feet, not five like you expected. Swinging your head up, you noticed who was missing. Where the hell was Eddie?
Steve’s eyes connected with yours, brimming with tears and sympathy. “Y/n…” He held out his arms and you rushed towards him.
“Where’s Eddie?” You held back tears, just as everyone else did. “Steve. Where’s my brother?”
“Where’s Max?” You heard Nancy ask Lucas.
“Sh-she’s at the hospital,”
“You might need this.” Steve opened his hand to you and you took your inhaler from his hand. “Y/n, I’m so sorry.”
“No, Steve,” A sob pushed its way out of your throat. “Don’t lie to me, it’s not a joke. Where’s Eddie?”
Steve shook his head and a tear traced its way down his cheek.
“No--no, you’re lying! You’re lying!” Air whistled through your lungs and you pulled the trigger on the inhaler, the medicine uselessly escaping into the air.
Steve lunged for the inhaler and snatched the inhaler out of your grip, despite your protest, and forced it between your lips. He pressed the trigger, forcing you to breathe properly, and hugged you tightly.
You pushed uselessly at his chest, “No, get off. You lied to me, I hate you, I hate you.” Tears streamed in an unbroken river down your cheeks, staining your’s and Steve’s shirts.
You could feel Steve’s tears wetting your hair. “I’m sorry, Y/n, I’m so sorry.” He comfortingly rubbed your back and you clutched at his jacket, clenching it tightly in your fist. When you finally pulled away, your fingers were stiff and you were sure that your face was tear-stained and red.
“Did you at least bring him back?” You watched for any sign that they had, an imperceptible nod of some sort, but Steve shook his head, forlorn. “You left him in the Upside Down?!” You shoved Steve backward. “You left him in that nightmare? What the hell’s wrong with you?!” You punched Steve’s chest multiple times until he grabbed your wrists and pulled you close again. “You bastard! You’re useless, I can’t trust you to do anything! Eddie trusted you to kill Vecna and you couldn’t even do that, he died and you failed!” The venom in your words stung, you knew, but you couldn’t stop, despite the guilt. “You failed and Max died, you goddamn bastard!” Your voice rose, words contorting into knife-sharp shapes as you continued to yell obscenities at the poor boy. “Asshole!”
A rough hand covered your mouth, forcing you to stop yelling. “Jesus Christ, Y/n. I know, you’re mad. I’d be upset, too. But that doesn’t give you license to swear at me on the sidewalk. Eddie was my friend. I’m just as mad as you are.”
“I-I’m not mad! I’m hurt and it’s not fair that you left Eddie there, in the Upside Down, all by himself.”
“What was I supposed to do? Leave Dustin there with his body?!”
“No! But you can’t leave by himself, he hates being alone, Steve. It’s not fair.” You took a deep breath and stopped crying. In a softer voice, you said, “You could have brought him back, at least.”
Six months later
Max’s breathing was steady, and her heart rate was stable. As far as you knew, she was going to wake up within the next year or so. Some coma patients could hear when they were unconscious, but the doctors didn’t know if Max could, so they assumed she couldn’t. That’s what they had told you, that she couldn’t hear. The whole town thought that Eddie had hurt her, had nearly killed her, but they knew that Eddie was dead. They assumed because of the “earthquake.” Lucas had stopped visiting Max after the first month and you had taken his place. You didn’t read to her or tell her about your day, you just sat by her side and wished you could hold her hand. The cast was no longer around her arm, but if anyone saw you…
Oh, screw it. You picked up Max’s hand. Her skin was warm and the weight of her hand in yours felt nice, but you didn’t know what Max would say if she were awake and you took her hand in yours. Then, the slightest bit of pressure on your hand. It wasn’t just the warmth and weight of Max’s hand, you realized. Max exhaled sharply and your eyes travelled up to hers. Her blue eyes glistened, and God, was she pretty, even under the harsh hospital lights.
“Y/n?” Max’s voice cracked, almost like a walkie-talkie. It was the first time she’d said anything in six months, so the words must’ve hurt to say, must’ve scratched her throat on the way out.
“Yeah, Max, it’s me,” You made to take your hand from hers’ covertly, but Max threaded your fingers together and squeezed your hand. “How you feeling?” You turned your head away from hers’ in an attempt to hide your blush.
“I’ve been… better,” Max smiled. “Y/n, l-look at me.”
You obeyed, turning your head to face her again. Her red hair seemed firey, her eyes alight. “I swear to God, you’re a goddess.”
Max’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“Shit.” You dropped your eyes to the bed, “I’m sorry.”
“If you meant it, I’ll take it as a compliment.”
You blushed. “No, I mean, yeah, I did mean it, but I meant I’m sorry that we didn’t… save you. We tried, really, but I crushed your tape player. I’m so sorry, Max, I know it was probably awful.”
Max scooted over and patted the bed beside her. “It’s okay.”
You shifted into the bed beside her, trying not to sit on the IV or the medicine drip that was tucked into her arm. “Doesn’t make me any less sorry.”
Max squeezed your hand again. “What does this mean?” She raised your interlocked hands.
“I think you think it means something different than me,” You mumbled, looking down.
“I know what you think it means,” Max tucked a hand under your chin and turned your head to her again. “And I like you, too.”
You reddened. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about--” And then her lips were on yours. Shocked, you pulled away. “But what about Lucas? You and him--”
Max put a finger against your lips. “Being in a coma gave me lots of time to reflect, Y/n.” Max grinned, “And I know now that I had wanted to go on that date with you.”
“With me?” This was unbelievable. The Max Mayfield wanted to go out with Y/n “The Freak” Munson?
“Only if you want to,” Max suddenly seemed smaller, more fragile, and she looked away. “Sorry.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.
“No, no, Max, I do want to go out with you, I was just surprised. I didn’t think you liked me like that.”
“I didn’t know until I heard Robin talking in the RV. The day that I… died.” You winced, but she continued, “And I was so confused. I thought I was just feeling normal best friend feelings for you, but then I remembered I never felt that way with El… Y/n, I love you.”
Your body propelled you forward, into her lips. She sat for a second, then she kissed you back.
Melting into the kiss, you pushed everything you felt for her into your lips as her tongue swiped along your bottom lip. Parting your lips, you felt her tongue on yours and-- the heart monitor went off, indicating that Max’s heart rate was above 90 bpm. You pulled away, grinning, and reached for her wrist.
“Feeling okay there, Max?” You could feel her pulse pounding, you knew it was going as fast as yours.
“Yeah, I-I’m okay,”
“And, for the record, I love you, too,” You were leaning in to kiss her again when the door flew open. In the doorway stood a dark figure. The person had dark, bloodshot eyes and a pained expression on their face. They stepped into Max’s room and grinned, showing bloodstained teeth. You took them in for a moment, then you flew to their side.
“Oh my God, Eddie!” Hugging him tightly, you could smell blood on his clothes, and in his hair, and the air suddenly wasn’t enough for your lungs. “Je-Jesus Christ, you’re alive!” You coughed, and then Eddie was leading you over to the chair you’d been sitting in and rooting through your bag for your inhaler. He triggered it for you because you refused to let go of him.
“Yeah, kind of,” Eddie rubbed your back comfortingly. “Hey, Red.”
“Hi,” Max’s voice was soft, her face red. “You didn’t--”
“See you guys kissing? No, no way.”
Your face heated up, “I hate you.”
“You were just saying how happy you were that I was alive.” Eddie kissed the top of your head.
“And I am, but I can still hate you. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
“I won’t. I can’t stick around long, anyway.”
“What? Why not?”
“He knows I’m gone and he’ll assume that I went to warn you about his plan.”
“What? Who--”
“He, as in Vecna?” Max’s face was dark, her stony expression practically unreadable.
“Yeah.”
#max mayfield x reader#max mayfield angst#max mayfield fluff#max mayfield x fem reader#steve harrington#eddie munson#robin buckley#nancy wheeler#erica sinclair#lucas sinclair#dustin henderson#lumax#stranger things season 4#incorrect quotes#stranger things 4#stranger things#st4#stranger things volume 2#stranger things season four#st 4
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what difference does it make (2) ♡ max mayfield
♡ [she tried to apologise, but you can’t be friends again]
warnings: angst, panic attacks
♡ max mayfield x fem!reader (she/her)
♡ part 1 part 3
she was ignoring you for two months. she even started distancing herself from everyone else. ‘what was happening?’ you somehow thought it was all your fault and now everyone else has to deal with this too.
two weeks came by and you were still crying every night, thinking about a stupid redhead breaking your heart all over again. ‘i don’t want this! i don’t want you…’ you also remembered when you saw her talking with lucas. jealousy instantly rising in every part of your body. ‘does she love him?’
“this is so stupid… why do i have to feel like this?” you whispered, sweating from your constant panic attacks.
next day you were unsurprisingly having another panic attack but this time in the school's bathroom. you couldn’t breathe properly and this darkened place wasn’t really helping it. you didn’t notice her at first, until you turned to leave…
she was standing there, looking at you with no emotion written on her face. internally she was so worried, but you obviously couldn’t tell.
once again you were trying to catch your breath, your heart breaking more and more with every second you looked at her.
“are you okay?” she internally face palmed and almost laughed at how pathetic that sounded. she took off her headphones, turning off what you assumed was kate bush.
“sorry, stupid question.” she apologised and started thinking of how she could help you in this situation. she never really witnessed you in this state. max knew that your everyday’s happy face was just a mask but still, your pained expression broke her heart.
“i’ll just leave.” you mumbled as you grabbed your things and made your way out of the bathroom. but she stopped you with a soft touch of her fingers on your wrist. she knew you were this miserable because of her. she couldn’t wait anymore, she had to apologise now
“i’m sorry. i don’t know how to say this but i really am and i don’t know what to do now. you know i’m not good at this.”
“but that’s the point, maxine. do i really know you? i also didn’t think you would hate me so much because of a stupid question. ” your voice rising with each word.
“y/n, can’t we be friends again?” she sighed, every hope in her mind slowly disappearing.
“i don’t think i can be ‘just your friend’, i’m sorry.” you whispered as you were pushing the door open, “and by the way, congrats. you have a boyfriend again.”
#stanger things#stranger things fanfic#stranger things imagines#max mayfield#max mayfield imagine#max mayfield fanfic#max mayfield x y/n#max mayfield x you#max mayfield fluff#max mayfield angst#max mayfield x reader#max mayfield x fem!reader#max mayfield x female reader#max mayfield x female!reader#lesbian#bisexual
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More TLOU Steve and Max. Chose the games tl of events bc I haven’t actually watched the showjkskkdkdkk anyway this is right before Joel (Steve) collapses after they are attacked.
#st fanart#stranger things 4#click for higher quality#digital art#steve harrington#steve harrington fanart#steve harrington stranger things#max mayfield fanart#max stranger things#max mayfield#the last of us#the last of us au#stranger things fanart#stranger things#stranger things au#stranger things alternate universe#angst#steve harrington angst#max mayfield angst#Steve Harrington and Max Mayfield
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ever think abt how max mayfield would never have suffered the way she did in season 4 if she hadn't befriended the party and got involved with the UD but she loves her friends so much that if she could go back and do it again she'd still make the same choice. and how she probably hates herself for feeling that way bc in season 4 she feels like all she does is make her friends' lives worse. :)
#it's max mayfield angst hours for me rn#blorbo of all time#max mayfield#max mayfield angst#elli talks stranger things
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Could you do more lucmax poly headcanons?
More Poly!Lumax Headcanons w/ gn reader.
BIG spoilers for s4 v2.
Max learns to do hair for you two because she never has to do anything to hers.
It's not very long after that you walk into Lucas's room and find her braiding his curls back into tight neat rows
and her popping him with her comb when he keeps reaching up to see how much is left.
She often finds hairstyles in magazines or on TV she wants to try on one of you.
I said before she's not good with words because no one taught her how. But she's good at this and it becomes a way for her to show her love through service.
It breaks your heart when for the first time ever you're the one doing her hair up nice while she's sleeping away in the hospital.
Lucas loves to dance with the two of you. Spinning you around on smooth flooring while wearing socks.
Max has the dance coordination of a toddler but it's the most adorable thing to him when she stumbles a little and the two of you lean into each to laugh as you hold her up.
Looking at the two of you thinking about how much he never thought about loving two people THIS much, is his favorite memory. Every new time topping the old.
When he looks at you now it's a bit blurry but he sees there's no smile. But his ears still work fine he hears there's no laugher he hears you humming under your breath as you tend to max as much as the doctor will allow. The songs you danced to.
Max adores nicknames. Especially quirky ones you wouldn't hear anyone else call their loves
"hey, gingerbread." And her nose crinkled.
"ick. Hi loser." But she's smiling.
Her all time favorite is princess. She won't admit it but she always wants to play princess as a kid with her dad or a brother who could play the knight. But for a long time she was an only child. And her parents weren't all there.
Tell anyone and she'd deny it but you and Lucas take turns playing the knight that saves her just like in her fantasies as a kid. She has a paper princess crown and stands on top of the not-much-used anymore Sinclair families play set giggling as the two of you fight and she cheers you on no matter who you're playing that day. And Lucas frowns when he's knight because his fair princess has a case of Stockholm apparently
Max is very still as you read her princess tales in her coma. She might not even hear you but you change ever princesses description to look like her and every knight to look like Lucas. The same Lucas who watches you frown because there is never another knight in the love story.
Lucas who goes home after visiting hours and comes back the next day with a poorly drawn book about a fairy princess and her two knights
Max and Lucas love to give small passing kisses to one another. and when they see you watching them intensely with cheeks puffed of air they cover your entire face.
Max taste like sugar.
Max smells like cherry cola
Lucas taste like mint. Smells like it too.
Lucas carries Max's cherry cola chapstick in his pocket. It fell out of her pocket when the ambulance took her away. He makes sure to apply it for her. Max HATED hates having chapped lips. He smiles a little when he kisses you and you taste a bit like cherry cola.
Lucas loves sappy movies. He's a total cry baby under that new cool guy persona. He's such a sucker for a happy ending. "Fuck you guys how are you not in tears that was so touching"
"I guess we're just built different, you and us, stalker."
Lucas cries a lot after the doctor's talk to him.
He doesn't let you listen to the conversation sometimes.
"how about you read to Max. I'll be back. We're just still trying to find Ms. Mayfield."
He tells you what you need to know. He doesn't hide it from you.
She might not be ok
If when she wakes up she might not see.
You'll have to help her he says
And that's ok
Because you love her.
#sailor writes stuff#sailor's dreamhouse#stranger things s4#stranger things x reader#max mayfield#max mayfeild x reader#lucas sinclair#lucas sinclair x reader#Lucas Sinclair x reader x Max Mayfield#lumax x reader#lumax angst#max Mayfield angst#lucas sinclair angst#max mayfield fluff#lucas sinclair fluff
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Ooooo ooooo you wanna read my werewolf Madwheeler & Byler fic so bad
#stranger things#mike wheeler#max mayfield#stranger things au#byler au#byler fic#mike wheeler fanart#mike wheeler art#mike wheeler fanfiction#max mayfield fanart#max mayfield art#max mayfield fanfiction#mike wheeler angst#max mayfield angst#byler angst#byler angst is my passion#madwheeler#werewolf au#ghosts#tw: body horror#cw: gore#blood warning#byler
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this is so random but not the ai put so much emotion into it like oh wow they ate
#stranger things#stranger things angst#max mayfield#max mayfield angst#billy hargrove#billy hargrove angst#angst#edit
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Intuition
Warnings; Death, spoilers!season 4 (nothing too descriptive.), angst
Synopsis; Max replaces Y/n with El and Lucas, now Y/n realizes what she lost.
You never quite felt like the world would fall into place for you. Every bruise, every injury, everything that had ever fallen before you. You never felt safe in your own home, and you supposed that's why you clung to Max Mayfield the way you did. She felt the same as you.
When she met El, Jane, whatever the other kids called her, she drifted from you. Teaching her the rules of feminism after having taught you to love yourself.
El quickly became your replacement, movie nights were no longer you and Max, there was no skateboarding together anymore, nothing. Sometimes she wouldn't even pass a glance to you in the hallway. It wasn't her fault she moved on, it was yours for not getting over her, or so you told yourself.
Call it intuition if you must, you're still driving home at night while he's wiping off your blush.
When she started seeing Lucas the separation completed. There was no more you and her, ever. You didn't have friends outside of Max, and having no longer been friends with her you had no idea about the upside-down, or any struggles she was fighting. You were the last to know when Billy died, and by then she didn't want to talk to you about anything, let alone him.
Am i losing my mind, are you taking your time, to get over, to get over?
You often ended up feeling like you were losing your mind, with how fast she'd gotten over you compared to how long it was taking you to even accept it. Maybe she meant more to you than you ever did to her.
Call it intuition if you want, I'm still at the skate-park spilling all my precious blood. Do you wanna know what I think? Pretty much sums it up with the color pink, cause I'm not over.
And after a while you found yourself watching from afar as she enjoyed her time with her new friends. That's just how it was for you. There was no second option anymore, you just had to accept. That didn't mean you didn't feel sad, it didn't mean you moved on, it just meant you took one step forward. The wound was still a fresh pink.
Comes, and it goes, like a melody that's over, comes around, I'd let you, but you're over.
Call it intuition if you must
But, by the end of the day, Max was sat in a hospital bed while Lucas grieved, perhaps you'd never know what they went through, but every part of you wished you'd kept her to yourself.
The skate-park was your new home. Population; 2, you and the ghost of what once was. Good-bye Max Mayfield, you wish her better times.
#Max Mayfield#lucas sinclair#eleven#jane hopper#el hopper#stranger things#stranger things angst#max mayfield x reader#max mayfield angst#lucas sinclair angst#el hopper angst#stranger things spoilers#Spotify
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Soon You'll Get Better
Chapter One: Doctor's-Office-Lighting
↢ prologue | series masterlist | chapter two ↣
summary: revelations of max's mental and emotional health come to light when you and steve take her to a check-up. determined to do whatever you can to help her, you and steve work on getting her to open up about her life. max comes to realize that the support is genuine and that she isn't alone, whether if it's about her state of mind or relationship.
word count: [12.2k] kinda proof-read
: ̗̀➛ pairings: big-brother!steve x max & big-sister!reader x max
: ̗̀➛ romantic pairing: steve harrington x fem-college-student!reader
: ̗̀➛ warnings: talks about mental and emotional health, billy's death, self isolation, panic attack, crying, talks about attempted sewerslide (max almost says it, but steve stops her), mentions of breakups, overall a lot of fluff despite the angst.
With the sun beaming down at Hawkins and the skin tickling breeze passing by, it would’ve seemed as though nothing bad had ever happened in this small town, but that would be far from the truth.
Max hadn’t felt the warm enveloping blanket of the sun and the gust of wind against her skin in days. Instead, she spent the dwindling hours of summer locked in the trailer, watching the same VHS tape on repeat like background noise while she paced back and forth cleaning up the pile of messes and lost in her own thoughts.
The only time the depths of misery in her mind paused was when the telephone rang. She would stare at, contemplating on answering, but just being too drained to even reach it or utter a single world. Her best friend El, leaving countless of voicemails asking when she would like to hangout next or simply if she was ok.
She didn’t like worrying El. It wasn’t her fault that she was feeling like this. At the end of the day, it was no one’s fault. But shutting people out just seemed to be her default way of dealing with everything, especially something like this.
“Max, honey,” A few more knocks tapped on her door. For once her mother was home, but spent the day figuring out payments with the bank and handling a bunch of adult shit that she was too far to care about.
The young girl sighed, kicking off her blankets, and staring up at the ceiling. One. Two. Three seconds before she mustered the energy to get up and open the door. “What’s up?”
Her mom looked over behind her shoulder, then back at her daughter, “Your friend El is here. She’s worried about you.”
Max brushed past her mom, heading straight down the narrow hallway of the trailer until she saw her best friend along with Steve and you, his girlfriend, on either side of her.
“Hey—” She couldn’t even get the whole greeting out before El had stepped forward and bound her arms securely around her best friend, a sigh of happiness leaving her mouth.
Slowly, Max hugged her back, not knowing that El was this concerned about her and if she had known that her best friend was going to show up unannounced like this, she would have picked up the last seven calls she had missed.
“Why haven’t you picked up my calls?” El wondered, pulling away and observing the features on Max’s face that seemed to have dulled.
The apparent bags under her eyes, a tell-tale sign that Max had not been getting enough sleep and was fatigued.
“Busy doing chores, I’m sorry, El.” Max felt terrible, she didn’t mean to treat her friend like this, let alone make her worry so much, but El just gave her a reassuring smile and shook her head mouthing, “It’s ok.”
“Did you ask them to drive you here?” She looked at you and Steve as you two nodded, him stepping forward first to give her a hug.
Max didn’t share many hugs with Steve, but today she granted him one knowing he took the time out of his day to drive here, “She was worried, which then made us worry, so we wanted to come here to make sure you were alright.”
When he pulled away, he took notice of the way Max forced a laugh just as quickly as it died in her throat when you stepped forward and hugged her strongly.
“Are you doing ok, sweetheart?” You inquired softly against her hair, and she only replied with a “yes,” before you had nodded and pulled away, not wanting to poke and prode.
It wasn’t long before her mother came back into view, resting a hand on Max’s shoulder and smiling at you three. You could tell she was worn out, the same way Max was. But the only difference was that her mother was good at trying to hide it. Meanwhile Max tried to, but the discomfort on her face said it all.
“I actually wanted to ask a favor from you two if that’s ok?”
Max glanced behind at her mom, raising a brow, but she squeezed her shoulder warmly, “Max, why don’t you invite El in for a little bit? I just need a word with these two, ok?”
She wanted to ask why, but not wanting to make the situation sticky, she grabbed onto El’s hand and led her inside of the trailer and towards her room where they could catch up in private.
Her mom stepped outside, closing the door behind her and smiling at you two, “I just hope this isn’t too much to ask, but, Max actually has a check up tomorrow morning, but I can’t take her because I’ll be working.”
You and Steve’s eyes caught the way her fingers fidgeted against one another, a distinct perception of stress and anxiety, just because of her asking for the favor.
“We could totally take her!” You chirped, taking away the embarrassment she had felt for asking such a favor from some teens.
Steve nodded, wrapping his arms over your shoulder and pulling your side into him, “Yeah, the two of us are both off, so it should be no problem.”
Her mom shifted eye contact between you both, “Are you sure it ok? The appointment is at nine, but I could reschedule it if that’s too early.”
You shook your head, looking over at Steve with a smile, “We’re usually up before then, so nine is perfect.”
When you looked back at her, she was more than relieved, placing a hand over her heart gratefully.
“Thank you! I would send Max there herself, but they need someone over eighteen to be with her in case, and I know she really trusts you two the most.”
Max wasn’t always particularly close to you and Steve, but as she had caught more rides from you both, she had warmed up to you two out of all the older teens.
“We’d be happy to take her. Do you have the address by any chance?” Steve sought before Max’s mom nodded, gesturing back inside the trailer.
“I’ll go write it down and I’ll be back out.”
You watched as she hurried back inside, leaving you and Steve there waiting.
“Maybe we could stop by a little cafe and get her some breakfast before we pick her up?” You suggested, leaning your head on his shoulder.
He kissed the top of your head first, “I’ll need a coffee. Do we really look like we’re the type of people to be up by nine in the morning?” Steve half joked with a short laugh.
You snorted, nudging him softly. “I didn’t want to make her feel bad…if this is the least we can do to help them, we can sacrifice a few hours of sleep.”
“I know, I know, you’re right.” He apologized, resting his chin on top of your head while they waited around for a couple of minutes before her mom and the two girls had come emerging from the door.
You reached for the small piece of paper with the scribbling of the address written on it with a faded blue ink that was still readable. Steve took it from you when you passed it to him, placing it in his jean pocket and creating a mental note to not forget it was there.
“Do you think I can stay for dinner?” El requested kindly towards you two, who were just offered to stay a little longer by Max’s mom.
Steve hummed, checking the time on his watch, but sadly shaking his head when he saw the time, “Sorry, El, we promised Hop we’d have you home by five remember?”
She pouted nevertheless, but smiled when Max hugged her and told her that it was ok.
“Maybe tomorrow you can head over to Will and El’s after your appointment?” Her mom suggested, “But you’ll have to ask her and Steve for a ride since they’re taking you tomorrow.”
The redhead grumbled, pulling away from her friend and looking at her mom begrudgingly, “Can’t we reschedule?”
Her mom shook her head, taking a deep breath. “You’ll need to go, Maxine. My insurance plan finally is in effect and it’s covering all our medical expenses, thank god.”
“Fine.” She puffed, crossing her arms over her chest a clear sign that she did in fact not want to step foot into any doctor’s office whatsoever.
“C’mon, hon, let’s get you back home before your dad freaks.” You smiled delicately, reaching a hand out for El who took it, and stood by your side.
Steve pointed at Max, a small smile on his face, “We’ll see you tomorrow morning, alright?”
Max just nodded, forcing a smile as she watched the three of you get into the car with El in the backseat, waving goodbye to her best friend as they drove off into the late afternoon.
“Maxine, I know you’re upset.” Her mother spoke apologetically, resting a hand on the small of her daughter’s back, guiding her back into their home.
She moved away from her mother’s hand, settling onto the couch to bring her knees up to her chest, “I just don’t understand why you can’t take me? Can’t you just go to work late?” she argued.
Her mom sighed heavily, grabbing dishes from the small cabinet and placing them down on the even smaller corner table of the trailer, “Honey, we’ve been through this a million times.”
Max rolled her eyes, the script she had memorized time and time again flowing out of her mouth before her mom had anytime to beat her to it, “Going in late means missing hours which means less money, which means no food, no electricity, no money, no rent, no home.”
Her mother took a deep breath in and out, approaching Max and kneeling at her side. “I’m sorry, Max. You know I have to do this for you.”
“Yeah, I know, it’s whatever.” Max brushed off, resting a heavy head on her kneecaps with an unsatisfied frown.
With the windows rolled down, El relaxed in the soft leather seats of Steve’s BMW. The only sounds were the soft hum of the icy cold air conditioning cooling the hot air and whatever that was on the radio playing faintly.
“You ok back there?” Steve said, looking into the rear-view mirror catching the sight of the young girl who wrenched her shoulders.
You turned back and gave her a one over. The pout was still on her face and now her arms crossed like Max had hers a few minutes ago, “What’s the matter, hon?”
“Max….she is sad.” She told you two obviously.
Steve pursed his lips, glancing quickly behind at her, “Did she tell you that?”
She shook her head, but spoke, “I know she is. When I asked if she was ok, she didn’t answer.”
“I’m sure she just wants some time to herself,” you assured her. “Her and her mom are still trying to adjust to life without Billy and his dad around.”
It had been a little over a year since the battle at Star Court where Billy had sacrificed himself to the mind-flayer in order to save Eleven’s life. You and Steve could still recall the memory vividly. How you two watched from the second story of the mall where you two had been throwing fireworks alongside Lucas and Max in order to deter the monster.
Yet it all happened so quickly, Billy putting himself in between El and the mind-flayer, before getting brutally wounded by the creature and the blood oozing through his white wife-beater and splattering in the air.
Max couldn’t believe her eyes, dashing down the stalled escalator stairs and dropping to her knees beside her slain brother. His eyes blanking out and only a few words escaping his mouth before he had died. She was in shambles, shaking him, screaming at him to wake up, but he had accepted his fate.
You and Steve had rushed down the same steps, nearing the two girls who had been weeping. El had pulled Max into arms, letting her cry there, and shielding her eyes from her brother who was bleeding out in front of them.
“I’ve got Max.” Steve declared, running up to the girls and guiding Max out of Eleven’s hold and into his arms where he led her outside of the mall.
El had immediately sprung to you, crying into your shoulder as you walked the two of you behind Steve and Max as the sirens resounded through the air.
Ambulances, firetrucks, and military vehicles overflowed the mall parking lot as they all hastily assessed the well-beings of the children first.
Hopper had found El in the back of an ambulance, the scar on her forehead being dealt with before he embraced her in a tight hug.
Nancy wrapped a blanket across the shoulders of her brother Mike, rubbing her hands and down his shoulders to create warmth.
Lucas and Erica ran to their parents as soon as they saw them stopped at the bright yellow caution tape, baring them off from seeing their kids.
She watched as everyone reunited with their family while she had no one waiting for her. But you and Steve, stuck by her side in the back of the ambulance, letting her rest her head on Steve’s shoulder while you soothed her.
Steve shook his head at the horrible remembrance, thankful that the worst was over and finally everyone in Hawkins could live in peace away from all that supernatural shit. He had you and his friends, something he was grateful for, but a part of him still felt the heaviness of it all, especially for the young girl Max who never seemed to fully recover from the year ago attack.
“I’ll tell you what,” Steve started, catching El’s eyes in the rearview again, “If she’s up for it, we’ll swing by tomorrow and take you guys to the arcade.”
El erupted at that, smiling broadly with an excited nod which made you laugh, hopeful that Max would feel a little better and would want to have some fun with her best friend that missed her greatly.
The next morning, Max was out of bed earlier than usual not wanting you two to wait around for her if you two were to show up earlier. She had gotten dressed in her usual baggy jeans, a stripped t-shirt and Billy’s oversized jean jacket to go over it.
A note hanging on the refrigerator read, “Have a good day, Max…Mom loves you, always!” She left it hanging there, switching on the TV while she waited.
When a soft knock followed by her name, came against the door, she knew you two had arrived. The clock on the stove read 7:15 just a few minutes early. She promptly grabbed her keys and her walkman, hooking it onto her jeans and opening the door.
“Morning sunshine.” You radiated against the morning sunlight, holding out a small cup of hot cocoa and a breakfast sandwich for her.
She actually smiled a little, locking the door before taking the items from you as you both walked the short distance to the car where Steve had been waiting in the driver’s seat.
“Hey Max, the cocoa good?” Steve turned, watching the young girl open the door as she took a sip of her drink.
She hummed warmly, and you shut her door before getting into the passenger, “I told him you were more of a latte type but he supposes that sixteen-year-olds shouldn’t be drinking coffee.”
Steve rolled his eyes, picking up his now empty cup of black coffee, and shaking it side to side, “Kids shouldn’t be drinking this shit.”
“So you’re calling yourself old?” Max proposed, opening up her bacon, egg, and cheese taking a bite.
“I think he is.” You tormented, jabbing at Steve’s side while he fussed and Max snorted quietly at the scene.
You and Steve looked so happy—not only as a couple, but just as humans.
For the most part, you all had gone through the same things last summer—except you and Steve were locked in the Russian base while Max and the others dealt with the mind-flayer stuff. Nevertheless, the anguish and memories of what had happened all remained the same throughout their group of friends, yet everyone else seemed to get over the hump of what happened.
Everyone except her.
She wanted to be happy again. Happy with herself. With her friends. With her boyfriend. With life. But everything just seemed as though it wouldn’t pass.
The sadness, the guilt, the nightmares would never be something she would be able to escape.
As you drove to the doctor’s office, you tried to make small talk with Max, asking her about what she had been up to lately. She gave short, one-word answers, and you could tell that she was still feeling down just like yesterday. Steve remembered what El had told them about Max being unhappy and decided to try to see if he could get her to open up.
“Max, is everything okay?” Steve finally asked, breaking the silence that passed after a couple of minutes.
Max shrugged, staring out the window of passing buildings and slower cars, “Just tired, I guess.”
You exchanged a worried peek with Steve, but didn’t push her to talk. It would only make her more uncomfortable and irritable, something you both wanted to avoid.
The doctor’s office was a small clinic a little further into town, nevertheless you three were on time, avoiding the morning bustle of traffic on this Friday. Steve greeted the woman at the front desk, checking Max in while she helped you fill out the necessary forms.
“Maxine Mayfield?” A nurse called out as she walked into the waiting room.
You patted Max on the shoulder, giving her an encouraging smile. “Just call out if you need us, ok?”
“I will.” She assured you, following the nurse into the exam room.
The appointment wasn’t anything special, just a yearly exam to make sure everything was going smoothly with Max’s health. They checked her ears, eyes, reflexes, and asked her a few questions.
“One last thing,” the nurse smiled, putting down her stethoscope and grabbing the clipboard and pen resting on the counter, “This is just a short questionnaire I need you to fill out. I’ll leave the room and give you a few minutes ok?”
Max nodded, grabbing the clip board and begun filling out the form. Reading the questions in her head and thinking for a few seconds before appropriately determine where she fell in each of the boxes. After ten minutes, the nurse came back, collecting the form and allowing her to head back into the waiting room while the doctor reviewed the report.
Steve sat up when he saw her emerge from the doors. He recognized the jean jacket to be Billy’s, practically too big and swallowing Max up whole. “How was it?”
Her pointer and middle finger gestured to her eyes then back at him, “I still have 20/20 vision and impeccable hearing.”
“That’s what we like to hear.” You grinned, patting a chair between you and Steve so she could sit awhile until she’d be seen by the doctors and discharged.
The waiting room was quiet. Just the small talk of the receptionists and replay of I Love Lucy playing through the TV filled the comfy space. You conversed with her for a short while, talking about the Kate Bush tape she had in her walkman. She let you have a listen to her favorite track, “Running Up That Hill,” telling you about the meaning of the song before her name was called, prompting you to take off the headphones.
“Guardians of Maxine Mayfield?” The doctor wore the typical white coat with a stethoscope cloaked over her neck and a clipboard in hand with Max’s files.
“Here.” Steve stood up, and the doctor smiled, nodding her head gesturing for you and Max to come along into her office.
“Are you her brother?” She called for, holding the door open to a small room.
Steve looked at Max unsure of how she wanted him to answer that, and the redhead shrugged, “Something like that.”
The doctor chuckled, offering you three a seat in front of her desk. Max sat in the middle with you and Steve on either side of her.
She glanced through the documents once more, and nodded to herself before looking at you two, “Everything seems to be looking good with her physical health. She did great on the vision exam and even better on the hearing test.”
Max smirked, nudging both you and Steve with her elbow. “Told you so.”
The doctor looked over the last page of the clipboard, the questionnaire that Max had filled out moments ago, all indicating worry, “But we do have an area of concern when it comes to her mental and emotional wellbeing.”
Max could feel the space suddenly become thicker, all eyes shifting towards her and the painful quietness lingering as you all expected her to say something, but she didn’t. She didn’t want to admit that there was something obviously going on in her life that she had been hiding, but now was eating her alive.
Steve coughed, tearing his eyes away from a very uncomfortable Max and looking at the professional, “W-what’s the matter?”
She pulled off one of the pages, and slid it towards him, “On a scale of zero to five, five being everyday, have you been feeling down, depressed, irritable or hopeless? She checked off five.”
You gulped, looking at Max who now seemed to be burying her head in her shoulder, looking towards the door closest to Steve.
“Max, do you want to talk about it?”
She shook her head, her shoulders sulking deeper, “It’s nothing. Everyone feels like that sometimes. It passes. Normal teenage shit.”
“Hey,” Steve pointed, shaking his head at the explicative, “language.”
The doctor shook her head, understandingly, “No, it’s okay. Max, these feelings your having isn’t normal. I know it may seem like it, but if you’re constantly feeling bad about yourself everyday, then it may be a bigger issue.”
She reached for a pamphlet in her desk drawer, gliding it towards Max who finally peered at it. A girl crying in bed on the front page, with some sort of statistic in bold font above.
“Most teenage girls your age are more likely to develop depression and anxiety, especially if there are contributing factors like bullying, isolation, a rocky home life—”
Max snapped her head, suddently triggered and fed up with the conversation, “Nothing is wrong with me!”
Your eyes enlarged, attempting to soothe her with a touch of your hand on hers, “Max, hey, c’mon—”
She recoiled, retreating from your hand, “No!” she shouted, standing up, directing her anger towards the doctor in front of her who didn’t take the outburst personally, knowing there had to be an underlying issue.
“You don’t know what I’m feeling. You don’t know my life. You don’t know a damn thing about me or my family.”
With that, her feet thudded against the floors, tearing the doctor’s office door open and hurling it shut. She didn’t care about the stares she got from the other patients in the waiting room and the receptionists calling out for her—she wanted one thing and it was to get the hell out of that place.
You and Steve had never witnessed a frenzy like this from Max. It was out of character for her to take help defensively. She obviously had her guard up for a reason, but you two had no clue what it was about.
Steve only glanced at you once, before he was following behind her. “I’ll check on her.” You nodded, remaining in your seat as you shot the doctor an apologetic look that she lifted.
“I want Max to know that I’m here to help, not to judge her. Her answers to the questionnaire is extremely concerning. Do you maybe have any clue as to what might be causing these feelings?” She asked you and your thoughts for a moment, shrugging your shoulders.
“I mean,” you gulped, “s-she lost her brother over a year ago, but she hasn’t really opened up about it too much to know.”
The doctor nodded, reaching for another pamphlet and passing it to you, “That could be it. Especially for girls her age, it can be hard to talk about what they’re feeling. All of these emotions she’s been dealing with could be starting to build up and bubble over.”
You took a deep breath, nodding, trying to process what had just happened and what were the next steps to helping Max. Telling her mom would probably make her more upset, yet you didn’t know if it was right for you and Steve to keep it a secret.
Steve raced out the clinic doors before it could close shut and Max was even faster darting towards his car, tugging on the door to try to hide away in the backseat, as if she wasn’t going home with either of them seeing her breakdown.
“Max! Stop!” Steve pursued, clutching her shoulder tenderly, to try to get her to look back at him.
Through the reflection of the glass window he could see her scrunched face, reddening cheeks with tears pushing past the brink of her eyelids where they tumbled down. Her chest heaved up and down heavily as her fingertips tightened around the door handle, still trying to tug it open.
“O-open the door, Steve.” She choked, pushing her shoulders back to try to get his touch off of her, which he complied with, dropping his hands from her shoulder, but never opening the car doors.
He sighed, moving beside her, stooping down a bit to look at her.
“I’m not opening the door until you talk.”
She shook her head, fingers wiping her cheeks when she finally met his eyes that were full of concern, “T-talk about what! How f-fucked up my life is? Is that what you wanna hear?”
Steve swallowed thickly, shaking his head with immediate regret. That wasn’t what he wanted. For her to think he pitied her or wanted to force her to open up. He just wanted to be let in, to know why she was feeling like this and why she hadn’t asked for help sooner.
Her eyes kept on him, the tears never stopping their journey down her cheeks. Her jaw trembling as she started to speak once more.
“God, Steve, I mean, isn’t it obvious that my life is total s-shit? I don’t need a doctor to tell me that I’m fucking sad! I already know that! She doesn’t think that I already know that I’ve contemplated to—”
He didn’t let her finish her sentence, “Hey, hey, c’mon,” smoothly guiding her head to his chest where she ultimately ceased talking and open mouth sobs left her instead. She let herself fall into Steve’s hold, her finger tips falling from the car door and instead clinging around Steve like an anchor, which would be the only thing to keep her from floating away.
Her sobs grew louder by the second, every single suppressed emotion she had been bottling up inside of her finally overflowing into tears that now drenched Steve’s polo. But Steve didn’t mind at all, holding her tighter as he closed his eyes tightly and begun whispering soft words of reassurance to her.
As you tightly held onto the pamphlets the doctor had given you; you pushed open the doors of the clinic, instantly met with the scene of Max in Steve’s arms. Your heart sank, quickening the pace of your footsteps as you shoved the papers into the back pocket of your jeans.
When Steve had finally opened his eyes, with his arms still engulfed around the young girl he held, he saw you, face full of concern as he mouthed, “she’s not ok.”
You winced, nodding your head, still calmly approaching as you placed a loving hand on her shoulder. “Hey, I’m here.”
She slowly retracted her face from Steve’s chest to look at you. Her features were twisted in heartache—brows furrowed and the tears streaming down her face, leaving a trail of wetness in their wake. Her lips quivered as she tried to catch her breath to speak to you, yet she couldn’t.
Instead, she unwrapped herself from Steve, hurrying into your arms where you immediately wrapped your arms around her securely.
“Shhh, I’m right here, sweetheart. It’s gonna be ok, ok?”
You held her close, clinging to her shaking body with each sob she took, rubbing her back gently and offering her the comfort she desperately needed. Steve watched the scene unfold, his own eyes filled with tears and without hesitation, he moved closer to both of you, wrapping his arms around you and Max.
Together, the three of you stood there in silence, holding onto each other as if your lives depended on it. Max continued to cry, but her sobs grew weaker as the moments passed. The only sounds in the car were the occasional sniffle or hiccup as she worked to regain control of her emotions.
When she finally did begin to pull back, Steve immediately let go, as did you, watching her concerningly as she mopped her tears with the back of her hand as she asked, “can we g-go home?”
“Of course.” Steve nodded firmly, finally opening the back door where he let her get in first.
You quickly got into the passenger seat, rummaging through the glove box where extra napkins were kept, and you passed her a few to dry her tears with and she let out a quiet, “thank you.”
The drive home from the doctor’s office was subdued, the only sounds in the car the soft hum of the engine and Max’s occasional sniffle. You and Steve exchanged worried glances, both of you unsure of how to help Max in her current state, but still determined to, nevertheless.
When you three finally pulled into the trailer park, you’d fully expected for Max to wave her goodbye and let that be the end, but instead she invited you inside.
The trailer was clean and tidy, not a single pile of mess could be found in the space, but it was mostly because Max had spent all her days in here trying to use up her time in any way shape or form that didn’t deal with facing anyone.
“Do you want me to make you some lunch?” You offered politely, shrugging off your jacket and slinging it over one of the kitchen chairs.
Max went over to the small sofa into the middle of the living room, shrugging her shoulders as she pulled Billy’s jean jacket over her body like a blanket.
“There’s some crackers and peanut butter in the pantry. That’ll be ok for me.” She said, and you nodded, grabbing a plate and butter knife from the dish rack and heading for the pantry.
Steve sat on the other side of Max, still placid as he wanted to wait for you before talking to Max about the events that just unfolded. After a few minutes, you returned with a plate of crackers and a small dish of peanut butter on the side. You offered it to Max, and she happily took it, beginning to munch down on the snack.
You looked at Steve, his eyes silently telling you whether it was ok for him to speak about everything and you nodded lightly, just enough for him to see.
“Max, uh, do you wanna maybe talk about how you’ve been feeling?” He proposed, resting his elbows on his knees, watching her chew her last bites before she swallowed and shrugged.
She was hesitant to open up. She had never really told anyone at all about how she was really feeling inside. It wasn’t something that she normally talked about…her feelings that is. She thought it was just better to suppress everything, but today was the breaking point and she knew that it was time.
“Sometimes, I feel so lonely,” Max expressed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I know I have you guys a-and my friends, but sometimes it feels like nobody understands what I’m going through.”
The pain she felt. The loss. The sadness. The guilt. That’s what nobody knew she was going through.
Steve reached over and placed a comforting hand on Max’s shoulder. “We may not know exactly what you’re feeling, Max, but we’re here for you. Always.”
Max nodded, her eyes misting over with tears as she felt comfortable to say a little more. “It’s just that...I’ve been feeling so guilty lately,” she continued, her voice trembling. “About Billy’s death. Like it’s my fault somehow.”
Her eyes finally turned to yours, first, ocean blue orbs looked like a flood of waves crashing with the tears beginning to form.
Then her head turned to Steve, blinking where the salty tears leaked again, “I-I just keep picturing his face. The…the blood. E-everything comes back to me and I can’t escape it.”
The words poured out of her in a rush while you and Steve listened attentively. Distress coating both of your gazes as you watched Max’s tears begin to pour quicker, her voice nearly breaking, and her hands shaking as she went on.
“M-maybe if he was here, then I wouldn’t feel this way, but…but I know that I can’t do anything. And I hate it! I hate that I can’t do a-anything about it!”
Steve could see the panic rising in Max’s eyes, and you both knew what was coming. Sure enough, a moment later, Max let out a strangled sob and clutched at her chest, her breathing ragged.
And so Steve quickly got up, stretching towards the kitchen for a glass of cold water while you scooched closer to Max, holding her hands in your palms and soothing your thumbs over her shaky knuckles.
“Hey, take a deep breath for me, Max,” You guided, breathing along with her as she kept her eyes on you and followed your directions.
In and out. Breathe. In and out. Breathe.
The cold condensation from the glass cup dripped on top of your hands where Steve was holding the glass above. Max instantly reached for the cup, gradually gulping down the ice cold water every so often as she continued the breathing routines.
Steve remained standing in front of you two, ready to spring into action if Max needed to be rushed to the hospital or anything like that, but thankfully she began to calm down, handing the cup back to Steve once she had finished it.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered shaking her head, annoyed at herself for not having any control over her emotions that she had to act out like that, “I didn’t mean to freak out like that.”
You and Steve both shook your heads, him moving to take his place back on the couch beside her, “Don’t apologize, Max…sometimes it happens. Nothing wrong with that.”
You nodded in agreement, slinging one of your arms across her shoulder while the other rested on her knee, “We’re here for you, alright? You have nothing to be sorry for.”
Max didn’t know how to react. She wasn’t used to this level of sympathy, or at least not since she was a younger child. Nowadays, her mother didn’t have much time to comfort her like she used to. Instead, she settled for simple phrases like, “It’s just in your head Maxine,” or “You’re just having one of those days, it’ll get better.”
A part of her, missed the comforting talks and hugs that she and her mom used to share, but she knew that it was a part of growing up and getting older.
She wasn’t expecting to be coddled all her life, but it was nice having you and Steve around to make her feel assured. To know that you both were actually here for her and trying your best to understand where she was coming from and all of her feelings rather than brushing it off.
“Thanks for being here.” Max spoke gratefully, reaching either of her hands out around both of your shoulders and pulling you in for a squeeze.
Steve let out a small puff of relieved air from his mouth along with a, “Yep,” while you leaned in and hugged her closer, kissing her temple before pulling away.
“Why don’t we go to the arcade?” Steve suggested, knowing that it would be a good opportunity to get some of the heavier things off of Max’s mind especially after the eventful morning you all had.
You nodded, nudging the young girl slightly. “I’m sure El would like to hang out, right?”
She sniffled, nodding her head as she sat back against the cushions and your arm, “Yeah, she did tell me she misses me a lot…I miss her too.”
The three of you spent a few more minutes on the couch, just sitting and talking about what games she wanted to play at the arcade after not being there for a couple of days. After Max finally settled completely, she called El and invited her to the arcade, even Will, but he was busy working on a new painting but offered to come next time around.
The car was now filled with music as the four of you drove to the arcade. Steve seemed to sneak more glances at the backseat through the rear-view mirror. A smile on his face as he saw Max loosening up with the presence of her best friend while they softly sung to the radio and talked amongst themselves.
Once you finally arrived at the arcade, Max seemed to feel a lot better already, laughing and screeching excitedly as she and El played their favorite games while you and Steve stood off to the side in order to give them some space.
“Max looks like she’s having fun.” You nudged Steve playfully, watching the way his face lit up, knowing his idea was so far working.
He grinned sneaking his arms around your waist to pull you closer.
“She deserves to have some fun. She’s been through a lot today…and god knows for how long.” he sighed sadly, resting his head on top of yours.
You understood how Steve felt—if only you two had known what was going on with Max sooner, maybe then you’d both would be able to help her earlier. Yet you knew there was no use in regretting the past but just hopeful for what was to come.
“C’mon, I think I want that pink unicorn.” You dragged him towards the claw machine on the other side of the arcade, still in view of the girls to keep an eye on them.
Max and El continued to compete the high score on Pac-Mac while you and Steve took turns at the claw machine trying to win the fluffy bright pink plush you wanted. After a many tries, Steve was successful, happily presenting you with it and you thanked him with a kiss.
“I think we have a winner!” Steve whistled, strolling behind Max and El with two other plushes in his hand that he had won after a few more attempts.
They turned around, smiling as they each reached for one. El picked the baby elephant and Max got the koala bear. Each of them satisfied with their gifts as they laughed and thanked Steve with smiles.
“We gotta get you girls home.” He announced, looking at his watch for the time, followed by some whines that were quickly eased away by you.
“In a few days we can give you two a ride here again, alright? Steve has work tomorrow and y’know how he is about his sleep.” You smirked, squeezing Steve’s cheeks as he groaned but leaned back into you.
“Oh, we know! Remember that time you fell asleep, and we drew a mustache on you?” El piqued enthusiastically, causing you and Max to laugh out loud.
Steve glared, reminiscing of how he volunteered to host movie night at his place for the kids only for them to grab the markers and begin doodling all over his face. He only realized it the next morning when you popped in with breakfast and couldn’t stop laughing when he greeted you at the door.
“Yeah, yeah, c’mon you twerps.”
El was the first one to get dropped off, already wistful about having to leave her best friend, yet excited for the upcoming plans to come. As you and Steve drove back to the trailer park, Max sat quietly in the backseat, fiddling with her stuffed animal and lost in her thoughts.
Today felt like one of the most relaxing days she had in a long time, despite how the morning had started off. It was nice being able to be consoled and not having to feel like her feelings were such a bad thing. She wanted this feeling to last, but she knew today would eventually come to an end.
When Steve finally pulled up in front of her trailer, her mom’s car was already parked in the grassy space, indicating she was home from a long day of work.
He turned around to face her, watching her unbuckle her seatbelt, “We had a great time, Max.”
Max gave him a smile in return, wiggling the plush he had won her today, “Thanks for taking me…it means a lot.” she said quietly.
“Of course, sweetheart,” you said kindly, maneuvering in your chair to face her as well, “We’re always here for you.”
For her. Always there for her. You two.
The words itself were like a warm embrace to Max’s cold soul that filled her with comfort and security. Just like the hug that you three shared earlier in the day in the doctor’s office parking lot. You two had no idea how much that hug meant to her. How nice and safe it was to feel like she was protected, to feel like she was heard and listened to instead of interrogated and shunned.
Max nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “I know,” she said, her voice breaking. “And I appreciate it so much. Especially with everything that’s been going on lately.”
You and Steve exchanged another set of concerned looks that was familiar from this morning, but you two knew you wanted to do everything you could to support Max through what she was going through.
“Max, we’re here for you no matter what,” Steve said firmly. “You can call us anytime if you need to talk or help with anything, alright?”
Max nodded, sniffling as she wiped her tears away, pushing a smile onto her face, “Thank you,” she said softly. “And thank you for taking me to my appointment. It means a lot.”
Steve smiled reassuringly. “Of course, Max. We’re happy to help.”
As she gathered the rest of her belonging, ready to exit the car and call it a day, she turned back to you and Steve, “Can we do this again soon?” she asked hopefully, her voice filled with need. “I had a lot of fun today.”
You and Steve grinned, nodding your heads as Steve reached out to ruffle her hair, making her laugh freely.
“Absolutely, I’ll give you a call tomorrow and let you know when Steve is off next.” You told her, and she beamed with excitement as she got of the car.
“Thanks…I’ll see you guys soon!” she said, closing the door behind her as she got out.
She waited there to watch you both drive off, waving goodbye as you and Steve watched her in the rearview until she was out of sight into the afternoon sunset.
The car ride was quiet, the both of you not wanting to spark up the conversation around Max’s mental health. You two would never truly be able to understand what she was going through, but there seemed to be a silent agreement that the both of you were going to be there for Max every step of the way.
It wasn’t the fact that Steve didn’t like working at Family Video—He got to work with one of his best friends, Robin. He got first dibs on new tapes for date night. He didn’t have to do much beside stock shelves, count inventory, and work the register.
But the pay wasn’t much, and the days were slow…sometimes too slow, like today.
Barely any new customers came in to rent some tapes and the old ones had yet to return their way over due tapes, something Robin would take care of with a phone call. He just needed to stick around for a few more weeks until he’d hopefully get promoted now that Keith was leaving his position as manager and he would get a little more money.
The money, of course, was going to a good cause: getting to move in with you and helping you with rent.
Though you never asked Steve or made him promise to help you with rent once you got your own apartment after graduation, but he just wanted to be considerate. He knew it wasn’t easy being a college student and adding on working a part-time job, so he wanted to do all he could to help you out if he was going to move in with you.
“Harrington!” Steve exhaled thickly, the chime of the front doors ringing followed by the voices of the teenage boys who loved badgering him on the job.
He turned around, being greeted by Dustin, Will, Lucas, and Mike, “Hey shitheads.” He joked, followed by a snort that came from Robin in the aisle over.
Mike and Will ignored the repartee, heading off into the horror section to see what new tapes were available, while the other two boys followed Steve as he headed towards the front desk to check off some of the inventory lists.
“You took Max and El to the arcade yesterday?” Dustin queried, watching Steve nod as he worked the pen.
He glanced up at the boy and shrugged, “They wanted to spend some girl time together…are you jealous you weren’t invited?”
Dustin rolled his eyes, shaking his head, “Never, it’s just that Eddie said he saw you and your girlfriend pick up Max early in the morning.”
Eddie Munson lived right across from Max’s trailer with his uncle Wayne. The two were never particularly close, but after Dustin started hanging around the dude and joined his DnD club, it was kinda inevitable that they’d become somewhat friends through the kid.
“Yeah,” Steve bowed his head, placing down the clipboard and resting his elbow on the desk, “We had to take Max to take care of a few things…have you spoken to her recently?”
He looked towards Lucas, her boyfriend, hoping to hear that Max was doing better, but instead, the young boy seemed to tense up at the question, shuffling from foot to foot.
“W-we actually broke up a few weeks ago and I haven’t heard from or seen her since. I think she’s avoiding me.” Lucas confessed quietly as Steve’s eyes widened at the announcement.
Dustin elbowed Lucas pointedly. “Dude, you didn’t tell him!?”
For a while, everyone knew about Max and Lucas’ split. Everyone except for you and Steve who were too busy to be probing into the lives of the kids they occasionally babysat. But in hindsight, it seemed to all make sense. Steve hadn’t seen the whole group of kids together at once for a while—Max was always missing. And Max seemed to only hang out with two other people El and sometimes Will.
Lucas sighed, shaking his head, “No! It’s embarrassing alright…I don’t even know what I did wrong. She just kinda dropped the bomb on me out of nowhere. I-I tried calling, but she never picks up.”
Steve’s heart sank, the words coming from Lucas reminding him of how El had phoned him the other day to tell him how concerned she was that Max wasn’t returning any of her calls for a while.
He knew that it might have something to do with what was going on with her emotional and mental wellbeing, but the breakup wasn’t the main thing. Max was strong and independent even before she and Lucas began dating. Steve knew that Max didn’t need a boyfriend to survive, but he had a feeling that maybe just maybe her emotions had pushed her to break it off with Lucas so suddenly and that was concerning enough for him to excuse himself into the break room to use the phone in there for more privacy.
The phone rung a few times before you finally picked up, “Hey, baby,” Steve said breathlessly when you answered.
“Stevie! How’s work?” You requested, closing the textbook you were studying and giving your boyfriend your undivided attention for a few minutes.
“Slow as per usual. The boys actually dropped in.” He told you, and you hummed, guessing they were probably causing some trouble that Steve needed to get away from.
“Yeah? Have they been poking fun at your vest?”
He chuckled, looking down at the pin you got made that said, “Best Salesmen” followed by his name, “No, no, actually it’s about Max.”
You furrowed your brows, sitting up in your desk chair as you listened more for the information that Steve was hurling at you.
“I asked Lucas how Max was doing, but he said that she broke it off with him a few weeks ago and he hasn’t been returning any of her calls. Completely out of nowhere.”
“Shit,” you moaned, rubbing your temples as he let out an agreement on the other side of the line.
“Right. And…I don’t know. I know she doesn’t need Lucas, per se. I mean she’s smart, and witty, and cool, but—but, maybe, do you think it has anything to do with what the doctor said?” He proposed, thinking back to the conversation in the doctor’s office.
You thought to yourself, nodding your head and responding, “Possibly, I mean, the doctor did say that isolation is a big thing that she could be doing to avoid talking about her feelings. M-maybe she broke up with Lucas because she felt bad about her feelings and didn’t want him to worry?”
“Yeah, yeah, that could be it,” He rubbed his chin, checking the time on his watch hoping that his lunch break was soon so he could stop by Max’s trailer to see if she was ok and was coping with the breakup alright.
But still, his break wasn’t until another hour, and the worry was eating him up alive, “Do—”
“I can go and pick up some of her favorite things and go check up on her?” You offered before he could ask, and a sigh of comfort left his mouth.
“Please…and let me know how she’s doing?” He asked almost desperately, as he heard you putting your highlighters and pens away.
“Of course, baby, I’ll call you when I get back.” You told him, gathering your keys that were a short distance from the phone before getting ready to hang up.
“Sounds good…OH! And maybe you could get her the Hershey’s bars with the almonds inside? I know she likes those.”
He remembered the movie night a few months ago, the same one where they all drew on his face. Max had gone straight for the candy bar, monopolizing it to herself and only giving pieces of it to El and a few to Steve, since he was the one who bought it.
You laughed, making a mental note and adding it to the list of things you were already planning to get Max in order to cheer her up, “Got it, babe! I’ll head out now. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” He replied, hearing you smack your lips giving him a telephone kiss as he chuckled and did the same before hanging up first and getting back to work. He had hope that the more he worked the more time would pass and he would hear back from you with good news.
The grocery store had all you needed for the pick-me-ups that Max would surely like. The chocolate almond bar that Steve told you to get, a few more bags of candy, some tissues, and a small bouquet of flowers for the extra touch.
You stood there in front of the trailer, tapping gingerly and calling out her name a few times before you could hear the footsteps from inside coming closer until the doorknob twisted and there was Max dressed in an oversized t-shirt with her hair in a messy bun. Your smile faltered slightly when you remembered why you were here in the first place.
“Hey,” she greeted, opening the door wider when she saw it was you. Furrowing her brows with the items in your hand, you smiled apologetically, handing her the flowers first.
“Hey Max. I brought some stuff to cheer you up,” you said watching her take the florals and look at you confused, “I’m so sorry if this is awkward, but Lucas told Steve about the breakup and he told me, and we just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
Max’s expression softened, stepping aside to let you in, “It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize…this is actually really sweet.”
You smiled weakly, walking into her trailer and feeling relieved that she wasn’t upset. “No, yeah, we just wanted to make sure you’re doing alright since we had no idea about it.”
The two of you sat down on the couch, and you watched as she grinned when you gave her the rest of the treats. The chocolate bar being immediately ripped open as she broke off a piece and offered it to you first, which you accepted before she began indulging in it.
You chewed on the sweet treat, swallowed before you spoke, “So, uh, Steve and I were just wonder…did Lucas do something to hurt you? Or is it just that you’re not interested anymore?”
Max felt the knot in her stomach, sighing as this would be the first time she was explaining it to anyone. Even when Lucas asked why and even El, she simply brushed them off and told them it was normal or nothing.
“It’s not that. I still love and care about Lucas, but I just…just don’t think that a relationship is good for me right now. I’m not in the right mindset, y’know?”
You nodded, understanding where she was coming from and it all washed over you, “Yeah, I totally get it. And I’m sorry again if we were prying or anything. Just want you to know me and Steve are here for you, through anything and everything.”
The young girl smiled, feeling grateful for the kindness and time you took out of your day to come in and check on her when you could’ve simply picked up the phone and called. The effort mattered, and she was appreciative of that.
“Hey…and if Lucas loves you, he’ll understand and be patient,” you added, smiling softly and resting a hand on her knee, “take all the time you need, and when you’re ready, you two can work things out.”
She didn’t bother speaking a word to you. Her smile and arms that she wrapped around you were enough for her to express that she was thankful for everything you and Steve had done in the past three days.
“Do you think I could spend the night at yours? Girls’ night with me and El, if you’re not busy or working tomorrow?” She sought, pulling away from you as you smiled and nodded.
It was a Friday and thankfully you didn’t have much work to get done for school and you didn’t pick up a shift at the general store until next week so you were practically free, “Sure, but just in case can you call your mom and make sure it’s alright with her?”
She nodded, getting up for the phone before she turned to you, “There’s some lemonade in the fridge that I made this morning. Eddie’s uncle gave us a whole bag last night…apparently some guy at his plant has a huge lemon tree.”
You snorted, nodding your head as you got up, heading for the kitchen and pouring yourself a refreshingly sour glass of lemonade while Max called her mom’s working place to get through and ask if it was alright to spend the night at yours.
Once she got the green light from her mom and calling El to invite her, she headed for her room, packing some of her things that she would need while she was at yours, along with some cassettes that she wanted to show to you and El. You washed up your glass, tidying up a bit before you used the phone to call Steve and let him know that everything was ok and that Max and El would be staying with you for the night.
She shut her bedroom door, walking out with her duffle bag slung over her shoulder, “I’m ready,” she announced to you as you smiled, still holding the phone to your ear.
Steve was concerned about Max and asked if he could speak to her over the phone to check up on her, “It’s Steve. He wants to talk to you if that’s ok?” You asked her, and she agreed, dropping her bag down on the sofa and accepting the phone you held out for her.
You could hear Steve talking her ear off the moment he knew that she was now on the phone with him. Max kept humming out “mhm’s” and “yes’s” nodding her head along with whatever Steve was telling her.
“You made a really brave and good decision, Max.” Steve spoke, his voice soothing, “Putting yourself isn’t a bad thing and if anything I’m so proud of you for doing it. If Lucas can’t see what an amazing girl you are it’s his loss at the end of the day. Take some time for yourself and when you’re ready, maybe you both will find your way back together.”
God, he felt like such a dad right now, but he said all the right words, the ones that Max needed to hear.
Her cheeks rose with a smile on her face as she thanked him, grateful for his support.
“Thanks, Steve. It’s just hard, you know? I still care about Lucas so much, but I just don’t feel like I can be in a relationship right now.”
“I get it,” Steve responded. “But I want you to know that you’re smart and don’t need a boyfriend behind you. You’re good enough on your own right now, and when you’re ready, you’ll find someone who deserves you.”
Max felt a sense of comfort wash over her. Sure maybe all the teens, including herself would make fun of Steve of being such a dad with all his lecture and advice, but he had this special knack for knowing how making people feel better, even in the toughest times and today it was no different with her situation.
“T-thanks, Steve. That means a lot,” Max’s voice cracked, feeling her eyes start to well up with tears out of nowhere.
You moved beside her, hoisting an arm around her shoulder, and you pulled her into a side hug, and brushed the tears off her cheeks with your thumbs. You knew she was massively touched by everything you and Steve were doing for her, and it was heartwarming to see her so vulnerable when it came to you two.
“Hey, don’t cry,” you could hear Steve say through the speaker, his voice gentle. “I know this is tough, but we’re here for you. Whatever you need, we’ll be here to support you.”
“Thanks, Steve,” Max spoke, smiling up at you as you continued to brush away her tears. “I really appreciate it. I just hope that one day, Lucas and I can patch things up.”
“I’m sure you will, Max,” Steve said, his voice reassuring. “But for now, just focus on taking care of yourself. That’s the most important thing, alright?”
She assured Steve and thanked him once more before he let her go. Yelling out an “I love you” for you before Max placed the phone back down on the receiver. She locked up the place, petting the stray cats outside the porch before she got into your car and you two drove off to pick up El.
Once the three of you were in the car, the party was already started. Madonna blasting through your radio with the windows down as you all shouted out the lyrics and danced in your seats. You decided to stop at the store to pick up a few more things to make it a bit more special. Wandering the aisles, you picked out face masks, microwavable popcorn, and all the other things that would make a sleepover fun.
When you finally arrived at your apartment, the girls couldn’t wait to make themselves at home, springing up the steps until they got to your floor, already hearing you doggie, Ollie, barking from inside.
You smiled, unlocking the door and letting them in first, watching as they dropped their bags and went straight for your pup. Cuddling him in their arms and giggling at his playful antics while you began unloading the bags from the store on the coffee table in the living room.
“Okay, tonight we’re going to have fun, but there’s just one rule!” You announced, dusting your hands off as you plopped onto the couch, watching the girls tilt their head up towards you and nod.
“No boy talk! None at all! Nothing about current boyfriends, ex-boyfriends…I don’t want to hear about your romantic lives and I’m sure you don’t want to hear about mine—no boy talk! Capiche?”
The girls snickered, nodding their heads, as they got up from the floor and decided to join you on the couch, reaching for a bag of chips and opening it to share with each other.
“So, how is college? Is it harder than high school?” Max sought before stuffing her mouth full of the crunch chips.
You breathed, nodding your head wistfully as their faces dropped.
“It’s definitely more rigorous, but it helps to have a routine. I’m getting used to it.”
El sat up, nodding her head in agreement, “Jonathan says that college is tough…he gets sad when Nancy is busy and doesn’t call because of study or exams.”
Jonathan, her half-brother through Joyce, had decided to stay in Hawkins, pursing his career of photography in town by booking some weddings and birthday parties. Nancy headed off for college the same year you did, but she went out of state at a university while you stayed back and decided to attend a community college to save some money first.
“Yeah, but it’s all worth it in the end,” you assured her, patting her shoulder as she went on, with wide eyes.
“I’m so nervous about college,” she pressed her hands on her cheeks as you and Max giggled, “what if I don’t get in?!”
You knew how she felt and it wasn’t too long ago when you were a senior feeling totally lost in the mix of applying for colleges and hoping for an acceptance letter.
“Don’t worry, you have plenty of time to figure it out,” You criss-crossed your legs together and looked between the two girls, “You two are gonna be sophomores in a few weeks and maybe then you’ll figure out what you wanna pursue and that will be something to check off your list.”
They looked a bit more relived yet nervous, realizing that they were in fact entering sophomore in a matter of days. The summer had flown by quickly and a new school year was about to be in session. Freshman year wasn’t too bad considering the fact that the group stayed together, but as time goes on, they knew that new friends would sprout and growing apart was normal.
“Hey…and when your senior year comes, I’ll be there to help you both with college applications and I’ll even read over your essays and make sure they’re ready to go.” You assured them, making them smile broader, no longer fearful about the future, but more so glad that they’d have you to go to for any college advice.
“We’ve got this,” Max smirked, high-fiving her best friend before Ollie had joined in on the excitement, barking cheerfully and running around in circles, making all three of you giggle at his cuteness.
As the day slowly dwindled into night, the three of you had changed into more comfortable clothing: big t-shirts and sweatpants. The couch was now situated with fluffed up pillows and even softer blankets. Your faces now glazed in the clay face masks with a movie playing on the TV and a big bowl of the popcorn being passed around the three of you.
Only the knock on the door made you three tear your eyes away from the TV. Ollie immediately running towards the front door, sniffing then barking. You got up, and Max paused the movie, as the two sat up, watching you open the wooden door first, revealing Steve on the other side of the outer screen door.
“Did someone order half pepperoni and cheese and half pineapple for a girls’ night?” Steve tries his best to deepen his voice as if his own girlfriend and the girls wouldn’t recognize him.
You rolled your eyes, stifling a laugh as you opened the door, to greet him, “You’re such a dork!” you say, giving him a kiss as he chuckles against you making sure his lips don’t touch the mask on your face.
He enters the apartment with the pizza box balanced on his palm, shooting a smile to the girls and Ollie who races in circles around Steve’s feet—the usual Ollie greeting.
The girls get up. El taking the pizza box from him and setting it down on the coffee table while Max picks up the small container of the clay face mask. He looks at them, puzzled, as El begins to speak, “You can stay, but you have to follow the rules!”
You’re highly entertained, listening to their conversation as you locked up the door and headed for the kitchen to grab some plate and napkins.
He huffs, crossing his arms over his chest, “Lay it on me.”
“No boy talk!” El declares firmly with a pointed finger, and he nods. Steve can totally do that.
Max steps closer. “Annnnd you have to put on the face mask,” she says with a mischievous grin.
Despite his protests and even begging for you to back him up, he eventually agrees, letting Max dip her fingers into the goopy product and smear it across his face. El grabbed the extra scrunchie on her wrist, tying back Steve’s hair into a wonky ponytail when he complained about it getting in his hair.
You couldn’t help yourself, jogging into your bedroom to snatch your polaroid off your desk in order to snap a picture of the scene in the living room. Steve sat on the couch with his face scrunched up, while Max laughed and swatted his hands away when he tried to stop her from putting more on. And El in the background giving a thumbs up with a massive smile on her face. The photo was definitely going to be one of your most prized possessions now.
Soon enough, Max’s hands were now free of the clay and all four of you had some pizza while you continued on with the movie before talking to each other about life. Steve was about to say something about Eddie entering the dating scene, but before he could finish, the three of you were shouting and groaning, “No talking about boys!”
Steve laughed, shutting his mouth as he apologized and you all laughed, “Sorry! Sorry. I forgot the rule!”
You smiled, shaking your head as you cuddled into his side, rubbing his arm up and down comfortingly, “We just want a night without talking about guys…I mean it’s pretty stereotypical, but sometimes it’s exhausting talking about boy…no offence, baby.”
Steve chuckled, nodding his head in agreement with your statement, “None taken, doll. And you’re right, boys aren’t the end-all, be-all, of life. All three of you can make it on your own without any man,” he looked down at pouting, “but like, totally, don’t break up with me because I just said that.”
Max groaned, garnering the attention of you both as you looked at her, “This is the only time, I’m breaking the rule,” she pointed at you two as you both nodded, “You and Steve do make a pretty good couple—caring, funny, and surprisingly reliable.”
El piped in, “Don’t forget cute!”
“Oh, and cute!” Max added, as she and El high-fived each other and you and Steve snorted at their amusement.
Steve wrapped his arms around you, holding you close, “Thanks, and now I can say that me and my girl are the cutest couple in Hawkins! You heard it here first!” He announced, making you laugh while the other girls sighed, shaking their heads.
“Oh god, we shouldn’t have said that!”
Soon all your faces are now cleansed and refreshed and the night is slowly simmering down with yawns and sleepy eyes filling the living room. You tidy up the kitchen, washing the dirty plates and cups, as Steve helps you out while the girls get homey in the living room, getting ready for bed.
“Thanks for letting them spend the night here.” Steve murmured from behind you, kissing your neck as you hum and close your eyes, letting him stay them for a moment before you turn your head and kiss his lips.
When you pull away, the two of you are still smiling, before you pat his chest, “C’mon lover boy, you need your sleep remember?”
He nods with a grin, taking your hand and kissing it before the two of you are walking back into the living room, standing in front of the couch where the girls are fluffing up their pillows.
“I’m heading out now, I’ve got a shift in the morning,” He told them as they nodded, getting up and each going in for a hug.
You smiled at the scene, heart-warming up as he wrapped his arms around them and pulled them a little closer, savoring this moment that was so simple yet meaningful to him. And especially for Max who held on a little longer, quietly whispering a “thank you,” before she pulled away and got comfy on the couch.
“Goodnight, Steve.” The girls yawned out tiredly, as they pulled their blankets up over their bodies.
Steve grinned, looking at how comfortable they were already, “Night bugs.”
He opened the front door, bending down to pet Ollie goodnight, before he was off running towards the couch and settling between the two girls comfortably. You wrapped your arms around him, inhaling his scent before you rested your chin on his chest, looking up at him as he looked down on you, pressing your lips together again.
“I love you, drive safe ok?” You told him and he nodded, kissing your forehead, then one more time on your lips before you had to unwrap your arms.
“I will, and I love you too…I’ll call in the morning before my shift.”
You nodded, smiling as he parted ways with you, walking down the steps of your apartment building and into the parking lot below where he waved at you before he drove off into the night.
Closing the door and triple checking that you had locked it, you made your way over to the girls, already beginning to doze off slightly as they forced themselves to stay awake to say goodnight to you.
“I’m gonna let you two have the couch with Ollie tonight, but I’ll just be in my bedroom and I’ll keep my door open if anything, alright?” You told them softly, and they nodded their heads, with dopey smiles on their faces.
“Kay, goodnight,” they singsonged as their eyes fell and you quietly giggled, bending down to press a warm kiss to the tops of their heads.
“Goodnight, sweethearts…night Ollie.”
As Max laid there listening to the slight snores already coming from El, she couldn’t help but think about how uncomfortable she felt a few days ago in the doctor’s office. The bright fluorescent lighting and the cold, sterile environment made her feel uneasy and anxious. She was on edge about everything the doctor was saying and how it all erupted before her eyes.
But now, as she lay on the couch in your living room, with the soft glow of the moon seeping through the curtains and her eyelids, she felt safe and at peace. The warmth of the blankets and the gentle hum of the air conditioning made her feel calm and relaxed. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting the tension in her body melt away.
As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t help but feel hopeful about the future. She knew that there would be challenges and obstacles to overcome, but she also knew that she had the support of her friends and especially you and Steve. With a smile on her face, she whispered a quiet “thank you,” grateful for this moment of peace and comfort.
a/n: i hope you guys liked chapter one of this series!!! i know it is angsty and there is a lot of talk about mental and emotional health, but i really feel like it's something worth talking about. opening up is never easy and i hope this story depicts the high and lows of what that's like from max's eyes, but also the blossoming relationship that max and steve (and reader) will start to form as time goes on. a big big thank you to @translatemunson for always listening to my ideas and giving me some to incorporate as well!! i love you, effie <3 going to start working on chapter two soon!!! in the meantime, let me know what you think: reblogs, tags, comments, and likes are greatly appreciated!!!
taglist (if you would like to be added just leave a comment!): @translatemunson @kennedy-brooke @manda-panda-monium @tvserie-s-world @wanderlustaflame @fruitbutt @thegaysaretired
#munsonsreputation#steve harrington fanfic#steve harrington stranger things#steve harrington#steve stranger things#steve harrington angst#steve harrington imagine#steve harrington fic#steve harrington fluff#steve harrington x reader#steve harrington x you#steve x y/n#steve x reader#steve harrington x fem#steve harrington x fem!reader#max mayfield fic#max mayfield angst#max mayfield#max stranger things#max mayfield imagine#stranger things angst#stranger things imagine#stranger things#stranger things x reader#stranger things fanfiction#stranger things x y/n#stranger things x you#stranger things imagines#steve harrington x taylor swift#taylor swift x stranger things
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First I loved your Max fic inspired by soon you'll get better, it was amazing. Also sorry for so many req's but could I req a Max Mayfield x reader fic inspired by the song tis the damn season by Taylor swift? Where the song is kinda from Max's perspective after reader Max's ex s/o leaves Hawkins. Take your time! - N
Max Mayfield x fem!reader
I love getting your requests! Keep 'em coming, I'll always write for you <3
Aged up to 19
Warnings: angst, swearing
Max slumped over in her chair. Tears dotted the papers on the desk and Max hurriedly wiped her eyes.
"Shit, don't smear, don't smear," Max mumbled, dabbing at the watery circles.
A gentle knock on the door startled her. "Uh, who is it?"
"Max, babe? It's me, Y/n. Are you doing alright?" The response was muffled and the knob twisted, revealing Max's girlfriend. "Oh, baby, what happened?" Y/n rushed over to Max and pulled the girl onto her lap. "Are you alright? Tell me what's going on."
Max cried into Y/n's shirt, "Got called a whore again for hanging out with my friends."
"I am so sorry, baby," Y/n rubbed Max's back. "You don't deserve that and it's not true."
"I know it's not, but it makes me feel like I am!" Max sobbed, gripping Y/n's shirt. "It's not fair!"
"It's not fair," Max put her head on the desk and read the letter again.
Dear Y/n,
I miss you more than you can imagine. I know we're not together anymore, but you were my best friend. I was out the other day and I parked my car right between the Methodist and the school that used to be ours. All the memories of you and me hit hard. If there's an ache in you, it was put there by the ache in me. The holidays were even worse, they linger like bad perfume. Time flies, messy as the mud on your truck tires, now I'm missing your smile, hear me out: we could just ride around, and the road not taken looks real good now, and it always--
Max stopped writing and looked up, eyes catching on the second paragraph of Y/n's letter that she sent before she moved.
--and it always leads to you, in my hometown, Max. It's not fair. I won't ask you to wait if you don't ask me to stay, so I'll go back to L.A. and the so-called friends who'll write books about me, if I ever make it. I wonder about the only soul who can tell which smiles I'm faking and the heart I know I'm breaking is my own. We could call it even, even though I'm leaving, and I'll be yours for the weekend. You could call me babe and we could pretend it was just like old times, Max.
Y/n
Max groaned and dropped her head back to the desk. Send the letter, don't send it... Max hadn't had any contact with Y/n since she moved about two years ago, not since the letter that she never responded to. Y/n had called, sure, but Max never talked to her. Susan would pick up the phone and tell Max it was Y/n, but Max always had an excuse to avoid her ex-girlfriend. They had broken up on good terms, but it didn't feel right to continue being friends after the depth of their relationship.
Max wiped her eyes and folded the letter into an envelope. She rushed out to the mailbox, slipped the letter in, put the flag up, and went back to her room to wait.
"Why the hell is your truck always so gross?" Max asked, a no-nonsense expression on her face. "Like, seriously. You're not a boy."
"I know I'm not a boy, but does that mean I can't act like one?"
"I like girls because they're not boys."
"Wait, so if I act like, I dunno, Chrissy Cunningham, you'll continue to date me?"
"Well, maybe not Chrissy Cunningham," Max leaned over the middle console and kissed Y/n's nose. "But not like Lucas Sinclair."
"Picky, picky,"
Y/n sifted through her mail before dumping it all in the trash but one envelope. To Y/n L/n. No return address. Max. Y/n thought, tearing into the sealed paper.
(Sorry, I really prefer to write fem!reader for the girls, but if you want something specifically not female, lmk!)
#max mayfield angst#max mayfield fluff#max mayfield x y/n#max mayfield x reader#sadie sink#stranger things 4#stranger things 4 volume 2#stranger things x reader#stranger things imagine#st4#st4 volume 2#Caden's sCribbles
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my
my max blurb
it
it might reach fic length
i
i love the angst
thank you wife @sw34terw34ther
#·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚the goddess speaks˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙#max mayfield x reader#max mayfield angst#she's my little emotional glowstick rn
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can i please request max mayfield x fem reader angst? like you can write literally anything but maybe the smiths song reference could be good? thanksss <3
of course, love. i had a trouble choosing the right song so i hope this one can do. thanks for the request!
what difference does it make ♡ max mayfield
♡ [max says hurtful things after y/n's question]
warnings: angst, crying
♡ max mayfield x fem!reader (she/her)
♡ part 2
“running up that hill by kate bush”
“but what’s your favorite song?” max asked as you were laying on her bed, her hand around you waist.
“the smiths, but you have to guess which one.” you said as you looked down at her, smirking.
“heaven knows i’m miserable now…” you shook your head, “okay… is it there is a light that never goes out?” you shook your head again. she tried a couple of times but it ended up with you again shaking your head in response.
“i’ll tell you someday, i promise.” you said as you both drifted off to sleep.
you woke up first, sun shining through your eyelids. you opened your eyes and it took your breath away. max looked like a goddess, red hair spread out on pillows, rays of the sun touching her freckles, truly a breathtaking sight.
“you’re staring, creep.” she said, morning raspiness could be heard in her voice. you took a big breath and asked what you wanted to ask for weeks now.
“red… what are we?”
she sat up, looking at you with widened eyes like she’s seen a ghost.
“what do you mean? we’re best friends” she asked, hoping for you to answer and let it go. it wasn’t like she didn’t like you. she loved you with every beat of her heart but things were just hard for her at the moment.
“if you don’t want to be something more just tell me but there’s no way we are just ‘best friends’ and you know it.” you argued, trying to keep calm but failing miserably as it broke your heart into a million pieces.
“y/n i can’t. i’m supposed to still love lucas, what would people think? what would boys think?”
“oh what the fuck, max? you are the one who flirts with me and does this stuff, so why are you acting so homophobic? they would understand!” you raised your voice but instantly apologized. she got more frustrated with every word that left your mouth.
“i don’t want this! i don’t want you and i’m not homophobic and you know it! i just have my own problems that i have to figure out on my own and no, you can’t help me! nobody can, so stop trying already and get out!” and that was it. these words broke you, you couldn’t hold your tears back anymore so you let them fall.
“i don’t need you to like me back or whatever, i just wanted to know.” your voice cracked with every word, you almost choked on your own sobs. you started picking up your stuff, not even changing your clothes as you quickly wanted to get away from this situation.
max sat on her bed, watching you leave with her shirt on your frame. shirt that always looked better on you.
on your way home you remembered your night thoughts ‘two girls liking each other and boy and girl liking each other. what difference does it make?’
you smiled through your tearing eyes, your face completely covered in pain.
“a big one. a fucking massive difference.”
#stranger things#stranger things fanfic#stranger things imagines#max mayfield#max mayfield imagine#max mayfield x y/n#max mayfield x you#max mayfield fluff#max mayfield angst#max mayfield x reader#max mayfield x female!reader#max mayfield x female reader#max mayfield x fem!reader#max mayfield fanfic#lesbian#bisexual
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stranger things fans after the illegal events of vol. 2
#stranger things#stranger things volume 2#fuck the duffers#remake vol 2#eddie munson#justice for eddie#max mayfield#steve harrington#dustin henderson#lucas stranger things#nancy wheeler#the office#michael scott#eddie munson smut#eddie munson imagines#eddie munson x gn!reader#eddie munson x reader#eddie munson x female reader#eddie munson angst#eddie deserved better#eddie munson fluff#steve harrington smut#stranger things four#stranger things season four#eddie munson season 4#eddie munson deserved better#eddie munson volume 2#stranger things vol 2 spoilers#stranger things s4 vol2
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𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏『••✎•���』
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝘌𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘜𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴.
𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠(𝐬): 𝘌𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘯/𝘍𝘦𝘮!𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯/𝘍𝘦𝘮!𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳
𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠(𝐬): 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵, 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2.4
This shouldn’t hurt as much as it does.
Things could’ve ended far worse than they actually did. Hell, most of the couples in their school tended to make breakups as dramatic as possible, normally painting one half of the relationship as some kind if irredeemable monster, if not to paint them as this sympathetic martyr, than just to save face that it actually hurt.
In her case, Eddie Munson told her they just weren’t a good match and he wanted to be friends again instead. That was as healthy as they could possibly get. And in the best case scenario, too, she’d still be able to have him be a part of her life. She didn’t think she could stand the thought of seeing him in the halls and not being able to acknowledge him.
She’d fallen hard and fast for Eddie, embarrassingly so.
Given the heavy duty of designated driver for the little hooligans she’d somehow decided to adopt with Steve Harrington, she’d gotten accustomed to waiting in the high school parking lot, her nose pressed into the creases of her current novel while she waited for them to finish their important campaigns, all procured from the brilliant mind of Eddie Munson.
She’d known him before then, too, but only in passing. He’d often make a big spectacle of himself in the cafeteria just to bug the other students, and he held the record as super senior. But she’d never even talked to him until she saw him walk the boys out after a seemingly successful campaign, his arms wrapped tightly around Dustin and Lucas’ shoulders as he praised them.
He’d acknowledged her when he got to her car.
“My fair maiden,” he’d said, “I apologize for the delay.”
She’d blubbered out some kind of half-hearted response, good enough to make him laugh, and that made her heart go a million miles a minute.
It didn’t take long before she’d gotten the courage to ask him out, even if it was just for coffee. He was surprised, but he agreed.
It had been nice, he even drove her home after. She probably should’ve seen the signs then because he didn’t suggest a second meet up, she had instead. And he’d agreed.
It was about a month before they made themselves official, in Hawkins High language, practically married. But it really just meant she got to hold his hand between classes and get quick kisses goodbye when it was time to separate, somehow always on her cheek than her lips.
She’d thought their dates were fun; it was a lot of pressure since he always left it up to her, never having any other idea than lounging about her home and just watching TV. But she was the one who thought of renting movies for horror marathons, figuring it was up his alley. She thought of bowling and drive-in theaters and picnicking near the quarry for its desolate atmosphere, another thing she figured was right up his alley.
But things came to an underwhelming end when Eddie approached her at her locker on some random Thursday to tell her things just weren’t working out and he wanted to stay as friends. Despite how much even that had hurt, she agreed. She didn’t want to make him do anything he regretted.
She could still be friends with him, happily so. That meant she could still sit with him at lunch, hear his outlandish tales, and be able to admire him from afar, even if she was no longer able to touch him and hold his hand.
“Be honest,” she’d heard Gareth say as she approached with her tray, “what really happened? You know, most guys woulda killed to be able to take her out, the fact she stuck around for months is surprising enough.”
Eddie shrugs, chewing absentmindedly on a pretzel he’d brought. She would pack him lunches when they were together since he always forgot and resorted to eating prepackaged things instead. Since they broke up, it seemed like old habits really did die hard.
“To tell you the truth,” he starts rather dramatically, “no substance. Pretty face, nice voice, real sweet, but God, boring as all hell.” He runs a hand down his face. The other boys seemed surprised. Dustin and Mike share a look, but say nothing, clearly waiting to hear more. Because there was no way it could be just that. There had to be more. They knew her better than anyone, had been through so much with her. What could be the real reason Eddie broke things off?
“And?” Dustin coaxes.
“And what?”
“Dude, seriously?” Mike scoffs. “She wasn’t interesting enough for you?”
Eddie shakes his head. “Look, she’s a great gal. And I know you guys are super close, which is awesome, but we just weren’t the best match. And I felt like shit that she was putting in all of the effort when I wasn’t interested. Now she’s free to...I dunno...find someone boring, too.” He sniggers, elbowing Jeff beside him trying to get him to laugh, too, but he could see how upset Dustin and Mike were.
Luckily, for her sake, they didn’t notice her standing there, having overheard everything. Spinning right back around, she’d ditched her tray onto one of the trash bins before leaving the cafeteria completely before there was a chance anyone could see her tears.
God, it shouldn’t hurt as much as it does, she thinks again. He was more than welcome to have his own opinion, but why did it have to be something like that?
He was right, she wasn’t exactly Chrissy Cunningham or Heather Holloway, being this huge spectacle that made every new day more exciting than the last. All things considered, sometimes too much excitement frightened her. Having risked her life at least once a year for nearly four years now made her yearn for the more simple things. It was stupid of her to think Eddie would want the same. Eddie Munson, who liked to make scenes in the cafeteria and rock out in a bar with his band. He didn’t crave the simplicity of life like she did.
She didn’t go back into that cafeteria for the remaining of the lunch period. In fact, she’d decided to skip the rest of the day completely, knowing she shared three periods with Eddie and right now she really didn’t want to see him. She just wanted to get away, leave herself to her own thoughts to try to calm down.
Well, that really only lasted for ten minutes because she found herself pulling into the small parking lot into Family Video. She spots Steve’s car at the far end and knows he’s inside. It was childish of her to go running and crying to Steve Harrington, who she knew would take her side and say all the cruel things about Eddie that she couldn’t bring herself to because she really just needed someone on her side right now. Aside from Dustin and Mike, of course. She wouldn’t forget how they jumped to her defense.
The little bell rings at the top of the door as she walks in, startling Steve into consciousness, who seemed to be snoozing on the edge of the counter, drool pooled across his forearm. He wipes feverishly at his face and blinks unfocused in her direction, trying to situate himself quickly into his customer service face.
“Welcome to Fam-Jesus, you scared me,” he cuts himself off when he at last realizes it’s her. Confused, he turns to glance at the clock hung up on the wall. “Don’t tell me school’s out already? You beat Robin here.”
“No, I’m playing hooky,” she shakes her head, unsteadily moving towards the counter.
“What? You? I’m sorry, am I still dreaming?” Steve asks dramatically. “Since when do you, of all people, ever skip class? I’d sooner believe Nancy doing it than you.”
“Just...needed a break s’all,” she says with a shrug, looking around. “Keith not here?”
“Nah, he’s off today. Something about a new graphic novel he’s been dying to get. Says he’d have to wait overnight just to get one of the first editions. I don’t know, I don’t really listen to him unless he’s handing over my check,” Steve said. She leans up against the counter, trying to act casual. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t things be okay?”
“Well, for one, having to clarify that things are supposed to be okay when asked if everything’s okay is a pretty big indicator that things aren’t, in fact, okay.” Steve says with a laugh. “So everything’s not okay, then?”
“Everything’s okay,” she lies. “I just...can I ask you something?”
“Yeah?”
She isn’t sure how to come out and say it without sounding stupid. Better, she can’t figure out a way to come out and say it without sounding completely pathetic. But this was Steve, he was the king of asking her embarrassing things. He even called her once at three in the morning to ask how long you were supposed to leave cookies in the oven for. The follow up question was how to get the burnt smell out before his mom came home.
“Am I boring?”
Steve tilts his head. “Huh?”
“Am I boring, Steve? Am I boring?”
“No? Who gave you that idea?” Steve snorts, like he thinks it was a foolish thing to ask. “Whoever it is clearly hasn’t seen you handle a crowbar.” He was referencing when she’d nabbed a crowbar from the junkyard lot to fend off the demodogs with him, all to protect the little ones in the bus. She doesn’t want to remember that right now, not when it makes her feel cold inside.
“Nobody, I just...I dunno, I just think that maybe I’m not as exciting as, like...you o-or Rob or Nancy or, hell, even Jonathan.”
“Nonsense, you’re a badass! True story, you know I wouldn’t say that about just any...” Steve trails off, finally really looking at her. “Hey...hey, why are you really askin’ me that? Something happen? Someone say something to you?”
“No, Steve, I was just asking.”
“You’re lying,” he accuses. “Who was it, was it Byers? Nancy? Not Robin...”
“No! No, Steve, they didn’t say anything, please just drop it. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Steve’s face eventually relaxes, having realized he knew exactly who she was talking about.
“Munson.”
She shakes her head. “Stop it, Steve.”
“What did he say? I thought he just wanted to be friends, where’s all this coming from?” he asked. There were too many questions being thrown at her. She doesn’t want to cry, especially not in front of him, but as soon as she feels her cheek dampen that was it. Soon she was burying her face in her hands and trying to stop the little whimpers from coming out.
She doesn’t notice Steve leap easily over the counter. He pulls her close, shushing her quietly.
“Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you upset,” he says. She sniffles, wrapping her arms around him. He’s petting her hair, kissing the crown of her head, trying his damndest to get her to calm down and talk to him. He was the perfect person to come to, she now realizes. Her subconscious knew Steve was the answer.
When she finally stopped crying, he at last let her go, giving her some space.
She rubs the tears from her eyes and wipes the tears on her jeans.
“Want me to kill him?” he asks jokingly. She laughs. He smiles again. “What happened? Can you tell me now?”
She told him what Eddie had said, the real reason he’d broken up with her and how she ran from the cafeteria and came here. Steve was reasonably upset, but he didn’t want to make it all about pounding Eddie into a pulp, he knew she needed her friend right now and he was prepared to be just that.
“Hey, screw him,” Steve scoffs, throwing an arm over her shoulders and pulling her back into his chest. “You’re far from boring, believe me, and honestly if you ask me you could do so much better than Eddie Munson. The guy picks his nose. I saw him once. It was gnarly.”
She’s laughing again, playfully hitting him.
“Thank you, Steve,” she says, “I’m sorry to dump all this on you, I just needed someone to talk to, you know?”
“Well, you came to the right guy. I can’t tell you it gets much better from public humiliation, but I can tell you that you find much better shit to focus on. Like this obviously stellar job. Robin. My new stereo I saved up for. And...well, you.” He playfully flicks her nose. She wrinkles her nose and swats his hand away. “Eddie doesn’t know what he’s talkin’ about. But I know he’s gonna kick himself in the ass when he realizes he lost a girl like you.”
“Yeah, you’re just saying that ‘cause you’re my friend.”
“Not true, I also wanna bug you for your famous cookies.” Steve winks.
“I can bring them to you tonight, then.” she said, patting his arm. “I should get going. Um...you clearly are very busy and I don’t wanna keep you from doing your job.”
“I know, such a bad influence. The gateway rebellion was skipping class. Now it’s job defiance,” Steve chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck. “Hey, um...if you want, when you come by tonight, maybe you could stick around? Was gonna rifle through the back, borrow some flicks to waste my evening away. Free to join me if you want? Robin flaked out on me, says she’s doing some band practice with Vicky. Didn’t ask for details.”
She thinks about it and smiles. “Sounds like fun. Girls’ night.”
“Invitation rescinded!” Steve shouts, turning away.
“No, I’m kidding, I’m kidding, stop!” she protests, giggling. “I’ll bring cookies and pizza, Steve. I’ll be there.”
“Alright, then,” Steve said. “Um...hey, don’t worry about Eddie, alright? He’s just being a dick. And honestly, apart from his relationship with the rugrats, he’s still gonna be a dick. He missed out on a girl like you. Clearly he’s a martian.”
“Doesn’t mean much when I’m from Hawkins. But thank you, Steve. I’ll see you tonight,” she says, squeezing his hand and finally leaving the store back to her car. She left feeling much lighter than she had going in. He was right. Forget Eddie. If he thought she was so boring he clearly didn’t need her around him. She had other friends, friends like Steve.
Smiling to herself, she climbs into the driver’s seat and turns the key into the ignition, hearing the engine roar to life.
Things would be just fine.
#stranger things#steve harrington#eddie munson#dustin henderson#mike wheeler#nancy wheeler#robin buckley#steve harrington x reader#steve harrington x fem!reader#eddie munson x reader#eddie munson x fem!reader#eddie munson angst#steve harrington angst#jane hopper#eleven#max mayfield#jonathan byers#series
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