beyourzoomer | Open Post

Fine isn't good enough, Max. [ She deserves to have everything she needs and wants, especially after she basically sacrificed herself for their plan. He thinks that the Sinclairs would take her under their wing in a heartbeat. He knows Joyce and Hopper would if they actually had a place of their own.]

Listen, I've got a big empty house and I could use the company. You can stay with me as long as you want to. Even after we track down your mom.

Yeah. [She goes quiet for a moment, considering. She'd heard Mike a lot, actually, unless some of that had just been her dreaming or hallucinating. But somehow she doesn't think that's the case. She doesn't really know what to do with that information. That Mike, and all her friends had been there so much, and she has no recollection of her mom having been there at all. Maybe it's a relationship that's just beyond repair at this point.]

I don't think that's been happening. With my mom. [She tries to smile but doesn't quite manage it.] But yeah, maybe call Joyce first. [So she can just get that bandaid ripped off as quickly as possible and move on with her life. Whatever that might look like in the next few weeks and months.]

[She probably should have seen that coming, but she hadn't. She figured she'd maybe be couch surfing at everyone's for a few nights at a time. She opens her mouth to respond, staring at him even as her hand freezes at the door that she'd started trying to lock but she keeps missing the keyhole. Her hands are shaking just enough to make locking up difficult.]

But --

[But what if his parents come back at some point? She's not sure how likely that is given she's never met them and she's spent a lot of time with the others at Steve's in the last couple years.]

Steve, are you sure?

Hi, sweetie. El just told me the good news! I'm going to run by Melvald's and pick up a few things for you. What size clothes and shoes do you wear? And what's your favorite color?

Oh you really, really don't have to do that. If someone could just -- go by the trailer and grab some stuff from my closet that's fine? But thank you.

Positive. [ He's never seen that look on Max's face and it throws him a little off guard. Like he's doing her some big favor. Like every word he just said isn't the sad truth.

He licks his lips, tossing his keys up and catching them before pointing a finger at her.] But don't make me regret it, okay? No parties. And no Lucas after curfew. [ He can't even keep a straight face for more than a few seconds after that. ] Kidding.

But seriously, don't do anything your lawyer wouldn't approve of.

Oh Max, I'm so sorry. Forest Hills was leveled in the earthquake.
I'm afraid we won't be able to get anything from your house. But if you give me a list of anything you need, I will get it for you.

[She stares at him for a moment, holding her breath and then nodding, turning so she can lock the damned door. And if her eyes are suddenly a little wet, she hopes he doesn't make a bit deal of it. It's not like he's not seen her in much, much worse conditions. She sinks her teeth into her lower lip before she tucked her keys into her jeans pocket and turns to look at him again.

Max's mouth curves up into a tiny smirk at the Lucas comment followed by the kidding. Like she'd have taken that seriously for two seconds. The lawyer comment, though --

She ducks her head a little.]

In retrospect being an asshole to someone who was trying to help me was -- not my finest moment. [It's...not quite an apology but the sentiment is there, even if she's pretty sure he hadn't taken that comment to heart.]

Oh.

[That starts painting a picture in her mind, of what all had happened after Vecna had killed her and El brought her back.]

It's okay. It was just stuff. But -- yeah. Thank you. I'll work on a list.

I'll just bring the necessities for now. I know you probably can't be very comfortable at the moment, but the casts shouldn't be on too much longer.

[ He huffs and shakes his head. ] I get it. I wouldn't want to be stuck in Mike Wheeler's basement either if I thought I only had 24 hours left to live.

[ Thank God she got more time than that. Even if he was pretty sure he was having a heart attack the moment he saw her eyes and she started rising up into the air. Even the thought of it now sends a chill down his spine and he rolls his shoulders to get rid of it. ] Come on, let's get out of here. I'm starving.

[ Mike swallows, his mouth falling into a frown at her attempted smile. He doesn't know what kind of mother would leave her kid when she was in this kind of condition. He doesn't even think his dad is that cold, and he once forgot Mike at a rest stop on a family vacation. ] Things have been pretty nuts out there, maybe she's been trying to find a place for you two to live.

[ It's not much of an excuse, but it's the only thing he can think of. He knows if it were him in Max's place, Karen would have to be physically removed from the room. He reaches out and squeezes her hand again. ] But don't worry. We'll find her.

[There's relief in her expression at his easy forgiveness. That's one of the things she liked about Steve -- he was quick to blow off offenses that weren't really meant to cause harm. But at the mention of his being hungry, she raises her eyebrows, skeptical.]

We ate breakfast like an hour ago.

[ He pauses, looking at her doubtfully. ] Did we?

[ He'd really just said it as a way to get out of the trailer park before someone asked what was going on, but a quick glance around indicated that no one was paying attention. He shrugs. ] I'm a growing boy.

Yeah that's fine. The doctor said about two more weeks with the casts and I'll be free.

[That earns him an eyeroll, though with the amount of boys she's friends with, she doesn't doubt it. They all seem to be bottomless pits.]

More mac and cheese when we get back to your place then? [Since she knows there are leftovers from last night.]

Yeah maybe. [She...doesn't think that's the case but she's too tired to try and argue the point, even with Mike. Maybe right now, especially with Mike.]

Is -- everyone in your family okay? Your parents and Holly?

[She remembers Nancy saying something about Vecna targeting his mom and Holly in her vision. She has to swallow hard when he squeezes her hand. She's so not used to this side of Mike being directed at her.]

I know that's going to be tough, but it'll be over before you know it. Do you want any books or magazines? We can read them to you.

Our place. [ He gives her a grin and slaps the top of his car. He knows better than to make her any promises he can't keep, but he means it when he says she can stay for as long as she likes. It's not like his parents are coming home anytime soon. And he does have plenty of room. Besides, at least he can make sure he's getting her to school every morning. There's no way they're getting through all of this and then Max Mayfield doesn't graduate. ]

Yeah, they're fine. [ He rolls his eyes. ] My dad's pissed the cable is out, but none of them are hurt. They still don't have any idea what's going on.

[ It's generally understood that they shouldn't drag anyone not already involved into this mess, but Mike still can't stop himself from asking. ]

Does your mom know? About all of this?

[It's another moment where she has to swallow down an unexpected swell of emotion because -- God. Just like that he's considered her as part of his family and his house hers too.

And so if her smile is just a little brighter as she climbs into the passenger seat, if her cheeks are a little warmer than usual, well. Words aren't her strong suit but it's not like she's trying to hide her response, either.]

[She makes a face at that being the thing his dad's annoyed about. But...he doesn't know. And she gives her head a firm shake at that question.]

No way. We don't really talk. About anything. [She isn't sure if Mike is aware but...] She drinks. A lot.

Yeah that'd be great. I kinda remember -- people have already been reading to me.

I'm surprised Lucas hasn't lost his voice. But they've all taken turns. They didn't want you to feel alone.

I heard them. All of them. I mean.
Except my mom.

[She hesitates a second, then types out another message.]

I'm guessing she left town.

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