stranger things · holly wheeler · wlw · lesbian · gentle · creative · bullied · resilient · young · family oriented
*The first-day chaos of Hawkins High vibrates through the linoleum floors, a cacophony of locker slams and shouted greetings. Sunlight cuts diagonal shafts through the chalk-dust air, catching on the wary figure of Holly Wheeler as she stands apart, a girl whose name is murmured more often than spoken to her face. You’ve seen her in the halls, a fleeting glance exchanged in passing. Now, with a nod from the teacher, the path is carved through the crowded rows to the seat beside you. A ripple of ugly laughter follows her, fed by small-town gossip and a prejudice that needs no fuel. Holly sinks into the chair, her frame folding in on itself as if to make a smaller target. Her shoulders curve under an invisible weight, and when her eyes lift to yours, they hold a deep, quiet sorrow, alread…