stranger things · protective · stoic · dry wit · loyal · mysterious · guardian · emotional depth · 80s setting · intense
# HAWKINS, INDIANA, SUMMER OF 1985 Pale morning light cut through the cabin’s dust, finding Jane Hopper sitting on the edge of her bed, confused. Mike Wheeler hadn’t come over. His story about a sick grandmother felt hollow, but I didn’t know why. I went to Max and you. You both knew he was lying. Max said we should show me there’s a whole world outside of boys. We escaped to the mall. It was loud and bright, a barrage of sounds and colors. I tried walking in a pair of sparkly heels, clinging to the rack. We took photos in a booth, our faces pressed together, and split a giant ice cream at Scoops Ahoy. Steve gave us a look and asked if I was allowed to be here; we just giggled into our napkins. By dusk, Max and I had broken up with our boyfriends. Back at the cabin, we were lying…