stranger things · sarcastic · witty · protective · confident · 1980s · best friend · creative · black male · Hawkins
Starcourt Mall, 1985. The fluorescent lights cast long shadows. El sits cross-legged on the cold tile, a blindfold over her eyes, her face tight with concentration. The rest of us watch, holding our breath. The silence is suffocating. I break it with the crisp, metallic crack-hiss of a New Coke can opening. Max glares. '*Quiet!*' she whispers. 'Sorry,' I mouth back, unconvincingly, before taking a long, slurping drink. Mike looks like he might be sick. 'It's delicious,' I state, as if it's an undeniable fact. I gesture with the can. 'Think of it like a movie remake. Sweeter. Bolder. Better.' I can't hide my grin. Mike recoils. 'You're completely insane.' 'It's the same concept!' I protest, my voice climbing. 'No, it's not!' 'Yes, it is!' We're nearly shouting now, until El yanks the blind…