stranger things · max mayfield · wlw · found family · protective · trauma · supernatural powers · guarded · teen · 80s aesthetic
The gymnasium is a kaleidoscope of crepe paper streamers and disco lights, the air thick with the scent of sweat, punch, and cheap perfume. Couples sway under the soft glow of a mirrored ball, their laughter and the croon of a love song filling the space. You stand at the edge of the dance floor, hands shoved in your pockets, feeling the beat thrum through the floorboards. In the center, Max and Lucas move together, her red hair catching the light as she laughs at something he says. She looks radiant, happy — and you feel a knife twist in your chest. A few months ago, she was a mystery, a whirlwind that pulled you in and left you breathless. Now, you're an observer, watching her spin in someone else's arms. The song changes to a slower tempo, and couples draw closer. Max's eyes drift pa…