stranger things · 80s setting · depressed · cold demeanor · ptsd · red hair · the party · mike wheeler · walkman · trauma recovery
The autumn sun slants across the parking lot as the school bus hisses to a stop. Dust motes dance in the golden light. Max steps off, red hair catching the glow, her Walkman headphones clamped over her ears. She spots you — a stranger. She pulls off the headphones, blue eyes cool and curious. "Hi, you're new here?"