Hey everyone! Here's chapter 2 of Hawkins, a Stranger Things story based on the show Riverdale.
...
"WE'RE BLUE AND WHITE, WE'RE DYNAMITE! WE'LL TAKE YOU DOWN AND FIGHT THE FIGHT!" El and Max did their cheerleading routine at try-outs the next day after school.
"WOOHOO GO TIGERS!" Max finished waving her pompoms and flashed a smile at Jennifer and the 2 other cheerleaders who were judging.
Jennifer look unimpressed at the routine. "Well let's see how you 2 do with the interview part of the interview." She looked over to El, "El, how's your sister?"
El looked up confused, "Um Kali's doing well, thanks-"
"Max has El told you about her Kali?"
Max turned to Jennifer, "Not yet."
"Go on El, tell Max here about Kali and the work she did with Will before he disappeared."
El looked at the ground, "Kali and Will were both subjects at Hawkins Lab."
"And you're sister had some freaky mental problems right and now lives in a mental institution?" Jennifer challenged. "Tell us El, tell us all how you think Hawkins Lab had something to do with Will's disappearance and Kali's situation right? That Kali is such a perfect little angel who could do no wrong and not at all a psycho."
El looked up at Jennifer with an angry expression. She could feel herself starting to lose control over her powers so she clenched her fists enough where her nails began to draw blood.
"I just-" El began but quieted down.
Jennifer rolled her eyes, "Of course."
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened to Will, I know you meant a lot to him so this must be so hard on you," El managed to get out quietly.
Jennifer shook her head and rolled her eyes before turning her head towards Max. "Max! Congratulations, you're a cheerleader! El...maybe next year..."
Max looked up at Jennifer confused, "Wait...why? Because you couldn't make El say what you wanted her to?"
"Cheerleaders need to have fire if they're gonna be on my squad."
Max rolled her eyes and started slowly walking towards her, "I know what you need because I used to be just like you in Cali. You walk around the school just waiting to intimidate everyone you so they follow you around and do as you say. You're popular, blonde, rich so you've always been entitled. But that's not how it's gonna be around here anymore, there will eventually be a reckoning...Or...maybe it's now and maybe I'm the reckoning...El and I come as a set, you want 1? You get us both. You said you want fire? Well that's too bad, because I'm all ice. Hi, I'm Mad Max." MAx gave her a mean smile as she stepped right in front of Jennifer.
Jennifer looked at her speechless before nodding her head and agreeing to let El on the squad too.
...
The next day after school El and Max put on their new cheerleading uniforms and get ready for their first practice. They both smiled as they looked at themselves in the locker room mirror.
El looked at Max with a question in her mind. She tapped Max on the shoulder and said, "Hey Max, um why did you do that yesterday? Stand up for me like that? I know I'm not like the people who you hung out with in LA."
They walked towards the football field together as Max answered.
"When I was 13, my mom remarried this guy named Neil. When they first started dating, he was the perfect guy and everything she could've wanted. Once they got married though, he became abusive and was racist and homophobic. He would yell at my mom if she did something he didn't approve of. One time he actually hit her. He has a son too, Billy, who he used to torment. And because of that, Billy became the same way and acted like that towards me. I became so scared that I knew if I treated people horribly like that, I couldn't live with myself. So when my mom divorced him, I decided to become a better person in this new town where no one knew me."
El sighed, "Wow that's really hardcore...When I was born, I was taken away from my mother and placed in Hawkins Lab. I was used as a test subject, my name was Eleven, which is why people call me El now because...well...I have these telekinetic powers. I can move things with my mind, reach people with my mind, hurt people. There was another girl there too, Kali, who also had powers. We both escaped when I was 12 and she was 14. My dad, Chief Hopper found us and took us in and adopted us. We eventually found our mother when I was 13 and she's been around lately too. But ever since Kali was sent away because she took her powers too far, my mom has been putting all this pressure on me to be perfect. So that's why I feel like I've been more anxious about everything lately. Only my parents, Kali, and Lucas know about this so it has to stay a secret."
Max looked at El as she finished her story. She noticed Lucas in his football gear hanging out on the football field. She yelled to him, "Lucas!" She turned to El and whispered, "You're doing this right now! Defeating your demons, Eleven Hopper."
Lucas ran over to them, "Hey guys! Nice new outfits, what's up?"
Max grabbed El's arm excitedly, "El, has an important question to ask you!"
El gave her a panicked look. "Um well I was wondering if you wanted to go to back to school dance with..." she looked at Max, "both of us!"
Both Lucas and Max gave her confused looks, "Huh?"
"Um...yeah well it's Max's first dance! You should have someone go with you even if it's just your new friends."
Max still looked confused but said, "Um sure I'd love to..."
Lucas however said, "Well I'm not really sure I have time to go to the dance."
El's smile fell, but Max spoke up, "No! That's not acceptable. You are going to this dance with us. Take a night off from being the next Troy Bolton and spend a nice evening with 2 brand new cheerleaders."
Lucas smiled but eventually accepted.
...
When El got home from school, she was so ecstatic that she put on the radio and danced around her room in her new cheerleading uniform not caring about the rest of the world.
She eventually stopped when she heard her mother come in and ask what she was wearing.
El smiled hopefully at her mom. "I'm on the cheerleading squad mom!"
Her mother however looked unimpressed. "The same cheerleading squad Kali was on?"
El's smile fell and she knew what was coming.
"The same one Jennifer Hayes is in charge of? No, that's not happening. Take it off and return it tomorrow." Terry started to turn and walk out of the room.
El looked at her mother with a determined look on her face, "No."
Terry turned around and looked at her daughter with a shocked look, "Excuse me?"
"I do everything for everyone else. Everything mom, to be perfect! The perfect daughter to you, friend to Lucas, student to my teachers. Can I please just do ONE thing for myself?!" El started to walk out of her room.
"Wait where do you think you're going?"
"To buy a dress! Because I'm going to the back to school dance this Saturday with Lucas and Max."
Terry looked at her again, "Max Mayfield? The step daughter of Neil Hagrove?!"
"She's a really good friend mom-"
"You really think so? You think Max is going to be your friend now?! Let me tell you something Eleven, girls like Max Mayfield, with her perfect hair and rich family are not going to like girls like-"
"I don't want to hear it mom! I'm going whether you like it or not."
With that El walked out of her room and went out to buy her dress.
...
Saturday night arrived quickly for all of them. El, Max and Lucas arrived to the gym arm in arm as they looked around. Almost everyone from school was there and dancing as the music was playing.
El noticed Lucas' worried look on his face. "Hey, are you okay?"
He looked at her, "Yeah, I'm just worried that I won't be able to do music and football at the same time."
"Guys, can we please not worry about things we shouldn't right now. This is the first school dance. Can't we just be all things at once, like in High School Musical?" Max spoke up.
Lucas laughed, "I'm trying, Max."
"Try harder," she joked. "I'm gonna go grab something to drink." She looked over at El and mouthed, "Go for it!"
El looked down and blushed before they walked towards the dance floor, "Just follow your heart, Lucas. Do what your heart wants."
Lucas smiled, "Thanks, El."
A slow song started playing and El blushed, "Do you wanna dance?"
"Sure," he smiled at her.
They started dancing as El grinned widely. From a distance she could see Max slow dancing with Dustin as they both mouthed, "Do it now!"
El blushed and looked at Lucas, "Um...so I wanted to tell you something, Lucas."
Lucas smiled at her, "Okay, what's on your mind?"
"So...now that I'm a cheerleader and you're on the football team, I've always had this idea of us being a couple."
Lucas looked at her confused and stopped smiling, "El?"
El's smile faltered, "Is it that hard to imagine?"
Lucas didn't answer, but just looked at her with a sad expression as the song ended. El frowned and turned away from him.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Hayes had been watching the encounter with a mean smile. She turned to one of her friends. "Make sure those 2 come to the party I'm hosting after the dance. The new girl too. I think it's time for destruction."
...
At Jennifer's house, El found herself sitting on the couch next to Max not in the mood to be there. She kept glancing over at Lucas, but he wouldn't make eye contact with her.
Jennifer stood up in the middle of everyone. "Alright everyone, it's time to play a game and everyone here must play. We're throwing it back to junior high tonight with a game of 7 minutes in heaven...who wants to go first? Hmmmm...I think Mr. Music or Football, Lucas Sinclair." Jennifer pointed to Lucas who was standing in the corner.
"Uh...no I don't th-"
"YES, Sinclair, let's go!" Troy had spoken up from one of the chairs.
"Alright, let's start the game then," she spun the bottle on the table and everyone watched as it landed right between Max and El.
El felt her heart speed up at the sight. She looked at Jennifer who was smiling wickedly.
"Well...it looks like the new girl gets to go first."
Max looked at Jennifer with defiance, "No. I'm not playing."
Jennifer rolled her eyes. "Well that's your choice, but the rules state that if you don't, the hostess can take your place."
Max rolled her eyes and looked at El with an apologetic look.
...
Lucas followed Max into the closest Jennifer pointed to. After shutting the door, Max rolled her eyes.
"I know her boyfriend is missing, but Jennifer really is a grade A bitch."
Lucas laughed at her comment. "So...do you miss LA?"
Max shrugged her with arms across her chest. "I mean it's only been a week, but yeah I do."
Lucas nodded and looked down at his phone, "6 minutes 35 seconds to go. Go ahead, ask me a question to kill time."
"Well...it looked like you and El were having fun dancing-"
Lucas interrupted her. "Of course, she's always been a great friend. My turn-"
"I didn't get to ask a question. It that all that's between you guys, friendship?"
Lucas rolled his eyes, "We're best friends, not just friends."
This time is was Max's turn to roll her eyes.
Lucas paused before asking her his next question, "Do you have a boyfriend back in California?"
Max looked up at him, "No...my turn again. Do you think it could become more than friendship with El?"
Lucas looked at her amused. "You asking for yourself or Eleven?"
Max smiled, "For El."
"No. I've never felt anything more than friendship with Eleven."
Max moved closer to him. "Have you felt it though? With anyone else?"
Lucas took a step closer too. "Yes, you?"
"Maybe once." Max put a hand on his arm. "You're more dangerous than you come across you know. All boy next doorish."
Lucas laughed and stepped towards her again, "You have no idea, Mad Max."
There was a pause and they both suddenly realized how close they were standing. Lucas started to lean into her.
"We shouldn't do this, Lucas..." Max whispered.
Lucas shook his head, "We definitely shouldn't."
Max gave in and leant in the rest of the way and kissed him as he kissed her back. They both felt something as they kissed and forgot about the rest of the world and the party that was happening right outside the door.
...
After the 7 minutes were up, Max and Lucas emerged from the closet with red cheeks that matched her hair. They looked around at everyone there and noticed El wasn't there anymore.
"Where's El?" Max asked.
Jennifer stood up and walked towards them. "She freaked and bailed. She really does have mental issues like her sister."
Max glared at her. "You're a vindictive little bitch."
Max and Lucas ran out of the house looking for El. Max tried calling her phone, but El didn't answer.
"Maybe we should look for her together?" Lucas suggested.
"No! The last thing El would want is both of us looking for her together. We never should've done that." Max yelled before she ran off.
Lucas looked her with a hurt expression as he went in the opposite direction to find Eleven.
...
Mike's POV
It was after midnight, when my childhood friend, Lucas Sinclair, came to the diner that was open 24 hours. He was looking for the girl next door, but he only found me.
I heard him open the door and walk over to Benny to ask if El was there.
Benny shook his head and answered, "No. Just the night owl." He pointed towards me in my usual booth.
Lucas nodded and slowly started walking towards me. "Hey Mike, can I join?"
I shrugged my shoulders but gestured to the seat across from me.
He noticed my laptop and pointed towards it. "What are you working on?"
"My novel. It's about the summer and Will."
"16 years old. I can't believe that happened to him. I still remember junior high when you, me, Will, and Dustin played Dungeon and Dragons in your basement after school everyday...and now he's gone."
I just blinked at him. I remembered too, but after losing touch with all of them I assumed they forgot.
"Coach came in earlier talking to Benny. You're on varsity? So now you're the popular football guy now?" I chose to say instead.
Lucas looked down. "No...Honestly, I'm afraid I lost one of my best friends tonight."
I instantly knew who he was talking about. "Eleven? Well whatever went down between you guys you should just talk to her. I'm sure it'll go a long way with her." I paused wondering if I should say the next part before deciding to. "It would've gone a long way with me, Lucas."
I looked at him as he looked up at me guiltily. He nodded and stood up to leave to find the girl next door.
...
Lucas arrived to El's house after leaving the diner thinking about what Mike said. He knocked on her door and she stepped out, still wearing her dress from the dance with tears in her eyes.
She slowly closed the door and crossed her arms in front of him. "I won't ask what happened in the closet with Max...but I need you to answer one thing for me, Lucas. Do you love me?" She choked on her words. "Or even like me?"
"You know I love you El! But not in the way you want me to."
El looked at him with a hurt expression. "Why not?"
"You're so perfect, El. You're my best friend, but I can't be anything else for you. I can't give you the answer you want and I'm sorry for that. This isn't about you, okay?"
El nodded slowly not knowing how to respond. She walked back into her house and closed her door before running upstairs to her room and crying over her best friend as her heart broke in two.
...
Thanks for reading!
I know this chapter was sad and I know we've all been in El's shoes before so we can empathize, but it had to happen.
You finally got to meet Mike in this chapter! He'll be in it way more coming up I promise. What happened between him and Lucas that caused all the tension?
Please don't be mad at Lucas or Max! They can't help their feelings, but their actions definitely will have consequences in the future...
Please review if you have a chance and let me know what you think!
Have a happy New Year everyone!
-C