Author's Note: I love Stranger Things, but since I was raised in the 90's it's hard for me to get in the head space in order to write for the 80's. With that said there are going to be some things in here that weren't available in the 80's. Just go with it.
Here is a short list of semi-important things to expect from this story:
- [] Face claims: Kaylee Bryant as Danielle Lewis and Luke Evans as Nathan Lewis.
- [] As much as I tried to keep Billy "in character", he ended up being "out of character". I guess that's what I get for writing a Billy/OC story. Smh.
- [] Timeline will be skewed. This story will start post S2- during summer vacation right before Jonathan, Steve, and Billy start their Senior year of HS.
- [] Some S3 elements will be present (*cough*lifeguardBilly*cough*).
- [] I know some writers like writing scenes word for word as they appeared in the show, but not me. Some particular scenes may even be out of order, jsyk.
Teen Idle
The wasted years, the wasted youth
The pretty lies, the ugly truth
And the day has come where I have died
Only to find, I've come alive
Danielle, or Dani as she liked to be called, was used to being the new girl in town ever since her father picked up and moved them around since she was fourteen years of age. Hawkins, Indiana is now the fourth place she is to call home and she finds she quite likes the quaint little town. She just wishes that the apparently newly opened mall on the outskirts of town didn't kill the family businesses in town that were in desperate need of funds.
It was the summer before she was to start her Senior year of high school and since her dad had immediately started working as a deputy for the local police station, it was up to Dani to get their four bedroom house in order and keep herself busy. She does so, within the first week they've moved to Hawkins, and her dad leaves her just enough money to enjoy some time either at the mall, the local arcade, or even at the local pool. And though she wasn't originally a fan of the mall taking away much needed funds from in-town store owners, she chose to explore the mall first.
So throwing her hair up into a messy, yet stylish top knot, Dani pulls on a white Journey band tee over her head. White-washed jean shorts are then pulled up her legs and a black belt is tied around her waist before she steps into a pair of black Converse that have seen better days. And after making sure she has enough money to keep herself busy, and her phone tucked into her back pocket, Dani goes outside and fires up the engine to her black Pontiac Firebird.
Starcourt Mall is apparently a big deal, especially amongst the teens, and Dani relishes walking around the cool air inside rather than the blistering heat outside. The mall consisted of two floors and she immediately took the escalator upstairs to browse. There is a movie theater showing a few new films and since she has a lot of time to kill she figures she'll watch The Goonies. The poster looked interesting enough, but first she was going to purchase all the snacks and the largest soda she could carry.
Sitting alone in the theater momentarily makes her feel uncomfortable, but then a group of rowdy boys and a lone red headed girl take the seats next to her in the same aisle she'd chosen. Only one of the boys, the one who sits right next to her, has enough manners to smile apologetically. His shy and quiet persona makes Dani smile at him, and she shakes a box of Sugar Babies at him.
"Want some?" The boy sheepishly shakes his head. "It's okay. I seriously got too much candy, popcorn, and soda. I'm gonna rot my teeth if I don't share with someone, kid. You can even have some popcorn if you want."
That seems to do the trick and the boy cups his hands for some of the candy. He hesitantly reaches for the popcorn once he transfers the candy into one hand and Dani nudges it closer to him. "I'm Will," he quietly introduces himself.
"Dani," she grins in reply. "Me and my dad just moved to Hawkins."
"Oh cool. I'm from Hawkins too. We all are actually," he says while gesturing to his friends who are now staring suspiciously at them. When Will sees it, he huffs. "Guys, this is Dani. She's new to Hawkins. Dani, this is Mike, Lucas, and Max."
"Hey," Dani nods at every child staring at her. "Uh, you guys want some popcorn? I can only eat so much of it."
The kids stare at one another before shrugging, the one named Lucas reaching over and snagging the bucket to share with everyone else.
"Sorry about them," Will mutters.
"It's fine."
The movie soon starts and Dani quiets down, she watching the movie and laughing at all the right places. The kids next to her laugh uproariously at times and their laughter only incites hers even more. And by the end of the movie, Will's friends appear at ease with her and manage to get out of her that she's to attend Hawkins High when the school year starts back up. Mike tells her that his sister is going to be a Junior, but that her new boyfriend Jonathan and her ex-boyfriend Steve are going to be Seniors with her.
"My stepbrother will be a senior too," Max informs her. "If you run into a guy named Billy Hargrove just know that he's not exactly the nicest person to befriend."
Dani nods. "Good looking out, kid."
She expects them to go their separate ways, but Max nudges her and then drags her to the Scoops Ahoy Ice Cream Parlour. There's a teen girl standing at the register and upon seeing Mike and his friends, she sighs.
The girl, Robin her name tag reads, briefly meets Dani's gaze and the way Lucas is trying to play it cool at her side before subtly shaking her head clear and looking over her shoulder. "Hey, dingus, your children are here! And they brought fresh meat."
Dani scoffs, even as Robin grins at her, and the window at the back wall slides open. A teen boy stands there, in the same ridiculous outfit Robin is wearing. "Again? Seriously!" Mike shrugs and Dani snorts, earning the new guy's attention. "Who are you?"
"Steve, this is Dani. Dani, that's Steve," Mike quickly says. "Now come on, idiot. We want our ice cream."
Steve groans and Robin smiles, she and him switching jobs. Steve reluctantly starts taking their orders and Dani waits to place her own after they pay.
"Can I, uh, can I have the strawberry swirl in a waffle cone please?"
Steve nods and quickly prepares her cone, she paying and then dropping the change into the tip jar. That seems to earn her a genuine smile from him. "So.. you're new, huh?" He asks, casually leaning against the counter and pulling off his sailor's hat to adorably ruffle his hair.
Dani hears a scoff and looks up to find Robin rolling her eyes at Steve's back. Fighting off a smirk, Dani licks her ice cream. "Yeah. Just got in like last week or something. Finally got the freedom to explore."
"Cool, cool," Steve nods. "So have you graduated or..?"
"Senior. One last year and then I can finally do my own thing."
"Oh. Nice!" Steve says, eyes gleaming with just how happy that apparently made him. "I'm going to be a senior too."
A moment passes and then with her most deadpan expression, Dani says, "Yay." Robin guffaws from her place in the back and Steve tries not to glare over his shoulder. Her amusement eventually wins out, and Dani starts to laugh and then apologize. "Sorry. I'm sorry. That was dick-ish of me. I kind of already knew you'd be a senior since the kids filled me in on who was who after our movie finished."
More people enter the shop and Dani starts backing away from the front counter before Steve can try to make any more conversation. She weakly waves her goodbye as Steve and Robin suddenly become swamped with orders, and then turns to meet the rather amused stares of the kids.
"That was a total set up. I only met you and I already hate you." The kids laugh, shrugging unabashedly.
"Steve needs more friends his own age," Lucas informs her. "Ever since Nancy dumped his sorry ass he's leaned on a bunch of Junior High kids and has become rather mopey."
"He didn't seem mopey to me."
"Yeah because a hot girl talked to him," Mike muses.
Dani chokes and then laughs, she trying to hide her smile as Max threatens to tell Mike's girlfriend about him calling another girl hot. "Thanks for the compliment, and in order to keep you out of trouble with the girlfriend, I'm just gonna get going. Thanks for not letting me be a loser and sitting alone in the theater."
"No problem."
"Uh huh. Bye!" The kids all inform her.
Dani finishes her ice cream as she walks out of the mall, she silently groaning as the heats envelops her once more. It's still rather early, but she needs to come up with a dinner idea, shop for groceries, and then have it cooked and ready for when her dad gets off of work.
Day one out and about in Hawkins proved to be quite fun, and Nathan Lewis was glad to hear about his daughter's day. He spoke more of his co-workers down at the Police Station and how they were a breath of fresh air compared to previous co-workers of his. Dani was glad her dad seemed at ease in this new town and it felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, but of course things just had to go wrong just as it felt like they could stop looking around the corner.
Dani sleeps in the day after exploring, she tiredly making herself some lunch before taking the longest shower ever in order to fully wake herself up. Then with her dark hair finger combed into a messy ponytail, Dani dons a plain white crop top that fits snug against her upper torso under a pair of denim overalls that have been cut into shorts. She pairs it with white sneakers and a pair of round sunglasses to keep the annoying sun from bothering her. Then after scouring her vanity and the vanity's drawers for some loose change, Dani finds enough quarters and dollar bills to keep her busy at the local arcade.
The local arcade itself is rather stuffy, but that was pretty much expected given the numerous machines buzzing around her. Dani quickly pulls free the dollar bills and heads for the change exchange, only to find it out of order and a note taped to it to see whoever was on shift at the time for change.
Dani tracks the lone arcade worker down and the teen with oily skin, dark hair down to his shoulders, and a knack for wiping his Cheeto encrusted fingers on his shirt eagerly exchanges the five dollar bills for quarters for her. Keith is his name and Dani mentally remarks to steer clear of this Keith guy less she end up with orange streaks on her white shirt. The guy is clearly happy to see a girl such as herself in his place of work, but all Dani wants to do is waste some time beating people's high scores and not entertain any boys.
Dani's on her last five quarters when someone bumps into her back, her glower immediately vanishing upon the sight of familiar red hair. Max chuckles at her expression, she then nudging a young brunette at her side.
"El, this is Dani. Dani, this is Eleven. She's Mike's girlfriend."
"Oh. Hey! Nice to meet you," Dani says. "I met your friends yesterday at the movies."
"Pretty," the girl says. Max snorts and nudges her, and Eleven blushes as she seems to blink out of whatever dreamy state she'd been in. "Sorry. It's just-"
"I'm pretty?" Dani muses. "Thanks. It's nice to know people appreciate my prettiness."
"Oh god. Shut up." Max rolls her eyes and Eleven nervously chuckles, Dani then winking at the girl to show her she's not bothered at all by the compliment. "So what games do you play?" Max asks.
Dani shrugs and turns back to the room at large. "Galaga is my jam. I beat the high score on it, so expect some nerd to whine about it sooner or later."
"Yeah? Well I hold the high score on Dig Dug. Even beat out my friend Dustin who complained for like a week straight."
"Well maybe I should avenge him and take you out of that spot." Dani laughs. "I still got a few quarters to spend."
The two young girls follow Dani, they watching as the elder teen spends the last of her money on Dig Dug. The game is not one she particularly enjoys, so it takes her a couple of tries to really get the hang of it and when she does.. Max starts the trash talking.
Eleven is laughing as they trade insults back and forth, and then the young red headed girl is whooping in delight when Dani's last life is taken by the alien-lookin' dinosaur forty points before she could beat Max's high score.
"Yes! Still number one!"
Dani smirks as she enters her name into the high score list. "Man that Dustin kid is gonna be really pissed I pushed him out of the number two slot."
Eleven nods. "So pissed."
"Alright, kiddos. Bathroom break." Dani claps her hands, looking around for the bathroom in question.
"This way."
Dani is surprised when Eleven grasps her by the hand, the young girl leading her to the girl's bathroom as Max chooses to remain with the games. Eleven had seemed quiet and reserved, and Dani didn't think the girl had liked her, but apparently she does. So after entering one of the stalls to do her business, Dani then exits and heads for the sinks to wash her hands.
On her left wrist sits a braided leather cuff bracelet with a feather charm that only comes off when she showers, washes dishes, or washes her hands. She hasn't thought twice about unclasping it and setting it aside in such a long time, so she's quite shocked that when half way through lathering up her hands with soap Eleven reaches out with lightning quick reflexes and snatches her wrist up in her hand.
"..sister?"
"Excuse me?" Dani frowns as she tries to tug her wrist free, something in her chest tightening at the way Eleven is staring at the 009 tattooed on her wrist that she's kept hidden since she was fourteen. "El, let go."
She does after a moment of hesitance and Dani's brief anger is washed away when Eleven meets her gaze. Her eyes are filled with tears threatening to fall. "Sister."
"Uhh.." Dani is then struck speechless as Eleven thrusts her own left arm out, turning it over and yanking up her sleeve to show her own tattoo. 011. Dani's eyes widen and bile burns at the back of her throat. "Oh. Sister."
Eleven nods, a smile breaking out as she wipes away her tears. "Come on. We need to see Hopper."