Max has never had a soulmate.
For clarification: When you learn how to write your name, it shows up on your soulmate's dominant arm. But you are not supposed to share with anyone until you find your soulmate.
Most of her friends had theirs. Lucas had found his a month after Billy's death, her name was Jessica, Dustin had Emilia, who he had met and Camp Know Where '86. Will and Mike didn't have theirs (but with the way they looked at each other she wouldn't be surprised if it was the two of them). El's had hers burned off by that phyco Dr. Brenner.
She had been teased about it in grade school and it had doomed all her relationships. She was with this guy Matt, met his soulmate three weeks later. Was with this girl Melissa, met hers a month later. She'd sworn off dating after that. She wished she had a soulmate sometimes. But she liked her life. Other than, you know, being hopelessly in love with her best friend who had just gotten out of a three-year relationship had no true sense of self, she was perfect.
One day, Max wakes up with searing pain on her right arm. She remembers falling off her board yesterday when she had to swerve (Will was teaching El to ride a bike and she'd gotten in the crosshairs) but nothing about her arm specifically.
She looked down and saw Jane written in shaky letters. It took all the pain away when she saw it.
holyshitholyshitholyshitholyshitholyshitholyshitholyshitholyshit
I have a soulmate.
Max runs to her closet and has to rummage for a good thirty minutes before she finally finds the dusty black cloth that she had thrown in the box when moving to Hawkins on pure accident. She had meant to leave it there. "Hello? Hello? Max, do you copy, it's Lucas. Over."
Max dug under her bed for the walkie and grabbed it. "What's up, Stalker? Over."
"We were supposed to meet at my place like ten minutes ago. Over."
"Oh crap! I'm on my way. Over." She rushed to grab her board and started on her way to the Sinclair house. She almost crashed twice because she couldn't keep herself from staring at the back cloth on her arm.
She knocked on the door and as soon as she did, Erika swung it open. "They're in the basement. Tell Lucas he owes me a slice of pizza for opening the door for you." She then walked away. Max smirked to herself as she rushed into the basement.
"Sorry I'm late! I totally forgot. What movie we watching?" She plopped onto the couch next to Will, who was fiddling with the cloth on his own arm.
Dustin's eyes went wide as he pointed at Max. "That's a cloth!" He exclaimed excitedly. She smiled.
"Damn straight! Well, okay not straight but you know." She held the cloth up for everyone to see and they all clapped her on the back. "Okay, so really what movie."
"Nightmare on Elm Street." Lucas said as he stuck the vcr in. "Steve gave it to us for free."
"Correction: he gave it to Dustin for free. We all know momma bear likes him best." Will joked.
"Not my fault I'm better than you!" Dustin said, throwing popcorn at him. They fought for a few minutes before the movie started.
As the movie ended, Dustin and Lucas were sleeping on the floor, Mike was curled into the corner snoring, and Will's head was on Max's shoulder.
Max looked over everyone again before slowly unwrapping the cloth and looking at the name one more time. "Jane." She whispered. She didn't know if this meant she was young and was just learning her name. Either way. Max had a soulmate. She had never been happier.