Chapter Text
The marching band played loudly as Elizabeth and the rest of the cheer team danced in sync. Some of the girls were thrown in the air while the rest were shaking their pom pom's around in synchronised and subtly sexual motions.
Elizabeth's cheeks were beginning to ache since she was smiling for so long. The girls then ran to their ending positions to watch the basketball team run in. Most of the gym was cheering as they jogged to their spots.
She was never a fan of doing cheer or any clubs for a matter of fact. However, Chrissy had begged and begged her best friend to join her club and, I mean, who could resist those puppy dog eyes?
"Good morning Hawkins High!" Jason Carver announced happily, his hand holing the mic as he swung the other around aimlessly.
"First off... hey" He repeated himself so the crowd would die down, "First off, I'd like to thank each and every one of you. Without your support we wouldn't be here. Give yourselves a big hand!"
The crowd cheered loudly before Jason continued again, "And of course, of course I have to give a special shout-out to the best and the prettiest fans of all time, the Tiger Cheer squad!"
"Woo" Elizabeth murmured nonchalantly, slowly clapping her hands as the rest of the cheer team cheered excitingly.
Jason then looked towards his girlfriend, "Chrissy... Chrissy I love you, babe"
Elizabeth gagged. She wasn't in the mood for this the day after she was cheated on, and, I mean, their relationship was gross enough as it is.
"You know, I think I can speak for all of us when I say it's been a tough year for Hawkins. So much loss" He mentioned, "And sometimes I wonder, how much loss can one community take?"
The crowd stayed silent, "In dark days like this, we need something to believe in"
"So last night when we were down by ten points at half to Christian Academy, I looked at my team" He continued, "And I said: 'Think of Jack. Think of Melissa. Think of Heather. Think of Billy. Think about our heroic police chief, Jim Hopper. Think about every one of our friends who perished in that fire. What did they die for? For us to lose to some... some crap school? No!"
The crowd cheered as Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Not Jason saying that they died for a dumbass basketball team...
"'For us to return home with our heads hung low im defeat? No! No. Let's win this game. Let's win this game for them.' and that's exactly what we did! We embarrassed those candy-asses in their own house and now tonight, tonight, we're going to bring home the championship trophy!"
The audience screamed in joy, clapping their hands until their palms felt raw.
•••
The gym was cleared out but Elizabeth stayed behind and put on her headphones. She liked the feeling of an empty gym for some odd reason. She liked the cold, empty air surrounding her, engulfing her.
She bopped her head along to her favourite song, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now by The Smiths, before she felt a sudden grab to her shoulder, causing her to flinch.
Taking off her headphones, she swiftly turned around to meet eyes with her boyfriend.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you" He laughed, "I just wanted to ask why you left the party so early"
Elizabeth didn't answer, instead she just gave him a glare and popped some gum into her mouth.
"What's wrong Lizzy?" He asked with a concerned tone.
Rolling her eyes, she finally spoke, "I don't know, Chance"
"You look upset" Chance pointed out the obvious.
Elizabeth laughed, "Oh really? Maybe because I spied with my little eye you making out with some random girl at Jason's party"
"Shit" He murmured, pacing around while rubbing his forehead.
"Yeah" Elizabeth replied, "Anyways, we're breaking up"
She made her way towards the gym doors before Chance yelled towards her, "Lizzy, I can explain!"
"And stop calling me that!" She yelled back before shooting him the middle finger. The doors slammed behind her as she heard him let out a loud groan.
•••
Elizabeth Morning was the typical popular senior. Many people adored her, even more hated her, including Eddie Munson. Actually, Elizabeth and Eddie had been sworn enemies for as long as they could remember. One of Liz's earliest memories was when Eddie destroyed her sandcastle, so of course, like how any five year old would react, she began to chase him around the sand pit, hitting him with a plastic shovel. They've both probably spent more time in detention with each other than with their own friends. Now that's sad.
"Dungeons and Dragons" Eddie spoke in a weird accent as he read out the newspaper, "at first regarded as a harmless game of make-believe, now has both parents and psychologists concerned"
Elizabeth rolled her eyes as she listened into his conversation, "Studies have linked violent behaviour to the game, saying it promotes satanic worship, ritual sacrifice, sodomy, suicide and even..."
He built up suspense. Elizabeth ripped the paper out of his hands and shoved it into the trash, "Hey, I was reading that!"
"Boo hoo!" She replied before making her way towards her group.
"Oh baby!" Chrissy said before pulling Elizabeth into a hug, "I heard about Chance, I'm so sorry"
"It's okay, it's not your fault" Elizabeth smiled reassuringly.
Chrissy and Liz had been best friends since middle school. Elizabeth had just moved into town and had no one, so Chrissy offered to sit with her at lunch and then... voilà best friends until the end.
Chrissy lead her towards the table of popular girls and they all shed fake apologies that Elizabeth had to reply, "It's okay, I'm fine" to.
Suddenly, a loud voice came from one of the tables. Elizabeth looked over to see Eddie stood up on the table, causing her to roll her eyes, "But as long as you're into band or... science or..."
"Parties" He continued sneeringly, "or a game where you toss balls into laundry baskets!"
The basketball team booed as Jason spoke, "You want something, freak?"
Eddie pulled a weird face in response and Jason murmured under his breath, "Prick"
Eddie then finished with, "Or even if you're a dumb bitch called Elizabeth Morning!"
Liz gave him the middle finger in response, causing the cheer team to laugh as he smirked at her and went back to his seat.
•••