Chapter Text
1.
It all started on a Thursday, when her life began to crumble around her. On a Thursday it happened for the first time, it was a Thursday when she started hanging around the video store. And it all started on a fucking Thursday when Billy died. Afterwards everything was different. If Max thought Neil was already unbearable before, it just has gotten much worse. Before, he was always angry with his son and he got the brunt of it. That wasn’t possible now and he blamed her for Billy’s death too, she was sure of it. Even if he didn’t exactly say it (yet), she saw it in his eyes when he screamed at her again. Her mother wasn’t helpful at all, she just ignored it when it happened.
Today it was really bad.
She broke a glass by mistake, but Neil didn’t care, for him it was just a pathetic excuse. Her mother mumbled something about the laundry and walked off as soon as it began and left her alone with him.
At first he just screamed at her again, he always screamed, but he never got violent with her like he did with Billy before. Until today.
“What have you done you stupid bitch?! Do you even care how hard your mother and I work every day and how do you repay us? You break everything!”
“It wasn’t on purpose. Geez.” Max rolled her eyes and suddenly there was a loud slap. Shocked she looked at Neil, while holding her cheek. He didn’t showed any movement, roughly turned her around and pushed her forward, so she fell with hands and knees right into the shards everywhere laying everywhere.
“Now clean up this mess and if I later find just a tiny piece, so god help me and I will punish you so hard, you don’t want to know!”
As I looked down, she saw her own blood, now mixing with the broken pieces of the glass…
She did clean up, just like he required, as quick as possible, grabbed her skateboard and fled before he could come back.
How here she was right across the street form the Family Video store and stared ahead. She wasn’t stupid. She knew how Neil abused Billy and beat him up at least once a week. She just hadn’t expected to happen to her as well, since he only used to yell at her. Her injuries looked worse than they really were, but they still hurt like hell.
She didn’t wanted to be alone right now ad she was often alone lately. Will and Eleven had moved to California to be more safe, she’d never really gotten on very well with Mike and after she broke up with Lucas, she avoided him, which automatically excluded Dustin as well, since those two were nearly always together.
She didn’t even knew why she had come here of al places. She hadn’t really thought about it, she just drove off and ended up here.
She hadn’t spoken to Steve since Starcourt had happened and only met Robin there, but fore some reason she trusted them, even though she barely knew Robin and didn’t spend much time together with Steve. After IT happened her parents were the only ones who didn’t show up and they offered to take her home. They were also the ones who broke the news of Billy’s death, because she just couldn’t herself and they witnessed Neil’s reaction and his anger right before their eyes.
Still, she couldn’t tell them what happened. She hated to admit it, but Neil scared her she didn’t want to find out what he’d do if he found out he told someone.
Billy never said it either, he must have had a good reason for it, even if she didn’t knew it and he had it much worse after all. Just the thought of her brother brought tears to her eyes, but she swallowed them down and entered the store. It was no use sitting in front of it all day.
“Hey Max, I haven’t seen you since…woah, what happen to you?”
Steve stared at her from the counter with wide eyes and open mouth. Robin, distracted by Steve’s exclamation while sorting new videos, also looked at her worried. No one else was in the store, which Max was glad about it. The last thing she needed right now were more people gaping at her.
“Nice to see you too.” She snapped.
“Yeah, sorry, but have you looked at yourself?”
She hadn’t, but could imagine what he meant. With her bright red cheek and the bloody hands and knees…
“I tried a new trick on the skateboard, but it didn’t work out like I wanted to.” She lied. Well, technically she didn’t really lie. She DID work on a new trick and it didn’t work like she wanted to, she just didn’t hurt herself then.
“Sounds about right, kid.” Steve laughed and Max hissed at him: “I’m NOT a kid!”
Steve raised his hands defensively, but kept grinning at her.
“You sure that’s what happened?” she heard Robin ask and Max looked towards her.
While Steve laughed and immediately bought her excuse, Robin looked uncertain and she had obviously doubts, her eyes where on her cheek the whole time. Max could imagine what Robin thought were the injuries came from. She’d met Neil after all, no matter how brief it was.
She remained silent for a moment, apparently for too long, because Steve looked worried at her again. “Max?”
And suddenly she new why she’d come here.
“I…” ‘I need help’ were the words she wanted to say, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get them out of her mouth. So she did what she always did: She raised the walls around her again. “Yeah…yeah, just a new…a new trick.” She looked down, but knew Robin and Steve exchanged an doubtful look.
Max was sure they didn’t believe her, but they also didn’t ask any more questions, which Max was relieved about.
Robin sighed. “Can you handle the store yourself for a moment, dingus?”
“Eh, sure. Why?”
“Well, even if it was from a trick, we still have to take care of the injuries.” She explained. “Come on, kiddo.”
“Hey!” Steve shouted at her indignantly when she didn’t say anything. “Why is she allowed to call you that, but I can’t? What’s the difference?”
Max had no answer. She didn’t know why it bothered her with Steve, but not with Robin. I was somehow different, but she couldn’t explain it, so she just shrugged her shoulders and followed Robin.
Neither she, nor Robin said a thing, while the older one took care of her. She only grimaced every now and then or hissed softly when the pain became too much. Max had to admit how good it felt when someone took care of her, even if they didn’t know the real reason.
2.
Afterwards it became kind of a routine for between them. She wasn’t in the store regularly, but she always came back when Neil had attacked her again, which was often enough these days. Each time she came up with a new excuse, mostly she just blamed her skateboard and each time Steve and Robin didn’t believe a word she said, she could tell from their looks. Nevertheless they did something, pretended to believe her and played along.
Steve once jokingly asked her if he should take her skateboard away before she killed herself with it, but there was a worried undertone in his voice.
Robin on the other hand was mostly quiet, just pursed her lips. Often it looked as if she did want to say something about it, but at the last moment she always changed her mind, just sighed and pulled Max to the back, where she took care of her injuries.
It was kind of like an pact between them and nobody said a word about it. If they met outside of the store or if she was with the others, which rarely happened.
Max didn’t know what Steve and Robin were thinking about her reason to always come to them if something happened. But Max knew. She could count on one hand the people in her life who helper her and whom she fully trusted and they belonged to that. Her Mother had been part of it once too, but that was before she married Neil and they moved to Hawkins. After Billy’s death Robin and Steve were the only ones who had shown her some kind of sympathy and she could understand why.
Billy had been terrible and didn’t deserve to be mourned by her or anyone else. But he was still her brother und she couldn’t help it.
After Robin always treated her, she stayed with them in the store. Teased Steve, made jokes with Robin at his expense, was just hanging around with them, including today.
“So, that was the eight one who turned you down today.” Laughing, Robin and Max looked at Steve, who seemed annoyed.
“You know Max, just because you’re here all the time doesn’t mean you should help Robin with her stupid list.” He said to them.
“Sure, but you should’ve expected it.” Max said with a grin and added a line on the “You suck” part on the board.
“I totally agree.” Robin laughed.
“Of course you do.” Steve complained, but couldn’t suppress a small grin.
They were interrupted as the doorbell rang to announce more customers, but Max could have done gladly without those ones.
“There you are!” she heard Dustin’s unmistakable voice, he was closely followed by Lucas and Mike. “Why do you always avoid us, I thought we were friends?”
Max looked briefly at Lucas, then she just shrugged, but they already noticed.
“It’s not just because of Lucas though. It’s Billy, isn’t it?” said Mike annoyed and rolled his eyes. “Get over it already, he was just an racist asshole.”
“Mike” warned Steve him, but was ignored.
“I mean, you should be glad he’s finally gone. Now, you and your parents can only be happier.”
“Neil is not my father.” Max immediately protested. Dustin and Lucas exchanged an worried look, but remained silent. Steve and Robin also watched the scene with wary eyes. Everyone could feel the tension in the air.
“Be glad you still have a dad, not everyone is that happy.” Mike said and Max noticed the anger risen within her.
“Neil is NOT my dad!” she repeated through clenched teeth. “Now shut up and leave me the fuck alone.” Max felt tears welling up in her, but didn’t know out of anger or sadness.
Suddenly Robin hit the counter with her fist and looked angry at the teens. “Enough! I’ve had enough of your stupid kindergarten behavior. Get out!”
Mike rolled his eyes again, but followed her instructions without protest and she turned to Lucas and Dustin. “And if you two don’t plan on renting out a movie, I’d strongly suggest you leave too.”
“We’re sorry Max.” they mumbled, before they also left.
“You okay?” Steve asked Max and she nodded briefly. “Yeah, fine.”
“Who does he think he is?” Robin exclaimed annoyed.
“He’s probably sad because of Eleven and Will moving.” Steve tried to explain, which caused Robin to glare at him in anger. “That doesn’t give him the excuse to behave like that and bully other people!”
Steve raised his hands in defense. “Calm down, that’s not my fault.”
“Gosh, why you your children always have to make such a fuss? It’s really not worth the stress.”
Max looked at the floor and suddenly felt incredible stupid. She thought they wouldn’t mind if she was here and that they might like and felt the same way she did, but she was obviously very wrong about that. How could she even think that? Neil had told her often enough how stupid and unlovable she was and he’d been right the whole time apparently.
“I better go…don’t want to bother you any longer.” She mumbled and was already getting her stuff when Steve stopped her. “You’re not bothering us, like at all, okay?”
“That wasn’t meant to include you.” Robin added and Max looked uncertain. “Really?”
Robin smiled softly. “Of course, you’re always welcome here. If you don’t want to be at home or hanging out with those knuckleheads, you can always come to us. We’re here for you.”
“You sure?” Max wanted to believe it, she really did, but it almost seemed to good to be true.
Steve nodded. “100%”
“Besides, I need someone to help me annoy this dingus here.” Robin laughed and Steve groaned. “Alright, no. I take everything back, please go.”
Max started to grin a little bit. Maybe, just maybe, they told the truth and she could believe them.
3.
Family Video became like a second home for Max, if she even was in her real home anymore. After Robin and Steve reassured her that she was always welcome, she now also came when Neil didn’t do anything. Eventually she even started to help out. Keith didn’t mind, after all he didn’t have to pay her for the work and as long as she stayed away from the porno and horror selection, he way quite fine with it. She was there so often now, even the other customers hat noticed and asked about her. Steve and Robin always told them something about babysitting, which always caused Max to get annoyed. As if she needed a babysitter at fourteen, please. It was simple the safest place for her at the time, like today.
“Welcome to Family Video. Be kind, rewind. How can I…Max!”
She slowly hobbled towards Robin, who immediately looked her up and down, searching for any injuries. Max watcher her, but only with one eye, her other one was too bruised and swollen now. Neil’s reaction to her giving him an rude answer, at least in his mind, before he dragged her in her room by her wrist and locked her up there. She now held the wrist up protectively in front of her to avoid further damage. She was pretty sure it was at least sprained, if not broken. Only with her leg Neil had nothing to do. That was her own fault when she climbed out of the window.
“What happened this time?” Robin wanted to know.
“I…I got into a fight.” That wasn’t even a lie.
“Max…” Robin sadly sighed.
“You should see the other guy.” Okay, now that was a lie. If she had resisted, she wouldn’t be here right now, she probably wouldn’t even be alive anymore.
To avoid Robin’s gaze she looked around. “Where’s Steve?”
“Probably hugging a toilet, puking his guts out.” Robin answered dryly and Max grimaced at the image in her head. “He’s sick, should’ve listened when he got the idea to eat an three days old fish sandwich.”
“Oh.” Max quietly said and looked at Robin uncertain. “Can I…can I stay anyway?” She was never here without Steve and she was more friends with him than Robin after all, if you could call it that, even if Robin took always care of her when she was here.
“They way you look, I should actually take you to a hospital.”
Max eyes got big. “NO!” she immediately screamed in panic. If Robin took her to a hospital, they’d want to know what happened to her, they would tell Neil about it. “No, it’s not that bad. I…I better go, sorry.”
But before she could actually go, Robin stepped around the corner and grabbed her uninjured wrist. “Wait. Don’t worry, I won’t take you anywhere against your will and of course you can stay. How often do we have to say this until you start to believe us? Come on.” She said, before pulling Max behind the counter.
Like the times before, Robin sat Max on a chair and knelt in front of her. Carefully, she took her wrist and slowly felt it.
“Well, I’m not a nurse, but I don’t think it’s broken, but you should still be careful.” Robin said, got a first aid kit and began bandaging the hand.
“Where did you get that?” Max asked surprised and Robin smiled lightly.
“Well, since a certain someone always turns up with some kind of skateboard injuries, Steve and I thought it would be better to have on, just in case…you know, you can talk to me about anything, right? I’m here for you.”
Max looked at her, but Robin’s focus was on her wrist.
“Yes, I…yes.” She looked down again. She felt terrible and really guilty for always lying to them and it got worse with each day, but she just couldn’t tell them the truth, she couldn’t. She was terrified. Terrified of what could, what would happen if she did.
“Thanks.” Max mumbled when Robin was done. “Where did you learn to do all of this?”
“I’m kinda used to it.” Robin just shrugged, which greatly confused Max.
“When I was your age I had a best friend, wo also turned up with injuries, just like you. His name was Matthew. You’re quite similar, you would’ve liked him.”
“What happened to him? Did he more or something?” Max asked and Robin paused for a second.
“His family wasn’t the best. They expected a lot of him, especially his father. He’d always got mad at him. Matt started to show up with injuries all the time. He blamed it on his clumsiness, but everyone knew that was a lie.” Robin paused and closed her eyes. Max realized how difficult it was for her to talk about it, but she didn’t dare to interrupt. She became restless, the story seemed way to familiar.
“One time he just didn’t show up at all. That wasn’t normal for him, he was always on time, most of the time he was even early, so I went to see what was going on…there were a lot of police cars and ambulance in front of his house, but it was to late…his father had killed him in a rage. Everyone knew what was going on, but nobody did anything about it, including me.”
Max didn’t know what so say, bit her lip nervously.
“Please, don’t let me make the same mistake twice, Max…What’s going on? Where…who hurts you? I…we can help you.”
Max looked at her again and noticed the almost begging look on Robin’s face. Could they actually help her? Was it possible? Her heart started beating faster than ever as she spoke softly. “I…my…I need…”
Just as she was about to say the word “help”, she heard the doorbell ring again and her walls went up again. “I…I have to go, sorry.” Max said quickly and almost jumped up in a hurry.
“Max!” Robin called up after her, but Max ignored her and ran out as fast as she could with her injured leg, past Nancy Wheeler, who watched her go in surprise and concern.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to interrupt.” She heard Nancy say to Robin.
“It’s okay.”
Max could’ve strangled herself for almost giving up. Why should she fool herself? There’s no way Robin could’ve helped her, no matter how much she wanted too. Neil was to smart for that, he would tell everyone some lie and they’d believe him over her and she would just end up like Robin’s friend…
4.
“Hey squirt, nice to see you again after such a long time.” Steve greeted Max as she entered the store.
“Don’t call me that.” Max complained, but only halfheartedly. If Steve noticed, he didn’t day so.
“I could tell you that Robin isn’t here until later, but I’ve got a feeling you know that already.” Steve stated and Max shrugged. He wasn’t wrong. She knew Robin wasn’t here right now, she kind of avoided the store the last few weeks when Robin was there. But nobody but her knew the reason for it.
“I have to say, even if you children can be quite exhausting, I’ve missed you lately, it was pretty boring here without you. About time you shower up again and didn’t just sit on the bench across the street.”
She blushed slightly at that and looked at him in guilt. She didn’t think he’d noticed her.
“Hey, don’t look at me like that, nobody’s forcing you to come here. If you don’t want to, then don’t.” Steve laughed, but quickly got serious again. “Robin missed you too, you know? She’s worried about you.”
“As if.” Max mumbled so quietly Steve couldn’t hear it. “She thinks it’s because of what she said the other day, the reason you don’t come here anymore.” Steve said carefully and Max’ head immediately snapped up.
“Calm down, she didn’t told me anything, except that you were here and you guys talked.” He sighed. “But she thinks she went too far or something. She thinks it’s her fault you’re not coming anymore and she’s sorry.”
“That’s not it.” Max shook her head. “That got nothing to do with it.”
“Then what is it?”
“It’s…I…It’s nothing.” Max finally said. “Just didn’t want to.”
“I’d like to believe that, but I don’t think it’s true.” Steve called her out. “Listen, I know I always say you guys get on my nerves and I know we don’t have a relationship like the one between you and Robin, you’ve got some little sister, older sister thing going on I’ll never understand, but I’m still here for you and you can always talk to me.”
“Robin said the same thing.” Max acknowledged.
“Because we both mean it.”
Max did consider if she should tell him. He wouldn’t make fun of her, she knew that. But before she could make a decision, the door opened and her reason for not coming walked right in while laughing about something.
“”I have to go.” She said and just ran out.
“Max, wait!”
She sat down on the bench across the street, where she’d been spending a lot of time lately. Close enough to see Family Video and what’s going on there, but far enough to ne immediately noticeable. At least, that’s what she thought, but she was obviously wrong as Steve had seen her.
She clenched her fists and stared at the floor, trying to stop the tears. Tried to keep the anger and sadness, both raging in her, under control. She knew it was stupid and she had no right to feel the way she did.
“Hey.” Someone sat down next to her and Max closed her eyes. Why her? She, who was the reason she felt that way. Nancy fucking Wheeler. It wasn’t like she didn’t like the other girl, quite the opposite actually. She’d defended her from Mike a few times and Max thought in general she was pretty cool, she kind of admired her. She had noticed that Nancy had been coming to the store all the time lately. At first, she just rented some movies like usual, but more and more often she began to just spend some time with Robin and Steve. Like the day Robin told her about Matthew. Max hadn’t really thought about it at first, but then…
“Everything okay?” Nancy asked her softly.
“Yeah, fine.” Max replied stiffly. She wasn’t fair, she knew that, but she couldn’t help herself.
“Robin’s been pretty worried about you and to be honest, so am I.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you worried? It’s hard to actually believe it.”
“Well, it’s true, whether you believe it or not.”
“I saw you.” Max finally said.
“What?” Nancy looked at her confused and Max swallowed.
“The other day, before Robin opened the store, I saw you guys.”
“Oh.” Nancy said quietly when she realized what Max was talking about.
“No!” Max exclaimed, she knew how she sounded. “No, it’s not like that. I don’t care that you two are kissing or something. When we were still living in California, you saw that pretty often, it was more…normal, I guess.”
You could see the relief in Nancy’s eyes, but also the confusion. “But what is it…oh, I think I get it.” Nancy got up and walked towards the store. “Don’t leave, I’ll be right back."
Max stared after her. What did she mean by that? What exactly did she understand? Max’ silents question got answered when Nancy came back, followed by Robin.
Max’ first instinct was to flee again, she didn’t want to have this conversation, didn’t want to know she was right about her fears.
But Nancy saw right through her, sat down next to her and put an arm around her. Max could still escape if she wanted to, but she couldn’t deny how good that felt and leaned slightly into the half hug. But she still got terrified of what was to come as Robin sat on the other side.
“Okay, I’m not good at this, like, at all. I’m actually really terrible and…” Robin began to ramble. If Max hadn’t been so scared, she would’ve laughed when she saw Nancy punching Robin in the side.
“Ow! Okay, okay…geez.” Robin said and rubbed her arm. “Nancy told me what happened and I think I might now what the problem is.”
Max furrowed her eyebrows. Was she really that easy to see through?
“No, you’re not.” Nancy disagreed and Max blushed, realizing she just said it out loud. “But, we know you and how you always doubt yourself.”
“Listen, just because Nancy and I…are spending more time together now, doesn’t mean I don’t want you around anymore.”
Max swallowed. Without knowing for sure, she was right on spot. She was embarrassed by it, but she was jealous. Jealous, that Nancy got to spend so much time together with Robin. Robin (and Steve) kind of became the most important person in her life right now and she was afraid of losing them. She was aware that they had a life outside of the store, which didn’t likely include her very much.
She just wasn’t used to people staying. They always left at some point. Her father, mother, Billy, Will and Eleven…she was afraid it would happen again and so she decided to make the decision herself this time. Max figured it would’ve been easier to leave, than to be abandoned. She was wrong. And most important, she hadn’t expected them to notice it and especially to do something about it.
“I told you I’m here for you and that’s exactly what I meant. Steve and his habit of adopting random kids rubbed off. You’re one of us, whether you like it or not. You cant get rid of me.” Robin assured her and Max smiled, filled with hope.
“And you’re stuck with me too, if you want.” Nancy agreed and Max looked at her perplexed.
“Nancy laughed. “Don’t be surprised. After Dustin, you’re clearly my favorite of Mike’s friends and you’re pretty cool…for a 14-year-old.”
Max didn’t know if she should be offended by that or not, so she just nodded slightly.
“Besides, she’s a lot better at this whole feeling talk thing than me.” Rodin adds.
Max still wasn’t 100% convinced they told the truth, but the way they looked at her, so sure and confident and with love, she slowly started to believe it.
“Now come on, Steve has been enjoying his time without the list far too long.”
“What list?” Nancy asked confused and Max and Robin started laughing, as the walked back to the store together.
5.
With a blank look, staring straight forward at the wall while slightly rocking back and forth, Max sat on the couch in the Wheelers basement.
The last few days had been very exhausting and pretty…eventful. Neil had dumped her mother and they moved to the trailer park, spring break had started, Mike was off visiting Will and Eleven in California and a demon killed two teenagers and nearly killed her too. She was kinda glad to be involved with all of it right from the start, didn’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if she wasn’t. Although it was pretty clear she would’ve been dead then.
Vecna had already caught her, had her in his realm, in his claws when her friends had giving her the saving lifeline with music just in time.
And now, a few hours later, she was sitting here on the couch, still with the headphones on her head and the blaring music in her ears.
It was already dark, but nobody wanted to be alone right now and no one wanted her to be alone either, afraid of Vecna attacking again. Nancy had asked her parents if all of them could stay the night. Max didn’t exactly know what she told them, but it worked and the parents of everyone else agreed.
Though, she was pretty sure her mother wouldn’t even notice if she hadn’t come home that night, drunk as she’d been lately.
Dustin and Lucas lay left and right in front of her on the floor, already asleep, which she was glad about, she just couldn’t stand their concerned looks any longer. She would like to sleep too, but every time she closed her eyes all she saw way Billy or Vecna or one of her friends dying the same way Chrissy and Fred did, so she didn’t try anymore.
Instead, she watched Nancy, Robin and Steve, who were standing a few feet away, talking quietly to each other. She couldn’t hear what they were talking about with the music in her ears, but the constant glances her way told her everything she needed to know.
She couldn’t blame them, what happened wasn’t easy on them either. Shortly after it happened she kind of fell into a shock or trance and only “woke up” again when Nancy and Robin were suddenly in front of her and hugged her. The boys, except Steve, had looked pretty funny at their interaction, having never really seen their friendship after it started. If the situation hadn’t been so serious and if she hadn’t been so emotional drained she probably would’ve laughed because of it.
How exactly she got into the car or to the Wheelers house she didn’t know, she hadn’t noticed, as she was kind of out of it. So much actually, the others got scared that Vecna had caught her again.
“…one of us has to stay awake the whole night, just in case.” She suddenly heard Steve and raised her eyebrows in confusion. Why was she able to hear him? The music was much too….quiet for that. The cassette was done.
That was the first time the music stopped playing since she put on the headphones at the graveyard. Her heart began to beat faster and her breathing became shallow. Would Vecna come back now? Would he take her back and end it?
She noticed how Nancy and Robin sat next to her and both of them squeezed her hand reassuringly. Steve stood protectively in front of her and she got much calmer.
“Hey, it’s alright, you’re safe here.” Nancy said and stroked her back soothingly.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Robin asked her carefully.
Max looked at them hesitantly. Did she want to talk? Would it help her? Take away her fear? She didn’t know. She hadn’t talk to anyone about her problems or fears in such a long time and when she did it always went wrong, so at one point she just stopped talking about it. Should she to it now though? The others had make it clear more than once they were there for her, that they cared about her and she knew they would listen and believe her.
“I’ll check if everything is alright, like…outside. Get some fresh air too.” She hears Steve say. He smiled at her and nodded encouragingly, before heading upstairs.
She knew why he did it, even if she didn’t understand, he’d always done it. Wanted to give her the space to speak openly about everything, as if she wouldn’t have done it with him here anyway. But that’s just how it turned out somehow.
Steve, Nancy, Robin. Each of them had a different way of helping her.
With Steve, it was more of physical nature. He protected and defended her against everyone and everything.
Robin provided distraction. When she didn’t want to think about her problems, she would constantly make jokes, do anything to distract her, to make her laugh.
And Nancy was the one with whom she talked about her feelings and everything, because according to the other two, she was best suited for it.
In contrast to Steve however, Robin always stayed when they talked, she didn’t know why Steve didn’t. Whether it was because Nancy was his ex-girlfriend or he wasn’t good at feelings talk. But she knew he was still always there for her, albeit in a different way.
"Max?" she was ripped out of her thoughts and noticed how Nancy looked at her worriedly. Right. She had asked her a question.
"I'm tired." Finally, she said quietly. Made it clear that she didn't want to talk about it now, even if it was perhaps better. She didn't know how to explain what she had seen anyway, couldn't find words for it.
"Maybe we should all lie down a little. It was a long day." Agree Robin. Nevertheless, none of them moved even a bit.
"What if..." Max started, stopped in the middle, Robin and Nancy had understood her anyway.
"One of us always stays awake and watches. out" Assured Robin her. "And when the tape is through, we rewind it immediately."
"Don't worry, we won't let anything happen to you or anyone else. You're safe." Repeated Nancy.
Max knew it couldn't work that way. If Vecna caught her again, she would have to through it alone, as before. The music and the thoughts of her friends helped. Of Nancy, Robin and Steve, of Eleven and Lucas, of Dustin and Will, yes even of Mike. But she was almost on her own. And yet she was grateful for them. Trusted them and knew that they would do anything to make their words come true and that was enough for her at the moment.
+1
Max ran aimlessly on the streets of Hawkins. It was already dark. She was aware that it was an awful idea to be alone so late with everything that happened here. But she couldn't be at home now. Not after...
Her mother had come home drunk again, but this time she had brought Neil back with her, which more than surprised Max. He smelled of alcohol and cigarettes and looked like he hadn't washed in at least three weeks. Where her mother had found him and especially why she had brought him with her was a mystery to her.
It would also remain one for the time being. Shortly after she came home, her mother had already fallen asleep. And suddenly Max was alone with her former stepfather, who stared at her with a strange, hungry look and stood right in front of the only way out...
After escaping him, she knew exactly what and especially who she needed now. But since the shop had already closed and she had no idea where Steve or Robin lived, she went to the Wheelers' house.
"Mike?" she asked confused as he opened the door for her. Wasn't he in California with Will and Eleven? When had he returned?
"Max? Good that you are there! I have great news!"
"Is Nancy there?" she interrupted him. She was not very interested in any news, no matter what and how good they were.
"No, she's with Robin as far as I know." Answered Mike and Max's face visibly collapsed. She swallowed. "Do you know when she will come back?"
Mike shook his head. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Sure." Said Max immediately and put on a smile. "Sorry for the disruption."
"Hey Max, I know we're not exactly the best of friends, but you can still talk to me. Or I'll get E..."
"Yes. I mean no! Well, nothing important." Max lied, before she ran away, knowing full well that Mike was looking after her.
She didn't know how much time had passed since she had been with Mike, but it must have been quite a while since the street lights had already turned on in the meantime.
She wrapped her arms around her as she began to shiver. She had no idea what to do now, where to go. Home was not an option, even if Neil was gone. She didn't know how to get to Robin or Steve, she didn't want to go to Lucas or Dustin, they couldn't help her, and they lived far too far away and her relationship with Mike was complicated enough and she didn't want to wait for Nancy with him either.
That would only bring questions that she didn’t want to answer at the moment and it was not even clear when and if Nancy would come back.
She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice a car coming to a stop next to her.
"Max, honey, here you are. Everyone is looking for you." She felt hands on her shoulder, in her face and she was pulled into a hug. When she looked up, she was confused. "Mrs. Byers?"
"Code Green. We found her. Meet us at the new house." She heard another voice and looked at the car, but only became more confused. Will? Did she already start hallucinating? Maybe it had become so cold that she became unconscious and all of this was just a dream.
"Oh sweetie, you're freezing cold. Come on, let’s get you somewhere warm and then we’ll talk."
Max did not protest, just let herself be led and so it happened that shortly afterwards she sat in a living room, with a blanket around her shoulders and a cup of cocoa in front of her. Mrs. Byers was on the phone with someone, Will was sitting across from her.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?" she asked him and he started grinning.
"After Mom found out that Hopper is still alive and no one was really happy in Cali, it was clear that we were moving back here and well, here we are."
"Hopper is alive?" Was the only thing she could think of before she registered what he had said. That must have been the good news Mike was talking about. Before Will could answer, they suddenly heard the door and Eleven, Dustin, Lucas and Mike stormed in.
"Max!" "Max." "Are you okay?" "What happened?" she was immediately embraced from all sides and even though she was happy to see them, it was a bit much at once. That's why the new voice came like the rescue: "Let her breath, guys."
She saw Nancy, Steve and Robin standing in the room. Steve was also the one who had spoken.
"How do you all know..." She left the question open, but it was clear what she meant and everyone looked at Mike. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I'm sorry, but the way you showed up, it was clear that something was wrong. So I told the others with the walkie talkie and Steve got Nancy and Robin."
Max didn't know what to say, felt a lump form in her throat. She was slightly overwhelmed with the whole situation, looked at Nancy and Robin, who looked back worried and Steve seemed to notice that too.
"Okay dwarves, I know you're all happy to see Max, but I need your help, so all those who aren't old enough to have a driver's license come along." He said and pulled the boys outside, except Will who seemed to know what it was about, in loud protest. Eleven followed them hesitantly, but only after Max nodded her head, showed her that it was okay.
"Mike said you were looking for me." Nancy said softly and sat down next to her, Robin went to the other side.
Max swallowed. The time had come. The moment of truth had come.
"I... I can't do it anymore. I need help." She said in tears and Nancy immediately put an arm around her and stroked her back reassuringly. "It’s okay, it’s okay, we're here."
"What happened?" asked Robin. If they were surprised by their call for help, they did not show it.
"My mom... she keeps coming home drunk." She began to tell them what happened. "She brought Neil back today, but she fell asleep and he looked at me so weird and he was standing before the door and I couldn't get out and..."
She noticed how Robin and Nancy exchanged a worried and anxious look.
"Max, did he..." Nancy asked cautiously. Everyone knew what she meant.
"No, I think... I think he wanted to, but I hit my skateboard on his head and ran away." Max shook her head and the two exhaled with relief. "I lied when I said that I fell with the skateboard... that was all a lie. He did it. He hurt me. Again and again. And Mom was just watching."
She heard Nancy sharply breathe in and remembered that she didn't know anything about it. Steve and Robin had noticed all of it, but she hadn't really had anything to do with Nancy at the time. "He scares me, I'm afraid of him. I can... I don't want to go back, please. I want to... I..."
She could no longer hold on to. The tension, the fear and the exhaustion, everything suddenly collapsed on her and she began to sob unrestrainedly.
Nancy and Robin immediately took her in their arms and tried to calm her down.
"All right, you don't have to go back if you don't want to, we won't allow that." Promised Robin and Nancy nodded in agreement.
"If you want, you can come home with me and Mike." She suggested. "Mom won't mind and she’ll convince Dad. And tomorrow morning we can talk to Joyce and Hopper, they can help us."
"NO!" Max immediately panicked. "They will send me away! But I don't want to leave. I want to stay here, with Eleven, Steve and the others. I want to stay with you."
"They're not going to send you away." Nancy interrupted her. "Joyce and Steve would never allow that to happen."
"And neither will we." Robin added. "We’ll finding a solution."
"Promise?" Uncertainly, Max looked at the two and they nodded. "Okay."
"So, we better not leave Steve alone with the dwarves anymore. He's a good babysitter, but in combination they eventually set the house on fire." Said Robin and Max had to laugh because she knew how right she was.
A little later, all the pillows and blankets that were in the house were distributed in the living room. Joyce said that it was too late to bring everyone home, had informed all parents and there was a spontaneous sleepover party.
Max was sitting on the sofa next to Eleven, leaning her head on her shoulder as she watched the boys and Steve discuss which movie to watch. Nancy and Robin sat next to each other beside to them, also watched and made sarcastic comments.
Max was glad that the Byers were back. She had missed Will and Eleven after they moved, especially Eleven.
She had told her on the phone a few weeks ago that she and Mike broke up and her heart had made a little hop. And while she didn't know what that meant and thought about talking to Nancy or Robin about it, she could almost imagine what the reason for their separation was. At least when she watched Mike and Will and their constant looks at each other.
All of a sudden, Max understood what it meant to have a family. That there were people who liked you as you were, even if you were not related to each other. And it was an indescribably beautiful feeling not only to be liked by others, but also to be wanted. Having people whom could trust blind and talk to about anything, no matter what would happen.
Robin, Nancy, Steve and all her friends stood by her and were there for her, just as she would be there for her. Because that's what a family did and nothing else they were. Because family was more than just blood.