Chapter Text
January 6th, 1986
The Monday after winter break was always the most grueling morning for some reason. You're not sure if it's the temperatures, grey skies, unenthusiastic companionship of equally down classmates, or the general atmosphere of January in Indiana.
As you park your '70 Monte Carlo (Thanks, Grandma) in the slushy parking lot of Hawkins High, you let out a deep sigh and grab your trusty old backpack. The weight of the couple winter assignments you had to complete, along with a few regular items, the only weight in it. The recognizable faces of your classmates mill about, some looking just as mopey as you yourself feel. Others chat excitedly with friends about trips they took and presents they got. Some are just breezily smiling and making their way into the building. You groan and push yourself out of your car, the door slamming behind you as you drag your leaden legs forward.
Socializing had never exactly been your strong suit. Mom and dad barely wanted one kid, let alone just you. Living in nowheresville, Indiana didn't help much either. You were always quiet, soft spoken, and shy. People, your parents included, weren't exactly the kindest towards you. You suppose you were wanted and loved occasionally. There were sparks of niceness that seemed to gleam through the shroud of self-involvement both of your parents had. They never did grow up. Still partying, drinking, and smoking. You took care of yourself pretty much from the time you were about seven or eight. They always come home really late, well into the morning. They didn't understand how their little girl could grow into such a detached, liberal minded, outcast, but here we are.
You tried to make friends. You did. There was the across the street neighbor girl, until she moved away in fourth grade. You didn't exactly love her company, but you didn't hate it either. She was nice to you. Then there was the girl who moved to town in fifth grade, scared of her own shadow. The two of you made quite the anxious pair, but you felt more normal around her. She moved away in less than a year. No one was very fond of becoming friends with the chubby girl who didn't like to talk and walked around by herself at recess, you know?
Middle school came around and you changed your survival tactics, in a way. There was a small group of nice enough girls, about five of them, that were all best friends and ate together everyday. One day, you sat a seat away from them at lunch, and they invited you to join into their little circle. They didn't push you to talk, weren't rude to you, didn't make fun of you. They gave you a space to fill and just... Be.
That's sort of where you still find yourself. It's not with all the same people, but it has been for a couple years. They're nice, you've broken out of your shell and talk more, and sometimes you even hang out outside of school. Not so much lately because everyone had family trips and whatnot planned, but it was a nice change to you. To have some general friends that liked your company, even requested it sometimes. Speaking of which, you have band first period with Robin today.
She's not in the room yet, as per her usual frantic fashion. You take your seat towards the back, near the other percussion weirdos. Just a minute before the bell rings brings a frazzled Robin bursting through the door into the band room and into her seat. You smile at each other once she calms, giving a small wave as the bell signals the beginning of the last half of your senior year.