Chapter Text
This has to be the most stupid thing Eleanore White has ever done. Sneaking out of that house right after they moved in was definitely a bold move, but it was her Mothers death day and she desperately wanted to go to her grave. Her aunt, Gloria White, had moved them out of Hawkins, Indiana right after the funeral. Eleanore has no idea why she’s moved them back here, but shes not quite going to complain. Eleanore didn't dress up, shes in her normal platformed boots, her curly hair thrown up into a messy bun, her bangs framing her face rather perfectly. A raggity Metallica T-shirt and ripped jeans — that her aunt would definitely disapprove of — She had her blue walk-man clipped onto her belt and her matching headphones blended with the midnight streaks in her hair.
Her boots hit the ground under her window with a light thud as she creeped out. her aunt had been asleep for hours, it's around one in the morning if Eleanore had to guess, and the stars and moon provide just enough light for her to see through her smudged glasses. She walked slowly, no urgency in her step, no panic in her brain, just the calm night and the Queen cassette echoing in her head. The thud of her walking on the sidewalk turned into a crunch of the autumn leaves under her boots as she turns into the graveyard. admittedly she wasn't too sure if she would remember where her mothers grave was. the last time she had seen it was during the funeral after all. She had only been three, then. Eleanore always feels a little sick when she remembers her first memory is of her mothers funeral. Of course, her brain and feet carry her right to the grave.
The grave was being swallowed by ivy and moss, like it hadn't been tended to at all. Eleanore carefully plopped down in front of the grave and brushed some of the Ivy off it. “Hi, Mama. long time no see huh?” a beat of silence fallows Elanore’s talking, like she was waiting for her mother to respond. “I know I probably look pretty different. I'm not three anymore. Can you believe that? I’m 16. I'm in my junior year of high school…” her voice trailed off as she took a deep breath trying not to cry. “Do you like my hair? Blue is my favorite color.” Eleanore leans forward and starts to pick some of the moss off the name. “I think you’d approve. you were always a little different… from the limited stories I've heard anyways.” She gets a particularly large piece of moss out of the E that is engraved into the stone. “I never thought Aunt Gloria would bring me back here. I'm not sure why she did. probably something about her real estate business. I didn’t really pay attention. she talks so much and her voice is so monotone it is incredibly boring.” She sighs, taking a moment to just breathe before speaking again “I am a little scared. i start school tomorrow. I'm gonna be so tired and i know that is my fault. but i have so much to tell you, it couldn't—” she cuts herself off with a shake of her own head before continuing “I couldn't wait any longer.” Eleanore goes on a monologue about the last thirteen years of her life. the way her aunt changed her last name when she was four, the way she would rather go by Ellie than Eleanore — that she thinks its too prissy of a name, the fact that she plays her mom’s old Eclectic Ukulele but she has to hide it or else her aunt would break it. “Can you believe that? your own sister wanting to break something of yours, she’s basically trying to erase you from my life and memory and—” a crack of a stick is all it takes and Ellie snaps her mouth shut.
“Hello?” Ellie froze. she didn’t recognize the voice, that’s good, it meant that the person was not her Aunt. It also meant they it could be the Night patrol, if Hawkins even had that. Ellie did not turn around as the steps slowly approached. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you, are you okay?” Ellie let out a breath she didn’t realize she had even been holding. there was a beat of silence, her Cassette had ended a while ago so her anxiety had just enough quiet to worm its way through the cracks in the piece the music had created.
“yeah, I'm fine.” her voice was low and shaky, she still hadn't turned around. the footsteps had stopped she could tell that whoever the boy was behind her had stopped and was looming over her. Slowly, she stood and turned around, when she did so she was standing face-to-face with a boy a little taller than her, Maybe 2 inches but her boots gave her quite a bit of hight so the actual difference was probably somewhere around 5 inches, Short curly brown hair, and Blue eyes. “Just.. talking”
“To who?” the reply from the taller boy was instant. genuine curiosity apparent in his eyes.
“uhm… my mother” Ellie’s voice was quiet and a little Shaky, she didn’t really know how to talk to strangers, or anyone really. She just didn’t talk that much, and usually when she does she has her mask on, her perfectly straightened hair, her pressed clothing, contacts in. She had no idea how to face someone while she just.. looked like her.
“oh, I’m sorry, and I'm sorry for interrupting. I was on a walk and saw you sitting out here and I didn’t recognize you, which means you’re probably new to town, and I wanted to make sure you were not a dumped body or something.” he rambled on, talking fast, but somehow the perfect speed for Ellie to understand. “My name is Dustin. Dustin Henderson. what is yours?” the simple mundane question caught Ellie off guard just enough to snap her from her panic.
“Eleanore.” She hesitates. does she use her original name? She wants to, but she isn’t sure how Dustin would react. Or if it got back to her aunt then.. well that’s an entirely different problem. So she continues “Eleanore White. But uhm, I’d rather if you call me Ellie though.” Ellie had never asked anyone that in a long time. her aunt would often hear none of it saying ‘your full name is proper and you should use it’ but the way Ellie was dressed, how she felt, she just wasn’t Eleanore White, she was simply Ellie.
Dustin blinked at her for a solid three seconds as if she’s broken his brain. “White? Like, the fancy family that moved into next to the Harrigtons? That White?" He said it with such confusion that even Ellie seemed to be confused by it herself. Like it was the most insane thing anyone had ever told him.
“Uh, yes? I– I’m sorry is that a problem?”
Dustin’s response was instantaneous, “No! no, sorry just, you aren't what I was expecting. at all.” The shake of his head is so aggressive that it makes his hat tilt a bit.
Ellie laughs. its quiet, and small. but its the first genuine laugh she’s felt bubble out of her chest in a very long time. “Yeah. Don’t get used to it.” She reaches up and fixes his hat for him. “This isn’t what I normally look like.”
Dustin blinks again. “What? Why not? you look so cool.” The smile Ellie gives him is small, and a little sad, but genuine.
“Because, my my aunt hates this version of me. She thinks I should be Eleanore. Proper, perfect, princess. In my opinion I just look like a prissy spoiled brat.”
“I like your use of alliteration. Also, from what I've seen and heard, I think Ellie fits you better.” Its the most genuine complement anyone has ever given Ellie. then he follows it up with, “but how do you get away with the dyed hair then?”
Ellie scoffs. “Oh, I don’t. every time I re-dye it she grounds me for a week. but its the one thing I can control without facing actual punishment. so I do it anyways.” Dustin frowns a bit
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Ellie spoke softly, appreciative for the sympathy though it felt more like pity. “So, why were you out walking in the middle of the night?”
“Oh. Nightmares. When I can't sleep because of them I take a walk. helps me clear my head, and feel safer.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Dustin repeats her words back to her. “So how old are you?”
“Sixteen. Junior this year. You?”
“Same.”
“Cool” Ellie’s voice is quieter now, a little unsure.
The silence that follows isn’t awkward, but its not comfortable either. they’re both just blinking at each other for a few minutes before Dustin speaks again. “So… You think you can hang out with me at school tomorrow?”
Ellie laughs again, this time bitterly. “Not unless we get put in a class together.” She sighs “Though I have enjoyed talking to you so I'm gonna let you in on a secret.” Dustin's eyes widen slightly before he nods, a go ahead to continue speaking. “I don’t talk. not really. not in public. not unless I have to. usually I will just write down what I say.”
Dustin stares at her, processing this information before blurting out “But you’re talking just fine with me?” he meant to just say ‘oh, okay, cool.’ though his mouth works quicker than his brain.
Ellie smiles a bit and shakes her head “I know. I don’t know why. Honestly though? I’m not gonna complain really.”
Dustin is relieved to find he hasn’t accidentally offended her “So. if we do have a class together, and we talk, you’re gonna write stuff down?” Ellie simply nods in response before Dustin continues “and your handwriting is… legible?” Ellie laughs, the soft one that rings a little in Dustin's head.
“Yes my handwriting is legible. Very much so.”
“Oh, good.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“If we have a class together.”
“Oh, I bet we will.” With that Dustin turned and walked away. Leaving Ellie standing there a little dumbfounded. after a few moments Ellie turned and started to walk back to her window. She had no idea what the fuck just happened. Did I just make a friend? She thought to herself as she continued walking.