Chapter Text
California, August 1, 1986
It’s been two years since we moved, two years since I’ve seen my old friends. It’s been two years since I met my new friend, his name is Robin and he is my other adopted brother. He was homeless and had been sleeping in the skate park, he rambles a lot but I don’t mind because I like listening. He’s gay which is nice for me because I’m a lesbian, my family is all super supportive but it’s not the same, my family doesn’t get it. It’s hard being queer, it’s hard when all you want is to be like everyone else but you can’t even be married to someone you love, can’t have legal kids with someone you love. Being queer means you have to fight and I don’t like fighting I don’t like violence, I don’t want to fight. I want to be normal.
But now we’re moving back to Indiana, now that my asshole of a biological father is dead, we can move back. I haven’t seen Michelle in forever, I had a massive crush on her back in middle school. She never noticed of course, it was normal for us too… act… a bit… overly affectionate towards each other. That’s just how girl friendships are, she never took note of my childish attempts at flirting because it was just normal behavior for us. Took me a year to get over her with help from Robin, briefly had a thing with a girl a couple of months ago nothing serious just us making out. Me and Michelle stopped talking at some point, mom’s telemarketer job makes it impossible to make any other phone calls.
It’s going to be so nice to be back, to see everybody again. Elliot is really excited to see Max again, Elliot learned to skateboard and wants to skate with Max when we finally move back. I think Michelle mentioned a new skate park the last time we talk, she said it was next to the mall I think. I wish Joanna could come with us, she has to stay in California because of film school but I think that she might also be staying so that she can avoid Nathen (Michelle’s older brother ). They dated for like two years and had one hell of a brake up right before we moved, apparently Jo and Nathen had promised that Jo would stay in Hawkins with the Wheelers until her and Nathen could go to collage together but Jo changed her mind and moved to California with us to go to film school and well… Nathen was not happy when he found out.
“ Are you almost done packing? We leave in two days, you really need to finish up.”
“ Yeah, just have a few things left. Are you done packing, El?”
“ Yep! I just have to finish taking down my posters, are you excited to be going back?”
“Totally, are you?”
“ Yeah, I hope Max wants to go skating with me when we get there.”
“ I’m sure she will.”
Elliot leaves and I go back to looking at my ceiling. I should probably get up and keep packing, but I only have a few things left and I can’t do all of it tomorrow.
I hope Jo is isn’t too lonely without us around, mom is giving the house to her and I’m sure the house will feel all big and empty with just one person in it. Maybe she’ll have some of her friends over. She’s not the most popular girl at her school but she has her friend group. I wonder if Michelle and the rest have made any new friends? I hope we all still get along when me and El are back. I hope I don’t get a crush on a straight girl again. I hope I can be normal enough there.