#The Weirdo on Maple Street

[thaliagracesgf]

chapter two: the weirdo on maple street

an: chapter two!! i am flying with these first couple chapters just because i'm so excited about it. please please please do not expect this from future chapters, i am 100% bound to crash at some point. enjoy this chapter! it's pretty fun.

wc: 4.2k

general cws, not necessarily all in this chapter: drinking, alcoholism, drug abuse, smoking, cancer, hopper being kind of a deadbeat, usual canon violence.

masterlist (incl. series)

Your father didn’t get home until long after you had gone to bed, out with Will’s search party. You hadn’t bothered showing up at the meeting point. Hopper had said all he had to say back at the school, and you could see the argument that would ensue in front of half of Hawkins, so you drove home, building up an urge to do something and a nervous energy that nothing was quelling. 

The door slammed behind you as you got in. You stormed through the kitchen and the junkyard you called a living room before chucking your backpack at the floor and collapsing on your bed. You stared at the ceiling for an eternal few seconds until your limbs were jumping and your entire body itched, and you jumped to your feet to pace around the room. 

Slamming your way back through the house, you started pulling ingredients down from shelves with force that the box of sugar probably didn’t deserve. You think you blacked out for a few hours, because by the time your breathing was at a normal pace again, you’d baked six batches of muffins (a miraculous feat, considering the piece of shit kitchen you were working with),your calc homework for the next two weeks was done, and your bedroom looked like a tornado had run through it. 

But staring at the trays of muffins, you still had to do something. So you cleaned the house. Your father arrived home to muffins covering the counters, the entire trailer spotless, and you, absolutely crashed out in your bed with wet hair, holding your sister’s old teddy bear. You’d never had a more productive afternoon in your life.

You wake up feeling like your stomach is eating itself alive, and you realize that the one thing you forgot to do last night was eat dinner. You can’t fathom the thought of getting up, so you lay still for a few more minutes. You love your room, with your quilted bed, rugs overlapping on the floor over hardwood that would give you splinters, your bulletin board with pictures of your mom and Sarah, and your Dad. A picture Carol took of you, Steve, and Tina. A photo of Carol and Tommy, and a photo of Dustin, Lucas, and Erica from the first day of school that their moms gave you. You hold Cara a little bit tighter. 

You remember when the nurse gave her to your sister. You got one too, also named Cara. She handed them to you in your hospital beds, told you that she got them to remind you that they care-a-bout you. At four years old, you and Sarah thought it was the funniest thing in the world. 

You close your eyes tight, then force them open. You pull the blanket back, like a robot, and roll yourself upright, pulling the curtains open. Your trailer is pretty far from the rest of the park, but you can see Eddie Munson coming back from taking out the trash, and Mrs. Kim realizing that the storm last night meant all her clothes were still soaking wet. Her son left for college last year, and you’re getting a little worried about her ability to live on her own. 

You brush your teeth and tie your hair back before trudging your way out for breakfast, only to be met with the results of your frenzy from last night. The counter is still covered with muffins, minus the couple your Dad is actively chowing down on. 

“These are great,” he says, mouth full of food, raising a muffin in your direction. 

“Sale on pumpkins after Halloween,” you shrug. You pass him entering the kitchen, and pull out a container to start piling muffins into. 

“Hey!” He barks, in his very Jim Hopper way. “Where are you taking them?” 

“You do not need to eat six batches of muffins, Dad,” you say, continuing to box them up. He scoffs, offended. “I’m going to take some to school, and then to Steve’s tonight.” You really hope he just glosses over that last bit. 

Unfortunately, you hear him try to speak up, but there’s too much pumpkin muffin in his mouth to be at all intelligible. He sounds alarmed. For fuck’s sake. 

“Dad. I told you I had a thing tonight. I’m going, I’ve been planning on it for, like, a week.”

“Yeah, and I said you could go before a kid when missing, Y/N.” He’s raising his voice.

“I’m not stupid, Dad! I’m not going traipsing around town in the middle of the night! I’m going to Steve’s, for God’s sake.”   

“And I already don’t like that idea,” he says gruffly.

“Dad, we’ve been friends since we were six, you need to get over this. He literally has a girlfriend, anyway.” 

“And what about that Hagan kid?” he retorts. “I’ve had about six complaints about him in a month.” 

“Also has a girlfriend. I’m driving Tina, Dad, I can’t just bail.” 

“Well, she shouldn’t be going either!” he’s yelling. He’s always been this way with the idea that you might possibly, ever in your life, go on a date or hang out with boys. Naturally, you avoid this by never telling him, but he has got to get over this thing with Steve. It’s been nine years.

“For fuck’s sake,” you mutter. He ignores it. 

“Yeah, you’ll be thanking me when you don’t end up dead in a ditch,” he says angrily, grabbing his hat and jacket and storming out the door. 

“Well I guess we’ll never know, because I won’t have the opportunity!” you shout as it shuts behind him. Jesus Christ. You were really hoping you weren’t going to have to sneak out. 

It takes almost forty five minutes for you to pick out your outfit for the day. Fall is always when your fashion is at its best, and it comes at the cost of sifting through a gigantic collection of second-hand sweaters your mom sent you from the city every morning. Finally, you clasp your earrings, grab your muffin containers, and head out the door, keys in your mouth and backpack on one shoulder. You sigh in relief as you drop them in the passenger seat, before swinging around to the other side and starting up your car, which always takes a few minutes. 

You’re halfway to school when you have the idea to drop some at the Byers’ place. You certainly have enough. You pull a probably-illegal u-turn in the middle of the road, and head to the other side of town. 

As you pull into their driveway, you nearly slam your head on the wheel as you see the chief’s car, i.e. your dad’s car, in front of the house. Whatever. You’re just going to have to suck it up, as little as you want to see him again this morning. 

But as you walk up to the house, raised voices slow your approach. 

“No, it was him, it was Will,” Joyce’s distressed voice says. “And he was scared. And then something—”

“It was probably just a prank call. It was somebody trying to scare you,” your father interrupts, and your eyes go wide as you listen, standing on the porch. Is he serious?

“Who would do that?” Jonathan asks. Has he met the people who live in this town?

“Well, this thing’s been on the TV.” Hopper says. It has? You must have missed it in your cleaning coma last night. “It brings out all the crazies, you know. False leads, prank calls, uh…”

“No, Hopper, it was not a prank. It was him,” Joyce says, with a mixture of desperation and determination to convince your father.

“Joyce.” 

“Come on, how about a little trust here?” She shouts. “What, you think that I’m making this up?”

“I’m not saying that you’re making it up. All I’m saying is, it’s an emotional time for you.” He cannot be serious.

“And you think I don’t know my own son’s breathing? Wouldn’t you know your own daughter’s?” Oh. 

Oh.

That hits you like a bat to the chest. Because, no, you don’t know that he would. And you don’t know if she even means you. You know she knows about Sarah, the whole of Hawkins does. You’re too used to people acting like Sarah was your parents’ only daughter, that she was all they had before she died, and it’s infuriating. She wasn’t their only daughter. She was your only sister. 

The silence that follows is loud, and you decide you don’t want to hear any more. Knocking lightly, you push the door open and shuffle in. You don’t see your father around the corner, just Jonathan and Joyce standing together, Joyce with her face in her hands. 

“Um… hey,” you say, your voice small. “I brought… I brought you guys some muffins. Figured you might not have eaten… or something. I’ll just… leave them here.” 

You place them on the coffee table. Joyce is sniffling with her face covered, but Jonathan comes and meets you halfway. 

“I can… I can grab those.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

“Uh… no, thank you.” He takes the container and nods awkwardly. “I’ll… um, wash this and give it to your dad… or something.” 

“Yeah, no, take your time,” you don’t meet his eyes. 

“I’m sure he would,” he whispers, so your parents don’t hear. You give him a confused look. 

“Recognize… um…”

“Oh. Yeah. Thanks.” You’re desperate to get out of here. You give an awkward wave, and head back out the door, not addressing your father.

On the car ride to school, you can’t not think about Jonathan’s words. Why on earth would he say that? He doesn’t know you, or your Dad. You know he was trying to be nice, but what the hell does he know about Jim Hopper? It’s playing over and over through your head as you walk into school. Who the hell is Jonathan Byers?

But you’re reminded of your Dad’s fit this morning as you approach your friends. 

“Ugh. Problem tonight,” you drag. “My Dad is freaking out, and I can’t drive over anymore. Unless he knocks himself out early, which I would love to count on, but can’t promise.” 

Tommy dives into your muffins, making a gigantic mess that leaves you and Tina giving him a disgusted look.

“Oh, fuck,” Tina complains. I was so looking forward to it.” 

“We can pick you up,” Tommy says, gesturing between himself and Carol, “but I can’t promise you’ll have a ride back.” He smirks disgustingly. Disgusting really is the best word to describe Tommy Hagan in most situations. 

“Ugh. I’ll see if my sister can drive us,” Tina says as you share a worried look for yourselves. The last thing the both of you want is to be sitting downstairs while Tommy and Carol have sex for hours in Steve Harrington’s parents bed. 

There’s a moment of silence, interspersed only with the loud chewing of Tommy on a muffin. “Oh my god,” you say. “Why didn’t I think of this already? I’ll just stay at your place, T. I’ll bring my car and we can go. I’ll tell my Dad we were working on a project super late, and I’m “scared to drive home”.” 

“Oooooooooh,” Tommy and Carol wiggle their fingers. 

“Thank god,” Steve interrupts them, shoving Tommy from the back of the head and turning to you and Tina. “I cannot do this with just them.” 

“Scared, Stevie?” Tina teases him. 

“Yeah, Harrington’s losing his virginity tonight,” Tommy chortles. You’re so glad he makes himself laugh, you think. He really needs someone to acknowledge the things he says.

“Oh, shut up,” Steve scowls. “Your mom knows that was a while ago.”

Wow, Tina gives you a look. Our friends are so witty.

“Speak of the devil,” Carol says as Nancy and Barb head down the hallway, flashcards in hand. Steve jumps up from his spot on the benches where you make yourselves at home (which is conveniently located under the trophy case, which his name is all over). 

The rest of you follow him over, you and Tina giving each other looks as you go.

Steve snatches the flashcards out of Barb’s hands, and she trails off on her question about molecules. “Hey!” 

“I don’t know, I think you’ve studied enough, Nance.” 

“Steve—” she protests.

“I’m telling you, you know, you got this.” He ignores the annoyed look in her eyes. “Don’t worry. Now, on to more important matters.” He clasps the flashcards, drumming his fingers on them as he talks before pocketing them. “My dad has gone out of town for a conference, and my mom’s gone with him, ‘cause, you know, she doesn’t trust him.” 

You laugh as Tommy says, “Good call.” Steve’s Dad is the biggest douchebag you’ve ever met, and considering Tommy, that’s really saying something. Credit where credit’s due, even if it is the bare minimum, he’s never cheated on Carol. Steve almost laughs too as he looks over at him.

“So, are you in?” 

“In… for what?” Nancy looks genuinely lost. You would be too. Steve uses a lot of words to say very little. 

“No parents? Big house?” Carol looks at her expectantly. 

“A party?” 

“Ding ding ding.” Tina hits her, and you hit Tommy as he laughs at Nancy. 

“It’s… Tuesday.” 

“It’s Tuesday,” Tommy mocks. “Oh my god,” he and Carol are both laughing.

“Dude,” you roll your eyes, making eye contact with Tina. Such a dick, you mouth. 

“Come on,” Steve persists. “It’ll be low key, it’ll just be us. Are you in, or are you out?”

“Um…” Nancy’s thought is interrupted by Carol. 

“Oh God. Look.” You turn your head to where she’s staring. Jonathan. 

“Oh, God, that’s depressing.”

“Steve.” you glare at him. Cut it out. 

“Should we say something?” Nancy asks. You feel bad for him, but you are one hundred percent out after the disaster that was this morning. 

“I don’t think he speaks,” Carol smirks. 

“How much you wanna bet he killed him?” Tommy snickers. 

“Shut up,” Steve shoves his chest. Your eyes widen again, as if you cannot believe what you are hearing from him right now, but Tina’s laugh slips out, and you give her a pointed look. Obviously none of you are exactly great people, but you’ve never known your best friend to be cruel. Steve bites his lip as Nancy watches Jonathan, his eyes following her as she walks over to him. 

You don’t hear their interaction, but if you had to guess, it seems about as awkward as yours. Tommy gives him a wave as he looks over at you. 

The bell goes, and Nancy heads back over to you and your friends. Steve and Tina split for their art class, and you walk awkwardly beside Barb and Nancy as Tommy throws his arm over Carol’s shoulder. 

“Attention, faculty and students,” your principal comes over the PA system. “At eight p.m. tonight, there will be an assembly on the football field in support of Will Byers and his family. All are encouraged to attend. Volunteer signups for search parties are available in the office.” 

You hear the door slam behind you as Jonathan heads back outside the building. 

“Where the hell are you, exactly?” Your dad is predictably furious when he answers the phone. 

“Tina’s,” you reply, exasperated. “We went to the thing at school for Will, and now we’re studying for chem.”

“Didn’t you just have a test today?” 

Fuck. How on earth does he manage to pay attention to the most inconvenient parts of your life? “Yeah, um. We’re working on a project. Doing some math homework too. I just… you know. Studying lumps it all together, didn’t think you wanted the details.”

You mime yourself losing your mind at Tina across her bedroom, who’s trying to hold her laughter in. Since kindergarten, she has found lying to Jim Hopper to be the funniest thing imaginable. For this reason, you’ve banished her to the opposite corner of the room until you hang up. You hope he can’t hear the wide smile in your voice. 

“Dad. Please, please chill. I’m just going to stay over here tonight, I don’t want to drive in the dark.” 

He looks across the trailer at the random woman that came home from the search with him, and decides that maybe it’s for the best that you aren’t here. “Fine. But you’re home by seven tomorrow night, no later.”

“Sounds great. Love you.”

“Love you too. Bye, kid.” 

“Bye.” You drop the phone on the stand in relief. 

“Yes!” Tina shouts.

“Tina!” you shout back, laughing and dropping your voice to a whisper. “Your parents.” 

“You know they don’t care,” she grins.

“Ok, well, help me decide what to wear.” You pull out your two bikinis, although you know you want to wear the red one.

“Oh, come on,” Tina laughs at you. “First of all, it’s November—” 

“His pool is heated.”

“Oh, you’re so right.” She turns and starts digging through her closet. “Second of all,” she adds, her head deep in the monster of fabric that is her wardrobe, “don’t act like I don’t know exactly why you brought that one.”  

“Which one?” you ask, feigning innocence and not meeting her eyes. 

“The Phoebe Cates one?” 

“Shut up.” 

“Ha! I knew it.” 

“Come on, just because there are no hot single guys there doesn’t mean I don’t need male validation,” you smile at her. 

“You’re a terrible person,” she laughs at you.

“I know.” 

She pauses. “I’m totally bringing mine, too.” 

The drive over is full of trying to predict exactly how this night is going to go. 

“Okay. One hundred percent Tommy pushes Carol in the pool,” Tina says, doing mascara in the passenger seat. “Hey! Easy on the road, I’m doing eye makeup over here.”

“Take it up with the mayor, or something. Fucking potholes everywhere. But, yes obviously happening. We should get in ourselves before they get the chance. This sweater cannot get wet.” You’re wearing your orange striped zippered sweater under the massive Hawkins Police jacket you stole from your father. 

“You and your fucking sweaters,” Tina snorts. 

You pull in in front of Steve Harrington’s massive house, definitely not running over the grass. 

As you get out of the car, a shout comes from behind you. “When are you going to learn how to park?” Steve calls from his front door. You look back at your car, which is sitting diagonally half on his lawn and half on the gravel driveway. 

“Oh, shut up,” you narrow your eyes at him as you push past into the house. “Raise a Little Hell” by Trooper is playing on his fancy speakers. “Have you been standing here this entire time?” 

“No.”

“Yes!” Tommy calls from the back porch. “He has, it's completely and utterly lame.” 

“Wow! Big word there, Tommy!”

“Yeah, your mom taught it to me.” 

The doorbell rings, echoing through the house, and the speed at which Steve jumps up and runs to the front door has the four of you in the kitchen all snickering. 

“Hello, ladies,” you hear, and you turn your head to see him leaning on the door. You really have to try not to laugh at him. 

The scream actually hurts your ears. You and Tina are standing in the pool near the edge, gossiping and observing your friends until Tommy picks his girlfriend up and swings her over your heads. 

“Tommy!” you both shriek as Carol screams. 

“One!” He shouts, “Two! Three!” 

“Stop it Tommy! No! Don’t!” 

“You’re going to kill somebody!” You hit his ankles, and he finally puts her down as Steve comes back out from the house with his pocket knife. 

You watch as he shotguns it. That sweater really suits him. 

“Is that supposed to impress me?” Nancy smiles at him.

“Yes,” Tina laughs. 

“Definitely.” 

Steve puts his cigarette back between his lips. “You’re not?” 

“You are a cliché, you do realize that.” 

“You are a cliché,” he lights the cig. “What with your grades, and your band practice—” 

“I’m so not in band!” Nancy shakes her head.

“Okay, party girl. Why don’t you just, uh, show us how it’s done, then?” He tosses you and Tina drinks as well, and you grab your keys from the side of the pool, putting out your cig beside them. You see Barb roll her eyes, and Tina nudges you, smirking. 

“Don’t be so mean,” you whisper at her. 

“What? I don’t even get why she’s here.” Carol gives the two of you a look, like right? 

“You gotta make a little hole right in—”

“I got it,” Nancy brushes him off, and he raises his hands in surrender.

“Yeah, she’s smart, you douche,” Tommy chortles. He crushes his empty can against his head before tossing it at the ground. 

You push yourself up out of the pool to sit on the edge. Holy shit, it’s freezing. “Here, Nance, let’s do it together,” your teeth chatter. “Like right now, too, so I can get back in.” 

You cut the sides of your cans together and raise them to your lips. 

“Chug. Chug, chug,” Steve starts, and the others join. “Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug—” 

You drown them out as you finish your can before tossing it to the deck. Nancy’s done right after you, and she takes a bow. You laugh, meeting her eyes. You suddenly really hope that you can be really good friends with her. 

“Barb, you wanna try?”

The rest of you look about as surprised as Barb herself. “What? No. No, I don’t want to, thanks.”

“Come on,” Nancy pushes her.

“Yeah, come on, yeah!” 

“Nance, I don’t want too—” 

“It’s fun! Just give it a—” 

“Nance…” 

“Just…” she softens her voice. “Just give it a shot.” 

Barb takes the can and the knife from her, hesitantly standing up. She has an audience; Tommy and Carol look on, interested, and Nancy looks back at Steve to an apprehensive look as he raises his cig to his mouth. She struggles with the can for a second before it slips, and she cuts her hand. 

She gasps. “Gnarly,” Tommy laughs, and you hit his leg again. 

“Are you okay?” Nancy worries. 

“Yeah,” Barb shoots back, obviously annoyed. 

“Barb, you’re bleeding,” Nancy looks at her. Drops of blood hit the pool deck. 

“I’m fine,” she insists. “Where’s your bathroom?” She turns to Steve. 

“Oh! It’s… It’s uh, down past the kitchen, to the left.” 

“Okay, thanks.” 

“Do you want me to go with you?” You ask her, and she shakes her head without looking at you, walking back in the direction of the sliding glass doors. Nancy looks on, worried, as her best friend walks away and Steve points out the bathroom. Carol and Tommy are still laughing under their breath. 

Carol looks up at the sky, shaking her head and enjoying the moment as Barb goes inside. 

You see Tommy look her up and down, and before you have a chance to warn her he shoves her into the pool. She and Tina shriek as Tina ducks and Carol flies over her head. “Oh my god, what the hell, Tommy?” He drops his cig, grinning, and dives in after her. You jump back in with Tina, and begin to lose yourself in the splashing and screaming. Nancy laughs from the edge until Steve sneaks up behind her and pushes her in behind them, giving the most over the top jump in after her. Tommy and Carol kiss, you jump on Tina’s shoulders, and Steve grabs Nancy’s shoe and holds it away, teasing her. 

You’re so unbelievably happy, here with your friends. For the next hour, all your thoughts about Will and your father are totally out the window. 

“I’m freezing,” Carol shivers, wrapping herself in a towel in Steve’s living room. 

“Me too, holy shit,” you laugh and dry your hair. You and Tina are the only ones in swimsuits, and you’re looking at each other like thank god you brought them. The idea of trying to peel off soaking wet, cold clothes right now makes you shudder. 

“Hmm… well, I hear his mom’s room has a fireplace,” Tommy smirks. 

“Are you kidding?” Steve throws his hands up and you and Tina laugh. 

“Oh yeah?” Carol says, following him up the stairs. 

“Okay, well, you know, you are cleaning the sheets,” Steve calls after his friend and runs a hand through his hair. “You alright?” he turns to Nancy. 

“Yeah,” she smiles. 

“Yeah? Come on, let’s get you some dry clothes,” he leads her through the house. You and Tina pull on your clothes, finally something resembling not freezing, and grab your bags. 

You follow Nancy out to the front of the house, where she’s talking to Barb. 

“Nance!” her friend calls as she starts to head up the stairs. “Nancy. Where are you going?” 

“Nowhere! Just… upstairs.” Steve moves around her, back down to you and Tina. 

“Here, let me grab those for you.” He takes both of you out to your car while Nancy and Barb talk. You step outside, and you’re glad that for a second it’s just the three of you. You’re trying really, really hard to sort of back away from Steve, not do any of the things you’ve always done with him that might make her uncomfortable. But you think that a little bit, you might really miss him. 

As you fall asleep that night, next to Tina, you can’t keep him and that damn cigarette out of your head.

an: yay!!! chapter two!! i hope you enjoyed it. as always, any reblogs and other interactions are so highly appreciated, i love hearing what you think so so much whether in these comments or in my inbox! let me know if you would like to be added to this taglist <3

xoxo, thaliagracesgf

tags: @thisisourlovestory, @ladygrey03

[hawkinslibrary]

The Weirdo on Maple Street Soundtrack (1/2)

01. Bad Girls | Peter Howarth 02. Go Nowhere | Reagan Youth 03. Should I Stay or Should I Go | The Clash 04. Deck the Halls | Chicks With Hits 05. Jingle Bells | The Canterbury Choir 06. Dark Stars | Mark Glass 07. I'm Taking Off (Shield Your Eyes) | Space Knife

[chaotic-theatrical-weaver]

On name and identity, or in which Ellie Is Normal About Names (lying through her teeth):

Tumblr textpost by eyelessfog / "My Name," The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros / "Name initials may influence grades: study," Reuters / Quora response to "What does the phrase 'nomen est omen' mean?" / "Fall Away," twenty one pilots / "Trapdoor," twenty one pilots / "Forest," twenty one pilots / "Redecorate," twenty one pilots / "The Record Player Song," Daisy the Great / screenshots from will80sbyers' gifset of Stranger Things' "The Weirdo on Maple Street," (Season 1, Episode 2) / Little Fires Everywhere, Celeste Ng / The Crucible, Arthur Miller

[roosterbox]

Episode two done.

Spoilers for a seven year old show under the cut

RIP Barb

Also I wanted more Steve. I got a bit more Steve. So thanks for that, show. LOL. He remains the queen of my heart. His friends are the worst though.

Jonathan continues to be a dear. And El is adorable, as is the developing friendship between her and the boys. Especially Mike.

Also: “he just wants to get in your pants.” “…no he doesn’t!”

Nancy, darling, I love Steve too, but my mans is a 16/17 year old boy. Of course he wants to get into your pants, lmaooo. But deep down, I think she knew that. Same with last episode, when he came over to ‘help her study.’ Lol okay sure Steve.

Continuing with episode 3 probably tomorrow.

[strangerficsx]

Chapter Two: The Weirdo On Maple Street

story: Midnight Rain wc: 3.9k steve invites jennifer to a party as she has to seriously bury her feelings and jealousy toward steve and nancy.

[a/n: all characters, plot, etc. are not mine. The only thing I own is my original character. credit to gif owner. italics are jennifer's thoughts]

{ November 7, 1983 }

As Jennifer and the boys get to Mike's house, they all are soaked from the rain including the little girl. She grab a towel from the dryer and begin drying her shoulder length hair. Jennifer overhears bickering, glancing at Lucas, Dustin and Mike trying to make out what each of them are saying.

"Is a number we can call for your parents?"

"Is there a number we can call for your parents?" The dark haired boy asked.

"Where's your hair? Do you have cancer?" Dustin asks.

"Did you run away?" Lucas pressed.

"Are you in some kind of trouble?"

"Is that blood?" Lucas reached out to touch the girl.

"Stop it!" Mike shouted, slapping Lucas' hand away. "You're freaking her out."

"She's freaking me out!"

"I bet you she's deaf!" Dustin suggests, clapping his hands loudly, startling the scared girl.

Jennifer stood near the basement stairs, hands places on her hips as she paces back and forth, trying to piece together this very strange puzzle. The wet clothes on Jennifer's back began irritating her, wringing out her wet shirt in the towel. With damp clothes and running on very little sleep, Jennifer decides to stop the boys from the crucial interrogation they are having.

"Hey, imbeciles." She retorts, earning a look of annoyance from the boys. "Stop treating her like she's some kind of imprisoned animal."

She rolls her eyes at the three boys.

"Alright! That's enough! Alright!" The dark haired kid shouted, glaring at the two other boys. "She's just scared. And cold."

He turned towards the washer and dryer to retrieve some clothes for her. He returns to the girl, looking her in the eyes. "Here. These are clean."

He handed the girl a sweatshirt and sweatpants. Taking them from the boy, she stood and began to undress as the boys started freaking out. Jennifer bolts toward the girl, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder and blocking the tween boys from her sight. The scared girl cranes her neck to look up at her. Jennifer point towards the bathroom.

"That room is the bathroom. Privacy." Jennifer speaks, leading her towards the restroom. The girl and her exchange looks as she give the scared child a reassuring smile. The brunette begins to close the door, but the girl grabs it, panicked.

"Do you not want it shut?" Jennifer asked, confused as her brows furrowed.

"No," The scared girl spoke.

"Oh, so you can speak?" Mike questions ecstatically.

The older Henderson smiled once again, this time annoyed but concealed it.

"Alright, that's fine. I'll be right outside."

The girl nodded as Jennifer turn to face the boys as they began to bicker once more.

"She tried to get naked!" Dustin cried.

"There's something seriously wrong with her. Like wrong in the head!" Lucas shouts.

"Hey, knuckleheads! Keep it down. The door is not fully closed, remember?"

She continues to stand watch as the girl changed, and as the boys continued on with the endless quarrelling.

"Alright, so here's the plan. She sleeps here tonight-" Mike began.

"You're letting a girl-"

"Just listen. In the morning she sneaks around my house, goes to the front door and ring my doorbell. My mom will answer and know just what to do. She'll send her back to Penhurst or wherever she came from." Mike looked around for confirmation.

Mike was met with two small nods as he looks over at Jennifer. She rolls her eyes, annoyed but gives in. She nods.

"We'll be totally in the clear, and tomorrow night we go back out. And this time, we find Will."

"Wait. You three can't be serious right now. Do not go back out there. It's not safe. If you step foot out there, I'll tell your mom's. And that means the three of you will be grounded for god knows how long. It'll be alcatraz pretty much. If one you shitheads die, I'm getting the blame. And trust me, I don't want to get in trouble because of you all."

"But-"

"No buts, Wheeler." Jennifer states. "I won't let that happen."

Mike nods along with Dustin and Lucas. Jennifer felt good, confident in fact. But deep down she knew they would later sneak out once again. A minute later, the girl was finished in the washroom. Dustin and Lucas took that to leave. Jennifer asks the raven haired child if it was okay to help build a makeshift bed for the night. Mike allowed it, letting her look around for any extra blankets as she listens in on Mike's conversation.

"Hey, um, I never asked your name." He offered a small smile.

The girl looked at him as she watched from afar, seeing the girl pull up her left sleeve. Jennifer then moves and stood above Mike. He began to grab her wrist but she pulled back quickly.

"Is that real?" He asked with amazement. "Sorry, I've never seen a kid with a tattoo before."

"What-- Eleven? Is that your name? Eleven?" Jennifer peered over Mike.

The girl looked up and pointed at herself, nodding.

"Eleven? Okay. My name is Jennifer." She stuck your hand over Mike's shoulder to shake Eleven's hand, smiling softly. She cautiously placed her hand in Jennifer's palm, squeezing and then letting go.

It was a start.

"My name is Mike. Short for Micheal. Maybe we can call you El. Short for Eleven!" He turned to look up at the older female. Jennifer glances at him, nodding in support which prompted El to nod back.

"Well, I should get going. Good luck, you two." She jokes, winking.

Jennifer moves toward the back door, pulling on her damp coat along with her shoes.

"Goodnight, El." Jennifer smiled at Eleven, and she smiles back.

The older female exits through the basement door, walking toward the sidewalk, striding down the concrete late into the night. She makes it to her house, stepping into the entrance as Jennifer is greeted with silence.

Once inside, Jennifer hurriedly throws her hoodie off before walking into the laundry room and toss it inside along with her wet shoes. She sees a shadow at the corner of her eye, startling before quickly starting the dryer. Following the figure, Jennifer steps into the living room before flipping a light switch on. It's Dustin as his presence causes Jennifer to scare easily.

"Jesus christ. You scared the crap out of me." Jennifer swears.

"Sorry, I came to grab something to eat."

"Okay, well, goodnight. Love you, Dusty."

"Love you too,"

Jennifer sluggishly steps towards her dimly lit room, closing the door behind her. She undresses, tossing her wet clothes a white hamper that sits in the corner of her room. Tossing an oversized sports shirt on, slipping into bed as the exhaustion takes over her body, falling asleep almost immediately.

——

{ November 8, 1983 }

The next morning, Jennifer awakens as she stares in the distance for a few seconds, listening into the living room at the television. Nothing new regarding Will Byers. She felt remorse for his parents, wanting to help in any way or form, but needs to stay away so she doesn't go missing herself. Getting dressed, Jennifer pulls her shoes on before rushing out of the house, shutting the door behind her as Claudia and Dustin stare in shock. 

"She's probably in a hurry to her boyfriend," 

"Dusty, stop that. she just doesn't want to be late." 

——

When Jennifer arrives at school, she walks down the hallway and over to her locker as she overhears Steve talking to his friends. Other than glimpsing at Tommy and Carol, Jennifer sees Barbara Holland —former friend and classmate. She wears big square glasses and has red coiled hair and is also holding books. Nancy stands there too. And Steve, he looks over in her direction as Jennifer goes back to her locker acting as if you didn't hear or see anything. 

"Hey, Jen." He says, catching her attention and realizing the name the nickname he called her.  

He smirks, resting his hands on his hips. You close your locker and trudge over to the small group, smiling.

"We were just talking about throwing a small party at my house tonight."

"Okay,"

You pretty much ignore Nancy the entire time. Block out the people that bring you down. You manage to stare in Steve's direction multiple times as he does the same, trying not to be obvious. You could tell Nancy was getting frustrated.

"Anyway, my Dad has left on a conference and my Mom's gone with him, 'cause you know, she doesn't trust him." Steve explains. "You in?"

Jennifer stays quiet, unsure if she should agree to going tonight or stay home and rent a few cheesy romance movies and watch them in her room alone.

"No parents? Big house?"

"A party?" Nancy asks, trying to make the conversation less awkward. 

"Ding, ding, ding!" Carol smiles. 

Tommy laughs as Jennifer rolls her eyes. Nancy asks why its being held on a Tuesday night while Tommy and Carol mock and laugh at her, causing Nancy to look away as she stares at the other girl, almost feeling bad for her.

"It'll be low key. It'll be just us. What do you say? Are you in or are you out?"

"Um..." Nancy thinks.

"Sure, I'll join." Jennifer says. "And, I'm sure Nancy would like to join too, right, Nancy?"

"I— uh, uh, yeah." She smiles.

Barbara disapproves, annoyed.

"Uh, Steve, if it's okay, can I bring a plus one?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I'll see if she's available."

They exchange a smile before she looks away, feeling her face heat up.

"Oh, God. Look."

Jennifer, Nancy, Barbara, Steve and his friends — Tommy and Carol — stand there, watching as a tall, lanky male pins up a poster of a missing Will Byers. Instantly, she knew Jonathan was hurting inside and it broke her heart, not wanting anything bad to happen to Dustin. Jennifer couldn't imagine what Jonathan and his family are going through at the moment. She wanted to help, but deep down she didn't know how.

"Oh, God, that's depressing." Steve comments.

"Should we say something?" Jennifer asks.

"I don't think he speaks."

"How much you want to bet he killed him?" Tommy suggests.

"Shut up," Steve nudges Tommy.

Jennifer hangs back, standing next to Steve as she watches as Nancy walks toward the male, having a small conversation with him. She stood there, looking at them both. Suddenly the school bell rings, causing Nancy to snap out of it and tell him she has to go. Jonathan thanks her before fixing the poster as she sighs. The principal begins to speak on the PA about a vigil being held at the high school later for Will Byers. Jennifer waves Steve goodbye before heading to her english class, walking in and taking a seat behind Nancy. Even her perfect hair bugged Jennifer for an unknown reason.

——

Later that night when Jennifer got home from school, she quickly changed into another outfit, but put on a hoodie to be more appropriate for dinner with the Wheeler's. Before leaving the house, she quickly makes a phone call to Phoebe to see if she wants to join in since she wasn't at school today. Jennifer rests the telephone against her ear.

"Hello?"

"Phoebe, hey. It's Jennifer. I was, uh, wondering if you'd like to join me at Steve's for a little get together tonight."

"I would love to, but I work late tonight at the arcade."

"It's okay. I get it. Wish me luck, Pheebs."

"Good luck. and remember, forget about Nancy. Who cares if they are dating. You are attending the party for yourself. Now, I gotta go."

"Bye."

Jennifer hangs up her phone before leaving the house. Nancy invited Jennifer over and everyone sat at the dining room table. The kids barely touched their food along with Jennifer as she blankly stares at her full plate.

"Something wrong with the meatloaf?" Karen questioned.

"Ah, no. I had two bologna sandwiches for lunch... I don't know why." Dustin grinned at her, earning a smile back.

Karen looked at Lucas. "Me too," He said.

"Thank you, Mom." Nancy compliments, reaching out to squeeze her mom's hand. 

"Thank you, sweetie." She takes a sip of her wine.

"Thank you, Mrs. Wheeler for the meatloaf. But I just can't get myself to eat due to the depressed feeling I have for Will Byers going missing."

"It's okay, I understand."

"But, I'll take it home in case I do get hungry."

"Alrighty," Karen smiles.

"So," Nancy begins. "There's this special assembly thing tonight for Will at the school field. Barb's driving."

"Why am I just hearing about this?" She asks.

"I thought you knew." Nancy furrowed her brows as Jennifer did the opposite, unsure of what to do next. "It'd be super weird if I wasn't there." She mentioned.

"What about you, Jennifer. Are you going?"

"Oh, yeah. I am to support Nancy and the community in this troubling time." Jennifer smiles small.

Karen nodded. "Just be back by ten."

Nancy grinned widely, looking at Jennifer. She smiled back.

"Why don't you take the boys too?" Karen suggests.

Behind Nancy's mother, Eleven tiptoed down the steps. Everyone's eyes become widened, Mike choked on his drink and Lucas dropped his fork. A chorus of no's sounded. Dustin smashed his fist on the table, redirecting everyone's attention as he smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, spasm."

Jennifer glares Dustin as he grins innocently before she goes back to moving the fork and pushing the food slightly back and forth. She look over at the boys as the three kids share nervous glances, looking nervously at each other. Holly, who sits in her high chair, shrinks into her chair, whimpering. Mrs. Wheeler leaned over to her.

"It's okay, Holly. It's just a loud noise."

"Nice," Nancy whispered, glaring at Dustin.

After dinner, Nancy walks out of the house as Jennifer trails behind her, leaving as the boys went down to the basement to see Eleven.

Nancy gets in Barbs car as Jennifer slides into the backseat. They head to Steve's house and parks. Nancy changes her shirt to something a bit more 'sexy' as Jennifer looks down at your top, cleavage almost prominent. The girls made their way to the back, watching everyone and earning some glances from Steve, Carol and Tommy.

Barb stood, staring from the tree line unimpressed. Steve was on one of the pool chairs leisurely sipping on a beer, Tommy and Carol hung on each other. Jennifer takes a seat on the pool chair opposite of Steve, not knowing where else to sit. He doesn't seemed bothered by it as he looks over, offering a cigarette. Steve handed her a cigarette as he chuckles, shaking his head as he slipped a cigarette in between his lips before lighting it. Jennifer lit the cigarette, moving away as she blows out the smoke. 

"God, I miss this." 

"Miss what?"

"Me and Phoebe hanging out on her back porch smoking. Of course, weed too."

"Did you now?" Steve asks, interested. 

"Yeah," Jennifer starts. "She had a little place -- a treehouse where we would go to have privacy; too drink, smoke, or... have sex. Of course, we did that with people, and got caught one or twice. But that changed when my parents told me that Billie and her parents moved away."

"Damn, that's too bad." 

"Yeah, I know. Tell me about it."

Steve leans over her, reaching out for the beer cans sitting on the small table as they get really close. Their faces are inches away from each other, he pulls back as he holds the beer can in his hand.

"Maybe later we can go to my room," He says softly, smirking. 

Did he say what I think he said? Does he want me over Nancy? Ok, okay. Play it cool, Jennifer. 

Steve grabs the beer and gets Nancy's attention, tossing it her way as she catches it. Jennifer, on the other hand, notices Barb and waves her hand, smiling as Barb does the same. But you knew that she was unimpressed. 

"Hey, we should let Jennifer try it when she's done. Let's see what the other one can do." Suggests Tommy.

"Sure, I'm down to try it." Jennifer replies, asking Steve to hold her cigarette as she rises, walking over to Nancy.

Nancy finishes the can, dropping it as the beer makes contact with the cement. She curtsies then hands another can of beer to her along with the pocket knife.

Jennifer's done this before, learning from Phoebe at a college party they snuck into at one point last year. She slits metal open, putting her mouth to it and beginning to drink it, opening the can above. Chugging, Jennifer overhears everyone cheer including Steve as that encourages her to keep drinking until the can is empty, dropping it to the ground, raising her hands and smiling brightly. They continue cheering as Jennifer bows then heads back to the chair and sitting down, sighing happily. She grabs another can, sipping on it.

Soon, Nancy offers Barbara to try it as she agrees, grabbing the knife and beer can from her friends hand and holds it. Her hands tremble as she tries to cut the metal can open, once she almost gets it, the pocket knife slips from the can and slices the skin on her hand open. Tommy chuckles as Nancy begins to worry. Jennifer sits and watches from afar, furrowing her brows and wonders if she should do something to help, taking long sips of the beer.

"Gnarly." Tommy compliments.

"Are you okay?" Nancy asks Barb, rushing to her side.

"Yeah," She responds.

"Barb, you're bleeding." Jennifer adds.

Barb turns to Steve. "I'm fine, Nancy. Where's your bathroom?"

"Oh, it's... it's, uh, down past the kitchen, to the left." Steve directs her as Jennifer rises.

"I'm okay, thank you. I'm fine, I can do this myself."

As she leaves the backyard, Carol chuckles as Nancy stands there worried. The red head turns towards the pool, looking up at the sky as Tommy stands behind her, blowing out smoke from his cigarette. He pushes her into the cold water at the same time as Nancy walks towards the water, laughing a little.

"Oh, my, God! What the hell, Tommy?" He jumps in.

Steve moves closer to Jennifer and Nancy, slightly pushing them both as she shrieks, falling in as well as he cheers jumping in after the two females. They all laugh, having a good time together, enjoying the fun and being with each other. Once inside after the fun in the pool, everyone has a towel wrapped around as Jennifer shivers from her cold, wet clothes. Tommy does the same.

"I'm freezing," Carol says.

"Hmm... well, I hear his mom's room has a fireplace." He flirts.

Nancy looks over at them as the brunette do the same. Steve becomes annoyed. "Are you kidding?"

"Oh, yeah?" Carol asks, following Tommy upstairs.

"Okay, well, you know, you are cleaning the sheets." He curses, pulling up his sleeves and walking towards Nancy. "You all right?"

"Yeah,"

"Yeah? Come on, let's get you some dry clothes." He says, heading up the stairs.

Jennifer, who is wrapped in a striped towel, stays behind as she watches Nancy follow after him, making her way up the stairs. Nancy gets stopped by Barbara.

"Nance!" She calls out. "Nancy."

Nancy stops on the stairs as well as Steve. Jennifer and Steve stood there, watching what's happening.

"Where are you going?" Barbara asks.

"Nowhere. Just... upstairs. To change. I...fell in the pool." She chuckles, smiling.

Barb looks at her annoyed. Nancy stops, and becomes serious. "Why don't you go ahead and go home. Take Jennifer with you. I'm sure she'll need a ride. I'll just... I'll get a ride from Steve."

"Nance..."

"Barb... I'm fine." She raises her brows. 

"This isn't you."

"I'm fine. Just... go ahead and go home, okay?" She says, heading up the rest of the stairs. They stand there as Barbara scoffs.

Jennifer watches as Nancy follows Steve into his bedroom, closing the door behind them. She felt something inside her burn thinking about Nancy and Steve being alone in a room together. Since there was nothing really else to do in Steve's house, and Jennifer's crush went to probably have sex with Nancy, she decided to grab her coat from the coat rack, stepping out of the house.

She steps out onto the back porch, seeing beer cans scattered and a few drops of blood from redhead's hand. Jennifer cocks her head up, seeing Barbara sitting on the diving board, looking glum. Beginning to take a step closer to her, around Jennifer, the lights flicker before shutting off completely. Darkness surrounds her as Barbara's shrieks echo in the backyard as she looks around, wondering what happened. She loses her footing and trips, falling onto the hard metal grate sitting around the yellow-green grass as she winces in pain.

Getting her balance, Jennifer rises and feels something wet. A burning sensation is felt as well. After a couple seconds, the lights come back and Barbara is nowhere to be found.

"What the..."

Jennifer clutches her hoodie close to her body before quickly exiting the backyard.

——

Once Jennifer arrives at her dark and empty home, she removes her jacket and shoes before looking at her bloodsoaked sleeve. Tears prick at her eyes while she makes way toward the bathroom, not noticing Phoebe. Jennifer pulls off her bloody shirt and hear a light knock. The blonde female enters, seeing her best friend as she holds a first aid kit.

"Hey, thought you needed some help. I saw blood."

"Phoebe? I thought you worked late."

"Shift ended early, but came by your house to see if you were home uet. Your mom, Claudia, let me in before she headed off to bed. So, I waited in your room."

"Okay,"

She looks at Jennifer's arm, setting the first aid kit down and pulling out cloth. Phoebe presses it against her wound as the brunette winces in pain. She apologizes but continues helping. Pulling it away, she washes her cut then wraps gauze around Jennifer's arm, throwing the contaminated contents into the trash can.

"You were with Nancy at the party, right?"

"Yeah. Wished you could've been there. I had two beers, but I... I had fun."

"From the glum look on your face and the open wound on your arm, I think not."

"Okay. I didn't." Jennifer confesses.

"I knew it. I just wanted you to admit it. So, what happened?"

"Well, besides drinking those two cans of beer, and getting pushed into a pull by Steve before having a moment together, Steve took Nancy Wheeler up to his room, and I felt sad about it because it wasn't me in there."

"I don't get what you see in him,"

"I like him because he's funny, cute, and caring."

"Steve's an asshole."

"So are you sometimes. But he's nice to me... and Nancy."

"That's because you both are easy targets."

"Phoebe,"

"I'm serious, Jennifer. You are."

"I... I guess you're right. But who knows, Steve could change. Give it time."

Jennifer rises, exiting the bathroom, leaving Phoebe alone as she walks into her bedroom holding her bloody shirt. Phoebe joins Jennifer as she gets comfortable in the brunettes bed. She drops the bloody shirt in the trash bin by her dresser.Jennifer throws off the rest of her clothes, sliding into clean sleep clothes before sliding into her bed. She covers herself up and eventually falls asleep.

[duranduratulsa]

Now showing on my Spooktober Filmfest... Stranger Things: The Weirdo On Maple Street on Netflix (2016) #tv #television #horror #scifi #strangerthings #theweirdoonmaplestreet #finnwolfhard #noahschnapp #gatenmatarazzo #joekeery #DavidHarbour #nataliadyer #winonaryder #milliebobbybrown #calebmclaughlin #charlieheaton #carabuono #matthewmodine #Netflix #spooktober #halloween #october

[he-ate-with-the-wrong-people]

finally started watching stranger things and am about to start on episode three... thoughts thus far on the party at steve's house:

nancy is a manipulative bitch

poor barb :(

"welcome ladies" i am in LOVE

scratch that steve is such a fuckboy no longer in love

AGAIN WITH THE MANIPULATION WTF NANCY

poor barb x2

that cut does not look very bueno... poor barb x3

uhh... jonathan? fucking creep

wow ok so we're taking pictures now...

damn no one told me jonathon was such a sick fucko

dammit nancy... poor barb x4 :(

jonathan is a sick human being x2

bestie u literally just told barb u weren't going to have sex,,, ok

jonathan is a sick human being x3

oh yay okay he put the camera away

nope the camera is back out

POOR BARB x17 !!! #justiceforbarb #nancyshouldvebeenabetterfriend

well... i cannot wait for them to all mature. nancy and jonathan deserve each other (derogatory)

also karen wheeler is trying so hard with her kids :( she a lil strict but she exhausted and seems like a good mom,, i like her tbh

[wench-and-jezebel]

Stranger Things Reaction: The Weirdo on Maple Street

Wench (@scripted-downfall) reacts: A Flashback Series

See this link for context

Dustin, it’s not like all you did was clap; you kinda lunged at her.  She could be not-deaf, or she could be deaf and have eyes alkdsjf

Okay, look, I guess how people see this as “Oh, look, Mike’s so in-tune with her, he’s realizing she’s scared and cold and drenched and all.”  But.  Also.  Have you considered.  That he’s literally the caretaker of the group?  Steve is the overall babysitter/caretaker, eventually, of course, but, of the kids, Mike is the one who’s always anticipating people’s emotions.  He’s always ultra-aware of Will, sure, and El, but there are other examples.  I’ll start mentioning them when I see them.

Well, there’s one; the other two instantly turn around, but he stops her, points out the bathroom, etc.

Noticing a trend of compromise here; I remember the “compromise” and “halfway happy” scene with Hopper in the later ep, and now there’s Mike going to close the door, Eleven stopping him, and him putting it cracked instead.  I don’t know what this says, but it says something.

Dustin being adorable alkdsjf

“Like Michael Myers”  Foreshadowingggg

DUSTIN.  WE KNOW SHE ALMOST TOOK OFF HER SHIRT.  CALM THY SELF, PLEASE  (but also you’re adorable)

“I feel like my life started that day we found you in the woods.”  -Mike, s4.  Buddy, what do you mean???  You legit found her and went, “here’s how we can get out of having to worry about her and her potential backstory from the asylum, and then we go out again, and this time we find Will.”  WDYM YOUR LIFE STARTED WITH EL???  (Shhh.  Not me having spoilers from s4 or anything…)

Oh, look, the yellow phone returns

Ouch

Mike, you’re so subtle

I love the Mike-taunting-Nancy-with-innuendos thing here.  “What’s your test on again?  Human Anatomy”  aka the sibling “I know what you did and I’ll tell if you don’t hush.” 

Okay, but the fact that El's somehow managing to stay in someone's house without any adult ever noticing a;kdsfj;lkadjf

I’m sorry, but this is just… not how a romance would be shot.  Mike is concerned and caring, yeah, but not like a boyfriend, I’m sorry.

All the Upside-Down places being cool-colored, and all the party scenes being warm

WAIT THE JACKET JONATHAN’S WEARING.  I’VE SEEN THAT BEFORE.  YOU’VE SHOWN ME THAT SOMEWHERE BEFORE

The awkwardly hovering blurry figures over her shoulder

She still looks so different

I KNOW.  WAYNE’S WEARING IT.  WHEN HE’S PUTTING UP THE EDDIE POSTERS… not to push my Eddie-lives agenda, but.  I’ve heard about him and I don’t accept the Eddie-dies agenda, so.

Dustin.  Let.  The shirt thing. Go.

“Nice, right?  It’s a 22-inch.”  The contrast between then and now aldskjf

El getting to have some degree of fun with the chair is precious

Love this song.  Even before I watched this show, I loved it, but even more so now.

Jonathan, pushing against conformity for the sake of conformity since season 1 episode 2.

If this shopowner can afford giving her an advance, he sucks for not just giving it to her; if he can’t, I sympathize.  Idk how to feel, tbh.

Nooo, poor Mike. I understand, tho.  I, too, rant about my fixations until the other person walks off.  ‘Tis sad, every time

Mike and Will practically hugging in the photo though (photo post here)

Mike legit almost ran out in front of his mom with El right behind him; y’all ain’t inconspicuous

Um.  Just pointing out the symbolism of Mike suggesting hiding in the closet as a viable defense mechanism

“I don’t want you to feel like you have to hide anything.”  *thump*  “Is there someone else here?”  “Nope!”  That went well.

Poor El

Poor Joyce

I think I’m gonna write those four words a lot for this show

Poor Benny  (See?)

Um.  *Jonathan shoves Lonnie off him*  “You’ve gotten stronger”  SIR?!  I don’t like that insinuation.

Dustin is adorable.

Oop, spooky door slamming motion.  And nosebleed.

(I’m sorry, but I have to say… It’s a pet peeve of mine that the blood never changes from that same, one-centimeter drip out of her left nostril.  Like, it’s the stupidest thing, but it irks me.)

Lonnie, you’re an asshole.

Oh, he actually tried it: “Look, all I’m saying is, maybe I’m not the asshole, right?”  No, sorry, Lonnie, you’re definitely the asshole.  Many times over, in fact.

Dustin is the only one acting normal; he’s so cute

Y’all ain’t acting normal; it’s a wonder no one’s noticed

I’ve had Dustin’s “spasm” thing in my head ever since I first saw that episode.

Nancy being mean to Dustin again :(

Go Mr. Clarke, finding the clue

Dustin continues to be my beloved

Poor El

“A friend…”  “Is something you’d do anything for.”  “You lend them your cool stuff, like comic books and trading cards.”  These two answers are not equivalent, btw, and it’s very easy to tell which is Mike talking about Will and which is Dustin talking about Will.  *cough cough* Byler *cough cough*

Dustin and Lucas in the background were quality.

Barb deserves better

“Is that a new bra?”  “...No.”  Mmmhmmm

Who tf is this chick? Hopper had a gf?

Ma’am just wiped off their campaign map; how dare.  Better hope Mike had that written down

Also, how convenient of her to know which miniature was Will’s alkdsfj

Okay, I’m sorry… Look, I love, love, love the D&D stuff, okay.  But the fact that Dustin, Mike, and Lucas are all like oh my god she picked up the demogorgon is kinda ridiculous because it’s not like she knows what it means?  She just saw the mini and was like, ooh, scary thing, that works. (At least as far as we know)

Love the music

Steve, buddy, you are so awkward

Poor Barb

I could neverrrrrr.  I hate trying something new with an audience and then screwing it up, and this was such a doomed-to-fail situation, too

Poor Barbbbbb

Carol deserved getting shoved into the pool for that smirk, just btw.

Although, judging by how steamy that pool is, it doesn’t seem that cold, tbh

Jonathan being creepy

Will and yellowish phones again

FLICKER LIGHTS

Poor Joyce never has working technology

I still love this song

I was waiting for the bulb to burst but it didn’t… at least her tech isn’t not-working that badly

Also, the light-flickering-and-music-combo to show Will still trapped there/get her to go back in is so cool

“Well, you are cleaning the sheets”  The sad bit is, Steve’s parents probably wouldn’t even notice if they weren’t laundered at all

Poor.  Barb.

Steve’s room is so horrible.

“Some… privacy please?”  *he turns*  “Steve?”  *takes off shirt*  Ma’am wot.  (Yes, I know, the first might well have been a test to make sure he’d respect her boundaries, but still.  Ma’am.)

Poor Barbbbbb.

I will say, the photos Jonathan took, for all they’re creepy, are very pretty.

The image of the blood passing through the water was pretty

I love this song too… Hazy Shade of Winter?  Gold.

And that’s a wrap!

[brionysea]

everyone thought mike was acting weird in "the weirdo on maple street". we're probably supposed to think it's el, but mike spends the whole episode on maple street too, and he lives there

had lucas even called el a weirdo yet at that point? she was revolving around a normal life, mike's life, looking at pictures of his friends and family and messing around with ted's chair. ted wheeler is the epitome of ordinary

meanwhile, with mike

he gets weird looks at breakfast

el gave him a weird look when he showed her his toys (while he was play acting with a doll having superpowers - specifically powers like el's)

dustin flat out called it weird that mike would even be late to school, let alone not show up

karen gave him the "you're acting weird and i'm worried about you so please don't hide from me" talk

lucas thought he was out of his mind when he connected the dots about el recognising will

what does it say about mike if el, the apparent titular weirdo on maple street, thinks he's weird?

[jonathanbyersphd]

Ok but have we all discussed how the Wheelers living on Maple Street is a reference to the Twilight Zone episode The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street to the point that the second episode is titled The Weirdo on Maple Street and how the main idea of the TZ episode is that any slight deviation from what’s normal (in this case MESSING WITH THE LIGHTS), biases and prejudices can lead to people accusing each other of being the enemy and mass hysteria all the while the actual “villians” watch the people tear each other a part as part of their slow take over. 

ANYWAYS there’s something in here about conformity and being Queer in the 80s and our main protagonist (Will) being gay (but also Mike lives on Maple Street) that I can’t fully work out rn but you get it right? 

[henrysglock]

"In many ways, the opening of The Navidson Record, shot back in April of 1990, remains one of the more disturbing sequences because it so effectively denies itself even the slightest premonition about what will soon take place on Ash Tree Lane <1>. Not once during those initial minutes does Navidson indicate he knows anything about the impending nightmare he and his entire family are about to face. He is wholly innocent, and the nature of the house, at least for a little while, lies beyond his imagination let alone his suspicions. Of course not everyone remains in accordance with this assessment. Dr. Isaiah Rosen believes "Navidson's a fraud from frame one and his early posturing puts the entire work at risk." Rosen assumes the beginning is just a case of "bad acting" performed by a man who has already envisioned the rest of the film. ... All too often major discoveries are the unintended outcomes of experiments or explorations aimed at achieving entirely different results <2>...Rosen's assumptions lead him to dismiss the cause for the result, thereby losing sight of the complex and rewarding relationship which exists between the two." (8) "Despite Rosen's claim, nothing about [Navidson] seems particularly devious or false. Nor does he appear to be acting. In fact he is a disarmingly pleasant man, lean, attractive, slowly edging through his 40s..." (9) "Chad who is three years older than Daisy is a little more self-conscious, even serious. Too often his response has been misread by those aware of the film's ending. It is important to realize, however, that at this point in time Chad has no sense of what the future holds. He is merely expressing anxieties natural for a boy his age who has just been uprooted from his home city and deposited in a vastly different environment." (9) ""...Sometimes it's just silent, no sound at all" "Does that scare you?" Chad nods. "Why?" asks his father. "It's like something's waiting." "What?" Chad shrugs. "I dunno Daddy..."<3>" (9) "...he says, removing a big clump of [Karen's] blonde hair from the tines...Considering how beautiful [Karen] appears on the dreadful Hi 8 tapes, it is hardly surprising editors frequently relied on slides of her pouty lips, high cheekbones, and hazel eyes to sell their magazines." (11)

"Even better, Navidson has permitted the action and subtlety of the composition to represent the profound sentiments at work without the molestations of some ill-conceived voice-over or manipulative soundtrack" (11) "Dale Corrdigan has also pointed out that Karen was anything but a lovely housewife: "Karen hardly gave up the promiscuous behavior that marked her 20's. She only became more discreet." (16) ""...It's the middle of May but I felt like I was lying in a freezer..." (17) "Of course, nostalgia's role in shaping the final cut must not be forgotten, especially because within a year these pieces were all Navidson had left...<4>" (18)

[emziess]

Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson The Weirdo on Maple Street, Stranger Things

[alwaysmoncheri]

𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

summary: in which best friends, y/n henderson and steve harrington get caught up in their feelings while paranormal activities occur in the small town of hawkins, indiana

𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞

I - the vanishing of will byers 1.9k

II - the search 2.1k

III - the weirdo on maple street 2k

IV - the house party 2.1k

V - the body 2.4k

VI - pictures 1k

VII - the woods 2.4k

VIII - don’t turn off the lights 1.7k

IX - monster hunting 2.5k

X - the kiddie pool 2.7k

XI - let’s kill this son of a bitch 4.1k

XII - happy holidays 2.7k

𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐨

XIII - mad max 3k

XIV - new kids on the block 2.4k

XV - halloween night 4.6k

XVI - tension 1.9k

XVII - episodes 2.3k

XVIII - the cellar 2.3k

XIX - sexual electricity 3.1k

XX - the junkyard 3.3k

XXI - hawkins lab 2.3k

XXII - the spy 1.8k

XXIII - together again 3.4k

XXIV - the fight 2.6k

XXV - tunnels 3.1k

XXVI - the snow ball 3k

𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

XXVII - scoops ahoy 3.3k

XXVIII - suzie, do you copy? 2.7k

XXIX - the code 2.4k

XXX - evil russians 2.6k

XXXI - the air ducts 2.1k

XXXII - child endangerment 2.4k

XXXIII - booby traps 2.8k

XXXIV - the gate 2.4k

XXXV - caught 2.9k

XXXVI - drugged 2.1k

XXXVII - escaping evil russians 101 2.8k

XXXVIII - interrogate me 3.6k

XXXIX - the bite 2.4k

XL - the mind flayer 2.1k

XLI - scoops troop 3k

XLII - the battle of starcourt 4.5k

XLIII - new beginnings 2.7k

𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫

XLIV - the pep rally 5.4k

XLV - the nightmares 5k

XLVI - the game 2.5k

more tba!

alwaysmoncheri © ─ all rights reserved. please do not repost/translate/copy any of my work.

[stladies]

NANCY WHEELER 1.02: The Weirdo on Maple Street

[djo]

STEVE HARRINGTON Stranger Things | 1.02: The Weirdo on Maple Street

[love-byers]

Season 1, Episode 2. The Weirdo on Maple Street

Dustin: I think we should tell your mom.

Lucas: I second that.

Mike: Who's crazy now?!

Lucas: How is that crazy?

Mike: Cause, we weren't supposed to be out tonight, remember?

Lucas: So?

Mike: So, if I tell my mom and she tells your mom and your mom...

Dustin: Oh man...

Lucas: Our houses become Alcatraz.

Mike: Exactly. And we'll never find Will.

Mike: Alright, here's the plan. She sleeps here tonight.

Dustin: You're letting a girl--?!

Mike: Just listen. In the morning, she sneaks around my house, goes to the front door and rings my doorbell. My mom will answer and know exactly what to do. She'll send her back to Pennhurst or whoever she comes from. We'll be totally in the clear. And tomorrow night, we go back out. And this time, we find Will.

Season 4, Episode 9 The Piggyback

Mike: I feel like my life started that day we found you in the woods, and you were wearing that yellow benny burgers t-shirt, and it was so big it almost swallowed you whole. I knew right then and there in that moment that I loved you. And I have loved you every day since.

mike fell in love with el the moment he saw her, but was planning how to get rid of her maybe an hour after finding her??

making the perfect plan of how to get rid of her so that he wouldn't get in trouble and could go out looking for will again??

mike is a LIAR. A BIG FAT LIAR.

HE'S LITERALLY CONTRADING THE SECOND EPISODE OF THE FIRST SEASON BRO

LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE

and for the mlvn stans that defend this by saying he didn't know he was in love with her yet or hadn't fallen for her yet, you're admitting that he lied to her in his monologue. because HE HIMSELF says he knew right then and there in that moment that he loved her, and his feelings haven't wavered since.

he. is. a. LIAR.