𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲, steve harrington

17. FAME, CARRIE AND CAMAROS

"Yeah - and it's in the back." Sadie rolled her eyes. "Hey - nothing changed that much this year; your friends still love me and I'm still your older sister who is willing to do things for you. Find other teenage girls like that. You can bike back, but I'm going that way anyway so I might as well as drop you off."

"Yeah, but it's so not cool." Dustin complained, slumping in his seat. "Will-"

"Will hates it just as much as you do. It'll make him feel better to see you being dropped off that way." She replied, rather matter-of-factly. "And I don't blame Mrs Byers for being a little more protective when it comes to cycling home after dark. It's almost the anniversary now. Its - what.. a week away?"

"Yeah." Dustin nodded, swallowing. "I guess that's a pretty good reason. But only this time, right?"

"Sure, only this time." Sadie nodded. "Besides, I'm going to Family Video to pick up a movie. Rosemary's Baby if they have it or Carrie - ooh Carrie.. or if they don't have any others.. I'll go for Fame again."

"Swear the entire place relies on you renting that every few weeks." Dustin grumbled. "Don't rent Fame once and the place goes bankrupt."

Sadie swung around into the parking lot. "Shut up." She rolled her eyes, coming to a stop. "Is that a Camaro - no way. Californian plates... Z-28, 1979 maybe?" She peered at it through the window of her car, not really noticing the girl sat inside it ducking down.

She paused, turning back to Dustin, who was staring at her. "What?" She asked.

"Nothing." Dustin pushed the car door open, Sadie copying his actions and standing up, shutting it behind her with extra car prior when opening it. "Just didn't realise you knew so much about cars."

"I don't.. just some of them. And this car is... never mind. You need some more quarters?" Sadie asked, digging into the bag swinging from her side and extracting a small purse. "Here - share some of it with the boys and.. use this to buy me some candy."

"You think? Nuh-uh, this is going straight to Dragon's Lair." Dustin stared at the bill before pocketing it. "Enjoy your film."

"Look out for Will." Sadie called over her shoulder as she pulled her jacket further over her shoulders and tugging down the hem of her sweater to cover her midriff as she headed towards the Family Video store to the left of the bustling Palace Arcade, which was practically overflowing with kids - despite it being a Monday evening - as they spent all the quarters they could manage to scrape together the night before Halloween.

The arcade seemed to have become a place for the group to meet up since it re-opened at the end of summer. She was pretty sure the newest buyer had been the guy who brought the shop down the road from Bradley's Big Buy that always caused the owner grief - most teenagers made purchases from the smaller convenience store on account of the cashier being very lenient on age guidelines - and the newest buy was planning on purchasing a store in the mall being built in the town.

They were pretty lucky it had come into new management, because after last year there was no way Will could just hang out anywhere. The arcade had people - way too many people, really - and for Mrs Byers that ensured Will's safety.

But as for now, Sadie would pass the swimming-pool-blue Camaro with only a glance of interest, not wanting to cause too much discomfort to the girl sat inside it, and reach the swinging doors into the Family Video.