Highway To Hell •Steve•Billy•

VOL. 1 Chapter One: The Hellfire Club

"Straight to the gym, everyone" Few students give me a wave and a smile, some fist bump me and some tell me that they'll see me just before lunch to get their detention slip signed.

?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿

Students cheer and clap as the cheer team dance around and flip and shit. Our school mascot just shuffles and throws his arms around in front of the crowd in their big Tiger costume. The band also play, Robins in the band too, along with her big time crush, Vicky.
The band finish their tune off with a bang and the cheer squad finish their routine off with a few flips here and there and a shaking of the pom poms before coming down and sitting on the gym floor in front of the front row to watch the basketball team run out through a hand made banner.

"And let's hear it for your Tigers!" The crowd goes wild as they all cheer for the boys.
I watch Lucas run out amongst the boys, my clapping picks up but for him, and only him. I'm just very proud, from knowing him as one of my little brother nerdy friends to a young man who's found a place in high school.

"Good morning, Hawkins High!" Jason Carver, captain of the basketball team yells out to the crowd "First off, I'd like to thank each and every one of you. Without your support, we wouldn't be here. Give yourselves a big hand" The crowd riles up again "And of course, I have to give a special shout - out to the best and the prettiest fans of all time, the Tiger Cheer Squad" The girls shake their Pom pome out of excitement
"Chrissy, I love you, babe"

The cheer squad aww, however, the rest of the school back down a little from second hand embarrassment.

"You know, I think, I can speak for all of us when I say it's been a tough year for Hawkins. So much loss" I feel a shift in the air "And sometimes I wonder, 'How much loss can one community take?' In dark days like this, we need something to believe in. So, last night, when we were down by ten points at half to Christian Academy, I looked at my team, and I said, 'Think of Jack. Think of Melissa. Think of Heather. Think of Billy"

My heart stops, I quickly glance over to Max, as do a few people. My heart aches for her, the loss and pain she feels daily, I couldn't even imagine. It's painful to me, and he was simply a close friend.

"Think about our heroic police chief, Jim Hopper. Think about every one of our friends who perished in that fire' What did they die for? For us to lose to some some crap school?"

"No" The crowd begins to rile up again

"For us to return home with our heads hung low in defeat?"

"No!"

"No! Let's win this game. Let's win this game for them, and that's exactly what we did!" I look towards Mike, Dustin and Max to see them not so impressed, I don't blame them, this kid is getting up in front of the school, putting these names on blast, all for his speech about winning a high school basketball game.

"We embarrassed those candy-asses in their own house, and now tonight, tonight, we're gonna bring home the championship trophy! Let's go!"

This time the crowd go wild, all the boys shake hands and everyone claps.

?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?¿?

It's just before fourth period and I head around to the bathroom, making me jump as I go to push open the door but Max beating me to it and pulling it open from the other side.

"Max, hey, great to see you today"

Max quickly steps forward and wraps one hand around me, rests the side of her head into my chest. A moment of comfort for herself and me. I pull her in as I wrap one arm across her shoulder blades and give her a comforting rub as she pushes away.