The Long Game━ (l. sinclair)

a day of no dana

Getting up from her back, Sam shook her head. "Corey's right. I'm too blonde, anyways. I'm being stupid."

Stephanie straightened up to stand again, upset at how quickly Sam was dismissing her feelings about this. She had her back turned to Stephanie, and it was like she could sense Stephanie was about to speak, because when Stephanie opened her mouth, Sam was speaking again.

"I'll just scrounge around in the costume bin after school, I guess," Sam dismissed, and Stephanie could physically see the wall being built around Sam before her eyes. To Corey, she continued, "I need to get all my stuff together, but it shouldn't take long."

Looking guilty but choosing not to comment on it, Corey said, "I'll wait up for you."

"Thanks," Sam smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

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Every morning, Sam, Lucas, Mike, Corey, and Dustin met up on the streets to ride to school together. Every morning since November 14, 1983. Sam was very aware of this, but for the first time since then, she didn't want to greet her friends at all. She did not want to answer any questions about her lack of costume. Sam was already in a bad enough mood.

Of course, the first thing that came out of Dustin's mouth, was a badgering, "Why aren't you dressed as Dana?"

Corey kicked Dustin in the side of the leg while Sam sighed.

"My uncle said the costume was a no-go," Sam explained, trying not to put any emotion or opinion into her voice. "So, no Dana. But it's fine, the group doesn't need her."

"The group needs Dana," Lucas was disagreeing quickly, knowing Sam all too well. "There's really no way you can pull it off?"

Sam and Corey made almost identical faces, shaking their head in unison. For Sam, Corey answered, "I would say a definite no. I witnessed it. It was..."

"A definite no," Sam finished, sharing a traumatized look with Corey.

The other boys shared upset looks. They really wanted Sam to be a part of this group costume with them, but they also knew how much of a douche Uncle Dan could be; neither thing were heartwarming, and actually, the latter was very concerning.

"Maybe you can sneak out?" Mike attempted, with an unsure tone to his voice.

Corey raised an unamused eyebrow, said, "On Halloween night? When he knows Sam wants to dress up as something he didn't say she could dress as?"

Before Mike could snap back at Corey, Sam interjected, "Really, it's fine, guys. I'll still Trick-or-Treat with you. Just... not as Dana."

"If you say so," Dustin said, although he was frowning, upset about the whole ordeal.

The five friends arrived at Hawkins Middle soon enough, three of them vocalizing the Ghostbusters theme song while Sam was content to remain silent and Corey gave an apathetic and poorly-timed, 'Who you gonna call?' every five seconds.

"Okay, you guys can shut up now—"

"Da na na na na na, nananananana—"

"Guys, seriously—"

"Na na na na—"

"I'm going to kill myself—"

"Who ya gonna call?!" The boys all screamed in unison as they cycled towards the bike racks, each of them grinning as Corey visibly grew more annoyed, even Sam.