The Long Way Back

Move in

Hawkins, Indiana. A place I didn't even know existed before my so called dad got up and decided that we're moving there to start over.
Palm trees and long forests, sunshine into clouds, billy's non stop nagging about the speed limit while max pretended to sleep in the backseat.
Few hours later we stopped in front of a house which was..... nice? Bigger than I expected, clean, quiet in that unsettling suburban way. Billy immediately claimed his room like it was a competition. Max stuck close to me as I wandered through the hallway, touching the walls, wondering how long it would take before this place stopped feeling temporary.
I found a room with a big window and claimed it as mine, I put my bag and helped max out her stuff in the room next to me. All I wanted to do was to take a shower and get the road smell out.
After the much needed shower I wore my clothes and went to check on max and found dad already waiting for me in-front of my room so It didn't take long for my new role to be assigned.
"Adeline, you're watching Max," my dad said, already heading out the door.
Which basically meant Billy was driving, and I was responsible.
So when Billy smirked, grabbed his keys, and said we were going out, I knew exactly where we were headed before he even opened his mouth.
The arcade.
Max's mood instantly changed. I followed them to the car, not knowing that babysitting my stepsister on our first day in Hawkins would lead me straight into something I wasn't prepared for at all.

Billy parked like he owned the place. The arcade lights flickered against the darkening sky, the noise spilling out every time the doors opened. Max rushed inside without waiting, already forgetting she'd been quiet all day. Billy lit a cigarette and leaned against the car then got in and left.
3 hours passed I was growing impatient and was heading back to the arcade to get max .

I didn't see the car until I heard it.

Tires screeched. Too close. Way too close. I froze.

The headlights stopped inches away from me, the sound of the engine roaring in my ears, loud enough to make my chest lock up. For a second, I wasn't in Hawkins anymore. I was back home. Yelling. Doors slamming. My dad's voice. My heart started racing before I could stop it.

The car door flew open.

"Shit oh my god.... are you okay?"

A boy jumped out, panic written all over his face. He was tall, broad-shouldered, hair... ridiculous, honestly. Like he'd fought a can of hairspray and somehow won. But his eyes warm, brown, worried (very pretty but this is not the time) were fixed on me like I was the only thing in front of him.

Behind him, a girl climbed out of the passenger seat, clearly furious.

"You can't just pretend nothing happened, Steve!" she snapped. "She's dead. Barb is dead."
What do they mean, who's dead .

"I know that," he said, running a hand through his hair. "I just I'm saying maybe we try to move forward, I'm sorry but there's nothing we can do about it right now but to be there for her parents and just try to move on"

She shook her head, tears in her eyes, and walked away without another word, disappearing down the sidewalk.

The boy whose name I assume is Steve, watched her go, guilt heavy in his posture. Then he turned back to me.

"I'm really sorry," he said softly. "I wasn't paying attention. Are you hurt?"

I swallowed. My voice came out small. "I'm... okay, you seemed pretty distracted."

The noise had shaken me more than the near miss. My hands were still trembling, but I tucked them into my sleeves, hoping he wouldn't notice.

"I can drive you wherever you were going," he offered quickly. "I mean if you want. Just yeah." He says scratching his neck
I glanced past him, then back at his face. "Aren't you gonna go after the girl who ran out of your car?"

He winced. "Shit. Yeah. I should. I'm really sorry." He hesitated, then added, "I'm Steve. By the way."

I gave a tiny smile, barely there. "I'm Adeline."

"Are you new?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Yeah. Just moved here."

"Well... welcome to Hawkins," he said, like he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. "Nice to meet you."

Then he jogged off in the direction the girl had gone.

I stood there longer than I meant to, watching him disappear, the echo of his voice still sitting in my chest. Something about him felt... kind. Sad. Familiar in a way I couldn't explain.

I shook it off and headed back into the arcade.

Max was already at a game, fully absorbed. I tapped her shoulder. "We're going."
we started the walk home, and talked about our day and plans for this new town, the night air cool against our skin.

I glanced once over my shoulder.

The street was empty now but somehow, Hawkins already felt a little less unfamiliar.