ASPEN | Stranger Things

Chapter Four | We're Out

"Come on, Mike," Dustin complained.

"No! This is non-negotiable." Mike snapped at the others.

"Sorry, Max and Aspen." Dustin apologised.

"Sorry," Lucas muttered before they followed Mike and I sighed.

"Stupid party members," I mumble and threw down my skateboard angrily. "I thought we were apart of their stupid group."

Max huffed. "Apparently, not."

I watched my skateboard roll away and I quickly went to grab it. I walked back over to Max. "Come on, let's go do something fun."

-

The bell rings and I stand outside Max's locker who puts away her things. "Hey, Max and Aspen. Have you guys seen Dustin?" I turned and saw Lucas approaching us. "We're supposed to meet after class."

Max closed the door and grabbed my arm before storming off. We both held our skateboards in our hands and ignored Lucas.

"Max? Aspen!" Lucas comes after us. We continued outside and Lucas followed us. "Hey, guys. Hey! Where are you guys going? Come on! We've got to look for Dart."

"Yeah, good luck with that." Max snapped.

"What is wrong with you guys?" Lucas demanded.

"What is wrong with us?" I scoffed. "What is wrong with you?"

"I don't understand!" Lucas exclaimed.

Max then turned around sharply and I followed her. "No! We don't understand! You guys act like you want to be our friends but then you guys treat us like garbage!"

"That's not true!"

"Yes, it is!" I backed up my sister, glaring at Lucas. "You go and hide in the AV Club, keeping secrets like we're in second grade or something. You know, I thought you guys wanted us to be in your party."

"We do. But it's..."

"But what?" Max demanded.

Lucas sighed. "There... there are just things. Things we can't tell you, all right? For your guys' safety."

"Our own safety?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes!"

"Because we're girls?" I figured.

"What? No!" Lucas cried out.

"Did you keep secrets from El?" I asked.

"Who's El?" Max whispered to me and I ignored her.

"How do you know about El?" Lucas asked.

"Did you?" I raised my voice.

"That was different," Lucas tells us and I rolled my eyes. "Trust me. Okay? That was just... just different."

"Okay, you know what? Forget it, okay?" Max intervenes. "We don't want to be in your stupid party anyway. We're out. Have a nice life."

Max and I turned away and begin to walk towards Billy's car. "Max! Aspen!"

"You still stink, by the way!"

We walked towards Billy, who was waiting for us. Surprisingly. "That kid you guys were talking to, who is he?" Billy questioned as Max and I jumped in the back and Billy got in the front.

"He's no one," I answered grumbly.

"No one?" Billy asked us, raising an eyebrow.

"This kid from our class." Max decided to share.

Billy then decided to pull out a cigarette and lit it. I hate the smell, but I don't dare tell him that. "Why was he talking to you guys?"

"It was just about a stupid class assignemnt." Max lied.

"Then why are you guys so upset about it?"

"We're not!" I snapped.

"He causing you trouble?" Billy continued to question. Why does he care anyway?

"Why do you care?"

"Because, Max and Aspen, you're both piece of shits, but we're family now whether we like it or not, meaning I'm stuck looking out for you guys," Billy said.

"What would I ever do without-"

I went for a sarcastic remark, but Billy cuts me off. "Hey!" He shouted. "This is serious shit, okay? I'm older than both of you. And something you learn is that there are certain type of people in this world that you stay away from, and that kid Max and Aspen... the kid is one of them." My heart begins to rise faster at the tone of his voice. "You stay away from him, you hear me? Stay away."

I shrink back into my seat and Max gave me a look, tears forming in her eyes. I looked out the window and closed my eyes.

A/N

Sorry for such a short chapter, next one should hopefully be longer. I love Max and Aspen so much, they've been through thick and thin together.

Anyways, y'all know what to do, like, share and comment!