February 8, 1987
Even with her lacking eyesight, Maxine Mayfield would recognize that hair anywhere.
"Steve?!"
The sound barely escaped her lips, but Mrs. Brooklyn Harrington noticed. "You two know each other?"
The boy was just staring, wide-eyed, at the girl in front of him. Anyone else would've thought he'd seen a ghost.
"N-no, but we've met before, and you mentioned him. I just didn't realize it was the same Steve..."
"Oh, I didn't think I told you my son's name... Well, I'll leave you two to get acquainted, Maxine." She briskly walked into the kitchen and up to the second floor. As soon as she was out of sight, Steve wrapped Max in the tightest bear hug known to mankind.
"Jesus, Mayfield! How did you get here?" he said, eyes starting to water.
So she told him the whole story, minus the part about her step-dad. "And that's how I wound up here," She finished.
He caught her up on some stuff that had happened while she was gone, as all she had previously known was everything she heard them say while visiting her. "If you want, I can probably take you to see the party after work tomorrow. The Byers moved back after about a month."
"Uh, I was actually thinking I would wait a few... weeks... You know, try to get settled back in first."
"Oh, alright. Just don't murder me if I accidentally let something slip."
She smirked, glad he understood. That's when Ryan Harrington came downstairs with his wife and said, "Maxine, how would you like to go shopping with Brooklyn for your room?"
The girl was hesitant, but agreed. It wasn't actually even that bad! She already had a queen-sized bed there (perks of having rich parents) so she just got green sheets and a blue comforter, along with some pillows. Other than that, she helped Brooklyn pick out fall decorations and got a few candles for herself.
These new parents many have been assholes, but they could be fun assholes when they wanted to.