chapter eight!
Cassie had always been good at holding a grudge. She once went over six months without talking to her best friend in California until she admitted that she'd stolen her mixtape. Being petty was one of her best talents, but something about her attachment to Max made it hard for her to be mad at her. So, despite the redhead and Lucas ignoring her for an entire evening, she treated Max as if everything was okay. But only this once; she can't be so forgiving often, it would hurt her reputation.
It was later in the evening when Lucas showed up at their house. Cassie believed she'd never heard of such stupidity. Max had been sitting on her bed, trying to fix her skateboard with duct tape. Cassie was "helping", despite her definition of helping was just sitting there and making conversation. She laid on Max's bed, tossing a small toy ball up in the air and catching it as she rambled away to Max. Cassie had originally tried to read one of her comic books, but Billy's workout music was simply too distracting.
A knock on the door was heard somehow over the music, Cassie and Max sharing a look. The two assume Billy will answer the door, which was proven to be incorrect when Billy turned his musoc down and shouted at the two.
A few knocks later, Billy turns off his music and yells, "Hey! One of you guys gonna get that?!"
"Okay!" The girls respond in unison, Cassie rolling her eyes as she rolled off of Max's bed.
Lucas Sinclair was the last person who should've been at their house. He has been lucky it wasn't Billy who had answered the door, or even worse, Cassie's dad. Cassie let out a huff of surprise as she pulled Max out of the house and shuts the door behind her before Billy can see him.
"What are you doing here?" questioned Max, her normal annoyed tone laced vaguely with something that sounded like concern for the boy.
"I have proof."
"What?"
"He has proof?" muttered Cassie, before her eyes widened in realization. "Oh! He has proof."
Lucas nodded his head, pointing at Cassie in confirmation. Cassie smiled proudly to herself. Lucas turned back to Max, who still seemed lost. "Proof that what I told you was real," he paused "But we have to hurry."
"What kind of proof?"
Lucas quickly explained the situation with Dart, and how Dustin and Steve needed their help. Max's expression faintly showed interest, as if his determination helped her along the road of belief. Cassie grinned, she was enjoying the idea of being apart of something so dangerous and interesting.
Max eventually agreed, telling Lucas to wait for them outside of their window. Lucas nodded, pulling his bicycle around the side of the house. The sisters re-enter their house, Billy grabbing Cassie's arm as they tried to return to their room. Max stopped as well, turning back to face the siblings with a look of worry on her face.
It was moments like these that made Max think. Looking at the brother and sister before her, both wearing matching scowls and having aggressive posture, she couldn't help but wonder. Billy and Cassie were almost the same person. They shared their looks, their anger, their confidence. Although she would never admit it to Cassie, she'd never seen two people be so similar. Of course, Cassie wasn't racist in the slightest and she'd never be mean to anyone without reason, but sometimes the blonde scared her. Once, just a few years prior, Cassie had made a girls life miserable at school because she had made a comment about her mother. Just the summer prior, Cassie had beat up a high school freshman for trying to be too friendly with Max. Max had never seen her act with such anger. She was grateful for the girl, but the blonde had almost killed that guy. Sometimes, when she had enough time to stop and think, Max would worry that Cassie would eventually turn into her brother.
"Who the hell were you talking to?" asked Billy, drawing Max away from her thoughts.
"Mormons," lied Max, pulling Cassie away from Billy and towards their room, "Talkative ones."
"Real nice people, easy to make convo with. I'll be praying for Mr. Matt's sick wife," continued Cassie with an enthusiastic nod, her voice trailing off as Max dragged her away.
Max quickly moved to the window, Cassie shutting the door behind her when they enter the room, Lucas stood there, waiting patiently. Max climbed out first, Cassie following behind as she not-so-gracefully landed roughly on the ground. Max snorted, Lucas holding his hand out to help her up. She doesn't take it, and instead pops back up on her feet and brushed herself off as if it didn't happen.
"Cassie, do you have a bike?" asked Lucas, Cassie nodding as she pointed across the yard. Lucas then turned to Max and tells her to get on the back of his. She does so without hesitation.
"This better be good stalker."
The two waited for Cassie as she grabbed her bike, muttering to herself the entire time about being a third-wheel.
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
"I said medium well!" shouted Lucas, as the trio biked into the old junkyard. Cassie was only a few yards behind the other two and had to deal with their dumb flirting the entire time there. She was about ready to cut her ears off and gouge her eyes out. Something about watching a boy flirt with her sister made her want to throw up.
Dustin looked over as Lucas waved, noticing that Cassie and Max was with him. He couldn't help but grin at the sight of the girl he had formed a crush on. Cassie biked over to him before stopping. Dusting goes to say something, but is cut off by her holding up a finger signaling for him to wait.
"Hold on, I am burning up. I was wearing a sweater and I didn't have time to take it off because Lucas was in a hurry but after biking all the way here I cannot breathe in this thing," She rambled as pulled off her brown sweater that was paired with some light denim baggy jeans. Under the sweater she had on a light blue tank-top. She sighed in relief, taking a hair-tie off her wrist and pulling her hair back into a low ponytail to keep it out of her face. "Okay, go ahead."
Dustin smiled, "Hey."
"Hi."
"I like the shoes," he commented, pointing down at her feet. Cassie looked down with her eyebrows furrowed, then let out a laugh. She was wearing one black converse and one blue. In the rush to leave her house, she hadn't even noticed she put on two different shoes, just noted that they were both converse.
"That was totally on purpose."
"Uh-huh."
Cassie looked around them, taking in the sight of the junkyard. "Cool spot. Wait-," she paused, "Why the hell are you with Steve?"
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
Cassie wondered if all labor could be this fun if monsters were involved.
The blonde was helping Steve and Max board up an abandoned school bus while Lucas and Dustin stood apart talking about who-knows-what. Cassie was joking around the entire time, leading Max and Steve to silently bond through fond annoyance towards the girl.
Steve eventually got frustrated at the boys, turning to yell at them as Cassie tried to get Max to sword fight with her, using a piece of metal as her shield.
"Hey dickheads! How come the only people helping me is Cassie her sister?" Dustin and Lucas shared a look as he paused, "We lose light in like, forty minutes, lets go!"
𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒
They made it into the bus before the sun goes down. Lucas was sat on top of the bus, keeping look-out while Steve played with his lighter. Dustin stood pacing, Max and Cassie sitting on the opposite end as Steve.
"So you really fought one of these things before?" asked Max, Steve nodding in response. Cassie hummed to herself, finding the boy only slightly cooler than he did before.
"And you're like totally, one hundred percent sure it wasn't a bear?"
Cassie snorts at Max's suggestion.
Dustin scoffed, seemingly offended by the question. He gave Max a rude look, "Shit, don't be a idiot, okay? It wasn't a bear. Why are you even here if you don't believe us? Just go home."
"Yeesh, someone is cranky," replied Max, unbothered by his attitude. She moves to join Lucas on the rooftop. "Past your bedtime?"
Steve facepalmed, Dustin giving him a confused look. Steve sighed.
"When I said show her you don't care about other girls, I didn't mean to be dick to her freaking sister," he said in a hushed tone. Dustin's eyes widened, as if he'd just came to a genius realization. Steve shoved him towards Cassie, who was twirling her pocketknife in her hand. "Go talk to her."
Dustin takes a deep breath, standing up straight with his shoulders back as he approached. Cassie looked up, her eyebrows raised at the approaching boy. Dustin motioned to the seat next to her, "May I sit?"
"It's a privilege to sit next to me," she sighed, jokingly. Dustin frowned, turning to walk away before she caught his arm. "I'm kidding. Sit, you've earned the privilege."
This time, Dustin catches the humor in her tone and laughed. He sat down next to her, Cassie sitting her knife down in her lap. Dustin bit the inside of his mouth, "So..."
"So...?"
"Hey."
"Hey Dustin," Cassie grinned at the boys awkward antics.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay," he started, a small adoring smile forming on Cassie's face. "I mean, with everything going on. I know it's scary and a lot to take in. So... how are you?"
"I'm aye-okay, Curls. This is the most exciting thing to ever happen to me, honestly," she admitted, nudging the boy with her shoulder. "Almost makes moving to Hawkins worth it."
"Aren't you scared you're going to get hurt?" asked Dustin, tilting his head adorably to the side. Cassie laughed a loud, genuine laugh at this question. Steve even looked up from staring at his hands, pretending not to listen.
"Think about who you're talking to. Absolutely not," she continued to laugh, "Stopped caring about that a long time ago."
Although her words were humorous and meant to be funny, Dustin couldn't help but frown. He'd picked up on a lot since he met her, and despite her extravagant personality, she never once showed any worry for her own well-being. She did stupid things to get attention, not caring if she got hurt in the process.
"You should care," he muttered, almost inaudibly. Cassie looked towards him, almost surprised. Cassie would never say it out loud, as she wasn't the type to get pity-attention, but she never cared because it made no difference to her if she lived or died. She just figured she'd rather go out in a fun way instead of by the hands of her father, which is how she imagined her dying most of the time.
Between her father, her brother, and the stupid shit she did, Cassie hasn't thought she would live past 18 since the fifth grade, and that idea didn't even bother her. She'd mastered being able to lock people out of her heart because she knew she cared too much for people. That's why she kept so many friends, but none ever close. Never once a serious crush, much less a serious relationship. She'd broken a lot of her own rules when Max came along and she'd gotten so attached. The more people she cared about, the more people that could leave and the more people she would miss when she was gone. She always had a deep gut-feeling that Max only connected with her because she had to and she had no one else. She always felt like Max liked her, but never loved her like a sister would.
Despite her attention-seeking, outgoing and confident personality, Cassie believed herself to be unlovable. That's why her mother left, why her father hates her, and her brother resents her. She was unlovable. And that was okay, or so Cassie told herself. Sometimes, late at night when she couldn't sleep, Cassie would wonder what it would be like to be cared for. What it would be like to have friends she could rely on and form deep connections with.
It was a depressing thing to think about, so she never thought about it too much.
Or maybe she never stopped thinking about it.
Cassie was still in shock over what Dustin said, almost speechless. Dustin hesitantly put his hand on her shoulder, making her look over at him. His eyes were pretty. Really pretty.
"I care, Cas. I don't want you to get hurt."
His words felt like someone splashed a bucket of cold water on her face. She'd never heard that before. Sure, a fair share of people had crushes on Cassie and told her they loved her, but she'd never known those people. Dustin said it genuinely. They were simple words, but they sent a pang through her heart and she had to stop tears from brimming in her eyes. Before, she thought Dustin was a cute guy who had an adorably childish crush on her (yes, she knew he liked her. He wasn't good at hiding it). Now, it felt like he had taken a sledgehammer to the walls she had built up and was finding his way into her heart.
"You don't even know me, Dustin," she laughed. As usual, her thoughts never communicated through her words.
"But I want to," he admitted. "I want to get to know the real you. I want to know your hobbies, I want to memorize your favorite songs and be able to recite your favorite movies. I want to see beyond the person you show everyone else. I want to know you, Cas."
Cassie's mouth falls open, and she goes to respond, "Dustin-"
Screech!
The noise was honestly less shocking to Cassie than Dustin's words. Still, it was an eerie sound that gave the blonde goosebumps, "That wasn't a fucking bear."
Dustin, Cassie, and Steve all rush to the window, peering out in search of the creature.
"I dont see it, do you?"
"Nope."
"Lucas! What's going on?" Dustin yelled up to Lucas. Just in the few minutes of her and Dustin's conversation, Cassie had forgotten Max and Lucas were up there.
"Hold on!" yelled Lucas. It was silent for a moment as Lucas searched. "I've got eyes! Ten o'clock!"
They quickly look around before Steve spots him and nudges Dustin, "There."
Cassie looked over Steve's shoulder, her eyes widening in curiosity as she saw the strange creature.
"What's he doing?"
"I dont know, he's not taking the bait," noted Steve, panic raising in his voice. Cassie side-eyed the older teen, wondering what he was to do next. "Why isn't he taking the bait?!"
"Maybe he isn't hungry?"
"Maybe he's sick of cow," muttered Steve as he reaches over to grab his bat. He makes his way towards the front of the bus, readying the bat in his arms. I want one, thought Cassie as she looks at the nail-filled bat.
"Steve? Steve where are you going? Steve?"
"Just get ready," dismissed Steve, throwing Dustin the lighter. Cassie cheers for Steve as he walks off the bus and towards the intimidating creature. He whistled a few times, attempting to gain it's attention. Cassie laughed as he spoke to it as if it were a puppy.
"C'mon buddy, I'm not gonna hurt you,"
Max climbs down the ladder and approached the teens with wide-eyes, "What's he doing?"
"Expanding the menu."
Steve creeps around the monster, attempting to keep it's attention on him. Lucas remained on the top of the bus, keeping watch. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught something that changed their plan completely.
"Steve, watch out!" shouted Lucas, his eyes remaining on the second Demogorgon.
"Yeah, I'm kinda busy here," replied Steve, not looking away from the first creature. Cassie eye catches what Lucas found and she too began to shout at Steve.
Lucas continues to yell from above, but it is only to no avail because the monsters begin coming from every direction. Cassie's heart races with adrenaline and Max held her back from running out there to join Steve.
Dustin opens the door to the bus and yelled out to Steve, "Steve, abort! Steve, abort! Steve!!"
Cassie searched the bus for something to help, finding an old toy ball underneath one of the seats. She ran back to the bus door, shoving Dustin and Max aside.
"Maybe they're like puppies," she shrugged, throwing the ball out for the monsters to chase. "Here boy, go fetch!"
The ball landed not far from a Demogorgon, not even fazing the others. The creature picks it up in his mouth and swallows it whole, letting out a loud roar as it began to charge towards the bus. Cassie grimaced, "Shit, shit! Not like puppies, not like puppies!"
Steve swung his bat at the one closest to him, knocking it away. Several more swarm him, making the younger teens scream out his name and cheer him on. The one Cassie had unintentionally aggravated was still running their way and Cassie quickly threw her pocketknife at it, the knife burying itself in the creatures mouth and consequently making it back up as it tried to cough it out. "Motherfucker, that my favorite knife!"
Just a few moments later, Steve pushed his way through the door and slammed it behind him. One of the Demogorgon's run head first into the door, making a dent. The young teens screamed as Steve tried to block the door.
"They can't get in! They can't get in!"
One burst through the door, causing everyone to scream. Cassie grabbed a wooden board, slamming it down onto the monsters face with a shout, "YEAHH!"
Dustin grabbed Cassie by her arm, pulling her back before she could get hurt. Steve took over, using his bat to beat the Demogorgon until it was out of the door.
Dustin goes and grabs his supercomm and screaming into it, "Mike! Will! God, anyone! We are at the old junkyard and we are going to die!"
Suddenly, the bus shook. Everyone looks up. The Demogorgon makes it's ways towards the emergency exit hatch on the roof, the bus shaking with each move it makes. Everybody's eyes follow the roof, watching it come into view. They all backed up, Cassie being pressed back against Max. She could feel her sisters shaky break and pushed her further behind her.
The creatures face opens and a loud growl left its mouth. Cassie scrunched her nose up in disgust at the monster as Max screams and pulls Cassie back. Steve shoves them all back protectively, his bat raised protectively, "You want some?! Come get it!!"
"Steve, that is the dumbest thing you could say!" shouted Cassie, her voice slightly humorous.
The Demogorgon stopped, looking up as all the noise around them came to a pause. Cassie is utterly surprised when the creature simply runs away. She looked around the group as they all catch their breath. Each and every one of them looked terrified, then relieved that they made it out alive. They were all so scared for her life, and for the first time Cassie started to worry. She realized, in that moment, because of Dustin's words, that it was not okay to not be afraid in a situation like the one she had just been in. The way that she was so ready for death, so accepting that she even taunted it. Waited for it. Enjoyed the feeling of danger. It was like she had a death wish, and she wished that she could care that it wasn't normal. She just couldn't. She didn't have a reason.
For some reason she thought of Dustin.
"What happened?" asked Lucas.
"I don't know,"
"Steve scared him off?" suggested Dustin, making Cassie scoff is disbelief.
"No, no way," denied Steve, looking off in the direction they left, "They're going somewhere."
"Oh, please say we're following them!"
a/n: sup! finally edited this one. gonna try and finish editing soon, but no promises. hope you all have a wonderful wonderful day!
-maddie