June 30, 1985
14:28
Starcourt Mall
After a bus ride much like the one Teddy had been on to go find Ron in Michigan, she followed after Max and El as they stopped in front of a huge building with a large neon sign.
Starcourt Mall
Max had started forward towards the doors but stopped when she realized the sisters weren't following her, that they were still standing by the bus. El in awe, and Teddy with worry written across her face.
"Hey," Max carefully took Teddy's hand, "What's wrong."
Teddy shook her head, looking around, "Too many people."
"Hopper's rules." El clarified
Max nodded before looking back at Teddy, "Hey, it's gonna be okay. Listen to me, you and El both have superpowers and if anything goes wrong you got me to protect you." Teddy chuckled at that, her worry going away, "What's the worse that can happen, hmm? Now come on!"
The tall girl then allowed herself to be dragged in by the taller girl with El right beside them, pushing through the doors and into the huge mall. Teddy was in shock as she looked around at all the people and stores, she had never seen anything as big as this place.
"So, what should we do first?" Max asked before looking at the two girls who still had shock on their faces, "You've never been shopping before, have you? Well, then I guess we'll have to try everything. This way!" She then raced towards a large red store filled with fake people and clothes, the two sisters grabbing hands before running after her.
"This," Max held her hands up in a motion to the store, "Is where we can get you some new clothes. Ya know, stuff you like."
"Like?" El asked, looking at multicolored hats as Teddy ran her hands along the different fabrics on shirts.
"Yeah," She heard Max's voice, "Stuff you like. Not Mike. Definitely not Hopper. Whatever you like." Teddy glanced over the rack, shooting a large smile at Max who she found was already looking at her.
El then appeared, different hats and belts thrown all across her body that she eagerly held up to Teddy wanting to see what she thought. The blonde looked over everything in El's hands before grabbing a yellow hat from her left arm and placing it on the brunette's head causing them both to smile before El ran off again.
Teddy then wandered over to a rack of multicolored sweaters, smiling as she felt how soft they were before pulling one that was pink and blue, looking over the bright colors with wide eyes. She then quickly grabbed a yellow and green one before running over to the shorts section where she found some light blue and yellow shorts.
Just as she turned around to show Max what she found she stopped when she saw a short baby pink dress on a hanger, looking at in awe. She let the rest of the clothes she was carrying tumble to the ground as she grabbed onto the dress, running her fingers over the lace.
"Do you wanna try it on?" Max's voice appeared next to her as she studied the dress.
"Try it on?" She repeated causing Max to nod and pull her towards some dressing rooms where El was already standing before Max pushed both girls into separate stalls.
As she stood in the dressing room Ten noticed that she didn't really know what would look good together so she figured she might as well just throw things on and see what they look like.
After changing, Jodie opened the door to see Max and El looking at El's outfit in a mirror. El was wearing bright yellow paints with a teal shirt with lots of different lines on it topped with red suspenders and the yellow hat from earlier.
Teddy giggled as she watched El pull on her suspenders causing the other two to turn around and see what Teddy had on.
It was double denim, with a jean jacket and a jean skirt with a yellow shirt underneath the with white polka dots on it.
"Whoa, Jo." Max stared in shock as a smile started to form on her face "You look amazing. Totally badass."
Jodie then caught herself in the mirror, smiling and laughing along with her friends, "Yeah, Badass."
The girls were then ushered back into the changing room to try on and pair many more outfits. El came out wearing a white dress with paint lines on it and a red belt wrapped around her middle while Teddy premiered in a pink sweater with jeans causing all the girls to freak out when they realized that the sweater lit up, causing many of the other shoppers to look over at them which only made them laugh harder.
Teddy then came out in the pink dress she had been staring at earlier while El was still changing leaving her to just show Max who looked at her in awe.
"Badass?" Teddy asked, looking at herself in the mirror. How the pink fluff ended at her knees and was nice and bright.
Max couldn't help but stare at her, "Wow. Teddy, you look awesome."
After buying many many clothes and trying on many more than they bought the two Hopper sisters exited the store in new clothes.
El was rocking a black romper with many different colors and shapes all over it making it a funky and bright pattern while Teddy exited wearing the pink dress she loved so much with a brown belt around her waist and a light wash denim jacket over her shoulders.
The girls all then linked arms, shopping bags flying behind them as they ran through the mall, though Teddy stopped in her tracks when she saw a store with blue and yellow patterns all over it.
Max glanced up at the sign that read Flash Studio and smiled at the two girls, "How do you guys feel about a photoshoot?"
They all then made their way inside, giggling as they were given bright colored blazers and pearl necklaces and clip on earrings and giant fluffy hats before they were told to stand in front of a background.
"That's it girls!" The employee behind the camera called as the three all stood with Teddy in the middle the other two leaning against her sides, "Okay here we go!"
The flash clicked and Max ordered the girls to change spots, all standing in a line from shortest to tallest with their arms around the other's shoulders.
The girls then went through many different scarves and jackets, taking photos where they were kissing towards the camera, one when El and Teddy were back to back making finger guns with Max crouched in front of them, and one where they were all holding hands and laughing.
After getting their photos printed, Max tore them so they would each have a set. Teddy looked down at her own, smiling at how silly they all looked with their crazy hair and feather boas.
El then dragged the other girls into a shoe shop, wanting to try on the tall high heels she had seen in the window. Teddy watched, covering her mouth and trying not to laugh out loud and Max attempted to help El walk in the heels though her sister fell right over causing them all to burst out laughing as Teddy helped her sister up. Max then nudged her gently and pointed over to a group of girls with big hair that rolled their eyes at them making them laugh even harder.
After the shoe adventure they had followed the girls to the food court where they all watched from behind a pillar as the girls were sipping drinks and talking to a boy.
"Okay, El, ready?" Max asked causing the other girl to nod as she focused in on the drinks using her powers, suddenly the drinks exploded sending soda all over the girls and causing them to scream as El, Max, and Teddy laughed before quickly fleeing the scene.
"This is fun!" El cheered
Max nodded, looking over at Teddy, "Exactly! What did I tell you?"
Teddy laughed, rolling her eyes as they made their way towards the moving stairs, "Who needs stupid boys?"
After traveling up what Max explained was an escalator, the girls found themselves inside a sea themed ice cream shop that she was sure Dustin had mentioned.
As they made their way up to the counter, Teddy broke into a wide smile as she recognized the boy in the strange sailor uniform.
"Steve!" The boy looked over, his face quickly changing to a smile as he realized who it was.
"Hey Jo! Hey guys." He greeted the girls, happy to have something to entertain him, "You want some ice cream?"
"Yes!" All three chorused.
After giving their orders Steve handed each of them their cones, Max with strawberry, El with vanilla and sprinkles, and Teddy with cookies and cream with chocolate sauce.
"Thanks Steve!" Teddy cheered as she licked her cone.
"No problem." Steve nodded, until something finally crossed his mind as he looked at Teddy and El, "Wait. Are you guys allowed to be here?"
The three girls all traded glances before laughing and running off leaving a bewildered Steve behind at the register who only shrugged before turning back to scooping ice cream.
The girls then made their way downstairs, laughing as they exited the mall and headed towards the bus, only stopping to take a lick of the others' ice cream flavors.
"Oh wait." Max frowned.
Teddy looked around as El took notice that her sister was still holding onto Max's hand, "What's wrong?"
"You have got to be shitting me." Max then moved in the opposite direction of where they were heading, the two sisters trading glances before following after her as she made her way towards the bike stands where they recognized three familiar faces.
"Isn't this a nice surprise?" Max asked, sarcasm in her voice as they approached Mike, Lucas, and Will all with bikes in hand.
Mike looked up at the voice, his eyes landing on El and then Ten as he let his bike fall from his hands as he looked at the Hopper sisters, "What are you two doing here?"
El narrowed her eyes at him from where she stood by Max, she was annoyed that Mike had lied to her, "Shopping."
Max only nodded, motioning her head towards Teddy who was still in shock that Mike had actually lied to her, "This is her new look. Hot right?"
"What is wrong with you?" Mike asked Max, annoyed with her even more by the second, "You know they're not supposed to be here!"
Max only rolled her eyes, "Oh, what is El, huh? Your little pet?" Mike glared at Max before walking closer to the the two sisters.
"Look, El, Teddy, come on. I'll take you home." He reached out towards El but she took a step back.
"No."
Mike's eyes widened, "No?"
El nodded, remembering what Max had told her, "You treat me like garbage."
"What?" Mike asked in shock, looking back at Lucas and Will who looked just as confused.
El kept her eyes on Mike, "You said Nana was sick."
"She is! She is sick!" Mike tried to argue, looking at Will and Lucas for help.
Lucas jumped in, "Yes Nana is sick! Really sick! That's why we're here."
"To get a gift."
"For Nana!"
El's eyes went back to Mike as he spoke again, "And also to get something for you which is hard because I only have like $3.50 so that's not much help and-"
"You lied! Why do you lie?" El called out, anger growing on her face, when Mike didn't respond El straightened up, "I dump your ass."
And with that she turned on her heels, making her way towards the bus with Teddy and Max right behind her as they climbed up the steps and filed into a seat all together.
Max waited once they had all sat down and the bus had started before breaking into a wide grin, "That was awesome!"
"Badass'." Teddy added on, her smile wide at how proud she was of her sister.
El smiled at the two girls, taking a moment to lick her ice cream cone before she looked over at Max, "Bitchin?"
The redheaded nodded so hard the seat shook, "You just dumped his ass, El! Totally bitchin!" The girls couldn't help but laugh, recounting the look of shock on the boy's faces as the bus pulled out of the parking lot.
Yeah, totally bitchin.