ivy

Max hadn’t been happy about moving from California to Hawkins, Indiana. Neither had Mayella, really, but she tried to remain optimistic. She was looking forward to the new adventures that a different environment would bring. 

Their family had grown, whether any of the kids liked it or not. Billy could be cruel, and harsh, and a truly terrible person sometimes; but May could see under the layers in his very few moments of vulnerability. She could see that his behaviors mainly came from the person he was raised by. His father. Neil Hargrove was the worst man that Mayella and Max had ever met. He yelled constantly at the most miniscule of things. Mayella was never sure how he was with their mother. At times he could get angry, but usually he would control it before Mayella and Max could notice. Susan Mayfield had married him anyway, much to her daughters’ protests.

Thus, the move to Hawkins, Indiana. Susan tried to be positive, convincing them that it would be for the best. Mayella couldn’t help but have the sinking feeling that that was far from the truth - and that their lives would never be the same again.

To help Max cope, May was quick to find the nearest arcade. The arcade was always somewhere that Max could go to blow off steam, or to relax. The sisters had since been to the arcade three times since moving, and were now there for a fourth. Mayella was running low on quarters, but it was worth it to see the smile it brought to her sister’s face. 

Max was quick to rush out of Billy’s car. The car that May had had to pry the keys out of Billy’s hands to use. The older redhead smiled, before taking the key out of the ignition and following her sister in. 

Her senses were immediately flooded by neon lights, sound effects of the various games being played, and the soft cushion of the carpet beneath her feet. She found Max at Dig Dug easily, the younger girl was already entered into the game as MADMAX. The name made her grin. 

“Have you beat your own high score yet?”

“Yes, twice,” Max says, laser focused on beating herself a third time.

 Mayella couldn’t help but laugh at the hyper-competitive nature of her younger sister. “You have an hour, we both have our first day tomorrow. I’ll be over on that bench in the corner,” She pointed to the bench, making sure Max saw. “With my book. An hour.”

“Yeah, yeah. Go be a nerd.” Max mutters, focus back on the game now.

Mayella was almost positive that Billy was going insane with the move to Hawkins. He still had his moments where he could be sweet and kind with her, but he had become an overprotective jerk over Max.

Getting ready for their first day at Hawkins High and Middle School was a nightmare. As the sibling in the middle, the older redhead tried to keep the peace as best as she could. However, that was not an easy task when their step-brother was yelling at the girls to hurry and Max was stubborn and kept pushing back.

Finally, after a rushed morning getting ready, and a half eaten breakfast they were in Billy's car heading to school.

"Jesus, Billy, would you slow down?" May asked as he pushed the speed limit by twenty. "You'll be lucky if we don't be pulled over. Neil will be pissed." Mayella had tried to keep what little calm the morning had, but she was near her breaking point as the engine kept increasing in its volume.

"Mayella," Billy bit out. "Don't be a bitch just because you failed your test."

Max sighed audibly from the back as they pulled into the school parking lot and was quick to grab her skateboard and head towards the middle school as soon as he parked.

"Such a pleasant morning, Billy." Mayella snipped sarcastically before grabbing her bag and slamming the car door shut; not missing Billy yelling at her for it.

From the corner of her eye she could already see various girls gawking at Billy and she couldn't be bothered to contain the roll of her eyes.

What Mayella didn't notice, was the couple watching her walking towards the school doors. Their eyes filled with curiosity. They glanced at each other, before grabbing their things and heading towards the doors as well. Nancy heard the bell of the middle school and couldn't help but wonder if the boys would run into the younger redhead that had bolted toward the other building.

Mayella was not having a good start to the school day if she was being frank. First, Billy. No further explanation needed on that. Then the teacher of her college English course gave her three books that she needed to catch up on for the first exam that would be in three weeks. And now as she was walking into her next class, she's stopped by the teacher.

"All right guys, new student. Mayella Mayfield from sunny California." Mrs. Ellars stated, cheerfully, excitement lined her voice and May wanted to die. "Tell us something about yourself, Miss Mayfield." The older teacher continued, missing the girl's discomfort.

"Uhm, I play guitar." The redhead sighed, fidgeting with the rings on her fingers.

"Well that's delightful, deary!" The woman cheered. "Anything else?"

Mayella gave a forced smile as she shook her head and moved toward an empty seat near the back of the classroom.

As the teacher started to pass out old assignments and talk about what she would be going over during that class period, Mayella felt something beginning to poke her in the back. She whipped her head around and was faced with a mousy haired brunette grinning at her.

"Hi! I'm Robin. Robin Buckley."

"Hi, Robin," Mayella chuckled. She couldn't help but be drawn in but the contagious bubbly nature of the girl.

"So you uh, play guitar?"

"Yes?" Mayella laughed.

"That's amazing I play French horn in the school band." The younger girl nodded with enthusiasm. "It's our common trait. It can be what we bond over."

"What, so no shared trauma?" Mayella deadpanned.

"Not yet, at least." Robin rolled her eyes, tapping her nails on the desk. "We should probably pay attention now, Mrs. Ellars may seem really nice but she can also be a bit testy." She winced playfully and winked - Mayella laughed silently, turning back around to face the front of the classroom; her shoulders shaking.

Mayella was standing beside her locker, when she heard the end of a conversation from the two people walking to the locker next to hers.

"Just come, you might even meet someone." The girl is cut off by a third person sneaking up and lifting her up and spinning her.

Mayella tries to sink further into her locker to stay unnoticed and to stay out of whatever was happening next to her.

The girl glances over embarrassedly after sharing a kiss with the guy. "Oh, hey. I'm sorry." She laughs timidly. "I'm Nancy. You're the new girl, right? From California?"

"The one and only. I'm Mayella." The redhead smiles, glancing at the two boys standing beside Nancy. "And you two are?" She smirks, a teasing lilt in her tone.

"Oh! I'm uh- Johnathan." The first guy states awkwardly, swaying back and forth.

"Steve." The other guy nods his head once in greeting, an awkward smile tilting his lips.

"Hey! You should come to this party tonight." Nancy holds out a bright orange flyer, and May takes it from the girl.

"Thanks, I'll see you guys around." Mayella smiles and shuts her locker before walking away.

Mayella Mayfield had no desire to move in with the Hargroves and absolutely revolted at the idea of moving to Hawkins, Indiana. After much convincing and slight emotional manipulation on her mother’s part, Mayella reluctantly succumbs to the idea and settles into the fact that she was moving away from sunny California. 

What Mayella hadn’t known when she had accepted that she was moving was that the town she would soon call her home was roaming with the unknown. Another thing Mayella hadn’t expected? The cute brunette boy that would make enemies with her new step-brother (her books would tell her that it would be the perfect opportunity for a forbidden romance). 

The eldest Mayfield daughter is pulled into the unknown by a small brunette child with an infectious smile and a head full of curls. How could she not embrace this haunted town?

Abigail Cowen as Mayella Mayfield

Joe Keery as Steve Harrington

Steve and Mayella

May and Max

Robin and Mel