her world had never been more peaceful. the moment max opened her eyes, it felt like home. a sense of home she’d never before known, one she’d doubted the existence of for most ( if not all ) of her life. tranquility had settled comfortably over hawkins and it had been… god, she couldn’t even remember how long, since the thought of evil crossed her mind. currently she sat on the barren floor of the byers’ old house, idly dragging her skateboard across the barren floor with the toe of her shoe. music played from behind will’s closed door. what used to be will’s door. she couldn’t recall who’d put it on, or the name of the song. all she knew was that it was familiar, beautiful in a way that made her want to cry.
stars shining bright above you…
as she sat idly ( and became increasingly bored whole doing so ), max pondered on her plans for later in the day and tried to ignore the nagging question she had of why she was there in the first place. she knew the byers had moved back to california, she had the postcards at home to prove it. she thought back on recent events, her past few interactions with her friends in search of any reason she’d have had to show up here. she came up with nothing. it felt more like she’d been drawn here, spending what seemed like hours going between skating and sitting. it felt like she was waiting for someone. there was a disappointed sigh, denoting the exact moment she gave up on this bizarre endeavor. she stood and dusted her jeans off, eyes trailing down to the board she’d popped into her hand, grip tightening around the edge as she prepared to pick it up, tuck it beneath her arm until she was outside again. impatient hands pushed auburn hair out of her face as she turned to the door. one step, then another, echoed through the house. the song from down the hall got louder, drawing her attention away.
dream a little dream of me…
too familiar. brows furrowed in confusion as she tried again to place that goddamned song, eyes locked on the closed door with a renewed interest. she started toward it instead, pace quicker now than before. she’d just reached it, hand poised over the knob until a sound from the front of the house caught her attention once more. the locks were turning on their own. dread crept up her throat as max redirected once more, this time with the skateboard stretched behind her shoulders. a readied weapon. she planned to swing the moment the door began to, falling just short of connecting it with her best friend’s face.
“… el?” another baffled look, though this time it’s overshadowed quickly by her elation. frenzied hands dropped the improvised munition in favor of reaching out and taking hold of @ro11erskate’s arms, pulling her until the distance between them was non - existent. “what are you doing here? why aren’t you in california?” each inquiry asked from over jane’s shoulder, desperate hands holding the two of them as close as possible without the ability to fuse. she only lets go enough to pull back and examine her, hands resting on the brunette’s shoulders. “what happened to your hair?” ( aka : jane successfully making contact with max in her coma – only, max has no idea she’s in one. )
MAX, MAX, MAX ! every day it was more of the same, like a perfected loop: jane screaming into the void to no avail, frustration and dread building like a monster in her belly. one that roared vengefully, a promise that her best friend would be gone forever. NO. she would not accept it. it wasn’t inevitable, joyce says to have faith. that max is strong. jane knows this, too. there was always one thought heavy on her mind, one that she screamed in her sleep and in the hidden away caverns of her subconscious that she was desperate to will henry to hear.
IF YOU’RE LISTENING, TAKE ME. GIVE MAX BACK, TAKE ME INSTEAD.
one hand is wrapped around max’s fingers, the other gently brushing stray red hair behind her ear. el’s eyes close with determination and focus. deep breath in, deep breath out. inhale. exhale. they are alone today, and she hoped lucas would not come yet. the tangible world slips away and she is in a new place, one she had not thought of before. she is in will’s old bedroom, posters still on the walls. like nothing changed at all, music playing from his stereo. as she turns on the spot slowly, watching light pour in through the window, today feels different. like there is someone else here. but not bad. an overwhelming presence of good, a soul strong, courageous, unrelenting and familiar. one that spewed laughter, the smell of old comic books collecting dust and fresh pines, the reminder of staying true to yourself. max.
( birds singing in the sycamore tree ... )
eyes bore on the closed door in front of her, heart beating faster as she dares to hope she will finally find max behind it. ❝ max ? ❞ there is no answer, the only response is the echo off of the walls. they darken into mist as she reaches out and turns open the door, revealing their old hallway. it is empty. disappointment drops like a heavy noose, until she hears a loud call from the front door.
( ... sweet dreams that leave all your worries behind you ... )
el approaches with caution in her step, it isn’t until she is about to collide with the door that she wills it to open with a subtle push of her mind. it happens in a blink, her head tilting back reflexively to dodge max’s swing. max who is here, waiting on the other side. eyes are wide, partly in shock and partially in disbelief. ❝ max. ❞ her name is breathy on elated lips, the end of her name coming out like a relieved exhale. like el could breathe easier now. arms squeeze max’s frame tightly, almost too tightly. it finally worked. forehead creases into a knot of confusion at what she hears next, just in time to look into the equally confused gaze of her best friend. eyes study max blankly, narrowing slightly. her mouth opens, but no sound comes out for a beat. ❝ you mean ... ❞ she starts, realization setting in. she does not have all of her memories here. voice is gentle, though direct. she never did know how to approach these situations, what was the right way. ❝ you don’t ... remember? you do not know. ❞ guilt sets in tenfold, as it dawns on her that she would have to explain what she did before she got the chance to tell max how sorry she was. that this was all her fault, that she was not strong enough to save her in time. ❝ max, you're not ... awake. ❞
