𝐌 𝐀 𝐃 𝐌 𝐀 𝐗

Even in the face of murder and what Max deemed baseless accusations flung against Karen Wheeler, some things still never changed. She rifled through the kitchen of Eddie and Jonathan's finding herself there out of necessity. She felt a little...complicated going to the Byers house like she normally did when the air conditioning in the trailer went out. Not bad complicated, just the kind of complicated that she didn't feel up to dealing with right now. The complicated that came with whatever she had going on with El. Max's focus fell on Eddie and the TV newscast droning on across from him, "What did you expect? Cops to do their jobs?" She scoffed at the idea, there was no such possibility in her world. She shuffled out of the kitchen, hands on her hips, "Do you and Jonathan have anything, not frozen?"

𝐖𝐇𝐎: @runawayymax & tommy. 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: forest hills trailer park 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓: we all love a good confrontation and reality check

When darkness seeped across Forest Hills trailer park, if Max was even home, she could usually be found following the same routine. Mom would get home from her shift, Max would keep smoking a joint in her room either listening to local radio babble or favorite tapes depending on her energy levels. She wouldn't appear from her room until Mom was certainly passed out. Max would then gather spoiled scraps from the fridge to feed the strays, then toss and turn for a few hours until sleep so kindly took her. She was solidly in the tossing and turning phase, squeezing her eyes tightly like it would ease images of the grotesque puncture in Billy's chest. Or maybe it would vanquish guilt manifested in Lucas' face, blinking at her with confusion. Some nights, like tonight, she recalled fuzzy memories of her father's face that she didn't care to see either. Here, alone in her bed, in the dark, Max Mayfield wasn't so tough. Her eyes closed tighter as she turned to press her pillow to ears. That's when she heard the car pull up, the clattering at the front door. After everything she'd seen, no way was she going out via trailer burglar. Who robbed a trailer park anyway? She moved quickly, careful to stay down as she tossed her blankets and pillows aside. The fibers of the rug scraped against Max's knees as she plunged a hand into the darkness beneath her bed, gingerly feeling around until her fingers curled around the cold, rusted metal of a crowbar. She held it in front of her, examining the even more rusted barbed wire coiled around the top third. Max had found all the materials at the dump, but was heavily influenced by Steve's nail bat-- the only line of defense between herself and Billy once upon a time. Her re-creation was assembled that winter, travelling with her from home, to trailer, for instances like this, where Max needed to keep herself safe. Mom must have dragged herself to bed at some point, because she was no longer passed out on the couch when Max exited her room with the crowbar gripped tightly in hand. She padded cautiously to the door, removing one hand to unlock the door and throw it open, immediately screaming, "GET OFF MY PROPERTY!!!" Her face fell, but the crowbar remained raised, "Tommy?" For a horrifying moment, it's like Billy's still alive and Tommy's bringing him home drunk. The life drains from Max's face, her throat closes, and sweaty palms adjust their grasp on the crowbar. Before Max could collect herself enough to ask Tommy Hagan why he was on her porch, he pointed out the box. Her eyes travelled in that direction, immediately identifying her step-brother's cologne, shirts, God know what else. Where her eyes were wide, her chest was tight, her entire body felt like it was floating, but she just stood there. Whatever Tommy said after that, if he said anything, fell on deaf ears. The trailer had it's problems, but at least it was untouched by Billy and Neil. There were no cracks where bodies collided into wall's, there were no features Max felt stupid for liking (like the color of the countertops) because Billy had said something contradictory. It was Max and Mom, no matter how messed up it was. Tears began to burn their way down Max's cheek without her permission, or her knowledge. As soon as she felt the wetness on her cheek, she was flooded with embarrassment, rage. Why would Tommy bring that stuff here? She charged past Tommy and at the box, bringing the crowbar down into the center of it, like it would erase Billy, every cruel act, from her life. The cologne shattered instantly as Max repeatedly battered the carboard, trying to beat away the pain. Anything she could come into contact with was destroyed with a fit of flailing arms and aggressive grunting. It wasn't enough. The box fell off the porch and Max chased it, kicking it until it was well off the property and she could safely return. Max stomped back up to the trailer, crowbar now at her side as she hissed at Tommy, "Why the fuck would you bring that here? You think I want that stuff?!"

El didn’t let go of Max’s hand when she finally took it. She looked down at it for a moment, like the shape of their fingers laced together might somehow explain what she was supposed to say. Maybe it was stupid to have done it in public, but was El ever known for thinking? She couldn't recall ever seeing girls hold hands like that. It was always a boy and a girl, and as Max laid it out for her, she began to realize that.

El was different. Anyone who was close to her knew that. It had nothing to do with where she came from, the darkness she'd endured, or the fact that she once possessed power beyond belief. Max liked that El was honest, supportive, her outlook was one of a kind. It helped that she had pretty eyes too. Max wished the world worked the way El saw it. Happy to hold hands now, she nodded, breathing a little easier to learn her best friend hadn't been hurt, or had her time ruined by anything Max had done. That was new. Typically, she tended to feel at fault for things...everything. "Okay," She continued nodding, faster now, "Good. I just wanted to make sure we were all good, you know." Even more so, Max was relieved to hear the boundary of a serious relationship had been clearly and El was fine with that. There was less pressure and tension with El, than there was with a certain ex boyfriend of hers. Gratefully, she squeezed the other's hand. There was no effort to conceal the smile spreading across her face as El described her feelings. It seeped somewhere deep within Max. Without a doubt, she understood El, even in so few words. Max swung their arms a little, agreeing, "Yeah, I feel normal with you, too. Like, not stressed." She let out a breath, knowing that sentiment weighed a lot more coming from El than it did from her. But still, she hoped it meant something to the other girl. "It a Hawkins thing." Max insisted, digits entwined steady with Eleven's even as she turned to walk backwards. "People here just see things and assume the worst. Whoever started the stereotype about midwesterners being nice were liars. Sure, they'll help you in the grocery store, but they'll talk about you around there $400 grill when you aren't there to defend yourself---" Max paused mid-ranting and raving, reminding herself to return the point, "I don't agree with it, but that's just how they are." Max couldn't help but point out, "It would be totally different if we were in California. Or like, some parts."

He glanced down at the bar of soap for a second, brows raised. "Whatever that means", no further questions asked, Steve scanned the barcode but showed no interest in ringing her up. Store was practically empty, and he'd be damned if he was going to let an opportunity to talk with Max go to waste. It was hard to remember the last time he'd had an actual proper talk with her, the last time she hadn't successfully escaped his attempts to reach out or evaded chitchat going deeper than 'how's it going'.

Max didn't care to indulge Steve by explaining more about fixing up her board than she already had, and opted to staring at the register, waiting for her total. Once she realized Steve wasn't ringing her up, she shifted her blazing stare to him. Her glare didn't waver until Steve put on that stupid song. Max hung her head, wild curls draping over her expression of disbelief. "Turn this shit off." She crossed her arms, peering over the counter to see how far of a jump it would be to just turn the tape off, "Which girl gave you this?" She asked, unimpressed at Steve's attempts to be subtle. More importantly, Max prodded, "Did she dump you? Or did you dump her?" Much to her relief, his reaction to her invasive questions and comments about his car were enough retribution for the terrible song, which passed quickly as she watched Steve attempt to be stern. She groaned louder than whatever song was playing now at the inevitable how are you. Max despised that question. Even more than that, she was determined to evade it on the principle of it being useless. In most ways, Steve actually was better than the general population, but when it came to the guilt stitched into his actions, his words, he was no better than everyone else. Max was tired of being the girl with a dead brother. By now, she'd concluded that label would probably follow her forever. How discouraging. "The dogs have always run the country, Steve." Max rolled her eyes and snatched up her soap, making her feelings about what he'd asked loud and clear, "You really don't need to check in on me. But I'm good."

who: steve + @runawayymax where: melvald's general store what: it's the back-to-school sale and steve is wearing a silly apron

Max revealed what she was there for when she slammed a box of bar soap on the counter, "My wheels are squeaking." Soap could clean and lubricate, which one of the two should solve the problem. She didn't anticipate Steve knowing or caring enough about skateboards to need to know that. She left him with no further explanation. Her eyes drifted away from Steve's face and to the ceiling where the store speakers emitted his music. She made a face. Wait, and Steve was leaving messages on her machine? "Did you know it's pretty rude to play bad music in front of me?" She looked back down at him. "Seriously, Steve, what is this shit?" Max tended not to care for the stylings of Milli Vanilli and other pop groups. And Luther? Well, some Vandross reminded her of her Mom. "I didn't get your messages." It wasn't a lie, Mom was either on the phone all of the time talking to some new skeeze from The Hideaway or deleting messages when she was too drunk to remember she even did it. Rather than explain that, she snarked at Steve, "I was out. Busy doing drugs and having unprotected sex. You know, the usual." More seriously, she did ask "Did you...need something?" Max couldn't imagine what a phone call between herself and Steve would look like other than more annoying fretting. She had a lot of respect for Steve though, and the least she could do was try a belated follow up. Four years ago, Steve was the first semi-adult in her life who dared to stand up to Billy. She hadn't forgotten. Steve Harrington was a certified bozo, but he'd shown time and time again he was a good person. Her knuckles tapped against the hard top of the checkout counter as she pretended to think about it, "Let me guess..." Max baited Steve, "You're going to let me borrow your car for the first day of school?"

he wasn't sure if that was meant to be kind or not, but knowing max it probably was. he knew her well enough to know that her soft side could easily be mistaken for her gruff one, and it all depended on the context of the conversation. the fact that they were having a conversation at all without trying to bite each other's heads off was, in itself, rather incredible. as she continued, he felt his outward demeanor change. he didn't find himself all that interesting, considering himself so average that his personality bordered on dull, but he could always talk his friends up. he was consistently their biggest hype man, forever seeing the best in all of them (present company excluded), and he hoped they knew that. "oh, i'm so psyched," he answered, a genuine smile plastered onto his face as he thought of how their last schoolyear would go. "will has pretty much seen hawkins high already, but i plan to show him the best spots to hang out. spare me your disbelief, we definitely have different ideas on what the best spots are," he said before she could even scoff at him. "and as for el, i'm hoping i can get her in on hellfire too but i think that's a long shot. i'm still excited to show her all around the school. i hope she can find some friends besides the party that can protect her. other than you, of course." he knew they were close and that max would keep her safe, but they wouldn't be able to stick by each other all day, every day. there would be times when el was alone, and he hated to think of her getting picked on or pushed around. something max had said caught his ear, though, and he looked back over at her. "why would it be weird for me?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed as though he really didn't know what she was talking about. which he didn't, to be fair. "i think it's gonna be awesome."

Mike? Excited? About both of them? Noted. Wheeler had preempted her protest which made Max frown. She seriously doubted whatever spots he had picked out constituted as cool. Curious now, she asked, "What spots?" And as she continued, she watched Mike's expression carefully, "I just gave Will a similar offer, don't want to accidentally take him to the same places, you know." 'Other than you.' Mike's words flung at her like a ball to the face. It wasn't all that unfair granted her extended absence, but it was another reminder that Mike still considered her as different, other, separate from them. His opinion rarely held so much weight, but it made Max wonder if he was right at all, if she didn't belong with the party. She retaliated loudly, "I think if El wanted to join Hellfire she would tell you. Let her make her own choices about things before you say anything, Mike. Like, have you ever even tried asking her if she likes Dungeons and Dragons?" Max's ranting didn't end there, and she continued, "I was planning on showing her around, actually. So you can just focus on Will." She wasn't having a discussion about it! "Seriously? Why would it be weird for you?" Leave it to Mike to be so obtuse she had to literally spell it out. "You're always weird about Will." Smiley around him, nicer to him than anyone else, and extremely protective. Yeah. Max had noticed. She didn't want Mike to feel too backed into a corner though, not about something like that. She amended her sentence, "And El." He was protective of her too. It seemed everyone, other than Max, had that luxury. It was only when he got righteous about El it pissed her off. "What? It's a fair question."

Despite her natural slip into sisterly scolding, it was hard to keep a small smile off her lips around Max, who always seemed to find the humor in even the bleakest of moments. Nancy stepped in the line of sight between her and the vendor, if for no other reason than to avoid the trouble of having to apologize for being a passive witness to petty theft.

The thought of an overcrowded pool by itself made Max's expression curl up. She loved the sun, and swimming, but no amount of chlorine could disinfect people's sweat and sunscreen leeching into the water. Not to mention the dead bugs floating in the water. Yuck. She preferred going out to Lover's Lake, or even better, a real beach. Which Hawkins, of course, didn't have. Plus there were also a handful of memories backdropped by the Hawkins Community Pool Max didn't care to revisit. The masses could have closing day at the pool all to themselves. "Nothing like getting overcharged at the snack shack and dunking your head in piss water, am I right?" Whoever was in charge of planning city events should maybe start spacing them out. She didn't know if she believed Nancy that was all she had to report on, but she didn't care enough to pry further. Hawkins had gone back to being a normal, quaint town. And maybe that was for the best. Something Max could be thankful for or whatever. Max always thought Nancy was cool. First with her guns, then with getting out of Hawkins for college, seeing the world. But some of these questions? Not cool. She would have to poke at Jonathan to see if Nancy had a history of being tone deaf like her brother. "I'm here alone." For now she was, but she had a point to make! "Is that a problem?" She narrowed her eyes at Nancy Wheeler, "Something worth reporting about?"

"They're... both, I guess?" Lucas attempted to answer her question. He furrowed his brow, informing her, "They're basketball shoes but, like, cool ones." Lucas suddenly felt embarrassed about his shoes, like he'd just admitted to Max that he cared what he looked like-- which he did, but he didn't want to seem like a try-hard. That was the thing about popularity. As far as Lucas could tell, nobody was naturally cool-- but it was decidedly uncool to seem like you were trying. It was all so... confusing. Thank God his real friends didn't seem to care about any of it.

To say Max was skeptical was an understatement. It read clearly on her face, "I don't know if i trust your definition of cool." Again she asked him, "What shoe is it? C'mon, I won't laugh." Max might. She was partial to vans for herself, but she'd had the same pair since freshman year, because as Lucas was demonstrating cool shoes were expensive. But vans, no matter how beat up, were better than some generic, canvas, shoe. "As long as they're not like, Nike Cortez's, everyone has those." Lucas had conformed enough, hadn't he? Last thing Max wanted was to see him in a shoe every other boy owned. "I heard the Court Forces are cool. Good for fashion and basketball." She teased. From her spot on her board, she did try to shove Lucas, but he ducked out of reach. Their playful bickering was short lived with Lucas' 'What? The Cheerleaders?' God, he was the densest boy alive. "Being popular. A Hawkins Tiger Golden Boy." It seemed insufferable from the outside perspective, and rather than asking 'Do you like it?' Max had settled on 'How can you stand it?!' Max wasn't sure she was going to like whatever answer Lucas had to offer. He'd changed and so had she. Missing the metamorphosis was her own doing, could she really be mad at his answer? She probably still would be. She pushed off the ground twice, zooming in front of Lucas, but still looking back at him every once and a while to make conversation, "Mike's?" Her first thought was Is El going? But she wasn't going to straight up ask that. "I mean, probably. Will is holding some school supplies for me, so i have to get those at some point." She couldn't show a whole lot of enthusiasm for hanging at Mike's but at least they'd all be together. She'd spent so many years saying sure to Lucas' invites while knowing she wouldn't show up, the least she could give him in this instance was honesty. "You're so cheesy." Max shook her head in disapproval, though a smile silently crept up her cheeks, "I think this year is going to be exactly the same."

Chrissy took the hit without flinching. She wasn't sure what reaction she was supposed to give. Did Max want to see Chrissy's eye twitch? See if she'd back off?So, she just met Max's sarcasm with a soft, patient look that could’ve come straight from the therapy books she’d been devouring all summer.

Max was seeing Chrissy Cunningham in an entirely new light. Sure, she'd heard stories about her when she was in middle school, popular and kind, like some fairytale princess. Outside of that, her only context for Chrissy were gross comments from Billy. But this? This was something else. Max didn't know if she should consider the calculating calm from her guidance counselor as impressive, or threatening. Maybe both. Chrissy's eyes wandered like she was keeping guard of something, off in the distance. It made Max wonder what and what had happened in Chrissy's past that led her to land on guidance counselor for the rest of her life. Max didn't know how to respond about the Barbeque. On principal, she thought things like that were stupid. But in the quietest parts of herself, she liked the togetherness of being with her friends, even if it was at Mike's house. She couldn't just say that though. Still, being in the Wheeler Household was stability in her eyes. Even without Ted, Karen had it all together. Max wished her Mom was like that. Without realizing, her gaze began to drift off to the booths, just like Chrissy's had. "Well I know people who are going, so that will be nice." Max began to spin a wheel on her board. One of the last school counselors was always prodding about Max's friendships, encouraging her to like, open up or whatever. Naturally, she stuck her heels in the sand more. Telling Chrissy now that she was meeting up with people got all of that out of the way, establishing the fact she did have friends, sooner rather than later. She softened slightly as they talked about skateboarding. Max was actively aware whatever tactic Chrissy used was working. She kind of hated that. Her nose scrunched in disapproval, and a shake of the head, "No, definitely don't clap." A singular moment of peace was abruptly ended by the spiel Max knew too well. She made no effort to mask her disdain and groaned, "Can this step into my office bull wait until the school year actually starts?" It made Max feel like such a freak, to be that kid, perpetually hounded by the nicely dressed woman with a checklist. Classmates noticed that stuff and immediately made assumptions. It was the worst. Max wasn't eager to go back to that seeing as Chrissy didn't seem she would be all that different. She exhaled deeply, trying to shove a final nail in the coffin, "If I needed something, I would ask. Thanks."

Jonathan blinked at the pin in her hand, then at Max’s face. All sharp edges and bright defiance. If Max was expecting him to call her out again, he didn’t. He just scratched the side of his nose. “Yeah, okay.” He tried not to smile. Failed a little. Jonathan has, in fact, done worse. No one was counting the number of laws he’d broken while trying to save his brother from, well, literal death.  

Jonathan's lack of further resistance allowed relief to flood her body. Her plan for the button was a-go, and guilt free! Max would take that win. Once again, the conversation proved that, like always, she was right! Most people she called friends didn't have clean records, not with all they'd seen. So her the button pin? Small potatoes. She rubbed it in, just a little, "That's what I thought." Max smiled to herself, faint, satisfied. Her eyes followed Jonathan's raised hand to the church where he'd photographed for a wedding that was probably full of stuffy, boring people, who likely weren't even in love with each other. Once she'd gotten her fill of the church she looked back up at the other, "Rough. Was it good pay at least?" It would be so awesome if Jonathan whipped out a thick wad of cash in that moment. Wasn't likely, but she could only hope he had the much. For the sake of him being a good person. Max was hungry. And while it felt like ripping off a cuticle to accept what she called a pity meal, it was better than staring at an empty fridge with a growling stomach. She'd learned by now to take offers when she could get them. Plus, it was just Jonathan. "Yeah, I could eat." Her eyes wandered up the street, "I think my Mom's working a shift right now, she could probably get us a discount." As much as she didn't want to pop in and chat with her Mom, Max wouldn't contribute nothing either and a family discount was better than the $1.50 she had in her pocket. And even if she did offer it, she also learned by now that Jonathan wouldn't take it. She set her board down and hopped on, gesturing after the older boy, "C'mon!"

if their entire interaction had ended right there, mike wouldn't have been too broken up about it. he had acquired the keychain he wanted, she had proven once again that she was definitely cooler than he was, and finally they could go their separate ways and continue pretending like the other didn't exist. he was fairly certain that he was the only one pretending in that scenario, however, and he realized that the second that she went on to walk and talk. she must have known that she could get a rise out of him easily, her teasing tone seeping into his bones like the heat of the late summer sun. was it her fault for being purposely annoying, or was it his own fault for allowing her to get under his skin like it was nothing? probably a healthy mix of the two, if he had to guess. all he had to do was turn around and walk the other way; let her talk to herself until she noticed he wasn't even with her. he wasn't that big of an asshole, though. usually. "is that your way of saying you think i could make it onto the cheerleading squad?" he asked, falling into step beside her as he gave her a grin that was far too cocky to be taken seriously. "i think i have the height to play basketball, but that's about all i have. i'm as graceful as a baby giraffe so i don't think they'd want me to even try out," he admitted. among other reasons, he was sure. the nerdy kid didn't typically do a heel turn and become a star jock overnight. he would leave stunts like that to lucas. his grin faded and silence followed. sometimes, rarely, he wondered what his gripe with max really was. being the new kid all those years ago wasn't a crime, but he'd acted like it was. perhaps it was how quickly his friends had taken to her, even will. she had quite literally zoomed her way into their hearts, but apparently his had an impenetrable wall surrounding it for reasons he didn't want to think too hard about. "and for the record, yeah, kinda. i do have school spirit in the sense that this is my last year and i can't wait to get it over with," he said, answering seriously for a moment. "any keychain would have worked, but i guess i felt drawn to the lion this time. let's not look into it too closely."

"Jeez, Mike, ever hear of a joke?" Max scoffed. Mike Wheeler was far from cheerleader material and she even agreed that he was as uncoordinated as a giraffe. On principal alone though, Max couldn't simply take the easy route with him. It was the age old clicking in her bones telling her she had to argue with Mike, coming to her as naturally as floating on her back in a swimming pool, "You know if you and your school spirit really wanted to, you could get Lucas to pull some strings and get you on the team. Like, as a benchwarmer at least." She'd shell out $100 to see Michael Wheeler as a basketball player. Seriously? Even Mike was excited in some twisted sense. She was just waiting for someone to come along and agree that the last week or so had been chalk full of impending dread. Merely stepping into school made Max's stomach twist and turn. Then the thought of what followed when the year came to it's end sent her into a spiral, deep and dark like a well. Lose lose. She adjusted her skateboard beneath her arm and gripped it tighter as they walked, "Good for you." She forced a pleasantry, then balanced it out with another jab, "What classes are you taking? AP D&D? Whining 311?" It was uncalled for, but Mike's reluctant gratitude about the keychain shrouded her with a lingering sense of spite. Plus, it was difficult to make nice with Mike when Max had spent the last however many years hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly from Eleven. El, who Max cherished. El, who's bed Max spent night after night in. What kind of...friend would she be if she didn't hold a little bit of resentment for his best friend's ex? Mike didn't make it easier on himself by having Fort Knox built up around him and his friendship. Then again, Max wasn't all that different. Still, it made her feel thirteen again. Max cleared her throat, boldly continuing, "So are you excited about Will and El starting school with us?" If there was anything she was looking forward to, it was that. But more importantly, Max was dying to get something out of Mike in regards to their respective best friends. She had a hunch he wasn't going to be honest, so she tried to preempt it by intentionally riling him up, "Or is it gonna be weird for you?" Either way, Max was going to get a reaction! Or she was trying to.

"Yeah, definitely," Will nodded, tucking the coins into the money bag he'd ben left in charge of. He already knew he was going to slip her some of the nice gel pens too, and if she asked, he'd say his mom insisted. "Uh.. any color preference?" Will asked, glancing at the notebooks. It didn't seem like the kind of thing Max would particularly care about, but sometimes her and Mike's opinionated streaks reared in the places Will least expected. Better to be safe than sorry!

"Green." Max answered instantly, then after some thought, added, "Or black. Whatever you have really." She didn't want to make too much of a stink about it, as long as she didn't end up with some flashy Mead Critter Sitter folder, she'd be fine. "Thanks again." For hooking her up with the supplies, and for storing them. If she were to carry them around the block party, they'd inevitably get smacked out of her hands like they did to nerds in some corny teen romcom. She had to make a concerted effort not to allow her jaw to drop at the revelation. Joyce got a job at Hawkins High? Sure, it made sense or whatever. However Max anticipated it being a problem for her. Other staff, she could write off, but Joyce catching her ditching? That seemed almost impossible to wriggle out of. She stayed nonchalant, propping a hand on the table and asking, "Oh really? What's she doing?" She cast Will another look, one that privately asked And how do we feel about that? "Give yourself more credit than that, Will." Surely, he knew there was more than the stupid Hellfire Club. Maybe not? "Orrr, take a look at one of your brother's yearbooks. You'll be fine. You're friendly and get good grades, that's probably why they picked you." She assured sincerely. Max rarely felt lucky, more the opposite if anything. But in this instance, yeah, she was. She shrugged in agreement. Max had hoped maybe Will's excitement would rub off on her, but no luck. She wasn't going to dunk on him for it though, "Yeah. It'll be nice to have you and El at lunch and stuff. I don't know if I can take another six months of Dustin groaning about student council by myself." Still, she was unconvinced. It seemed everyone was excited about senior year, except her. "Hey, speaking of, are you gonna join any clubs? Other than Hellfire."

there was nothing, absolutely nothing, that mike hated more than price gouging in the name of an event. well, alright, that wasn't entirely true. he could think of about a hundred other things that were probably worse, but in the context of the situation, this was the worst. as if the heat of the day and the looming reality that school was starting all too soon wasn't bad enough, there he was attempting to spend the last of his hard-earned allowance on nonsense at the block party. it really was nonsense, too. he wanted an interesting little keychain to hang on the zipper of his backpack this year. nothing crazy, but something to emit that he was cool and of-age for the first time in his life. he'd spotted the wood-carved lion at the vendor's booth and had made a beeline for it. it was exactly what he had been looking for, and it was even in the image of their beloved mascot. what could be more fitting? twenty dollars, apparently. that was insane. he knew it was carved by hand rather than being something mass-produced, but that was a ridiculous request in his eyes. plus, he only had fifteen. he didn't think that dropping the price down by five dollars was too much, but they were making a real big stink about how it was one of a kind (despite the fact that it clearly wasn't) and how not many other people in town would have one. yeah, no shit, 'cause no one else in their right mind would pay twenty bucks for it either, he thought. that was when max came up and instantly made him feel like an idiot for even bothering. she was good at doing that. he watched as she took charge of the situation, the vendor heading off to look for someone that definitely hadn't stolen from them...only for her to steal from them. he held in the eyeroll he felt coming on as she returned with the keychain, additionally holding back the smile he wanted to portray at getting his trinket. that did not scream cool. "i would've talked him down eventually," he muttered, pocketing the lion and looking up at her with obvious annoyance in his eyes. something like gratefulness managed to mix itself into the look as well, though he'd tried (and failed) to fight it. "but thanks. that was not entirely terrible of you."

Max would've assumed Mrs.Wheeler gave Mike some spending money, but the way he was attempting to barter said otherwise. But divorce was bitch, she knew firsthand and twice over, she wasn't going to pry about his inability to purchase. And even if most days Mike Wheeler quite literally boiled her brain down into goo with his...everything, this particular situation was one she could lend a hand with. Plus, maybe, just for a day, it would motivate Mike to treat her like an actual person. A friend. She debated withholding the tiger keychain for leverage, but ultimately coughed it up. "Sure you would have, Mike. You totally had him on the ropes." Max jeered. "Oh wow, not entirely terrible, I'm flattered." She made no effort to mask her rolling eyes and continued walking in the opposite direction of the booth. They were supposed to be friends, but even before that haunting Summer, hell, during it, the two of them struggled to categorize each other as such. Max didn't joke around with him like Lucas and Dustin. And she didn't confide in him like Eleven or Will. Now, she was trying to pick back up a relationship with Mike she'd never had in the first place. One he seemed completely uninterested in maintaining. Mike Wheeler was the most difficult person in the world. But still, she tried. "So you have like, school spirit now?" Max referenced the tiger she'd stolen, but that was about as far as her small talk skills extended. She was much more comfortable poking and jabbing. And Mike? He made it so easy to do. With mock excitement, she gasped, asking, "No way. You joined the cheerleading squad? No, let me try again, the basketball team?"