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Chapter Text

The first time Neil had hit Billy, Max didn't know what to do.

Her mother had simply walked out of the room as if it wasn't happening. Max stood in a frozen terror as her stepfather slammed Billy into the wall and screamed into his face. She began to yell and cry then, begging Neil to stop.

He made fun of Billy for needing, "A little girl to stand up for him" before dropping his son in a heap on the floor and yelling at Max to go to bed.

Max ran to her room, legs like jelly, trying to figure out what had just happened.

That was months ago. And Max's legs still felt like jelly every time Neil came after Billy.

She had gotten used to Neil’s angry shouting, the blows of Neil’s fists on Billy’s skin, and the desperate pleading of Billy to stop.

In all honesty, this was almost a nightly occurrence at her house. Her mother always walked out of the room with a fake, sweet smile plastered to her face, leaving Max to watch in horror as her step father beat her step brother within an inch of his life.

The first few times, she couldn’t help but stand frozen in fear. After that, she knew to immediately book it to her room. She’d blare her music and anxiously pace while she waited for it all to die down.

For her mother to come get her with that stupid, fake smile and tell her Neil and Billy “sorted everything out”.

It all made Max sick to her stomach.

One of the worst parts of it all was that she just walked away. She wanted to stop it, to scream all the mean things she thought of Neil, and to confront her mom about ignoring it all.

But she couldn’t. She was too damn scared.

So, she sat in her room listing to her music and rocking back and forth while tears streamed down her face.

Tonight wasn’t any different. Billy had come home drunk and Neil had absolutely lost it. He pushed his son up against the wall, acting like Billy had never come home drunk before.

It wasn’t until the shouting died down and she heard music blaring from Billy’s room that she knew it was all over.

Max took a shaky breath and glanced to make sure that her door was still locked. Confirming that it was, she turned off her might and slowly crawled up into bed.

She figured math homework could wait. She wasn’t in the right mindset, and she was tired. So she closed her eyes, and tried to sleep.

She didn’t get much sleep that night.

The next morning came all to quickly. She hurried out the door with Billy yelling at her the whole time. She was already on edge from little sleep, and she got into his car she knew it wasn’t about to get any better.

Billy was in one of his moods today.

Max gripped the door tightly, ready to run out of the car as soon as they pulled up to the school. She didn’t like being near Billy when he was like this...which was unfortunately pretty much every day. He's swearing up and down, smoking, and speeding down the road. Max tried to breathe deeply to calm her nerves.

It's fine, I'll totally get to school alive. she thought desperately. She never thought she'd be so excited to get to biology.

Billy finally swerved into the parking lot, screaming along the way and it takes Max everything to not jump out of the car like a frightened dog. Billy yelled at her not to be late or, "you'll be skating home!" and she flipped him off in a mixture of fear and anger while she hurried to the middle school.

What a morning.

If only not every morning was like this.

***
It was strange how well her family played pretend. Her mother pretended Neil was a good, kind man. Neil pretended he didn’t beat his son over any infraction. Billy pretended he wasn’t hiding bruises up and down his body.

And Max? Max pretended none of it existed.

“Hey Max!” Came a chorus of voices. Max turned to see her friends walking up in the hallway. She smiled and waved at them as she finished grabbing her things out of her locker.

“How was your weekend?” Lucas asked, walking up to her.

Max shrugged like she had nothing interesting to tell. “It was good. Mostly just practiced some new tricks on my skateboard.”

That wasn’t quite a lie, but she left out a huge part how she had stayed outside for a solid 10 hours on Saturday to avoid Neil and Billy.

“Nice. You’ll have to show us the moves MadMax,” Lucas said, giving her a joking smile.

Max rolled her eyes and pretended to be annoyed. “C’mon stalker. We need to get to class.”

Maxs day progressed slowly, but the same as always. She scraped by in her classes, trying to stay awake. She gave a half-honest excuse as to why her math homework wasn’t done and only got off with a warning.

Lunch came, and Max slipped on her mask again. She had become very good at putting up walls around herself./p>

It was hard when all of her friends had good, caring families. When they all came to school with full bellies and a nice hug before they left.

But nevertheless, she persisted. She pretended she came from all of that too.

As the party sat to eat, everyone pulled out their lunches. Max slowly reached into her bag and grabbed the apple she had brought for lunch. She figured if she ate slowly enough, no one would notice how little food she had brought.

Although deep down, she prayed someone would notice. Unfortunately, she was stubborn enough to never let that happen.

As lunch went on, the party made plans to hang out Friday and watch a movie. Max absentmindedly agreed to be there, already trying to figure out how she’d sneak out.

Lunch ended, and Max went back to her classes. The voices of her classmates and teachers swarmed in her head, and Max felt like she was floating above it all. It was only when the final bell rang that Max snapped back into her body.

Now, a dark feeling of dread settled in her stomach.

Chapter Text

Having a dysfunctional family is interesting.

There are moments when things seem nice and perfect. You have a “normal” family dinner, or go on a walk together and don’t fight.

But there’s this feeling of dread during it all. You can’t actually enjoy any of it because you know that it won’t last. In the end, you were always waiting for the other shoe to drop, and then it would be back to hell again.

Max had gotten used to this feeling by now. She’d even made peace with it.

So when she got into the car with Billy after school, the feeling came on hard. She just knew something bad was going to happen.

Billy didn’t speak to her as she got in, instead taking a long drag of his cigarette and checking himself out in the car mirror.

Finally, after agonizing minutes of silence, he threw his cigarette out the window and started the car. He sped out of the parking lot, and Max watched her school go by in a blur. How she wished school lasted longer so she could avoid going back to the hell hole.

"So. Maxine," Billy drawled out the words in a low voice, and Max clenched her hands into fists.

"I believe we need to have a chat," he continued.

"About what?" A quick answer from Max. Tiptoeing around the obvious anger in his voice and getting straight to the point, trying to keep this from getting worse.

"You know what Max," he growled, and Max noticed the car beginning to speed up. Her stomach twisted.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about," she said back, a tone of anger in her voice but it was all fake. Pretending she wasn't afraid of Billy.

"Do you remember when you decided to swing a bat of nails at me, Maxine? A bat full of nails."

"Yeah, well you deserved it," she spat back. Real anger was surging this time. He had promised to leave her alone, and now look at him.

"Hey," he growled, twisting around and grabbing her arm. She froze, staring at his angry blue eyes.

"You know, I decided I'd ignore that little stunt. I'd pretend that it never happened. Maybe give you some space. Figured you'd straighten out eventually... but no. You're still sneaking out of the house, hanging out with those creeps. Making me hunt you down every time you pull a stunt like that."

"Billy...Billy, you're hurting me..."

"Well it's about time we fixed that. You're gonna listen to me from now on Maxine or I'll make your life a living hell. Got that? No more sneaking out. You get home, you do your homework, and you don't smart off to me. You understand?"

"Screw you," Max whispered back. Tears in her eyes, full of sadness and fear, and anger burning inside her stomach.

Billy pulled her closer, she could feel his angry breath on her cheeks.

"I SAID, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" he yelled, and Max couldn’t help but nod her head quickly. He released her, turning back to the road, hollering as they drove faster towards their home.

How funny, she had said those words to him just a few months before when she had finally stood up to him. Told him to leave her alone. Now he had taken over all of it again. Max was perfectly stuck, and there seemed to be no way out. She slumped in her seat, trying to hold back tears as she watched the scenery go by. It wasn't the first time she had wished Billy died, but the thought played in her head the whole drive home.

***
The week progressed in a strange time. Feeling painstakingly slow, yet too fast at the same time. Max tried to hold onto all her time away from home as hard as she could, yet it always seemed to slip out of her fingers like smoke.

Billy hadn't acted out past his usual angry self, but Max was once again waiting for the other shoe to drop. She knew he was waiting for her to make a mistake, and she was determined to outlast him.

Neil seemed oblivious to the tension between the two, instead making snide comments to Max and threatening ones to Billy as usual. Susan said nothing.

So when Friday finally came, Max almost yelled with excitement. Today, she was going to hang out with the party. Her mom and Neil knew about it, and she had to be home by 10:30, but she was at least getting out for a little bit. Away from the suffocating "home", she had to live.

"Hey!" Lucas called out, and Max waved at him. She got off her skateboard and jogged up to where he stood in front of the Wheeler's house.

"Hey stalker, how's it going?" she asked, a genuine smile on her face.

He smiled back. "Totally tubular now that you're here. C'mon, everyone's downstairs."

The two went down into the basement, the other guys crowded on the couch with Dustin and Mike arguing about how much butter to put into the popcorn they were going to make.

Max waved over to them and smiled at Will. Will was quiet, but she had gotten a bit closer to him after the whole incident last Halloween.

Dustin finally won the argument and ran upstairs to make popcorn while the rest of them pulled out a stack of movies to pick. They eventually settled on Goonies, and Dustin came running back down the stairs with a bowl full of very buttery popcorn.

Max didn't care though. She didn't care about the cheesy movie, or the greasy popcorn, or the fact that Mike hogged the blanket or Will almost kept falling asleep on her shoulder.
She just was happy to feel safe and sound. Even if it was just for a little bit.

When she woke up, her heart immediately sank. She didn't have to see what time it was to know that it was past 10:30, or that all of them had fallen asleep at some point during the movie and no one came to wake her up. She glanced frantically at her friends, all dead to the world, as she internally groaned and quickly (but quietly) hurried off the couch and out the back door. As she made her way out she glanced at a clock on the wall.

12:05.

Her heart sank further, and she let out a stream of curse words under her breath as she quickly began skating home.

It was cold out, and horribly dark and as she skated home she couldn't help but feel terrified, and a little heartbroken that no one in her family had even bothered to come drive and pick her up. Now she would be even later.

By the time she got home and snuck into her room, the clock read 12:37, and Max was shivering from the cold. Her light jacket hadn't done much to shield her from the night air, and she was regretting not wearing a hoodie. She began to shut her window when a voice broke her from her thoughts.

"Maxine."

Max froze, her heart sinking for the 3rd time that night as she realized who was in her room.

It wasn't Billy... it was Neil.

she couldn't tell if that was better or worse.

She turned around seeing his sillouete sitting in a chair by her door. He obviously knew she'd be sneaking in, or else he would have gone to bed hours ago. She suspected Billy had something to do with this, but she'd deal with that later.

"Neil," she started, but her voice gave out. She had no idea what to say.

"Want to tell me why you're sneaking in 2 hours after you were supposed to be home Maxine? Why, you scared your mother to death. I sent Billy to go find you and he came back and told me he found you at the park with a boy."

Max eyes widened at that. "W-what? No, that's no true I-"

"Don't lie to me Maxine," Neil growled. While he was never a loving, doting father to Max, he had never hit her. Had never screamed at her. Had never threatened her. But now there was a new tone in his voice. A dangerous tone. A tone that sent Max's stomach flip-flopping and made her want to cry like a little kid.

She sucked in a breath. "I promise, I'm not lying. I was at the Wheeler's house...I fell asleep on the couch. I meant to be home sooner I s-"

"And who were you hanging out with Maxine?" Neil asked, and Max noticed a small vein poping out in his neck.

"I-I" the air suddenly seemed so much thinner. Why couldn't she breathe?

"My friends...Mike, Lucas, Dus-"

"All boys?" he growled, standing up now. His eyes looked dangerous, his fists dangerously flexing. Max glanced between him and the door, wondering if she could run out, or maybe scream? or maybe....

"I believe we talked about you hanging out with those boys."

Sure, Neil had expressed displeasure about her hanging out with only boys. He hated her style, hated how she fit with guys better, hated that she wanted to be called Max. But he usually threw snide insults and expressions. Nothing like this.

"I-I know but-"

He was slowly walking closer to her, and Max found herself slowly walking backward.

"And you fell asleep there? at the house with those boys?"

Max's stomach dropped as she understood what Neil was implying.

"What?? Neil, no...I'd never-"

"I don't need all of Hawkins thinking my step-daughter is a slut." He growled, and Max hit the wall behind her. Neil kept advancing, and Max found herself wishing she had that bat full of nails still.

He finally stopped inches from her face. She understood where Billy got his scary tactics now.

"I don't want you hanging with those boys anymore. The last thing I need is a slut in my house. You understand Maxine?"

Max stared into his eyes. Eyes so much like Billy's...but so much darker. So much angrier. How funny, that she was feeling sympathy for the boy she despised and hated. Max thought of all the times Neil shushed her mother, slapped Billy, and threw insults at her. Of all the times that he treated them all like garbage. She wanted to scream, to tell him off, to slap him in the face for crying out loud... but she was scared of him.

Instead, she swallowed her sharp words and whispered, "Yes sir."

That seemed to satisfy him because with that he straightened up, told her to get to bed, and walked out.

Though Neil had never touched her, she couldn't help but feel like she had been slapped in the face for the rest of the night.

Chapter Text

Max spent most of her weekend in her room desperately trying to catch up on sleep and ignoring Billy and Neil. Everyone in the house actually managed to follow her wishes for once, and she was pretty much left alone. She couldn't escape family meal times...since Neil practically forced them every single night...but luckily Billy was out partying. Max couldn't complain about that. Neil gave her a semi-threatening look once in a while, but that was about as far as it went with him. She had to hold back from flipping him off as she did with Billy.

But unfortunately, the weekend came and went. Soon it was back to school and tension-filled car rides with Billy. Max was not looking forward to it.

That Monday morning, she woke up an hour before she needed to from a nightmare. Images of demadogs invading Hawkins and her school left her on edge the whole morning. She tried to take a nice shower to clear her head, but it didn't do much.

By the time Billy finally managed to get up and stumble into the shower Max was on the hunt for breakfast.

Her mom and Neil both worked, leaving the two alone most mornings. Her mom would get back in the afternoon, and usually clean and cook with Neil not coming home till much later.

Long story short...grocery shopping wasn't always a priority in their chaotic house, and they were kind of scraping by as it was. Though no one in the house would admit it, they were poor.

Max scowled as she look in the fridge. A half-empty carton of milk that would expire in 2 days, some apples, a bottle of marinara sauce, and some peanut butter and jelly. She sighed and pulled out the bread from the pantry and popped a slice into the toaster. She made herself some toast for the 4th day in a row and then packed a pb&j sandwich with an apple for lunch.

As she munched on her toast, Billy stomped into the kitchen, threw an apple into his bag, and then yelled, "Let's go!"

Max flipped him off when he turned around and stomped off behind him.

For the first few minutes of the car ride, all was silent. Max glared out the window, refusing to look at Billy. By the time they got closer to town Billy sighed dramatically and turned to face her.

"Alright shi bird, you mad at me or something?'

"No," Max said, tone disagreeing with her answer.

He scoffed. "Sure. And I'm Michael Jackson. Why are you ignoring me?'

"I'm not."

"Well, you have all morning. And weekend. Which is unusual since I thought you loved telling me off."

Max laughed at that. "Right. Like you don't know what you did."

"And what did I do Max?" he asked, a teasing but not really teasing tone in his voice that sounded threateningly close to his father's. "I just made sure you got what you deserved."

"You lied to Neil, Billy. We both know I was never at a park with a boy. I just fell asleep at Mike's house...it was an accident! But then Neil was all threatening me, and you know that's your fault."

Billy scoffed at that. "You just got what was coming to you, Max. It's about time you realized what the real world is like. You wanna act all tough, and grown up?" at this he turned to her, swinging his hand, referencing her swinging that bat at him. "Then be my guest. You'll get treated like a grown-up."

Max stared in shock at Billy. "You're such a dick."

Billy rolled his eyes and sped up the car. "Then I'm a dick. Do you know what you are Max? A selfish little girl. And don't you dare believe anyone who tells you you're anything different!" With that, he turned up the music and sped down the road, leaving Max no room to protest his words.

***

"Max? Hey, Max?"

A selfish little girl?

"Hello?"

How was she being selfish??

"Dude, she's definitely not listening."

If anything, it was Billy that was being selfish.

"Should I dump my water on her?" "NO! She'll kill us."

Her stomach dropped. Did everyone think she was a selfish girl?

Is that why her mom avoided her? She thought...she thought she was selfish?

"Maybe she fell asleep with her eyes open?"

And then Neil had called her a slut... which wasn't true but....but...

"Earth to Max? I swear..."

Max snapped out of her thoughts, blue eyes meeting 4 sets of confused, and concerned eyes.

"Uh... what?" she said, trying to force the growing red in her cheeks and the fact that she just zoned out on all of them. Her thoughts felt louder than usual, becoming more anxious and desperate. Gosh, she needed to get away from Billy and Neil.

"You good?" Lucas asked, concern in his voice. She noticed him gripping his bag of chips tightly, probably seconds away from smashing all of them.

She put up a wall. Rolled her eyes, like she was annoyed. "Yes, I'm fine. Just tired. What is so important?"

The group slowly went back to eating lunch, and Max tried to hide her embarrassment.

"Nothing... we just..." Lucas started, but then Mike cut him off.

"We were worried when we all woke up after the movie Friday night. You were gone, we tried calling you over the weekend but you never picked up."

Shoot...Neil had probably answered and shut that down. She couldn't have them calling her anymore, she didn't need to give Neil another excuse to pick on her again.

"Yes, I was fine. I just went home since none of you idiots woke me up, and I didn't answer since I was grounded for breaking curfew. I’m still grounded by the way, so don’t bother calling.”

It was kind of a lie...but it worked.

All of the guys stared at her, a look of pity in their eyes. She knew someone was going to apologize or ask if she was ok again. She couldn't take it, and in a crazed act of trying to save what was left of her ego, she turned to Mike and spat, "I don't know why you even care where I was Wheeler. Last I checked, I was just some stupid, selfish girl getting in the way of your party."

The whole party froze at that, and both Lucas and Dustin began stammering out words, with Will nervously glancing at Mike. But Mike just stared at Max, his lips formed into a silent 'o', and before Max could stare at the pained expression in his eyes any longer, she grabbed her bag and stood up, angrily storming out of the cafeteria. She heard choruses of, "Max, Wait!" but she ignored them and stomped off into the one place none of them could bother her.

The girl's bathroom.

Her next class had started, the bell ringing over 20 minutes ago. But Max still hadn't moved from the big stall in the corner of the bathroom. She sat on the floor with her back to the wall, head buried in her knees as tears silently trailed down her face and stained her jacket. She was a horrible, ugly crier. She knew she was probably dripping snot onto that jacket too, but she couldn't find enough energy to care.

A few girls had come and gone during the class period, but no one bothered her. She figured enough girls had cried in the bathroom before to leave her alone and not say anything, which she was thankful for. She didn't want to talk to anyone.

So it took her by surprise when someone knocked on her stall.

"Max?" the voice asked, and Max froze at that.

It was bad that they knew she was in there, or that they were knocking on the door. But it was even worse that the voice of that person belonged to Mike Wheeler.

MIKE WHEELER.

She hardly breathed, just hoping that he would go away and get out of the girls bathroom for crying out loud.

"Max? C'mon I know you're in there. Besides, I can see your shoes in the gap."

She sniffed, taking a moment to steady her voice. "Go away Wheeler. Also, you shouldn't be in here."

"You should be in class," he smarted back.

Touché.

"Look, either you open the door or I'm crawling under the door."

"Ha. No. Go away, and I mean it." she growled, trying to put as much anger in her voice as she could, but it still shook from her crying fest.

"Alright then," he sighed, and a moment later she was staring at the face of Mike Wheeler as he army crawled into the stall.

“Mike!” She exclaimed, scrambling to her feet and trying to wipe all evidence from her face that she was crying.

She heard him chuckle, and soon they were standing eye to eye.

“Told ya I’d crawl in. Which was totally gross by the way, so you’re welcome”

Max glared at him. “No. No welcome. You really shouldn’t be here Wheeler. Now,” she gestured to the door, “get out before I push you out”

He threw up his hands in defense.
“Relax. I put one of those ‘don’t enter’ custodial signs on the bathroom door. No one’s coming here for a solid 20 minutes. Now, what’s wrong?”

Huh. Sign on the bathroom. Kind of smart, but no way she was telling him that.

“What’s wrong is that you won’t leave me alone” she said, voice a volume under yelling.

He threw up his hands again.

“Look, I just came here to make sure you’re okay…. And to clear the air on some things”

Maxs stomach sank. She shouldn’t have said that to Mike, but to be fair he did treat her like a dick.

“I acted like a huge dick, and I’m sorry,” he started and Max wondered if El was secretly here, taking the words straight from her mind to give them to mike.

Wait… could she do that?

Mike continued. “After El…. was gone, I started acting like a total jerk. I took out all my feelings on everyone. I never wanted to talk about how I was feeling… but the whole time I just felt helpless and so, so angry.”

Max found herself relating to what he was saying. Darn, he was making it easy to sympathize.

“I guess what I’m trying to say,” he said, looking up at her, “is I treated everyone horribly, but especially you. I guess I was worried… I dunno… you’d replace El or something. But I was wrong, and how I acted was wrong. I… I know we’ve never been close, but I’d like to be friends. If… if that’s ok?”

Max started at him with a mix of surprise and pain in her eyes. Mike seemed to notice and gave her a sheepish smile.

“You sure you want to be friends with me Wheeler?” She challenged. In all honestly, she really wanted to be friends. But she tested him, pushed him. Really had to make sure he wasn’t bluffing.

He held out his hand. “Honest. Friends?”

She studied him for a moment, before shaking his. “Friends”

“Cool,” he said with a smile.

“Alright.” She dropped her hand. “Is that all you came in here for? Because if so, I think you should get back to class”

“Huh? Oh, no. I… I came to check in on you. You’ve… been acting kinda… I dunno. Different lately? You keep zoning out, you disappear all the time. It’s like you’re a ghost Max. I’m worried… you know Lucas is worried. You can talk to us, you know that right? At least talk to Lucas.”

For a moment, her walk cracked. There was a flicker of pain in her eyes. Mike noticed it, but as soon as he blinked it was gone.

She rolled her eyes. “Look, I’m fine, and I have been for a while too. Sorry if I’m still a little on edge about the upside down stuff.”

It was true, it had put her on edge. But that wasn’t the only thing putting her on edge.

Mike hummed. “I get it. We all do… which is why you can talk to us. I’m pretty sure all of us have had nightmares about the upside down. It’s ok if you’re on edge.”

She nodded, feeling a little reassured that her friends could be on edge too.

“Thanks Mike… I mean it. Now,” at this she opened the stall door, “will you get out?”

She shrugged. “Fine. Just… Tell me if you need anything”

“Sure Wheeler.”

At this he visibly relaxed, and walked out the stall.

“Alright. See ya around zoomer.”

Maxs heart did a little flip flop of excitement as he said that, and she awkwardly waved bye to him as he snuck out of the bathroom. She shut the stall door and sunk back to the floor, trying to process all that had just happened.

***
Max had blown off 4th period in the bathroom, which led to a tense discussion and a warning. Luckily, she didn’t get detention.

She went to her other classes, the last which she shared with the party. It was an understatement to say that the boys were surprised to see Max and Mike wave at each other, and then begin chatting like old friends. Dustin was so surprised he got told off for cursing.

It made Max laugh for the first time in 3 days.

Chapter Text

The next two weeks passed.

While Max had officially become friends with Mike and had a couple of good laughs with the party, that was about as good as things got.

Her friends had asked her to hang out a couple of times, but she avoided that by claiming she was still grounded. By the end of week two, her lie was growing strained and she knew it wouldn’t last for much longer.

It’s not that she didn’t want to hang out with them. It was the fact that Neil was completely managing her life. 3 days ago, he started getting her mom to talk to her about “dressing more like a girl”.
Last week, he told Max anytime she wanted to hang out with friends now, Billy was to drive her. This didn’t sound bad, but she knew the underlining threat. If Billy saw her hanging out with the boys, her head would be served up to Neil.

So, she figured it would just be better to see them at school and hang out once Neil got bored breathing down her neck. It had happened a few times before when he got after her about her clothes and skateboarding. Eventually, he’d finally shut up about it and let her be. So he’d leave her alone eventually, right?

Max wasn’t sure. It felt different this time…more dangerous…

Soon it hit Saturday morning.

Saturdays were difficult to predict for Max. Sometimes they were nice. Her mom would get up and make everyone pancakes. She could hang out with friends during the day. Billy might watch a movie with her at night.

But sometimes, Saturdays weren't nice. Neil would stomp around, complaining as he drank a beer. Billy and Neil would get into a fist fight. Her mom would disappear for hours.

So, when Max woke up that morning, she hoped it would be a day full of pancakes and some peace.

Max changed into some clothes and quickly braided back her hair. She walked out into the kitchen, slightly disappointed to see that there were in fact, no pancakes, but her mom greeted her with a smile and a plate of eggs.

Billy was probably still asleep, and Neil was sitting at the table reading the paper. Max slowly sat down, eating her eggs and praying that Neil wouldn't try to talk to her.

This lasted for approximately 2 seconds.

“So Maxine,” Neil started, (Max already could tell this wouldn’t be good), “your mother and I have decided it’s time you take on some more responsibilities at home. Some more….activities that are suitable for you.”

Max stared at him, mouth gaping open. He continued, “we think it’s best you stay home and help your mother clean today”

She finally found her voice. “W-what?”

She knew her mother had no say in this. This was all Neil, and her mother just smiled and nodded along.

Neil stiffened. “You heard me. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Max had been hoping to hang out with the party today, telling her family she was going to a classmate's home to study. She had figured that would get her by, but now she wasn’t sure. She could try, she guessed.

“I… I need to study with a friend. I told her we could today. Biology test next week… can I at least leave for a few h-“

Neil slammed his hand down on the table, the paper forgotten. Susan jumped, and Max glanced over at her mother.

Neil began to talk with a dangerous edge to his voice. “I will not be debated Maxine. You heard me… or do we need to have another one-on-one talk?”

Max helplessly glanced at her mother, hoping for some kind of fight back, or maybe even a reassuring smile. Instead, her mother turned back to the sink where she was washing dishes.

Max felt as though another spoke when she said, “yes sir. Crystal clear.”

There was no way to escape unscathed.

Neil grunted. “Good. Now you call your friend like the good girl you are and tell them you will study next week after school. You understand?”

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. His beady eyes followed her as she walked across the small kitchen to the phone. It suddenly felt so small and claustrophobic in here.

She dialed Lucas, not knowing who else to call as Neil bore daggers into her.

“Hello?” Lucas’s happy voice came floating through, as quick as she had dialed.

“Hello?” She responded. She heard him breathe quickly.

“Max! You have the phone back! Are you un-grounded?”

“L-look, I can’t come study today. I’m helping my mom out with cleaning.”

“Huh? What? I didn’t even know you were c-“

“We can get together Monday, okay?”

“Wait…are you ok Max?”

“Talk to you later-bye.”

She hung up before he got a chance to ask her another question.

“Good. Now be a good girl and go finish those dishes.” Neil said, and it took all Max had not to throw the phone at his ugly face.
***
Neil was off to work after that, leaving Max with a firm look and a list of chores that she knew he expected to be done when he got back. He’d be back home around dinner, her mother leaving around the time he’d get home for a graveyard shift she was covering for someone. While Neil would normally never approve of her working so late (it was a miracle he let her work in the first place) they needed the money. Badly.

But that meant she’d be home alone with him and Billy for the night. She felt sick.

She threw herself into her tasks. Dishes, sweeping, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, unclogging the drains, laundry, ironing. The list felt endless, but it was slightly better with her mother along side her.

They worked in tandem, talking about anything thay wasn’t Neil or Billy. They kept the conversations light… about school or her friends. Max loved her mother, but she felt slightly betrayed that her mother tip-toed around the angry elephant in the room. Including in conversation when it was just them.

***
When the two stopped for a lunch break, Maxs mother handed her a tall glass of lemonade. Max hadn’t even realized how sweaty and tired she was, and gratefully accepted the lemonade. It burned down her throat as she drank the too
- sugary drink.
Her mother made them both a sandwich, and they sat together at the table.

“I’m sorry you didn’t get to see your friends today,” her mother started, and Max looked up in surprise.

“Oh, it’s okay.”

Susan shook her head. “I… I appreciate your help. You can go see your friends tomorrow, if that’s okay? I can even give you some cash for the arcade.”

Maxs face brightened. The cash for the arcade was an extra bonus. Neil never wanted Susan to give her money.

“Really? Thanks!”

Susan smiled back, a soft smile. “Of course. I love you Maxine.”

Max's smile faltered just slightly at the name, but she smiled back. “Love you too mom”

The moment was broken by Billy stomping into the kitchen.

Max tried to hide her flinch when Billy stomped past her. He threw open the fridge, grabbed an apple, and then poured himself a glass of the lemonade Susan had just made. He chugged down the glass, picked up his keys, and stormed out of the house without a single word. Both Max and Susan relaxed at that, and if the other noticed, neither said anything.

All was quiet for a moment, before Susan said, "Well...I was thinking, maybe we could make cookies? Just the two of us?"

Max looked at her mom with surprise. They hadn't made cookies in a long time...Max missed doing things like that with her mom.

She smiled, a genuine, excited smile as she said, "yes! Let's do it."

***

The cookies were in the oven. The two had eaten so much cake batter, that there was more in their stomachs than in the oven. Max also may have spilled chocolate chips on the floor. but it was still fun. She hadn't laughed this hard with her mom in...in a while.

"So..." Susan started, and Max looked over at her mom with a smile. For once, the energy between them felt calm and comforting. Max missed it.

"What?"

"Any boys you like at school?'

Max's face heated up. "Mommm....of course not!"

"Mmmhmm, is that why your face is as red as your hair?" Susan teased, and Max rolled her eyes. Susan laughed and offered Max another spoonful of cookie dough. She took it gratefully.

"I'm glad we got to do this. It's been a while, huh?"

"Yeah. It was fun mom." The two shared a smile before Susan went to check the cookies, exclaiming they were done.

Max helped take them out, feeding a light banter between them as Susan insisted that she take them out.

"Mom, I think I can manage taking cookies out of an oven"

"Are you sure?"

Max rolled her eyes, but it was all in good humor.

They waited for the cookies to cool, before finally each trying one.

They definitely weren't the best cookies she ever had, but they were good. Max happily chewed on her cookie, finally feeling that something good was coming from a day that had started off so horribly.

The moment didn't last long.

"Maxie, I wanted to talk to you about something."

Max turned to her. "Um... what?"

"Well... it's about Neil."

Ah. Of course, it was. This would probably not be good.

Max shifted her feet. Her body unconsciously moving into a defensive stance.

"What about him?"

Susan set her cookie down, looking at Max with her first real expression.

"I know you don't like Neil sweetie, but he's a good man. He's just trying to look out for you...make sure you succeed. I don't want you to be angry at him for encouraging you to stay home today."

Her eyebrows immediately came together, her face twisting in alarm.

"What? Encouraging?? Mom... Neil basically threatened me. You were there...you saw that!"

Susan plasterd on that smile...the smile Max hated. "Sweetie... I know his tone can get a little tense sometimes, but he really does care. He's a good man. He's worked so hard for us, and he-"

Max found herself slowly backing away. "Is this a joke? You can't be serious. I thought...I thought you would defend me...." Max found tears starting to well up in her eyes, looking at Susan with all the hurt and betrayal swimming inside.

Susan almost looked confused. "Max, Neil has done nothing but good for us."

"MOM! Neil hits Billy....what if...what if he comes after us?? You know he's no good mom, he-"

"Max." Susan cut her off, not harshly, but her tone was much more serious, more abrupt. "Neil is a good man. I want you to start listening to him, ok? I know he's not your father, but he's doing his best to be a good one. I don't want you picking fights with him anymore....okay? Please..."

Max couldn't help but stare. Stare in shock, in horror....stare at the woman who she thought would see who Neil truly was. Instead, she was so horribly brainwashed, that she only saw Neil as a good, protective man. Max wanted to scream, but instead, all she could do was stare. And realize that there was no changing her mother's mind. Perhaps, not until it was too late.

"Max?" her mom asked, obviously expecting an answer.

But Max couldn't give it to her.

Instead, she said, "Thanks for the cookies mom. I had fun."

She did have fun. But now it was over, over like all the brief moments of fun in her life.

She walked out of the kitchen and into her room, not saying another word.

Max stayed in her room for a few hours, too tired to deal with the conversation she had with her mom and just had. She cleaned up her room a bit and folded some laundry while listening to music, hoping it would distract her from all the thoughts in her head. But she could hear her mom cleaning up, and eventually felt bad enough that she went back out to help.

She walked into the living room, where Susan was dusting. Max noticed the house looked pristine, all the work on Neils's horrible list was pretty much done.

The two exchanged a tense glance, before Susan said, "I think I'm going to run to the store real quick, get the groceries for the week. Do...do you want to come?'

This was Susan's olive branch, her way of apologizing.

Max shook her head. "I'm okay. I'll make you some dinner so you can eat before you leave for work."

Susan gave her a small smile. So this was how it would go. They wouldn't truly apologize but this would be as close as they get. Small little gestures, the icing on a cake about to explode.

Susan grabbed her coat and keys, and soon, it was Max. Alone in the house. She knew she wouldn't be home alone for long, so she turned her music, loud. She let it fill the house, bouncing back and forth between the walls. She let it soak inside of her, take over her, make her forget, and become something new.

It was almost peaceful.

She pulled out some food and made her mom a sandwich. She cut up some carrots and an apple, and put a cookie from earlier on a plate. It would all be waiting for Susan when she'd get back.

Max, however, would be waiting in her room.

***

Soon, Susan was out the door. Off to work a late shift, leaving Max to make dinner for Billy and Neil before they each returned from their respective activities (which for Billy, probably meant harassing a poor girl he'd met at a party). Max put a pot of water on the stove, waiting for it to boil before pouring some pasta in. She then grabbed some frozen peas from the freezer and began heating those up on the stove.

As she alternated between stirring the peas and the pasta, she heard the front door open.

Neil.

She bit her lip as she heard him walk through the house, and she silently prayed the pasta would hurry up so they could sit down and get dinner over with so she could hurry back to her room and lose herself in her music again.

She heard Neil come into the kitchen and open the fridge, probably looking for a beer. That was never a good sign...that meant he had a long day at work.

As much as she hated Billy, she was suddenly wishing he was here so she wouldn't be alone with Neil.

"Hi Neil," she said, continuing to cook dinner as he pulled up a chair to their little table. She heard him crack open a beer and take a long drink.

"Hello, Maxine. How was the cleaning? Did you finish the list?"

"I did," she said, keeping her answer short. She was worried if she said anything more, her tone would reflect the anger boiling inside her. She turned to the pasta, taking it over to the strainer and draining it. Steam rose up, and Max began to feel that heat inside her too, rising up like the steam from her anger.

Neil nodded. "Good. I'm glad you could work with your mother on that."

Max ignored this statement, getting the marinara sauce out of the fridge and pouring it over the noodles instead. She grabbed the peas and poured them into a small bowl, and brought both over to the table. Neil hummed in approval as Max sat down. She frowned as she realized he hadn't thanked her for cooking or cleaning.

"Where's your brother?" Neil asked, and Max had to actually bite her tongue to stop herself from saying something like "he's not my brother".

"I don't know, he's not home yet," she said, hoping to avoid getting into depth about what Billy was probably doing.

Neils' mustache quivered slightly, and he sighed. "Guess it's just us Maxine."

With that, the two dished up, all quiet for a small moment as they began to eat.

"You're a good girl Maxine. I'm glad you're finally starting to act like it. I hope doing more... girl appropriate activities becomes regular for you."

Max actually choked at that, taking a swig of water and then staring at Neil with wide eyes. He, in turn, looked unbothered.

"I-I'm sorry?" Max choked out, hoping she had heard him wrong.

Neil finished chewing slowly then said, "It's good for a girl like you to start growing up a bit. Do what’s expected of you."

"What, like being a slave of a housewife to a dick?" she spat out, anger getting the best of her. She froze the second after she said it, realizing that she hadn't meant to say that out loud.

Neil froze at that, fork halfway to his mouth, spaghetti dripping off to the plate. His face turned slightly red, his mustache twitching slightly.

"What was that Maxine?"

Her mouth moved up and down, frozen in the horror of what she had just done. Why wasn't her voice working??

Neil shifted closer, fork still frozen mid-air. He growled, "You better watch what you say, Maxine. I don't want you saying stuff like that again, you hear me?"

Max found herself nodding, stuck in a daze. Neils's tone sucked all the life out of her, gosh she was so afraid of him.

He scoffed. "Good. You girls get so emotional. It's about time you start putting that in place."

And that....that was where she lost it.

"Oh, that's rich coming from the man who can barely function if his wife doesn't wash all the dishes in the morning." She growled out, slamming her fist on the table.

Neils's eyes flashed dangerously. "You might want to think twice before you act Maxine."

A final warning, but Max paid no heed. She was sick of Neil, sick of him micromanaging her life. Tired of him acting like a sexist jerk...like someone who had the "right" to have power over her. A man who treated women like objects. In fact, who even treated his own son like an object, a punching bag.

That was stupid.

"NO!" she roared, standing up, anger and heat consuming her. "I'm so sick of you Neil, sick of you managing my life, treating me and my mom like...like things...and Billy...you're a horrible, selfish-"

She didn't get a chance to finish her rant. Neil was out of his chair in a blink of an eye.

Max found herself shoved up against the adjacent wall, his hands right under her neck. Her eyes bulged, her feet dangling slightly off the floor. She scratched at his hands, wheezing.

"You've had this coming for a long time Maxine...a LONG TIME!" he roared, and Max looked into his eyes, so dark and filled with anger.

She glared back at him with her icy ones, filled with just as much anger as his. "It's...Max.

With that, he growled and backhanded her, so fast she almost missed it. It was funny, she had seen him do this to Billy before, yet she had never imagined she'd feel the back of his hand like this.

It hurt. Really...really bad.

Her head rolled, and Max vaguely felt something warm trickle down her chin.

Neil chuckled. "You know Maxine, I always told your mother she was soft on you. Soft for letting you go around acting like a boy, soft for letting you sneak out and become a slut. Well, I won't allow it...I WON'T! Say what you want Maxine, but I am in charge here. It's about time you start acting the way a girl, yes, a girl your age should." he squeezed her tighter, pushing her harder into the wall. Max felt like she couldn't breathe.

"Billy and I have been working on this lesson called, respect and responsibility. I think it's high time you learned it too. Now, Maxine, as your superior, you are to treat me with the respect and responsibility I deserve. Now you repeat that back to me Maxine, repeat it.

Max looked at Neil, fear in her eyes. It has taken over all the anger. The anger is gone, and now it is filled with a desperate need to survive. She felt like this with the upside down...now she faces a new monster alone, and she realizes that she can't tough her way out of this one.

"I...I understand. Respect, and responsibility," she said, hands still clawing at his larger ones.

"Sir," he growled out.

"Sir!" she exclaimed, and with that, Neil dropped her to the floor.

She fell in a heap, arms and legs tangled about, lip throbbing, and body trembling with fear.

Neil towered over her, and all she could see was him.

"Clean up dinner," he growled, and all she could do was nod and look down at her shaking hands.

Chapter Text

Monday.

Max usually was excited for Mondays...excited in the sense that she was out of her house and back with the party.

But she wasn't excited today.

Her...altercation with Neil over the weekend had changed a few things, them being:

1) She had a split lip and a solid bruise on her cheek. While she planned to lie and say she fell off her board, she knew no one would believe that. The thought of lying to her friends (friends don't lie) and them looking at her with concerned looks made her want to vomit and stay home.

2) Neil acted as though nothing happened, yet was vaguely threatening with everything he did. Max kept her mouth shut and helped around the house, and this seemed to pacify him. She knew it was a matter of time before he lashed out again though, and that was also making her want to vomit.

3) Billy gave her concerned glances every so often but didn't say a word. In fact, he didn't say a single word to her on Sunday. She wasn't sure whether to be grateful for that or not.

4) Susan came home the next morning to a messy kitchen, a bruised Max, and an unnervingly quiet Neil. Max assumed that she had pieced it together, and Susan never said a word. Max began to wonder if her mother cared for her at all.

At that thought, Max was sure she'd throw up.

Max felt too queasy to eat breakfast (she’d felt queasy since Saturday) so she skipped and went out on the front porch to wait for Billy.

The cool air of the morning felt calming, and for a moment, she could close her eyes and almost imagine herself back home in California.

She heard the front door open and close and she opened her eyes to see Billy walking down the steps to his car. Max sighed and grabbed her board and back and followed him.

They both got in the car, Billy backing up and speeding away from the house. Max felt a pressure lift off her chest as they drove away. Soon, the trees and houses turned into blurs on the side of the road.

“Did he do that?” Billy’s voice cut through the air like a knife. His tone wasn’t rough or mean, but it was obvious he was upset.

Max had no idea how to navigate this.

“Who are you talking about?”

Billy sighed. “Who do you think I’m talking about Max? Neil. I’m talking about Neil.”

“Did Neil do what?” She spat back, not really in the mood to play this game with Billy.

She heard Billy sigh louder at that but he didn’t respond.

After a moment, he asked in a much softer tone, “What happened Saturday night?”

Max blinked. She’d never heard Billy talk like this… ever. He spoke as if he was speaking to a kitten, soft and caring. Max didn’t even know he had a soft side… and to be honest it was putting her more on edge.

Billy wasn’t a good guy. He’d never been good to her. He had yelled, and screamed. He threatened her and grabbed her wrists so roughly they’d bruise.

He was like his dad, he liked to have power over her. So why was he doing this? Trying to get her to guard down, so he could hurt her more?

“ Nothing happened.” she growled back, angry tone leaking through. She was scared and hurt. She didn’t want to have a confusing conversation with her stupid stepbrother.

“Well obviously something did, or else you wouldn’t be shaking every time Neil walks in the room.”

“I don’t sha-“

“And you’ve got that giant bruise,” he continued, cutting her off. “I doubt your mother did that.”

Max glared out the window.

“Really, gonna just ignore me?”

She spun around, the same anger back that she had felt from Neil.

“Since when do you care Billy?? You’ve never cared about what happens to me. Just leave me alone!”

“I’m allowed to care Max!” He yelled, and Max flinched back. His anger terrified her and it was always unpredictable. He made some kind of noise in his throat, before taking a deep breath. “look, sorry, just…I know I’m a crap brother. But I care about whether Neil is hitting you or not.”

Max swallowed. “He’s not….He didn’t. I fell off my board.”

The two held eye contact for a moment before Billy turned back. He let out a long sigh. “Okay Max”

They drove the rest of the way in silence.

As soon as Billy put the car in park, Max was outside.

She skated down to the middle school, not bothering to glance at Billy behind her.

She was horribly anxious, trying to figure out how to deal with her face, how to make her lie sound convincing, and how she was going to deal with the stares of other kids the whole day.

She almost wished she stayed home.

Almost.

She reached the school doors, and she ducked her head, hoping her hair would cover her face and she’d go unnoticed by most people.

She made her way to her locker, ignoring laughs and snickers around her. She realized that most wouldn’t be laughing at her, but it felt like they were.

“Max!”

She froze, looking up, Lucas was standing by her locker with an anxious smile on his face. As soon as he saw her though, his face dropped.

She plastered on a smile. She was feeling like her mom.

“Hey stalker.” She said, turning to her locker and opening it up.

“Max…” Lucas placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her around so they were facing each other. It took everything in her not to flinch or push him away.

“What…what happened to your face?”

And here it was. Friends don’t lie… well… she was about to break the most important rule.

Please forgive me.

“Oh, I guess it looks worse than it is. I fell off my board,” she rolled her eyes, hoping it added to the act. “I was trying to learn a new move and I ate it. I’m just glad no one saw me face plant,” she added a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

Lucas didn’t respond, licking his lips and eyebrows furrowing together.

“But… you called me Saturday. You sounded upset… I had so many questions. You said you couldn’t come over, which was weird because you never planned to… so I thought maybe you...were.... in trouble. But then you just hung up…”

She totally forgot she called him Saturday. Oh well, she’d figure out how to play this off.

“So?”

Lucas looked at her confused. “So… was…” his voice trailed off then he looked at her again. “Was it Billy? I know...I know you said he takes his anger out on you...”

Oh. This wasn’t good.

“You think… that I made a vague call to you because Billy was harassing me, I was upset, and he gave me this bruise?” She asked, putting as much of her sarcastic and annoyed tone in. In reality, she was about a hair away from crying.

Lucas looked uncomfortable now. “Well… that’s what I thought. You just sounded so upset, and you hung up so fast. I thought.. maybe… Billy…”

He stopped there, knowing Max could fill in the rest.

She sighed. “No Lucas. I just fell off my board. But,” she took his hand in hers and squeezed him, “I appreciate you worrying. I’m fine though, okay? Billy hasn’t done anything. He’s leaving me alone.”

It was kind of the truth. Billy never touched her, though he had yelled at her many times and ratted her out to Neil. But then he was nice to her in the car today...so who knew?

Point was, Lucas, didn’t need to know about any of that.

Lucas looked unconvinced, but he left it at that.

“Okay. I’m glad you’re okay. You should… wear a helmet next time.”

She laughed at that, and he smiled.

***

She let the lie slip through her lips to the rest of the party, the “yes I just fell off my board end of story”.

While they all looked unconvinced, no one pushed to talk more. They let her be, although she would sometimes catch them glancing at her face.

Mr. Clark pulled her aside after class, and she quickly rehearsed the lie to him as well. She was becoming a pro.

Her next two teachers, Mrs. Jackson and Ms. Petersen, also pulled her aside. Again she lied. Again she avoided glances from her classmates. She was beginning to believe her lie at this point.

Lunch finally came, and she headed to the cafeteria. She spotted her friends at the usual table, and she quickly sat down with them.

“Hey guys.”

The party looked up at her, giving a chorus of "hi's" back. She knew that although they hadn't said anything, they were probably talking about her. She tried to push the worry away.

"So...hows have everyone's classes been?" she asked, hoping to get rid of the tension in the air.

"Fine," pipped up Dustin. "I hate Ms. Jones's class though, she always rambles on and never actually teaches anything."

At that Lucas and Max laughed.

"What?" Dustin asked, an accusatory tone in his voice.

"If I had a teacher that spent the class period talking about something other than math, I'd love that class," Max said, and Lucas nodded in agreement.

"I hate to agree with them," Will said, "but I agree. Math hasn't been my favorite." His voice was quiet and shy like he was almost afraid to say it but the party welcomed his input.

"Good, that's 3-2 then...unless Mike wants to join?" Lucas asked and Mike rolled his eyes in good humor.

"I like math. It's what superior minds like us enjoy learning."

"Superior minds...?" the other three almost said at the exact time, and laughing and bickering ensured.

Max liked this. She loved the party, loved the conversations they had which were pretty much about nothing. She felt safe with them.

The laughter and talking continued on as Max fished through her bag for her lunch. She had made a sandwich and brought an orange, but she was honestly still feeling nauseous. She began to slowly nibble on some orange slices. She pretended that her lip didn't burn from the orange juice as she ate, hoping the pain wasn't evident on her face.

"So Max?" Mike's voice cut through her thoughts.

"Yeah?"

"Lucas told us that you called him Saturday, so we figured you're ungrounded now. Want to come over tonight? We were all thinking of going to the arcade after working on a bit of homework...just so my mom thinks we're doing something."

Max's mind was stuck on one thing Lucas had told them she called them...did they know about what she said?

She glanced at Lucas, who gently rubbed his hand in hers and rubbed his finger over hers. "I told them you called, that's it." He whispered, and that settled her nerves a little.

She turned back to the group. "Well...I think I could. I'd have to call my mom."

"Okay!" Mike said, and Dustin and Will began to excitedly talk about how many quarters they had and what games they would play. Lucas glanced over at Max, and she pretended not to see the worry in his eyes.

Lunch went quickly...a little too quickly for her liking.

Soon she was back in useless classes, classes that seemed unimportant as she fought to stay awake, fight the ever-present feeling of throwing up, and try to think of how to ask to go over to her friend's house.

It was as she stared at a math problem, trying to figure out the angle of X, that she remembered that Neil said she could go study with her friend Monday after school...y'know...before he threw her against the wall and slapped her. No wonder she forgot.

It was good she remembered though. She could call her mom at home, and remind her about going to study. Hopefully, nothing bad would come of it.

Now she just had to deal with staying awake and not throwing up for the rest of school.

She dodged more concerned looks and scraped through the day. Finally, the bell rang, and she quickly ran to the payphone. She shoved a couple of precious coins in, dialing her house number. She prayed her mom would pick up.

"Hello?" Relief flooded her as her mom's voice came in.

"Hey, mom."

"Maxine! Why are you calling, is everything okay?"

"yeah...just, remember how I have a test I need to study for? Neil said I could go over to my friend's house and study today. Is...is that okay?"

Susan was quiet for a moment before saying, "yes that should be fine Maxine. Just make sure to tell Billy where you'll be and what time he will pick you up, okay?"

Ah... Billy. This might be a problem. She'll figure it out later.

"Okay. Bye, mom."

She put the phone back, her change coming out of the phone, she snatched it up and then went over to the bike racks to meet her friends.

The party was happy to see her and even happier to hear she could come over. They set out on their bikes (Max with her skateboard in her bag, on the back of Lucases) and Will (for a rare time of not being chauffeured by Johnathan) on the back of Mike's bike. Max thought she could see Will blush slightly at holding onto Mike as they rode, but she figured it was just the cool air on his face making his cheeks redden.

They eventually made it to Mike's house, Lucas panting a little harder from biking Max as well, but not saying a word about it. She appreciated his kindness.

They walked inside to find Mrs. Wheeler in the kitchen, prepping some snacks.

"Hi, boys...and Max! Nice to see you again."

Max had only been over a few times. One because it took Mike a while to warm up to her, and two, the Wheeler family didn't love having a girl over with a group of guys...until Mike told them about El. After that, they were always excited to see her.

Max liked the Wheelers. Even though the family wasn't touchy-feely like the Byers or the Sinclairs, she felt safe here. They had plenty of food, a big house, and new clothes. Parents that even if they didn't say I love you, still cared about their kids. It was better than her house by a lot.

Also, Mrs. Wheeler made amazing cookies.

Speaking of those cookies, Max snatched one off the plate Ms. Wheeler offered them.

"Hi, Mrs. Wheeler. It's good to see you too."

Ms. Wheeler looked up at her clearly for the first time, looking ready to say something when her face fell. "Max...honey, what happened to your face?"

oh. max honestly kept forgetting about her face. It was getting annoying lying all the time.

"I fell off my skateboard," she said. "Totally face planted, but I'm okay."

Mrs. Wheeler smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, I am glad you're okay. No concussion, right?'

"Um....no."

"hmm...good. Why don't you take another cookie, huh? Cookies always make things better."

Max smiled as she took another one, despite the boy's protests.

"Now you kids go on and do your homework!" she called after them as they all began to shuffle to the basement. There was a chorus of "yeah we will" as they walked down, and Max followed.

They got down to the basement, everyone making themselves comfortable as they spread out and grabbed snacks. Max glanced at the phone on the wall. She needed to call Billy...probably better sooner than later.

"Hey, can I call Billy real quick?" she asked Mike pointing to the phone.

"Uh...sure. What for?" Mike asked, and suddenly everyone was looking at her from the mention of Billy.

"Relax. He needs to know when to pick me up," She muttered, knowing why they were all looking at her. Seriously, you'd think they'd drop it by now.

She walked over and dialed the number to her house. She knew Billy was home by now, and since it was a Monday, her mom would be grocery shopping. Hopefully, it would just be him at home.

"Hello?" a gruff voice.

"Billy, hey-"

"Where were you after school? You better not be calling me from the office asking for a ride. I waited like 15 minutes."

She winced. 'I-I'm sorry. I'm at a friend's house, I figured you'd head home and I could call you..."

He grumbled something. "Yeah, well next time tell me, birdbrain."

"yeah. Sorry."

"Why are you calling?" straight to the point, she shivered.

"I'm...I'm at the Wheelers."

She was quiet, waiting for a response to come but none came so she continued, "could...you pick me up? at 8?"

Still quiet, and for a moment she was worried he hung up before an annoyed sigh, and a short, "Yeah, fine."

"Billy?"

"Hm?"

"Please..." Her voice trailed off but she knew he knew what she was trying to say.

Please don't tell Neil. Please let me have this one night. Please.

She knew they didn't get along. They hated each other. But if he cared just a little that Neil was hurting her...could they maybe be allies? Just for a day?

Another annoyed sigh and finally, "yeah. Okay, birdbrain. But I expect you outside at 8. You understand?"

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah."

"Say you understand Max," and Max grew anxious at those words, remembering the heavyweight from them.

"Yeah...I understand."

"Alright. at eight." he muttered, and with that, he hung up.

Chapter Text

“Everything alright?” mike asked as she set the phone back, again the whole group staring at her.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes gosh. He’s picking me up at 8.”

Mike nodded. “Cool. I was thinking we could do some homework for an hour or so? Then head over to the arcade.”

“Yeah, I mowed a bunch of lawns this weekend so I’m loaded in quarters,” Lucas chimes in and Dustin rolled his eyes.

“You better share those with me, stalker,” Max said, plopping down on the couch next to him and she saw Dustin gag in the corner of her eye as Will laughed at his antics.

“As Long as I get a chance to beat your high score in dig dug” he bantered back and Max actually laughed at that.

“Not a Chance”

“Allllright,” Mike drawled, “can the lovebirds focus on English for a few minutes?”

At that both Lucas and Max glared at Mike (the latter throwing a pillow at him) and eventually the group settled down into a rhythm of reading and answering questions on their worksheets. Occasionally there would be light talking or asking about an answer to a question, but that was it.

Everyone ate their snacks and got into a comfortable silence of working, and Max finally relaxed for the first time that day.

Usually, homework was a desperate escape from the anger and violence in her home. Here, it was a chance to actually learn. To get her work done with friends. Not that she loved homework, but she loved doing it in a much calmer environment. Besides, Max actually enjoyed reading. Not that many people knew that, and she really loved reading Steven King's books.

After about an hour of working, Dustin sneezed so loudly that everyone jumped and Lucas (who had been writing) drew a line on his homework.

“Dustin!” They all exclaimed at once and Dustin looked at them all with a confused look.

“What? It’s not my fault Mike's basement is basically dust.”

“No it’s not!” Argued back Mike, and as Mike and Dustin started getting into it (Will watching them debate back and forth) Lucas looked over to Max and rolled his eyes. Max gave him a genuine smile, one which was rare these days.

She loved being with Lucas. He had the rare ability to put her at ease. To bring down her walls. Lucas was the only one who saw her for her it felt like at times. To Neil, she was an ungrateful whore, to Billy she was the burden he had to watch. To her mom... well, she didn't know. And to everyone, she was mad max. Mad in the way that her flaming red hair flew around town on her skateboard, that she threw snide comments around, and flipped off those who made her mad.

But when Lucas called her Mad Max, it was full of all the sweetness and tenderness in the world. She wasn't just mad, wasn't just a burden, or a whore. She was his Max, Max the girl who loved to skateboard, who stood up for her friends, who hid behind jokes and sarcasm, but was, in reality, scared.

Lucas saw her for who she was. At first, she didn't like it, but now, she was grateful. Lucas held such a love for her, and she held it for him.

So sure, maybe he was just being a dork and rolling his eyes at his friends. But Max knew what he meant. He loved them, loved her, and loved making her laugh. There was no better person in the world.

Max felt her heart squeeze, and she grabbed his hand in hers. He seemed surprised, but he smiled and rubbed her hand with his fingers.

A squeal from Dustin pulled her from her thoughts and she found that Mike had thrown some chips at him. Will looked flabbergasted, and Lucas and Max shared a look before grabbing some chips in sync and throwing them at Mike.

"Hey!" he yelled, and soon, Will was at Mike's defense (though Max had no idea why), and he was throwing chips at them...

And soon, there were chips everywhere.

Their food fight settled down once Mike seemed to realize that his mother would quite literally kill them if she saw it like this, and he forbade the party from throwing food at each other anymore. At this point, Lucas and Max were behind a fort of pillows, Will was standing on a chair, Dustin was holding handfuls of chips with fear in his eye, and Mike looked on, exasperated at it all.

A truce was called, and the whole party began to pick up the chip crumbs and dust themselves off. It took much longer than it should have, but they got it done, leaving minimal evidence behind.

"Alright...how about we head to the arcade?" Lucas asked, and everyone else agreed. Shoes were pulled on, jackets and bags grabbed, and soon they were all outside.

She hopped onto Lucas's bike again, holding him tight as they rode through the cold night. She tried to ignore how Dustin kept making suggestive faces at them as she tightly held onto Lucas.

"Grow up Dustin," she shouted at him over the wind, and he rolled his eyes and shouted something back that she couldn't quite hear but she noticed Lucas's eyes widen.

"Shut up!" he yelled back, and that set Dustin into a fit of laughter. Mike and Will rolled their eyes in sync behind him.

Soon they made it to the arcade, and everyone practically threw their bikes to the ground. They ran inside, the sounds of games and quarters filling the air along with the scent of popcorn. Max grinned. She hadn't been to the arcade in forever, especially since Neil began to breathe down her neck. The arcade was one of the rare places where she felt completely relaxed and happy, and she practically dragged Lucas toward the DigDug machine.

They managed to get through a round or two before she heard someone gasp.

"What do you think happened to that girl's face?"

It was a much louder whisper than it needed to be, and Max felt her blood beginning to boil at the fact that someone was talking about her behind her back. Literally.

She spun around, angry, forgetting the game. "What?"

She came face to face with a group of older teens. High school age, maybe freshman or sophomores. 3 girls and a guy.

One of the girls face turned a dark red, and Max figured she had been the one to say something, but the guy cut in saying, "You get in a fight?"

Lucas, Mike, Dustin, and Will all turned around at this, the game completely forgotten now. They all gave her uneasy glances, but she ignored them.

"None of your business." She spat back, and she felt Lucas grab her hand. He squeezed it, bringing comfort and a warning. Don't get in an actual fight.

He held up his hands like she had attacked him. "Geez, sorry. Just wondering. Not many girls go walking around looking like that."

"Not many guys go walking around talking to girls younger than them," Mike spat back cooly, and Max looked in surprise at him. She knew Mike could be sharp with his words too, she just never expected him to to stand up like that for her. Although, Mike was full of surprises lately. Now that they were friends, she was glad to have his wit with her. She snapped her head back to the teens, the guys face going red.

One of the girls pulled on his arm. "Robbie, come on. let's just go."

He pulled away from her, keeping his eyes on the party. "You guys should watch your tounges. Obviously, you don't do it well enough if someone decked you like that," he spat, looking to Max at this last part.

Max froze, the whole party with her. If they had been unconvinced of her lie earlier, they were probably unconvinced now.

"I didn't get decked, for your business," she said, holding up her chin in hope of a false sense of bravery. "Now get out of here and leave us alone."

He scoffed, ignoring now all 3 girls trying to pull him away. "Yeah, right. I've seen plenty of bruises after fights before. And that-" he says, pointing at her face, "is a good example of one."

"Robbie, leave her alone!" one of the girls finally said, exasperated, and she pulled him away and outside. The other two gave the party apologetic glances, one of them actually muttering, "sorry, he's kind of a dick," before running out after him.

Now that Robbie and those girls were gone, Max felt the adrenaline leaving, the anger replaced with fear. A knot returned in her stomach, the feeling of nausea returning.

She heard Mike mutter some unfriendly words about them under his breath, and Lucas agreed.

Max pretend she wasn't rattled. "Gosh, what dicks. Sorry, they ruined that round," she turned back to the game, as if uninterested.

Lucas spun her back around.

"Are you okay?" his voice was soft, his sweet brown eyes filled with concern. Looking at the others, all their eyes were full of concern too.

She put up her walls. "Yes, gosh. I'm fine. It'll take more than a couple of high schoolers to scare me."

Lucas shook his head. "No.. I mean, he said you got in a fight. Did you get in a fight? Did...did someone..."

She cut him off before he could finish.

"What? Are you crazy? No, gosh I did not get in a fight. I already told you I fell off my skateboard."

"Yeah, but-" MIke began to interject, but she ignored him.

"Just because some dick named Robbie says I got in a fight you're going to suddenly believe that over what I told you all?"

At that, there was an uncomfortable silence, so she continued.

"Look, I appreciate you guys standing up for me against them. But I'm fine. Have been fine, and will be. Nothing is wrong...okay? How about we just go back to the game."

At this Dustin tried to speak, "Max-"

"Really," she said. Her tone was sharp, indicating she was completely done with this conversation. They knew she wouldn't go any further.

"Fine," Lucas sighed. "Let's waste all our quarters and play these games...like we came here for."

Max relaxed, and at this, the rest of the party agreed (even if unwillingly).

They went through some more games, finally building up to that happy demeanor they had earlier. But Max knew they were all thinking about what had happened. She was too.

Soon 7:30 hit, and they all biked back to the wheelers. It was quieter than before but still good. They got back to the house around 7:50. They chatted for a bit, and soon it was 7:58, and Max was heading outside to wait for Billy. She didn't want to make him mad by her being a few minutes late, so she figured better safe than sorry.

Once again, waiting for that other shoe to drop.

She waved bye to her friends, a warm chorus of goodbyes floating back to her as she went up the basement stairs and headed out the front door. She knew that they would probably start talking about her. She ignored that.

It was cold outside. She glanced up at the stars, waiting for the familiar sound of the camero to roll up the street. Seconds later, it did.

She hardly waited for him to park, scrambling towards the car and sliding in. Praying they'll be home soon and he won't do anything stupid.

He grunts a hello, then puts the car in drive and peels down the street. She glances at him then. He's got a cigarette in his mouth, and he's softly drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. He seems calm. For Billy...anyways.

"You have fun?" he asks, and Max furrows her eyebrows together.

"Um...yes?"

"It's a yes or no answer Max, not a question in response."

She rolls her eyes. "Yes. Why do you care?"

He takes a drag of the cigarette then, puffing the smoke out slowly. Max hates the smell of the smoke, hates him. Her stomach feels more nauseous now.

"You better tell Neil you were at a girl's house. Doing homework."

He doesn't answer her question, just tells her something she already knows.

"Yeah, I know that. I'm not an idiot."

He laughs at that. "Sure. Not an idiot."

She doesn't respond.

He sighs. "Talkative as usual Max."

"I don't feel like talking."

He scoffs. "Could've fooled me."

She stares at the window, watching the dark silhouettes of the homes going by. Trying not to think about Billy and his disgusting cigarettes, and instead thinking about her friends and the fun she had that night.

Billy, finally takes a hint and shuts up.

They drive the rest of the way home in silence. They pull up to the house, Billy putting the car into park and taking the keys out of the ignition. Max is off to her room in an instant. She wished that her and Billy's car rides weren't filled with so much...tension all the time.

"Maxine." Neil's voice calls from the kitchen. She stops dead in her tracks, halfway to her room. To her safety. She hears Billy come inside behind her.

"Come here," Neil calls, and Max feels her stomach squeeze. She's probably going to throw up. She glances at Billy, he says nothing but starts heading to the kitchen and she finds herself following, not even wondering why Billy is coming along.

Neil is sitting at the table, sipping a beer. Her mother is nowhere to be found.

"Billy. Maxine. How was your day?"

"It was good sir," Billy says, and Max finds herself repeating his words.

"Good. Why don't you go to bed Billy? I need to talk to your sister."

Billy doesn't move for a moment, but then nods and leaves the room. He glances at her as he walks past.

Max feels more nervous now.

"How was your friend? You finish that homework?" Neil asks, looking at Max. His voice is calm, like the way he used to talk to her when they first met.

Max felt like her head was swimming.

"Um, yes sir. And...and she's good."

He nodded in approval and heard "she".

"What's her name?"

"El...Eleanor." she blurts out. Why El was the first girl's name that came to mind, she didn't know. Probably because she was the only girl she knew here. But they definitely weren't friends.

Neil nods at this. "Good. Glad you girls got your homework done."

"Y-yes sir."

He nods and drinks more beer. "Good. You should go to bed."

Max relaxes at that and almost walks out of the room before realizing her mom still is nowhere to be seen. She thought maybe she would have come out by now if she heard them come in.

"Where's my mom?"

Neil looks genuinely curious at her asking that. "She's in bed. Why?"

"This...this early?"

Neil hums. "She wasn't feeling well."

"Oh..should I go check on-"

"How about you go to bed," Neil says, cutting her off. He takes a swig of his beer, watching her the whole time. His tone is rough, and she sees him clench the bottle a little harder.

She knows the warning signs now. A giant "DO NOT ENGAGE" sign is flashing above his head. It's better she gets out of here before he throws her against the wall again.

Knowing she has been given an opportunity to escape and he's not going to answer her questions, she says good night and quickly bolts out of the kitchen.

As soon as she's out in the hallway, she runs into Billy.

She thought he was in his room?

"You okay?" he asks in a soft whisper.

"What?"

He rolls his eyes. "Neil. He didn't do anything?"

"What? No, I already told you he hasn-"

"You're not lying to me. Max?" he grabs her, a little rough but not hard enough to bruise.

"No! Will you let go?" she yell-whispers back, and that seems to satisfy him. He turns around and goes into his room, shutting the door without another word.

She turns into her own room then, collapsing onto her bed and trying to make sense of the day she just had. Especially trying to figure out what the heck is going on with Billy.

She falls asleep with a headache.

Chapter Text

After Max left Mikes's basement that night, the rest of the party immediately began to talk about her.

"I think there's something seriously wrong with her right now," Mike said, dark eyes filled with concern.

"Yeah, did you see how she looked when that guy said she got in a fight? She looked scared," Dustin said.

"But she said she fell off her skateboard. We should believe her, right? Friends don't lie." Will pipped up.

"I don't know..." Lucas muttered, "she might have if it was serious enough."

Mike sighed. "There's no way she hurt her face if she fell off her skateboard but the rest of her is fine."

"I agree. She's definitely hiding something." Dustin said.

Lucas frowned. "She told me once that Billy takes his anger out on her. Do you guys think...maybe.."

"Billy takes his anger out on her?" Mike cut in, and Dustin said, "Like how?"

"Like, he probably hit her face."

"Oh."

"We should tell someone," Will said.

"No way. What if we're wrong? She'd never talk to us again," Mike said, and Lucas agreed.

"We need proof."

"Isn't this proof enough?" Dustin asked.

Mike sighed. "I don't know. But I don't think we should tell anyone. At least not yet."

"Fine. But if she comes to school with a black eye or something, I'm calling Hopper." Dustin said, and Will nodded.

"I agree. Let's just give it some time. Maybe she'll open up to us." Lucas said.

"You mean she'll open up to you," Mike said, and Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Just give her a chance. She'll talk when she's ready."

Max, was in fact, not talking.

The boys were starting to grow antsy by her avoiding all topics of her bruise, Billy, and what happened at the arcade.

It had been 3 days now, and they were hoping she'd say something by now.

Each boy had tried to bring something up about her "skateboarding accident" or what happened at the arcade, but she shot it all down.

Lucas was growing especially nervous.

"I can't get her to talk. What if Billy does something horrible...should we even be waiting?" he asked Mike, anxiety taking over.

Mike sighed. "I don't know. Maybe we should be blunt about it?"

Lucas frowned. "I don't think so. She'd probably stop talking to us then."

Mike frowned too. "This sucks."

"Agreed."

The boys would often watch Max get into Billy's car after school, each watching closely to see if she looked nervous or in danger. They never could tell.

It took a little less than a week before something happened.

It was a normal Wednesday morning, the boys all congregated by the bike rack before school to chat before going to their lockers and classes. Usually, they would find Max in the hallway already, but today, they saw her slowly approaching the school building.

"She's later than usual..right?" Dustin asked, and Mike nodded.

"We should go check on her."

They approached, with smiles and hellos, and she gave a weak smile back.

"Hey, guys."

"You're later than usual," Lucas said walking up to her and giving her a small hug. "You alright?"

"Um...yes? Why wouldn't I be?"

He shrugged, and they all walked back to the school together. "Oh, here. Thanks for letting me borrow your jacket. I totally forgot I had it until I was at home," Max said, reaching into her bag and pulling out Lucas's red jacket. He had let her borrow it yesterday, she had forgotten her jacket and it got chilly during recess. He forgot to get it back after school. "Oh, no problem. I honestly forgot you had it as well." The group kept walking, and everyone talked, except for Will.

When Max went off to her locker, Mike glanced at Will. "You okay? You didn't say a word."

Lucas looked at will, holding the jacket in his hands protectively as if it was Max.

Will looked upset, and he glanced at Dustin, Lucas, and Mike with fear in his eyes.

"You guys didn't see her wrist?"

"What?" came a chorus of answers, obviously confused by what he was saying.

"Her wrist...it had a giant bruise on it."

Sure enough, at lunch, they got a closer look. They realized then that Max was wearing a long hoodie, and for good reason. Her wrist had several bruises on it, all in the shape of giant fingerprints. It was only then that Lucas noticed the way she winced every time she used her hand.

"I'm going to talk to her after school, okay? I think it would be better if I do it." Lucas said to Mike, who nodded and said he'd pass the message to Dustin and Will. It was time to find out what was going on with Max.

***
Max was exhausted.

Her wrist was killing her, screaming at every little movement. She had tried desperately to hide the bruises, but it was harder when your wrist was so exposed. No matter, at least the bruises up her arms were covered.

No one had asked about the bruises on her wrist yet, but she saw the guys glancing at them. She had come up with a lie, she had slammed her hand into the wall when she tripped. Not that it sounded like her at all...but she needed something.

Anything but the truth.

No one needed to know what happened the night before.

Max sighed, a headache forming behind her eyes. She needed to focus on her classwork, she was supposed to be reading and taking some notes. She bit her lip, trying to push back the memories. Wishing she could make it all go away.

It didn't.

Memories of last night came to her anyways, uncaring if she had schoolwork to do.

Last night had started out okay.

Billy was in his room doing weights, and her mom was out on the front porch, smoking a pack of cigarettes. Max knew when her mom got anxious, she'd start smoking. Lately, she'd been smoking even more. Ever since she came home to Max with a bruised cheek and busted lip, she came home with a pack of cigarettes every other night.

When Max finally confronted her about Neil hitting her, her mom smoked a whole cigarette before responding, handshaking the whole time.

"He didn't mean to hurt you, sweetie, he was so sorry when I asked him about it. He was just trying to do his job as your dad and raise you right. You have to understand sweetie, he's just looking out for you. He doesn't mean no harm."

"Mom! He hit-"

"Please Maxine. Neil is a good man. He said he was sorry, just let it go."

Since then, Max and her mom hadn't been talking so much.

So long story short, her mom was out smoking a pack of cigarettes, and Max was left to make dinner.

It was spaghetti. Again.

As she prepared dinner and set the table, Billy walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table.

"Dinner almost ready?"

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah."

"Good."

While her relationship with her mother was faltering, her one with Billy was improving. Slightly. Very, very, slightly.

They weren't friends, weren't even close. But they were in friendly conversations now. He didn't yell as much. She didn't snap as much. Ever since Neil busted her face open, Billy had been a little more patient.

Otherwise, everything was the same between them.

They head Neil walk through the front door, telling Susan about his day. Max and Billy traded a glance, and she brought the pasta over to the table and sat down across from Billy.

Susan came in, smelling of cigarettes, and sat by Max. She thanked her for the dinner, to which Max didn't respond.

Neil noticed that.

"Maxine," he said, sitting down and fixing her with a look, "Your mother thanked you for dinner. How do you respond?"

Gosh, he was so annoying. She wished she slipped poison into his food.

"You're welcome mom," she said, giving a quick glance at her mom before looking back at her plate.

Everyone began to dish up and eat, Max and Billy tuning out Neil as he droned on about his day.

"How was school, Maxine?" Neil then asked, and Max inwardly sighed, wishing he wouldn't single her out for once.

"It was good. Nothing too special."

Neil hummed.

"Is that a new jacket?"

Max froze, food halfway to her mouth. She totally forgot she was wearing Lucas's jacket. He had given it to her at recess, and she forgot to give it back, It was just so comfortable and smelled like him. It gave her a lot of comfort in a comfortless home.

But now, she was trapped.

She looked up, fear in her eyes, trying to mask it. Billy looked at her, slight concern on his face.

She knew she couldn't say it was hers. Her mother would immediately say that it wasn't, and she would be caught in a lie, which would make Neil madder.

No other choice.

"It's..it's a friend's jacket. I forgot mine at home during recess, he let me borrow it because I was cold. I meant to give it back after school."

Neils's mustache twitched. "He?"

Oh no. She said 'he'. SHE SAID 'HE'.

Across from her, Billy coughed, as if choking on his spaghetti.

"I...I...yes." she stammered, not knowing what else to say. What should she do??

"That better not be that boy you were sneaking off with at the park," Neil growled, and Susan looked at her daughter.

"Sneaking off? Maxine... that's not like you. Who is this boy?"

"Yes, I would like to know," Neil said, crossing his arms.

Max glanced at Billy, a plea for help.

"Oh he's harmless, I've seen him before. He's a nerdy kid who likes to play board games and talk about science," Billy cut in, trying to take the heat off Max.

Neil glared at his son. "I don't remember your name being Maxine boy."

"He's right...he's no one. Just one of my friends...a total nerd. He's no one special... no one..." her voice trailed off, as Neil looked from Billy to her. Her stomach squirmed.

"What's his name?" He asked, and Billy gave her a look of warning.

"L-Lucas."

"Does he have a last name?" Neil continued, and Max wished the ground would swallow her up.

"I don't know it. We're not even that close."

She was lying her way into the grave, she knew it.

"Not even that close?" Neil asked, his eyebrows bunched together. "You must be close though, he gave you his jacket,"

"Oh, tell us who he is Maxine. I want to meet him." her mom cut in, but Max had enough.

She quickly stood up, "I already told you! His name is Lucas, we're not even that close. I-I'd like to be excused now. I'll clean up the dishes."

At that Neil frowned, but her mom waved her off, so he didn't say anything.

As she walked off, she saw Billy slightly relax. Although they both knew, it wouldn't be for long.

She cleaned up the dishes in the kitchen, waiting for her family to finish so she could clean their dishes too and put any extra food away. It didn't take long, her mom came and dropped the dirty dishes off in the sink, and began to put the pasta away. Billy went off to his room.

Once her mom was done, she went back outside to smoke a cigarette.

Of course, Max was left alone with Neil.

She scrubbed quickly, hoping to get out of there as quickly as she could.

Neil sat quietly at the table, drinking a glass of water and watching her out of the corner of his eye.

When she finally finished, she made a bee-line for the exit, trying to escape the kitchen and Neil. But he was fast...too fast. He grabbed her and pinned her against the wall, fingers digging into her arms. She knew they'd bruise.

"I know you're lying girl," he growled, and Max could feel his hot breath on her face. "You better start shaping up before you end up like Billy."

She squirmed in his arms, fixing him with a cold stare. "Let me go. I'm not lying."

He scoffed. "Sure you're not."

He set her down, and she made to get away but he grabbed her wrist, hard, and spun her towards him one last time.

"You better listen to me girl. Shape up,"

His dark eyes pierced her light ones, and she bit back a scream. She squirmed out of his grasp, him finally letting go, and her running to her room. As soon as she ran in, she locked the door, sank to the floor, and hugged her knees to her chest.

She sat there for a long, long time, a scream in her throat the whole night.

Now as she sat in class, that scream seemed moments away again.

Finally, the bell rang, making her jump. She quickly gathered her things and sped out of the classroom like all the other students. She wanted to hurry and get to Billy's car. He had agreed to take her to the arcade today, and she really needed some time alone there. She didn't want to make him wait and have him change his mind.

She made it outside, crossing over the grass when she heard her name.

"Max! Hey, Max!"

Lucas.

She turned around, to see him running up to her, a smile on his face.

"Hey...could we talk real quick?"

Max sighed. "Fine. Make it quick, I need to get going."

Lucas squirmed. "It might take a few minutes. We need to talk about some.... stuff."

She felt her stomach squirm. Again. This conversation was making her nervous.

"Fine. About what exactly?"

He scratched the back of his neck.

"The guys and I... we're worried about you. You showed up last week with a busted lip and cheek, and now you've got a huge bruise on your wrist."

Max subconsciously tugged the sleeve over her wrist, wishing they hadn't seen that. Wishing they weren't having this conversation right now.

"Just...please tell me. Whats going on? Talk to me, Max... I'm right here."

She plastered on an annoyed look. "I know you're here. But I'm fine. I tripped, remember? I've just been clumsy lately."

"Have you been? Or is this Billy or som-"

"No!" she said sharply, surprised at her defending him. "Just, leave it okay? Look, I need to go. We can chat later."

She spun on her heels, leaving him with a pained expression.

"Max!" he yelled, but she was already gone.

Chapter Text

Hey everyone,

Thank you all for reading this story, whether you are new or have been here since the beginning, I love and thank you for reading, commenting, and supporting. It means the world to me :) I love Max so much, writing a different piece of her story has been super fun, and I've loved diving into her head. I hope that her story has stuck with each of you as much as it has with me.

Unfortunately, I'm writing this to announce that this story is on hiatus...for a long period of time. Please be assured that I AM coming back to this story, in fact, I have many future chapters planned out, and even a second part of this series, so I am not done with Max yet (for better or for worse haha).

As for why I won't be here for a while, I'm going on a church mission trip (which is 18 months long) and I am incredibly excited and cannot wait :) [please be kind in the comments abt my mission trip, this is my decision] but while on the said mission, I will not have access to/time to write on here anymore, so long story short - I won't really be writing for a while. BUT, I hope you all continue to read and enjoy this story, and I cannot wait to see you all again when I come back.

Until then, take care of yourselves and others
-Suns 🥰

Chapter Text

“Mike, this is Lucas. Over”

Mike heard his radio go off, and quickly grabbed it. “I hear you Lucas. What did Max say? Over.”

A beat of silence before, “nothing. She wouldn’t talk. She kept brushing me off, and when I asked her about Billy she got all defensive. Over.”

Mike frowned. “Defensive? Over.”

“Yeah. It was weird. That’s weird, right? Over.”

“Well, maybe we’re wrong then. Maybe she really is just falling off her board and running into things. Over.”

“Or… maybe she has Stockholm Syndrom. Over.”

“Stockholm Syndrom?” Mike furrowed his eyebrows.

“Yeah, it’s when-“ Lucas began but he cut him off.

“I know what Stockholm Syndrom is. I don’t think that’s what’s going on. She doesn’t like Billy. Over.”

“Then why would she defend him and not answer my questions? Over.”

Mike rolled over on his bed. “I don’t know. Maybe she’s scared. Maybe he had nothing to do with it. Either way, somethings wrong. Over.”

Lucas sighed. “Yeah, I could’ve told you that much.”

***
“Those friends of yours giving you crap again?” Billy asked, looking at Max who was glaring out the window.

She looked over at him. “What? No. They’re fine.”

“Then why do you look like someone pissed in your cereal?”

She made a face at that. “Gross.”

“Well, you’re acting like it.”

“I’m not,” she snapped back, and when Billy gave her a look she took a deep breath and sighed before continuing.

“My friends are fine they’re just being idiots. Nothing new there.” She turned towards the window again, clenching her good hands fist.

Billy scoffed. “Sounds about right.”

Max hummed in response, as if she wasn’t fully paying attention to what he was saying.

They pulled up to the arcade, Max going to get out but Billy grabbed her arm. She hissed in pain, Billy letting go quickly.

“Geez Max, chill. Just letting you know if you’re not out here in an hour-“

“I can skate home, I get it.”

“Watch the tone birdbrain,” he said, and Max rolled her eyes and shut the door.

He watched her walk in before peeling off, the camero roaring in Maxs ears.

She knew it was his way of trying to be nice. Letting her go to the arcade for an hour, especially after last night.

It wasn’t a lot. But it was more than he’d done 2 weeks ago.

It was more than he’d done in a long time.

Her and Billy never got along. But there were a few rare weekends in California where he’d take her to the beach, or take her to get slushees. He’d call her “Mad Max” in a way that made Max feel proud. He even taught her to drive once, on a day when he smoked a lot and was feeling generous.

But she could count on on both hands how many times Billy had been good to her, took her out, treated her like a sister.

So even if they became friends one day…she knew she’d never be able to forgive him for all he put her through in the past.

And she could live with that.

Max shook off her thoughts of Billy, of Neil, and of her friends trying to play detective with her life.

It was time to finally be in control of her life… even if it was just for an hour in an arcade. She went up to DigDug, happy to see that still, no one had beat her high score. She planned to keep it that way.

After spending ever last cent, and almost-but-not-quite beating her high score, Max looked at the clock.

She still had about 10 minutes left before Billy was supposed to pick her up, so she headed outside with her skateboard.

The parking lot in the arcade was nice to skate on. It was pretty even, and if you went around to the side, there was pretty much no one.

She threw her board down, and started skating around. An experienced skater, she was now working on a new trick, a kick flip.

She skated around a couple times, doing the first half of the tick (a move similar to an Ollie) just fine. She moved onto the second part of the trick, trying to put it together but massively failing. Granted, she was used to eating dirt every so often as she learned new moves, but this time she spun in the air and landed face-down in the gravel.

For a moment, she couldn’t feel anything, but then pain shot into her elbows, cheeks, and nose.

“O-oww,” she hissed, sitting up. Her hoodie was torn, the forearms scuffed up and bleeding from road rash.

She slowly lifted her finger to her face, feeling her cheek and nose burn at the touch, and when she pulled away, there was blood.

“Shi-“

“Max?”

Max froze, hand covered in blood and body on fire.

She didn’t need to look up to see who was calling her. She was surprised she didn’t hear his car roar up with his obnoxious music.

“Billy?” She whispered, looking at her older-step brother. He was parking his car, and was hurrying outside to where she was sprawled out on the floor.

“Max? Hey, you okay? Shi-“

She cut him off this time.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I just slipped.

At that Billy cursed a little under his breath, lit a cigarette, and then walked away back to his car.

Max started at him, disbelief rising as she began realizing that yes he was waiting for her to come… so she slowly got up and limped over to the car.

“Really? Can’t help me out?” She snapped when she got to the car.

Billy took a long drag. “You seem okay. You said you were fine yourself. Get in.”

She scowled, and opened the door. Then when she was in, she slammed it a little harder than usual on purpose.

Billy jumped, cigarette forgotten as he turned towards Max. “Hey! Don’t you dare…”

She frowned. “I just shut the door.”

He scowled then. “No you didn’t ‘just shut the door’ Max, I swear stop getting your panties in a twist because I didn’t bridal carry you back to the car.”

“Are you serious? You think that’s what I’m mad about?”

Billy threw up his hands. “For crying out loud Max I don’t know what the h-“

“It’s the fact that you care about me one second… a-and the next you…you just don’t?? I don’t get it Billy I’m so confused!”

It took Max a second too long to realize she had just word vomited all her thoughts, but no turning back now. She felt hot tears gathering in her eyes, and she tried to blink some away. A couple slid down, the salt stinging her scratched up face.

Billy frowned, took a long drag of his cigarette, and then threw it out the window. He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, almost in a way that made Max think he was angry. She was staring to feel nervous, and was about ready to open the car door and run for it when-

“You still like the red slushees from 7-11 right?”

She sniffed.

He sighed. “If you’re not gonna talk I’m not buying you crap.”

Another sniff. “I like red.”

Red like the color of her hair. Red like her coat. Red like the car her dad used to drive. Red like the blood on her face. Red like the anger in Niels face. Red like prints on Billy’s face. Red like her anger. Red like her hurt. Red like the strawberries her mom used to buy her every Tuesday. Red red red.

Wash it all away with a red slurpee.

“K then.”

And with that the blue camero sped off to the gas station.

***
“Mike! This is Dustin over! Code red- we have a code red! I just saw her… at the arcade. You’ll never believe what I saw-“

Chapter Text

A red slushie does wonders for the soul.

Max sat in Billy’s car, slurping away and gracing the bandaid over her cut absentmindedly. Billy had bought them each a slushee (blue for him of course) and some bandaids for Max’s face.

No ibuprofen but he got her some bandaids so there was that.

Billy sat next to her, trading between a cigarette and a slushee with every other breath. Max thought it was disgusting, and she wished he’d stop smoking. It reminded her of her mom, and she didn’t like being reminded of her mom these days.

“Glad those driving lessons paid off.” Billy muttered, staring off into nothing.

Max frowned, a little confused at first. Why did he bring up the fact that she had stolen his car and driven it that night they faced the Demi-dogs? Confusion lingered until a memory surfaced.

It was a couple months after their parents had gotten married. Neither of them were very happy about it, but they weren’t close. Not by a long shot.

It was their parents first fight. The first time Neil really raised his voice at Susan.

Max was still scared then. She wasn’t angry or hard yet, still too much like a child.
She was frozen in the living room, listening to them yell louder and louder in the kitchen, leg bouncing, and eyes wide.

It was Billy that pulled her away and sped down to 7-11. Billy that put the red slushee in her shaking hands and was quiet until she calmed down. Billy who said, “yeah Neil’s a piece of garbage. Just stay away from him”. And then lit up a cigarette and blew the smoke into her face. (She rolled her eyes.)
Billy who then put her behind the drivers wheel and let her go wild in the parking lot.

Max suddenly remembered that Billy had indeed taught her to drive. It was one of the few good memories she had of him. The day after that, he left her behind and she had to walk to school.

4 months later and he broke her best friends arm.

And then they moved here.

And now….

Now she didn’t know what to think.

So she finished her slushee and said, “yeah, aren’t you glad you taught me all of that?”

***
“I’m worried about her.”

El frowned.

Mike was visiting her that Friday night, what he did as often as he could. Hopper still wasn’t jazzed about him coming by, but now that Mike knew El was here and she was mostly safe, there wasn’t anything he could do to stop it.

Mike and El sat criss crossed on the ground. They had been listening to some music, just talking before Mike opened up about Max. It was weighing more on his mind that he thought it was.

“Dustin called a code red. A code red! I think something is seriously wrong with her. The party is asking me what to do, but I don’t know what to do! This isn’t like a D&D game- I don’t see a way out of this.”

El just looked at him, big eyes meeting his. She had been speaking more lately, but now she was as quiet as when he first met her…in that big yellow t shirt.

El didn’t like Max. She didn’t hate her, but she didn’t love her. Really…she didn’t *know* Max Mayfield at all. Ever since she saw her skating around Mike, she wasn’t really a fan. But Mike insisted that it wasn’t anything at all, that really, Max just wanted some friends. He talked about how loyal she had been during the fight to close the portal, and that she had been a good friend since then (and only a friend Mike added).

Mike was quiet for a minute before looking up at El. “Hey, you remember how you were going to come over next week, all of us will hang out in my basement?”

“Yes,” el responded, not sure where this was going. But it was true. hopper had agreed (with a sigh) that El could hang out with the party next week if she was back by a reasonable time.

“Well, what if we invited Max too? Maybe you could…I dunno… talk to her?”

El hadn’t even considered the thought that Max would be there. She wanted to say no, she just wanted to hang out with the boys, but something in Mikes eyes told her she couldn’t say no.

Mike was…. Really worried. Worried like he was worried for Will when the shadow monster got him. Worried like he was for her when he’d talk to her on the walkie.

She sighed.

“Yes Mike. I can…talk to Max.”

Mike grinned and hugged her. “Awesome!”

***
Billy’s camero sped up to the front of their sad home, and he killed the engine as quickly as they pulled up.

Max nervously ran her finger over her jeans. She wasn’t ready to go in there.

Billy wasn’t either she was sure, but it didn’t stop him from getting out and slamming the door. One annoyed look back at her and she growled as she dragged herself out of the car.

She wondered if her mom was waiting for them.

Or Neil…

She shivered, squared her shoulders, and followed Billy inside.

“You’re late.”

Neil.

“Sorry sir, we lost track of time,” came a quick response from Billy.

Neil looked to max and her stomach dropped. She slowly opened her mouth, wondering what she could possibly say when her mother came in, cigarette dangling from her mouth.

“There you two are! Did you have fun spending time together?” She asked, coming over and hugging Max.

“Yes ma’am” Billy quickly responded. “We had a great time.”

Max prayed silently to whatever God was above for thanks that her mother came in and saved them from the wrath of Neil.

Neil grunted, picked up his bottle, and took a swig.

“Well then. Go eat your dinner and clean up. You both best be off to bed for school tomorrow,” he muttered, and Max bolted quickly to the kitchen.

Chapter Text

Max had run away once. It was something she was ashamed of…not because she did it, but because she failed. She failed at running away.

But now, she knew how to do it right.

Before, she had made it too obvious. Picked her room clean when she packed, bought a bus ticket ahead of time, and saved up her quarters instead of going to the arcade. Her worst mistake? She had written a goodbye letter to her mom.

She knew not to do that now. Emotions couldn't get in the way of survival, and as far as Max was concerned, survival was all that mattered.

She lay in bed, thinking. The room was warm, so her window was cracked open, a soft breeze coming in. She could hear crickets outside, and if she closed her eyes hard enough, she could almost imagine the ocean waves crashing onto the beach. She sighed. She missed California, no matter how settled into Hawkins she was becoming. Obviously wasn't settled enough if she was thinking about running away.

Although it wasn't that she wanted to run away from Hawkins necessarily, she had an amazing group of friends...and there was Lucas. Lucas, the only person who could get her to let her guard down and feel a little loved. Tears filled her eyes, and she furiously blinked them away. Emotions had no place in survival, and survival meant running away.

The Hargrove home was eating her alive. Neil terrified her, and she knew it would only be one day when he crossed a line. Billy was a roller coaster - one she was desperately trying to figure out, and failing to do so. His behavior earlier replayed in her mind. His usual cold and distant self...yet buying her the slushie and seeing if she was okay was different. Something... almost nice, she supposed.

But almost nice didn't help you, survive.

Then there was her mother.

She didn't really know how to begin with her mother. Her mother held the tenderest memories in her mind...but she wasn't the same. Was it possible to grieve someone who was still alive?

Because that's how Max felt every time she looked at her mom.

Max rolled over in bed, back to the window, staring at the bedroom door. She would have nightmares of Neil banging the door down...so she'd keep an eye open, just in case.

"Another reason to leave," she muttered.

The idea had been slowly forming in her mind for the last few weeks, if she was being honest. But now that her friends were getting suspicious, and Neil was getting stricter, the thought felt more real. More *needed*.

Survival was absolutely necessary at all costs.

***
It was late - Hopper had gone to bed hours before. El sat silently in her room, replaying in her mind what Mike had said to her about Max.

Max.

Some kind of feeling bubbled up in El's chest as she thought of the girl with red hair. She didn't know the word for it, but it almost felt like anger. And maybe a little bit of confusion.

And if she really thought about it, maybe just a tiny bit of concern - because El was no stranger to someone wreaking havoc on her life, and if someone was doing that to Max...well.

El shook her head. She was sure Max was fine. She was just the girl in the group who hung around the boys. The girl who was too close to Mike.

The girl she'd keep at arm's length.

But for Mike...well. She did say she'd talk to her.

And she'd keep her promise.

El closed her eyes, turning the radio to a soft static, and reached for her blindfold.

Time to see what Max was up to.