CHAPTER ONE: MADMAX
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📍PALACE ARCADE
OCTOBER 28th 1984

THE NEON LIGHTS reflected off the puddle in middle of the parking lot. The 'Palace Arcade' sign illuminated brightly amongst the starry sky and painted the windshield of Veronica's red Volkswagen Golf Cabriolet. She killed the engine then stepped out into the lot. If she had to be honest, she wasn't ready for her shift. More like, she wasn't ready to deal with people. Every kid who came to the arcade either broke the games or figured out how to dirty the entire place within the first hour of being open. Don't even get her started on the annoying teens who come here drunk.

Tires driving over gravel caught the blonde's attention. She turned to face the headlights of a familiar car and a smile graced her lips.

"Hey, Mrs. Byers!" Ronnie called out as she walked over to the older woman.

"Hi, Ronnie!" Joyce replied cheerfully. "You holding up okay?"

Joyce looked at her with sympathy and Ronnie frowned slightly. It's been 11 months since she was trapped in the upside down, and she hadn't been the same since. Everyone knew it.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" She answered then gave her an unconvincing smile. Her arms rested on the open window of the passenger side.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" Joyce asked her. "About anything. Doesn't matter. You need advice, hell, just someone to listen to you...I'm always here."

Ronnie glanced down at her shoes before she met the eyes of Will who sat in the passenger seat. He gave her a sad smile that said he knew exactly what she was going through. If there was anyone who understood her, it was Will. He was the reason she was stuck there in the first place, but she didn't regret it. She was helping Joyce put up missing flyers all over the town when she saw this gaping—slimy and almost glowing—hole in the middle of a tree behind the grocery store. She peered through it then the next thing she remembered she was trapped in an alternate dimension of Hawkins. She eventually found Will and helped kept him alive until the demogorgan found them in Fort Byers. She told him to run and not to stop for anything including her. She tried to distract the monster so Will could get away. Long story short, it worked and now she's left with a hideous scar across her stomach. Goodbye two-piece bathing suits.

"Yeah, I know," she said with glassy eyes, and Joyce decided it was best not to press her anymore.

"Okay, so, I'll pick you up in two hours. That's 9 on the dot okay?" Joyce told Will who was eager to meet up with his friends who had just arrived on their bikes.

"Okay..." he said a bit disappointed on the curfew, but understood nonetheless on his mother's sudden strict attitude.

"I—I could drop him off home after my shift if you'd like?" Ronnie offered. She knew Will wanted a bit of normalcy after everything he'd experienced. This was something she craved herself. At least this way Will got a few more hours with his friends, and Joyce didn't have to worry too much about her son's wellbeing.

"Can she? Please, mom."

Joyce thought about it for a minute. She was hesitant at first. It wasn't that she didn't trust Veronica. She did babysit Will from time to time after all. It's just that she hadn't been able to stop thinking about that monster almost taking her baby boy away from her. If she could, she'd have Will at her side every minute of every day. However, she knew that isn't what Will needed.

"Okay," she caved and Will grinned.

"If anything happens, if you need to come home, just ask them to use their phone and call home. Okay?"

"Okay."

Joyce reached out and grabbed his forearm gently when he attempted to get out of the car. "Don't—"

"Don't walk or bike home," Will finished her sentence. "I know."

"Okay, but, sweetie—"

"Mom, I have to go."

"Have fun."

Will hugged his mom before running off to join his friends inside the arcade. Joyce and Veronica bid each other a quick goodbye not before she reminded Ronnie that she was one phone call away.

Ronnie headed to the office to place her bag in her locker. Once her belongings were secured, she headed to her position behind the prize counter. She swung the door opened and screamed as Keith stood directly in front of her.

"That's a bit rude. Don't you think?"

"You scared the hell out of me," she told him with her hand over her beating heart. "Why were you standing in front of the door like a creep?"

"You're late," he reminded her, and she rolled her eyes at his dramatics.

"I was only a minute late," she replied as she pushed passed him. "I was talking to Joyce Byers. Besides, it's not really your business."

"Well, can you tell your boyfriend to stop asking me about your whereabouts then?" He said dryly.

"What boyfriend?" She asked him confusedly.

"Tall, a bit lanky, shaggy mullet..." he paused briefly. "Devil worshipper."

Ronnie rolled her eyes then spun around on her heels. "His name is Eddie. He's not my boyfriend and he's not a devil worshipper."

"It's true," Eddie replied from behind Ronnie. "I prefer the term servant."

Ronnie turned to face him. She grinned up at her best friend who practically towered over her. "Hey!"

"Hey," he said softly. His face lit up when they met her breathtaking blue eyes. Anyone with eyes could see that Eddie Munson was in love with Veronica Taylor. Well, everyone but Veronica.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him.

He reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a mixtape. He raised it up shyly. "Wanted to give you this."

Before she could respond, Keith cut her off.

"You know I'm still here, right?"

"Well, go somewhere else," she told him flatly and he stalked off. His hands buried deep in the bag of his cheese puffs.

She grabbed the tape from Eddie and examined the writing written in sharpie. Eddie's mix vol 8. This wasn't anything new for the pair. For for the past year and half, the two had been making mixtapes for other. Any songs that they loved, felt like the other would love to hear, or songs they found so special that they had to share with the other—it made its way onto the mixtape.

"I can't wait to hear it," she smiled fondly at the tape and Eddie's heart skipped a beat at the sight.

"So..." Eddie began before he was interrupted by the yelling of Dustin Henderson.

"No. No. No. No. No!" He shouted as he ran from one arcade game to the next.

"Dustin!" Veronica scolded catching his attention. "Stop yelling."

"Wait, this is the curly-haired science nerd you babysit?" Eddie asked her with a cheeky grin. His thumbed jabbed in the younger boy's direction.

"I have a name, eyeliner," Dustin fired back. "It's Dustin."

"You're lucky I can't hit a kid," Eddie retorted and Dustin gave him the bird. Ronnie pushed Eddie back gently when he attempted to lunge at the boy.

"Whats wrong?" She asked the group of kids while Eddie pouted behind her. She loved these kids, but she understood how much of a pain in the ass they could be. However, they were her pain the asses. Ronnie had babysat almost all of them over the years, but they had become close ever since last November. She guessed that's what happened when you trauma bond.

"Madmax" was all Dustin said which earned him look of confusion. Dustin rolled his eyes at her lack of comprehension skills. He sighed heavily.

"Madmax damn it!" He shouted. "They have beaten my high score on almost every single game in here!"

Dustin grabbed her wrist tightly and shook her gently. "Who is Madmax?!"

"Better than you," said Keith before Ronnie could answer him. She was actually grateful for his interference. Dustin wouldn't have liked her answer. The only Madmax she knew was the film.

"Is it you?" Asked Will.

Keith scoffed. "You know I despise Dig Dug."

"Then who is it?" Asked Lucas.

"Yeah, spill it, Keith!" Shouted Dustin.

"Geez, are they always this demanding?" Eddie asked Ronnie and she laughed.

"Yeah, actually."

Ronnie and Eddie leaned back against the glass case that enclosed all the small prizes Palace Arcade had to offer. The conundrum behind who was Madmax was far more entertaining than they both expected.

"Hey, want a Twizzler?" Ronnie asked Eddie.

"Of course, this kind of entertainment calls for a treat," he replied without taking his eyes off the boys insulting Keith for answers. "If you have popcorn even better."

Ronnie chuckled as she reached into the case for two Twizzlers. "Sorry, I don't have popcorn back here. I'm afraid you'd have to check the concession stand."

"You want information, then I need something in return," Keith said a bit creepily for Veronica's liking. He crunched down on a cheese puff with a smirk on his face.

All the boys turned to Mike who immediately shook his head. "No, no, no. No way. You're not getting a date with her."

"Mike, come on," Lucas begged him. "Just get him the date."

"I'm not prostituting my sister!" He declared.

"Wow," both Eddie and Ronnie said in unison.

The two decided not to listen anymore as the kids started arguing with Keith about everything from acne being contagious to Dustin's hair being a wig. Eddie peered over at the blonde who disinfected the top of the case as she waited for someone to come up to the prize counter ready to cash in their tickets in exchange for candy, spider rings, sticky rubber hands, and giant stuff bears.

He was worried about her but he didn't know how bring up his concerns. Every time he tried to talk to her about what happened to her last year, she either lashed out at him or changed the subject. He understood how much she must've been affected by being kidnapped and held in a basement by some sicko. He couldn't even imagine the trauma she accumulated from such a horrific experience; and he never wanted to push her to open up about something that traumatized her especially if she wasn't ready. But he just wanted her to let him know she was okay.

He wanted her to know that he was there for her no matter how dark the situation may be. But most importantly, he felt guilty that he couldn't save her. If he could go back in time, he would stop her from leaving his trailer that night. He replayed that night in his head on loop. The phone call from Joyce that had Veronica practically bolting to her car. The woman was a mess. He could still hear her sobs from the other line. He felt bad for Joyce, but if he could he wouldn't have let Veronica run to her aid if he knew she would be taken that night because of it. Call him selfish, but he didn't care. Not if it meant she'd be safe. If it meant she wouldn't become this lifeless version of herself he barely recognized.

"So...do you wanna ride to school together tomorrow?" Eddie asked her meekly.

Ronnie glanced up at him as she reorganized the small prizes. "Uh, I would love to—"

"But..." Eddie said with a smirk.

"I have to go in early. My parents and the principal set up an appointment for me with the school counselor," she replied with an eye roll.

"Well, that's great!" Eddie beamed but he frown when he noticed the look of annoyance on her face. "Is that not good? You can finally talk to someone about...you know...everything."

"I don't need to talk to anyone," she told him sternly. "I appreciate everyone's concern, but I'm fine. Promise."

Eddie slightly reached over the counter and grabbed her hand. He stared down at their intertwined hands silently longing for their touch to mean something to her they way it did for him.

Veronica peered down at their fingers and the way they seemed to fit perfectly together. For a brief moment, she found herself imagining them as more than friends. It was a nice thought. But she then reminded herself that this was Eddie—her best friend. He had been this close and touchy-feely with her for as long as they've known each other, but it never meant anything more than friendship. He never saw her that way and probably never will. She wasn't his type and she knew that.

She loved pastel colors and he vibed more with darker shades. He'd spent his weekends rehearsing with his rock band, and she would waste her hours away with musical theatre and Hawkin's drama club.  She never understood Dungeons and Dragons no matter how many times he explained it to her. Granted, he never really understood any of the plots of the novels she would gush to him about; however, he always made sure she knew he was interested in whatever she was saying anyway.

Eddie will never know about the crush she had on him a few years back. She would take that secret to her grave. Besides, given his track record, he preferred edgy brunettes. Ronnie slipped her fingers out of his grasp.

"I'm fine."

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📍HAWKINS HIGH
OCTOBER 29th 1984

"You know you didn't have to give me a ride?" Ronnie reminded Eddie for the third time this morning as he pulled into the school's parking lot.

Eddie showed up at her blue suburban home just as the sun had begun to rise. He said he wanted to drive her to school as his way of showing her support. Whatever the hell that meant she didn't exactly know, but she doubt even he knew what he was talking about.

"I know you like to sleep in as much as possible, but thanks," she continued and Eddie smirked.

"Anything for my best girl," he cooed and she rolled her eyes playfully.

"Careful, Munson...keep that up and people might think you have a crush on me," she jested and he gave her a sheepish smile.

"Would that be a bad thing?" He asked her. His tone was a bit more serious than she was used to.

Before Ronnie could speak, the sound of an engine revving echoed throughout the parking lot. Heads turned as a man—well kept and built—cladded in denim climbed out of a blue Camaro. Eddie whistled as he studied the car not noticing the attention the driver had been receiving.

"Sick car," he mumbled and Ronnie smiled.

"Come on, Munson."

Eddie stepped out of the van, and jogged over to the passenger side. Veronica muttered a 'thank you' as he held the door open for her.

"I should probably go—" Veronica told him before her body slammed into someone's chest. She stumbled backward slightly and two hands reached out grabbed her wrist gently to steady her. Her eyes trailed from the guy's boots before locking on his blue eyes.

"I—I'm so sorry," she rushed out, and the boy smiled charmingly.

"It's my fault, Angel. I should've been paying more attention," he told her.

Eddie cleared his throat as the two just stared at one another in a thick silence. He hated the way Veronica was mesmerized by this guy's presence and even more disgusted with the way he practically undressed her with his eyes. He for one didn't see the appeal of him.

"We should probably get going," Eddie told Veronica. He couldn't disguise the annoyance in his tone. "You can't be late, remember?"

R-right," she replied without even passing him a glance. Her sight never left the new kid. "Maybe I'll see you around, uh..."

"Billy," he answered and she smiled shyly.

"See you around, Billy."

"I hope so, Angel."

Billy strutted passed them and through the crowded lot. His aura was captivating. The students dispersed at his presence like Moses parted the Red Sea. There was something different about Billy and Veronica liked that about him. He was unique in the sense that he didn't carry the small-town feel around like everyone else in this dreadful town. She just met him and he already brought a glimpse of excitement into her life.

Maybe Billy was the distraction she needed.

A/N
Sorry this chapter was terrible.

I promise it should get better.

I always struggle with first chapters :/