CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
GARBAGE BAGS

The next day, Kimmy was hardly able to stay awake. She had found it difficult to fall asleep last night, guilt eating away at her over what she had said to Aaron the day before.

All she had meant to do was try get her pent up feelings across, she hadn't meant to offend him. Aaron himself had told her she hadn't done anything wrong, but she had manage to convince herself he had been lying.

As always, she met Aaron in the parking lot so he could give her lunch. However the group were instructed to come to school even earlier than usual in hope to find Dart.

Aaron and Kimmy usually intended to meet a good five minutes before the rest of the group would be there, but had opted against doing so today seeing as they already had to arrive early. Kimmy didn't actually know why the two still met in the parking lot so he could give her lunch, everyone knew he made her lunch anyway.

Kimmy stood pulling anxiously on her sleeves as she waited for the boy to arrive, scared of what she would say to him.

She was only waiting for him about two minutes, but it had felt so much longer to the girl.

When Aaron did arrive, Steve's car came to a screeching halt, but it took Aaron a good minute to get out the car. It was clear that the two were arguing, in fact it looked as if they were full blown screaming at each other before Aaron left abruptly and slammed the car door shut angrily.

Aaron handed Kimmy her lunch, smiling to her as he did so but it was very obviously forced. "Hi-"

"I'm really sorry, Aaron," Kimmy began talking at a rapid pace before Aaron had even gotten a sentence out. "I don't know why I said all that yesterday, and I really don't want you to think I don't like you or Dustin or Lucas. I do! I feel awful that you could think other wise I could hardly sleep last night-"

"Kimmy, stop." Aaron put his hands up to get her to stop talking. "You don't have to say sorry, okay? I swear on my life that I don't think bad of you, I get why you were frustrated - I wouldn't want to stop being your friend just because you told me how you felt."

Kimmy took a deep breath, trying to ease her nerves. "You swear? You're not just saying that-"

"I swear I'm not just saying that." Aaron muttered, trying to send her a reassuring smile but failing due to pent up stress in result of his argument with his brother. "Stop stressing yourself out over it - I won't tell anyone what you said if that's what you're worried about."

Kimmy scrunched her nose as she thought about it, finally nodding as the two made their way into the school and around the back of the building.

"I don't even know why I said it." She blurted. And it was the truth, it was as if Max's words had almost triggered something in her and the words had just come from nowhere. "Just came from nowhere."

"Probably because you were frustrated." Aaron shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "I mean, Mike had basically just told you that you weren't in the party - obviously you would be upset over it."

Kimmy nodded, glad she could let go of the embarrassment she held from her actions the day before. Happy Aaron had managed to reassure her.

She turned her head slightly to watch him, there was a frown on his face and something was obviously bothering him.

"Are you alright?" Kimmy dared to ask, not wanting to look like she was prying into his business.

"Yeah," Aaron answered quietly, just above a whisper as he snapped his head up to face her, surprise written all over his features. "Just my brother being a dick, nothing new. I'll get over it."

Kimmy did want to double check that he was in fact okay, but faint voices cut her off.

"This is so disgusting." Max scoffed as Kimmy and Aaron made their way up to the group. "Is this really necessary?"

"What are you doing?" Aaron asked the group warily, halting his steps way before Kimmy put a stop to hers. 

Max turned to the pair with a disgusted shrug. "Looking for Dart-"

"What the hell is going on?" Dustin asked in panic as he ran up to the group.

"What do you think?" Mike retorted, leaning against the stick he held. "We're looking for Dart."

Suddenly, two bags of trash was thrown out of the large trash can the group was stood beside, the continents of the bags flying everywhere.

There had already been two bags of trash laying on the ground with the continents everywhere, this obviously being the second round of trash the group was looking through.

When the group took two steps back, Aaron took five. Kimmy could hear the boy gagging and she actually thought for a moment he would be sick.

Lucas then popped his head up, jumping over and out of the trash can.

"Well, well, well." The boy taunted at Dustin, sounding anything but pleased. "Look who finally decided to show up. After I drew the short straw - real convenient."

The boy then turned to Aaron and scoffed. "You too, should have known you wouldn't come near this trash-"

"Obviously, Lucas!" Aaron snapped back, but his voice was quiet and it was clear that he was doing his best to not throw up. "I'm not coming any closer."

Mike turned to the boy then with an eyeroll, each of the thirteen year olds looking to him frustrated besides Max and Kimmy.

"Seriously, Aaron?" Mike scoffed, Kimmy ignoring him as she moved to get a stick and stand by Max. "Grab a stick and get a grip. All of us are doing it-"

"Do you think I give a shit if you guys are doing it?" Aaron scoffed, literally recoiling at the sight of the garbage. "I'm not doing it. Count me out."

Mike took a frustrated breath, closing his eyes for a moment before answering. "Aaron, grab a stick and help the rest of us-"

"If any of you come near me with any of those sticks that have been stuck in garbage I will leave." Aaron warned, looking to everyone in front of him with wide eyes. "I'm dead serious-"

"Jesus," Mike mumbled, grabbing the last stick and walking towards him anyway. "Take the stick, Aaron. It's not a big deal-"

"I swear to god, Mike," Aaron managed to get out, looking like he was about to be sick with how close the stick covered in garbage that Mike held was to him. "Get that away from-"

Aaron gaged as Mike shoved the stick in his chest for him to take, the blond pushing Mike off him before storming away furiously.

There was a moment of silence between the group, Mike looking slightly guilty as he glanced at his friends.

"I was just trying to help him." Mike muttered, looking like he felt bad for the boy. "He can't be scared of dirt forever."

No one said anything for a moment, everyone taking their sticks and poking around in the trash like they had previously been doing before Kimmy arrived.

"You know he doesn't like germs, Mike." Kimmy reminded quietly, not wanting to look to the boy in fear she'd stop herself from saying what she wanted to say. "We all knew he wouldn't go through the trash, he doesn't even eat the school food-"

"I was just trying to help him!" Mike cut her off, but it was clear in his face that he was beginning to regret pushing his friend so far. "And I don't need to hear it from you, I've known him much longer than you have. You don't know any-"

Kimmy dropped her stick to the group, walking away from the group, not wanting to be subject to the ridicule she had been for the past year.

"Where are you going?" Dustin called after her, sounding confused.

"I'm going to see if he's alright!" Kimmy yelled back, not even glancing behind her as she spoke.

Before Kimmy had even turned the corner, there were footsteps running behind her.

"Hey, Kimmy," Max called, jogging to catch up with her. "Wait up. I'll come with you."

Kimmy stopped and allowed the girl to catch up with her, sending her friend a small appreciative smile as the two girls walked away from the boys still by the trash.

"So... what was that about?" Max asked her curiously as the two girls went looking for the sandy blond. "Does he have a phobia or something?"

"He just... he just can't deal with germs and dirt and stuff." Kimmy replied awkwardly, not really sure of what to say to answer her. "That's why he eats his own lunch, he just can't deal with it. The party all know about it, I think that's why he got so upset."

Max shook her head, scoffing as she folded her arms over her chest. "That's horrible, why would he do that if he knew he wouldn't like it?"

Kimmy was surprised to hear that Max genuinely sounded upset for the boy, but Kimmy wasn't sure if this was because of her distaste for Mike or if she was really that upset for Aaron. Either way, it was clear she thought what the boy did was wrong.

"I think Mike feels bad about pushing him to that point." Kimmy shrugged awkwardly, scratching her neck as she spoke. "But he knows it's the one thing that bothers him."

Max scoffed in disbelief, going to say something - probably something not in favour of Mike but she quickly stopped herself. "Look, that's him there!"

Kimmy and Max ran up to the boy who was sat on the far left of one of the benches of the parking lot, rummaging through his school bag for something.

"Aaron," Kimmy called, catching his attention as she and Max made their way to him. "Are you alright?"

Kimmy sat next to him on the bench, Max moving to sit next to Kimmy as the two girls watched the boy with concerned expressions.

Aaron looked embarrassed as the two girls sat down and Kimmy thought that maybe he had been crying, although there was no tears on his face, he was sniffling as if he was trying to calm himself down.

"I'm going home." Aaron shrugged, almost as if he didn't want to answer the question.

"Mike was out of line for that." Max nodded as she looked to him, only then did the boy shift his eyes from Kimmy's concerned face to the pissed off looking girl sat next to her.

"Are you sure you want to go home?" Kimmy asked with a frown, knowing he didn't like missing school.

"Yeah," Aaron shrugged, trying to look unbothered as he spoke but he was obviously very much not unbothered. "I need to change and shower and stuff."

Kimmy nodded at him, knowing there was nothing she could say to comfort or calm him down when it was germ related.

"I think Mike feels bad." Kimmy blurted, knowing how long the two had been friends, not wanting either of them to fall out over something she knew they would regret.

"I don't care." Aaron replied instantly, his voice quiet as he still tried to refrain himself from completely freaking out. "He knows that's the one thing that bothers me. I don't care if he was trying to help, he knew I would react like that, I told him a million times not to."

"I know." Kimmy pursed her lips, sending him an understanding stare, she made it a point not to touch him, knowing he didn't really like people touching his skin after what he had said when she'd touched his arm and hand to try comfort him the year before. "How are you getting home?"

Aaron shrugged, returning back to rummaging through his bag before zipping it shut and placing it on his lap.

"I don't know." He answered finally, looking like he wanted to cry, but he didn't. "Steve's at school and mom and dad are away. I'll just walk."

Kimmy frowned as he told her his parents were gone again. It seemed they were never home for either of the Harrington boys.

"Alright," Kimmy nodded as she and Max stood, having to leave him before they were late to class. "You'll be okay?"

Aaron nodded, the two girls then walking away. Kimmy sending him one last reassuring smile as she left, the boy nodding at her.

"Do you think he'll be alright?" Max asked Kimmy as the girls walked into school. "He seems really worked up."

"I think he'll be fine." Kimmy nodded, trying to appear confident but her voice failed her.

Kimmy couldn't help but spend the day worrying about the boy, proud of him for walking away instead of going into meltdown like he usually did when he was faced with any sort of dirt or germs.

She knew he'd probably really fall into meltdown when he got home, she couldn't stop herself from panicking the rest of the day. Making a note to call and check on him when she got home.

...

When lunch time rolled around, Mike was a nervous wreck. Will hadn't shown up for school, and Mike was convinced something had happened to him.

The party were eating outside, sitting on the steps outside as they ate lunch.

"We need to talk." Mike yelled desperately, running up to the group before barging past each of them sat on the steps as he made his way to the door. "AV room. Right now."

The group all stood without saying anything, everyone gathering their lunch as the went to follow the boy.

Mike soon stopped Max and Kimmy from climbing up the stairs any further, sending the girls irritated looks.

"Party members only." He reminded, Kimmy sending the boy a saddened expression, looking to Dustin and Lucas for some sort of help but the boys looked to Mike with panicked expressions and avoided the girls gazes.

"Come on, Mike." Dustin tried, motioning to Kimmy and Max stood behind him.

"No!" Mike shut down the second the words left Dustin's lips. "This is non-negotiable."

Mike then opened the school door and walked away, the two boys hesitating to follow him.

"Sorry, guys." Dustin murmured before following the boy.

"Sorry." Lucas muttered, turning and following the boy just as Dustin had done.

Max and Kimmy turned to look at each other, the pair of them looking defeated as they sat back down on the steps.

It seemed whatever they did wasn't good enough. This frustrated Kimmy, if the boys were talking about anything to do with the upside down then she would be furious. They really had no reason to leave her out other than the fact Mike didn't like her.

"This is ridiculous." Kimmy muttered to Max bitterly, rolling her eyes as she clasped her hands together.

"I'm done with them." Max scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest looking more pissed off than Kimmy had ever seen her. "They don't want to talk to me? Then I'm not taking to them."

Kimmy bit her lip, unsure of what to say for a moment before sighing and turning to face the girl. "Want to hang out tonight?"

Max raised her brows at the question, taken by surprise. "I thought you were friends with them?"

"I am... I think." Kimmy replied, not totally sure if she was anymore. She'd have loved to remain friends with the group but she wasn't sure the party felt the same about her anymore. "But they don't want me around anyway, I'm never asked out with the group. Only when Aaron calls me."

Max rolled her eyes at this, shaking her head as she looked away from Kimmy's stare. "Well, at least we're in agreement that we don't ask them to hangout either. They want to treat us like garbage, then we'll do the same right back at them."

Kimmy sent the girl a forced smile, trying not to show how bothered she was by the idea of losing her friendships.

"So," Max sighed, sending Kimmy a smile as she spoke. "Where will we meet tonight? We could go to the arcade?"

Kimmy sent her a smile back, nodding her head at Max's suggestion. Glad she had a friend she could count on.

Kimmy wanted to mention asking Aaron, but she left it alone. Knowing it would be best to talk to the boy before hand, thinking he'd need some time to calm down after what had happened that day.

...

Another chapter :)

I know Mike seems like an asshole but I actually like Mike a complete asshole I just didn't like how he treated Max in season 2 and I feel like he'd feel the same way towards Kimmy regarding the disappearance of Eleven but his development is coming guys😭!!!!

Hope you liked this chapter!! Thanks for all the support on this story :))

- AJ :)