☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

°•. ┊ Daylight┊.•°
✧ ˚ ━ we're the new romantics, act one

CHAPTER TWO — trick or treat, freak

✧

Apparently the Halloween party at Tina Patterson's house is the only thing anyone felt like discussing today. Nancy handed me a flyer yesterday and I don't plan on going. Max and I always go trick or treating together, it's our tradition, so that's what my night was going to consist of. I know it's childish for a nearly seventeen year old girl to go trick or treating, but ever since dad left, I'm the one who takes Max. See, our mom would be working on Halloween, she was a nurse, and Halloween was one of the busiest nights in the ER. So, our dad would take us out and then when we got home, Max and I would merge our candy, count it out, and if it was an even number, we'd split it, if it was odd, our dad would eat a piece to make it fair. It sounds stupid, but Max and I still do it. It's one thing that has never changed and until Max decides to stop trick or treating, I'll keep going with her.

I'm now at lunch with Delilah and she's giving me the details on the people at the tables around us. Jonathan Byers is sitting at the other end of our table, only the three of us occupying it. I shush Delly and gesture towards the boy. I lean in towards her. "What's his story?"

"He's always been quite the loner. Much like your old self." She jokes. "But his little brother went missing last November. They found a body and everything, turns out it wasn't his brother at all. And he is very much alive. It was awful though. His brother is his best friend. His name is Will, he's friends with Dustin." She explains part of the very sad story of the Byers family. "What are you thinking?"

"As you stated, I used to be a loner, until you graciously adopted me," I begin and she nods slightly, to show that she's listening. "What if we adopt him? We can be loners together. He seems really nice. It's worth a shot." Delly agrees with me and we lift our trays, pick up our bags and move to sit on Jonathan's side of the table. Delilah is next to him and I'm across from him. He glances up and looks between the two of us.

"Hi?" He asks, more than greets.

"Alright, Byers, we have a proposition for you." I state.

"We know you have this whole, quiet, loner thing going on and it works for you. But we were also loners once too. Still are, technically. We don't run with a specific crowd, but we could all..." She glances at me and I give her a smile, signaling that she's doing great. "That we could be loners, together. You know, friends who have each other's backs, but don't have to be a part of a high school stereotype. So, what do you say?" Jonathan turns to me and I flash a smile. The boy sighs.

"Okay."

"Really?" Delilah and I ask, simultaneously. Surprised that her spiel actually worked.

"Yeah, I mean, Delilah, we've known each other since kindergarten and our brothers are best friends. And Samira, you seem pretty cool. Plus, I have a feeling neither of you will take no for an answer." He says. The three of us laugh and continue eating our lunches. We spend the remainder of the time getting to know one another better. Jonathan has really great taste in music and his photographs are some of the best I've ever seen. He's got a real talent for it. We all bond heavily in the music department, but our hobbies, as boring as they may seem, are also pretty similar. This group might really work.

The rest of the school day goes by fast, it being a holiday and teachers not actually teaching anything. "Okay, so I got stuck with the job of taking my little brother trick or treating, he's old enough to go on his own, but my mom disagrees, despite both of us trying to convince her otherwise. And now my costume for the party is going to waste on adults who will be completely judgmental." Delilah hooks her arm with mine as we make our way out of the building. I laugh at her statement.

"What a travesty. How will you survive, I wonder." I match her dramatic statement with one of my own. "I'll see you later. Going out with my sister, so we should cross paths at some point."

"Thank god. You better be wearing a costume."

"Of course I am. It would look ridiculous if one wasn't dressed up." I part with her and join Billy at the car. We stand and wait for Max. I would sit inside and wait, but I don't trust him not to drive off. She comes out and Billy does what he knows best, threatens to make her skate home. Prick. He's speeding, as usual.

"God. This place is such a shit hole." Billy huffs.

"It's not that bad." Max retorts.

"No?" He asks, glancing back at her. He proceeds to roll down the passenger side window, the smell of manure wafting into the car. "Mmm. You smell that, Max? That's actually shit. Cow shit."

"I don't see any cows." She replies.

"Clearly you haven't met the high school girls." I look over at him in disgust. "So what, you like it here now?"

"No." She snaps.

"Then why are you defending it?"

"I'm not."

"It sure sounds like it."

"Will you just leave her the hell alone?" He ignores me and continues to poke at her.

"It's just- we're stuck here, so..."

"Yeah. You're right. We're stuck here. And whose fault is that?"

"Yours." She mumbles. I chuckle quietly.

"What'd you say?" His anger starts to rise.

"Nothing."

"Did you say it's my fault?"

"No."

"You know whose fault it is. Say it. Max... say it. Say it!" He shouts.

"Billy." I say with a warning tone. We start to approach a group of kids and Billy's speed is continuing to increase.

"Billy, slow down." Max says.

"Oh, these your new hick friends?" He asks.

"No! I don't know them." She combats.

"I guess you won't care if I hit 'em, then? I get bonus points, I get 'em all in one go?" He presses down on the gas even more. What a fucking psycho.

"No, Billy, stop. It's not funny." Max tells him.

"Billy, come on, stop it. It's not funny." I speak louder.

"Stop! Billy, stop it!" Max and I are yelling simultaneously. We continue to yell at him and yet he doesn't stop. We're getting dangerously close to the four boys and I take the wheel, swerving around them. I am never getting into a car with him again. Never again.

"Yeah! That was a close one, huh?" Billy laughs. We get home and Max shuts herself in her room. I do the same, getting ready, but avoiding the urge to strangle Billy.

I decided to go with a greaser look from The Outsiders. The movie was released earlier this year and I loved it so much; I went back and watched it three more times. I had read the book for my summer reading project freshman year; it's the book I recommend to anyone and everyone. Max wanted to be Michael Myers from Halloween. Now, that movie we went to watch about ten times. Horror movies are mine and my sister's kryptonite. "Almost ready to go? We have to meet up with these kids soon." Max questions, messing with stuff on my dresser.

"Yeah, can you hand me my English notebook? I want to look over the syllabus and see what books I need to buy, what I already own, and what I've already read." I say, fiddling with this one necklace that I cannot clasp for the life of me.

"Excuse me, young lady, why aren't you going to this party? A real high school party. Hell, a real Halloween party. I need some answers." Max holds the flyer up and waves it around.

"I don't do parties. I don't drink or dance and I don't socialize. Now, if you could please focus. Did you get any info on which houses give out the best and biggest candy bars?" I ask, finally getting my necklace on.

"I'd tell you that, but you're not coming with me." I turn around and give her a confused and offended look. "Nope. You are going to this party. Tradition is off, at least for this year. I'll make sure to grab you some peanut butter cups and kit-kats. I've gotta run, can't be late to make some new friends. You have to go do the same. You can't spend your life alone with your nose in a book." She basically gave me an order, gives me a kiss on my head and rushes out the door. Bitch. I guess it wouldn't kill me to go, for an hour tops. I finish putting on my jewelry, add some finishing touches to my hair and put on a jacket, before getting in my car and going to the address on the flyer. By the time I get there, the place is packed and the party is in full swing. I sit in my car for a very long time, debating whether or not I should get out or just go home. Max's words replay in my head. She's right. Living vicariously through the characters in books, who actually live their lives, won't fulfill mine at all. I exit the vehicle and enter the crowded house. I push my way through the bodies of teenagers, dressed in various costumes, before finding my way to the kitchen, it was slightly less crowded. Emphasis on the 'slightly.' I see Nancy, who I met with Jonathan and discovered earlier today that she's also in my History class. She gives me a smile and small wave, which I return, before getting closer to her or more specifically the punch bowl.

"I thought you didn't do parties."

"I don't. My sister made scary, but true points and convinced me to come." I explain, grabbing a plastic cup.

"And thank god she did." Some dickhead says, he's standing on the other side of a rather attractive guy. The cute one gives him a look of disgust, pushing him back a bit telling him, who I now know as Tommy, to back off. I ignore his comment and use the spoon, filling my cup. I take a few sips, well more like gulps, of the mixed beverage. "Careful there, princess. Drink too much and you'll make it too easy." I laugh with a scoff. The cute guy, whose name I still have yet to learn, goes to say something, but I stop him. I round the corner of the counter and approach Tommy. I get close to his face before lifting my cup above his head and dumping the liquid out.

"Oops." I say sarcastically. The people around us are laughing and whispering about my actions. Billy approaches from behind Tommy, assessing the situation.

"What the fuck. You- You bitch." Tommy shouts. I just laugh at him. Billy grabs him by the shoulders.

"Look man, trust me, it's not personal. She's just angrier than most chicks because her daddy doesn't love her and her mommy's a whore." Billy's remark makes my blood boil. He and Tommy just laugh their asses off and disappear outside. You know how there are those morality questions? Like if you could listen to every phone call your significant other makes and they would never find out, would you? Or if you could kill someone and get away with it, would you do it? Well, my answer to that would be yes. If I could get away with murder, I would get rid of Billy in a heartbeat. I'd be doing the world and many girls, a favor. I snap out of my murderous trance and return to the punch bowl. Taking a full cup of punch and downing it, then downing three more after that. I bid farewell to Nancy and the chivalrous boy, then find myself disappearing in the crowd. Maybe parties should be my thing, because I feel fantastic. I spend what feels like forever, but in reality it was an hour and a half, at the party drinking and dancing. I start to feel dizzy, so I go out the front door, to get some fresh air. I find myself leaning against the front of the house, looking at the sky, until the sky starts to spin, then I just close my eyes and focus on breathing. I then remember that when you do that, without food or water in your system, you're more likely to end up vomiting. My eyes were open once more and I started taking in my surroundings. There was a guy passed out in the lawn to my left and two people basically fucking, against a car not too far from him. I look to my right and see the same guy from before, the cute one, not the dickwad.

"Hey." I slur. He lifts his head and looks over at me, confusion written on his face, before he remembers me.

"Oh, hi." He says nicely, before returning his gaze to the slew of cars in front of him.

"You know what food doesn't get enough credit? Pizza." I breathe, talking to him, but not looking at him. "People will say that it does, but they're wrong. It deserves an award. Like- if there were awards for food, I would give them all to pizza. It's just so good. So, so simple, but so fucking good. You know what I mean?" I finally turn towards him, to see him already looking at me. "Well. obviously you know. Everyone knows. I'm so hungry." I veer off, thinking. "You know what, I'm gonna go get some pizza. Do you want some? Wait, I know, that was a stupid question. Of course you want some. I'll be back. I'll be right back with pizza." I state, pushing off the house and fumbling a bit. This causes the guy to rise and get ready to catch me, but I steadied myself. I pull my keys out of my pocket and start pressing the unlock button, to help me locate my car. I find it and make my way over. The guy follows me closely. My hip runs into the front bumper and this causes me to stumble again, this time falling backwards. The guy grabs me and removes my keys from my hands. He places me in the passenger seat and as he's buckling my seat belt, I sober up for a moment. Realizing how close his face is to mine. "What's your name, by the way? I never- I never got it." I inquire, curiously. He pulls back once my seat belt is in place, our faces dangerously close.

"Steve. Steve Harrington." He informs. Steve. I like it.

"You have nice hair, Steve." I whisper. He laughs and looks down, then his eyes meet mine once more.

"Thank you..." Steve trails off, waiting for me to reveal the same information.

"Hm? Oh, oh. I'm- I'm... Samira! Samira Mayfield." We both laugh at the fact that I nearly forgot my own name. He backs up and closes my door, making his way to the other side.

"Alright, Samira Mayfield, what do you say about getting you home?" He starts the car and pulls onto the road.

"Ye- no." I huff, tiredly.

"No?"

"No. I can't go home like this. I couldn't even pretend to be sober right now, if I tried." I groan, completely annoyed with my own actions

"Okay, you can stay at my house." Steve offers.

"No, Steve I couldn't. You've been very kind, but I could never ask you to do that." I argue.

"You're not asking, I'm offering. And it's not like you know anyone in town well enough to stay with them. So, I'm not asking. You'll stay at my place. My parents are never around and we have an empty guest room." He states. I don't argue with him, too drunk and too tired for it. I fell asleep in the car, it's always been easy for me to do so. From my understanding, Steve carried me up to the guest room, took off my jacket and shoes, laid the comforter over me, and placed a cup of water and some aspirin on the nightstand. At least, that was the conclusion I came to when I woke up slightly, grabbing his hand, as he went to walk away.

"Do you think you're a good person?"

"What?" His voice comes out in a whisper. He kneels down next to the bed.

"I just- I'm not sure if I'm a good person... I try. I really try to be, but I don't know. Maybe I'm just fooling myself into believing I'm better than I am. Do you ever think about that?" I question, softly.

"I haven't really considered it before." He speaks. "You shouldn't either. If you spend your life worrying about being a good person, I think you'll miss out on a lot. I don't think anyone is actually a good person, they're all just trying their best, which is the only thing that matters."

"That makes sense..." I say. "Steve?"

"Hmm?"

"You know you have little flecks of gold in your eyes..." I whisper. His eyes are like honey. I could drown in them. His eyes flick between mine and my lips. He leans in slowly, I follow his actions, unable to think properly. And his lips are on mine. This is probably the alcohol talking, but it felt like the world stopped spinning and I could barely breathe. I pull away first and rest my forehead against his. "Goodnight, Steve."

"Goodnight, Doll Face." He breathes, then gets up and leaves, turning off the light as he goes. I fall into a much needed sleep.

[word count: 3163]

lexi's letters; okay, so the first couple of chapters have been pretty short, but they will get longer, i promise. the plot just needs to pick up a bit :))