ᴛᴀᴛᴜᴍ'ꜱ ᴘᴏᴠ 

   "Tatum!" My mom yells across the airport. My little brother, Dustin, was holding a sign that said 'Tatum Henderson'. I picked up my suitcase and jogged over to them. 

My mother grabbed me and pulled me into a comforting hug. 

"Hey Tate!" Dustin greets. I brought him into our hug, squeezing tight. 

"I missed you guys." I mumbled quietly.

"Alright, let's go, children!" My mother says, pushing us towards the exit. The whole car ride, my mom was chatting me up. Asking me about Pennsylvania. I told her about the friends I had, my school, but nothing about my dad. She wanted nothing to do with him. So I just told her about the things I hadn't mentioned when we wrote and called each other.

We pulled into the drive way of the house and I headed straight for my old room. It looked the exact same as I had left it. 

I was some what relieved my mom and Dustin left it untouched. Like they were expecting me to come back, like I never even left. I thanked them for that. There was something about the nostalgia of the lighting and the furniture.

I had set my stuff down when I heard my mother and Dustin bickering. 

"Please, mom. I know Tatum just got back but Mike has been planning this campaign for 2 weeks!" 

"Ok, you can go but please be back soon, Dusty." My mother gave in, "Do you want me to drive you?"

"No, I'll ride my bike." Dustin said with a grin. He ran out the door in a hurry.

I decided to drive around Hawkins and familiarize myself with the place again. 

"Mom, am I allowed to borrow your car?"

"It depends on where your going, hon." 

"I was just gonna drive around for a little if thats ok." I told her.

"Sure, but while your out can you grab some more paper towels and fill my car with gas?" 

I laughed to myself, "Yeah." I grabbed the keys off our kitchen counter, "Bye mom." 

"Bye." 

I walked out of the front door, and opened my mom's car. I sat in the driver's seat. I figured I would go to downtown Hawkins. I remembered my way around the town perfectly. It truly was like I never even left. 

I stopped at Melvald's General store to pick up the things my mother needed first so I didn't forget later. I walked out of the car and into the store. 

"Hello." The employee greeted. I gave her a wave until she widened her eyes at me, "Oh my gosh! Tatum! How are you, honey?" I wondered who she was until I recognized her face. It was Joyce Byers. It was Will's mother. One of Dustin's best friends. 

"Hi, Mrs. Byers. I'm doing good." 

"Oh, that wonderful. I heard about your father I'm so sorry about that. You must be heartbroken." 

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm sad, but it's ok because he's in a better place nd now I'm back in Hawkins!" 

"Yes. That's great." She replied with joy.

"How have you been?"

"Well, you know.. Lonnie and I divorced. But other than that the boys and I have been great. Jonathan is doing well in school and so is Will." She informed me and I walked around the store in search for the paper towels. 

"That's good." I reached down and grabbed a 4 pack of long rolls of paper towels and took them over to the register, "Just these." 

She rand up the towels and I handed her the money. 

"It's was good catching up, Mrs. Byers. I'll see you around!" I shouted as I walked ou the door. She have me a short wave. 

I put the paper towels into the back seat of the car then walked next door into the radio shack. I wanted to go there because I needed a new Walkman considering mine was burnt to a crisp in the house fire. I took a wiff of the air and it smelt like electronic appliances. I'm not sure how to describe that smell. It was like a pair of new shoes and a new book. 

I walked around the store looking at the different types. I selected a black and baby pink Walkman. It suited me and it looked like my old one. I also decided to pick out some cassettes because I also lost those. 

I picked out  a Madonna cassette,  Every Breath You Take, by the Police, ABBA,  and The Ghost in You by the Psychedelic Furs, plus a couple others. I strolled around the store holding my things. I walked over to the vinyls. I selected a couple because I still had my old record player from when I stilled lived in Hakwins, so I didn't need a new one. 

I browsed the shelves but didn't find anything else that interested me, so I decided to just check out. I greeted the man at the check out and set my things down. I recognized his face.

"Hello, Mr. Newby."

"Hi?" He seemed confused. 

"I'm Chris Henderson's daughter." I informed. 

"Oh, right. Tatum. How is your dad?" 

I let out a small sigh, "He passed away 2 months ago." 

"I'm so sorry. How did that happen?" He asked as be scanned my items.

"House fire." I said shortly. 

He nodded in response and told me my total price. I grabbed my wallet and handed him the money then gave a small wave. 

"Thanks for stopping by." 

"Sure thing. See you later, Mr. Newby." 

I walked out of the shop and towards my mom's car. I put my shopping bag in the passenger side and walking along the streets of downtown Hawkins. No stores really caught my eye except the sign that said FAMILY VIDEO in bold letters. I had missed a couple newer movies since my dad died, so I wanted to see what's new.  

I strolled down the sidewalk then stopped at the door of the video store.

I opened the door and a bell chimed. There was 4 people at the counter and I recognized all of them. There was one employee behind the counter and it was Keith Cardarople, he was a grade below me and the last time I saw him be was and obnoxious band geek. I guess he still is. 

I cpuld tell that the 3 other people were giving Keith a hard time, but as soon as I walked in their heads turned. 

There was a girl and 2 boys. The girl was Carol Perkins, she was a bitch to everyone else, but for the most part she was nice to me, but that was in middle school so who knows what she's like now. 

The first boy had his arm around Carol. That was Tommy Hagan, douchebag of the highest order. Tommy H and Carol have been having sex since they were 13 in the seventh grade. Tommy was always a shallow and mean guy, but again he never bothered me. 

Then finally the second boy was Steve Harrington. Some kids called him the King of Hawkins. And if I'm being honest he was a douchebag too but he was insanely beautiful. The way his hair swept over to the side perfectly and the way his eyes sparkled when he looked at you. 

Just before I had left to Pennsylvania Steve and I had a small 8th grade fling but it meant nothing. I think. I zoned out of my trance when Keith started to ask me questions.

"What brings you back to Hawkins? I thought you were like gonna leave forever." Whenever Keith spoke he always sounded so dull. His voice was flat.

"My dad actually passed away, 2 months ago. So now I'm back with my mom and brother." I replied.

"Oh, shit." Tommy mumbled.

"Sorry about that." Carol said while chewing on a peice of gum. Steve just respectfully nodded, and I nodded back.

After the small talk I walked off towards the New Releases section and browsed through the movies that the store had. I found Mr. Mom and grabbed it. Nothing else in that section really peaked my interest so I walked over to the drama section and found the Outsiders. It came out earlier this year in March but I still haven't seen it yet. Plus I heard Tom Cruise and Ralph Macchio were in it. So that definitely spiked my urge to watch it. 

I wanted to get some Halloween movies like, Friday the 13th, Creepshow, Halloween, and The Shining and so on. This was because I spent my entire Halloween grieving my dad. I decided against it though, and just got The Outsiders and  Mr. Mom.

I walked back up the the counter to see Keith alone. Steve, Tommy and Carol wandered off the a different part of the shop. 

"Just these." I said while placing the VHS on the counter. Keith nodded and started to scan my items. 

"So, Tatum.. now that you're like back in Hawkins would you maybe wanna like, go out sometime?" Keith questioned. His voice was still dull. 

I sighed, "Sorry, I'm not really interested." 

Keith nodded, and I felt guilty, but I didn't wanna go out with him. Now everything was akaward. 

Once I paid I quickly grabbed my things and bolted out the door only to be stopped by the one and only, Steve Harrington. 

"Hey Tatum, see you at school." He said flashing a gorgeous smile. 

I smiled back in awe, "Yeah, see you there."

Soon after I walked out of the store amd headed over to the payphone to call my mother. I reached into my wallet and grabbed a quarter out. I slid it onto the coin slot and typed our house number. 

The phone rang till my mother picked up.

"Hey, mom." 

"Oh, hey, Tatum. What are you up to?" 

"I just picked up a couple things from radio shack and got your paper towels." 

"Thank you." 

I nodded as I leaned up against the stand for the photo booth, "I was thinking I would stop by the Wheelers and see Nancy. She told me that she wanted to see me when I got back." 

"Ok, if ypu going over there can you check up on your brother? It'll be dark soon and I want home safe." My mother explained. I listened to her as I watched Steve, Carol, and Tommy shuffle out of family video. Steve and Tommy were goofing off while Carol laughed at their stupidity.

"Tatum?" 

I realized I was still on the phone, "Sorry, mom. I got distracted. What were you saying." 

"I was saying make sure you and your brother get home safe. You both have school in the morning." She reminded me.

"Right, well, I'll see you in a bit. Love you."

"Love you too, bye hon." 

"Bye." 

My mother hung up the phone and I walked over to her car opened up the driver side door and plopped down in the seat. I set the tapes next to my radio shack bag and put the keys into the car and started off towards the Wheeler's house. 

                                               ●○●○●

It was dark out by the time I got totheir house but I didn't mind. I parked the car in front of their house and pull out the key then marched towards the door.  I thought about ringing the door bell, but instead I knocked. Mrs. Wheeler answered the door with Holly on her hip. 

"Tatum! What a surprise!" She exclaimed and we both chuckled, "Are you here for Dustin?" 

"Actually I am, but I was going to see Nancy and catch up if that's ok?"

"Of course, hon. You are always welcome. And I'm so sorry about your father." Mrs. Wheeler said and gave me a akaward side hug as I stepped into the house. 

"Oh, it's ok. I'm doing a lot better." I said and nodded towards the stairs that led up to Nancy's room. 

Her door was open and I cpuld hear her faintly talking on the phone, "No.. I don't think. Yeah, he's cute.." She paused listening to the person on the line, "Barb.." Nancy sighed. 

I peaked my head through the door frame and Nancy stared at me in shock. 

"I'll have to call you back, Barb." She hung up the phone quickly and got off her bed to give me a hug, and I hugged her back. 

"I missed you so much." I said. 

"Yeah, I missed you too!" 

I pulled away from the hug, "How are you?" 

"Busy, but good." She responded. I nodded and we sat down on her bed and talked. We talked about school, Pennsylvania, my dad, friends, and so on. Nancy and I chatted about all sorts of things until we were interupted by Dustin.

He was smiling holding a pizza box, "Nancy, do you want the last-" He paused and regrouped his thought, "Tatum, what are you doing here?" 

"I came to say hi, and mom wanted me to check up on you." 

He nodded suspiciously, "So, Do either of you want this last slice? It's sausage and pepperoni!" 

"No thanks." I declined. 

Nancy smiled and shook her head, "No, because I know Mike's nasty dirty hands were on that pizza." 

Dustin looked offended but shrugged it off. There was a weird akaward silence so I spoke up, "I'll be downstairs in a minute, just let me say bye." 

"Ok." Dustin replied and he headed back down the stairs. 

I turned to Nancy and smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow! Bye." I pulled her into another hug.

"See you tomorrow. I'm glad you back in Hawkins, bye!" She cheerfully said and then pulled away from the hug. I gave a small wave as I sauntered down the steps of the stair case. Once I reached the bottom I said by to Mr. And Mrs. Wheeler then headed out to meet the boys and their conversation. 

"She's got a stick up her butt." Dustin informed the group. 

 I was confused, "Who?"

"Nancy." Lucas quickly informed. 

"She's turning into a real jerk." Dustin said. 

"Hello? Are you guys oblivious? She has always been a real jerk!" Mike shouted. 

"Hey, don't say that about your sister. She is always a nice person."

"She is always nice to you because your her friend." Mike sassed. 

Dustin, Lucas, and Will clicked on their bike lights in sync, "No, she used to be cool! Remember when she dressed up as and elf for our  Elder Tree campaign?

"That's was four years ago!" Mike shouted as the boys started to ride down the drive way.

"You know what I think?" Lucas said. He paused for suspense, "I think it's becuase she has been dating that douchebag." 

"What douchebag?" I wondered. Nancy didn't mention she was dating some one when we were talking. 

"Steve Harrington." 

My breath hitched. Nancy was dating Steve? 

"What?" Lucas said as he noticed my facial expression got more serious.

"Nothing."  I shrugged.

The boys said their good byes then they started to enter the street as Mike walked back up into the garage and into the house. 

I gor into the car started her up heading towards my house. I rolled down my window as a slowly passed the boys in the road.

"Dustin, be home soon! Don't take forever to peddle and all of you watch for cars, just incase."

"Yeah, yeah. See you at home!" Dustin shouts shooing me away with his hand. 

I sped up in the car and arrived back at the house in around 7 minutes. I got out of the car and opened the pasenger side door grabbed the tapes first and added them to the radio shack bag then I closed the door and locked the car, then I finally got onto the house. 

I greeted my mom, who was sitting on the couch petting our cat, Mews, while watching a video on TV. I headed into my room and set my bag on the top of my dresser and plopped onto my bed. I could have fell asleep right there but I forced myself to get up and switch into pajamas, brushing my teeth, and taking a quick shower. 

Afrer all that I went back into the living room to say goodnight to my mother and Dustin (who had just gotten home). Then I could finally sleep. I tiredly trudged over to my bed and got under the covers, snuggling in and finally dozing off. 

I couldn't believe I was finally back in Hawkins.

A/n: hello!! This is the first chapter of season 1! I hope you enjoy it. A big thanks goes out to all the people who have read my books and follow me. ❤️❤️

Words: 2579