I do not own any of the Stranger Things characters, the only character I do own is Alex Langtree. Trying to follow the Stranger Things Season 4 as much as possible

***

'Thunderbolts and lightning, very, very frightening me

Galileo, Galileo

Galileo, Galileo

Galileo, Figaro - magnificoo'

I'll never get used to the looks from half the cunts in this place, they all look like they have a stick up their arse. Granted it's better than the last location - much better, but the kids here suck, aside form the collective few obviously. I'd been in Hawkins for about 7 months now and I didn't expect we'd stay much longer. 

"Hey Alex" I saw that little ginger head step in front of me and waving as I shrugged my headphones off,

"What's up kiddo?" I smiled, ruffling my hands through Max's hair, Max was a good kid, one of the only ones I could stand in this school actually. I'd found her under the bleachers like 3 months into me moving here and we kind of bonded, she kept herself to herself and so did I, it was a mutual agreement.

"Jason was looking for you" she mumbled as I rolled my eyes, what did he fucking want? "Said something about his locker being ruined?" Ahhhh shit. I wondered when that cock-sucker would find the sardines in there. "You best stay out of his way, he seemed pretty pissed."

"I appreciate the heads up, now walk with me to this stupid pep-rally thing they have going on" I chuckled as I threw my arm around her, "How're things at home?" 

"They're OK, Mum says you'll need to call around soon, I think she's just happy I have a friend if I'm honest" Max admitted as I rose my eyebrows.

"And here I thought she didn't like me cause I'm a bad influence" I gasped as she chuckled,

"You know my Mum loves you, it's Lucas who's all 'oooh you're hanging around with the new girl and something doesn't seem right about her, she's bad for you!'" Ahhhh, Lucas, Max's ex boyfriend and founder of the anti-Alex club.

"He still giving you shit?" I asked as she shook her head,

"Just keeps asking me to go to his games, I haven't been to a single one why would I change that?" she scoffed as I shrugged my shoulders,

"Boys are weird... Plus isn't he a bench boy?" I questioned as we entered the gym to all the screaming and cheering. I wish I could say that the Tigers getting into the final was the worst thing to happen to this town but I've heard the horror stories about the fire that happened last year.

"Yup" she chuckled as we found a seat near two guys Max knew, the cheerleaders were already ding some pre-made routine, the band was in full swing and apparently so was the crowd, thankfully our town saviours (the basketball team) weren't there yet which meant I didn't have to worry about getting jumped by Jason and his cronies.

"I'm not saying that my girlfriend is better than yours. It's just that Suzie's like, a certified genius" Ahhhh Dustin and Mike with their, I'm pretty sure, fake girlfriends. People say they've seen El and have heard Suzie talk but I still like to imagine they've made them up, they do after all play Dungeons & Dragons so I can't rule that possibility out. I heard Mike mumble something that I didn't quite catch over the clapping and cheering from around us. "And yet you still have a C in Spanish" Dustin smirked as I leaned over,

"Didn't you get a D- in Latin?" I asked as he shook his head, 

"Not that it's any of your business but I actually have an A thanks to Suzie" he smiled as I gasped,

"Dustin, you sly little dog!" I exclaimed with a chuckle before turning back to the now finished cheer dance and an announcement for the Tigers coming out as Jason ran his way through to the front, smiling and scanning the crowd before his eyes landed on me and it dropped. I blew him a kiss and sent a wink his way as he grabbed the mic. Why in the world we let this pinhead speak publicly I'll never know.

"Good morning, Hawkins High!" he shouted as the crowd erupted in cheers, "First off... Hey. First off, I'd like to thank each and every one of you. Without your support, we wouldn't be here. Give yourselves a big hand!" I smirked, Jason I am flattered you think so highly of me, I clapped as my eyes darted to the little swine who was waving from the stage at Max. Piss off, cunt. "And of course, of course, I have to give a special shout-out to the best and the prettiest fans of all time, the Tiger Cheer Squad." I rolled my eyes as I clapped, seriously? You mean the overly sexualised Tiger Cheer Squad? "Chrissy..." Please don't do some public display and propose, that's fucking cringe as fuck even for you dude. "Chrissy, I love you, babe." I internally vomited as the crowd showed affection to this shit show. 

"You know... I think I can speak for us all when I say it's been a tough year for Hawkins." Utter silence from the crowd. "So much loss." My head dropped among many others to pay my respect to those who lost their lives last year, I wasn't here to personally experience it but I could feel the mourning of this Town still. "And sometimes I wonder, 'How much loss can one community take?' In dark days like this, we need something to believe in." He says, maybe he should be allowed to speak publicly, he was paying respects and this wasn't so bad, except for the PDA. "So, last night, when we were down by 10 at half to Christian Academy, I looked at my team, and I said..." I take it back if he's about to do what I think he's going to do. "Think of Jack. Think of Melissa." Yep, arsehole. "Think of Heather." Is he really cashing in on the loss of people to hype up this final game? " Think of Billy" I felt Max tense next to me, I knew she lost her brother in the fire and instinctively my hand grabbed hers. "Think about our heroic police chief, Jim Hopper. Think about each and every one of our friends who perished in that fire. What did they die for?" Well Jason I can tell you right now, they didn't die so you could use their names to hype up a fucking basketball game. 

"For us to lose to some... some crap school?" he asked as I sighed "No. For us to return home with our heads hung low in defeat? NO!" The crowd uttered a no also. "Let's win this game. Let's win this game for them" Oh please, Jason only wants to win for himself, he's a selfish player, anyone can see that! "And that's exactly what we did!" Apparently the shallow minds of this crowd didn't have the same opinion as me and began to cheer loudly for him. "We embarrassed those candy-asses in their own house, and now tonight, tonight, we're gonna bring home the championship trophy!" he roared as the crowd once again erupted. "Let's go!"

"Tonight?" Mike exclaimed,

"How is that possible?" Dustin questioned,

"They call it a tournament... You win one game, you go on until there's only one team left" Max explained as I laughed,

"I thought you guys were meant to be super smart?"

***

"See you later kiddo! Let me know how it goes!" I shout to Max as she makes her way to the councillor and I head to the cafeteria with a sharp eye for Jason. Though him pulling something is highly unlikely at this moment in time given he could get banned form the game and Mr Selfish would not want that. Taking a seat I pull out my lunch and tuck into my sandwich before doing a quick scan of the crowd, I was safe for now and that's all that mattered. 

"Shit, he seems really revved up today" I heard from beside me to see Mike and Dustin holding their trays looking at the table in front of me.

" He's always revved up. We'll just act casual" Mike explained as Dustin looked down to me,

"Don't suppose you fancy delivering some bad news for us do you?" he asked as I laughed,

"I'm good dweeb, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you though" I said, taking a bite of my sandwich and watching them sit down at the 'Hellfire' table. It consisted of a guy who I didn't know, Gareth and Jeff from Math, Dustin, Mike and finally 'cult' leader and dungeon master Eddie. I watched as Eddie began to climb on the table,

"But as long as you're into band or science..." he shouted as he scanned the crowd "or parties, or" he paused looking at me "Whatever the fuck you're into" I rolled my eyes and threw the the finger, continuing to eat my lunch "or a game where you toss balls into laundry baskets" he screamed, looking at the table where I clocked Jason sitting who had now stood up to confront Eddie.

"You want something, freak?" he exclaimed as Eddie threw his hands up and began making a noise at him, honestly if Eddie really wanted them to stop calling him a freak he should stop pulling shit like that. Jason sat down like a sad puppy, ahhhh scared are we? Hmmmm. I watched Jason mumble something and sit down, glancing back at Eddie he smiled before turning to me, winking and walking down the table. 

"It's forced conforming" he said, not breaking eye contact with me until I turned my attention back to my food. "That's what's..." he said as he began to charge at me "KILLING THE KIDS" he shouted, pretty much right next to me and in my face, I didn't hesitate in taking another bite from my sandwich, acting unfazed by his little 'show'. Eventually he left and sat back down and I gulped my drink and took another bite of my after shooting a look at the table for them all screaming about postponing something. Eddie got them all to shut and I went about eating my sandwich until I saw a shadow sit beside me.

"Well well well... If it isn't Hawkins favourite prankster" I rolled my eyes and I threw my sandwich down on the foil it was wrapped in and turned to face the twat himself,

"Yes my dear Jason, do you need something or can I go back to eating in peace?" I asked as he smirked,

"You see. I found something in my locker today and I think you may know something about it" he said as he slammed down a sardine on my sandwich, it smelt gross and a few people on the table over recoiled just from the smell.

"Listen, your fish ain't my problem Jason" I spat as he stood up and hung over me, blocking me in.

"But you see Alex" he growled, "You did have something to do with this and I know you did" he slowly got closer, boxing me in to my seat, like fucking hell I was going to let this cunt try and bully me.

"You see Jason" I said, slamming my hands on the table and standing up, pushing him out of my way, "You have no fucking proof" I smirked, now inches away from his scowling face. "And even if you do, why don't you do something about it?" I asked, "Right now? I'm sure Mrs Jameson over there would love to watch the star basketball player hurt another student... Jeez, I sure hope she doesn't tell the coach and you get benched for that championship you talk about so much" I smirked as he backed of a little and just threw me a look, "That's what I thought" I laughed as I picked up my bag and went to leave."

"Yeah well at least I have a fucking Dad" he said as my entire body froze, everything seemed to go silent and I turned around to face him, he stood tall like he'd just won something over on me. Oh Jason... I smiled as I walked back, picking up the sardine from my sandwich I'd left and kneeing him in balls. He hurdled over in pain and I wrapped my arm around his neck, pulling his head back as he tried to struggle out of my grip, I slapped my sardine hand over his mouth and pushed the fish in before letting him go and watching him fall to the floor.

"Speak to me again and next time I'll stuff shit in your mouth" I growled before turning and walking out of the cafeteria, feeling everyone's eyes on me and ignoring the shouts from the teachers behind, I opened the fire exit and left the school towards the woods round the back.