CHAPTER I:
welcome home, bianca

( June 1985 )

"ATTENTION PASSENGERS, THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING, IF YOU LOOK OUT OF THE CLOSEST WINDOW YOU WILL SEE THE LOVELY FIELDS OF DYING GRASS THAT YOU CAN ONLY SEE IN THIS LOVELY PLACE SO I'D LIKE TO BE THE FIRST TO WELCOME YOU TO HAWKINS, INDIANA." As the pilot made one last announcement upon Flight 36 from Orlando to Hawkins, Bianca Sinclair had been an excited and grinning mess in her seat.

Two years of not being in Hawkins was going to be quite the change for the girl in sandals and orange tropical dress with sunglasses in her big afro. From the bright palm trees to browning grass, the open-minded and free-willed people to gossipers who were set in their ways. How fun.

After waiting for the plane to become situated at the gate, Bianca unbuckled her seatbelt and stood from her seat to guide herself down the aisle. She cringed at the sound of a baby beginning to cry behind her and proceeded to put her sunglasses on to avoid anyone seeing her judgmental eyes then speed-walked away once she was able to.

      The walk out of the upper terminal wasn't too far for her, it was far enough, but not too far. And it was all worth it once she saw her family waiting for her at the bottom of an escalator. Bianca's grin grew as she waved widely at her family with her backpack and tote bag in her hand both bouncing slightly as she did so, a tinge of disappointment washing over her that her best friend hadn't come with them but she still kept her smile.

      Her mother, Sue, had taped her father, Charles, on the shoulder since he was looking in an opposite direction and when he turned his smile mirrored his eldest daughter's. Lucas and Erica stood in front of them shoving each other slightly as they kept their eyes on their sister with bright and most likely fake smiles.

She cascaded down the moving steps, as clumsy as she was, and when she reached her family she engulfed her younger siblings first in bone-crushing hugs after taking off her sunglasses.

"Oh, I missed you guys," she mushily said. Tapping her twice on the back, Bianca got the hit and quickly let go as they both gasped for air. "Sorry," she muttered with her smile still shining. Turning to her parents, she leaned in and they mirrored the hug that Bianca had given to her siblings. Tapping out, her parents let her go of the hug. She nodded toward her brother and sister, "now I know what it felt like," she mumbled putting her hand on her hip for support.

"Now that we got that over with," Erica began. Bianca turned to her sister as the family began walking through the terminal to baggage claim. "Did you bring me-"

"Obviously," Bianca cut her off. She reached into her tote bag, retrieved a limited edition Floridian doll and handed it to the youngest. "As if I'd forget your collection," she smiled as the girl happily took the doll. "But you owe me ten dollars for that." Erica's smile dropped and was replaced with twisted confusion. Bianca just shrugged, "just the facts."

Rummaging through her bag again, Bianca then pulled out a yellow-hued jersey then handed it to Lucas. He opened it wide to see what exactly it was and when he saw the number eight in the center he just about screamed in the airport. "Where did you even get this?" he excitedly asked.

"I have my ways," she proudly shrugged. The ways being that she nearly went broke for the gift but still managed to get it the day before her flight.

"And what about us? Did your ways get you to bring something for your mother and father?" Sue questioned.

Bianca sucked in air through gritted teeth, "sorry, Mom. My ways have their limits."

      As they continued down the terminal, Bianca with her sunglasses back in her hair and her tote bag swinging carefree on her shoulder, Sue tapped Lucas who was standing in between his sister and mother and she pointed ahead of them without Bianca seeing and he grinned to himself.

Taking in the sights of the locals in the airport, Bianca spotted a man with a familiar head of hair exiting the restrooms, she squinted at his figure trying to see if he really was who she thought he was. "Harrington?" she called out.

The man turned around, confused as to who called out his name but finally found out who was guilty. "Sinclair!" he called back.

"Harrington!" she repeated with shock and excitement. "Holy shit!" she gasped." She quickly dropped her bag on the floor and bolted for the boy, her backpack throttling its contents as she did so, but she didn't care at all. Steve opened his arms wide while meeting her in the middle and she jumped into his arms, her sunglasses flying out of her hair, securing their embrace with her arms around his neck while he wrapped his arms around her back lifting her off the ground. "You're so tall!" she gasped still surprised.

      "Your hair is so big!" he said while maneuvering his head to not be suffocated by her afro.

      She ran a hand through his hair, "so is yours!" she laughed. "You still use Farrah Fawcett?" she took in the smell of his hair.

Steve set her down on the ground with her still close to him while her family neared. "Obviously. That stuff is my money maker."

      "Uh, how come we didn't get running hugs when you saw us?" Lucas questioned as he neared the duo.

      Bianca threw her head back. "The Kobe jersey wasn't enough?" she whined.

"SO, LANDO, WHO ARE YOU RIDING WITH ON THE WAY HOME?" Steve asked while pulling one of Bianca's suitcases with his arm draped around her shoulders.

"Lando?" She furrowed her brows at him.

"Yeah, you look straight out of a Florida magazine so it felt fitting," Steve admitted.

"Hm, I like it," she shrugged. "But I could go with you," she pointed at Steve's car that was parked beside her family car.

"Oh, so now you got your little friend here we're chopped liver?" Sue put a hand on her hip.

"Do you really want the car completely full with three of your children in the back?" Bianca questioned.

Charles ducked his head as a nod, "good point, Lando," he shook his pointer in her direction.

"See? It's already sticking," Steve proudly said.

"So, you're ditching us for him?" Erica gave Steve a look up and down to which he furrowed his brows defensively.

"You can always come with us?" she offered her younger siblings.

"Nope." Lucas.

"Like Hell." Erica.

"That's what I thought," Bianca laughed before she put three of her suitcases in Steve's car and Charles put another two in the back of the family car. "Away we go, pooch," she slid into the passenger seat of Steve's car. Steve looked at her confused as he got into the driver's seat. "Your hair is like a poodle, very soft and big."

      "That better not get out to any of the little shits I've been babysitting," he sternly said while turning in his seat backing out of the parking space.

      "We'll see," she smugly shrugged putting on her sunglasses. "Drive me to get Slurpee's then my mouth with be wired shut."

      "Now I know where Erica gets it from." He shook his head rolling his eyes beginning to drive away.

      "I've taught her well."

NOTE. 1st) if you saw me publish this twice, no you didnt.
2nd) i imagine voulez-vous by abba to be bianca's intro AND character song as a new girl coming to the small town from a large and tropical island bc it feels so fitting

AND HAPPY STRANGER THINGS EVE‼️ it technically comes out in a few hours BUT STILL