" — She's a great girl, not like most. You know, I think I may have actually learned a little bit of chemistry last night." This conversation had been going on for a while. It consisted of Steve, dreamily talking about Nancy whilst Mary rolled her eyes so hard she thought they would migrate to the back of her skull.

Sure, Mary was happy Steve was happy, but did his source of happiness really need to be god damn Nancy Wheeler?

"And I —"

"Okay, Steve. We get it, Nancy's a real keeper." Mary finally interrupted, holding her hands up and silencing the boy whilst Tommy and Carol chuckled in amusement whilst Steve's lips parted.

Steve's hands found his hips clad in denim jeans as he rose his eyebrows, "What's your deal, Mare? If I remember correctly, after your first date with Charlie, you wouldn't shut up about how totally tubular he was." Steve mocked, putting on a mocking voice and Mary narrowed her eyes whilst Charlie chuckled.

"Oh babe, you wouldn't shut up about me?" He teased, nudging her side and Mary rolled her eyes, beginning to get fed up by her friends and their teasing, but just then the attention was swooped away from her either way, the moment Steve noticed Nancy from down the hall.

Steve grinned widely, "I'm going in." He announced, rubbing his hands together and Mary stopped walking along with Charlie whom stayed by her side — he didn't head off with Steve and the others towards Nancy and Barbara Holland, mostly because Charlie only hung out with Carol and Tommy for the sake of Mary. He didn't consider either of them as friends. Or actual intellectuals.

Mary rested her back against a random locker, holding her books tight to her chest as she watched Steve swipe a batch of cards from Nancy's hands and begin talking to her, "Alright," Charlie started, resting his forearm against the spot of the locker above Mary's head and she looked up at him, "What's got my Mare Bear down, huh?"

His nickname earned a spiteful glare. She had known telling Charlie that her mother used to call her Mare Bear when she was younger would bite her in the ass. And oh, it did. Charlie loved using it on her, because he loved the little face she usually pulled each time he said it; scrunching up her face and crinkling her nose in the most adorable way.

"Charlie, didn't I warn you the last time you called me that, that if you did it again I'd be shoving a full pack of cigs down your throat and make you eat them?" She asked, smiling sweetly up at her boyfriend whom offered his signature lazy grin, his eyes half open and lips twitching up slightly.

"I love it when you talk dirty to me, baby," He teased and she looked away, rolling her eyes although there were a smile on his face, "But seriously, Mare. What's the matter?" Charlie asked in concern, turning more serious as he reached out, cupping the side of her face in his large hand and she looked up at him with a sigh.

Charlie frowned with no response, "Is it your dad? Mary, you know he'll un-ground you soon anyway. Just do what he said and clean the car and you'll be off the hook —"

"It's not just that," She interrupted, her gaze suddenly travelling to where Steve stood talking with Nancy, "He's my best friend, Charlie. But all of a sudden he's lying to his mom, saying he went to your house when in fact he had gone to Nancy's — I don't know how to explain it, I just..." Mary trailed off, looking down to her feet and Charlie sighed heavily, frowning deeply.

"I get it, Mare," He assured her, stroking her cheek, "I mean, even I got a little pissed that he had used us as an excuse, so it makes full sense you got mad. But he's your best friend, right? If dating Nancy is what he wants, shouldn't we be supporting him?" He questioned, his face more serious than usual as Mary stared up at him, her lips pursed in conflict.

Her gaze found the back of Nancy's perfectly curled hair, a pout on her lips and sour look on her face, "I don't like her." She grumbled and Charlie was laughing, a smile on his lips as he pushed some hair behind Mary's ear.

"You," He started, using his thumb to push her face back to him before he kissed her gently on the lips, "Don't like anyone." He finished with an amused smile and Mary tilted her head, giving him a sharp glare but soon she was laughing.

"Yeah, actually. You're completely right. I don't." She agreed chirpily, making Charlie laugh again and she chuckled along with him, a large grin on her face. That was one of the things she loved about Charlie, he could always make her smile and laugh, no matter how large the situation or how little the situation. And he always cheered her right up.

"Alright," Charlie spoke up as he stood back, "Shall we?" He asked, offering his arm to Mary to take and gesturing to where their friends still stood with Nancy and Barbara.

Mary chuckled but nevertheless took his arm and together they walked towards the group, "What're ya'll crazy kids talking about?" Mary called out upon reaching the group.

Nancy and Barbara shrunk back a little in the presence of the Queen of Hawkins High. Mary never really spoke of that title, but yet everyone still associated her with it. And usually, any other teenage girl felt inferior standing beside the Mary Hopper. She radiated with confidence and glowed with self-pride.

Steve, flinging his arm over Mary's shoulder offered a smile, "We were just inviting Nancy and Barbara over to my place tonight." He informed her and Carol offered a bitter smile as she looked towards Mary.

"Although, little Nancy was just pointing out that it's Tuesday." She chirped, giggling to herself and Steve shot Carol a look, telling her to stop teasing the girl and soon Tommy was laughing too.

"Nancy's just as lame as Mary — who actually got grounded by her douchebag dad. So hey, maybe you should come to the party, you could take her spot." Tommy said, a large grin on her face and almost everyone but Carol glared at him.

Charlie rolled his shoulders back, "You wanna say something like that again?" He challenged and Mary chuckled, putting her hand on her boyfriends chest, settling him down.

She stepped towards Tommy whilst Nancy and Barbara watched timidly, clutching their textbooks. Mary sucked in air through her teeth, "Oh Tommy, stupid, ignorant little Tommy," She sang mockingly, making the boys lips part as he prepared himself to retort but she held her finger up, "Shh shhh shh. I'm speaking."

It seemed to be a showdown between the pair and Barbara Holland found herself wondering why Nancy would want to befriend a group of people who didn't actually like each other, or even get along for that matter. It didn't make a lick of sense to her.

Mary smiled falsely, "You don't get to call my dad a douchebag — and you sure as hell don't get to call me lame," Tommy opened his mouth to argue but Mary shook her head, "No, Tommy. Don't make things worse for yourself. I tolerate you because sometimes you're an okay person, but right now, you've really kind of pissed me off. So I'd choose your next words very carefully."

Nancy's lips were parted, her delicate fingers clutching her books tightly as she watched the intense moment. She had never spoken a word to Mary Hoper, being far too intimidated by her. And if that were how she was with her friends, then Nancy didn't stand a chance as a random girl having a fling with her best friend.

Mary's gaze found Nancy's whom squirmed under her eyes, "You should go — to Steve's. You wouldn't want to be as lame as me, would you?" Mary questioned, raising an eyebrow but before Nancy could reply, the group spotted Jonathan Byers down the end of the hallway.

He was pinning a missing person poster to the news board with Will's smiling face and details plastered on it, "Oh god, that's depressing." Steve mumbled and Mary furrowed her brows, turning on her heels to see what they were all gawking at.

Upon noticing Jonathan, Mary sighed. She had never spoken a word to Jonathan Byers, she hadn't had a reason to and she didn't ever intend on. Everyone called him a creep and Mary supposed he kind of was. He always had his camera around his neck and spoke to no one, ever. It was pretty weirdo behaviour.

Nancy frowned, "Should we say something?" She asked, looking around the faces of the group whom didn't seem keen on the idea.

"I don't think he speaks." Steve commented and Charlie nudged his side, although he was smiling a little. Charlie weren't really like the rest of the group, he never teased anyone — probably because he was teased a lot in middle school before his growth spurt.

Tommy was grinning ear to ear from behind Mary, "How much you wanna bet he killed his brother?" He asked smugly and Mary screwed her face up, glaring over her shoulder, whilst both Steve and Charlie did the same.

"Shut up." The three chorused, sick of Tommy's sick comments. He always took things a step too far, it was like it were built into his programming or something.

Then Nancy was leaving the group of socialites, not including Barbara and heading towards Jonathan Byers, the school weirdo, "Geez, this should be entertaining." Mary mumbled, leaning against Charlie a little who's lips were pursed together, hoping his girlfriend wouldn't lower herself to start teasing the boy too.

Nancy was speaking to Jonathan that was like a deer caught in headlights whilst the group observed as though they were wildlife documenters watching two endangered species; the loner and the good girl.

Jonathan suddenly looked in their direction, as did Nancy and Mary guessed she must have mentioned them. The girl offered a smile, giving a two fingered mock salute as Charlie waved from beside her.

And then the bell was ringing and Jonathan was scampering off out the school doors and Mary looked up at her boyfriend, "Wanna skip class and make out underneath the bleachers?" She asked him hopefully, making Barbara screw up her face from beside them as Nancy hurried back to their side.

Charlie was smiling, a smile that Mary had adored when she first met him and still did, "You're just trying to manipulate me with your long eyelashes and sexy voice so you don't have to go to biology," He said, making her grin up at him, "But it's kinda turning me on. Let's go." Mary was giggling as Charlie grabbed her hand and pulled her out the double doors.

Barbara glanced at Mary, a weary and horrified look on her face as the corridors swarmed with students going to class, "Nance, why do you wanna be friends with these people?" She asked her best friend sadly whom looked to where Steve, Carol and Tommy were walking down the hallway towards their classes.

"They're not that bad —" Nancy tried arguing, but right in that moment Tommy pushed a junior into the lockers and him and Carol roared loudly with laughter whereas Steve rolled his eyes as he walked ahead.

Barbara looked to Nancy with a flat look, "Yeah. They're not that bad at all."

———

For the first chapters being short, this was long as hell!

Please don't be afraid to comment a little more, I love reading comments and I have no idea how ya'll are feeling about this so far!

But also, thanks to everyone who's even glanced at this book because I have 1K reads already and that's amazing. Thank you guys❤️