1986;

Birds. Chirping birds came into an earshot. Why were the birds chirping? And why was she so damn uncomfortable?

Margaret Sawyer lay half asleep in a messy bed, her hair messy and eyes only just peeling open, the light from the window right by her bed making her blink instantly. Her head turned to the clock beside her head.

"Shit!"

07:24

She was going to be late for the first day back at the school - after everything - and her final year, the year she could miss considering she had to be home schooled the last 4 months of the year before and this year up until today.

Something the school only allowed due to her excellent results and gradings.

She had contemplated not returning today, considering it was spring break like, tomorrow, but that was not an option.

She sat up quickly raising her hands to her tangled dark hair. Throwing the covers off her body she bum scooted down the bed to the mirror, considering the bed took up the whole back end of the room. She could however sit on the end of the bed to do her hair and make up which was a plus.

Before she could even think of that she had to pee, now.

Brushing her teeth afterwards she ran back to her mirror, hair brush in hand. She deranged the frizzy mess on the top of her head. She quickly turned on her cassette player with her favourite song blaring out as she did.

One way or another - Blondie

If that song doesn't gear you up, she didn't know what would.

She pulled her hair back into a slick ponytail, wrapping her green ribbon around it, tied in a bow at the top of her head. Quickly brushing her lashes with mascara, putting some cherry tinted lip balm over her pink puckered lips and a moisturiser over the rest of her face.

She ran to her uniform pulling it over her body quickly and looking at the clock.

07:49

Shit shit shit!

She had to be at the school for 08:00 sharp to meet Chrissy.

She grabbed the janky keys and ran to the other end of the caravan, grabbing her school bag and car keys as she did. "First day back and I'm late" she mumbled locking the door behind her and making her way towards her car.

The car that was still in pristine condition, something she had no idea how it hadn't been stolen in this area. I'm this caravan park.

She practically speeded to the school, luckily no Hopper in sight. Although when leaving the caravan park, she could've sworn she'd seen Eddie Munson, but that's impossible. She'd quickly threw the thought away and continued on her way toward the school arriving at 07:57.

She pulled herself from her car, grabbing her bag and locking the car behind her. She'd began a jog towards the school. Wait, did she lock the car?

She'd turned her head back knowing she had done, causing her to crash right into someone, "Robin! I'm so sorry!" She put her hands on the girls shoulders after nearly knocking her off her feet.

Robin gave her a weird look, Margaret didn't know why, because Robin didn't know how she'd known her name, Robin wasn't exactly miss popular and Margaret was. Although they had caught a glance of each other when Dustin was talking to her at the mall that day. The day Robin tried not to think of too much.

"All good" was all Robin could think to say, what else could she say, "I like being invisible" she continued on, "I see the world and yet it does not see me, well other than Steve, he unfortunately see's everything I do and trust me he does not let it drop" Robin stopped rambling at the sound of Margaret's small giggle, "shoot sorry, I speak before I think most of the time"

"No don't apologise, there was something poetic about it" Margaret smiled removing her remaining hand from Robins shoulder, "I sometimes wish I was invisible too" her words caught Robin by surprise.

Robins eyes quickly fell to someone behind her, Margaret had turned her head quickly noticing, Vickie.

"You two friends?" Margaret tried to make conversation before realising the time 07:59. Shit.

"Oh no, well, we're in band together but that's all" Robin smiled.

"You're in band? I'm in cheer, let's head to the hall together!" Margaret hadn't gave her a chance to decline the offer before she'd looped her arm through Robins, pulling her along.

Robin noticed all eyes fall on them as soon as they entered, or rather, she'd seen all eyes fall to Margaret.

The entire school had soon filled the benches. The cheer team taking centre stage as they did, Chrissy at the front, Margaret to her side. She'd been offered centre but quickly declined, she'd only got into cheer after Chrissy begged.

Eddie reluctantly found a spot closest to the door, he'd tried to skip, but to his disappointment he was caught bunking in the music room. So here he was sat watching this monstrosity of a welcome back to his second attempt of the final year of school. His eyes landed on her. Margaret Sawyer. The girl who'd mysteriously disappeared last year, he'd almost missed messing with her. To be honest the twisted part of him wanted to know what had happened. Dustin wouldn't stop banging on about how he hadn't heard from her at the Hellfire club, so much so he banned the words 'Margaret' 'Sawyer' and even 'babysitter'.

Yet here she stood, looking as bubbly and irritating as always. In perfect health. He hated that he couldn't stop staring her way. He watched as she moved, as her body swayed perfectly in beat to the shitty school music they'd had to work with. She was on beat every second, he'd known that be due to her musical skill.

Quickly she moved back to the bench along from him, still in view to Eddie as he'd now stood to run out the first chance he'd get.

The Tigers soon ran through a sign? The point in that Eddie didn't know, the only one that was even slightly decent being Lucas. Only because he was part of the Hellfire club.

"Good morning Hawkins High!" Jason. God did Eddie dislike Jason. "First off I'd like to thank each and everyone of you, without your support we wouldn't be here, give yourselves a big hand" people began obnoxiously cheering, Eddie couldn't help but notice the displeasure on Margaret's face, did she even like Jason? "And of course I have to give a special shout out to the best and prettiest fans of all time, the tiger cheer squad!" Everyone roared at that, other than Eddie who only scoffed, "Chrissy, Chrissy I love you babe"

Margaret gave Chrissy a squeeze as he spoke, her cheeks turned a flush pink. Margaret was happy for Chrissy, sure she could've picked a nicer guy but hey, so long as she was happy, she didn't mind.

"You know, I think I can speak for all of us when I say, it's been a tough year for Hawkins, so much loss" Margaret moved away from Chrissy looking down at her hands, something Eddie had again noticed. "Sometimes I wonder, how much loss can a community take" this time Jason looked straight to Margaret. "In dark days like this, we need something to believe in, so last night when we were down ten points to Christian academy I look at my team and I said, think of Jet, think of Melissa, think of heather, think of Billy, think of John" Eddies brows creased, John? Who the hell was John?

Margaret stood after whispering to Chrissy who gave her a gentle hug before she left the hall alone, as Jason spoke. Eddie watched as she passed him, oblivious to his presence, looking upset. He almost wanted to make sure she was okay but then again they had a reputation to uphold to one and other.

She made her way straight toward the toilet stopping in front of the sink. Hands grabbing either side of it. A tear rolling slowly down her pink cheek.

John.

John Sawyer was her Gramps. He had died in that fire, the fire she knew was not a fire at all, Dustin had told her everything, her father had taken him out the home for the day and left him with Margaret, who was more than happy with that. They'd went to the mall. Only to find it emptied with everyone screaming as they ran in the opposite direction. Her gramps decided they had to ensure there was no one left inside. Only there was. This thing with teeth, that devoured him.

She looked up to herself in the mirror.

It should've been her that died that day she'd thought, that thing was coming for her, and he stood in its way. She didn't even get to save him in return because Steve and Dustin had pulled her way.

Dustin briefly explained what was going on and yet it didn't seem crazy to her at all, not after all her gramps had told her.

Part of her thought Jason had mentioned him on purpose, just to get a rise out of her, after all she had turned him down at the party he threw for her best friend that one night 2 years ago. He was drunk and didn't exactly take it well.

Although he was too happy with Chrissy to torment her she'd thought. She'd hoped.

Lunch came fairly quickly. Before sitting by Chrissy she made her way to Chrissy who looked oddly shaken up she bumped into Dustin who was struggling to carry everything, she'd grabbed his try for him while he held all his 'research' better not to ask.

"He's revved up today" Dustin stood still talking to Mike causing Margaret to stop dead as well giving him a look.

"He's always revved up, just act casual" Mike gave a wary smile.

"Who's always revved up?" Margaret butt in, Dustin pointing toward their table to the man they'd spoken about. Eddie Munson. Should he not have graduated by now? "Is he not 19? Why's he still here?" She spoke her thoughts out loud.

"You missed a lot at the end of last year" Mike gave a sympathetic look before making his way toward the table.

Margaret wouldn't let Eddie stop her, she walked over putting Dustins tray down before Mike put his own down, grabbing everyone's attention, including Eddies. He smirked at her presence. "I think you've got the wrong table little miss perfect" his tone was mocking, teasing even.

"You think I'd choose to sit with you Edward? No chance" she emphasised the name she knew he'd hated to much.

"What because we're the freaks right?" He laughed standing up, getting himself on top of the table which he began walking down while he continued to speak, "but as long as you're into band, or science or parties or a game where you toss balls into laundry baskets" his voice getting louder and more mocking the more he spoke.

"You want something freak?" Jason was quick to defend.

Eddie stood right in front of where Margaret had stopped, he stared Jason in the eyes while creating a horn shape above his head with his fingers and sticking his tongue out. Jason backed down surprising.

Margaret's eyes went back to Eddie who looked down at her watching as she walked back down the table to where he'd originally sat, he ran back along the table, jumping off to stop right in front of her. A gasp left her lips at the fright she'd gotten, he enjoyed that. "Or if you're into dancing around in little uniforms" he finished off his statement in a whisper just to her.

"Why are you so invested in my little uniform?" She smirked while his fell, "what? Speechless now?"

"I'll never be speechless when it comes to you" he stepped closer, "there's too many insults that can't go unsaid" he smiled grabbing her hand and lifting it to his lips, pausing to ensure she wouldn't pull away, she didn't, he planted a kiss on the back of her hand before moving from her path, "m'lady".