(Ep. 1: Mad Max)

Having a normal life was something unattainable for Gwen Henderson. Pretending she and her friends didn't fight off a flesh eating monster along with learning of an alternate dimension seemed near impossible to do. Especially with the anniversary coming up, so normalcy had to be left behind for good.

Everyone moved on in a matter of seconds and pretended as if nothing happened because to everyone, Will Byers was just a kid who went missing and was lucky enough to return. No one had a clue on what really went on, which made it incredibly frustrating to be the only one of the few who truly knew what happened.

So for now, all she does is pretend the anniversary isn't bringing all the terrible memories back. If her little brother could do it, why couldn't she?

With her arms folded across her chest and back against the wall, Gwen observed the students jumping up and down in excitement as the basketball team made their way to the center of the court. The next big game was coming up so an encouraging pep rally was made in their honor.

However, not every member of the team was present. Gwen was able to notice that Steve Harrington was nowhere to be seen. Meaning he's probably somewhere off with his girlfriend instead of facing his responsibilities. Well, what more could be expected from him?

The team captain arrived last as he looked over at the swarm of people and embraced their chants. "Good morning, Hawkins!" he yelled through the microphone and began his speech that's reused every year.

Waiting for the speech to end, she was regretting not having skipped with Jonathan to hang out in the photo lab. She tried fading out the cheering from the students when she was met by the piercing eyes of her rival, Natalia Cortez, or as everyone called her, the queen bee.

Gwen wasn't liked by the popular crowd for her friendship choices, but everyone steered clear of her due to her middle school reputation that she hasn't been able to live down. She would be the one to take the punches for her best friend and fight off every single person that dared insult those she loves. Not having lost a fight once, it was safe to say no one dared confront her. No one wants to risk getting a broken nose or a black eye.

But this particular cheerleader seemed to not care for her reputation. Natalia would do anything in her power to try and ruin her day. Starting with breaking Jonathan's camera twice and insulting her family to provoke her just so she'd meet the infamous Gwen Henderson everyone is so afraid of. Unaware Gwen gave up fighting to maintain a perfect school record to get into her top college and get out of this forsaken town.

Natalia kept making eye contact with the Henderson girl. She was observing the way she leaned against the wall, the way she would roll her eyes, and the way she would fix her hair. She hated Gwen and wasn't afraid to show it, but a small part of her was afraid one of these days she'd meet the old Gwen and regret ever having crossed her. She didn't want to risk her perfect face just for the sake of entertainment so she settled with the typical mean girl tactic of sending her dirty looks. Expecting the least of a reaction, she was only received by Gwen flipping her off as she walked out the gym.

Her mouth hung open in shock as she pulled her best friend's arm to tell her, "Did you see that? That little bitch-"

Chrissy cut her off and said, "Just ignore her, Nat. We're up, so focus." The blonde girl could never understand the hatred her best friend had for Gwen. Chrissy was one of the few members of the cheer squad who actually liked her. Gwen was always kind to her and respected her when others didn't. If only her best friend could try getting along with her and maybe they could all become friends.

As for Gwen, she didn't intend on making friends with anyone else. She liked keeping her inner circle small. With only Jonathan and Nancy being her closest friends, what more could she ask for?

Jonathan had been her best friend since 7th grade. He was sitting alone in the cafeteria with a small camera in hand. Gwen had just joined Hawkins Middle School so being the new kid meant being closed off from everyone, but one look at the Byers boy was enough to brave her to try opening herself up. He was the quiet kid, afraid of standing up for himself, and she was the girl willing to protect those she loves. The two of them being friends just made perfect sense.

As for Nancy Wheeler, the two of them had never spoken before the whole Upside Down. They didn't seem to click seeing as Nancy surrounded herself with Steve and his friends - which ruined her and Jonathan's lives every chance they could. Yet surprisingly when they were forced to fight together, becoming friends turned out to be easier than breathing.

As she reached the photo lab's halls, she was met by a few muffled voices being followed by a girl's laughter. It sounded like two people making out and stopping every now and then to catch their breaths.

Already annoyed at the horny couple, she rolled her eyes and prepared herself for the awkward sight. She hated public displays of affection. They made her uncomfortable and unwilling to understand why they can't just wait until they're in a private place.

Hesitantly, she took a deep breath before stepping forward and doing her best not to take a peek. She looked down at her shoes and focused on just reaching the photo lab when she recognized a voice.

"Come on Steve! We need to head back!"

It was Nancy Wheeler with none other than the notorious Steve Harrington.

You've got to be kidding me, she thought.

Steve Harrington was the king of Hawkins High. Always adored. Always wished upon. Every girl and even some guys wanted to be with him. Everyone but Gwen. From their hatred developing since freshman year, it was safe to say neither tolerated each other. Each tried avoiding making contact and everything was going well until she befriended his lover. Her new friendship with Nancy pressured her to try and tolerate the Harrington boy, but of course, Nancy's efforts didn't seem to work.

The pair were so adamant on remaining enemies she simply gave up trying to help them to get along. Finally coming to terms that they would always hold nothing but detest for each other no matter how hard she tries to change it.

"Gwen!" Nancy exclaimed in relief while pushing the hungry boy from her.

Gwen was met by Steve's angered glare along with a teasing smirk. He leaned against the wall with his arms folded as he prepared himself for his rival's comments. His eyebrow raised in a challenging way as he waited for the girl to address them.

She debated on ignoring Nancy. To pretend not to have heard her and just go on and about her day. Yet as she stood with her hand still on the doorknob, she figured it was best to face them now. The last thing she'd want is for Steve to think it's because of him. He's so self-centered he'd take this as a win and would never let her live it down.

"Hey Nancy," she said through gritted teeth.

Knowing arguing would ensue the second those two are put under the same roof, Nancy figured it was worth the risk just to avoid her conflicting feelings for Steve. She did love him, but not in the way she wished. Nothing felt the same as last year when she was once enchanted and fascinated by him. They were growing apart and only she was the one to sense it.

"Steve's joining us for dinner so we'll be meeting at my place at 4:30 and he'll take us," she said as it seemed like the best excuse for having interrupted their make out session.

Only to be met by Gwen frowning at the reminder.

She had forgotten her dinner plans.

Not only did she forget, but Steve did as well. He forgot his enemy attended weekly dinners with Nancy. At first, he tried offering accompanying her to prevent them both from spending time together, but Nancy insisted Gwen must be the one to come. He didn't want to admit how glad he felt for not being dragged to uncomfortable dinners with the parents of a girl he hardly knew.

It was only this morning he offered to come, and all because he felt they were drifting apart. Knowing how important dinner with the Hollands is, he insisted on going to be a supportive boyfriend in hopes it would help their relationship get back to normal.

He wouldn't have offered if he remembered Gwen went as well.

The girl that always gets under his skin. Always finds ways to criticize what he says and does. The girl that makes him feel miniscule at how smart she is. She's perfect at everything she does and doesn't even try. She's exceptional, responsible, and above all, the most kind hearted person he knows. For whatever reason, he was the exception. It was infuriating not knowing why.

"I'm sorry, did you say Steve is going as well?"

Dealing with him at school was barely cutting it, and now for dinner is just something she's unwilling to do. Especially riding in the same car.

"Yeah, he wanted to come."

His eyes met hers for a brief second as the two of them glared at each other with scolds on their faces. A part of him hoped she would accept and ignore their mutual dislike. Not wanting to admit how much it bothered him not knowing why she hates him. What did he do to make her dislike him so much?

Gwen could see how much it meant to Nancy that they get along. A part of her longed to be able to do so, but the memory of what he did was still painful. Her anger and resentment were much stronger than any begs from her friend. "I'd rather die than ride in the same car as him."

"Oh joy. I'm crushed," he responded with a sarcastic tone as he put on the smirk she hated.

"Bite me, Harrington." It was barely a comeback, but those three words were enough to get under his skin. She watched as his jaw clenched and he left his resting place to walk closer to her. He put on this smoldering look that made her laugh at whatever it is he's trying to do.

"Good one. What else you got?" he teased.

Gwen smiled in the way that made his blood boil. Their close stance would make anyone think it was her he was dating instead of Nancy. She felt quite suffocated under his presence that made her take a few steps back.

When she noticed a longing look in his eyes the second she distanced herself. He seemed rather upset at her action, but once he realized she saw him, he went back to that vexing glare.

"You just can't get enough of me, can you?" she wasn't going to let this go. Whatever opportunity there is to tease him, she'd take it in an instant.

A slight discomfort took place over that pesky little comment that's been made before, but now feels different. "Get your ego in check, Henderson. The world doesn't revolve around you."

She laughed at his words and leaned closer to where her lips almost pressed against his ear. "But it does," she whispered.

Shivers ran down his spine at the chilling grasp in her voice. His skin crawled at having her so close to him that for a split second, he forgot who he was speaking to.

How could someone he held so much hatred for have such a beautiful voice?

His mind began to focus on the color of her eyes. They held a beautiful shade of blue that reminded him of a bright summer's day that soon made him realize just how nervous they were making him.

"Just do us all a favor and shut the hell up," he snapped, trying to say anything that'd make him forget his sudden tense behavior.

"Why don't you make me, Harrington?" Her confidence enraged him and made every part of him want to flee the scene and let her win this time, but that smirk, that goddamn smirk was tempting him to bring out the Steve from last year. The Steve he hated and longed to forget.

Nancy started walking over to them as she worried something was about to unfold. She stared at the two of them before saying, "Let's just go back to the gym. Come on guys."

With his head shaking in disbelief, he glared at Gwen from not understanding how he could have ever felt something for her.

"I'll see you tonight, Nancy," she told her with her eyes still fixated on him. Her hands moved her hair back, revealing her slender neck knowing it drove him crazy. She grinned at him before walking back to the photo lab and expected him to say anything like he always does to try and get the last word, but he was surprisingly silent.

Steve remained in his spot just watching her as she entered the room. He caught his breath at the rush of energy this small banter caused. It was surprising how much he found their proximity to be thrilling that it felt rather odd and frightening.

Having caught on to his mood change, Nancy curiously watched on how wrecked he was. Gwen was never able to bring this level of thrill in him. It was always anger, hatred, and a bunch of headaches. She wanted to ask him about it, but instead chose to leave her questioning behind. Already knowing he would deny anything that meant admitting the truth.

Her hand interlocked with his all to try and appear normal. He slightly flinched at her touch but once he looked into his girlfriend's eyes, he couldn't help but smile at remembering he's dating the best person in the world. He couldn't get any luckier.

As they reached the gym and he held open the door, the need to turn back controlled him. Only to be faced by the sight of her arm locked with Jonathan's.

Are they dating now? Is that why they're always together?

The thought of them being in a relationship was starting to bother him. They weren't compatible. They were polar opposites and she should be with someone as annoying as her.

He turned to his girlfriend and leaned for a kiss to try and get his thoughts away from the insufferable girl. Knowing it was wrong, he thought it seemed like the only solution. He could only hope Nancy wouldn't notice, but little did he know she was too smart to know this wasn't a genuine kiss. It felt forced and dispassionate. She could only pretend nothing was wrong to not start something as everything needed to remain as it was.

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There was nothing more Gwen enjoyed than teasing her brother. Of course, tormenting Steve was still first on the list, but this was just as fun. She hid in her black 1967 Chevrolet Impala just watching the party, with the exception of Mike and Will, as they hid behind a car to watch the entrance of the arcade.

Gwen started walking to them on her toes of her black boots and tried her best to silence the sound of her footsteps as she crept up on them. None of them sensed her which brought a wave of ecstasy of getting to frighten them. She found herself smiling, preparing her voice for how loud she was about to be.

"Who are you trying to spy on, you weirdos?"

Both of them jolted back at the sudden sound of the eldest Henderson sibling. "You son of a bitch! You scared the shit out of me!"

"And me!"

Embarrassed looks covered their faces as well as relief they weren't caught by Mad Max herself. The last thing they'd want is to ruin any chances of her joining the party before getting the chance to speak to her.

"Are you spying on her?" Gwen took notice of a redheaded girl walking out of a Camaro. It was obvious she was arguing with the driver about something that led to the young girl flipping him off as he drove away. 

Just when the car headed to the exit, she was able to recognize the driver to be none other than Billy Hargrove – the new guy she's had wrapped around her finger ever since they first met when dropping off their siblings at the arcade. 

"What? No!" Lucas immediately denied her accusation without even taking his eyes off the binoculars.

"Yes we are," Dustin confessed as he was never able to lie to his sister. She was the one person he trusted everything to and who knows? Maybe she could help them with Mad Max.

"If you're trying to get a girlfriend, stalking is not the answer."

"We're just trying to get her to join our party, dumbass," Dustin replied with annoyance as he reached over for the binoculars.

She squeezed her brother's ear, but not hard enough that it would bring a lot of pain. "You want me to rat you out? Call me that again and you'll never have her in your party after I tell her what you're doing."

"I dare you!" Dustin shoved her off while putting on a brave look to make her think he wasn't nervous at the threat when he actually was.

She lifted her brow in a challenging way, "Really?"

"Shut up, Dustin!" Lucas exclaimed and turned to Gwen with a smile, "He's just kidding. He doesn't mean that."

"I do mean it," Dustin challenged.

"Oh yeah?" Gwen smiled at them before marching to the arcade's entrance.

Dustin and Lucas exchanged worried looks. Both of them were thinking the same thing, Is she really going to rat on us?

Neither were going to risk it. They shoved each other as they raced to the entrance before she could say anything and grabbed both her arms as she shoved them off with no struggle. She wasn't going to rat them out, she just wanted to scare them into speaking to her. She'd never betray them like that.

"We'll do anything you want! Just please don't do it!" Lucas pleaded.

Dustin was never the kind to beg, especially to his sister, but Mad Max was considered much more important than his pride. "Come on Gwen! I'll do anything as well!"

She stopped with the door halfway open and crossed her arms in satisfaction before walking back to their hiding spot with them following her. "Then I want you to stop spying on her and actually talk to her!"

"We can't just go up to someone like her. I mean, look at us," Lucas said as he pressed his back against the car and slid down. He wanted nothing more than to have someone like Max join their party. She was amazing and truly incredible. He just couldn't shake the lingering feeling of not being enough, of having his attempts be rejected by someone as fascinating like her.

Gwen took a deep breath before following the same action. She nudged Dustin to do the same and soon found herself in between them. "Listen to me," the party turned to her with their fallen expressions, "You two are the most badass kids I know. You faced a demogorgon and survived! Those mouthbreathers got nothing on you. So get off your asses and talk to her. She'd be lucky to join your party."

"What if she says no?" Dustin asked.

"Then she'd be missing out on the greatest opportunity."

The kids smiled as they felt their confidence return. With one glance exchanged between the other, they took a deep breath to prepare themselves to walk up to Max. Once they jogged to the arcade's entrance, they looked back at Gwen, who gave them a thumbs up for encouragement and motioned them to head inside. 

With one last smile, Dustin and Lucas hurried inside feeling much better about their chances. Gwen could only hope they actually take her advice and speak to her. If they don't, she'd pray tomorrow would be the day things turn around for them.