Mary and Steve had in fact went back to her trailer. Her father hadn't been home and Mary wondered what kept him out so late on Halloween — surely there hadn't been that much hassle on the occasion. She also wondered if her dad had in the end, needed to bust Tina's party like he usually do. Which, resulted in her being dragged home and grounded.

      She and Steve had retreated to her bedroom, where Mary had thrown herself face first into her bed and Steve had collapsed at the bottom, draped vertically along it — falling asleep almost the moment their bodies hit the bed.

      The next morning, they woke in the exact same positions, their bodies aching and refusing to work, "Mother of god." Mary groaned, her face pushed up against her pillow and her arm twisted at an awkward angle from how she was laying on it.

       She pushed herself up using the arm that wasn't dead and flopping around as though it had no bones at all and narrowed her eyes at her pillow case that was smudged with her dark eyeshadow and red lipstick.

      She scratched her head, fearful of how her hair was going to look that particular day — in fact, she would have rather just hid all the mirrors so she'd never have to find out. Because she was sure it would be catastrophic.

      She looked at Steve who looked to be in a comatose state, laying on his back with his head hanging of the side of the bed and mouth wide open, "Steve," She said, rubbing at her eyes that were clumped with leftover makeup. Upon getting no response, she nudged her friends side with her foot, "Steve." She groaned, throwing her head back tiredly.

      The boy grunted, saying a few inaudible words Mary couldn't make out before finally he raised his head and looked at her sleepily. He flashed a tired smile, "Hey." He chirped before rolling over, pressing his face against her bed sheets that smelt like nail varnish remover; from when she had spilled it all over her bed and forgot to put it in the washing machine.

       The girl rubbed at her forehead, "Not to be dramatic or anything," She started before throwing herself back into her pillow and actually being dramatic, "But I think I'm dying from alcohol poisoning!" She exclaimed, burying her face in her hands.

       Steve groaned in agreement, "Why do the things we love want to kill us." He said in disappointment, looking to the ceiling with a deep frown

       Mary pulled a face, saying 'I have no idea.' Before she pushed her blankets off her legs and stood up. She almost completely fell over from how badly her feet were hurting, "Fuck me." She grumbled, reaching down to massage the muscle under her feet that were cramped up from wearing heels the previous night.

      Once satisfied that she had untangled the muscles a little she went to the bathroom that was straight across from her own room whilst continuously rubbing her eyes.

       She ran the tap, letting the cold water flow before she scooped it up in the palms of her hands and splashed her face with it, attempting to get some makeup off and wake herself up; so she at least didn't look like she were dying.

      She rubbed at the skin on her face, feeling the makeup coming off in flakes. She grasped a towel from the rack and wiped her face with it as she left the bathroom and headed towards the kitchen.

      She pulled the towel away, rubbing at the skin under her eye with her finger. The smell of food suddenly wafted up her nose and she furrowed her brows, "Dad, why can I smell bacon that isn't burnt?" She asked, looking at her father that was standing beside the stove.

       He pursed his lips in what was supposed to be a smile but came off incredibly awkward, like he were constipated, "That's because I didn't make it." When her father stepped aside, he suddenly revealed the one person Mary had never expected to see in the trailer.

      The towel slipped from the girl's hands and landed by her feet. The blonde woman with the big hair was smiling at her, dressed in her Sunday best.

      Mary's mouth opened and closed in, reeling in shock, "Mom?" She whispered, rooted to the spot, feeling like she'd never take a step ever again.

      Her mother was smiling at her, still holding the spatula in her hand as the bacon sizzled away in the pan, "Hello sweetheart. Are you hungry?" She asked politely, speaking as though she had never left — like she had been cooking her breakfast every day of her life.

      Mary exchanged looks with her father who seemed as freaked out as she did, looking out of place in his own kitchen. Mary looked back to her mother, "I — I suppose." She instantly scolded herself inwardly for stuttering. She didn't want her mom to know that her being there would effect her so badly; but god dammit it was.

       Jim swayed awkwardly where he stood, looking like he didn't know whether to stand or sit down, "Diane, her friend stayed over last night so make an extra serving for him too... please?" Mary looked to her father with a 'what the hell are you doing?' Face to which he looked back at her with a 'I don't know' face.

        Diane smiled, flipping over the bacon before adding extra as Jim had asked, "Steven Harrington? He's a lovely boy — always thought he was a good influence on you," Jim pulled a face behind his ex-wives back, "Your hair looks lovely, Mary. It suits you. Though, I miss your blonde. And you should probably brush it."

      Mary pursed her lips at her mothers condescending tone, "Yes, that Steve. And I happen to like it too — more than the blonde, actually. And yeah, I assume I will brush it at some point today." She said, her tone distant and flat. Yes she had visited her mother in New York and all had been fine — but Diane was cooking food in her kitchen as if she had never left!

      Mary and Jim stood looking like they had never stepped foot in their own home, whereas Diane acted as though she had lived there all her life. Mary's eyes found her father's and they had an argument through facial expressions for a long moment before Diane turned around, making them pretend to act natural.

       "Alright, I know it's probably strange seeing my here but I wanted to tell you the good news," She said and Mary looked to her father, as if asking for permission to listen to her and Jim nodded. Diane went on, "We've bought a house — here in Hawkins. Sweetheart, I'm coming home."

      Mary stared at her mother, her lips parted and a look on her face Diane couldn't read, but that was because she didn't know her like Jim — and that look was the calm before the storm. It was the look she had when she processed information, thinking it all over before she finally told you exactly what she was thinking; good or bad.

"You're moving back?" She repeated and Diane nodded, smiling, not realising that anything was wrong with what she was saying. Mary stepped closer, "So, you're telling me that after years of you hiding out in New York in your fancy apartment with your loaded boyfriend that you're coming back to Hawkins?" She asked in disbelief and the smile slowly fell from Diane's lips.

"You're not happy?" She asked in confusion whilst Jim sighed, rubbed his temples and sat down on his sofa. That was the wrong question and he knew the shitstorm that came afterwards.

"Happy? Why would I be happy! You told me that you'd never come back to Hawkins, that it was the problem —"

"Sweetie, things have changed —"

"You're right, things have changed," Mary spoke over her mothers attempt to calm her down. Mary laughed humorously, "You don't get to just come back into our lives — you don't get to just move back here when you decided to leave in the first place!"

"You left us, mom! Right after Sarah, you packed your things and you left. You abandoned us," Tears burned in her eyes and Diane blinked back in surprise whilst Jim rubbed at his beard, "Do you even realise how shitty this is —"

"Watch your language! That's not how ladies speak, Mary Louise Hopper!"

Mary scoffed, "That's the thing though. I wouldn't know the first thing about being a lady because I never had that person to look up to," She said, "You coming back here is an insult, mom. Because it means that you could never have left to begin with and things could have been different."

"Sweetheart —"

Jim got up, "Diane, the kid has a point," He defended, much to his ex-wives shock and horror. She turned to him with her eyes wide and mouth agape. Jim held his hands up in surrender, "Hey, I ain't taking sides. But you have to accept this came as a shock to her — frankly, me too." He said and Diane thought it over, her gaze firmly on the ground.

The bacon in the pan was burnt now and she turned the dial, putting off the gas before she grabbed her handbag from the worktop, "Alright fine," She said, walking to the door before she stopped and turned around. She gathered herself, "I'm hosting a little get together tomorrow lunchtime. We're already settled in. You should stop by." She invited.

Mary didn't respond, just continued to glare at her and Jim moved forward, opening his mouth for a short moment before he even spoke, "We'll consider it. We have the address." He nodded to the piece of paper that was left on the kitchen worktop.

Diane nodded once, lingering for a brief moment as if she had more to say and Mary hoped with all her might she would just leave. And she did, much to Mary's relief. The moment the door shut, her shoulders slumped and she breathed out, closing her eyes.

Steve came shuffling into the kitchen, his hair all over his forehead. He had his face scrunched up, "Was I tripping or did I hear your moms voice?" He asked, moving to stand beside Mary who inhaled sharply and straightened herself out.

"Yeah. Bitch has moved back to —"

"Mary." Her father warned her, his eyes connecting with hers.

Mary threw her hands up, "What, aren't you mad? Aren't you furious that she's decided to come back with her perfect little family after leaving ours?" Her words weren't bitter, in fact they sounded more like a desperate plead, hoping that her father had the same mindset as her.

Jim thought it over before he sighed, shifted his weight to another foot and nodded, "Yeah Mare, it makes me pretty mad." He admitted and the girl held his eyes before sighing heavily.

"Alright, I need some coffee — also, I'm not going to her stupid fancy lunch tomorrow. She can forget it! Totally not happening!"

                              ———

     Me at the start of this book: give Mary cute short hair this season, there's plenty of gifs!

     Gifs: nowhere to be seen...

     Finding gifs of Shelley with short hair to fit the chapter is beginning to be a proper struggle, send help😂🤦🏻‍♀️!

       But also, Diane is back! Anyone agreeing with Mary's point of view? Or Diane's?