❁ཻུ۪۪♡ ͎. ｡˚
• BLUE •
CHAPTER TWO —
Level Twelve

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SERENA'S boots crunched against the forest floor as she walked, the cool, damp air of the woods biting at her skin.

She needed a moment. Just a moment to breathe, to clear her head, to forget about everything for a while. The usual school noise, the cheer practice looming over her, the way people stared at her—everything felt like too much.

She pulled a pack of cigarettes from her bag, her fingers trembling slightly as she fumbled with the crinkled pack. Her hands shook as she brought one to her lips, the familiar, sharp scent of tobacco filling her senses as she struck a match and lit the end. She inhaled deeply, the smoke hitting her lungs, a sharp burn that seemed to steady her heart rate for a few seconds. The nicotine was like a momentary escape, the only thing that seemed to offer any relief from the chaos in her mind.

The forest around her was quiet except for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind, the far-off chirp of crickets, and her own shallow breaths. She walked aimlessly, trying to let the world around her take the edge off the turmoil inside her.

As she walked deeper into the trees, she barely noticed when she got too close to someone until she bumped into them.

"Woah—hello," a voice broke through her haze of thoughts, startling her.

Serena looked up sharply, her cigarette nearly slipping from her fingers. The guy in front of her had a smirk on his face, his tousled hair falling over his eyes in a messy, careless way that seemed to fit with the rest of his look. He wore a leather jacket and ripped jeans, his posture relaxed but confident, like he didn't have a care in the world.

"Sorry," Serena muttered, her voice a little rough, her heart still racing from the unexpected collision.

The guy gave a slight chuckle, his smile widening as he tilted his head, looking at her with a playful curiosity. "No harm done. Didn't expect to bump into someone out here in the woods."

"Yeah," she replied, glancing around the trees as she took another drag from her cigarette. "Just needed to get away. Too much... stuff going on." She didn't elaborate. She never did.

He seemed to pick up on her reluctance to share, his eyes scanning her face for a moment before he spoke again, his voice softer now. "I get that."

"I'm Eddie, by the way. Eddie Munson."

"I know. You're the guy who runs Hellfire, right? Little brother Max is in your club."

Eddie's grin widened, clearly amused. "That's me."

"So... what's Serena Wheeler doing out in the woods all alone?" He tilted his head, studying her with a playful glint in his eyes. "Don't you have some big cheerleading thing you gotta do?"

"You know my name?" Serena looked up at him, curiously raising her eyebrows.

"I think everyone does." Eddie tilted his head towards her, lowering his voice to sound like a whisper.

She shrugged, trying to play it cool, but there was no hiding the nervous tension in her shoulders. "Yeah... I've got stuff to do. Doesn't mean I can't take a break." She glanced at him, the corners of her mouth pulling into a small smile. "Besides, not everyone is cut out for the cheerleader life, you know?"

Eddie raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "Hey, I'm not judging."

Eddie slowed his pace as he turned to look at Serena, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Soo... you like okay up there?" he asked, pointing to his own head, then tapping his temple with two fingers.

She nodded slowly, trying to shake the fogginess out of her thoughts. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just... you know, trying to figure stuff out."

Then his gaze flickered to the half-finished cigarette she'd tossed on the ground earlier, before his eyes shifted back to her.

"You know, those things aren't good for you," he remarked casually, gesturing to the spot where the cigarette had been, as if he was just throwing out advice from a friend.

Serena turned slowly, a mischievous glint in her eye. She met his gaze and smirked. "I'm sure there's worse in that bag of yours." Her eyes flicked down to the worn leather bag slung over his shoulder.

Eddie raised an eyebrow at her, clearly not surprised by her jab. "Yeah, there is," he replied, his tone playful yet just a bit defensive.

"Anyways, I'll leave you to your secret dealings." Serena grinned at him.

Eddie laughed, tossing his bag over his shoulder and nodding in mock seriousness. "Don't worry, Serena. These treasures are in good hands." He flashed her a smile, and for a second, his usual bravado slipped, just a tiny bit.

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Serena stood in front of the bathroom mirror, carefully brushing her long, black hair. The rhythmic motion of the brush against her scalp calmed her, even though she was already running late. The cheerleading game wasn't going to wait for her, but she needed this moment to steady herself. Her fingers moved through her hair, tying it into a tight ponytail, the strands smoothing into place.

She glanced at the clock on the wall, swearing under her breath. Of course, she was late.

As she stepped out of the bathroom, she immediately heard the distant sound of Mike and Dustin's voices coming from downstairs. They were practically yelling her name.

"Serena! Serena, wait!" Mike's voice carried up the stairs, followed by Dustin's much louder one. "Serena! What the hell, you've got to stop and listen to us for a second!"

Rolling her eyes, Serena leaned against the hallway wall, crossing her arms and waiting for them to appear.

Mike rounded the corner first, his usual earnest expression plastered on his face. "Serena, seriously, we need you tonight," he said quickly, looking like he was about to burst with excitement. "You've got to come to the Hellfire Club's last campaign."

Dustin, trailing right behind Mike, chimed in, his face scrunched in irritation. "Yeah, and if you don't come, I swear to God, we're all screwed," he added with a frustrated groan. "Lucas is stuck with the stupid game, and who the hell else do we have?"

Serena crossed her arms tighter, tilting her head slightly. She already knew what they were getting at.

"Okay, one," Serena said, holding up a finger, "I'm cheering for that game. You know, the one where your friend is actually playing." She gave them a pointed look, letting the weight of her words sink in. "And two... oh yeah, I'm cheerleading."

Mike sighed, running a hand through his hair in desperation. "I get it, okay? But listen, Serena, just consider it. You're literally the only person I know who'll play and know exactly what to do."

Dustin, shaking his head, added, "We need you, Wheeler. Do you realize that? You're the only one who gets this crap."

Serena smirked at Dustin's irritation, enjoying the banter but staying firm. "I'm a cheerleader, not a D&D savior. You know how it is."

Dustin's face twisted into mock outrage. "Bullshit, Serena! You're way more than a cheerleader. You're, like, the only person who gets our vibe. You're supposed to be the hero here, you know?"

"Yeah," Mike added, pleading now. "Come on."

"I'm pretty sure my place is out there on the field, not rolling dice with a bunch of nerds," she said, with a slight grin. "But thanks, anyway. Maybe next time."

Dustin threw his hands in the air, letting out an exasperated noise. "God, I can't believe you, Wheeler."

Mike looked at her, clearly not giving up yet. "Please, just think about it."

Serena glanced at her watch. "Look, I've gotta go," she said, her tone shifting to something more serious. "You'll be fine without me, you always are. Don't die or something."

She heard Dustin's voice call out one more time, the frustration still dripping in his tone.

"If you change your mind, we'll be at the table waiting! Just sayin'."

Serena paused for a moment, the weight of their words lingering in the air. She hesitated, glancing back at them, but then shook her head with a soft smile.

"Not today, boys," she called back, stepping out into the fresh air. "But thanks for the invite."

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Serena sat on the bench in the cheerleader's locker room, the hum of fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. The rest of the squad had already left, their chatter fading into the distance as they headed to the gym to prep for tonight's game.

She flipped to a blank page, her handwriting neat as she jotted down a few lines about the routine they'd just run. It wasn't perfect, but it would have to do. Her thoughts drifted, her pen pausing mid-sentence as she replayed the motions in her head.

The sound of a muffled sniffle broke her concentration.

Serena looked up, scanning the room until her eyes landed on Chrissy. She was sitting on the floor near her locker, her knees pulled to her chest and her face hidden behind her hands. Serena frowned, closing her notebook and standing.

Chrissy didn't notice as Serena walked over, her movements quiet. Serena hesitated for a moment, then reached out and gently tapped Chrissy on the shoulder.

"Hey, you feeling okay?" Serena asked softly.

Chrissy startled slightly, her head snapping up. Her face was pale, her eyes wide and glassy. She quickly shook her head as if to dismiss whatever Serena had noticed.

"Yeah—I'm fine," Chrissy said, her voice shaky and unconvincing. She tried to force a smile, but it wavered.

Serena frowned, crouching down so she was at Chrissy's eye level. "You're shaking," she pointed out.

Chrissy quickly tucked her hands into her lap, as if hiding the tremor might erase it. "I'm just nervous," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Nervous? Chrissy, we've done this routine a hundred times," Serena said, her tone light but probing. "It's practically muscle memory by now."

Chrissy nodded quickly, her gaze darting to the floor. "Yeah, I know. I just..." She trailed off, her breathing uneven.

Serena hesitated, then reached out, placing a hand gently on Chrissy's arm. "Hey. Whatever it is, you can talk to me, okay?"

Chrissy blinked a few times, her lips trembling as though she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. She shook her head, her blonde ponytail swaying with the motion. "No, it's nothing. I'll be fine," she said quickly, standing up and smoothing her uniform as if that would make everything better.

Serena didn't buy it for a second, but she could see Chrissy wasn't ready to talk.

"Okay," Serena said softly, standing as well. She watched Chrissy for another moment, the tension in her friend's shoulders so stark it was almost painful to see. "But, you know, if you change your mind... I'm here."

Chrissy nodded, avoiding eye contact. "Thanks," she said, her voice so quiet Serena almost didn't hear it.

As Chrissy left the locker room, Serena stayed behind, her gaze lingering on the door long after it swung shut. Something was wrong. She didn't know what, but she could feel it in her gut.

She sat back down on the bench, staring at her notebook.

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the cheer squad had gathered for a break after running through their routine. Laughter and chatter filled the air as they lounged in their uniforms, sipping water and fanning themselves against the heat.

Serena sat off to the side, tying her shoelace, only half-listening to the conversation. She didn't particularly care for the gossip, but she kept quiet, not wanting to stir anything up.

"So, did you see what Andy was wearing yesterday? He looked like he pulled it out of the lost-and-found," one of the cheerleaders, Bethany, said with a snort.

"And don't even get me started on that stupid Hellfire Club," another girl, Megan, chimed in, rolling her eyes. "They're so weird. Like, who even plays those games anymore?"

A ripple of laughter spread through the group. Serena's stomach twisted uncomfortably as she tightened her ponytail, keeping her focus on her shoes.

"Yeah, especially that one kid—Dustin? The one with the lisp? He's always so loud, like, shut up already," Megan added with a cruel laugh.

Serena's head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as she fixed her gaze on Megan. "Seriously?" she said, her voice calm but sharp enough to cut through their laughter.

Megan blinked, startled. "What?"

"Why do you care so much what they're doing?" Serena asked, her tone even but pointed. "They're just doing their thing. It's not like they're bothering you."

Bethany raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by Serena's tone. "Oh, come on, Serena, we're just joking."

"Yeah, well, it's not funny," Serena shot back, standing up and brushing off her skirt.

The group fell silent, a few of the girls exchanging awkward glances. Megan opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it.

Serena grabbed her water bottle and slung her bag over her shoulder. "Anyway, I'm done for the day. You guys can keep talking about people who aren't here to defend themselves, but I've got better things to do."

With that, she turned and walked off, ignoring the quiet murmurs behind her.

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The Hawkins High radio room was dimly lit, the hum of the equipment filling the silence as Mike and Dustin sat slumped in defeat.

"We're screwed," Dustin groaned, dramatically dropping his head onto the table. "No Lucas, no players, no finale.

Mike shot him a glare. "Speak for yourself."

The door creaked open, and both boys turned to see Serena leaning against the frame, her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.

"Found anyone?" she asked, her tone playful.

Mike groaned, rubbing his temples. "No, Ren. We haven't."

"Not a single person," Dustin added, throwing his arms in the air. "It's like the entire school collectively decided to suck today."

Serena stepped further into the room, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from them. She rested her elbows on the table, her smirk widening.

"Well, lucky for you guys, you don't need to find anyone else."

Mike frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Serena said, leaning back casually, "I'll play."

For a moment, the boys just stared at her, blinking as if they'd misheard.

"You?" Dustin finally said, his voice dripping with skepticism. "You're gonna play D&D? Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," Serena replied, rolling her eyes. "Look, I've played before, remember?"

Mike's expression brightened. "Seriously? You'll really do it?"

"Yeah, but don't get too excited," Serena said with a smirk. "I'm not doing hours of homework for this or anything."

Dustin tilted his head, narrowing his eyes. "Wait... you already have a character, don't you?"

Serena's smirk turned into a full grin. "Maybe."

Mike sat up straighter. "Okay, let's hear it. What is it? A level one fighter? A thief?"

Serena casually leaned forward, her voice dripping with mock innocence. "Actually, she's a level 12 elf sorcerer named Nyxira Shadowveil."

Dustin choked on his own spit. "WHAT? Level 12?! How the hell do you have a level 12 character?"

"I played with your DM's handbook when you guys left it at my house last summer," Serena said, shrugging nonchalantly. "I got bored. Plus, Nyxira's backstory is badass, she's a cursed woman who's hunted by the spirits of her past victims."

Mike's jaw dropped. "You made a backstory?"

"Yeah, and a map of her ancestral homeland," Serena added, biting back a laugh. "It's somewhere in your notebook, Mike. You're welcome."

Dustin threw his hands in the air. "Unbelievable! We've been busting our asses recruiting people, and you've been secretly hoarding a god-tier sorcerer this whole time?"

Serena laughed, finally relenting. "Relax, Dusty. I'm in. Nyxira will grace your campaign with her magic or whatever."

Mike grinned despite himself. "This might actually work."

Dustin shook his head, muttering under his breath, "Level 12... She's gonna wipe the floor with everything."

Serena winked at them. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you."

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