"Yeah, the real world sucks, deal with it like the rest of us." - Jonathan

The morning sun filtered through my bedroom window, casting long streaks of golden light across the room. My bed was a mess of tangled sheets, a stark contrast to the clean, minimalist look I'd tried to maintain before everything fell apart. The air in the room felt heavy, like it hadn't been properly aired out in months—probably because it hadn't.

I sighed, throwing off the covers, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The wooden floor was cool against my feet, grounding me for a moment before I pushed myself to stand. I walked over to my closet, the creak of the old door echoing in the quiet room, and rifled through the hangers until I found something that felt like me. Or, at least, the version of me I was trying to reclaim.

I settled on a faded black band tee, its logo barely visible after years of wear and tear, and a pair of ripped jeans that clung to my legs in all the right places. I paired them with my trusty leather jacket, the one I'd saved up for months to buy. It was scratched and scuffed from countless nights out, but it still made me feel invincible whenever I wore it. I slipped on a pair of black ankle boots, their chunky heels adding a little height, and ran a hand through my short, tousled hair.

The reflection staring back at me in the mirror was a far cry from the girl I used to be, but that was the point. I wasn't that girl anymore, and I didn't want to be. The old me had been lost in the chaos, but this version—this harder, more guarded version—was what I needed to survive.

The house was quiet as I made my way downstairs, the scent of stale coffee hanging in the air. The linoleum floors creaked beneath my boots, a reminder of how old and worn everything in this place had become. I grabbed my bag and slung it over my shoulder, taking one last look around the kitchen. The chipped counters, the mismatched chairs, the stack of unpaid bills on the table—it all felt so suffocating. I needed to get out, to breathe, to find something that wasn't tainted by the past.

Stepping outside, the late summer heat hit me like a wave, the sun already high in the sky. The streets of Hawkins were quiet, save for the distant hum of lawnmowers and the occasional bark of a dog. It was almost eerie, this calm, as if the town itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

I slid on my aviator sunglasses, the tinted lenses darkening the world around me as I made my way to the Starcourt Mall.

* * *

The mall was already buzzing with life when I arrived, the bright neon lights and polished tiles giving it an almost surreal feel. Kids and teens darted around with bags in hand, couples strolled past storefronts, and the air was filled with the sound of pop music blaring from the speakers overhead. The scent of freshly baked pretzels and popcorn drifted through the air, making my stomach growl despite the knot of anxiety sitting in it.

Starcourt was a world away from the quiet streets of Hawkins, a place where time seemed to move faster and everything was just a little bit more colorful. It was easy to get lost in the crowd here, to blend in with the throngs of people and forget, even for a moment, that life outside these walls was anything but perfect.

As I made my way down the main corridor, I passed a brightly lit video arcade. A couple of kids were huddled around a game, their laughter mixing with the sound of 8-bit music blaring from the machine. Just beyond them, I could see the entrance to Scoops Ahoy, the ice cream parlor where Steve Harrington worked. It was hard to miss, with its kitschy nautical theme and the constant stream of kids coming and going.

As I approached, I caught a glimpse of Steve behind the counter, dressed in his ridiculous sailor uniform. His hair was still perfectly styled, even under the silly hat, and he was busy serving a group of giggling girls who were clearly more interested in him than the ice cream.

"Hey, Andie! Back so soon?" Steve called out, flashing me that trademark grin that used to make every girl in Hawkins swoon.

"Yeah, well, somebody's gotta keep you grounded in reality," I shot back, leaning against the counter. "Can't have you getting a big head just because a bunch of middle schoolers think you're the hottest thing since sliced bread."

Steve rolled his eyes, but he couldn't hide the smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Please, I've always had a big head. You just never noticed because you were too busy pretending not to like me."

"Who said I was pretending?" I quipped, raising an eyebrow.

"Ouch, low blow, Coleman," he teased, placing a hand over his heart like I'd just wounded him. "So, what brings you to the mall? Aside from keeping me humble, of course."

"Actually, I was hoping you could help me out," I said, my tone softening as I shifted from banter to business. "I'm looking for a job. Something to keep me busy and make some money."

Steve's expression turned thoughtful as he wiped his hands on a towel and leaned against the counter. "Huh. Looking for a change of pace, huh?"

"Yeah, something like that," I replied, not wanting to dive too deep into the reasons why.

"Well, you've got options," he said, his tone light again. "Robin might know if Scoops is hiring, but if you don't want to be stuck in this ridiculous outfit—" he gestured to his sailor uniform with a dramatic flourish, making me laugh "—you could try the music store. They're usually looking for someone who can handle more than just scooping ice cream."

"The music store, huh?" I mused, glancing down the mall corridor where I could see the sign for Sam Goody, the record store.

"Yeah, it's worth a shot," Steve said. "Plus, you'd get to hang out here at the mall. And let's be real, you'd make this place at least ten times cooler just by being here."

I chuckled, feeling a little lighter for the first time that day. "Thanks, Steve. I'll check it out."

As I turned to leave, Steve called after me, "Hey, if you need anything—anything at all—just let me know, okay?"

I glanced back at him, grateful for the offer. "I will. Thanks, Stevie."

"You know where to find me, Coleman," he said with a wink before turning back to his customers.

* * *

The inside of Sam Goody was a sensory overload in the best way possible. The walls were lined with records, cassettes, and posters, each one a gateway to another world. The air was filled with the hum of music, a mix of rock and pop that made me feel like I'd stepped into a time capsule of all the best parts of the 80s.

I approached the counter where a familiar figure stood, his back turned to me as he organized a display of cassette tapes. His brown hair was a bit longer than I remembered, curling slightly at the ends, and he wore a faded denim jacket over a band tee. There was something comforting about the way he moved, the way he seemed so at ease in this environment.

"Jesse?" I asked, my voice catching slightly as I realized who it was.

He turned around, and the surprise on his face mirrored my own. "Andie? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," I said, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I thought you were still working at the diner."

Jesse sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, well... the diner's been struggling since this place opened. They had to cut back on hours, so I picked up a job here to make up for it."

I nodded, understanding all too well how quickly things could change. "I'm sorry to hear that. But hey, this place isn't so bad."

He chuckled softly. "Yeah, it's got its perks. What about you? What brings you to the mall?"

"I'm actually looking for a job," I admitted. "Trying to figure out what to do next."

Jesse's expression softened, and he nodded toward the back of the store. "Well, if you're interested, I can talk to Dave, the manager. He's been looking for someone to help out."

"I'd appreciate that," I said, feeling a bit more hopeful. "Thanks, Jesse."

"No problem," he replied, his smile warm and genuine. "It's good to see you, Andie. I missed having you around."

"Yeah," I said softly, feeling a pang of guilt for how I'd disappeared without a word. "I missed you too."

We stood there for a moment, the sounds of the store filling the silence between us, until Jesse finally broke the tension with a nod toward the back. "Come on, I'll introduce you to Dave."

* * *

Later that afternoon, after filling out an application and chatting with Dave, I found myself wandering the mall again, my mind still buzzing from the day's events. The idea of working at the record store was exciting—a fresh start in a place that felt familiar yet new. But there was still a part of me that couldn't shake the feeling of unease, the lingering doubts about whether I was really ready for this.

As I rounded the corner near the food court, I nearly collided with someone—someone tall, broad-shouldered, and very familiar.

"Cass," Billy's voice cut through the noise of the mall, and I looked up to see him standing in front of me, his expression a mix of surprise and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Billy," I breathed, my heart skipping a beat. He looked different out of his lifeguard uniform, dressed in a tight black tee and dark jeans, but the intensity in his eyes was the same. Yet there was something off about him—something I couldn't quite put my finger on. His usual confident stance seemed a bit more rigid, and his eyes seemed to dart around, not fully settling on anything for too long. It was like he was restless, almost uncomfortable in his own skin.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his tone softer than it had been the night before, but there was a slight edge to it, like he was holding something back.

"Just... looking for a job," I replied, shrugging as if it were no big deal. "You?"

"Same," he said, though I could tell there was more to it than that. His gaze flicked over me, lingering for a moment on my jacket, my jeans. "You look good."

"Thanks," I said, feeling a warmth spread through me despite everything. "So do you." But as I looked at him, really looked at him, I noticed the slight tension in his jaw, the way his eyes seemed to dart around, not fully settling on anything for too long. It was like he was restless, almost uncomfortable in his own skin.

We stood there for a moment, the noise of the mall fading into the background as we looked at each other. There was so much I wanted to say, so much I needed to ask, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, I just took a deep breath and smiled, hoping that it would be enough for now.

"Maybe we'll run into each other more often," I said, trying to keep my voice light, though the underlying tension was impossible to ignore.

"Maybe," Billy replied, his lips curling into a small smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "This place seems like the new hangout for everyone in town."

"Yeah," I agreed, but there was something in his tone that made me pause. It wasn't just what he said, but how he said it—like he was distant, distracted. "Are you okay?"

He blinked, almost as if the question caught him off guard. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... you know, trying to get used to things. It's been a weird summer."

A weird summer. The way he said it, so casually, sent a shiver down my spine. I'd been away for so long, so disconnected from everything that had happened in Hawkins. Maybe he was just trying to figure things out, just like I was. But still, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than that.

"I'm here now," I said, trying to bridge the gap between us. "We can figure things out together."

Billy's eyes softened for a moment, and I thought I saw a flicker of the old him, the one I used to know so well. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by that same distant look. "Yeah," he said, but there was hesitation in his voice, a reluctance that made my heart ache. "I just... I've got some stuff I need to deal with. But we'll talk, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed, though the knot in my stomach tightened. I wanted to reach out, to grab his hand and pull him back to me, but I knew I couldn't. Whatever was going on with him, he wasn't ready to share it. And maybe that was my fault—maybe I'd been gone too long, left him to fend for himself in this strange, messed-up town.

"Just... take care of yourself, alright?" he added, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "Whatever it is you're not telling me... I just want you to be okay."

His words hit me harder than I expected, and for a moment, I felt the sting of tears behind my eyes. But I pushed them back, nodding quickly. "I will, Billy. I promise."

"Good," he said, giving me one last look before stepping back. "I'll see you around, Cass."

"Yeah," I replied, watching as he turned and walked away, his figure blending into the crowd.

As I stood there, watching him go, a sense of unease settled over me. Something was wrong with Billy—something more than just us being apart for so long. But I pushed the thought aside, chalking it up to the fact that everything had changed since I'd left. Maybe he was just dealing with his own demons, just like I was.

But deep down, I knew it was more than that. And as much as I wanted to help him, I wasn't sure if he'd let me.

* * *

When I finally made it back home, the house was quiet. Too quiet. I had spent hours at the mall, talking to Dave, filling out an application, and catching up with Jesse. The realization that Jesse was now working at the record store instead of the diner was just another reminder of how much things had changed since the mall opened. The diner, once a staple of our small town, was struggling to stay afloat, and Jesse had been forced to find work elsewhere.

But now that I was back in the suffocating atmosphere of my mother's house, the reality of my situation crashed down on me like a ton of bricks. The thought of staying here, under Jim's watchful eye, made my skin crawl.

I found my mother in the kitchen, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in front of her. She looked up as I entered, her eyes red and puffy as if she'd been crying. "Andie," she said softly, her voice wavering. "How was your day?"

"Fine," I replied, not wanting to engage in a deep conversation. "I went to the mall, looked for a job."

"That's good," she said, forcing a smile. "It's good that you're trying to find something. Keep yourself busy."

I nodded, feeling the tension between us like a physical weight. I wanted to tell her everything—to scream at her for staying with Jim, for letting him hurt us both. But I knew it wouldn't change anything. She was stuck in her own cycle, just like I had been.

"I'm thinking about moving out," I blurted out, the words surprising even me.

My mother's eyes widened in shock, and she set down her coffee cup, her hands trembling slightly. "Move out? But where would you go?"

"I don't know yet," I admitted, trying to keep my voice steady. "But I can't stay here. I just... I need to do this, Mom. I need to get away from all of this."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and for a moment, I saw a flash of the woman she used to be—the strong, independent woman who had raised me on her own before Jim came into the picture. But that woman was gone now, buried under layers of fear and denial.

"I understand," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I just... I don't want to lose you."

"You're not losing me," I said, though I wasn't sure if that was entirely true. "I just need to find myself again. And I can't do that here."

She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the table. "I wish things were different."

"Me too," I said softly.

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with all the things we weren't saying. I knew this decision would hurt her, but I also knew it was the right one. I needed to get out, to start over, to find a way to heal.

And this—leaving, finding a place of my own—was the first step.

* * *

you guys are gonna haaate me but im so keen for u all to see what i have planned

mwua ha ha ha ha

sorry