The Way She Makes Me Feel-Elmax [UNDER EDITING]

|Chapter 1-Hawkins|

-Max's POV-

I hate my life. I absolutely hate it. Why couldn't I live with my dad? Why did I have to  live with my mom in some shitty town that she happened to grow up in? Sure, married people get divorced all the time, but why drag me into their mess? It just seems so unnecessary. I had a great life in California--aside from the obvious. I had friends and a great school. I loved my grandparents being a ten minute walk from my house. My neighbor was super cool and even let me play with his dog all the time. 

But now, here I am, in the back of my mom's minivan. Somewhere in Illinois, on my way to Indiana. To make things worse I left my Walkman in my bag, which is in the trunk and out of my reach. So I did the only thing I could do, pull my hood up, yank the drawstrings as tightly as possible, and went to sleep with my mom's trash music playing in the background.

***

"Maxine!" my mom yelled as she reached back and shook my shoulder. I sat up abruptly and rubbed my eyes through the hoodie as bright light hit them. "We're here" she said as she climbed out the car. I pulled my hood off my face and unbuckled my seat belt. I grabbed my two suitcases and my backpack and headed in the house. When I got to my room I threw my bags on the bare bed and went back out to help unpack everything else.

-The next morning-

I woke up and put on my green jacket and jeans with a white tee shirt underneath. I slipped on my scuffed tennis shoes and peeked out of my door. I could see Billy sitting on the couch, drinking a beer. His eyes were locked on the TV, but I still quickly closed the door before he saw I was awake. My mom must have gone job hunting already or else he wouldn't dare drink alcohol in the house. I really didn't want to deal with him so I quickly grabbed my skateboard and book bag. I walked to the other side of my room and opened the window, throwing my board out, and hopped out and skated my way to school.

When I arrived to the building I was immediately greeted by man in a button up shirt and dress pants.

"Hello, I'm Principal Coleman," he said as he put his hand out. I looked around, checking to see if anyone was watching. "You must be Maxine." I cringed at my own name.

"Max," I said as I walked by swiftly.

"Let me show you to your locker and first period," he gestures for me to follow him, so I do.

He shows me my locker and gives me the combination. After a few tries I get it open and shove my skateboard inside before Mr. Coleman leads me to class.

I walk into a classroom with charts and diagrams of different animals and plants on the wall. A small brain model sat on the teacher's desk.

Science, I thought. I was decent at science. I'd be fine. Mr. Coleman waves at me and leaves. I attempt to go find a seat but the teacher stops me.

"Not so fast. You don't get away that easy," he says with a smile.

Shit.

"Class, I'd like you to welcome our new passenger  on our curiosity voyage-"

Fuck. Me. I feel all the eyes on me as my cheeks go red.

"MAXINE!" the teacher announces. My shoulders slightly raise as I take a sharp breath in.

"Max," I say flatly. "No one calls me Maxine. It's just Max."

"Max," he corrects himself. I then walk to an empty seat towards the back. I can hear some boys in front of me whisper something to each other.

SHHIIIIIIIIT. I put my head down and try to get through the rest of the morning without more embarrassment. 

***

After school I go the arcade and play for a few hours before heading back home, this time going through the door.

Billy is standing in the kitchen with the phone to his ear. He smiles and licks his lips as he begins speaking softly into the phone. "Gross," I mutter before making a beeline to my room. I shut my door and lock it. Then I begin my homework. 

-The Next Day-

At lunch I was going to eat in the hallway like yesterday but a couple of boys stopped me. The one with curly hair put his hand out.

"Hey, I'm Dustin and that's Lucas and we were wondering if you'd like to sit with us." Like an idiot I just stood there, staring at them.

"Uh, that's our table," the one named Lucas said, pointing to a table with two other boys sitting at it. I looked around nervously. Do what they say and they won't hurt you, I tell myself.

"Okay," I said as I followed them cautiously.

Lucas and Dustin sat next to a boy with black hair. The other boy across from them patted his seat and I sat down.

"I'm Will and that's Mike," the boy who I was sitting next to said. Mike scoffed and did a slight eye roll before going back to his food.

"Ever play DnD?" Lucas asks me. I give a small nod in response.

"I've dabbled back in California," I say softly. Lucas and Dustin exchanged a smile. "Well if you're up for it. We are having a sleepover at Mike's on Friday and hopefully playing our longest game yet."

"I'll uh… I'll see what my mom says."

A/N: Despite me editing this it's still short as hell. This chapter I mostly did grammer editing since there wasn't much to move the plot originally. Construction Criticism appreciated.

Previous Word Count: 937
New Word Count: 988