Foolin'

Part 1

Her knuckles grip her steering wheel as she puts her car in park. After a two thousand mile trip from Los Angeles to Hawkins, Indiana, she's arrived at her new home for the next year. Sighing, she grabs her daily travel bag and begins to head inside. Leaving the rest of her belongings in her car to be dealt with tomorrow. The front door of the house swings open and her aunt Linda rushes to greet her.

"Kat! You've made it! It's so good to see you. How was the drive? How are you?"

Kat manages a weak smile as she's wrapped in a hug. "Hey Aunt Linda. I've... I'm okay. Very tired of driving. The drive was so long. Almost thought it'd never end," she laughed dryly. Linda ushered her into the house, radiating excitement that she could finally spend time with niece.

"I know you must be exhausted. Let's save the house tour for tomorrow. I took tomorrow off of work to show you around town, so you can get familiarized with it before you start school. I tried to set up your room as best I could. Just let me know if anything needs to be changed. I just want you to be comfortable here. I know how different it is from home." Linda led her niece up the stairs to her bedroom on the second floor. The house is a typical home for the mid-1980s. Fairly decent sized yard, three bedrooms, two stories. The house is warm and welcoming. It's almost enough to make Kat feel bad for being so bitter about being here. Almost. "I hope you didn't pack your record player or stereo. Hank and I went ahead and got you some speakers and... oh what's it called... a Fisher MC-723BK? I think that's right. I remember since you were so little hearing so much about how you adored music." She continued, opening the door to Kat's new bedroom.

"What?! Seriously? That's nicer than the one I have at home. I think music is the only thing getting me through right now," Kat laughed. "Don't worry, the only music related things I packed were my records and tapes." She took in her new room. A bed tucked in the corner, a desk and chair in front of the window that looked out on the front lawn. A stark difference in view from her old bedroom that oversaw downtown LA. There wasn't anything on the walls. Across from the bed was an empty bookshelf and a table that housed her new record player and stereo on the left side of the door. Next to the bed was a plain dresser and door for her closet. It didn't even remotely feel like home.

"I don't know your style, so I didn't put anything on the walls or really decorate aside from what you see... I figured if you need things to hang up, we can get anything you need tomorrow?" Linda smiled softly, talking quickly from her nerves. She knew this was the last thing Kat wanted to do and the last place she wanted to be.

"I brought some things, but yeah maybe if we see anything tomorrow... I'm just real tired after five days of driving."

"Of course, of course! Tomorrow is for moving in. Getting settled. Oh you must be so hungry. Let me go reheat some dinner. I have my homemade meatballs and spaghetti. Is that ok? Would you like something else? Let me go heat that up for you. Come down whenever you're ready. Your bathroom's across the hall if you need."

"That would be great. Thank you." Kat sadly smiled at her aunt as she was heading out of her new room. It was all she could muster. She couldn't believe this was her life. The time for denying she was actually going to be living in Hawkins was over and she was slowly accepting it. That was easier now that she was here. "Aunt Linda?" She asked as her aunt turned around, eyes expectant, ready to help. "I... I really appreciate everything. I'm..." Kat lets out a heavy sigh. "I just- I know my being here is my fault and I don't want to be any trouble for you and I don't want to take this out on you. If I..."

"Oh sweetie, it's okay. When I was your age, if I had to move by myself halfway across the country... For my senior year, no less," she scoffed and shook her head. "I know this is difficult and you're so sweet for saying that. I know there'll be bad days and you're gonna snap at me. I'd be shocked if you didn't! I'm on your side though, okay? As happy as I am to see you and really get to know you and have you here, even I think it's drastic of your parents. Well, of your father... Let's just get you some food and then you get a good night's sleep, okay? Who knows, maybe a break from the craziness of the city will do you some good. Let me go heat up dinner." She smiled warmly at Kat before she disappeared downstairs.