Walkman ~ 𝘣𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘳

Ch 12: Puppy Love

HAWKINS HOSPITAL:

People crowded the halls of Hawkins Hospital. Family and friends of those who were being treated by the doctors were sitting in chairs. Some bouncing their legs up and down. Others standing by the vending machines hoping that they can get something to eat.

Charles Sinclair sat in a chair outside of room 501, away from the busy area. He viewed his son from the outskirts of the space.

Lucas grabbed the headphones off his ears. Soft sounds of Eye of Tiger by Survivor played. He shut it off and placed the walkman gently into his backpack.

Lucas exchanged the walkman for his book; "The Talisman". He had been reading the work to her ever since she fell into her coma.

Charles smiled from the distance as he watched him read aloud. Charles never truly met Max. His view on the girl was purely based on what his boy has talked about. Lucas would ramble about how he upset her, asking for advice. 

At first he thought it was puppy love. Just a relationship that would end in either sadness and pain or a mutual agreement that the 'love' they so called shared was shallow and sometimes even fake.

Now seeing the lengths Lucas would go through for this girl, Charles realized it wasn't just some sappy high school romance. Even though Lucas would go off about how they broke up after just getting back together the week before.

Lucas let the words tumble out of his mouth holding the book in his left hand while holding Max's hand with his right.

As hard as he tried to keep his focus on the book, he couldn't hold it there for long before setting it down on a table next to his chair and sitting up straight.

He didn't want to cry. No one really wants to cry. But it just happens. Water runs down his face and drips down onto the floor. Lucas's father wasn't sure if he should go into the room and comfort his son. So he sat watching him bawl.

As Lucas wept, for a second, one small millisecond he could've sworn he felt Max's hand twitch.

Feel the warmth slowly heat its way to the tip of her skin and transfer to his. 

His father noticed the change in the room and slowly trotted inside. He eyed Lucas wondering why he looked like he had seen a ghost.

Lucas felt it again. The twitch of her hand. As quiet as he could he whispered, "Max?"

A million possibilities' swarm his mind. Some saying she is going to wake up. Others saying that he is just imagining it.

Max shifted in her hospital bed. But instead of waking up and surviving what no one could, she began shaking violently.

HOPPERS CABIN:

Two eggos popped out of the toaster filling the small house with its scent. Eleven picked up the food and set it down onto the two plates in front of her. 

She slowly began eating when Hopper walked in and sat in front of her. He smiled to the girl who reciprocated the action.

Hopper could tell the smile from her wasn't sincere. 

He reached over and grabbed one of the plates and both eat in silence, reloshing this moment they have together. 

Eleven picked up her fork to put the dry walfle into her mouth, but her vision started to stagger. Her mind flashed images of events she doesn't remember.

001 sat by her and showed a smile.

Different sights that she hadn't seen before appeared.