Splinters In Time

The Trailer Park Band

Heavy Metal music played out across the caravan park.

Climbing over the fence, Dan dusted himself off as he landed on the other side and reached up to help the girls over. "Now, do me a favour and don't tell anyone we're not from Hawkins High."

Lydia laughed as she looked around, only to see a young girl with a skateboard under her arm watching them.

"Hey, you're that Mayfield kid, right? Max or something?"

"And you're breaking in." Max snarked.

Nikki snorted, fishing around for something in her bag. "Calm down, kid. We're only here for the music." Pulling out a bottle of alcohol, she took a swig.

Lydia waved her hands dramatically in front of her face. "You didn't see anything." With a snigger, she walked off with her friends towards the source of the music.

There was quite a crowd gathered- not very large, but large enough that no one would notice three more. Most were dressed in some kind of alternative style and so their particular brand of thrift-shop punk certainly fit right in. A small bonfire had been built in the centre of the field, filling the air with the woodsmoke, and people were gathered around it, some sitting, some dancing, some even toasting marshmallows. A few people had gotten out barbecues and burners, and were making food, and there was plenty of alcohol being passed around, along with some other things.

Behind the bonfire, a makeshift stage had made from a few planks stacked on top of some sturdy crates. The electrics were running off of one of the nearby caravans and with a handful of coloured lights illuminating the stage, the band played into the twilight.

Pushing her way forward through the crowd, Lydia was still quite a way back when she saw him. Eddie Munson, all long curls, battle jacket and tattoos, jumping around with his guitar. Lydia didn't realise she had stopped to stare until Nikki walked into the back of her.

"What are you looking at?" Nikki followed Lydia's gaze and a knowing look blossomed on her face. "Ahh. Your nemesis."

"Yeah... my nemesis." Taking Nikki's hand, Lydia dragged her over to the side of the bonfire. As the song came to an end, the crowd threw up a cheer. Dan gave a long whistle. Cupping her hands around her mouth, Lydia shouted, "You're rubbish!"

Nikki snorted, the two girls elbowing each other as they devolved into laughter. "Your music sucks!" Nikki shouted out.

"Can you play anything that's not Metallica?"

That seemed to land in a way Lydia hadn't really been expecting as Eddie, guitar hanging at his side, stepped up to the microphone, speaking over the singer's shoulder. "You think we suck?"

"-Yeah. You suck!" Lydia called out over the quieting voices. It was only playful heckling and very obviously so, so the guitarist was willing to roll with it.

"Oh yeah? You think you could play better then?"

"Pretty sure I could, actually!"

"Don't challenge her. She'll actually try it." Dan said in his tired-dad voice. "Play on, she's just teasing. She thinks you're great."

Lydia scowled as Dan tugged her away and the atmosphere picked up once more.

Eddie grinned as he took back his place on stage, readying his guitar. "Well, since we've had a request, this is not Metallica!" His fingers danced across the strings minute later, Lydia recognised it as a song from Kiss.

Shaking her head, Lydia was unable to help the grin that crept onto her face and, following the lead of the crowd, she pulled Nikki into a dance. They grooved together for a while, just enjoying the energy of it all, when a familiar siren sound wrent the air.

"Someone called the cops!"

It all happened in an instant. The music stopped, some of the crowd scattered and there was Police Chief Jim Hopper striding into the middle of the field. "Come on now, break it up. This is an unlicensed event and we've had several noise complaints."

"Snitches." Lydia spat as she and her friends scurried to get away. In her hurry, she turned so fast she crashed into a lanky, blonde-haired girl, knocking her to the floor. "God, I'm so sorry!"

"It's fine!" Helping the girl up, Lydia could have sworn that she recognised her- a half formed image of a French horn and school band uniform came to mind.

"This way!" Robin beckoned them. "There's a shortcut out the back! We don't really want to cross paths with the cops."

Robin was right. Whilst Hopper was acting completely cordial, things were getting tense with some of the other officers and members of the crowd.

"Alright, everyone. Disperse! Head back to your homes."

Taking off his hoodie, Dan tossed it at Lydia. "Here. Put the hood up, your hair's super recognisable."

As she pulled it on, Lydia spied Max hanging around the edge of the field, looking worried.

"You alright?"

The younger girl looked positively frantic. "I'm looking for my step-brother. He's meant to be watching me- I can't go home without him!"

"Well, shit." Lydia glanced back to the stage and the now-extinguished fire. Something was brewing. "Which one's he then?"

Max just shrugged. "His name's Billy."

Nikki worried her lip. "How'd you get here? Did he drive you? Could you wait by his car?"

Max huffed. "Guess I'll just have to."

"We'll walk you." Robin offered. "Make sure you get there. And we'll try and find him on the way."

Max just shrugged again and set out across the field.

Lydia was none to happy at having been volunteered, but it did give them as good an excuse as any to leave, so she, her friends and Robin followed after.

"Billy! Billy!"

"What idiot brings their kid sister to one of these anyway?"

A/N: Not sure this isn't actually just cringy, but oh well. Did I totally just sprinkle in cameos from some of our favourite characters to remind us all it's part of the Stranger Things universe? Yes, I did. It was fun to write, at least.

Anyway, has anyone else seen (I'm not sure if it's just a Tumblr thing or if it's reached anywhere else?) those leaked photos of Jamie Campbell Bower on the set of Stranger Things in a brown suit and glasses? The ones where he's next to a kid most are assuming is Holly Wheeler?So who's betting we're getting more human-looking Henry Creel in season 5?
I can't wait XD (And neither can Bonnie/Lili. She has OPINIONS on the outfit. XD)