Hiraeth \\ Stranger Things 2

'A lil bird has told me that you're a dickhead, does that sound about right?'

Halloween was just around the corner and the town of Hawkins were in the early bustling spirit of decorating. Skeletons hung from tree branches, pumpkins wore mischievous grins, tombstones crooked with age, spider webs coating bushes and the ever typical, tee-pee dressed houses. Tj took in everything as she rode down the street on her bicycle. The autumn air making her lungs rejoice and nose tingle. Despite how Tj wanted to bask in the nice weather, she had a job to go to.

The Palace arcade was a famous hubbub for the younger generation and a perfect escape for adults to not see the faces of their kids for some hours. The uniform wasn't much, a simple purple tee with the arcade logo across the middle, black jeans and whatever shoes you prefer. Tj rolled the sleeves of her shirt into a cuff that came to her mid upper arm, her jeans adorned various rips wile her white sneakers wore dirt stains from previous years of use. Her hair was put into two small buns at the front while the back was down to fall over her shoulders. Looking in the mirror, Tj barely recognized herself. True she had the same face, just a tad bit more blank while her hair was a disguise of its own. She loathed it.

Exhaling deeply, Tj pocketed her typical Marlboro cigarette packet and left the girls section of the staff room. The arcade was already crowded with the towns kids, some younger than middle schoolers- others the age of high schoolers. "Tj- could you like, go wipe down some of the games near the front? Some kid had sticky shit on his fingers and touched almost everything." Keith complained from his spot behind the food bar, hand halfway down a Cheeto puff bag. Tj rolled her eyes, grabbed a rag and a disinfectant bottle from Keith's unused hand and walked to the front of the arcade. Kids of different ages bumped into her form as she tried to maneuver between their busy bodies.

Finally, she slumped against the row of arcade games that all had a simple piece of paper hanging from their screens reading, 'out of order'. Tj ripped the paper off of the first machine, balled and tossed it onto the floor as she set to cleaning. The sticky crap was identified to be melted chocolate, most likely from the kit kat bars they sold at the food counter. Tj was on her third machine when the sound of her name was dispersed into a couple whispers. Turning around, she was met with four boys- whom she knew all to well, watching her.

Mike Wheeler, Will Byers, Dustin Henderson and Lucas Sinclair.

"What are you looking at?" She hissed, causing the four boys to jump at being instantly caught. "Nothi-"

"YOU." Mike and Dustin both blurted out. Mike turned to glare at his friend who only gave a awkward smile. "Don't you four have, I don't know- games to be playing?" Tj narrowed her eyes at them as she placed the dirty rag down. "We're waiting for someone." Lucas spoke up. "Sadly." Mike mumbled.

"Is it, Hargrove?" Tj inquired, her eyes gazing past them and out of the windows to see the familiar '79 blue Camaro pull up hazardously in the parking lot. "How'd you know?" Dustin asked, slightly amazed. "Her brothers dropping her off outside." She gestured towards the window as all four boys turned to peer out of the window. "Well- what are y'all waiting for?" Tj urged with a raised eyebrow. "Her brother is- well he's kinda-"

"He's a dickhead." Lucas replied with a frown. Tj could only snort as she sauntered past them- the four immediately following behind her like baby ducks. "What are you doing?!" Dustin shrieked as Tj pushed open the entrance door. "I'm going to fight a clown.. what does it look like I'm doing?" Tj hissed sarcastically as the four boys crowded around her, failing in their attempts at stopping her from going to the Camaro. "He will eat you alive!" Dustin exaggerated. Tj stopped suddenly causing Will and Mike to crash into her back. She turned around to face them with a scoff. "Not before I eat him first." The boys were speechless as they watched her walk away. Max had exited the car in a huff and was immediately flooded with confusion at the sight of Tj rounding the car to the drivers side. "Your game is waiting." Tj made it hidden that the boys were there, delivering a discreet nod towards the small group at the entrance. Max hurried away as Tj knelt down to be faced with the open window of the drivers side.

"A lil bird has told me that you're a dickhead, does that sound about right?" Tj smirked widely at Billy who was eyeing her with a glare. "And you're a bitch. Guess we're both pieces of shit." Tj snorted at the fact that he grouped her in the same category as himself. "Hargrove, I'm far from what you are."

"Whatever. Why are you here anyway?" Billy tapped a thumb against the wheel as he narrowed his gaze at Tj. "I work here- need money to live." Tj answered casually. "Y'know, my offer still stands." Billy gave a sly smirk as Tj snorted. "Yeah? You won't be for long when I lodge my foot far up your ass, pretty boy." Billy glared hotly at Tj before switching his stick shift into drive. Tj patted the roof of his car before he drove off speedily.

When she returned, the group of five stared at her with a million questions in their eyes. Sighing, she pulled out a cigarette from her pack, lighted and blew her first breath. "Ask away." And so they did, relentlessly.

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Sorry everyone! I would have updated sooner but I was going through some stuff and was just overwhelmed.

But I will be back with updating regularly, I'm also not going to follow much of the events in season 2 because Tj won't be with the group as they deal with the upside down.

Has anyone yet figured out or might know who Tj is?

Vote and comment to your hearts content ❤