ੈ✩‧₊˚˚ ༘♡ ⋆｡*ೃ༄
*ੈ✩‧₊˚กѻՇ คɭɭѻฝﻉɗ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎 —

if any Spanish words are wrong pls let me know! I used google translate, so it could be inaccurate:)
PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
VOTE AND COMMENT!!! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)

TW: Homophobia, Racism

JOSIE GETS A RIDE FROM BILLY. The air was thick with tension, and Billy's glare through the car mirror added to the awkward atmosphere. Josie, seemingly unaware, couldn't fully grasp the dynamics, but Max, attuned to the unspoken signals, exchanged side eyes with Billy. Max finally relaxed her shoulders as they caught a glimpse of the new school, turning to look at Josie. "We're here."

Josie perked up. "Te mostraré dónde está la oficina," she informed Max, prompting Billy to snicker at the assumption that Josie didn't speak English. Max smacked his arm, looking back at Josie. "Darling, you said it in Spanish," she corrected with a smile. Billy rolled his eyes, parking the car.

TRANSLATION; I'll show you where the office is.

The Cortez girl closed her mouth, deciding to let the matter drop. Max sighed, pushing the car door open and leaning forward to grab her skateboard. Stepping out of the car, Max witnessed Josie's peculiar habit – poofing into existence with a cloud of dust surrounding her. This was a normal occurrence for Josefina, something she considered routine due to growing up around kids with similar abilities.

Max, however, raised an eyebrow, glancing around to see if anyone else had noticed Josie's unique entrance. To her surprise, it seemed like she was the only one.

Josie had her hands in her jacket pocket. "Come on, you can show me the office," she said, reaching to grab Max's arm. However, Max surprised her by grabbing Josie's arm instead. They locked eyes, and Josie found herself being tugged along. Max dropped her skateboard onto the ground, looking back at Josie, and extended her hand. Josie blinked, clearly confused, her eyebrows furrowed in response to Max's unexpected actions.

Max pointed to the skateboard. "Oh, El patinador," she acknowledged, surprising Josie with her knowledge of Spanish. Josie got on the back of the skateboard, slithering her arms around Max's waist. Josie, caught off guard by Max's familiarity with the language, found herself pleasantly surprised.

TRANSLATION; The skateboard

A red blush tinted Max's face as she pushed her feet, skateboarding them to the school office. Billy gave a harsh glare at the back of Josie's head, throwing his cigarette on the ground and stomping on it, drawing the attention of some high school girls who stared and ooh'd. Undeterred, they walked into the school together, making their way to the secretary's office.

"Good morning, Josie! Do you need a pass?" Secretary Miriam asked with a warm smile. Josie shook her head, returning the smile. "No, no. My friend Max... She's new. She needs her timetable," Josie stammered, biting down on her bottom lip, hoping that Miriam would understand.

Max observed that Josie didn't have a strong command of English, but she felt a growing connection and believed that understanding would come with time. Miriam nodded, offering assistance to Josie. "Okay, dear. Go along to class, I will help your friend," she assured with a warm smile. Josie frowned but turned to leave.

Before Josie could make her exit, Max grabbed her wrist, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Can she stay with me? I don't wanna walk to class alone on my first day... Can't she get a hall pass for an excuse for being late?" Max requested, displaying a genuine concern for her new friend.

Miriam observed the exchange between Max and Josie. Max gave her a pleading look, while Josie's eyes seemed to express, 'I'm in love with you.' Miriam couldn't help but crack a grin. "Of course," she said, acknowledging Max's request. She then turned her attention to Josie. "Go ahead and sit over at those seats for me..." she pointed.

As Josie walked over, pulling her backpack off and putting it in her lap, she leaned on it, watching intently. Max approached Miriam, sharing her name, and the secretary looked up her information in the school files. Handing Max her schedule, she pointed to a seat beside Josie. The scene unfolded with a sense of warmth and understanding, as Miriam facilitated their first steps into the intricacies of school life.

Max grinned. "Got any classes together, Jo?" she asked, showing her schedule to Josie. Josie scanned the classes and informed her, "Ciencias, Arte, Inglés y Matemáticas," pointing to each one.

TRANSLATION; Science, Art, English and Math

Max looked at Josie, and Josie could feel the warmth of her breath hitting her cold cheeks in the chilly office. "Cool! Half of our classes are together, darling. Now we must wait to go to first period for the principal," Max said, leaning her head on Josie's shoulder. Josie felt a flutter in her stomach, a mix of excitement and nerves, as Max's breathing became heavy. It was evident that she was very tired.

"Sunshine, were you... ¿hasta tarde?" Josie questioned, inquiring about Max's late night. The moment held a sense of intimacy as they navigated the challenges of the school day together, unraveling layers of connection and understanding.

Max took a guess that Josie meant staying up late. "Yeah... Parents fighting with Billy... I was thinking about today too," she explained, yawning with droopy eyes. "Dulces sueños, Sol," Josefina whispered, running her hand through Max's red hair. The sunshine illuminated her hair and tan skin, providing a visual reminder of why Josefina had nicknamed her Sunshine.

TRANSLATION; Sweet dreams, Sunshine.

Josefina continued to run her hand through Max's hair, providing a soothing gesture during the twenty minutes they spent waiting in the school office. In the process, they missed the first half of their first-period Science class, which Max usually attended with her friends: Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas.

Josie had developed a closer bond with Will and Dustin, finding a deeper connection with them. Mike was also a friend, but the rapport wasn't as strong. As for Lucas, they were friends, yet their interactions were relatively limited. Josie's recent move to the area, just two months ago.

A door creaked, catching Max's attention as Principal Brown emerged from his office. "Sorry for keeping you ladies busy. I had a very busy morning. I will escort you two to your class," he apologized with a warm smile. Max stood up, extending her hand for Josie. Josie took her hand, and they walked through the school corridors together.

As they strolled through the halls, Stacey stood at her locker, accompanied by Jennifer. They snickered and exchanged whispered comments, their words focused on Josie's identity with the derogatory term 'dyke.' The insensitivity of their remarks hung in the air, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere as Max and Josie continued on their way to class.

Stacey snickered, her mocking tone cutting through the air. "Oh my god, gay Mexican girl is such a dyke. She's converting that girl with her!" she ridiculed. Jennifer joined in, looking over and laughing. "Right? She should just go back to her own—"

Max turned her head, a fierce glare directed at Stacey and Jennifer. "Why don't you shut the fuck up? Stop being homophobic and racist. Get a life," she snapped, her frustration and anger cutting through the air. Principal Brown raised an eyebrow, sensing that Max wasn't the instigator in this situation; instead, he recognized that Stacey and Jennifer were the source of trouble.

Josie looked at Max, concern written on her face. "What happened?" she asked. Max shook her head, brushing off the negativity. "Don't worry about it, darling," she whispered, nudging Josie in the side. "Is this Mr. Clarke's classroom?" she pointed, attempting to shift Josie's attention.

"Sí," Josie nodded, and they continued on their way, navigating through the lingering tension from the hurtful remarks. Despite the unpleasant encounter, Max's attempt to redirect Josie's focus highlighted her protective instinct and determination to shield her friend from unnecessary negativity.

Principal Brown's stern warning to Stacey and Jennifer echoed through the hallway as Max and Josie entered the classroom. All eyes turned towards them, curious gazes lingering on the new student and the dynamics at play. Max, unfazed by the attention, just wanted to find a seat and be close to Josie.

As they stepped into the room, Principal Brown followed, maintaining a watchful eye on the situation. Mr. Clarke, the teacher, acknowledged their arrival. "Ah, this must be our new student," he noted, drawing attention to Josie. In that moment, Josie winked at Max, a playful and supportive gesture that conveyed a sense of camaraderie. She whispered, "Good luck," into Max's ear, setting the tone for their shared experience in this new academic setting.

Josie found her seat beside Mike, who wiggled his eyebrows at her. The group of boys had taken notice that she likely had an interest in both girls and guys, leaning more towards girls. They observed her drooling over Nancy whenever she was around and noted her admiration for Steve.

The flick from Josie to Mike prompted him to scrunch his nose and hold his head, shooting her a glare. Unfazed, Josie responded with a sarcastic smile before redirecting her attention to Max, catching a quiet snicker from Will.

Max, in the meantime, attempted to find a seat in the classroom. However, her efforts were interrupted by Mr. Clarke, who seemed determined to engage her in something more than just taking a seat. Max rolled her eyes at the interruption, turning her attention back to Mr. Clarke. "All right. Hold up. You don't get away that easy," he declared.

"Josefina, drum roll."

Josie couldn't help but smirk, lightly patting the desk with her fingers in an almost rhythmic manner. Mr. Clarke, adopting a theatrical tone, addressed the class, "Class, please welcome, all the way from sunny California, the latest passenger to join us on our curious voyage."

His gaze shifted to Max, and he pointed her out with a hand wave. "Maxine!" The use of her full name added a touch of formality to the introduction, and for a brief moment, the spotlight in the classroom shifted to Max. The students' attention turned toward her, marking the beginning of her journey at the school, a voyage that promised curiosity and, perhaps, unexpected adventures.

Max gave Mr. Clarke a pointed look, and Josie, holding back a laugh, ceased her drum roll. "It's Max," Max grumbled.

"I'm sorry?" Mr. Clarke questioned, momentarily puzzled. Dustin's smile dropped, and he exchanged a glance with his friends. Josefina raised an eyebrow, not quite grasping the dynamics between Max and her friends.

"Nobody calls me Maxine. It's Max," she clarified, asserting her preference.

"Ah, Max. All aboard, Max," Mr. Clarke waved her off, allowing her to go find a seat.

Lucas and Dustin exchanged glances, whispering to each other, "MadMax," as Max walked past Josefina. Leaning down, Max whispered, "Does this always happen to new kids?"

Josie chuckled softly, offering a knowing smile. "Welcome to Hawkins. You get used to quirks and nicknames," she replied, a sense of camaraderie evident in her words.

Josie's casual hum filled the air as Max directed an inquisitive gaze toward her. "Why didn't you tell me?" Max questioned, seeking an explanation for the nickname reveal. Josie, not one to be too serious, responded with a snarky grin and a nonchalant shrug, maintaining an air of playful mystery.

Shaking her head with a playful smirk, Max teased, "You're too cute, darling." With that, she brushed past Josie, leaving her with a face flushed in a vibrant shade of red.

The boys, their eyes widening with surprise, couldn't hide their curiosity. "You know her?" Dustin asked with a wide grin, eager for more details.

Josie nodded slowly, savoring the moment. "Yeah... She's my... vecina." She shrugged her shoulders casually, dropping the Spanish term for neighbor into the conversation.

TRANSLATION; neighbor

The boys exchanged excited looks. "What?" Josie asked, puzzled, as Lucas couldn't contain his enthusiasm. "You gotta let us talk to her! She's MadMax! She beat Dustin at Dig-Dug," he exclaimed, keeping his voice at a whisper level. Josie felt a twinge of jealousy prick through her stomach. "Uh... Maybe," she mumbled, looking down at her desk and pretending to focus on the worksheet assigned to them.

Dustin scoffed. "Maybe?" he repeated, turning his attention back to the front of the class. Mike, catching a glimpse in the corner of his eye, noticed Josie glaring at her worksheet. It was evident she was feeling jealous. While Mike had the playful urge to tease her, he also understood the complexities of liking someone, especially when societal norms might not be entirely accepting.

After all, he himself had feelings for a particular individual – a guy named Will. The unspoken nuances of their feelings added layers to the dynamics within the group.

Ms. Johnson stood at the front of the classroom, her marker poised over the whiteboard. She began writing out a complex equation, explaining each step as she went. "Remember, class, when solving for x, you always want to isolate the variable," she said, her voice clear and confident. Josie squinted her eyes, not understanding a word that Ms. Johnson was saying. Max, sitting beside her, noticed in the corner of her eye that Josie was struggling.

"So we'll start by subtracting 3 from both sides of the equation..." Ms. Johnson spoke, drawing arrows to illustrate each step and pausing to address questions before moving on. The students scribbled furiously in their notebooks, attempting to keep up with the fast-paced lesson. Ms. Johnson smiled, pleased with the class's progress—except for Josie. She noticed Josie was struggling, the difficulty evident in her expression. The contrast highlighted Josie's challenge with the material, emphasizing the need for additional support or clarification.

Ms. Johnson sent the kids off to work on their own, and Josie held the pencil in her hand, her eyes burning into the paper. Math seemed to zoom through the worksheet quickly. Ms. Johnson sauntered over. "Hey, girls... Why don't you work together?" she smiled, whispering. She didn't want to seem like she was trying to embarrass Josie, recognizing the opportunity for collaborative learning between the two.

Josie felt relief off her shoulders, nodding as Ms. Johnson walked back over to her desk, sitting down and grabbing her book. Max leaned over, "You need help?" she asked, noticing the puzzling looks Josie had most of the class period.

The Cortez girl nodded gratefully. Max pulled her chair over closer to her, and Josie felt heat rise to her cheeks. "'Okay, let's take a look at this first problem," she said, pointing to the worksheet as Josie looked back at her, holding back a smile. The shared learning experience created a moment of connection, and Max's willingness to help warmed Josie's heart.

"See, you have to find the value of x when y is equal to 4. So we'll start by plugging in y=4 and then solving for x." Max spoke, drawing arrows to illustrate the steps, and pausing to ask if Josie had any questions. Josie felt a glimmer of understanding as Max patiently explained each problem. She smiled, grateful for her help. When the bell rang, Josie and Max finished the worksheet together, the shared accomplishment creating a bond between them.

On their way out, they dropped their worksheets in the bin and walked down the hallway together. Josie didn't have any other classes with the boys. She only had Science with them. Josie nudged Max in the side. "Thanks for the... ayuda," she thanked her as Max winked at her. "Anytime, darling." She slithered her arm around Josie's back, walking together around the hallway to English.

TRANSLATION; help.

Whenever Max called her "darling," her heart skipped a beat. Despite knowing her for only three days, she found herself deeply smitten. "You're a math wiz," Josie remarked, unintentionally striking a nerve. Max's expression soured; she had been ridiculed for her abilities before. "Please don't call me that," Max murmured, retracting her arm as they paused outside Mr. Stillman's English class.

Josie returned the frown. "I'm sorry. I was trying to compliment you," she said, stumbling over the word 'complimenting.' Max's eyes widened in realization, her regret immediate. "I'm sorry too. I was bullied about it at my previous school. I know you meant it kindly. Let me make it up to you; I feel terrible," Max rambled, trying to ease the tension.

Josie's eyes lit up, and she giggled, "Oh, alright then!" Max let out a sigh of relief, having feared a more negative reaction from Josie. She was grateful that the misunderstanding hadn't driven a wedge between them.

Max sat across from Josie, both tasked with writing an essay on "The Outsiders." At her previous school, Max had found the book uninteresting and never fully engaged with it. Glancing over, she noticed Josie making swift progress, aided by a Spanish version of the book — a rarity that had cost Josie's family quite a sum.

Catching Josie's attention with a soft "psst," Josie looked up, meeting Max's eyes. A wave and a smile passed between them. Pointing discreetly at her paper, Max tried to convey her need for assistance. Josie caught on, asking in Spanish, "Do you need ayuda?" Max responded with a subtle hum and a nod, grateful for Josie's support.

TRANSLATION; help

Josie turned towards the front, raising her hand to get Mr. Stillman's attention. "Mr. Stillman, can I aydua Max with the asignación?" she inquired. Mr. Stillman nodded in approval, responding warmly, "Of course, Josefina." His smile acknowledged her willingness to assist a classmate.

TRANSLATION; help , assignment

Josie moved her chair closer to Max, sharing her answers and displaying her paper for Max to reference. Max carefully rephrased the content, ensuring it sounded authentic to her own voice. While Josie provided her responses in English, she occasionally consulted a dictionary for unfamiliar words.

When the bell signaling lunchtime rang, Josie felt a sense of relief as her stomach audibly signaled its hunger. Both girls deposited their completed worksheets into the bin before heading out together, looking forward to a break and some nourishment.

"So, you're quite the reader, aren't you?" Max ventured, to which Josie began nodding, "Ye-" Her response was abruptly halted as Dustin dashed over, seizing Josie's arm and pulling her away.

Max sighed, rolling her eyes in exasperation but not at Josie. She shook her head and proceeded toward the cafeteria. It seemed to Max that the guys had been consistently interrupting their moments throughout the day, or attempting to extract something from either Josie or herself.

Dustin bombarded Josie with questions about her connection with Max and other details. Growing increasingly frustrated, Josie shook her head, dismissing his inquiries. Ignoring his pleas, she abruptly turned on her heels and quickened her pace, intent on catching up with Max.

"Jo! I need answers, please!" Dustin's voice cracked as he shouted after her. In response, Josie defiantly flipped him off. He stood there, lips parted in disbelief, scoffing and raising his arms in a gesture of exasperation.

Josie spotted Max outside, skateboarding with ease. "Max!" she called out, waving to get her attention. Catching sight of Josie, Max smiled and hopped off her skateboard, holding it against her side. "Hey, darling," Josie greeted, offering Max an apologetic glance. "I'm sorry, sunshine. I think Dustin and Lucas might have crushes on you. They won't stop asking about you," she explained.

Max chuckled, glancing over at the two boys who were lingering by the fence, sneaking glances in their direction. "Yeah, I've got that feeling too. Seems like your friends are turning into a couple of stalkers," she remarked, playfully pointing at them.

Josie clicked her tongue disapprovingly, shooting a defiant gesture toward Dustin, who responded with a cheeky tongue-out gesture. Observing their interaction, Max raised an eyebrow, asking, "Do you two fight often?"

Josie chuckled warmly, "Sí, all the time. We're best friends; it's our thing," she proclaimed, placing her hands confidently on her hips while Max swayed lightly on her feet, amused by their dynamic.

Licking her lips thoughtfully, Max's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Do you happen to have any paper on you?" she asked, a sly smirk forming on her lips. Josie raised an eyebrow, slightly intrigued by Max's request but handed over a sheet of paper and a pen without hesitation.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Max began to craft a clear message on the paper: 'STOP SPYING ON US, CREEPS.' Just as she was about to crumple the paper into a ball, Josie's voice cut in, "Wait a second, let me add something."

Taking the paper back from Max, Josie began to write fervently in Spanish, her hand moving with purpose. Max watched curiously, waiting to see what message Josie would pen down, adding an unexpected twist to their playful retaliation.

Crumpling the paper in her hand, Josie tapped Max on the shoulder, signaling that it was time to move. They ascended the stairs at the back door, with Josie discreetly disposing of the paper in a nearby trash bin before the two of them entered the building, their laughter echoing in the corridor.

Meanwhile, Dustin went to great lengths, practically diving into the trash can, rummaging through it in search of the discarded message. Nearby, Mike tried to seize the attention of a passing group of girls, striking a flirty pose. Will gave a hesitant wave, regret evident in his eyes as he wished he had joined Max and Josie. Lucas, not to be outdone, offered a wave that appeared borderline romantic.

Dustin proudly brandished the crumpled paper aloft, declaring, "Got it!" Carefully smoothing out the paper, the group huddled close, reading the message aloud in unison, "Stop spying on me, creeps!" The emphasis on 'creeps' was evident, catching their attention.

Will, ever observant, pointed to the smaller text below, recognizing it as Spanish. "Uh-oh, Dustin. Looks like you've caught Josie's attention again," he warned, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Dustin clicked his tongue in frustration, lamenting, "Son of a bitch! What's Josie got planned for me this time?" His apprehensive tone revealing his concerns about the impending consequences of their antics.

Will gave Dustin a playful pat on the shoulder, his laughter bubbling up at the situation. Meanwhile, Mike and Lucas shared a glance between them, both struggling to suppress their own laughter, finding the predicament Dustin had landed himself in rather amusing.

The message read, "Además, Dustin, mantén los ojos abiertos esta noche. Podría darte una pesadilla." Translated, it meant, "Also, Dustin, keep your eyes open tonight. Might give you a nightmare."

As an individual with the unique ability to enter people's dreams and manipulate their sleep patterns, Josie possessed a power that, while draining, often provided her with entertainment that made it worthwhile. Sharing a laugh with Max, the two eventually parted ways, with Josie making her way to the restroom.

Unbeknownst to Josie, someone had mischievously placed a sign on her back, boldly declaring 'GAY MEXICAN GIRL.' Oblivious to the sign and the stifled laughter it elicited from onlookers, Josie continued on her way to Miss Barlow's art class, completely unaware of the unexpected label she was currently sporting.

Max, while at her locker and engrossed in her sketchbook, glanced up just in time to see Josie pull the sign off her back and read its contents. The hallway's laughter suddenly took on a more malicious tone in Max's ears. Josie's eyes welled up with tears as the weight of the humiliation settled in. She quickly discarded the sign on the floor, her steps quickening as she retreated back to the bathroom, seeking refuge from the piercing stares and laughter echoing behind her.

Max's expression hardened as she spotted Stacey sprinting toward her. Taking a firm grip on Stacey's shoulder, she spun her around, locking eyes with her. "Do you have anything better to do with your life than mock people for simply being themselves?" Max's voice held a mix of anger and disappointment, challenging Stacey to confront her actions.

Stacey's smirk remained as she glanced toward Jennifer. "What about you? Are you part of that too, new girl?" she taunted while twirling her hair and chewing gum loudly. Max's expression hardened as she responded, "That's homophobic, and you need to grow up. Bullying isn't cool." With those words, Max briskly moved past Stacey, hoping her message would resonate, even if just a little.

Pushing open the bathroom door with a creak, the muted sounds of the school hallway fading behind her, Max's ears immediately caught the soft, muffled sounds of someone sobbing from within one of the stalls. A pang of concern tightened her chest, and her eyes narrowed with determination. "Josie?" she called out, her voice echoing slightly against the tiled walls.

The sobs momentarily ceased, replaced by a shaky inhale, and then the door of the stall creaked open to reveal Josie, her eyes red-rimmed and cheeks wet with tears. The vulnerability in Josie's gaze hit Max like a punch to the gut, fueling her protective instincts.

Without wasting a second, Max gracefully dropped to her knees, leveling herself with Josie's teary-eyed gaze. With gentle urgency, she reached out, enfolding Josie's trembling hands within her own. The weight of the moment pressed on them both as Max spoke with heartfelt sincerity. "Darling, you can't let those girls dictate how you feel about yourself. They're merely a troupe of misguided souls with too much time on their hands," she murmured, her voice firm yet filled with empathy, hoping her words would serve as a balm to Josie's wounded spirit.

In that vulnerable moment, words became unnecessary. Josie wordlessly wrapped her arms tightly around Max, seeking solace in her embrace as tears streamed down her cheeks. Feeling Josie's grip tighten, Max gently cradled her, offering a comforting presence. Without uttering a word, Max simply held her, allowing Josie the space and time she needed to release her emotions, providing a silent but steadfast support amid the overwhelming tide of feelings.

—

ash speaks!

My sweet girls. fuck Stacey and Jennifer, they're assholes !!!

Max questioning her sexuality? Uhm yes.

Josie having crushes on Nancy and Steve? Most definitely. . .

I hope you enjoyed this long chapter!!