chapter twenty-seven.
...her moms lenient
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disclaimer: I hope everything in Spanish is accurate!! I used Spanishdict like someone told me too !! Hopefully it's correct :)) but thank you to that person (I forgot their username, my bad)
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STRANGER THINGS 4
episode one

MIKE AND JOSIE FIND THEMSELVES in the dimly lit Hellfire Club room, their bodies pressed together as they passionately make out. Suddenly, the door swings open, and in walks Lucas, a look of annoyance on his face. He tosses two tickets their way, accompanied by a casual invitation to his game. Without missing a beat, Lucas exits the room, leaving Mike and Josie in a state of surprise and embarrassment.

Breaking apart, their faces flushed with a mix of emotions, Mike and Josie exchange glances, silently acknowledging the awkwardness of the situation. After a moment of silence, Mike speaks up. "Maybe, you should go to the game, Jo. I have my own Hellfire club game I gotta go to. Eddie would be pissed if I didn't go."

"I'm not sure if I can," Josie finally admits, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "My mom picked up Charlotte's cousin, Victoria, from the airport." Mike raises an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "I'm shocked that she's coming. I would've thought her mom would have been hesitant," he remarks, his curiosity piqued.

Josie shakes her head, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Nope . . . Her mom's pretty cool," she reveals, emphasizing the leniency of Charlotte's mother.

"Gotcha, well, I gotta go," Mike sighed, his voice filled with a mix of urgency and excitement.

He quickly grabs his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder, and takes a step towards the door. The anticipation of the upcoming game fuels his determination.

Turning to Josie, he adds, "Dustin and I are gonna go find someone to replace Lucas in the game." With a nod and a smile, Mike kisses Josie's cheek and confidently strides out of the room, ready to tackle the task at hand.

Josie sauntered out of the Hellfire Club room, her face flushed with anger and frustration. As she walked down the dimly lit hallway, lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Max approaching from the opposite direction. The collision was sudden and jarring, causing both girls to stumble back.

"Watch where you're going." Max snapped, her voice dripping with annoyance.

Josie's eyes narrowed as she looked up at Max. "Oh, great, it's you," she muttered sarcastically with an eye roll.

Max crossed her arms, her expression turning cold. "You think you can just say whatever you want, huh? You embarrassed me in front of everyone at the Pep Rally!"

Josie's face hardened, her voice rising in defense. "Maxine, how!? Billy is a racist! He targeted me two years ago and I was standing up for what's right. You know damn well, Charlotte didn't burn the mall down. You were there."

Max scoffed, her voice dripping with disdain. "Please, you were just trying to make yourself look good. And don't even get me started on your mean comments about Billy!" Her voice raised.

Josie's eyes flashed with anger. "Billy was a jerk! He treated people like garbage!" She continued.

The two girls stared each other down, the tension between them palpable. The hallway seemed to shrink as their argument escalated, their voices echoing through the empty corridor.

Their voices reverberated through the empty corridor, each word fueling the fire of their argument. Josie's frustration reached its peak as she clenched her fists, her voice trembling with emotion. "You just don't get it, do you?" Her voice croaked.

Max's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh please, I do. You weren't there for me at all when Billy died. I know he was terrible, but you could have been there! You were busy with frickin', Mike!"

Josie's eyes blazed with anger as she took a step closer to Max. "What?" She chuckled, "I was there! Then, you broke up with me. I tried to talk to you, but you ignored me! So, I gave up and moved on." She sneered.

The room fell into a tense silence as the two girls started to calm down, their voices still laced with frustration. Josie took a deep breath and looked directly at Max, her eyes filled with concern. "Max, I felt like you have been in your own little bubble. I'm worried."

Max's face contorted with confusion and a touch of anger. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" she retorted, her voice sharp.

Josie paused, her mind racing to find the right words to convey her feelings. "You're just . . . It's like you're not even here anymore," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "Lucas has tried to invite you to multiple of his games, and you completely ignored him. You — You don't talk to me, Dustin, or Mike anymore. You only talk to Lucas once in a while if lucky. It's like you're a ghost or something."

Max's expression shifted, a mix of offense and hurt crossing her face. "A ghost? Really?" she responded, her voice tinged with disbelief. She furrowed her eyebrows, clearly taken aback by Josie's words.

Josie's tone softened as she reached out, desperately trying to bridge the growing divide between them. "I know something is wrong. You can talk to me. Despite our past, I know, we can still be friends," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

Max's defenses rose, her voice growing colder. "Something must be wrong with me because I broke up with you. I'm fine . . . And I don't wanna be your friend. Ex's can't be friends . . ." she replied, her words laced with a mixture of self-doubt and stubbornness.

The room fell into an uneasy silence as the weight of their words hung in the air, both girls grappling with their own emotions and the uncertain future of their relationship.

"No, Max, that's not what I meant. And yes, ex's can be friends!" Josie exclaimed, her voice filled with determination. She looked at Max, her eyes pleading for understanding.

Max met Josie's gaze, a mix of sadness and longing in her eyes. She licked her lips nervously, searching for the right words. "Josefina, look, people just change, okay? That's it. I've changed. It's that simple," Max said, her voice tinged with resignation. She adjusted her backpack strap and started walking towards the bathroom door.

But before she could step inside, Max paused and turned back to Josie. "Hand this back to Lucas. Can't go," she murmured, extending her hand to return the item. Without waiting for a response, she turned back towards the bathroom and walked in, leaving Josie standing there, her heart heavy with unanswered questions.

JOSIE SAT ON THE BLEACHERS, her sketchbook resting gently on her lap. With each stroke of her pencil, she brought Max's features to life on the page, capturing his essence with an artist's touch. Lost in her creative world, she was oblivious to the approaching figure.

"Dustin," she heard his voice, filled with urgency and desperation. "Please, Josie, we need your help. Lucas' spot needs to be filled."

Startled, Josie snapped her sketchbook shut, shielding her masterpiece from prying eyes. She looked up at Dustin, her eyes filled with determination.

"I'm sorry, Dustin," she replied firmly, her tone betraying her unwavering resolve. "I have my own priorities right now."

With a swift motion, Josie packed her sketchbook into her backpack, safeguarding her artistic creations. Ignoring Dustin's pleas, she rose from the bench and made her way to her bike, her heart pounding with a mix of frustration and determination. Without a backward glance, she hopped on her bike and pedaled away, leaving Dustin behind, bewildered and yearning for her artistic talents.

The world around her grew quiet once again, the only sound being the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.

JOSIE'S HEART RACED as she approached her front door, anticipation and nervousness intertwining within her. Opening the door, she stepped into the familiar warmth of her home, her eyes scanning the room for Victoria. And there she was, standing by the window, lost in her own thoughts.

"Victoria," Josie called out, her voice filled with a mix of excitement and longing. "It's been so long since we've seen each other. I've missed you."

Victoria turned, her eyes lighting up with joy as she saw Josie. They embraced tightly, their friendship rekindling in that very moment.

"Josie, I've missed you too," Victoria replied, her voice filled with warmth. "It's been too long."

As they caught up on each other's lives, Josie couldn't contain her enthusiasm. "Hey, there's a big game tonight. Lucas is playing, and I was wondering if you'd like to come with me?" She cracked a grin, her hands on Victoria's shoulders.

Victoria's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Of course, Josie! I'd love to go to the game with you." She exclaimed with her eyes beaming with excitement.

But just as they were about to head out, Estefina appeared in the doorway, her expression stern yet caring.

"Girls, I know you're excited, but I think it's best if you stay home tonight," Estefina said gently, her voice tinged with concern. "We can spend some quality time together."

Josie and Victoria exchanged disappointed glances, but they understood Estefina's reasoning. Sometimes, family moments were just as important as cheering for friends at a game.

With a nod, Josie and Victoria accepted Estefina's decision, knowing that there would be more opportunities for adventures together. They settled in, ready to create their own special memories within the walls of Josie's home.

ONCE THE TWO GIRLS HEARD LUCAS WON HIS GAME, they waited an hour for him to get home. Josie's fingers tapped impatiently on the wal as she waited for Lucas to pick up the call. She glanced at Victoria, who mirrored her restlessness.

Finally, Lucas answered, his voice filled with excitement. "Hey, Josie! Hey, Vic! Did you hear? We won the game!" He exclaimed.

Josie and Victoria erupted into cheers, their voices blending together in a chorus of congratulations. "That's amazing, Lucas! We're so proud of you!"

Lucas chuckled, the sound of his joy contagious even through the phone. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot to hear your support. I wish you could've been there, but knowing you were cheering for me from afar is just as special." His voice filled with joy and touched.

Josie's heart swelled with pride for her friend. "We'll celebrate your victory together soon, Lucas. You deserve all the recognition for your hard work. Go have fun tonight! Party!"

Victoria chimed in, her voice full of admiration. "Absolutely! Your dedication and talent shine through, Lucas. Keep up the great work!"

Lucas's gratitude was evident in his response. "Thank you both. I hope I can meet you soon, Victoria!" He tells her as she hummed. "I'm excited too."

"We'll talk to you soon, Lucas!" They said together in unison, hanging up the phone.

Estefina cleared her throat. "Vic, bedtime. Just because you're here doesn't mean you're not gonna have a bedtime." Her hands on her hips as Victoria groaned. "My mom doesn't give me a bedtime!"

The Cortez woman raised a eyebrow. "Well, here you do. Up to bed," she pointed to the stairs as Victoria rolled her eyes, walking upstairs grumbling.

MIKE MOVED THROUGH THE HOUSE WITH utmost caution, silently approached Josie's house under the shroud of night. His heart raced with anticipation as he neared her window, careful not to make a sound. Inside, Josie's mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, her thoughts consumed by Max and the love she couldn't deny.

Startled by the sight of Mike outside her window, Josie's eyes widened in surprise. "Mike? What are you doing here?" she whispered, her voice betraying a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

Unable to contain his feelings any longer, Mike took a step closer, his gaze fixed on Josie. "I couldn't stay away, Josie," he confessed, his voice filled with raw emotion. "I love you so much, since the day we met. You're the best person I could ever have."

Caught off guard, Josie's heart skipped a beat. She knew deep down that her heart belonged to Max, but in that vulnerable moment, she found herself uttering words she didn't truly mean. "I... I do too," she stammered, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

A surge of joy washed over Mike's face as he reached out to hold Josie's hand. "I knew it," he whispered, his eyes shining with adoration. "I've missed you so much already. These next few days without you will be hard."

Josie's heart sank as the weight of her words settled in. She realized that she was using this encounter with Mike as a means to seek retribution against Max, but her true desires still burned for him. "I... I will too, Mike," she replied, her voice laced with a mixture of guilt and longing.

In the depths of her soul, Josie knew that her heart yearned for Max, and this clandestine meeting with Mike was merely a temporary distraction from her true desires. She couldn't deny the power of true love, even in the face of confusion and uncertainty.

—

ash speaks!

I'm sorry for this chapter. It sucks.
And I'm sorry that it's a bit short.
I've been busy with school! It started yesterday, so I'm now a sophomore 🙈