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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX ; THE POOL
also known as;
( suzie, do you copy? ; part one )

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"I HATE SUMMER," RICHIE GRUMBLED, CURLED UP UNDERNEATH THE LARGE YELLOW UMBRELLA. In his arms was a huge water bottle half filled, seeing as he'd already drank most of it. His eyes were hidden behind a pair of purple sunglasses, yet he wore long sleeves and trousers. "Why couldn't we just go to the movies?"

"We've gone to the movies eight times this summer," Kevin called over his shoulder from where he and Leilani were relaxing in the cool water. The air was filled with laughter and bright radio pop, creating a brilliant atmosphere that made it truly feel like vacation time. "Just let us have this one pool day."

Richie groaned dramatically, tipping his head back and squeezing his eyes shut. He despised the heat, it made him feel gross and tired. He seemed to despise it more when Stella wasn't around to complain with him. She didn't mind the heat, but she was happy to argue with anyone about almost anything. "She said she'd be here by now."

"It's not her fault she got herself banned from this place," Leilani responded with a slight shrug, trying to console her stroppy boyfriend with a kind smile. Richie hung his head and groaned dramatically. "We're lucky we didn't get a life sentence too."

"A life sentence is pretty harsh, Lani," Kevin nudged her lightly, quirking a brow. "I'm sure she'll be able to come back soon."

"Tell that to her parents; they were pissed when they got the call about her broken nose," Leilani replied, bouncing up and down in the cold water.

"Well, she shouldn't have been skating by the pool," Richie huffed, wishing he was at the arcade with his eccentric friend. He missed her loud voice and bright personality. "I wish she was here."

"Sup, shitheads!"

Richie sighed and shut his eyes. "Sometimes I can still hear her voice."

"They let me in, can you believe it?" Stella Collins cheered, her voice stupidly loud due to her headphones blasting Queen's greatest hits. "Good thing Billy's working today, he's a good bitch."

Leilani and Kevin pushed themselves out of the pool to greet their friend, looks of disbelief and surprise on their faces. Richie was still slightly out of it, holding the water bottle like it was a teddy bear. "Stella!"

Stella grinned, handing out ice pops like she was a game show host. Her dark hair was now cropped above her shoulders and she had tied it back into short French braids so that the light wisps didn't fly into her eyes. Her neon green sunglasses shielded her eyes, which were still bruised following the nose incident. After embracing Kevin and Leilani, she peeped over their shoulders to see Richie looking the other way. "What's up with John Taylor over here? Richie!"

The boy didn't respond, so Stella pushed her way through to him and kicked him in the shin. She'd had her skates confiscated by her mother for the month, which meant she had been degraded to regular plebeian sneakers, which she got for half price from the local sporting goods store, which was in the process of shutting down following the opening of the new mall.

"Richie, I brought you some New Coke," she whipped a bright red can from her backpack and held it out to him. He finally turned over, pulling his glasses off to see the girl before him in all her glory. "Besides Lucas, you're the only loser I know who likes this shit, so you're welcome."

Richie reached out and took the can, staring at it thankfully. "I love you."

"I love you too. Now, scooch," she lowered herself down on the end of the pool chair, leaning against Richie's propped up legs. She sighed happily and basked in the sunlight, ignoring how her nose ached every now and then.

"So, how'd you get in?" Kevin asked, smirking slightly besides Leilani, who was otherwise preoccupied with her strawberry flavoured treat. Stella didn't bother looking at him, instead she shut her eyes.

"Now that I'm all chummy with Billy, all I had to do was apologise to the manager and," she snapped her fingers. "They let me through like I'm the god damn queen."

"I still don't understand how you can be friends with that dickweed," Richie muttered as he ripped open his drink and gulped down a considerable amount in one swig. It was a good thing Stella had brought a pack of six with her. "I'm not sure if you recall, but he broke your arm last year."

Stella lifted her arm up in the air and waved it around with ease. "It's all healed up now. Besides, he's apologised to me, Max and Steve so we're all good."

"I'm surprised you aren't hanging out with Steve right now," Leilani teased, her eyes crinkled as she giggled. Stella flipped her off in response. "It's a shame he has to work on your day off."

"My morning off," Stella corrected her friend. "I'm still at the roller rink. Mitch's adamant on keeping that place up, seeing as there's been a slight increase in business. Can't say the same for Melvald's though."

At the beginning of the summer, she had been made redundant from her job at the general store. Following the opening of Starcourt, there was no reason to keep the two dozen employees. It was really only Joyce who worked there full time now, but the mother didn't really seem to mind.

The teen still worked two jobs, but now one of them was at Sam Goodys on weekday mornings, where she got to earn a substantial amount money over her vacation. She also got a discount on the records and tapes they sold, which meant she could slip Kevin the new Duran Duran album when it came out. The store happened to be opposite the food court, so she'd get a perfect view of Steve Harrington working at Scoops Ahoy! with his friend, Robin.

"Are you gonna be swimming, Star?" Leilani continued, and Stella pulled up her shirt a little to reveal her bright yellow one piece. "Come on!"

Stella laughed as her friends (excluding Richie) jumped in the pool, splashing droplets of chlorinated water on her legs. She exhaled and felt her shoulders relax. She looked around the public area, watching children splashing around and adults gossiping like there was nothing to worry about. And for once, it seemed to be true.

It had only been six weeks since they had graduated, and the thought that she'd never have to step foot in Hawkins High School again was odd. She didn't know if she was happy to be gone from that hellscape or not. It seemed like her whole life had restarted there, and to be leaving it behind was like leaving an irritating family member. Sure, she was glad it was summer, but she knew it would have to be one to cherish, because this would be the last before college, and she didn't know when she'd see everyone again.

Everyone including Steve Harrington.

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"Star!" Max and Lucas appeared at the skate counter that evening with Will at their side, all of them breathlessly grinning. Stella smiled over at them and dipped her hand into the candy jar, tossing them a bunch of Twizzlers. Lucas caught the majority and passed them around, him and Max quickly tearing into the sweet treats, while Will stepped forward and leaned on the bench.

"What's up, Byers?" Stella inquired, watching him out of the corner of her eye as she prepared their skates. She knew their sizes by now, as they'd come to the rink plenty of times over the last year, whether it be on dates or just as a group hangout.

"Are you gonna skate with us?" he asked in his soft, passive voice. Stella resisted the saddened sigh that bubbled at her lips.

"Sorry, kid," she apologised, watching guiltily as his shoulders deflated. "My manager doesn't leave till seven. I can come out after then, if you want. Why don't I put that song on that you like? The one by The Human League?"

Will nodded once as she handed out the skates, and Stella frowned when Max and Lucas went to the bench to put theirs on. The Byers boy stayed put, playing with the aglet at the end of his laces.

Tilting her head to the side, Stella reached over and ruffled his hair. She wished he'd get it cut, and she'd voiced her opinion on the matter, but he and Joyce never did anything about it. "Do you wanna come and sit in here with me? I've got the new Stephen King book back here."

A small smile appeared on the boys face, and he wordlessly looked back at Max and Lucas, who were now chattering happily about whatever it was young couples did. Stella hadn't been awfully surprised after the Snow-ball when her honourary little sister came out to announce that she'd had her first kiss, she thought it was sweet.

Will jumped over the counter and slid to the other side, taking a seat on the comfortable chair that was hidden from view, while Stella remained on her hard metal stool. She picked up her book from under the counter, tossing it over to her friend, who immediately dug his nose in. "How's things with Mike?"

Will paused and swallowed, before looking up at her. "He's still spending all his time with El."

Stella sent him a sympathetic look. "Sorry, kid. This is only a phase, though. There's nothing to worry about."

"Yeah, I just miss him," Will shrugged his shoulders halfheartedly. He looked like he wanted to say something else, but he chose to keep his mouth shut. Stella didn't push him to continue, not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable. So, she turned back to face the rink, her eyes flickering momentarily to Lucas and Max skating on the far end, holding hands and laughing about something.

The song changed to one she found familiar. Southern Nights by Glen Campbell. Her lips curved up at little as she stared out into the dome that shone among the multi-coloured lights, remembering how she had once danced out there on a cool Halloween night. It seemed like so long ago now, and to be truthful, it was. It was when the boy sitting only a metre away from her had been connected to fear personified, when she was applying for the next stage of her life, when she had realised for the first time, that she felt something for Steve Harrington.

"I'm gonna miss you too," Will's words drew Stella out of her daze, causing her to snap her head in his direction. He was watching her with his kind, yet anxious eyes. "When you go to college. I dunno who I'm gonna talk to when you're gone."

"I'm still gonna call everyday," Stella assured him, standing up and walking over to where he sat. She squatted so that she was at his eye level, placing her hand on his knee reassuringly. "I can drive down to Hawkins for the holidays to see you and the party, and if your mom says yes, you can come up and visit me on long weekends, okay?"

"But you'll still be gone, like, for real."

Stella reached up and placed her hand on the side of her friend's face. Since being told about her being a maternal figure to the party, she'd taken the role in her stride. She had made more of an effort to make sure the group of kids was doing okay, with the concept of them moving to high school in September slightly daunting for them all. Will, however, was whom she was most concerned about. Because Mike had El, Lucas had Max and Dustin was at some kind of astrology camp, he'd been left on his own. She felt like there was something else going on with him mentally, and as much as she wanted to ask him outright, she didn't want to force him into telling her anything.

"Will," she ran her thumb in circles across his cheek. "It's gonna be fine. Besides, no one's ever really gone."

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OKAY!!! THIS ISN'T SUPER GOOD BUT HOLY FUUUUUUUCK BOYS I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE BACK

STELLA

MY BABY

HEEEEEEHEEEE!!!

also, if you'd be so kind, i've published a robin fic called LOLA, as robin could punch me in the face if she wanted to, because she's an absolute legend, can she marry me please??

let me know what you thought, and what you think will happen this season!!

lots of love xx