chapter six — the unraveling spool of chaos

JUNE 28, 1985

Robin and Irene strolled in silence side by side, listening to the rustling of the trees. They'd just got off the bus and were walking the small rest of the way. A soft breeze swept across their faces as their feet scraped lightly against the pavement. They were seeing who could kick the farthest pebble.

"Robin?" Irene's voice filled the silence, she looked up at the stars, glancing forward every now and then to prevent herself from tripping.

"Hm?"

"Do you ever feel..." She paused vocally and physically as she tried to find the right words to encapsulate her thoughts, "Different? Like no matter what you do, you'll just never...fit? But you try anyway because you want so badly to feel normal because it's been ingrained in you by the world, since you were young, that if you didn't meet society's standards you'd be outcasted. You ever feel like that?" She asked and started walking again. Robin gulped, staring at the girl as she walked ahead.

Irene stopped and looked back, noticing how her friends' face paled, "Oh no I totally freaked you out didn't I? I'm sorry, it was just weighing on my mind and–"

"No, you didn't freak me out. I just–I completely understand where you're coming from." Robin finally spoke up and Irene met her gaze, her shoulders relaxing, "It's almost like when you try to "be normal" everyone thinks you're acting different but then when you're yourself it still isn't good enough and it this endless sucky cycle." She went on and Irene nodded her head furiously.

"Totally! It makes zero sense." She said and the two of them laughed as they walked side by side again. A comfortable stillness blanketed both of them and before they knew it, or at least before Robin did, they were in front of the Vasquez home. Irene smiled at the silhouette that was standing outside with her brother, perched against the light blue Volvo 240 parked in their driveway.

Samuel Brady was the sweetest firecracker Irene had ever met. He worked at a record store downtown and was the first person to befriend her brother. She was surprised that someone as nice as Sam would ever want to be friends with Mateo but she thought that maybe he saw a side of him she didn't. They did share many interests and were the same age so it partially made sense. Nonetheless, she enjoyed every time he came over because he was always talking her ear off about song recommendations and praising whatever she baked.

"Hey Sam!"

"Hey, hermit." He smiled as he threw a wave at her. Hermit was a nickname he coined for her, because she hardly talked to him when he first started hanging around her brother. She always scrunched her face when he called her by it, but secretly she didn't mind.

"You're Robin Buckley right?" Sam asked, pointing to the girl standing beside Irene, "You play a mean trumpet...you still in band?" He asked and she nodded, suddenly recognizing the face.

"Yeah...you were the dude that played that killer flute solo at the '84 pep rally for the championship football game." She said brightly and Sam gave her a half shrug with a smug grin, "Everyone was talking about that for a whole three months." Irene watched the interaction with a smile.

"Didn't get me into many parties but, hey! You win some, you lose some." He joked before the two said their 'goodbyes' and departed from him, walking towards the front door. Irene jiggled the knob and then pushed it open.

Holding her hands out in front of her, she said, "Welcome to Casa Vasquez." Robin matched her grin and watched as she took her shoes off whilst tossing her bag on the couch. The former followed suit, placing her bag down slowly before Irene grabbed her hand and pulled her towards her room.

Robin felt like she was entering an alternate dimension when she walked in; from the Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, and Queen posters to the books and paint supplies that scattered her floor – it was actually nice to take a look at the person who kept parts of herself closed off. Her room was a mixture of neat and messy; her bed had been made and the nightstand that sat beside it was clean too along with her book shelf.

"Sorry." Irene responded sheepishly as she picked up her paperbacks and sorted her canvases and paints, "I was searching for a tape this morning and then Sam asked if he could borrow one of my books, but a lot are still in boxes so I had to search and I still couldn't find it. Oh and then I had to look high and low for my cap when I was getting ready for work today and–" She took a breath and looked up at Robin, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, "Sorry, I just–I've never had a friend over. My space has always been my space; no need to clean when you have no friends, right?" She laughed nervously and Robin smiled before her eyes caught something on the wall.

"Oh Rena no, not the Luke Skywalker poster." She groaned playfully, walking up to it.

"My dad was a big Star Wars fan and made me watch all the movies. I happened to think Mark Hamill was attractive. I mean have you seen him in Return of the Jedi?" She questioned playfully, picking up the last of her things on the floor, "It was a birthday gift." The subject seemed to strike a nerve and Robin didn't push further. She looked at the other things that hung proudly on the cream colored walls; family polaroid photos, ticket stubs, an armada of memories on display. It was sweet.

"So," she exhaled and Irene turned to her. "When do we start baking? I'm really craving something sweet, which is odd considering we work around ice cream, which is sweet, but also at this point it makes me want to vomit. You get what I mean?"

They spent the night laughing over tales from each other's childhood and singing loudly to the radio, while they put together Irene's favorite dessert. Around each other they knew they could be themselves without fear of judgment and it made the experience far more comfortable than they initially thought.

JUNE 29, 1985

"Holy shit, this is amazing." Steve mumbled, his mouth full of the Rogel cake that his co-workers brought him the next morning.

"Right?!" Robin asked with a grin as she took a forkful from his piece for herself. He moved the container away from her and took another bite. A light ding from the bell at the register was heard and Robin shoved his arm.

"You're up, dingus." She quipped and reached to grab the container that he was hogging. He held it away from her and looked over at Irene with pleading eyes.

"Please Rena, she's going to eat all of it."

"I've still got five minutes left for my break, I promise I won't let her." Irene reasoned with him, even though he tried to pout his way out of the situation. She gave him a knowing look and he groaned, placing his cap on and walking out to the cash register. While he was out ringing up some girls, which they both knew he was going to embarrass himself in front of, Robin and Irene started planning their next hangout. The cash register's beep made the both of them turn to the window. They crept up, spying on the brunet as he melted in front of the two girls.

"I think that's, like, really important." He muttered, fiddling with the register as he grabbed some change. Irene had seen this act far too many times; Steve pulled in many female customers but every single time he rang them up, he embarrassed himself in front of them.

"Yeah, totally." The girl responded with fake interest, giving her friend a weird look – one which only girls were accustomed to.

"Yeah, anyways, this was like, so fun." Steve spouted nervously and Irene couldn't help but cringe. This was the King of Hawkins High? "We should kind of like, you know, I don't know, maybe hang out this weekend–" The coins he handed to her clattered to the ground and Robin held back her laugh, "Oh, sorry about that. Uh...I don't know. Maybe next weekend or–"

"Yeah, I'm busy."

"Oh, that's cool. I'm working here next weekend so...the following weekend's better for me." He rambled and the girl shook her head, placing her change in her purse.

"No. I'm sorry, I can't." She rejected his offer, getting ready to walk away with her friend. "Okay, thanks."

"I...this is...my first day here!" The girls chuckled, walking off as Steve sighed to himself. Robin grabbed her tallied white board and came into view, Irene stood beside her. The second hand embarrassment she felt was too real.

"And another one bites the dust. You are oh-for-six, Popeye." Robin drew another line down the board and stared up at Steve who looked defeated.

"Yeah, yeah, I can count." He crossed his arms as he leaned against the front counter.

"You know that means you suck."

"Yep, I can read too."

"Since when?"

"It's this stupid hat." He hissed, pushing himself up and walking toward the two. Irene reached for the container of Rogel cake and handed it over to him, "I'm telling you, it is totally blowing my best feature."

"Maybe not your best feature, but Rena's for sure. Have you seen how thick and luscious this hair is?" She asked, grabbing a strand of Irene's hair that fell out of her bun, to which she swatted her hand away, "And anyways, you know this might sound like a crazy idea, but have you considered telling the truth?" Robin asked and Irene gave a small nod in agreement.

"Oh, you mean, that I couldn't even get into Tech and my douchebag dad's trying to teach me a lesson. I make three bucks an hour, and I have no future? That truth?" He asked, shoving his fork into the desert Irene handed him before taking a big bite. Robin rolled her eyes, moving the whiteboard and then her body away from them as she walked to her backpack. Irene leaned in, looking at Steve with gentle eyes.

"Can I be honest with you?" She asked quietly and he nodded. Robin noticed the atmosphere shift, watching the two as they conversed in whispers. She grew weary of their quiet nature and close proximity.

"I think you still have some growing up to do." Irene's voice filled the silence between her and Steve. He rolled his eyes, moving himself away from her slightly as he wrapped his arms over his chest.

"I'm nineteen, Irene." He retorted, ready to disregard their conversation as he began to turn toward the cash register. Irene glanced back at Robin who was still fiddling with something in her bag.

"Then stop acting like it's freshman year and you want the cool kids to like you." She huffed, turning back to Steve and it made his ears perk up. He aimed his attention toward her again and leaned in, prompting her to go on, "I've only known you for a month, but I'd like to think I'm a fairly good observer. You wear this persona for other people, hoping they'll like the facade. And so you put yourself in a box because you believe it's all you're good for—because you're afraid of letting people see the real you," Her delicate tone was a stark contrast from the hardened look she was giving him. It struck him momentarily and he was at a loss for words.

"And I think that's wrong. I think you've got so much to give and if people can't see that then screw them. The right person will, but you've also got to be honest with them and yourself. You're not all that bad Steve." She shrugged and his face softened at her words.

He shook his head as a smile made its way to his lips, "Where did you come from Rena Vasquez?" He marveled.

She shoved him lightly, "I'm being serious, Steve."

"Okay I know, I know." He held his hands up defensively as Irene turned away. His fingers grazed her arm as he reached for her, "Hey, thank you."

"Of course, someone oughta tell you the truth." She said just before Robin joined them, hitting Steve's shoulder as her finger motioned behind him.

"Hey, twelve o'clock." They all looked forward to a group of girls approaching. Steve hyped himself up and threw his hat toward Irene. She caught it and sighed as Robin taunted him about being a "whole new man," before his back was turned against them. The two girls shared a look, watching the scene unfold. He's not going to take any of my advice, Irene thought to herself.

"Ahoy, ladies! Didn't see you there." Irene shoved her face in her hands and mentally groaned. "Would you guys like to set sail on this ocean of flavor with me? I'll be your captain. I'm Steve Harrington." Irene wanted the world to open up and swallow her whole as she watched the girls blankly stare back. She was far more embarrassed than him. "Can I get you guys a little taste of the Cherries Jubilee? No? Anybody? Banana Boat? Four people, four spoons?"

The two girls behind him grimaced, Irene held her palm out for Robin. She placed the marker in it and watched as Irene added another 'you suck' tally to the board, "I don't know how much more of this I can take." She muttered under her breath.

"Vasquez!" A voice boomed behind Mateo as he mounted his motorcycle. He took his helmet off and looked behind him, his eyes locking with the harsh gaze of Billy Hargrove — one of his fellow lifeguards. He didn't have animosity toward him, but the blond would drop small comments about his race here and there which angered him. He didn't need anymore confrontation though with the people of Hawkins, so he tried to lie under the radar the best he could. Clearly, he wasn't doing a good job.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"Your sister's the cute brunette with the nice ass right?" Billy asked and Mateo didn't answer he continued, "Ran into her this morning at the mall and she tried to warn me about how I drive because I could really hurt someone. Now, why would she do that? Huh?"

Mateo still didn't say anything as he continued to stare into Billy's cold eyes; he knew exactly why Irene said that. Billy slammed his hand down on one of the handlebars and gripped it tightly, leaning down to really stare into Mateo's soul, "Keep your freak sister away from me and my step-sister or else the next time I see her, I won't be so nice to her or you." He spat before letting go and trudging off toward his car. Mateo gulped, letting out a huge exhale before putting his helmet on and riding home.

The first thing he noticed was his mother's car parked in the driveway. He figured she was home early considering the sun hadn't set yet and she usually came home at around ten. He parked his motorcycle and stomped into the house, ignoring his mothers welcoming words as he made a b-line for the backyard – knowing Irene made a habit of going outside to paint when she got home. He swung the sliding door open, slamming it behind him, and all he could see was red.

"You had another one didn't you?!" His voice boomed, startling his sister. She looked at him with fear and curiosity hidden in her eyes, "Billy was in it wasn't he?! That's why you stopped him at the mall and thought to give him a little warning? And now he thinks you're a freak and is gonna take it out on me because you stepped over a line you shouldn't have!" He fumed and realization washed over his sister's face.

"Mateo, you don't understand what I saw." She tried to reason with him.

"Why do you always have to ruin everything, Irene?" His voice was venomous and full of malice, "Every single goddam move, every single argument between mom and dad, the divorce — all of it was your fault!" It was one of his biggest blows; sure she had a feeling of how he felt, but hearing him say it out loud struck her core, "Why can't you just be normal?!"

"Glad to finally see your true colors." She scoffed, tears welling in her eyes. She moved to go back inside the house but shook her head, turning to look at her brother, "You know, I didn't ask for this. Dad left mom and I too; in case you forgot who else got screwed over by everything. I wouldn't be surprised though; all you do is think about yourself." Her tone and posture were strong despite her quivering lip. Her brother didn't meet her gaze. He sat in his rage, made a bed there, and called it home. It wasn't the first time, but Irene held onto hope that it'd be the last.

The spool had come undone and the tangled mess that she and her family would find themselves in had only begun to unfold. And this time around they wouldn't be able to just pick up and leave...

A/N:
what just happened? mateo, mateo, mateo....tsk tsk tsk.
if you didn't quite catch it, even though i'm sure you did, i completely changed mateo and billy from being friends to just being people who "know" and work with each other and are lowkey enemies. thought and sat with this for a long time but i think it's a good route to go because i just don't think billy is a good guy.  and you can call him complex all ya want, but he's not getting a redemption/friend arc here. that's just how i feel.

i hope you guys like my sweet little sam, he was in the drafts as a character I was going to introduce in s4 but I thought he was the perfect foil for mateo so i introduced him earlier. (thinking of keiynan lonsdale as the fc for sam)

anywho...the steve and irene scene was in the drafts too for a while i just never knew where it fit and thought that this was the perfect chapter because irene is like i see right through you dude and steve's like rena ur so cute & sweet, but im gonna ignore everything you just said ❤️

i hope you all are enjoying the story so far and it's not too slow paced compared to before <3 let me know your thoughts!