𝟬𝟰
𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶 𝗸𝗶𝗿𝗸 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻?

    𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐈𝐑 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐘, clinging to Tessa like a damp, unwelcome shroud as she stood at the edge of the driveway. The quiet around her felt almost unnatural, with only the faint rustling of leaves disturbed by a passing breeze. She squinted at the horizon, watching as the yellow school bus emerged through the light mist that clung to the narrow streets.

    Her backpack felt heavier than it should, though she knew it wasn't the weight of the books inside, but something far more burdensome. The weight of unfamiliarity, of being stuck in a town she hadn't asked for, a place that seemed to swallow up any hint of excitement. The weekend had been a monotonous blur of boxes, half-unpacked rooms, and her sister Lena fluttering about, already swept up in the whirlwind of high school socializing. Tessa had watched from the sidelines, content to let her older sister soak up the attention while she remained unnoticed, her own presence barely acknowledged.

    Miranda had stood at the door earlier that morning, coffee in hand, her brow furrowed in that way it always did when she was deep in thought. "Don't miss the bus, Tess," she had said, her voice even and grounded as always. Miranda's tone rarely wavered—it was as steady as her demeanor, offering reassurance in the subtlest of ways, even when things weren't quite right. Tessa had simply nodded, her eyes lingering on the pavement as she walked away. She hadn't told her mother, but she didn't want reassurance; she wanted out. But she was in Hawkins now, and she was stuck.

    The bus screeched to a halt, its brakes protesting as the doors hissed open. Tessa stepped inside, the metallic steps cold beneath her shoes. The seats were already filling up, kids packed tightly together like sardines, their conversations blending into a dull hum. She found an empty spot in the middle and slid into it, pressing her forehead against the window. The cool glass was a small relief against the warmth of the morning, and as the bus rattled down the road, she let her eyes unfocus, the passing scenery turning into a blur of greens and browns. This place felt so... suffocating, like a home that had forgotten how to breathe.

    At school, the day was as uninspiring as she had expected. The fluorescent lights of the hallways flickered occasionally, casting a faint hum that mixed with the sound of lockers slamming shut and sneakers squeaking against the linoleum floors. Tessa moved through it all with practiced indifference, her eyes focused on nothing in particular. The teachers droned on about the usual first-day formalities—rules, schedules, and homework assignments—while the other students seemed far more interested in whispering to one another, eager to catch up on summer gossip.

    By the time lunchtime rolled around, Tessa found herself slipping into a corner of the cafeteria. The room was alive with noise, a cacophony of voices overlapping in a sea of conversations, but it all felt so distant. She chose a table near the windows, one that offered a view of the small courtyard outside. The sky was a washed-out grey, and the trees stood motionless, as if they too were stuck in the sleepy monotony of this place.

    Tessa pushed her food around with a fork, her mind wandering. This was her life now—empty seats, half-eaten lunches, and the dull thrum of a town that felt like it was pressing down on her chest. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a nearby chair scraping against the floor.

    "Hey, you're new, right?" A voice sliced through the noise, pulling her from her reverie.

    Tessa looked up to see a boy standing at her table, his curly hair unruly beneath a baseball cap that seemed a little too big for his head. His face was lit up with a grin that felt far too bright for the dimly lit cafeteria.

    "Dustin," he said, plopping his tray down across from her without waiting for an invitation. "Dustin Henderson. You're new here, huh? I figured as much."

    Tessa blinked, her fork pausing mid-air. "Uh... yeah," she replied, her voice flat. She wasn't exactly in the mood for company, especially not from someone who seemed so eager. "Tessa Hayes."

    "Nice to meet you, Tessa." Dustin leaned in slightly, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, what do you think of the food? The meat tastes different today."

    She arched an eyebrow, a small smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

    "Oh no, it's a good thing." he said with a dramatic flair, earning an eye roll from her. He was undeniably enthusiastic, and Tessa felt a flicker of amusement against her better judgment.

    "So, why'd you come here?" Dustin asked, leaning back in his seat as he gestured grandly around the cafeteria, or maybe the whole building itself.

    "I don't know, to be honest. We're always moving." Tessa replied, crossing her arms as she leaned back.

    Dustin nodded, seeming interested, "Well I think you'll like it here. But whatever you do, don't make contact with Troy Welsh."

    "I'll keep that in mind," she said, her tone playful but guarded.

    "Seriously, though. But we do have an amazing group of friends. You should sit with us sometime! You seem really cool." His enthusiasm was infectious, but Tessa felt her walls inching back up.

    "Thanks, but I think I'll be fine over here," she replied, trying not to seem rude. The idea of being thrust into a group of unfamiliar faces felt overwhelming.

    "Suit yourself," he said, unperturbed. "But just so you know, if you change your mind, I'll be the one in the same cap. It's hard to miss me."

    With that, he pushed back his chair and waved goodbye, leaving Tessa to watch him mingle with a group of a few other kids, his laughter echoing in her ears. There was something about his persistence that lingered, a strange warmth in the cold reality of her new life.

    Tessa couldn't help but chuckle to herself as she returned to her food, the dullness of her day shifting slightly. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.

    As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, Tessa stood up, her thoughts swirling. Maybe, just maybe, this small encounter could lead to something different—something unexpected, even if just for a moment. She took a deep breath, adjusted her backpack, and stepped out of the cafeteria, ready to embrace whatever might come next.

.ೃ࿐ IRIS SPEAKS !

dustin hhahhaha my bb i love him omgomg dustbin

anyways comment and lmk what you think!!