╔═════   ∘◦ ☽ ﾐ ◦∘ ══════╗

𝗠𝗢𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧

𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓸𝓷𝓮:
"𝚢𝚎𝚊𝚑, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑
𝚗𝚘 𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕 𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚛𝚒𝚝, 𝚊𝚗𝚍
𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚒𝚝?"

╚═════ ∘◦ ミ ☾ ◦∘ ══════╝

hawkins, indiana. march twenty-first, 1986.

IF THERE WAS one thing that Mackenzie Tate didn't expect, it was to become a cheerleader when she went to Hawkins High.

Maybe it was part of the whole re-inventing herself thing, but it wasn't exactly part of her original plan. However, the opportunity came to her in the form of Chrissy Cunningham, Hawkins High resident sweetheart and captain of the cheerleading team.

In short, Hawkins High was scary when she first walked in. Of course, she had Mike Wheeler, Dustin Henderson, Lucas Sinclair, and Max Mayfield by her side ⁠ — okay, maybe a little less Max, the girl had been secluding herself ever since Billy's sacrifice at the mall and how her family basically fell apart — ⁠but there were two pieces missing. Will Byers and Eleven leaving, especially Will, made her feel so lost in such a foreign place.

A few weeks into the school year, Mackenzie still hadn't found much to do at Hawkins High. Mike, Dustin, and Lucas had joined the Hellfire Club, which was a D&D club led by Eddie Munson, some guy with long hair that had managed to repeat senior year about three times. Mackenzie found it a little strange how in the summer the three of them had absolutely refused to play D&D with Will (well, Dustin was MIA, so he gets a pass) and now suddenly joined a new club, but whatever. Lucas had also joined the basketball team, putting in his love for the sport.

And then Chrissy had walked up to her while Mackenzie was at her longer, a sweet smile on her face. Chrissy had said that she had seen her in the hallways a couple times and in the lunch room, and how the cheerleading team needed some more freshman to be on the team. She offered her a try out. Mackenzie didn't really understand since she could sometimes come off as harsh with her sarcasm and weren't cheerleaders supposed to be bubbly?, but she accepted.

Mackenzie always had a sort of athletic ability. Maybe it was from the amount of bike riding she always did, but she was able to run a little bit and was also quite flexible. She definitely wasn't as good as the other girls on the team, but she could pick up routines and do some tricks. Chrissy was patient with her and always gave her advice when she tried new things. Mackenzie also found herself liking the other girls on the team as well.

It sort of boosted her popularity status, but Mackenzie didn't really care about that. She could still be seen with Mike, Lucas, and Dustin in their Hellfire shirts, which made people give her a couple weird looks, but as always, she ignored them. Mackenzie would also walk with Max in the hallways, even though Max didn't really talk and just had her headphones in as she listened to her Walkman.

Currently, it was the day of the pep rally for the Hawkins High basketball team. Tonight was the championship game, and if they won this, they won it all. Mackenzie stood in her mirror, pinning the two front pieces of her hair back. Once she had secured them in place, Mackenzie smoothed down the skirt of her green uniform. She stared at herself in the mirror and took a deep breath for a second.

"Kenzie!" the voice of her little sister, Megan, then called. "Nancy's here!"

Ever since the beginning of the year, Nancy Wheeler, Mike's older sister, would stop by her house on the way to school to pick her up. They were all going to the same place, so it just made sense. Mackenzie was just grateful that she didn't have to take the bus.

"Coming!" Mackenzie shouted back.

She grabbed her backpack after making sure the hooded sweater with her name on it and her pom-poms were in there. Mackenzie slung it over her shoulder and exited the room before going down the stairs. She immediately went to the kitchen, where Elizabeth, her mother, was at the kitchen table drinking coffee. Mackenzie ignored her mother and headed to the fridge.

"The basketball game's tonight, right?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah," Mackenzie answered simply, taking her lunch and her water bottle out of the fridge and putting it in her backpack.

"I would prefer to have you home no later than ten."

"Why? It's not like I have anywhere to go tomorrow."

That was a jab. See, Mackenzie had planned to go with Mike to see the Byers and Eleven in California over spring break. In fact, her mother had promised her and Will that the trip would happen back when he was visiting for Christmas. However, when Mackenzie brought up the idea again, her mother explicitly said no for some reason. Mackenzie kept trying to convince her mother, but Elizabeth was adamant on her not going, even though it was to see her boyfriend, whom she had been best friends with for over ten years. Mike was still going to California without her, and he was leaving the next morning.

Elizabeth sighed. "Mackenzie—"

"Look, I don't know what time the basketball game is ending," Mackenzie stated impatiently, turning around and finally looking at her mother. "Could last for hours, for all I know. I have to go to school. Bye."

She didn't wait for a response from Elizabeth and rushed out the door. Nancy and Mike were waiting in the car for her on the street. Mackenzie gave them a fleeting smile as she approached the car.

"Good morning, Kenzie," Nancy greeted as she got in the backseat.

"Morning," Mackenzie replied, buckling her seatbelt so Nancy could start driving away.

Mike then turned around and gave her a toasted PopTart, making her smile at him graciously as she took it. "You know, I'll never get used to seeing you in a cheer uniform."

"Trust me, I'm the same." Mackenzie took a bite out of her PopTart. "Kind of makes me a little sick that I have to wear something that has our school name on it — ⁠I hate it there."

Nancy looked at her through the rearview mirror. "You're literally a cheerleader who represents the school."

"Yeah, I'm a cheerleader with no school spirit, and what about it?" Mackenzie countered. She grinned at the way Nancy shook her head and looked back at the road before scooting farther up the seat so she could look at Mike. "Have you finished packing yet?"

"Yep," Mike responded. "Everything's all ready for me to go."

"Is it cool if I come see you off tomorrow morning?"

"It'll be really early, Kenz. I have a six-thirty flight, which means I have to leave the house at, like, four."

"I don't care," Mackenzie voiced. "I have something for Will that I want you to give him. He's worth getting up ridiculously early for."

Mike sighed. "That was disgustingly cute."

"Hey, you're getting up really early for El, so I don't want to hear it."

Since Mackenzie didn't live that far away from school, they arrived pretty quickly. Nancy parked in the parking lot, which was quite crowded due to all the people excitedly heading to the gym for the pep rally. Mackenzie was the first out of the car, her backpack resting comfortably on her shoulders.

"I've gotta go," Mackenzie told them. "Chrissy wouldn't kill me, but she would definitely tell me very kindly that I was late, and somehow, that's worse." She pointed to Mike. "I'll see you after the pep rally." Mackenzie then waved to Nancy. "Bye, Nance."

"Go cheer your heart out, Kenz!" Nancy shouted after her after Mackenzie sped-walked away.

Mackenzie quickly walked to the gym, where people were already congregating in the stands for the pep rally. She approached her fellow cheer team members and found her orange megaphone, which was labeled in sparkly stickers Mackenzie. Mackenzie set her backpack down before grabbing her pom-poms out of it.

"Good morning, Mackenzie," Chrissy said sweetly, who so happened to be next to her.

"Hi, Chris," Mackenzie replied, straightening out some of the strings on her pom-poms. "Ready for the big game tonight?"

"Gosh, I hope so. Jason's planning on saying this whole big speech at the pep rally about how we have to win, so . . ."

Jason Carver. Captain of the basketball team, and basically took over Steve Harrington's title of the king of Hawkins High. Naturally, he was dating Chrissy since she was the head cheerleader. The two of them were ridiculously cute and cliché together.

It just left Mackenzie wondering what it would be like if Will was still here. Mostly, if the events of the universe played out in the same way, Chrissy would still approach her and ask her to be on the cheer team. Will would most likely join the Hellfire Club, and the two of them would be the most unlikely couple in the history of Hawkins High. A cheerleader and a D&D player ⁠ — who would've thought? But then again, Mackenzie wouldn't have cared. As long as it was her and Will, she was perfectly content.

Chrissy then addressed the cheer team as a whole. Every time before a performance or a game, she liked to give them all a little pep talk. It was basically go out, have fun, do your best, smile pretty, blah blah blah. To be honest, and it was nothing against Chrissy, Mackenzie tuned it out. It was basically the same speech every time.

It wasn't long until the pep rally was starting. The cheer team got into their positions to start. Mackenzie held her pose, waiting for the band to begin. Her eyes trailed across the bleachers, looking for three familiar faces. She finally found two ⁠— Mike and Dustin. Max was nowhere to be found, but Mackenzie guessed that she was coming. She had been acting quite off recently, anyways.

The band started, and Mackenzie placed her big, bright smile on her face. She started to perform the routine with the cheer team to the music. Thankfully, she remembered all of the steps. Stunts were happening behind her and all.

Finally, as quickly as it had started, it ended. Mackenzie raised her arms in the air and waved her pom-poms as her and the other cheerleaders skipped forwards. They all kneeled behind their respective megaphones. Mackenzie turned and caught eyes with Dustin, and she waved. Dustin waved enthusiastically back at her.

"And let's hear it for your Tigers!" the announcer shouted.

Ripping through a Hawkins High banner, Jason Carver led the basketball team out onto the court, the audience yelling for them. Mackenzie cheered and waved her pom-poms for the team, only cheering louder when Lucas came out onto the court.

"Good morning, Hawkins High!" Jason exclaimed into the microphone. It was followed by a roar of cheers and applause, and Jason took the microphone off the stand, walking forwards. "First off . . . hey. First off, I'd like to thank each and every one of you. Without your support, we wouldn't be here. Give yourselves a big hand."

Mackenzie clapped ⁠ — well, it was mostly just making her pom-poms ruffle together. Nevertheless, the crowd cheered once again.

"And, of course, of course, I have to give a special shout-out to the best and the prettiest fans of all time, the Tiger Cheer Squad!"

Mackenzie smiled proudly and clapped for herself.

Jason looked straight at his girlfriend after the momentary applause. "Chrissy . . ." He tapped his chest where his heart was. "Chrissy, I love you, babe." Chrissy blew him a small kiss, and Jason grinned at her before moving on. "You know . . . I think I can speak for all of us when I say it's been a tough year for Hawkins.

So this was Jason's big speech Chrissy was talking about. Mackenzie looked down at her orange and green pom-poms. Tough year was an understatement. Between everything that had happened over the summer and the months following, Hawkins was pretty much left in shambles. And frankly, so was Mackenzie Tate.

"So much loss," Jason continued. "And sometimes I wonder, How much loss can one community take? In dark days like this, we need something to believe in. So, last night, when we were down by ten points at half to Christian Academy, I looked at my team, and I said, Think of Jack. Think of Melissa. Think of Heather. Think of Billy. Think about our heroic police chief, Jim Hopper. Think about every one of our friends who perished in that fire. What did they die for? For us to lose to some ⁠ — some crap school? No!"

As the crowd echoed a No!, Mackenzie started to think. Heather — ⁠if her, El, and Max would've pieced the clues together faster, maybe she would've been alive. Billy — ⁠even if he was a shitty person, his sacrifice still saved them all. Hopper — ⁠he also sacrificed himself to save them, since closing the Gate would make the Mind Flayer die. Mackenzie honestly didn't know how these people dying had anything to do with a basketball game, but she ignored it for now.

"For us to return home with our heads hung low in defeat? No! No. Let's win this game. Let's win this game for them. And that's exactly what we did!"

Even though she didn't want to, because what the fuck, Mackenzie waved her pom-poms. However, she didn't smile. Hopper was worth so much more than a stupid basketball game.

"We embarrassed those candy-asses in their own house, and now tonight, tonight, we're gonna bring home the championship trophy!" Jason screamed. "Let's go!"

The crowd cheered loud for that. As the basketball team skipped forwards, Mackenzie looked at Lucas, who also looked at her. She waved at him, although she was really waving her pom-pom.

After another ten minutes, the pep rally completely ended. Mackenzie put away her pom-poms and pulled on her white cheer sweater. She put her backpack on and walked up to her friends, Lucas trailing behind her. Dustin and Mike looked upset, and Max had evidently left early.

She soon came to see why. As the four of them walked out of the gym and towards the school, Mike and Dustin had immediately asked why Lucas had a basketball game tonight when the Hellfire Club was meeting.

Mackenzie stayed to the side, listening in. She really didn't have an input because she wasn't a part of the Hellfire Club. Despite watching the boys play D&D for years, it still hopelessly confused her. Will had tried to explain it to her, but she had instead just watched, her chin in the palm of her hand, as his eyes lit up while he talked so enthusiastically about it.

Let's just say her brain did not register anything.

"I don't get the big deal," Lucas complained. "Just talk to Eddie. Get him to move Hellfire to another night."

"Just talk to Eddie," Mike repeated bitterly. "Why don't you just talk to your coach and get him to move the game?"

"I think that's a great idea, Mike," Dustin said.

"Thank you, Dustin."

"This is the championship game," Lucas insisted.

"And this is the end of Eddie's campaign," Dustin argued. "A semester of adventuring has led to this moment, and we need you."

"Yeah, and the Tigers don't," Mike agreed. "You've been on the bench all year."

Mackenzie immediately led out a loud laugh, but covered her mouth once Lucas gave her a look. "Oh my God, I'm sorry. But he just burned the shit out of you."

Lucas shook his head as they walked through the school doors. "That's not the point."

"Please, arrive at the point," Dustin voiced.

"If I get in good with these guys, I'll be in the popular crowd, and then you guys will be too. I mean, we're already halfway there with Kenzie."

Mackenzie shrugged. "I mean, I put on a uniform with a short skirt, and everybody starts to love me. But I could be quite loveable without the short skirt."

Mike rolled his eyes at her before looking back at Lucas. "Has it ever occurred to you that we don't want to be popular?"

Lucas stared at him incredulously. "So you wanna be stuck with the nerds and freaks for three more years?"

"We are nerds and freaks," Dustin responded.

"Yeah, but maybe we don't have to be," Lucas protested. Mackenzie's eyes slightly softened. "Look, I'm tired of being bullied. I'm tired of girls laughing at us. I'm tired of feeling like a loser. Look how things have gotten easier for Kenzie since she became a cheerleader."

She shook her head. "I really think it's just the short skirt."

Lucas ignored her. "We came to high school wanting things to be different, right?" Mackenzie, Mike, and Dustin all nodded. "So now we have that chance. I skip tonight, that's all out the window. So I'm asking you guys, as a friend, just talk to Eddie. Get him to move Hellfire. Come to mine and Kenzie's game. Please."

None of them replied to him. The school bell then rang, and Lucas backed into his classroom. Mackenzie slightly frowned.

She turned to the others. "I would like it if you were there to see me cheer. It's a big game. It's important to me, but I know that Hellfire's important to you. Do what your heart desires." She nodded her head down the hallway. "I've got to go. See you later."

༻✦༺༻✧༺༻✦༺

EVEN IF THEY weren't the two girls who ran around the Starcourt Mall giggling and getting ice cream from Scoops Ahoy, Mackenzie Tate and Max Mayfield were still close friends. It didn't really feel the same without El, because for those few blissful days they had in the summer, the three had practically been inseparable. Once again, missing pieces.

Max had been pulling away from everyone. And even though Mackenzie gave her space, she still held on tight. The last thing Max needed was to be alone. Her family life had been rough, and Mackenzie was getting the feeling that everything was affecting not only her physical health but her mental health.

That's why Mackenzie could always be seen with Max walking down the hallway. They shared some of the same classes and free periods. Also, Max had been seeing the guidance counselor, Ms. Kelly, lately. Mackenzie would walk her to the office, wait for her outside, and then accompany her elsewhere. She offered to Max that she could stop, but Max had said it was fine and that she could use the company.

Mackenzie and Max walked down the hallway together. Max had her headphones on as normal, and even over the chatter of the hallway, Mackenzie could hear Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) by Kate Bush issuing from them. It was Max's all time favorite song right now, and Mackenzie knew why. All of the lyrics made sense with Max's situation.

They passed groups of girls gossiping, a cheerleader and basketball player making out against the lockers, and finally, Lucas talking to another basketball player. Mackenzie gave Lucas a small smile and a wave as they passed, but his eyes only seemed to linger on Max. Ever since Max had broken up with Lucas, the two had kind of been tentative around each other.

And much to Mackenzie's surprise, she saw the familiar figure of Chrissy walking out of the guidance counselor's office. Mackenzie went to smile at her, but it soon faded once she noticed how shaken and sad Chrissy looked. She frowned. Chrissy always had a smile on her face.

"Chris?" Mackenzie inquired, making the girl's head snap over to her. "You okay?"

She placed a very unconvincing grin on her face. "Yeah, I'm good. See you at the game, Kenzie."

Mackenzie looked over her shoulder and watched her leave momentarily. She had no idea that something was going on with Chrissy, but people always kept secrets. Mackenzie was one of them. If others knew about the real reason the mall caught on fire, or a girl with superpowers, or a parallel dimension, or what really kidnapped Will . . . they definitely wouldn't believe her.

She shook off her thoughts. God, she had to get out of her head.

Mackenzie placed a hand on Max's shoulder, making her look over and pull off her headphones. "I'll wait outside for you."

Max nodded. "Thanks, Kenz."

She then went inside. Mackenzie leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, staring as Max shut the door to Ms. Kelly's office behind her. The meetings were never long — ⁠they never were. Max was in the same boat as Mackenzie. She couldn't just tell Ms. Kelly that the Mind Flayer ripped Billy's heart out.

Lucas then approached her after saying bye to his friend and glanced at the doors for a second. "Have you asked her to come to the game yet?"

Mackenzie let out a deep breath. "She's not going to come, Lucas."

"You don't know that."

"Yes, I do. Max basically hates sports. She literally laughed in my face when I told her I made the cheer team."

"Out of everyone, you're still the closest to her," Lucas insisted.

"Yeah, but that's only because I've been holding on tighter," Mackenzie responded. "Maybe you should've, too."

Max then came out of the office. She looked a little panicked as she started to pull on her headphones. Mackenzie frowned and started to follow after her in concern. What could've happened in the office that made her like this?

"Max, hey," Lucas began.

"Are you stalking me or something?" Max inquired, putting her headphones back around her neck.

"Oh, no, I ⁠ — I just wanted to give you this."

Max took the green ticket from him. "What is this?"

"It's for our game tonight," Mackenzie answered. "You don't have to come if you don't want to, but it's a big game."

"A big game? Kenzie, Lucas, you really care about this?"

"Yeah, I ⁠ — I do," Lucas replied. "Maybe you should find something you care about too."

Mackenzie slightly winced before glaring at Lucas. That was definitely not what he should've said. Even though it was sort of the truth, he didn't have to just come out and say it like that.

Max stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Lucas hesitated for a moment. "You're just . . . it's ⁠— it's like you're not even here anymore. It's — ⁠it's like you're a ghost or something."

"A ghost?" Max echoed. "Really?"

"Max, I know something's wrong."

"Yeah, right. Yeah, something must be wrong with me because I broke up with you."

Lucas shook his head. "No. No, that's ⁠— that's not what I meant."

"Lucas, look, people just change, okay?" Max explained. "That's it. I've changed. It's that simple."

Max went to go into the bathroom, but she stopped for a moment. She turned back around and handed Lucas the green ticket back. Mackenzie frowned.

"Good luck," Max said to the two of them.

"Max— " Mackenzie started to protest.

She looked at her, her gaze pleading. "Can I be alone right now?"

"Yeah," Mackenzie immediately agreed quietly. "Come find me if you need anything."

Max gave her the tiniest forced smile before entering the bathroom. Mackenzie stared at the door a little longer, worry settling into her heart. Something was going on with her . . . but what?

☾ ★ ☽

kenzie being a cheerleader just make sense go argue with a wall if you think otherwise

but don't worry she's not going to try and act cool like lucas did . . . I love him but BOY he was on thin ice

also why was this basketball boy given more screen time than will. duffer brothers let's chat