chapter nineteen.
don't come crying to me later.
☄️
tw: puking
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 3
episode three

AS JOSIE SLOWLY OPENS her eyes, the soft glow of ambient light reveals Max and El immersed in a board game on the floor. Max, caught in a moment of sheer happiness, gasps, "Oh my god, you're awake! We were so worried." Springing to her feet, she engulfs Josie in a heartfelt hug, the warmth of relief palpable.

Josie responds with a light chuckle, reciprocating the embrace. "What happened?" she inquires, casting a curious gaze. With a nonchalant gesture, she discards the hot towel that had rested on her forehead. "And why the hot towel treatment?" A quizzical raise of the eyebrows adds emphasis to her question.

Max turns to El, seeking support. "You passed out," El states with a stoic expression, prompting Josie's eyebrows to shoot up. "What!?" she exclaims, disbelief etched across her face.

Max, a curious eyebrow raised, probes, "You don't remember?" Josie takes a moment, furrowing her brow as she sifts through her thoughts. The pieces of the puzzle slowly click into place, and realization dawns on her. Josie gasps. "Oh my god. Now I remember..." she exclaimed, a mix of emotions washes over her, and she lets her head fall back onto the pillow in a moment of revelation.

"What happened? You were covering your ears and then passed out." Max inquired as Josie, with a shrug, responds, "I don't know exactly... When El was in the void watching Billy... I had this unwanted and uncomfortable feeling. My ears were still ringing, and it hurt so, so bad... Then I guess, I passed out," she explains, recounting the distressing experience.

Max clicked her tongue, relaying the events. "Hopper freaked out. He knew you couldn't go to the hospital, and he couldn't call your mom because she was MIA, so he just hoped it was some type of fever since you have powers, and it could be involved with that. It makes sense," she concluded, crossing her arms over her chest with a hint of frustration.

El shook her head, a solemn expression on her face. "I don't think so... Billy saw me in the void," she pointed out, earning a surprised look from Josie. "He saw you!? Is that even possible?" Josie exclaimed, to which the Hopper girl just shrugged her shoulders. "Don't know," she admitted, the uncertainty hanging in the air.

Max sighed, contemplating the situation. "I guess so... We're gonna go back to my house and investigate. You wanna come?" she asked Josie, who nodded enthusiastically. "Uh, duh!" she grinned, receiving a knowing look from the Mayfield girl. "You sure? You look fine now, but... do you feel fine?" Max questioned, concern etched on her face.

Josie nodded once more. "Yes, I feel perfectly fine," she reassured Max. "Okay, let's take showers, get dressed, and go," Max declared, uncrossing her arms, the resolve in her voice signaling a shift to action.

THUNDER RUMBLED. The three girls walked side by side to Max's house. "It's gonna start pouring soon," Max pointed out, glancing up at the sky. Josie followed suit, then turned to Max. "I could use my power to make it not rain?" she suggested, but El shook her head. "No, keep energy," El informed her, earning a nod of understanding from Josie.

Max sighed in frustration. "We should be at the mall or like, watching a movie or something," she complained, prompting Josie to give her a curious look. "This wasn't your idea?" Josie questioned, to which Max shook her head. "It was mine. Needed proof to see if the girl from the pool wasn't tied up," El spoke up, earning a bewildered look from Josie. "Excuse me, what!?" she exclaimed in disbelief.

Max sighed, feeling torn between El's account and her reservations about Billy. She knew, especially after the events six months ago, that he was capable of harm.

However, she hesitated to fully commit to the idea. "You don't believe me?" El's voice held a hint of hurt disbelief. Max met her gaze, raising her eyebrows. "I believe you saw some super weird stuff, totally," she admitted, her skepticism evident. "But you said Mike has sensed you in there before, right?" Max added, trying to rationalize the supernatural with a more grounded explanation.

El nodded in affirmation, and Josie, sensing the tension, cleared her throat. "Not only did Billy see her, Max, but he might have been hurting this poor girl? I believe her," Josie asserted, crossing her arms over her chest. El expressed gratitude with a subtle look, appreciating Josie's support in a challenging situation.

Max dismissed El's account with an eye roll. "She could've seen things wrong! A girl tied up? You know..." she trailed off, adding a suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows to imply a certain interpretation. Josie's eyes widened in realization, forming an 'o' shape with her mouth. The topic was clear – the implication of a sexual encounter. The idea seemed foreign and unappealing to Josie, who couldn't fathom engaging in such activities, finding the concept somewhat repulsive.

"But the screams," El tried to reason with Max. Josie's eyebrows shot up, her eyes widening at the unexpected revelation.

Maybe El did see it wrong. Max threw her head back, attempting to explain, "Yeah, I know, but here's the thing... when Billy is alone with a girl, they make, like, really crazy noises," she said, causing Josefina's nose to scrunch up in confusion. "They scream?" El interrogated with a puzzled look, attempting to comprehend the peculiar explanation.

Max shut her eyes briefly, as if bracing herself, before continuing. "Yeah, but, like... happy screams," she shrugged, attempting to convey a nonchalant attitude about the peculiar sounds associated with Billy's encounters.

"Happy screams? What is happy screams?" El continued questioning, puzzled by the term. Josie licked her lips, considering the situation. "You know, El," she said, placing a hand on El's shoulder, "I'm gonna lend you my mom's Cosmo, okay? Lots of pretty women. Not even sure how Hopper scored a date with her; she's like super gay now," she laughed, injecting a bit of humor into the conversation.

El furrowed her eyebrows, still feeling confused. "Nevermind," Josie murmured as they stopped in front of Max's house. "His car's not here," Max pointed out, prompting El to look at the house with a wary expression. "You really want to do this?" Josie asked her, receiving a soft nod from El, determined to proceed despite the uncertainties.

THEY WALKED INTO BILLY'S ROOM, Josie wrinkled her nose as she sniffed the air, immediately hit by the overwhelming scent of body spray. Gagging, she exclaimed, "Oh my god, it reeks in here," sticking her tongue out in disgust.

Max added a remark, "Why do I get a feeling we're gonna find all kinds of wrong in here?" A glare from Josie followed. "Please don't say that. I don't wanna find his toys," she expressed, her nose scrunching up. El, still confused, questioned, "Toys?" Josie waved her off, attempting to lighten the mood with a nervous laugh, "Don't worry about it."

Heavy metal music blared through the room, prompting Josie to walk over to his music player and click the button to turn it off. "Ugh, he has terrible metal music taste. AC/DC and Nirvana are so much better," she declared, rolling her eyes at Billy's musical choices.

As the heavy metal music ceased, Max made a disgusted sound, exclaiming, "Ugh! Gag me with a spoon." Josie glanced over to see Max closing a drawer. "That's kinky," Josie remarked with a teasing tone, making Max turn her head toward Josie. "Shh, not in front of the innocent," Max playfully silenced Josie, putting her finger to her lips, accompanied by a mischievous smile.

A laugh escaped from Josie's lips as Max brushed past her, following El into Billy's bathroom. The Cortez girl couldn't resist the temptation to peek into Billy's drawer. Her eyebrows shot up when she saw a magazine featuring half-naked women, sparking a mix of surprise and amusement.

A mischievous smirk adorned Josie's lips as she pulled the magazine from the drawer, flipping through its pages. While there were many attractive women featured, her eyes remained solely for Max. It was all in good fun, right? Closing the magazine, she dropped it back into the drawer, closing it with a sly satisfaction.

Walking into the bathroom with a casual suggestion, "Hey, Max, maybe we should explain to El how se—" Josie's words came to a sudden halt. El turned right around, revealing a whistle in her hand, stained with blood. "Holy f— fuck! Oh my god," Josie's voice began to shake, her hand instinctively hovering over her mouth as her wide-eyed gaze shifted to Max for answers.

Max swallowed the lump in her throat. "Okay, now this is getting weird..." she spoke up, attempting to process the surreal situation. "You think?" Josie remarked, quirking a brow in sarcastic agreement.

They decided to head to the community pool to investigate since the girl El saw worked there. The three girls donned similar raincoats - El in red, Max in yellow, and Josie in purple. It became a spontaneous inside joke they quickly made up: ketchup, mustard, and jelly, each color representing one of them.

Josie, El, and Max, their coat hoods shielding them from the rain, approached the front desk of the community pool. With a graceful movement, Josie reached up, pulling her hood back to reveal her long, damp brown hair cascading down her back. Droplets of rain glistened in her hair, a subtle consequence of not using her powers to halt the downpour. She briefly regretted the decision but understood the importance of conserving her energy for what lay ahead.

El mimicked Josie, pulling her hood back to reveal her short, wavy hair that bounced with her every step. Following the cue, Max was the last to uncover her head, unveiling her medium, tangled red hair. As they reached the front desk and stood before the uninterested attendant, Max spoke up.

The guy, engrossed in his magazine, responded with a monotone voice, "No one in the water until thirty minutes after the last strike. And don't try to argue with me. You wanna get electrocuted, go climb a tree." His disinterest hung heavy in the air, adding an extra layer of indifference to his already monotone delivery.

Josie rolled her eyes, dismissing the manager's safety rules. "Yeah, we don't care. We're not here for that or to swim," she declared with a hint of irritation. Max chimed in, "Or get electrocuted," adding a sly side-eye for emphasis. El, undeterred, reached into her coat pocket and pulled out the lifeguard's pouch. "We found this," she said, presenting it to the manager, who looked up but remained silent. The girl sitting beside the manager took a sip from her drink, observing the unfolding scene with mild interest.

Max took charge, her sharp glare cutting through the situation. "Does this belong to anybody?" she asked, holding up the lifeguard's pouch. The manager, finally showing some acknowledgment, looked at the pouch and then back at the three of them. "Oh yeah, that's Heather's. I'll give it back to her," he stated, seemingly unbothered by their presence.

"We could give it back to her," El suggested as the manager, indifferent to the situation, shrugged. "You could. 'cept she's not here. Bailed on me today," he informed them, causing the three girls to exchange a shared look. "What is this? You girls want a reward or somethin'?" he added, a touch of sarcasm in his tone.

Max shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head. "No... we're just good Samaritans," she nodded, adopting a casual demeanor. The girl behind the desk sent Max a smile, and Josie, aware of her from high school, rolled her eyes, glaring at her. The Cortez girl resisted the urge to pull Max into a kiss, knowing it was unnecessary despite the tension in the air.

Max furrowed her eyebrows, playfully smacking Josie's arm and pointing discreetly towards El. Josie followed Max's gaze, realizing El was standing in front of the community pool's photo wall. The two of them approached, curious about what had captured El's attention.

El stared at the picture of Heather, her expression pensive. "Heather," she breathed out softly. Josie looked at El, a question forming on her lips. "Do you think you can find her?" she inquired. El briefly looked over her shoulder, exchanging glances with the manager, and then turned her focus back to the photo wall. Without uttering a word, El carefully took the picture of Heather off the wall, signaling a subtle shift in their investigation.

In the locker room, Max took one side, and Josie took the other, working together to turn on all the showers and create static noise for El. As the water began to cascade down, creating a curtain of sound, El used goggles, covering them with box tape to block out any light.

Max and Josie sat on the bench beside each other, waiting expectantly as El pulled the goggles over her eyes. The two girlfriends shared a glance, anticipation building as they waited for El to share her visions.

In the locker room, the rhythmic noise of running showers filled the air as Max and Josie worked to create a static environment for El. While El, with covered goggles, delved into her visions, Max stared at her intently. Josie, sensing the intensity of the moment, whispered to Max, "Should we say something?"

Max turned her attention to El, asking with genuine concern, "What do you see?" El's response, "A door... a red door," left Josie muttering under her breath, puzzled by the cryptic image.

A tense silence hung in the air, broken only when El pulled the goggles off, casting them aside and breathing heavily. "What happened?" Max gasped, and Josie, immediately concerned, jumped off the bench. Kneeling in front of El, she placed her hands on El's shoulders, her voice gentle but firm. "El, listen to me. It wasn't real. It was just a vision. Just breathe in and out, okay?" She placed her right hand on El's chest, offering a comforting anchor in the aftermath of the unsettling experience.

El stared at Josie, nodding as she continued to breathe quickly. "Do it with me," Josie gently suggested, her tone soft and comforting. Max, observing closely, felt a surprise at Josie's ability to handle the situation. Josie remained steadfast by El's side, offering words of comfort. She reassured El that everything was going to be okay and that she was there for her.

Josie's calm and patient approach played a crucial role in helping El ease into a state of calmness. El gradually found solace in Josie's presence, and the collective efforts of the two girlfriends provided a soothing anchor for El in the aftermath of the intense vision.

After a few minutes, El's panic attack subsided, and she began to feel much better. Josie remained by her side, offering support and reassurance until El felt comfortable again. Josie made sure that El was okay before they continued with their investigation, their bond proving to be a source of strength and comfort for El during a challenging moment.

Eleven detailed what she had seen, a revelation that stirred an uneasy feeling in Josie. They arrived in front of Heather's house on their bikes, with Eleven positioned on the back of Max's. "Is this it?" Max inquired, seeking confirmation from Eleven, who nodded and offered directions. Josie, feeling a wave of nausea, was caught off guard by a sudden clap of thunder. Reacting swiftly, she jumped off her bike, letting it fall and create a splash as she walked purposefully toward the front door of Heather's house, her determination palpable in each step.

El and Max followed Josie as she approached Heather's front door. Utilizing her telekinetic powers, Josie focused intently on the lock. Narrowing her eyes and tilting her head down, she directed her energy towards the mechanism. With a focused glare and a concentrated effort, she heard a satisfying click, and the door slowly began to open.

As they walked inside, Josie felt a wave of nausea threatening to overwhelm her. They examined the pictures hanging on the walls, turning a corner to discover images of Billy laughing and joking around with Heather's parents. Despite the apparent joviality, he still exhibited an underlying sense of strangeness that didn't escape their notice.

Suddenly, Josie was overcome by a feeling of urgency. She pushed past Max, sprinting back outside, and everything hit her at once. Hunched over, she threw up into the bushes, a sensation akin to a hangover gripping her. Puzzled, she wondered why these strange occurrences kept happening to her, especially when the Mind Flayer was supposedly gone. The mystery of these inexplicable events weighed heavily on her mind.

"Bad man" echoed in Josie's thoughts, a shiver running down her spine. Standing back up straight, the feeling of sickness had passed, replaced by an unsettling sense of foreboding. Coughing, she glanced toward the door, witnessing El and Max emerging from the house. As she turned her attention back to the window, she locked eyes with Billy, and another unwary feeling gripped her. The Hargrove boy was smirking, a haunting resemblance to Will's demeanor when he was flayed.

oh my gosh. was billy flayed?

Josie pushed away the unsettling feeling, defiantly putting both middle fingers up at Billy. "Fuck you, racist homophobic bastard!" she screamed, her anger boiling over. Max, sensing the tension, pulled Josie back. "Come on, Josefina," her voice seethed with anger, causing Josie to snap around. "What's wrong with you? Why are you mad? I can't help if I got sick!" Josie exclaimed, frustration evident in her words.

In the midst of her frustration, Max's attempt to walk away fueled Josie's anger. She seized Max's shoulders, forcefully turning her around. "No, tell me!" Josie demanded, her voice cutting through the rain-soaked air. Unintentionally, the rain intensified around them, and a distant lightning strike echoed the turbulent emotions coursing through Josie. The downpour mirrored the intensity of their confrontation, leaving the atmosphere charged with a mix of anger and unresolved emotions.

Max glared, accusing Josie, "You keep trying to make it seem like Billy is flayed! You did all this," she gestured towards the episodes of throwing up and passing out from last year, "with when Will was flayed!" The tension in their conversation echoed the storm around them, each word adding to the building emotional tempest.

Josie was taken aback. "I'm sorry, but how is it my fault? So, Billy might be flayed?" she questioned, her eyes hardening as Max rolled her eyes. "He is not flayed, Josefina! It is all in your head! Everything else has explanations!" Max screamed. Josie, not convinced, looked over Max's shoulder, making direct eye contact with El, seeking a silent understanding.

El stood behind Max awkwardly, prompting Josie to sigh. "Can we argue about this later, with El not here? And not in front of Heather's house?" Josie attempted to reason, but Max shook her head defiantly. "No."

Josie's heart skipped a beat, her expression turning into a deep frown. "Fine, don't fucking listen to me, Max! Don't come crying to me later. Billy is working with the bad man! I'm going home," she spat, brushing past Max and defiantly picking up her bike. Throwing her leg over, Josie started biking away, the frustration and hurt evident in her swift departure.

As Max watched Josie leave, a sharp pang of regret settled in. "You okay?" El asked Max, who shook her head, looking over her shoulder. "I just messed up. I don't know why I argued with her like that. I wasn't even mad at her," Max confessed, her emotions raw and conflicted, the weight of her words sinking in.

El frowned. "Hug?" she offered, holding her arms out, and Max nodded. They embraced tightly, Max burying her face in El's chest as El comfortingly rubbed her back. Meanwhile, Billy continued to watch from the window, a smirk playing on his lips. Little did they know, the Mind Flayer had manipulated Max to yell at Josie, attempting to drive a wedge between them.

—

ash speaks!

why do you guys think the mindflayer wants josie out of the picture? it looks like he wants her no where around el and his plans . . .