Chapter 43

Hello divas! As you can tell in this chapter I’ve changed the story a good amount since I changed a major point of the original narrative lmao but i still tried to keep the same underlying theme. ALSO I NEED OPINIONS PLEASE. I am so torn about where to put Maggie for season three so PLEASE let me know because if you guys want her in scoops troop i will DEFINITELY do that. Its ultimately up to you 🙂 i just have no idea what group i want her in 😭

The phone rings at 10 am.

Maggie Byers stares at it for a second, sprawled sideways on the couch with one sock on and the other abandoned somewhere near the coffee table. She sighs and reaches for the receiver.

“If you’re calling about my car’s extended warranty,” she says flatly, “don’t even say anything because I will be tempted.”

From the kitchen, Joyce calls, “You don’t even have a car.”

Maggie shrugs, “Technicalities.”

The line crackles, then a voice comes through, “We need you.”

Maggie straightens a little, “Wow. No hello? Has no one taught you manners, Eleven Hopper?”

There’s a pause. Long enough to picture El sighing at the phone.

“…Hello.”

Maggie smirks, swinging her legs off the couch, “Good morning to ya. Now what can I do for you?”

Before El can answer, another voice crashes into the line, “Mike is an ass.”

Maggie nods to herself, already reaching for her jacket, “Not another word. I’ll be over in a heel click.”

She hangs up before anyone can argue and raises her voice toward the kitchen, “Ma, I’m going out. My expertise is needed.”

Joyce appears in the doorway, drying her hands on a towel, “Please tell me it’s nothing illegal.”

Maggie pauses, considering, “No. Not unless it entails burying a body.”

Joyce exhales, deeply unimpressed. “All I ask is you’re not the one to kill anyone.”

“Can’t make promises,” Maggie says, already halfway out the door.

Maggie grabs her jacket off the back of the chair and heads for the door, hopping down the porch steps two at a time.

After about ten minutes, Hopper’s place comes into view. No other bikes, no Mike pacing the yard. That alone tells her plenty.

She knocks once and lets herself in.

“El?”

Eleven is sitting stiffly at the table, hands folded, jaw set like she’s bracing for impact. Max is perched on the counter, arms crossed, foot bouncing. Both of them look up at the same time.

“Okay,” Maggie says, “I can already tell this is one of those situations where everyone pretends nothing’s happening while everything is, in fact, happening.”

El’s brows knit together, “Mike said—”

“—something stupid,” Max cuts in immediately, “He always does.”

Maggie points at her, “Correct. Gold star.”

El shifts in her seat, “He didn’t mean it.”

Max scoffs, “They never do.”

Maggie drops into the chair across from El, elbows on the table, “Alright. Start from the beginning. And don’t skip the parts where you tell yourselves you’re overreacting. Those are usually the important ones.”

El hesitates. That’s answer enough.

“He said Max was… changing me,” she says finally, “That I’m different when I’m with her.”

Max’s foot stills, “And?”

“And that it was dangerous,” El adds, “That I don’t listen anymore.”

Maggie exhales through her nose, “Ah. The classic ‘I’m losing my place in your life so I’ll call it concern’ maneuver.”

“That’s not fair,” El says quickly, even as her voice wobbles.

Max hops down from the counter, “It’s not about fair. It’s about him being uncomfortable and making it your problem.”

El looks torn, “He’s my friend.”

“So am I,” Max says, “But I don’t act like I get veto power over who you are.”

The room settles. Maggie watches it click into place.

“You know,” Maggie says slowly, “no one’s mad because of what he said. Not really. You’re mad because he said it out loud.”

El’s breath catches and Max’s jaw tightens.

There it is.

“He sees it,” Maggie continues, “Whatever this is. And instead of dealing with his own feelings like a functioning human, he poked at it until it hurt.”

El presses her palms flat to the table, “I didn’t choose.”

“You did,” Max says softly, “You just didn’t announce it.”

Maggie stands, crosses the room, and rests against the counter beside Max, “And that’s the part everyone’s pretending not to notice. You didn’t push Mike away. You stepped toward Max.”

El swallows, “I didn’t mean to make it… public.”

“But you did,” Maggie says, “You sat next to her. You listened to her. You left with her. That’s loud, even when you don’t raise your voice.”

Max glances at El, “I wasn’t trying to start a war.”

El meets her eyes, “I wasn’t trying to choose sides.”

Maggie sighs, fond and exasperated, “Congratulations. You both failed beautifully.”

Silence stretches.

“So what now?” El asks.

Maggie shrugs, “Now you don’t apologize for existing. You don’t shrink back to make Mike comfortable. And you don’t pretend this is nothing just because naming it feels scary.”

Max nods once, “And Mike?”

“Mike will survive,” Maggie says, “He’ll sulk. He’ll say dumb things. He’ll learn or he won’t. But that part isn’t your responsibility.”

El takes a breath, “I don’t want to lose him.”

“You won’t,” Maggie says, “You’re just not choosing him first anymore.”

Max’s hand brushes El’s.

Maggie claps her hands together, “Well this has all been adequately depressing. What do you say we have some fun? Just girls, no stupid boys.”

Max’s face lights up like she’s been waiting for permission, “Best idea you’ve ever had.”

Maggie squints at her, “You know I feel like I should be insulted.”

“I say we go to the mall,” Max adds quickly, spinning toward El.

El furrows her brows, “What is the mall?”

Max grins, “Only the best place on earth.”

Maggie is already standing, grabbing her jacket, “Come on. No time to waste. We’re taking the bus.”

The bus smells like old vinyl seats and cheap cologne. Maggie drops into a seat, Max slides in next to El, knees knocking together when the bus jerks forward.

El watches everything. The passing trees, the other passengers, the way Max taps her foot to a rhythm only she can hear.

When they finally step off, Starcourt Mall looms in front of them, bright and loud.

El freezes and her eyes flick everywhere at once.

“What’s wrong?” Max asks gently.

El shakes her head, “Too many people. Against the rules.”

Max grins, undeterred, “Seriously? You have superpowers. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Maggie nods sagely, “Rules are meant to be broken. Especially dumb ones.”

El hesitates, then nods. A small smile tugs at her mouth as Max takes her hand and pulls her forward.

“Hey!” Maggie calls after them, “Don’t make me a third wheel. Guys!”

She jogs to catch up as they disappear into the mall.

Inside, Starcourt explodes around them. It’s filled with neon lights, music, laughter, and the smell of popcorn and pretzels.

El’s mouth parts in awe.

“So,” Max asks, watching her carefully, “what should we do first?”

“We’re hitting up The Gap,” Maggie declares, already steering them toward it.

El wanders the store like it’s a museum, fingers brushing fabric, eyes wide at the colors. She stops in front of a bright blue shirt streaked with neon details.

“Do you like that?” Max asks.

El turns to her, uncertain, “How do I know… what I like?”

Max thinks for a moment, “You try things on. Until something feels right.”

“Feels right?”

“Yeah,” Max smiles softly, “Like you. Not Hopper. Not Mike. You.”

El looks back at the shirt, a grin slowly spreading across her face.

Maggie pats them both on the shoulders, “Life lessons are everywhere, my young padawans. Even in shopping.”

El emerges from the dressing room in the blue shirt, red suspenders, and bright yellow pants. Max plops a matching yellow hat on her head.

Maggie nods approvingly, “It’s weird. I’m obsessed.”

El laughs and ducks back inside, reappearing in a white skirt and top splattered with paint-like colors, cinched with a thick yellow belt. She spins, dizzy with joy, and stumbles straight into Max’s arms.

Max catches her automatically, laughing.

Meanwhile, Max tries on sunglasses, finally settling on square frames in scarlet red. Maggie… exists. She’s commenting on everything, flirting with mannequins, and trying on a hat she absolutely doesn’t need.

El comes out again in a black jumpsuit patterned with neon, abstract shapes.

Maggie nods once, “That’s it. That’s the one.”

After checking out, Max drags them to take photos. They cram together in ridiculous outfits, some pictures of the three of them, some just two together.

One photo catches El and Max mid-laugh, unaware of the camera.

Maggie smiles at that one.

Next stop: shoes.

El wobbles in a pair of heels, Max holding her steady. El takes one step, then crashes to the floor. The three of them collapse into boisterous laughter. Other teenage girls stare.

Maggie stares back, deadly calm, pointing two fingers from her eyes to theirs and mouthing, I’ll kill you.

They look away immediately with wide eyes.

Outside the store, Maggie notices the same girls again. El notices too.

Their eyes meet and Maggie gives a subtle nod.

El closes her eyes and concentrates. A drink explodes over the girl and her friends in a shower of soda and ice.

Maggie, El, and Max laugh until their sides hurt, pure and wild and free.

Next, they stop at Scoops Ahoy, the smell of waffle cones and overly sweet ice cream hitting them as soon as the door swings open.

El and Max immediately start scanning the menu board, pointing at bright colors and insane flavors. Maggie, on the other hand, has other plans. Her eyes lock on Steve Harrington behind the counter, the poor boy clearly trying to maintain the illusion of being busy. She smirks.

“Well hello, Stevie. Fancy seeing you here,” Maggie says, propping an elbow on the counter, chin resting in her palm. Her grin stretches mischievously.

Steve glances up, shoulders sagging with a mix of exhaustion and exasperation.

“I work here,” he deadpans, his tone flat but with just enough edge to show he’s already on the defensive.

“Really?” Maggie gasps, feigning shock, “Oh, I hadn’t noticed! Must have missed the little hat and the ice cream scooper of doom.”

She wiggles her fingers toward his uniform.

Steve groans, dragging a towel across the counter, “I can see the sarcasm a mile away, and honestly, it’s exhausting.”

El peeks at Maggie from the side, eyebrows knitting together.

“She… likes to tease,” Max mutters, a grin tugging at her lips.

Maggie winks at them, then turns back to Steve, “Oh, Stevie. You look positively thrilled to see me. Or is that just your natural expression?”

Steve sets the towel down and leans on the counter, squinting at her, “I… I genuinely don’t know why anyone would choose this as their daily existence.”

Max laughs under her breath, nudging El, who’s trying and failing to hide a small smile.

Maggie claps her hands together, “Well, I’ve come to bring sunshine into your otherwise tragic, waffle-cone-scented life!”

Steve groans again, rubbing the back of his neck, “If by sunshine you mean torture, sure. Yeah, we’re on the same page.”

El, finally gaining courage, tugs slightly at Max’s sleeve.

“Can we… get ice cream?” Her voice is quiet but determined.

“Of course, my sweet little chipmunk,” Maggie says, waving her hand, “But first, Stevie, I have a few burning questions.”

Steve groans a laugh this time, “Do I have to answer?”

“Oh, you will answer,” Maggie says firmly, “Like… how’s it feel, being forced into retail servitude while the world outside is full of adventure?”

Steve deadpans, “Oh, it’s fantastic. 10/10 would recommend.

Maggie gasps in mock horror, putting a hand to her chest, “And here I thought your main job was scooping ice cream, not doling out existential crises!”

Max and El snicker, and Steve finally cracks a genuine smile, shaking his head, “You really are a problem.”

“Oh, Stevie,” Maggie sighs theatrically, “If being a problem was a superpower, I’d be… well… me. You get the idea.”

El giggles softly, Max elbowing her with a grin. Steve just shakes his head, rubbing his forehead, realizing he’s in deep for the next twenty minutes.

Ok, well, what do you want?” Steve asks, sighing as he reaches for a scoop.

“Strawberry!” Max announces with a grin, pointing to the bright pink swirl on the menu board.

“Vanilla. Sprinkles. Whipped cream,” El says simply. The whipped cream, she seems to imply, is non-negotiable.

“And I will take whatever has enough sugar to give me a heart attack,” Maggie adds, folding her arms.

Steve rolls his eyes, grabbing a waffle cone, “Coming right up.”

The girls shuffle a little, bouncing on their heels, watching him work. The sound of the freezers behind the counter mixes with the soft pop music. Steve opens the small back window, talking to someone briefly.

“Is that Robin back there?” Maggie asks, squinting.

“No,” Steve says, sarcasm dripping off every syllable, “I was talking to myself.”

Maggie doesn’t even pause. She yells through the closed window, “HI ROBIN!”

A faint, muffled voice responds, “HELLO MAGGIE.”

Maggie grins triumphantly, turning back to the girls as Steve finally hands them their cones.

“She loves me,” Maggie whispers, a conspiratorial sparkle in her eyes.

Steve huffs, “That’s one word for it.”

Then he freezes, his brow furrowing as his eyes land on El, “Hey… is she even allowed to be here?”

The three exchange sly looks. A tiny shared smirk grows into mischievous laughter.

“None of your business,” Maggie says smoothly, popping her cone in one hand and tapping El on the shoulder with the other, “Gotta blast, Stevie!”

The girls dash toward the door, cones wobbling in their hands. El’s laughter is musical, Max’s infectious, Maggie’s triumphant. Steve groans, reaching out as if he could stop them, but they’re already halfway across the parlor.

The smell of waffle cones and melting chocolate trails behind them as the door swings shut.

Steve just stares after them, hand on his forehead, muttering, “I swear, one day I’m going to lose my mind.”

Meanwhile, the trio bursts out onto the sidewalk outside the mall, the sunlight hitting their faces. Max swirls her strawberry cone, licking it carefully, El balances her vanilla with whipped cream like it’s the crown jewel of her morning, and Maggie takes a long, dramatic bite of her sugar-laden monstrosity.

“Best plan ever,” Max says, grinning at El.

“Definitely,” El whispers back, eyes sparkling.

As they continue walking, they hear very familiar voices. Maggie already knows this interaction won’t go well.

“Oh, you’ve gotta be shitting me,” Max mutters angrily.

At the bike rack outside, Lucas, Mike, and Will are fumbling with their bikes. Mike’s eyes lock onto El, narrowing slightly.

“Well, well, well,” Maggie calls, stepping forward, “If it isn’t dumb, dumber, and dumbest.” She punctuates the last word, aiming it squarely at Mike.

Mike’s jaw tightens.

“What are you doing here?” he demands, gesturing at El as if she needs his permission.

“Shopping,” El answers simply, her voice firm.

“This is her new style,” Max adds brightly, nudging El slightly, “What do you think?”

Mike’s gaze sharpens, “What’s wrong with you? You know she shouldn’t be here.”

“And that’s exactly why I’m here,” Maggie says smugly, arms crossed, “to supervise.”

“What is she, your little pet?” Max fires back, eyes blazing.

“Yeah. Am I your pet?” El adds, stepping closer to Mike.

“What? No!” Mike stammers.

“Then why do you act like it?” El demands, her hands clenching at her sides.

Mike opens his mouth, but Max jumps in, cutting him off.

“Seriously, Mike. This isn’t about you. You’re acting jealous because she likes spending time with me, not because she did anything wrong.”

El nods slightly, more to herself than anyone else, “I am not yours. I pick who I hang with.”

Will and Lucas exchange uncomfortable glances, standing awkwardly behind the tension.

Mike’s face flushes, half with embarrassment, half with frustration, “I just… I don’t want her—”

“You don’t get to say that,” El interrupts, voice rising, eyes locking on his, “You try to boss me. Stop. I pick who I spend time with. Right now… it’s Max.”

Max’s mouth quirks into a proud grin. Maggie snickers, clearly enjoying every second of Mike’s flustered silence.

El steps closer, so close Mike can see her determination, “I say no more control. You’re my friend, or you step back.”

Mike opens his mouth, then closes it, too stunned to argue further. Will shifts his weight nervously, looking anywhere but at them.

Lucas just shrugs, muttering, “Yikes.”

El turns to Max and Maggie, “Go. Let’s go.”

Without waiting for a response, the three of them pivot sharply and march back toward the bus, laughter bubbling up as Mike and the others are left standing there, mouths open, completely flustered.

Once on the bus, they collapse into the seats, high-fiving and giggling. Maggie leans back, smirking.

“And that, ladies, is how you reclaim your morning.”

Max nudges El with her shoulder, “I think he’s finally starting to understand who’s boss.”

El laughs softly, a little freer than before.