1

RAYA

I hopped out of my twin's vehicle. Jonathan Byers was the oldest twin but I was a grade higher than him. He shut the door and hurried inside the school.

Just as I was going to walk away from the vehicle, the sound of tires screeching and loud music filled my ears.

I turned around and looked to see a blue Camaro with a California liscense plate.

The driver door opened and everyone watched as an attractive boy stepped out, a cigarette in his mouth. He wore denim jeans with a white t-shirt and a jean jacket over it.

The passenger's door opened and a cute red haired girl stepped out, slammed her door, and hurried off towards the middle school.

I rolled my eyes and headed towards the entrance of the high school. I headed towards my best friend who was at his locker.

"Stevie!" I called in a sing-song voice.

He looked at me and chuckled lightly. He pulled me in for a hug.

"I missed you so much, Raya." He informed me as he pulled away.

"We seen each other Monday, Harrington." I responded, teasingly.

"I know, I know." He looped his arm through mine. "But I really did miss you yesterday. Speaking of yesterday, how was our dear old Hawkins lab?"

"I didn't go to my appointment." I admitted as we made our through the crowded high school.

He stopped and glared at me. "Why the hell not?"

"Why does it matter?" I demanded.

"You went to two and then ever since you skip out on them." Steve hissed. "Next the military is gonna show up in hazmat suits and take us all away!"

"Steven-"

"Raya-"

"Just let it go please." I begged.

He took a deep breath and sighed. "Fine but only because we've been best friends since kindergarten. And I've gotta go find Nancy."

He hugged me one last time before running off. I headed to my first class and took my assigned seat in the back.

Mrs. Penn, my favorite teacher had decorated her room for Halloween and made all of her lessons to align with the spooky holiday. Plus she taught my favorite subject, art.

The door opened and Mrs. Penn walked in with the new kid.

I swear the girl in front of me almost fainted.

"Good morning class, this our transfer student all the way from California, William Hargrove." She announced.

"Actually, ma'am, it's Billy." He responded.

"Well, Billy, for the rest of the year you're going to be partnered with Raya Byers. Miss Byers, please raise your hand."

I sighed and raised my hands. Billy's eyes roamed over me and then he walked over to me. He took his seat next to me and as the teacher began explaining the lesson, he decided to start writing me notes.

He passed over the piece of paper. I sighed internally before taking it and opening it.

Hi.

I wrote back hi and he began to write more. When he was finished, I saw he wrote.

You going to the Halloween party?

Maybe.

He kept the note and paid attention the entire class. As soon as the bell rang, I stood up and hurried to my next class which I shared with Steve. I found him in the back and hurried and took a seat next to him.

"How was the new kid and your little hangout?" Steve demanded.

"Huge ego, a ton of ladies who wanna get in his pants." I explained.

"He just got here and is dead set on dethroning me."

"That's a big word."

"Raya-"

"I think you'll be okay." I told him, holding onto his arm. "Anyways, who told you about Billy sitting next to me anyways."

"Sheilah."

"Your ex, Sheilah?" I demanded. I pushed away from him. "Steve!"

"Relax we're not even friends. She did that to anger Nancy and rub in my face that you were replacing me." Steve explained.

"I am not replacing you."

"You kinda are."

"No, I'm not. You're the one replacing me with Nancy."

"I am not. You know you're my only best friend."

🔷️

I walked up to my locker to see several papers. The first one was a picture of a zombie, a freakshow, the woods, and a coffin.

I heard laughter and turned around to see a group of jocks and cheerleaders. The whole hall had their attention on me. I sighed and just began to walk off.

I could faintly hear Steve calling my name but I didn't want to see him. I kept running. Suddenly someone grabbed my arm and I whirled around to see Billy Hargrove.

"What was all of that?" He demanded, fury visible in his eyes.

"Please let me go." I pleaded. "Just go ask some girl, I'm sure they'll be happy to tell you."

I then ran off. I found the girls bathroom empty and locked the main door. Then I slid down the tile wall and began to cry.

"Raya?"

"Go away!" I snapped.

"Please, it's me, Nancy, open the door. I know we don't really like each other but just open the door and let me in."

I began to wipe my face and stood up. I opened the door and saw Nancy.  She gave me a look of understanding and entered.

"Did you tell Jonathan?"

"No, but I'm sure he knows."

I sighed and leaned against the walls, the tears overwhelming me again.

"If they knew the truth, they wouldn't make fun of you."

"No, I'd be made fun of because my dumb ass couldn't fend off a demogorgon."

"Raya-"

"I'm just gonna go home. I appreciate you, Nancy. I really do, but don't break Steve's heart. Also enjoy your dinner with Barb's parents."

I then hurried out of the bathroom. I found the nearest phone and dialed Hopper's number. Nobody answered. Then I called Mrs. Wheeler and Ms. Henderson. Everybody except my mom.

Nobody answered.

I sighed and then hurried out of the school building. I ignored the yelling teachers and began to walk down the streets of Indiana. I didn't even think about where I was going. I just kept walking, my mind running a thousand miles per hour.

Suddenly, I heard someone honk. I rolled my eyes and continued to walk in the middle of the street.

Who drives down this street anyways?

"RAYA!"

I turned around and seen the blue Camaro. He began to drive closer to me until he was driving beside me.

"Need a ride?"

"No." I said, my voice shaky.

"Get in."

"Where's the little girl?"

"I dropped my step sister off already."

"You sound mad."

"She's a little bitch."

How long have I been walking?

"What do you want?" I demanded.

"You."

"Well you want what you can't have."

"Come on, get in."

"No."

"Raya, get in the car."

"My mom told me not to get in a stranger's car."

"Okay, well my name is Billy Hargrove, and we met in class. Now that we're not strangers, get in."

I stopped and looked over at him. I saw he was serious.

I sighed and got in the car. To my luck, he didn't ask any questions, just turned his radio back on, and drove me towards my house.

When we got there, he turned down the radio.

"Thanks, Billy." I told him, genuinely.

"No problem."

I got out and headed inside, feeling a lot better. But suddenly I couldn't shake the feeling that something was severely wrong. I kept getting random goosebumps and a bad feeling in my stomach.