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-'ˏ Margo's Pov ˎ'-

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Hawkins High School

Friday , 1:00 p.m

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"Asshole." I mumbled under my breath as I rolled my eyes and picked my books and papers off the ugly laminate floor of Hawkins High.

Billy Hargrove. The one and only king douche of Hawkins had purposely slammed his shoulder into mine for the second time today. I was always tired of his shit, as most people were, but today's events pissed me off more than usual. Nancy gave me a sympathetic look as she bent down to collect the last of my papers. I angrily shoved them deep down into my backpack before we started on our way towards the parking lot.

We walked out to see Billy leaning against his Camaro with his stupid hair, and god awful attitude, smoking a cigarette as he waited for a little girl who appeared to be his sister. We walked right past to Nancy's car and left campus.

Nancy and I have been best friends ever since she watched me cry on our first day of kindergarten. Without hesitation she awkwardly patted my shoulder and invited me to come play with her. Since then we've been attached at the hip. We were practically the same person. As we shared the same interests and ideas for the most part, the one thing we differed on was getting the hell out of Hawkins and our taste in guys. I wanted to live somewhere big and well, normal. But Nancy wanted to stay here in this hell hole because she enjoyed the small town atmosphere.

She knocked me out of my train of thought as she asked me what I was doing later on tonight.

"Mmm" I hummed lightly thinking about it. "Probably some homework, maybe some hard drugs and then a little-" I said trying to annoy her as she cut me off.

"I didn't want an answer because your coming to this party with me!" She stated while smiling sweetly at me.

"No." I said smiling right back in an act of mocking her.

"Please? It'll be fun. You need to have some FUN!" She begged as she pulled into my driveway.

"That sounds god awful. Do you know me at all?" I retorted as I got out of the car.

"I do which is why I'm forcing you to come. I'll see you at eight. Tell your mom we are having a sleepover or something!" She responded while already backing up out of my driveway.

"I didn't consent to this!" I shouted as she was already halfway down the road. Rolling my eyes at her forcefulness I quickly unlocked my front door and stepped inside.

"IM LOOKING FOR MY PADDLES!" I heard Dustin scream. Sometimes my brother was so weird and he made me want to move out, but I loved him nonetheless.

"Your what?" I said laughing at him as I sat my backpack down on the living room floor.

"My paddles I need them for my curiosity voyage!" He shouted at me from half under the couch. He slammed his head on it trying to wiggle back out from underneath it and I chuckled at him.

"Your library books are on the kitchen table you doofus."

"I just checked there you absolute dingus! Do I LOOK like an idiot to you?" He rambled angrily before realizing they really were on the table. "Oh..." he muttered awkwardly before hurriedly picking them up and running to his room.

"You're welcome!" I shout as he slams the door.

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"This was a terrible idea.." I muttered to myself while reapplying a shiny coat of gloss to my lips. I wrote a quick note to my parents before I scurried out the door towards Nancy's car with my bag, fearing they'd stop me if they saw me leaving.

"Good evening ugly!" Nancy cheerily greeted me as I stepped into her car.

"Awh gee u shouldn't have Nance!" I sarcastically replied. Then despite myself I couldn't help but giggle. "Where to?"

"Steve's." She replied while smiling like an idiot.

"Oh so this is your plan to hang out with him and ditch me when the time is right?"

"Me? Never!" She said laughing. I couldn't help but smile at the giddy look on her face. No matter how much I hated parties, I guess I could suck it up for her happiness.

After driving through a couple of desolate neighborhoods Nancy announced that we had arrived while nervously fiddling with the hem of her dress.

"You'll be fine and I'm sure Steve will love your dress." I told her reassuringly. I was rethinking my own outfit choice as I stared down at my faded hightop converses.

"Yeah. Yeah you're right. It'll be fun." She said assuring herself more than me.

The second we stepped inside Nancy bolted towards the drinks and poured the hardest liquor she could find into her cup.

"I know and you know that's for the nerves but slow down you look like a hard core alcoholic." I joked with her. She gave me a flat expression I just had to laugh at as I slid myself onto the countertop.

"I'll be here!" I motion towards all the food spread out across the kitchen island. She rolled her eyes at me but immediately straightened up as Steve walked in.

"Harrington," I said nodding my head at him as I dug my hand into a bag of chips.

"Henderson." He said acknowledging me with a nod while grabbing two beers.

All Nancy could do was stand there awkwardly so I broke the silence myself. "Maybe you only need one?" I said gesturing to the beers jokingly.

"I think I'll take two." He muttered, walking back out as quickly as he came in. As my eyes followed him I saw he walked out to Billy Hargrove. I snorted in response.

"No wonder he needs two." I sarcastically mention as I chomp down on another chip. "Follow him!" I told Nancy through a mouthful of Doritos.

She scrunched up her face and eventually nodded as she rushed out to find him before he got lost in the crowd. I happily enjoyed the silence and food as I tipped the Doritos bag into my mouth lazily.

"That's disgusting." I heard someone remark as the pop of a beer can being opened popped loudly in the small kitchen space.

"Don't look then." I said swinging my legs as I look down to find Billy leaning against the counter opposite of me.

"You know I can't keep my eyes off pretty lil things like you." He said smirking. Clearly thinking his charms worked on everyone. I slowly got down off the counter and walked towards him. I moved my face close to his ear before whispering "Come up with more pickup lines. Emily just heard that one not even two days ago." I said clicking my tongue and pressing the Dorito bag into his chest before leaving the kitchen. Leaving him baffled and alone.

I walked out of the house, having to shove my way through packed bodies to do so. The heat and overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke mixed with alcohol wasn't my idea of a good time so I entertained myself by sitting on the front porch waiting for Nancy to be ready to leave. When she finally stumbled out of the house she looked like a child on Christmas morning.

"You have fun Nance?" I asked her as she heavily leaned on me. Reeking both of beer and Steve Harrington's cologne.

"Yes I did!" She happily replied as she stumbled into the passenger side seat of her own car.

"You are such a mess." I said rolling my eyes at her stupidity as I started the car and headed home. She was too drunk to talk about her smooch with Steve so I let her be in her own world as she hummed all the way home.

"Okay Nancy, quiet remember?" I said as I walked her up the front porch stairs.

"I'm stealthy! Like a ninja!" She yelled. I smacked my hand over her mouth and let her go inside.

"Thank you Margo!" she cooed to me using my nickname, clearly trying to butter me up so we could go next time there was a party.

I shut the door in her face laughing at her stupidity before walking back down the driveway and towards my house.