I skated into Hawkins Middle School beside Max. Max is my cousin. She kinda let me come and live with her after I was expelled from my other school.. let's not talk about it.

"You excited?" She asked.

"No."

She chuckled and showed me my locker.

"Do you want me to introduce you to my friends?"

"I think I'm good." Max used to be like me. Well that's what she tells me. Everyone used to call her Madmax and fear her, but now she's changed. I'm not planning on making friends at Hawkins. I'm not planning on staying. Simply graduate and move away.

I shoved some books into my locker and headed to class. I can read my timetable on my own and I don't need some cringy guy to show me around.

I took my seat but I could feel eyes on me. I glared around and Max and her friends were just staring at me.

"Could you not?" I shout whisper to Max.

"Well you didn't want to meet them!"

"Fine. What are their names?"

"We are right here." A boy with curly hair shouts a bit too loudly.

"Dustin! Do you mind explaining to the class the structure of the earth?" The teacher interrupted. Thank god.

"I uh."

"I thought so. Now be quiet and pay attention during class."

The lesson finished at I skated around a bit. Luckily Max didn't follow me but some other guy did.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Hi. I'm Mike. Mike Wheeler."

"Nice?"

"Your Max's cousin right?"

"Yeah."

"Cool. I was wondering if you wanted to hangout."

"No. I don't."

"Right." He rolled his eyes and walked off.

It got to the end of lunch and I found another group I didn't recognise approach me. Specifically one boy stood out and began to talk.

"I'm Troy. Also known as your new boyfriend."

"Who are you talking to?" I ask in a sarcastic tone fluttering my eyes about.

"Look. If I were you I'd stay on my good side. You don't know what I'm capable of."

"Oh no! Are you gonna stuff me in a trash can and give me wedgie! Help me!"

"Right I've had enough of you bitch!" He lunges towards me and I ducked sending him flying through the air.

A crowd had gathered and my eyes scanned the area for the easy way out. I locked eyes with Mike.

"You ok?" He mouthed.

I found myself smiling at him and nodding.. which caused me to loose concentration and get punched in the face.

Troy stood over me and I held my cheek in pain.

"I told you not to mess with me."

He held out his hand and I took it, in the process pulling him to the floor.

"Boo hoo." I fake cried and made my way to lesson, the crowd dispersing.

Mike ran after me.

"Woah you really had a fight with Troy on the first day. Badass." He whispered the word badass.

"Yea? I don't know who that dickhead thinks he is but I could've easily taken him. I was distracted."

"By what.? That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard."

"Oh shut up Wheeler. I'd like to see you try and take him."

Silence.

"So have you considered the offer?"

"Huh?"

"Meet me at the arcade at 6pm. I'll buy us drinks and we can play some games."

He walked off before I could argue.

The school day quickly came for a close and I found myself wondering whether to stand up Wheeler or not.

Me and Max hopped into Billy's car. She took the front seat.

"It's my turn in the front seat!" I yelled.

"You snooze you loose. You were staring into space about god knows what."

"Mike asked me to the arcades."

"A date?"

"SHUT UP!" Billy yelled screeching the car breaks. "YOU TWO ARE GETTING ON MY FUCKING NERVES."

Me and Max just stayed in silence for the rest of the car journey whilst Billy hummed along to one of his songs on the radio.

We arrived home and Max followed me to my room.

"Frog face asked you on a date!!!"

"Why is that so surprising?. Plus it's not officially a date."

"Because... he has a girlfriend."