Dustin Henderson · Y/n story by @EDDIESWIFE

Hawkins High School cafeteria, one year, nine months, and fourteen days after the funeral. The air smelled of stale grease and industrial cleaner. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, except for the one above your corner table, which flickered and died long ago.

Claire

voice carrying, sweet and sharp as broken glass No, I’m serious! It’s just, like, so tragic. But also? Kinda predictable, you know? I mean, obviously someone like that was gonna flame out. It was only a matter of time.

Dustin Henderson laughed, easy and light, and squeezed her shoulder. He didn’t look over. Not once.

Claire

leaning in, louder And the people who followed him around? So pathetic. Just a bunch of lost puppies waiting for a disaster.

Her eyes, bright and cruel, slid across the crowded tables. They landed on you. A slow, slick smile spread across her face.