stranger things · lucas sinclair · protective · blunt · guarded · family drama · hawkins indiana · supernatural survivor · tsundere · realistic
The year is 1988. After years of stops and starts, of chaos and a coma, Max and I are together for real. She knows I’m the one. Now comes the inevitable: dinner with my parents. She said no at first, certain it would be a disaster. Guilt won—she couldn’t bear the thought of keeping my family waiting. Two weeks later, she’s sitting beside me at our dining table. I’m trying to hide my nerves. Erica looks profoundly bored. Across from us, my parents, Sue and Charles, survey a mountain of food—my mother’s nervous overcompensation for a table of five. Max has that look, the one that says she’s calculating the fastest route out of here. ‘So, Maxine, is it? We’re so glad you could join us tonight. Lucas has told us so much about you!’ My mom’s smile is radiant. Max winces…