Chapter Text
Dustin pounded his fist on the door to the Wheeler household for a good few moments. He knew that he could’ve just used the doorbell, but he also knew that knocking unnecessarily, got on Ted Wheeler's nerves. Getting on Ted’s nerves has always been one of Dustin’s favorite hobbies. The big man of the house wasn’t even home right now, but the knocking was a routine at this point. Dustin liked routine.
Mike pulled open the door with an irritated expression on his face. It was hilarious how much he resembled his dad at that moment.
Dustin smiled at his friend, and pushed the VHS he had just picked up from family video right into Mikes hand. He scooted past him, and through the door, without a word. He rushed down the staircase to the basement, hoping to claim his favorite movie night spot.
It was a little competitive when it came to full party hangouts. The couch could only comfortably fit four at the maximum, and it was silently agreed that 2/4 spots were reserved for Lucas and Max, since they were a couple. That usually meant the third occupant would be El, since no one had the heart to separate the girls. That left the fourth couch spot, and the armchair free for the taking. No one wanted to sit on the floor, but the armchair was definitely preferable to the couch. Sitting on the couch risked feeling cramped by Lucas and El, who were both comfortable taking up way more space than necessary.
Dustin was met with disappointment when he reached the bottom of the stairs. Lucas, Max and El were on the couch as usual, but the armchair also had an occupant. Will already claimed the seat, but Dustin kept his cool. Giving the VHS to Mike was an attempt to stall him, since he was Dustin’s main competitor. Will chose to take this victory today, and Dustin had to respect it.
“Hey Dustin.” Will said.
El and Lucas both waved to him, and Max just lifted up her head, signaling her acknowledgement of his arrival. She may be blind, but it was hard to imagine that she couldn’t tell what direction the stairs were in the basement that she spent years in. He still didn’t let himself get offended by her lack of a wave though. It was a waste of energy. Dustin accepted that he may not get the chair, but that did not mean the floor was his fate. He plopped himself down onto the couch beside El, which bounced everyone sitting on it.
“Jesus.” Max groaned
“You're using the lord's name in vain!” Dustin teased
“Suck an egg.” Max shot back.
“Thats a new one. Nice, Max.”
Mike came down, started up the movie, and then took his shameful seat on the ground. El requested the movie for the night. She chose a relatively new movie called “Heathers” It seemed like a girl movie to Dustin, but the synopsis was interesting, so everyone agreed on it.
“Holy shit.” Dustin quietly laughed. He nudged El who was sitting beside him. “That girl looks like your mom.”
She turned around and gave Dustin a confused, and slightly disturbed look. The movie suddenly paused.
“We need popcorn.” Mike realized.
Dustin raised an eyebrow. “Do we?”
Popcorn was definitely a staple of movie night, but Mike clearly had no intention to make it himself, and neither did Dustin. Lucas could tell this was the beginning of a standoff to see who was going to step up and take care of the problem. He sighed, and got up. His departure left Max to slowly falling against the arm of the couch.
“I’ll make it.” He said.
“I will come with you.” El declared. She got up and followed him, leaving Max and Dustin alone on the couch.
Max took the opportunity to stretch herself out, and lay down. She settled her body comfortably, kicking Dustin a few times in the process.
“I’m still here.” He pointed out.
“Yeah. I realized that when I kicked you. Sorry.”
Max couldn’t have been that sorry, because he was kicked multiple times, and because her feet were still pushing up against him. Dustin picked them up and moved them somewhere less annoying.
“Hey don’t touch my feet, weirdo.” She hissed.
“In his defense, they were in the way.” Mike chimed in, leaning against the coffee table.
Dustin appreciated being backed up by the other resident grump of the group.
Max pulled her feet away and onto the ground “I have to piss.” She announced.
When she got up and made her way to the bathroom, (that she knew the location of despite being blind. No excuse for not waving earlier.) Dustin realized it was probably a good idea for him to use the bathroom too. He didn’t want to miss anything important in the movie.
“I’m using the bathroom upstairs.” He said, swinging his body off of the couch.
When Dustin reached the top of the stairs, the smell of fresh popcorn drifted into his nose. It was a wonderful scent, that sent his mind back to all the past movie nights the party shared. He peeked into the kitchen to see if Lucas and El were done, and he was met with something he could’ve never anticipated.
El and Lucas were tucked away on the further side of the kitchen. They were whispering, and giggling like little kids. Lucas leaned against the kitchen counter, his hand gently resting on his friends back. El stood in front of him, hands cupping his cheeks. She was very close to him. So close in fact, that when El’s hands fell from Lucas’s face, Dustin watched their lips separate from each other.
They were kissing.
Dustin’s stomach dropped to his feet. He turned around, slipping back into the basement before he could be spotted. He decided that he was just going to use the bathroom when Max was done.
Dustin wasn’t able to focus on the movie. His friends were engaged and entertained, but his mind was swarming with thoughts. He never expected something like cheating to happen to anyone in the party. He especially couldn’t imagine that there would ever be a scandal between three of the party members.
He looked over at his friends sitting beside him. Lucas had his arm around Max while her head rested peacefully on his chest. They looked like a picture perfect couple.
Anger started to bubble up in Dustin’s chest, but was soon chased away by a feeling much more somber. He looked at El. She held Max’s hand held between hers, and pulled into her lap. The girls limbs were tangled together like the strings of a friendship bracelet. Dustin couldn’t believe what was happening between the two closest friends in the party. That was a kind of betrayal that Max could never deserve. Dustin felt sick to his stomach.