[scarce01]

Chapter 4: Nancy's Superb Sleepover ☙

Warnings: fluff, a little Nancy x OC (PLATONIC!!! maybe... ;))

WC: 1.3k

Summary: Nancy gives Marianne the sleepover of a lifetime.

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Tuesday, June 18th, 1983

“Do you have everything you need? Toothbrush? PJs?” Margaret was currently questioning her daughter's ability to pack for a sleepover, seeing as she had never been to one. 

“Yes, mama. I know how to pack…” Marianne groaned, slipping her bag onto her shoulder and putting her shoes on. Tonight she will be sleeping over with Nancy Wheeler. Nothing too crazy, right? It’s not like she’d never been to a sleepover before or something. No! Marianne could handle this! And she definitely is not freaking out on the inside. 

Okay, maybe she was freaking out just a little bit, but sleepover jitters are normal, right?

Bounding down the stairs, she was saying goodbye to the house. “Bye Mama! Love you Deddy! Be good, Tommy! And I’ll see you later, Viv!” A bright smile on her face as she raced out the door, slowing her pace once she got outside. 

Tonight would be the test of her and Nancy’s friendship; would they actually remain friends, or was this yet another doomed relationship for Marianne to think about forever? So, here she was, standing in front of the Wheelers’ door, hand raised, ready to knock. Taking a deep breath and a leap of faith, Marianne knocked on the door.

“Coming!” Yelled Nancy. The door opened, and Marianne was met with Nancy’s cheerful face. “Hi! I am so excited for tonight! Come on in!” Nancy said enthusiastically, moving out of the doorway to let Marianne enter. “You can come put your stuff in my room before we go eat.”

Walking up the staircase, Marianne found her nerves finally settling, as if Nancy had this aura that could calm her by simply being around her. 

“So, what do you normally do at sleepovers?” Nancy asked. 

“Oh, I- I’ve never been to a sleepover before,” Marianne said shyly, face reddening at the confession.

“What! Well, you are in luck; that is changing tonight. You will have the best sleepover of your life!” A smile washed over the girls' faces as a friendship blossomed between them. “Okay, let's go eat; Mom made chicken casserole; it's so good.”

The Wheeler dining room was elegant, with well-loved china on the table, the patriarch of the family at the head, the children flanked out on the sides, and the matriarch at the end. It was traditional, perfect. The table was arranged with efficiency in mind, main course in the middle with the side dishes all around it. The dining chairs, while creaky, were comfortable. Marianne felt out of place; she could sense that there weren’t many loving conversations held here.

“Marianne. What does your father do?” Ted broke the silence, a curious look on his face.

“Oh! He was a mechanic back home. I think he is planning on opening up a shop around here. My mom is why we moved; she got a job at the lab.” Marianne responded, voiced strained. She was embarrassed to say her father's profession; she knew jobs like that were looked down upon.

“Hm, well, at least he works,” Ted said, shooting a look at Karen; unresolved tension was clearly showing.

And the rest of the dinner was silent, with few remarks about Mike and his friends coming over tomorrow. That's right… I’m babysitting tomorrow. I hope they aren’t terrible. Thought Marianne; she knew good and well how much of a handful Tommy was; she just hoped it wasn’t a disaster with five boys.

Dinner wrapped up, and Marianne offered to help clean; after all, she was a guest. But Karen insisted that she and Nancy go upstairs and enjoy their sleepover. And so the girls went upstairs to shower and get ready for the night. 

“Let me paint your nails!” Said Nancy. “I have so many cute colors; you’d look good with pink.”

“Only if I can paint yours,” Marianne responded.

The girls fell into quiet conversation about books and music. Then Nancy brought up school, and more specifically, boys. 

“So, there’s this really cute guy at school, his name is Steve Harrington, and Oh-em-Gee Mary, he has the most gorgeous hair-”

“Wait, you’re telling me this guy's last name is Harrington, and he has the best hair… Seems a little ironic, no?”

“You’ll understand when you see him, Mary. He is a jock and has a nice body; he’s just a little cocky…” Nancy trailed off.

Marianne pulled a disgusted face, “Ugh, I hate cocky men. Their heads are so far up their ass it’s actually disgusting. Are you sure you want to be with him…?” This ‘Hair’ington guy better be smoking hot, Marianne thought, rolling her eyes.

“No! I promise it’s not that bad, really. He’s a jock; they’re all a little conceited.”

“If you say so. Just know I’ll be here to beat his ass if he treats you wrong.”

Giggling, Nancy looked at Marianne, took in her appearance, and thought back to when she first met her a few days ago. She looked lighter, as if she had actually slept some. And a little part of Nancy hoped that it was because of her; she knew what it was like to not have friends. Nancy hoped that Marianne liked her enough to continue this friendship. Nancy wanted her to have someone to call her best friend. 

“Oh gosh! You’ll get to meet Barb! She is the absolute sweetest; you’ll love her. She doesn’t exactly like Steve either, but that’s besides the point!” Nancy said, shaking her head from her previous thoughts. 

“She sounds amazing already; I can’t wait to meet her,” Marianne said, a smile spreading.

“What kind of music do you like?” Nancy asked.

“I like all kinds of music, but one of my favorites right now is ‘The Girl is Mine’ by Michael Jackson.”

“I love that song! What else do you listen to?”

“Here, I brought my Walkman; you can just listen to my mixtape.”

The girls sat on the bed; Marianne inserted the mixtape and pressed play, letting the sounds of her favorite songs flood her ears. The girls began to sway to the songs, mouthing the words, before Nancy got up, stood on her bed, and began singing to Marianne. 

“I love you more than he!”

Marianne stood up, joining Nancy in singing. “Well, I love you endlessly!”

They came together singing, “So come and go with me to one town. But we both cannot have her, so it's one or the other, and one day you’ll discover that she's my girl forever and ever!”

A giggling fit ensued not long after they started singing; Marianne had never felt this light in her life. It was as if she could finally breathe. She wasn’t thinking about home, Granna and Papa, adjusting to a new place, her Aunt Viv; she was just in the moment. Twirling around Nancy’s room, singing. She wanted to feel like this forever, and a naive part of her believed that it would be. She would never come down from this high, so long as Nancy was by her side. Marianne felt as if something in her soul had shifted. Was this what love felt like? She had never felt like this before; of course her family loved her, but this was different. It felt closer in a way. Nancy understood her; she was like her. Marianne could see that Nancy, even if it didn’t last forever, had changed her life. And that was something Marianne wasn’t sure she was ready for, but knew that she needed. 

a/n: SO SORRY FOR THE LATE POST :(

I got caught up in birthday shenanigans, and I will continue to be caught up and busy this week (I like to drag by birthday as long as possible)

But I hope you guys like this chapter

I lowkey might start doing once-a-week chapters since school starts back soon

A knee ways…. I LOVE YOU GUYS <3

series masterlist

[scarce01]

Chapter 3: The Interrogation ❦

Warnings: abuse, smoking, anxiety

wc: 1.7k

summary: Marianne must confront Vivienne and face the horrors that are the truth.

series masterlist

Friday, June 14th, 1983, 4:48 pm

Marianne’s heart was pounding harder and harder the closer she got to the door that led to the backyard. Her pulse rattling in her ribcage, she had come to the realization of what exactly she was about to do. She was about to confront her Aunt Vivienne Fletcher, whom she had not had an actual conversation with since she was wed. 

What am I thinking? This is an awful idea; I don’t even know what to say to her.

Opening the door Marianne could see Vivienne sitting on the stoop, a cigarette between her lips, inhaling deeply. Marianne silently sat beside her, on the opposite side of course. The air was thick and uncomfortable, Marianne felt like she was going to pass out, the hairs on the back of her neck standing tall. Her fingers were going numb, her breath falling short from her lips, her head dizzy with the nauseating thoughts that were never quiet. 

“What do you want?” Vivienne said coldly. The tension was thick; built-up anxieties and animosities made it hard to think. What have I just gotten myself into… thought Marianne.

Hesitating, breath caught in her throat, Marianne responded slowly. “I-... I was just going to ask if you were going to be teaching at the school. Mama said you had applied.”

Smoke falling from her lips, “I did, got a call today. I’ll be the middle school librarian. I have to start somewhere I suppose…” Vivienne said, a self-depricating tone laced in her words.

“Good, the kids will love you, they always do.” Marianne said, turning her head to look at her aunt. 

The air was still thick and suffocating, Marianne felt her throat closing in on itself. 

“Why didn’t you ever write back to me back. You pinky-promised you would. I-... I sent so many letters Viv, you-”

“What letters? I never got letters?” Vivienne interupted, confusion spreading on her face.

“What…?” Marianne froze, there was no way. She sent at least fifteen letters the month after Vivienne had left. She sat by the mailbox for days, waiting for a response that never came.

“Viv, I wrote like fifteen letters; I even got mama to stamp them all pretty. I triple-checked that I got the address right.”

“Mars, I never got any letters. I was waiting for you to write to me first. But when nothing came for a month, I tried to call, but the line was always busy.”

Marianne closed her eyes, taking in a shuddering breath. “This doesn’t make any sense. I made sure I sent them to the right address. They were never returned. I thought-” She felt tears brimming her waterline. “I thought you were mad at me. I didn’t know what I had done to upset you.”

Vivienne made a pathetic sound, resembling a cry. “Oh God. No. Baby, I could never be mad at you. I thought you were mad at me! I was so excited to see how school was treating you and how the animals were doing. I asked Eurice every day…” She trailed off; a gasp rang through the silence. “I asked Eurice every day; he would always get the mail on his way home from work. He- He must have been throwing them away. That- That bastard! How could he!”

“Is that why you left him, why you had to come with us? I know he didn’t flee.Viv.”

Vivienne sighed, looking at the skin on her arms. Faded scars coated the surface. Her previously perfectly tanned skin was now tarnished, rugged and ugly. Tears were brimming in Vivienne’s waterline. “I didn’t know Mars. He’s a good man, or he used to be. He was sweet, knew exactly what to say to me and how to say it. I see now that was all lies.” 

Sniffling and wiping her nose, she continued. “At first it was the big things, my fault really, I was late getting back home and couldn’t cook dinner in time. Or I’d accidentally let the dog out on my way to run errands. But then, then it was the little things. The table wasn’t set right, there was a wrinkle in his shirt, or his steak wasn’t raw enough. He’d yell, call me names I’d never even heard of before. Then he’d start to hit, and throw things.”

Vivienne lifted her blouse, a long jagged scar running down her abdomen. “This one was the worst, I was in the hospital for four days. He was madder than a bull when I got home, and beat me even more. I knew that's when I had to run. I called Marg, told her to come get me, that it had gotten bad. She told me to pack a bag and to wait until he was asleep. To make sure he had more beers than usual that night.” 

Marianne was crying now. Tears falling down the side of her nose and falling onto her shirt, dampening the floral blouse. She reached over and grabbed Vivienne’s hand, she jumped, startled at the action. Marianne let go, not wanting to scare her aunt any further. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to scare you.” Vivienne sighed, holding her arm back out, wrapping Marianne in a tight embrace.

“I’s  alright, you didn’t know.” She took in a deep breath, trying to find the words, “- after he was asleep I opened the door and took off, not looking back once. I was able to hitch a ride to the nearest bus stop, and made it back to y’all before he found me. And now that we’ve moved, I hope he’ll never find me; I know he will kill me if he does.” A grim silence fell over the pair. “We won’t let him, he’ll have to get through all of us first.”

Vivienne smiled at that. She squeezed Marianne harder than she thought possible, scared if she were to let go, she’d disappear again. 

And they sat like that, watching the sun through the trees, reflecting off the sun catchers in the yard, casting a rainbow across their skin. Marianne’s mind was quiet; she was tranquil. Maybe moving to Hawkins was a good thing. 

“Hey Viv,?” “Yea hon?” “Can you braid my hair? Mama isn’t as good as you are.”

Smiling Vivienne took in her niece. While yes, Marianne had matured physically, she was still the little girl Vivienne knew and loved. “Of course I can, sit in front of me.”

And Marianne did, letting the familiar breeze blow past her neck and her Aunt Vivienne braided her hair. Vivienne started to hum a hymn, one Marianne knew by heart; it was one the girls would sing every Sunday at church. Marianne began to hum with her Aunt, feeling closer to home than she ever had. The sun had begun to set, and its glowing light was shining over the trees and through the clouds. Marianne could feel her shoulders getting looser; maybe she would be able to sleep tonight, no tossing or turning. May the turmoil never return. A soft voice whispered from a corner in her mind. It was a voice she hadn’t heard in a long time, and was one she was wishing wouldn’t be going away anytime soon. 

Behind them, the door slammed open, cutting the tranquility that was created in half. Marianne could feel it fading as she was sobered up back to real life, not the kinder one she tended to find herself in. 

“Guys! Mama made SPAGHETTI! It’s done! Come eat before Deddy eats it all!” Tommy's playful voice came from inside, urgency apparent in every word. And it wasn’t for nothing, Richard was notorious for licking his and everyone else's plate on spaghetti night. Giggling, the duo stood from their seats on the stoop and made haste to get their help before Richard left them with nothing. 

Dinner was delicious, as usual. Margaret’s spaghetti was a homage to Granna, as the recipe was from her. It was a tradition in the McKinnon home to cook and eat Granna’s Spaghetti once a month; it had been even before she died. Standing to collect the nearly clean plates, thank you Richard, Marianne moved to the kitchen to tidy up. She heard a chair move back and assumed it was her mother, coming to help with the chore. But she was surprised to see her Aunt, gathering all the serving dishes and placing them in the sink before turning on the water. 

“I’ll wash, you dry.”

Marianne grinned, happy to have her Aunt back. 

The women fell into comfortable conversation, filling each other in on what they had missed. It didn’t take them long before the kitchen was clean, the dishes were dried and put away. Heading to bed, Vivienne kissed Marianne on the cheek, bidding her goodnight, telling her to “sleep tight” and to not “let the bed bugs bite”. Marianne giggled and made her way to her room, ready to finally sleep.

Looking in her vanity mirror, Marianne could see that her face was flushed, her dark circles were gone, and that she overall looked lighter. She pulled her braids to the front; Vivienne had done Dutch braids, Marianne’s favorite, and one she herself would never be able to do. Marianne smiled, not missing home, not worrying about what would come next, just existing happily. And that was something she hadn’t done in a long time. It looked like Marianne was finally settling in to Hawkins; maybe this was just what she needed. A break, a stop from the continuous depressing shadow that followed her around in Tennessee. 

As Marianne lay in bed, the moon spilling into her room, casting its light on her face, she couldn’t help but stare back. “Stay like this forever; may my turmoil never return,” she whispered to no one. Marianne had always had a fascination with the stars. Maybe it was lying in the dewy grass at Granna’s, looking into the clear sky and naming all the constellations. Maybe it was PaPa showing her how she could always find home in them. Whatever it was, it was Marianne’s only constant, the only thing she could rely on when everyone and everything left.

a/n: I took that cloud picture #photographer🥸

I hope you guys liked this chap, i felt very connected to it

A look into Vivienne, how DARE Eurice, fuck that man

Mars finally feeling comfortable in her own skin :((

Mary finding solace in the sun, stars, and moon, she so real

[scarce01]

Chapter 2: Meeting the Wheelers ✰

Warnings: anxious thoughts, smoking

WC: 1.7k

Summary: The McKinnon and Wheeler children meet. Will Marianne make a new friend or be left in the dust again?

Series Masterlist

Friday, June 14th, 1983, 8:30 am

The soft morning sun spilled through the lacy curtains of Marianne’s room. Washing the room in its soft morning light. Marianne opened her eyes, blinking a few times to allow them to adjust to the light. She was at first confused as to where she was, the room unfamiliar, before she remembered she was in her new room. Standing up and walking to her Jack & Jill bathroom she shared with Thomas, she started to get ready. Upon re-entering her room, she sat at her vanity, taking in her appearance. 

Stepping off the last two steps of the staircase, she could already see her mother. Her hair pulled up in an intricate bun Marianne herself could never do, a white lacy dress adorning her body, an apron tied around her waist. She wants to make a good impression on the Wheelers, I guess. Marianne thought to herself. 

“Just in time! I have all the ingredients for our cookies ready to bake!” Margaret said enthusiastically. “Here, I pulled your apron out of the boxes. Wouldn’t want your pretty outfit to get messy.” Marianne nodded and wordlessly tied her apron around her. 

Working concurrently, Margaret and Marianne fell into a comfortable silence. Baking was something the women did often back in Tennessee. It was something they did to honor Trudy Fletcher, Margaret's mother and Marianne’s grandmother, someone who was taken from them too soon. Not long after Trudy had been laid to rest, Margaret decided to make it her goal to teach Marianne to bake, hoping to instill love in her just as Trudy had done to Margaret. 

Margaret broke the silence, “Are you excited to meet Karen’s daughter?”

Marianne thought before responding, smiling as she spoke, “I actually am. When I woke up this morning, the air felt different, like something good was going to happen today.” 

Margaret smiled at her, a knowing look in her eyes. She knew of the struggles her daughter had. Richard repeatedly told her not to worry about Marianne, saying the girl would be alright, but Margaret couldn’t help it when she could hear her daughter cry herself to sleep most nights. Margaret silently prayed to God, hoping her daughter would finally have a friend, someone who could love her in a different way than a mother could. 

The cookies had just been pulled from the oven, and Margaret was placing them in a container that would be taken to the Wheelers. Leaning back on the counters, Marianne turned her head to look out the kitchen window.  Outside, she could see Thomas swinging on a tire swing on the big oak tree in the far right corner of the fenced-in yard. She could also see her Aunt Vivienne, sitting on the stoop, smoking a cigarette, watching Thomas play with a small smile. 

“Is Aunt Viv working at the school?” Marianne questioned her mother. “I know she applied for the librarian position; I’m sure she needs the distraction…” Margaret trailed off.

“Why would she need the distraction? Because of Eurice?” 

“You’d have to ask her, dearie.” Margaret sighed, “ Now! Go get Tom; it’s time to meet the Wheelers!”

And the conversation ended there, Marianne making a mental note to question her aunt, worry growing at the thought. 

The Wheelers lived two houses down, on the opposite side of the road, so the walk wasn’t too terrible. Knocking on the door, Margaret was met with Karen Wheeler's face. “Oh! You’re here! And I see you have guests. Let me guess: you are Marianne, and you are Thomas?” Karen said, opening the front door wider, inviting the McKinnons into her home.

“Just set that on the counter, Mike! Nancy! The McKinnons are here!” Karen yelled up the stairs at her children. 

Marianne could see a mop of dark brown hair running down the stairs. “Coming, Mom!” said someone who she could only be Mike. A few seconds later, a taller girl with long brown hair, perfectly pinned out of her face, wearing a pastel shirt with white pants, walked down the stairs, more graceful than her brother. This must be Nancy; she's pretty. Marianne thought. 

In her peripheral vision, she could see Thomas and Mike already striking up a conversation, about some nerd game, D and D maybe. Of course they’re fast friends. 

“Hi, I’m Nancy! What’s your name?”

“I’m Marianne. You’re really pretty.”

“Aw! Thank you! You’re gorgeous! I love your hair.”

The girls' mothers migrated to the kitchen, and their brothers were walking upstairs to Mike’s room, talking over one another about a game, leaving them in a slightly uncomfortable silence.

“Want to come see my room? I just redecorated it?” Nancy asked. Marianne nodded, wanted to do anything else other than awkwardly stand in the Wheeler foyer. 

Nancy’s room was similar to her own:  striped wallpaper covered each wall, a bed in the center of the room, a pastel quilt crisply folded with plush pillows in matching print on top. A chair in the corner, where a stuffed bear sat. Posters taking up space near Nancy’s bed, and a standing mirror on the opposite wall. White furniture made the room seem bigger than it was. 

Nancy sat on her bed, looking towards Marianne before saying, “So… where are you from? I can hear an accent when you speak.” Smiling, thinking about home, Marianne responded, “We’re from Bell Buckle, Tennessee. It’s a super small town. Smaller than Hawkins, I think.” Nancy’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Whoa, I didn’t think you could get smaller than Hawkins. Do you miss it?” 

Marianne paused, thinking about how she would respond, not wanting to reveal too much of herself. “Yeah, I miss it. But I think I’m ready to start again and make new friends.”

“What about your friends back home? Will they come visit?” Nancy asked, a concerned expression washing on her face.

“Oh, I don’t have any friends back home. I was kind of an outcast.” Why did I tell her that?

“Well, I’m making it official! I, Nancy Wheeler, promise to be the best friend that I can be to you, Marianne McKinnon. I’ll even pinky promise it, and I don’t just give those out.”

Staring at Nancy’s extended pinky, Marianne felt a glimmer of hope and wrapped her pinky around Nancy’s, a grin growing at the action. 

Nancy gasped, “We should have a sleepover! It’ll be so much fun!” Marianne nodded. “Great! Give me your number; we can smooth the details out later.” Nancy stood, walking to her desk and grabbing a paper and pen. “Here, and I’ll write mine down too, so you can call me whenever,” Nancy said with a smile.

The girls found themselves talking about topics both were surprised that the other liked. Their love for classic literature came out when Marianne brought up that her town library back home had early prints of Persuasion by Jane Austen. Nancy's eyes grew to the size of saucers, immediately gushing about Austen's work, saying that if only she could find a man who yearns like Mr. Darcy had.

“Mary! Tom! Come on, we need to head back home for dinner!” Marianne could hear Margaret say from downstairs. Dinner? I hadn’t realized how much time had passed… 

“So! Marianne, are you getting a job for the rest of the summer?” Karen asked. “Actually, Mary here used to babysit back home, so if you need a night out, Mary’s your gal. She could even babysit Mike's friends too!” Margaret quipped, smiling at her daughter.

“I just might have to take you up on that, Marianne.” “Mom! I don’t need a babysitter!” Mike wailed. “Yes, you do, young man! Nancy can’t watch you all the time!” Karen said, glaring at her son. “Actually, Ted and I have a date next Wednesday; would you be able to then? Mike’s friends are coming over to play, but they shouldn’t be too hard to manage.”

Looking at her mother nodding, Marianne agreed, “Of course, Mrs. Wheeler, I’d love to. I can bring Thomas too; I’m sure he’d love to meet Mike’s friends.” 

“Well, it's settled then! See you Wednesday, Marianne! Margaret, don’t be a stranger!” said Karen, walking her guests back to the front door. 

Back at the McKinnon home, upon opening the door, Thomas ran to the living room to sit in front of the TV, seeing that a show he enjoyed was on. Richard was sitting in his recliner, reading the paper, leaning up to kiss Margaret as she walked by. Looking out the window, Marianne could see Vivienne sitting on the porch, staring into the woods. Margaret nudged her daughter, nodding towards the yard. “Go talk to her; I know you have questions.”

A determined look washed over Marianne's face, and she turned towards the door leading to the back yard, steps slowing as she realized what exactly she was about to do. 

Flashback

Marianne was lying on her mother's bed, head in her lap, crying. “I just don’t understand, Mama. Aunt Viv won’t talk to me. Does she hate me? What did I do? She promised she'd write back to me. I- I don't even have her number; I can’t even hear her voice” 

Marianne had sent letters about school and pictures of her with the horses to her Aunt Vivienne, keeping up with their promise. Before Vivienne moved away, Marianne and Marianne had pinky promised to each other that they would write, and when Vivienne set up her phone, they’d call every day, but weeks had passed and not a word back from her Aunt. Thinking the worst, her heart was once again broken; she should have known better than to give it away again. 

End of flashback

a/n: EEEKK!! The Wheelers and McKinnons have officially made contact

Poor Mars, all she wants is a friend

Also, Tom making friends so quick is so real, I love making new friends

Hmmm I wonder how viv is going to explain herself; pinky promises are very big! Its like a blood promise, never to be broken

I HOPE YOU GUYS LIKED THIS, this was some more insight on Mary’s anxious thoughts that try to control her

[scarce01]

Chapter 1: Thursday, June 13th, 1983 ❦

Warnings: smoking (not fr), anxious thoughts, grief

WC:1.3k

Summary: The McKinnon's are getting settled in. New possible friendships and anxieties arise.

series masterlist

Thursday June 13th, 1983

Sitting on the soft cushions of her bay window, Marianne was looking out onto the street where the place she now called home rested. The summer air was hot, making beads of sweat form on her neck. Her mind racing, the day her parents told her they were moving replaying on loop, one she was unsure she could break out of.

FLASHBACK

“Mary,” her father's sentence stopped before he could get the words out. “We’re moving. Mama got a job offer at a laboratory in Indiana. It’s an offer we can’t pass up; it’s good money.” Marianne could feel the tears welling in her eyes. “Wha.. what about PaPa? Granna? What-what about their house? The animals?” She stuttered the questions in disbelief. How could they just up and leave? If she wasn’t there, who would keep up PaPa and Granna’s graves? Who would tend to the horses? 

“Mary, look at me. We have it sorted out. Pastor George said he would make sure Granna and PaPa would be well looked after. And you know the summer camp up on the mountain? They’ll be taking care of the horses while we're away. It’s not forever, Mars; we can come back anytime, you know that.” Margaret moved closer to her daughter, squeezing her hands as she spoke. Marianne felt like she couldn’t breathe. She knew things weren’t always permanent, but she never thought she would lose her grandparents twice. 

End of flashback

Sighing, Marianne looked away from the street and back into her room, standing up, deciding to be productive and unpack the rest of her life. 

My entire life fits into twelve shipping boxes. How lovely. Marianne thought sarcastically to herself. No matter how hard Marianne tried, she couldn’t escape the dark, pessimistic thoughts in her head. It became more and more difficult to fight them off. 

Three quiet knocks sounded against her door in a familiar pattern; it was Thomas asking for permission to enter a space not of his own. “Come on in, Tommy”, Marianne said woefully. The door creaked as it opened, having been aged with the lives of those who came before it. “Whoa! Your room is so big compared to mine, Mar!” Thomas exclaimed. “You have so much more room for toys,” he pouted as he took in his older sister’s bedroom.

Looking at her brother, really looking at him, she saw her younger, more innocent self.  Moving from her boxes to ruffle his hair, Marianne replied, “Thomas, it only makes sense that I get the bigger room. I am older after all…” But she knew better than to try to deter her hard-headed brother. “Well then I’ll just come play in here then! Sharing is caring, Mar!” Thomas told her, a shit-eating grin that was growing by the minute. Marianne’s mouth twitched, and a small smile crept its way onto her face. “Ugh, you are so annoying. Get out!” Marianne exclaimed jokingly, shoving her brother out and shutting the door. 

Taking a deep breath, exhaling deeply, attempting to regain focus after her brother’s oh-so-rude intrusion. Marianne slowly turned and trudged her way to a box labeled “Music” in Sharpie, digging out her Walkman and inserting her mixtape labeled MARIANNE’S MIX. The first song that plays is “When Will I Be Loved.” How ironic she thought to herself.  After finally getting in the right mindset, she was able to finish unpacking in just a few hours, putting the last item of clothing into a drawer and pushing it closed just as her father called her down for dinner. 

Rounding the corner and stepping down the stairs, Marianne could see her father at the stove finishing up dinner, her mother at the counter watching him lovingly, her aunt Vivienne sitting in the living room - a cigarette forgotten about between her fingers - staring into nothing. Turning her gaze towards the kitchen, Marianne could see that there wasn’t much progress made; that much was evident by the various boxes labeled “KITCHEN”, “UTENSILS”, “FRAGILE CHINA”, or “TABLE DECOR”. “Marianne! Don’t you just love this kitchen!” her mother exclaimed, pointing to the oak wood cabinets that hovered above each counter. The gaudy wallpaper that coated every inch of the walls made the room feel suffocating; Marianne was sure that if one stared too long, the walls would open up and swallow you whole. “Yes mama, the kitchen is beautiful. Very different from home, no wood stove, not that I’m complaining.” Hearing her father huff in amusement she turned around, “What deddy? Are you telling me you seriously miss that old thing?” “It was original Mary! She was a beaut. Of course I miss it, this thing don’t even compare to my baby at home.” Humor washed on Marianne’s face as she turned to her mother and mouthed “He’s crazy!” while moving her fingers in circles around her temples. Her mother chuckled and pulled Marianne into a side hug from her stool, squeezing her tight. As if to say I know this is hard, and I’m here for you, whatever you need. Marianne smiled softly, squeezing her mother back.

Dinner was filling; Richard had made a warm, safe meal, bringing a piece of home to this new, unfamiliar place where they now resided. Chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and biscuits were piled on plates. Hands were held, and the blessing was said. Breaking the sound of eating, Margaret smiled at her children and said, “Thomas, I met one of the neighbors, Karen Wheeler, and she told me she has a son your age. Maybe we could go over one day and meet them. You too, Mary, she said she had a daughter your age. Might make the transition easier.”  Marianne nodded, saying, “Maybe we can bake some of our cookies and meet them tomorrow.” An uncharacteristic glimmer of hope coursed through her veins; she sat thinking what the Wheeler daughter might be like. She’ll just leave you, like everyone else. The mean spot in her brain yelled at her. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Marianne continued to eat.

Finishing her dinner, moving to wash the dishes, making sure to stop and kiss her father on the cheek “Thanks Deddy, dinner was amazing” Marianne said softly. Taking everyone's plates and walking toward the sink. Marianne found herself slipping back into routine, mindlessly washing dishes after dinner. Except this time she couldn’t help wondering what all this new life would bring. Would she make friends? Would someone finally love her? Or would she be left in the dark by all those whom she loved before? 

Sitting at her vanity, Marianne heard a faint knock. “Come in,” she said quietly. “Hey, hon,” her mother whispered. “Your room looks beautiful. Do you like the bay window?” “Yes, Mama, I love it. I get a view of the neighborhood. And I can listen to my music here.” Marianne said back. “Wonderful! I knew you would!” Margaret clapped as she spoke. 

“Well, I just wanted to come tell you goodnight. I figured we’d get up and bake tomorrow before heading to the Wheelers.” 

“Sounds good. I love you, mama. Goodnight.” “Goodnight, baby, have sweet dreams. I love you.” Margaret said, kissing Marianne’s temple gently. Turning to walk out, Margaret looked back over her shoulder at her daughter before she closed the door behind her.

Now lying in bed, Marianne stared out the window, the moon's luminous glow spilling into her room. Its pale light washed over her face. She couldn’t help but worry about what might be in store for her, the anxious, dark thoughts begging to be let in. Biting her lip, shaking her head, and turning away, she decided it was time to sleep; she knew she would need it.

a/n: OH EM GEE!!! First chap is here! I hope you guys really liked it; this is not the writing I'm used to, so I'm sorry if it’s actually terrible. 

I wonder what Marianne will think of Nancy… she's so reluctant to make new friends

Also, Vivienne is so real, dissociating with a cig

this is the vibe of marys room

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MARIANNES MIXTAPE 💿

series masterlist

The Girl Is Mine — Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney

Silver Springs — Fleetwood Mac

Landslide — Fleetwood Mac

Outside the Rain — Stevie Nicks

Save Me — Queen

Eyes Without a Face — Billy Idol

Misty — Ella Fitzgerald

Hungry Like the Wolf — Duran Duran

Desperado — The Eagles

Feel Flows — The Beach Boys

Heroes — David Bowie

Ten Years Gone — Led Zeppelin

Babe I’m Gonna Leave You — Led Zeppelin

The Ballad of Curtis Loew — Lynyrd Skynyrd

Tuesday’s Gone — Lynyrd Skynyrd 

Mountain Music — Alabama 

When Will I Be Loved — Linda Ronstadt

Plastic Jesus — Tia Blake

a/n: I tried to be as “lore” accurate with the times around this music but I’m not perfect el o el 😅

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Prologue ☙

Warnings: death, abuse (briefly mentioned)

WC: 287

series masterlist

Marianne McKinnon had learned from a very young age that nothing was permanent. At the age of six, she had experienced her first loss; both her grandmother and grandfather on her mother’s side died. Walter and Trudy Fletcher. A tornado ripped through the house, killing them both, and ripping Marianne’s heart with it, only leaving sorrow in its wake. 

At the ripe age of twelve, just after she had begun to blossom into the young woman she is now, her best friends decided she wasn’t cut out for their clique, leaving Marianne once again sad and alone. Shut out from the cruel world that was middle school.

So when her parents, Margaret and Richard McKinnon, sat her down and told her they were uprooting their quiet life in rural Tennessee and moving north to Hawkins, Indiana, she knew what to expect- loneliness, sorrow, and longing for a happier life.

She knew her brother Thomas would have no trouble with this adjustment; he was a well-rounded child and had more friends than Marianne had fingers. He had no trouble making new ones either.

What surprised Marianne was the news that her aunt Vivienne Fletcher would be joining them. It had been years since she had heard from her aunt. Marianne was forgotten about not long after the wedding. Letters and postcards stopped being responded to. Vivienne had married an atrocious man named Eurice. Hearing her estranged uncle had mysteriously fled the country intrigued Marianne, she would have to confront aunt Vivienne about that…

So off they set. The McKinnon family (and their newest addition) were nervous, apprehensive of what Hawkins had in store for them.

a/n: HI GUYS! I'm so excited to finally start this. I’m doing this to get my love for writing back. I hope this draws you in and if not I hope the first chapter does. I'm lowkey awful at introducing ppl LOL

LOAF YOU <3

series masterlist

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❤︎ Synopsis: When will I be loved? ❤︎

series master list big bad master list

Softly swinging her body around, humming Somebody to Love, Marianne was in her own world. A kinder one where PaPa and Granna were still here, singing as they swung on the porch swing.

Nancy was watching the girl move from where she stood in the kitchen. A smile growing as she watched Marianne twirl around, obviously mentally elsewhere than the Wheelers' backyard. 

Steve walked around to the back of the Wheeler house, fully intent on seeing Nancy to “study”, but stopping when he noticed a figure dancing in the backyard. 

“Caaannn anyboddyyy… fiiiind meeee… somebody tooooo… looovee!!!” Marianne hummed to herself while twisting and turning in intricate moves. “AHH!” she shrieked after turning around and finding no one other than Steve Harrington. 

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” 

“I was here to see Nance, but after seeing that, I think I’ve changed my mind.”

Marianne McKinnon is a pessimistic girl who knows nothing is forever. Steve Harrington is an optimistic boy who needs to change that.

a/n: this might be cringe, but to be cringe is to be free.

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❦ CAST & FACE CLAIMS

series masterlist

⭒ STARRING! ⭒

In order from left to right we have...

Marianne McKinnon -- Sixteen years old

Thomas McKinnon -- Eleven years old

Margaret McKinnon -- Thirty-Nine years old

Richard McKinnon -- Forty years old

Vivienne Fletcher -- Thirty-Four years old

☙ WITH...! ☙

Joe Keery — Steve Harrington

Gaten Matarazzo — Dustin Henderson

Finn Wolfhard — Mike Wheeler

Caleb McLaughlin — Lucas Sinclair

Noah Schnapp — Will Byers

Millie Bobby Bon Jovi — Jane Hopper (Eleven/El)

Sadie Sink — Maxine (Max) Mayfield

Natalia Dyer — Nancy Wheeler

Shannon Purser — Barbra (Barb)

Winona Ryder — Joyce Byers 

Charlie Heaton — Jonathan Byers 

David Harbor — Jim Hopper

Dacre Montgomery -- Billy Hargrove

& MANY MANY MORE!!!

a/n: sorry if these pictures are oh so shitty, idk how to do this fr

[scarce01]

When will I be loved...? - A Stranger Things Fanfic MASTER LIST

Hey people... this is my first time actually writing fan fic pls bear with me :p I'm trying to reignite my love for writing!!

This will also be cross posted on wattpad if you prefer that for longer fics :D (@sCarce_c is my account)

Below is this fic masterlist as well as my big bad masterlist. I plan on doing specific release dates - unless life happens and that changes.

pairings: Steve Harrington x fem!oc, a tinsie winsie bit of Billy Hargrove x fem!oc, kids x fem!babysitter!oc (PLATONIC!!!)

warnings: violence, smoking, all the spooky scary stuff that happens in ST, possible spice/smut (haven't decided), ANGST, SLOWBURN!!!

WC: 3.5k (will update with posts)

themes: grumpy x sunshine, sad oc, cynical x optimistic, babysitter gets thrown into upside down mess, southern oc

INTRO 📞

CAST & FACE CLAIMS -- (7/30)

Synopsis -- (7/30)

Prologue -- (7/30)

Marianne's Mixtape 💿 -- (7/30)

ACT 1 📼 PRE-SEASON 1

Chapter 1: June 13th, 1983 -- (8/1)

Chapter 2: Meeting the Wheelers -- (8/3)

Chapter 3: The Interrogation -- (8/5)

Chapter 4: Nancy's Superb Sleepover (8/9) bday post!

Chapter 5: Babysitters Club (8/16)

Chapter 6: Rumination Ruins Everything (8/23)