???? ?

⚠️🧸⚠️

Clues. So so many clues. They're just dumb enough to not notice.
*

Dear Mike,

Oh shit.

You never liked me.

That's not true!

You didn't want anything to do with me. Didn't want me in your party. Don't deny it, everyone knows.

I'm sorry Max.

Whatever. Doesn't matter now. I use to love Cali you know?

You lived there of course you like it.

Loved seeing the water. It was calming.

Why is she talking about California?

First time I cut myself was in Cali.

Oh shit...

Yeah. Oh shit's right.

Mike looked around. How did she?

Your predictable Mike. Anyways. Right after I ran. Ran as far as my little legs could take me. It was right after my mom met Neil. I hated him. I still do. He's horrible. I ended up at the beach. Then my mom decided to get married to that fucking asshole. And we moved to this shit hole. It was my fault anyways.

How? What could you have done Max, you were a child!

I never saw the beach again. Cutting turned into a release I guess. I really miss California. I was hoping I could've taken you guys. Now that'll never happen.

Mike chuckled a bit and wiped at his eyes.

I never hated you. I hope you know that. Maybe in another life we would've been friends. You should go to California. I gave you a postcard. You should go to that beach, one redhead on the entire beach.

What?

Well this is goodbye. I'll see you Mike. I'm always there. Can't get rid of me that easily.

- Max

***

"It was the weirdest thing! She was talking about California!"

Lucas looked up at him, "do you think she did it there?"

Mike shook his head, "she knows that would be the second place Lucas. I just don't understand why she doesn't want us to find her body."

"Mike! Theres more on the back," Dustin pointed to the back of the letter.

Mike flipped it around and sighed.

P.S. tell him you like him! I see the way you look at him Mike. No ones ever looked at me like that before. Go for it before it's too late.

Gosh this girl was crazy.

***

Will and El arrived after an hour. El looked horrible. She looks like she hasn't slept in days. Knowing her, she probably hasn't. Will was hiding his feelings. Boy was he getting better at that.

"I'm gonna miss her," Will was staring at his unopened letter. He was terrified of what the short redhead had to say. El nodded, laying down on the couch. She was staring at a picture. A picture of Max. She knee it was gonna happen eventually. She couldn't save everyone. She couldn't save Max.

***

"Please! Please I just wanna be with my friends!"

"Shut up! I will shoot you I swear to God!"

"Do it you fucking pussy! DO IT PUT ME OUT OF MY MISERY!"

He brought the gun to her head, putting his finger on the trigger gently. He couldn't. Couldn't bring himself to kill her.

"I fucking knew it."

He walked up the stairs and locked the door.