It was an abnormally quiet Friday night.

You sat at the counter of Family Video, making paper stars, waiting for either a customer, or for the clock to strike 10pm so you could close. Whichever came first.

Steve walks around the store, sweeping up quite literally nothing, just trying to find a way to kill the last 15 minutes before close.

You were new to Hawkins, Indiana. You sprung up one day, walking out of the woods wearing men’s clothes that were two sizes too big, along with an ’013’ on your left wrist. You kept that latter hidden, of course.

In your old life, you were a number. Now you were a person.

Everyone believed your story. You were the new kid, living in a renovated church just outside of the city limits, and your parents just so happened to always be out of town. No one knew what really happened, that you killed your way out of Hawkins National Labratory and lived alone in a slightly moldy, rundown church.

You fit in easily at school, managing to fake your records, and you were even able to snag the job at Family Video. You impressed yourself.

“Where is everyone?” Steve breaks the silence, leaning against the counter. “I thought it was a Friday night.”

You shrug. “Maybe at the game.”

Steve scoffs. “Who would pick spending their Friday night watching a football game over watching a movie? I mean, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge just came out last month!”

You sigh, folding over a strip of paper into a star. “Maybe they don’t want to watch a horror movie in December.”

Steve groans, dramatically leaning on the counter. “Save me from this boredom. I just want to go home.”

The door opens and the bell rings.

“Hi, welcome to Family Video.” You both say simultaneously.