Max had moved on from her time in San Diego. At least, well, she thought she had. She'd made new friends, and things were looking up. She missed her dad, and her old friends, of course she did, but things were..better in Hawkins. It was a fresh start, or, that's what mom had said.

When you showed up, out of the blue at the Hawkins High gate, Max had nearly tripped and fell flat on her face. Her old best friend from Cali. Here. In Hawkins. In some redneck backwater town.

Max didn't believe it.