Sinclairss​:

cassieconrads​:

It was almost a relief to hear that Cole had been experiencing the same kind of insomnia that Cassie had. She wasn’t sure what that meant for the group that had been at the cemetery overall, if they were doomed to be repeating the same dream-like vision over again and again. At least she didn’t have to worry about any physical injuries, like Cole and Lucas had sustained. Cassie wasn’t known for being the most careful person, and she was honestly shocked that she hadn’t wound up falling herself.

Cassie shook her head at his question, beginning to flip through the catalog on the counter as they spoke. “Me neither. Every time I close my eyes, it’s like I’m seeing the same dream all over again.” Maybe it was more than she should’ve admitted, but she somehow she felt more comfortable telling Cole about what she’d seen than Nancy, who hadn’t been there.

xx.

Cole busied himself, re-sorting the metal section. Why was it always the metal section that got ransacked? He glanced up at her, alarm in his eyes when she mentioned a dream haunting her. Was that a coincidence? Was that even possible? “Dream? What kind of dream?” he asked, dropping the record he was holding into its rightful place.

Until now, Cole had chalked his recurring vision up to the head injury, thinking that maybe hitting his head that hard had brought up some sort of unprocessed trauma. It made sense, or rather it was the explanation that was the least terrifying to think about. 

byersphotography​:

TW: FAMILY ABUSE MENTION

————————————————————————————————-

“I’m fiiiiine.” 

Cole’s assurance didn’t strike confidence. This guy needed help. He sighed, exasperated - the best course of action would be to drive him home. Where did this dude even live? While Jonathan had plans to go downtown and investigate Barb’s return, he couldn’t leave Cole stranded on this patio … even if it meant cleaning vomit from the carpet of his passenger seat. “Come on.” He shrugged towards the patio stairs. “I’ll take you home, man-”

“Lonnie, dude, he’s my daddy too,”

Cut off - the realization dawned on him. Lonnie. He hadn’t heard it aloud in a long time. Cole really couldn’t have come up with a more shocking way of saying – Surprise. Your dad fucked my mom. We’re all alcoholics in this family.

He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. This couldn’t happen here. Right now. Jonathan’s stomach sunk seeing Mike blast by the door. He did the only logical thing and sprung into action, calmly pulling Cole by the sleeve of his shirt to a corner of the patio, lowering his voice. “Are you fucking with me right now?” He knew Will was somewhere in the Wheeler house. Lonnie was virtually dead to him, but his mom and brother always seemed more affected by his antics. He wasn’t sure how they would react to this news. His own relationship with Lonnie was terrible. Fighting, yelling, neglect – it had all been tucked away in effort to keep the family afloat, but his dad had also been gone for a long time now. Things were good now. The Byers household didn’t need Lonnie’s legacy resurfaced for all of Hawkins to see – especially on his ex-girlfriend’s front porch, in one of the most pristine neighborhoods in town. “Who knows about this, Cole?” Jonathan remained calm but close to Cole, arm still on his shoulder, trying to decipher his drunken expression.

If only he could go back five minutes in time to the peace of Nancy’s bedroom.

xx.

Cole wasn’t sure how he’d gotten so tipsy-- were he thinking straight before the barbecue, perhaps he would’ve eaten something before playing several rounds of beer pong-- but he’d been so anxious about the conflict between he and Adam that he didn’t know the last time he’d had more than a few crackers. And unfortunately, Jonathan was experiencing the brunt of his thoughtlessness.  

At Jonathan’s offer to take him home, Cole shook his head furiously. “No, no, it’s okay, dude--” he paused, dizzy from the motion. “My boy... best... friend is taking me home,” he smiled at the thought of Adam. “Don’t worry, can’t drive anyway,” Cole murmured, picturing his mom’s wrecked car, a side effect from the last ‘party’ Cole had attended. 

There it was again, that look. Cole scrunched up his face, peering at Jonathan’s. Before he could ask if there was something on his face, Jonathan was pulling Cole away. In his less-than-coordinated state, Cole stumbled into a planter. “Fuck!” he exclaimed, as the snake plant toppled over. “Sorry, Karen,” he called over his shoulder, into the darkness. “’m not fucking with you, ‘m sorry... didn‘t mean to kick the plant,” he answered with a deep frown. Leaning down, Cole made a valiant attempt to right the planter, instead pushing too hard and sending it toppling to the other side. “Well, shit,” he stared at the feat of gravity. 

Jonathan repeated himself, causing Cole to raise on wobbly legs and look at him. “--the plant? I dunno, dude, there’s no one out here?” He scratched his head, nevermind the potting soil on his fingers. When Jonathan’s arm reached out to steady Cole, he stared at the other’s hand. Lonnie. Right. “Your mom,” he offered, leaning into Jonathan’s stability.  “Told her... a few days ago...” he struggled to remember what day it was, when he’d talked to Joyce. A warmth crept through his body at the memory of her acceptance. 

Suddenly insecure and unable to read Jonathan, Cole’s expression drooped. “Are you mad at me?”

where: blue quarry mall 

who: cole + max

@zccming​

Although Cole had thrown himself headfirst into this protest/party/whatever-the-fuck-it-was, he was unsure. Incredibly unsure. He hadn’t been back to Starcourt since before the fire; it was hard enough to see reminders of Adam at the high school and the Music Center and his parents house and every goddamn place he looked. So now, being in the mall, everything felt... surreal. He knew it was illogical, but Cole couldn’t help the guilt creeping into his chest, the feeling that maybe, if he had been here, he could have saved Adam. 

Cole leaned over, his lips pressed into a grim line, and filled up his cup for the... fourth or fifth time. Lifting the plastic to his lips, Cole glanced up to see none other than Max Mayfield coming his way. He quickly pasted on a smile and handed her a fresh cup. “How dare you think I forgot cups,” he scoffed, though his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Help yourself.” 

stevehharringtcns​:

.

cole’s response made steve nod his head slowly, letting out a sigh. he figured that someone would have told him about what had happened two years before, but he didn’t feel like talking about it. he was sure the scars on his torso spoke for themselves, if cole had even noticed that. raising an eyebrow once he heard cole talk about how adam didn’t have any marks, he sighed again. they were not close to figuring anything out and it didn’t seem like that was going to change anytime soon. steve just hoped that sooner or later, one of them would figure it out, but it definitely wouldn’t be him. he was better at swinging bats either way. “that’s… weird. but as long as the two of you are okay… just don’t go swimming in there anytime soon. once is enough.” he said with a nod, smiling at cole.

as the conversation switched about steve’s love life, steve wished they were talking about something else. but he had been the one to go looking for answers to cole, even though he probably didn’t have many. but he couldn’t help but to think that his love life had failed all along because he was looking for the right woman instead of… you know. he sighed as he looked at cole and bit his lower lip as he thought. “you don’t think…” he said, clearing his throat. “you don’t think he likes nancy? because apparently they’ve been hanging out lately. and you know, two years ago when eddie got pulled into… all of this.” he said, motioning towards the party and his group of friends. “i don’t know.” he said with a sigh, he wasn’t even sure what he was talking about anymore. but he was a bit relieved to hear cole say that eddie liked him. it made things easier, even if they were still hard. “i guess i just don’t want to scare him away like i do with most girls, you know? it’s just different with eddie, it feels… good.” he said, feeling almost as a weight got off his chest.

steve listened carefully as cole talked about his relationship with adam. they really knew how to keep a secret if steve hadn’t noticed, but then again, steve didn’t notice a lot of stuff. plus, he spent most of his time worried about basketball, swimming and his hair during high school. “i mean, at least you two got back together when he… came back.” he said, not sure what cole meant about the other being dead. he remembered him missing, but that seemed to be confusing a lot of people lately. he looked down at the ground at cole’s advice and nodded his head. “right… you’re right.” he said, although he still cared about what people thought. and he didn’t want people commenting on what he was doing.

xx.

Cole laughed, which was odd, given the situation. But the thought that he would ever swim in Lovers Lake, or anywhere else again? Was laughable. The part of his mind that was still trying to make sense of everything was increasingly concerned that Steve seemed just as lost as him. Shouldn’t Steve have more firsthand experience? Shouldn’t that help find an answer? But Cole pushed the thoughts away, shaking his head vehemently. “Yeah... I may never swim anywhere again, to be honest.” He shuddered, remembering the feeling of a hand or something around his ankle. 

Though he could’ve laughed, Cole instead nodded at Steve’s fears. He remembered having the same thoughts about Adam, and the insane jealousy Cole felt when Chrissy and Adam were together. He and Steve were different though; Cole had never been with a girl, never even wanted to. Everyone figured out their shit at different paces, he supposed. “I’m 99% sure Eddie doesn’t like Nancy, Steve. Or... girls at all.” He said, hoping it could put Steve at ease. Cole smiled. He’d never expected to see Steve Harrington flustered over someone. 

Cole couldn’t help the amused smile on his face. It was so surreal to be talking to Steve about this, and Cole didn’t take that lightly. It was just unexpected. “For whatever it’s worth... people don’t have to know right away. Or at all. It’s no one’s business but yours,” he shrugged. The only reason Chrissy had known was because Adam didn’t want to cheat on her; the only other person who knew was Max. And now Steve, obviously. “I won’t say anything,” he promised, giving Steve and encouraging smile.  

eddiemcnson​:

+++

his eyes flicked between cole’s - jesus, how did he have lashes like that, it was unfair - as if searching for even the slightest hint of uncertainty that would make him pull back, apologize, would make them part ways. but cole’s hand was still in his shirt, he was still so intoxicatingly close and now he had verbal confirmation, too.

eddie looked around one more time, hating how nervous and paranoid he got everytime he went back to hawkins, a shaky exhale drawn from his lungs, the air was clear. and still he felt himself hesitate, eyes meeting cole’s again, and the thought of how bizarre this was, how this wasn’t even the guy he’d spent his waking moments fantasizing about while sat in the back of ms. o’donnell’s class.

no, no, he nipped that strain of thought in the bed, no, this wasn’t the time to dwell on past crushed. to hell with it. eddie gave a weak nod, grin pulling at his lips. “yeah”, he breathed, “’m sure”, and dove in to connect their lips.

xx.

Instinctively, Cole’s hand snaked around Eddie’s neck, a desperate attempt to pull him closer. Cole sighed into Eddie’s lips, allowing his chest to rest on Eddie’s. Tilting his head, Cole brought his other hand to Eddie’s face, cupping his jawline and stroking his cheek.

It had been a while-- a few months, at least-- since Cole had been kissed, and the clandestine nature of their meeting didn’t help the fluttering in his stomach. He knew he and Eddie would never be together in any real sense, but right here, right now, the future didn’t matter. As far as he was concerned, the future didn’t even exist.

Cole pulled away, just for a moment to catch his breath, and ran his thumb over Eddie’s lips. Lifting his gaze to meet Eddie’s eyes, Cole’s mouth twisted into a smile. “You’re pretty good at this, Munson,” he remarked, pulling his face back to Eddie’s-- daring him to lean in again. 

goldenboyrichards​:

Adam wasn’t ready to process something like that. How could anyone ever be? Being faced with your own mortality - knowing that you’d died - it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t possible. Adam couldn’t believe it because it just couldn’t be real. Dying and coming back three years later wasn’t something that could just happen. 

He knew it had been summer, the last time he really remembered anything. Adam had been working at the pool with Billy Hargrove and Heather Holloway. He remembered talking to Billy after work one night, something he wouldn’t usually do, and then… then mostly nothing, until he woke up in the woods a few days ago. A brief flash of a fight with someone, maybe. Adam didn’t remember. 

It was the not remembering that scared him the most, besides the thought that he could have died. How did someone forget three years of their life? 

Before he could spiral too far, Cole was grounding him back to reality. Whatever had happened had happened years ago. Right now, in this moment, he was safe because he was here with Cole. And Cole wanted him to stop apologizing for leaving him. Adam leaned into his touch, choking back a sob when Cole forgave him. I know it wasn’t your fault. It didn’t fully relieve Adam of all of his guilt, but it did make him feel a bit better. “I wouldn’t have left you.” He agreed, slumping against Cole. “I don’t know what happened, but I didn’t mean for it to.” Adam pulled him close again, needing to know that this was real just as much as Cole. “I love you too. I always have.” 

They could talk about it when Adam was ready. But… what if he was never ready? He hoped to be at some point, but right now, he just wasn’t. He had never been the sharpest knife in the drawer - his teachers had never accused him of being smart. But this just wasn’t something Adam could rationalize. He couldn’t understand it. Maybe Cole knew people who could, and maybe they should talk to them. Just… maybe later. Adam squeezed Cole’s hand, nodding his head. “Let me tell Mom,” He replied, pulling Cole with him to the front door. 

“I’m heading over to Cole’s. I’ll be back,” Adam promised as he ducked his head back inside the house, ignoring the panicked look on his mother’s face at the mention of him going anywhere. She was so scared he’d run away to the woods again, Adam knew. He hated that he’d ever made her worry that much. 

xx.

Cole hated seeing Adam this upset. Before, it was rare for Adam to be upset about anything. He can’t recall a time when Adam was angry, and he can’t recall a time when Adam was this sad. The Mindflayer had broken part of him, and while Cole was confident that he could and would heal, he was still angry. He kept caressing Adam’s cheek, though his hands were shaking. Why Adam? Of course, it wasn’t just Adam, but... why not Cole? He would rather it be him coming back, dealing with all of this, than Adam-- Adam who was always the first to crack a joke or include an outsider or show kindness to the most unlikely people.

Cole had never been like that, he’d never been like him: naturally kind, easily trusting. From birth, it seemed Cole had a chip on his shoulder-- and that was okay with Adam. It was okay that they were different, it worked. And it still worked, it would always work. But Adam was never supposed to hurt like this. As Adam choked back a sob and slumped against Cole, Cole wrapped his arms around him and buried fingers in Adam’s hair. 

I love you too. I always have.

Tears stung Cole’s eyes and relief flooded his body hearing Adam say it. He figured it was part of the Mindflayer’s possession, but the last fight still echoed in Cole’s mind. Leave me the fuck alone, Adam had yelled, and Cole was relieved to be able to dismiss his fears that Adam hated him once and for all. “I’m so glad to hear you say that,” he admitted, his breath hot against Adam’s neck. He hadn’t planned on telling Adam about the fight-- there was too much else going on-- but he couldn’t help the pent-up tears from years of heartbreak. 

Pulling away just far enough to lock eyes with Adam, Cole angled his chin upward and cupped Adam’s face. “We’ll never have to be apart again. I promise,” he paused, taking in the view of Adam’s face. He was really here. “We’ll go to San Francisco, like we always planned,” Cole’s face broke out into a nostalgic smile.

It was a small thing, but Cole was glad Adam hadn’t let go of his hand to go to the door. Cole needed the physical reassurance that this was real, and he fully intended to hang on to Adam’s arm for the next year, at least. “Wait!” he called, grabbing the VHS from its discarded position on the floor. Cole ducked his head inside, still holding Adam’s hand behind him, and placed the tape on the entryway table. “Could you give this to Cindy? Tell her I’ll come by and watch it with her tomorrow, if she wants,” Cole flashed Mrs. Richards a smile, more genuine than any he’d produced in the past six months. “I’ll watch out for Adam,” he stated, hoping to ease her nerves.

Shutting the door behind them, Cole turned to Adam once again. “I don’t really have a car right now, so.. you up for a walk?” He looked at the porch swing with Adam’s hat and sunglasses. “Want your disguise?” he teased, bumping Adam’s hip with his own. For a second, things felt simple like they used to be. Cole breathed in the feeling, giving Adam’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

𝐌𝐘 𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐌𝐘

WHO: max mayfield & @loverboymontgomery WHAT: after max and cole hop of their walkies, max shows up, heart to hearts are had, and the glimpses of each other in their own behaviors become abundantly apparent (aka colemax mirrors w hints of lumax and richgomery) WHERE: the montgomery residence, july 1st-ish

Keep reading

backtowheeler​:

— ✎ —

“It’s pathetic, isn’t it?” Nancy smiled, knowing how idiotic she sounded. Even when her and Steve first broke up, she swore to herself that she wouldn’t jump into another relationship. It didn’t do her any good the first time… or the second time. Third time’s a charm though, right? “But he’s better than you’d think,” she lied. Thad was just as typical as anyone would expect a guy named Thad would be. Nancy wasn’t particularly fond of him, but for her senior year? She could put up with him. Or maybe she’d get hit with the Wheeler curse and marry him, pop out a few kids, and stay unhappy until death.

Nancy let out a sigh, finishing off her beer. “I’m tired of talking about me,” she groaned, turning to Cole. “Top me off and tell me all things Cole?” She wiggled her cup in front of him, a grin on her face. 

xx.

Suddenly Cole felt bad for his relentless teasing of Nancy. Certainly, she was an adult and could make her own decisions about who to date, even if Cole suspected he was an asswipe. “Hey, if you’re happy, don’t listen to me,” he offered her an apologetic smile. “And if you’re not... well, send me a postcard from the Hamptons.” 

Cole’s grin matched hers, and he took her cup with a bow. “As you wish, m’lady.” He turned on his heel and dutifully retrieved two new beers. Pouring one into the cup, he chewed on his cheek. All things Cole. “Hmm. What’s there to say? Still studying lit, still sure I’ll be unemployed come graduation,” he shrugged, taking a swig of his beer. “Tell me, how does one figure out what to do with their life?”

goldenboyrichards​:

Being co-host of the camping trip, Adam had had to spend awhile checking in on everyone else when they got back. A lot of theories were being thrown around, as well as stories from the cabin, but he wasn’t paying much attention to them. They sort of went over his head. He didn’t know what grabbed him and Cole, but it had felt stronger than algae. He couldn’t be sure, though. 

Cole drifting away from the others wasn’t surprising to Adam. He understood needing a minute after all of that, and it was starting to get a bit cold out here now that the sun had gone down. Without asking, he passed Cole one of the hoodies he’d brought with him in his duffle bag. If anyone noticed that Cole was wearing his clothes, Adam was kind of beyond caring. He’d do anything that Cole needed him to do right now. 

“You didn’t make it up,” Adam assured with sad eyes, hating that what had happened to them was real. If only it could have been some fucked up nightmare or something. “I’m fine,” He assured, giving Cole a small smile. Honestly, he was worried. But there were no physical marks on him, and he and Cole had both eventually made it to shore. Adam would be okay - this was just another weird thing to add to the list of awful stuff happening around him lately. “I’m not going anywhere.” Adam glanced around, checking to make sure no one was paying too much attention to them. Once he was sure they were safe, he squeezed Cole’s knee in reassurance. 

As Cole began begging him to leave with him, Adam’s heart ached. That had always been the plan, hadn’t it? But Adam had fucked it up somehow three years ago, leaving Cole alone to pick up the pieces. And as much as Adam wanted to go now, he thought about his mother. His dad. Beth, Cindy. He couldn’t just leave them again. He couldn’t run away this time. When he and Cole left, they deserved to know in advance. “Cole,” Adam began sadly, squeezing his hand. “Cole, I want that so bad. I want us to go to California like we planned. I want that.” He assured him, voice steady because someone had to be. “But I can’t leave my family right now. My mom…I don’t think she’s sleeping much, these days. My dad calls home to check and make sure I’m still here every few hours when he’s at work. My sisters didn’t stop crying for hours when I finally came back,” Adam rambled, running a hand through his hair. “I just can’t go right now. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” 

xx.

When Adam passed Cole his hoodie, he smiled. Though it was a cliche, he loved wearing Adam’s clothes-- so much so that he’d periodically stolen dozens of shirts, hoodies, and jackets over the years. He brushed his hand against Adam’s and tugged the hoodie on, trying to act cool, calm, and collected when he was anything but. Both because he was freaking out about whatever had grabbed them in the lake and because Adam was here, looking at him with those eyes, and he wasn’t allowed to hold him.

“Kind of wish I did,” Cole said, with a sigh. He wished he had answers for Adam-- or rather, that his answers made any fucking sense. When Max had told him about the Upside Down and the Mindflayer and the fucked up shit happening in Hawkins, it had actually made him feel better, for a while. He finally knew that Adam hadn’t died hating him, that he was... possessed. But when Adam showed back up with a completely different story, any comfort Cole took in the truth was long gone. 

I’m not going anywhere. Cole closed his eyes for a moment and willed himself to believe it. Only, Adam couldn’t guarantee that. Cole couldn’t guarantee that either. Adam coming back both gave Cole a future again and threatened his utter demise. Losing Adam once had already destroyed him, but the thought of losing him twice felt like a death sentence. He did his best to muster up a smile, so as not to worry his boyfriend, but Cole knew better. Adam was always able to tell when something was up. 

Cole knew Adam’s answer before he elaborated, just based on the way he said his name. He nodded profusely along as Adam spoke, as guilt settled into his stomach. Of course Adam couldn’t leave his family now. He’d just gotten caught up in the moment, in his own fears, and was desperately trying to find something to cling to. “Of course, love. Of course,” he murmured, squeezing Adam’s hand back. “I’m sorry, that was... I was being emotional. I don’t want you to leave your family.” If anything, Cole wanted to bring Adam’s family with them. “I understand how they feel. I’m so scared of losing you again,” he finally admitted, rubbing circles on Adam’s hand with his thumb. 

eddiemcnson​:

+++

eddie very nearly hissed when cole pulled on his shirt, when he felt his breath ghost over his ear a few seconds later. almost instinctively, his grip on cole’s waist tightened, fingers experimentally darting underneath the fabric to feel the warmth of his skin, the sensation made his arms break out in goosebumps. god, it had been a fucking long time since he’d last been this close to someone. and eddie certainly hadn’t expected to find himself in this situation when he’d loaded his stereo into the van to drive to an illegal party in the mall some four hours ago.

a slight, dazed grin tugged at his lips, he rolled his eyes. “you’re a cocky bastard, you know that?”, he whispered with a slight shake of his head before their lips were connected yet again and eddie gasped into the kiss, shivered as their tongues lazily brushed together.

he hummed, pleased, when cole moved onto his neck, let one hand travel up to card his fingers through cole’s hair. he let his head fall back, eyes closed, trying to town in the sensation of cole’s lips on his skin -

- but no, there was something else, something disturbing them. he frowned, and, tugging at cole’s hair slightly, pulled back. “i - d'you hear that?”

xx.

When Eddie slipped his hands beneath Cole’s shirt, Cole decided he was glad he came to this protest/party/whatever it was. A rush of warmth flooded Cole’s chest and he leaned into Eddie’s body, wishing they could be closer still. He knew he made Eddie feel good; the goosebumps and hums were evidence enough.

At Eddie’s eye roll, a confident grin pushed Cole’s lips upwards. “It’s been said. Not sure I agree,” was all he managed before their lips connected again with a desperate crash. Cole relished the feeling of Eddie’s soft lips, his tangled hair, their arms intertwined. 

As Eddie tugged on Cole’s hair, his kisses became more frantic, eventually leading back to the other’s mouth. Cole hummed back as their lips connected; the hum turned into a groan when Eddie pulled back. Blinking and catching his breath, Cole reluctantly pulled his hands out from underneath Eddie’s shirt.

Shit. Did someone just say the cops were here? Smoothing out Eddie’s tussled hair, Cole grabbed his hand and pulled him to the wall nearest them. There was an exit that way, if he remembered correctly. Cole glanced at Eddie one last time and winked, “That’ll be hard to forget, Munson.” Patting down his own hair, Cole slipped off to the right to inconspicuously re-join the group, allowing Eddie to do the same a few moments later. He was sure the vandals would be too frantic to notice.