Chapter Text
Kate Addams learned from a young age to be invisible.
At the age of 6 her father lost his job at the factory and started drinking. When she was 7 her mother had started taking her frustration and anger out on Kate, yelling and screaming, rough grabs and a few slaps. At 8 Kate learned that it was best to stay invisible, to not be seen nor heard, that being said, anger had begun building in her, a rage she had a hard time swallowing down.
When she was 11 her father drove the car into a semi with Kate in the back seat. Kate got away with a broken collarbone, bruises, stitches that went through her eyebrow and hatred for hospitals.
Then at 13 Kate was taken from her home by the CPS and put into the foster care system, which wasn’t exactly an improvement. From then on it was one shitty home after the other, until she finally landed with the Abbotts at 17.
They weren't perfect, not by far, but they agreed to let her stay after she turned 18, to finish school, if she continued to take part in the regular chores she was already doing. Do the laundry, clean, pick up Frank from the bar when he was too drunk to drive, stay out of trouble, finish school. The Abbotts were not bad people, they were just… not great either.
In Oktober 1985 they moved to Hawkins. Kate was sent to finish her final year of school at Hawkins High School.
And as always, Kate planned on being invisible, to keep a tight grip on her anger and not cause any scenes. Kate wasn’t exactly thrilled to start months after the start of the school year, knowing it’d only increase the attention brought to her, which was why she did her very best to look completely uninteresting.
Her hair was tied back, shirt a size too big and washed out, shoes ragged and the bottom on her jeans tattered from being too long. She kept a tight grip on her backpack as she entered the class with the teacher, Mr… something with H.
“Now class, let me introduce you to the new student, Miss Kate Abbott-,” he announced cheerily.
“Addams,” Kate corrected, looking completely bored with the whole process. All eyes were on her. Kate swallowed her anxiety. She just needed to get this over with and then it would be all good.
A few students whispered to each other, snickering, others outrightly judged her. There was a good mix of people, the Jocks and popular kids, the regular people and one person that specifically stood out against the crowd, with long dark hair and just as dark eyes.
“Why don’t you tell us a little about yourself,” Mr. Teacher pushed.
Kate smiled tightly. “No thank you.”
The teacher blinked at this and a few students laughed. “Uh, okay, then why don't you take a seat by Holly.” He pointed at a blond girl, who smiled sweetly and waved at her.
Kate nodded and shifted her way through the desks and backpacks until she reached her seat by the window. Mr. Teacher began the lesson, by starting to draw a timeline for the war.
Holly leaned over the little gap between their desks and held out a hand for Kate to shake. She did.
“Holly Day,” She said, a small flush of red on her cheeks. “I’m aware that it sounds like holiday, my parents thought it was funny, and well, it was but I’m totally over it by now. Just call me Holly.”
“Kate Addams,” Kate introduced, unable to hold back a small chuckle. Holly wasn’t bad, she was nice and seemed genuine. And she was, her friends however were not as friendly. Kate quickly found out that Holly was part of the Popular crowd and that went directly against Kate’s wish to remain anonymous.
Kate decided to remain friendly with Holly, but nothing more. Instead of joining the rest of the school in the cantine, she snuck out of the school, heading towards the woods. She needed some fresh air and alone time. Being the new girl entering the cantina was not on her list of recommendations. She had done it so many times by now and she really didn't want to do it again. She’ll slowly integrate herself and by doing so become completely obsolete. t
Kate found herself wandering into an overgrown sitting area, the benches and table covered in leaves and worn by the weather. Perfect. She put down her backpack and started to unpack a book she was reading along with a notebook and a few pens. Lastly, she plucked the sandwich from her backpack and was about to sit down, when she heard a branch snap.
Kate’s heart jumped and she spun around to look through the brush. She wandered away from the table, trying to stay as quiet as possible. Was it a squirrel?
“Already hiding away from school?” A smooth voice came from behind her.
Kate whipped around with a strangled yelp, hurling the sandwich she was holding at the person. It flew through the air, bounced on his chest and fell to the leaf-covered ground, the wrapping unable to hold any longer and letting it spill out.
Both of them stared at each other in utter surprise, eyes wide and mouths hanging open.
“Did you just throw a sandwich at me?”
Kate collected herself, feeling a faint blush warm her cheeks. Whether it was embarrassment or anger remained unanswered. “Yes, I did. If you didn't want things hurled at you, you shouldn't scare the shit out of people.”
A smile stretched his lips, the corners of his eyes wrinkling. He looked thoroughly entertained. Kate did not appreciate it. Her eyes narrowed at him.
“And what exactly is a sandwich going to do?”
“You’re lucky I didn’t have anything more solid to throw at you,” Kate bit at him.
“What are you doing out there?” He asked, taking a few steps back, before scooting himself up on the table, resting his feet on the seat. His eyes never left her, not once. In turn, Kate didn’t take her eyes off of him.
“What are you doing out here?” She questioned back. What was this? Why was he looking at her like this?
“I asked you first,” He chuckled, brushing his long hair behind one of his ears. He made a face. “I’m here to conduct business,” he answered her, patting an old beat-up lunchbox.
Kate's brows rose. “Business? Right, well let me get out of your hair.”
She went to her backpack and started packing her stuff. She could feel his eyes on her, dissecting every movement. The attention made her skin flush and prickle. He was dangerous and she needed to get away, to become invisible again. It was either fight or flight, and it was easier to blend in after feeling than after fighting.
“You can stay, I don't mind,” He spoke, voice warm and almost soothing. It made her even more anxious.
“Why would I stay, you ruined my lunch,” she answered him.
“Maybe you shouldn't have thrown it then.”
“Maybe you shouldn't have snuck up on me!” Kate snapped at him. “You owe me a sandwich.”
She could feel his smile even if she wasn't looking at him. It made her want to fight him. Who was he even? Why was he smiling at her so much? What was wrong with him?
“You’re a real spitfire, aren't you?”
Kate let out a breath trying to calm her nerves. Invisible, you can’t become invisible if you bring so much attention to yourself.
“I am none of your business,” Kate muttered, slinging her backpack onto her back, before starting towards the school. She was only a few meters from him when she heard him call after her. “
I’m Eddie Munson!”
“I don't care!” Kate called back, waving her hand through the air as if it’d wave his name out of her head.
Eddie Munson, great, now she knew exactly who to steer clear off.