Chapter Text
June 1985
Hawkins, Indiana
In the fall of 1984, Hawkins was put into national spotlight, after it was discovered that Barbara Holland, a recently deceased teen, was not killed in a freak accident like the reporters and police originally stated, but by a chemical leak from the Hawkins Lab. This, of course, meant that the laboratory was shut down, for good. Barbara’s parents got closure, and the Upside Down was finally shut. The town, not wanting this negative attention on themselves, nor the mayor, who unfortunately got many letters explaining certain things they’d like to do to him in explicit detail, decided that a new mall would be good for the town. To put an end to the lab leak, and to give the town of Hawkins something to busy themselves over. So over the course of a few months after October, the town put into construction the Starcourt Mall. An all new and improved shopping center for the town, and the beginning of the Party’s story, and for some, an unfortunate visit from an old friend.
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Hopper’s Cabin
Lying down in bed, Mike and Eleven stared at one another. It wasn’t common for one to be without the other, over the course of the summer it was rare to see them apart at all. Glued to one another, a package deal. Some called it “a severe case of codependency”, they called it “love”. What else would they call it?
“I really like this song, you know.”, Mike started.
“Why? It doesn’t sound any different from the others you’ve shown me.”, Eleven replied. Not quite understanding why Mike wanted to talk about this of all things .
“Doesn’t- doesn’t sound any different? Are you out of your mind? This, this is peak music, it’s the best of the best. I could argue the best thing ever written , it doesn’t sound any different? How could you even say this to me El, after everything we’ve been through.”
Giggling at his overreaction to a song choice, El leans in towards him. Touching each other's foreheads, she whispers, “Mike, calm down. I just don’t want to talk about music right now.”
“Oh. Well what did you want to talk about?”
“I don’t know. How about when the Party will come over and visit. Max wanted to teach me about make-up.”
Groaning, Mike sits back up. Pushing his hair out of his eyes, he looks back down at Eleven.
“Please don’t talk about Max when I’m here. She’s corrupting you.”
“Corrupting me?”
Eleven cocks her head to the side visibly confused, Mike rolls his eyes and continues.
“Yeah! Y’know! Like- she’s just a bad influence on you. It’s gonna start with make-up and magazines, but soon it will be about boys having cooties and whatever!”
“Boys have cooties? What are cooties?”
“I- that’s not the point!”
“Well, what is the point? Max just wants me to learn things, girl things . You and the other boys won’t get it.”
“ See! She’s corrupting you! Soon you won’t even want to hang out with me at all.”
Flinging his arms out, Mike is flushed in the face with anger. A frown is permanently etched onto his face whenever Max is brought up.
“It’s just”, sighing deeply, he continues, “I don’t want anything to change between us. Nothing will change between us, right?”
“Nothing. Promise.”
They grin at each other, like two stupid teens in love. Leaning in closer together, their faces barely inches apart…
A beeping noise drags them both apart from another.
“Shit! I’m gonna be late.”
Grabbing his things from around the room, Mike looks back at El.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
-+-+-
Hopper’s Cabin
Staring at his daughter’s door, after the Wheeler kid leaves. Hopper begins to think, although this train of thought hasn’t quite left him since the end of fall. He wants Eleven to be happy, to enjoy her time as a kid, because God only knows what hell she faced growing up. But her and that Wheeler kid are always together, I mean not always , sometimes the other goons show up. He is particularly fond of Max, since she’s the only other girl in the group, Elev-, Jane , his mind corrects, can talk about, you know, girl things . He doesn’t want to break them up, no, Jane deserves to be happy, but maybe putting some rules in place would be good . Oh God, what is he even saying?
Sighing deeply, he gets out of his chair and begins their routine. Make breakfast, have a small talk with Jane, get to work. Call when he can. But today, he’s gonna make a small stop to one parent who is good at what they do. Today, he’s going to talk to Joyce.
..
Tomorrow, tomorrow he will talk to Joyce.
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Starcourt Mall
Main Entrance
Standing outside of the mall stands the Party, well the Party minus Dustin, and Mike as of right now.
“Where is he? He was supposed to get here at,” looking at her watch Max groans in frustration, “9:30!”
“Relax. He’ll get here when he gets here.”
“Yeah? And when’s that, next year? I’m dying here Lucas. I’m sick of constantly waiting on him. I swear next time he does this, I’m leaving.”
“Yeah, I agree with Max on this, Lucas. We’re missing the previews.” Will adds on.
“Previews? Really, Will? You care about the previews .”
“Duh, who doesn’t?”
“See Lucas, Will gets it.”
Grinning and high-fiving one another, Lucas stares in utter shock.
“Since when did you two get all buddy-buddy?”
“Since Byers here got free ice cream.”
“I knew you were using me!”
“I’m not using you, I am simply taking advantage of the fact that you’ve mysteriously bonded with Steve’s co-worker. Which by the way, when did that happen all of a sudden?”
“Wait, wait, wait, the cool older chick. The one who is all stoic and pissed when we get there. That girl? ”
“Yeah, that girl. What other girl works shifts with Steve?”
“I’m just surprised, didn’t think Will was into older girls.”
Will grows flustered and tries to defend himself, while the other two laugh at his misery. Unfortunately for Will, this is the exact moment Mike joins the group.
“Hey guys, sorry I’m late. I lost track of ti- Why are you guys laughing.” looking at Lucas and Max in curiosity, and turning his head to Will, hoping for an answer, only to find him red-faced.
Getting out of his stupor, Will finds it in himself to respond, “First of all her name is Robin, and I don’t like her like that .”
“Wait, what? Who the hell is Robin, and why do you like her?”
“I just said I didn’t like her like that Mike, and she’s the girl who works with Steve at Scoops Ahoy.”
“Yeah, you know, the one who looks one bad customer away from spitting in someone’s cone.” Lucas adds on, playfully shoving Will.
“She isn’t like that Lucas, you’re just exaggerating. It’s not my fault I get free ice-cream and you don’t.”
“It’s not about the ice-cream, it’s-”
“GUYS! Seriously, we’re missing the movie, stop your squabbling and get-a-moving.”
Pushing past both boys Max strides forward. Only looking back to once to make sure they followed her lead. Which after a minute of staring, started speed-walking to catch up to her. As they race across the mall, they end up passing Erica, Lucas’s younger sister. Which ended with Max having to physically drag him away, after they started to have a fight.
“Do you always have to do this?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact I do, it’s called ‘bonding’.”
“It is not called that, at all actually.”
“Well, Erica and I are simply…different, yeah, our minds are too complex for you guys to understand.”
“Yeah, okay stalker.”
“Shouldn’t we be rushing to the movies right now? There is no time for another debate.”
Pushing and shimmying their way around the crowded mall, all the while apologizing profusely, the kids finally make their way to Scoops Ahoy.
“Byers! What a welcomed visit, other kids…not so much”, Robin says leaning over the counter. “Let me guess, you want Steve. Hey dingus, your kids are here.”
Groaning as he opens the divider, Steve “The Hair” Harrington, makes his appearance. Adorned by his sailor uniform, and trusty sailor’s cap.
“Again? Seriously, this is like the fifth movie.”
“Yeah, well, what else do you expect us to do, Steve? Hang out at the pool with Max’s brother as the lifeguard, no thanks.”
“Fair point Sinclair, but seriously guys. Can’t you just buy the tickets?”
“Why buy the tickets when we have you to get us in for free?”, Max replies smiling coily.
“You could at least thank me once in a while .”
“We do thank you”, Mike argues.
“No you don’t. Byers does, and Mayfield on occasion. Sinclair once Mayfield hits sense into him, but you? Not a chance Wheeler.”
“Okay that is so not fair, I thank you-”
“No, you don’t”, Robin cuts in.
“This has nothing to do with you!”
“Guys, can you not. We’re missing the movie.”, Will groans out in frustration having to listen to them argue. “Just say thanks Mike, and move on .”
“I-, but-, seriously?”
The group stares at Mike, not even finding a way to reason with him and just hoping he gives in. Sighing in defeat, Mike utters a thanks and moves toward the back door.
“See, was that so hard Wheeler, you know, you really could take a lesson or two from Will over there.”
Staring into Steve’s eyes, Mike wears a frown not even bothering to respond. Moving past the boys, Lucas and Max start making a bee-line toward the theater's back door.
“Thanks Steve. THANKS ROBIN!” Will says, following along with the other two. Dragging Mike away from Steve before he ruins the perfectly constructed relationship between the older teens and the Party.
“No problem, Byers. And shitheads, don’t get caught alright, and if you do, don’t mention my name at all. I could get into deep shit here alright!”
“Yeah, we got it!”
-+-+-
Making their way past the rows of filled seats, the Party finds themselves a row with four empty seats. As they sit in the darkened room, Will and Lucas start passing out their assorted drinks and snacks, as the group settles into their seats, Lucas to the left, Max, Will, and Mike to the right.
As the theater stays focused on the screen in front of them, right before the major climax scene…the project cuts off. Earning a series of groans from the crowd and a couple of curses here and there.
The lights cut off in the Mall centers, music from the carousel dying out, the water from the fountain cutting short, even the hum from the ice-cream coolers disappeared. All throughout the town, power seemingly vanished.
-+-+-
Starcourt Mall
Scoops Ahoy
“Are you shitting me?”
“I shit you not.”
“Really Robin?”
“The opportunity presented itself.”
“Yeah, well…stop.”
“What? You don’t like my amazing comments?”
“No, as a matter of fact, I don’t.”
“Well, too bad dingus, seems like you're stuck with them.”
“Yeah, I got it.”
“Did you get the power working?”
“Yes, Robin, I got the power working again, which is why the lights are back on and the ice-cream coo-”
“Alright dumbass, no need to keep going, a simple ‘no’ would have sufficed.”
“You’re the one who asked the dumb question.”
“Why do I work shifts with you again?”
“No one else wanted to work the same hours as us. Apparently I’m ‘a distraction’ and ‘flirt too much’, which I am taking the distraction part as a compliment.”
“You really shouldn’t.”
“-and you are ‘too stand-off-ish for the other employees’ and nobody likes your sarcasm.”
“I am a delight.”
“Keep telling yourself that.”
“Well, Byers thinks I’m great.”
“Kid thinks everyone is great. He’s too trusting.”
“Yeah, still can’t believe you and him are friends.”
“We aren’t ‘friends’, we’re..”
“Oh, right, the babysitter.”
“Oh, come on. I am not a babysitter, those kids are practically adults.”
“Sure, which is why just last week that Sinclair kid came looking for you when his girlfriend broke up with him, and that other time when Mayfield needed bandages, OR that-”
“Alright, alright, I got it.”
“Never thought ‘King Steve’ would be a babysitter, weren’t you like super cool back in the day. Dating that one chick, Cathy?”
“Don’t use ‘back in the day’ makes me seem like I’m turning gray. And Chrissy? No, I didn’t date her, she was with some othe-”
-+-+-
Cheers fill the theater as the projector begins running again, although there is one person not following along.
Will stares off at the screen, feeling a shiver run through his body. Memories of last fall run rampant in his head, like a bad dream. He feels like an outsider in his own body, this isn’t his body, this isn’t his body, it’s not his, no, not Will’s, it's hi- . It’s like when you get called on in class, after you’ve spent the last 10 minutes praying to God, that you won’t get chosen, please not this time, I wasn’t paying attention, please any higher power that exists, show me mercy. But Will’s life was never fortunate enough to be blessed by mercy. His stomach is in knots, head filled with cotton, mouth as dry as the desert. Reaching up to touch the back of his neck, Mike turns to face him.
“Hey, you okay?”, he whispers, staring at his face for any signs or clues of his true emotions. Of what lies hidden underneath.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m good, just, just glad the projectors are back on.”
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Dustin’s Mom’s Car
“This is Gold Leader, returning to base. Do you copy? Over.”
Silence.
“This is Gold Leader, returning to base. Do you copy? Over.”
Nothing.
“This is Gold Leader , returning to base. Do you copy? Over.”
…
Growing more frustrated, Dustin begins again.
“I repeat: this is Gold Leader, returning to base. Do you copy? Over.”
Throwing his head back against his seat, he starts once more.
“This is Gold Leader-”
“Honey, why don’t you give it a break?”
“Because they’re supposed to answer. We’re within range, so I don’t get why they aren’t answering .”, Dustin says, pointing his last statement towards his walkie.
“Well, you’ve been gone for a whole month honeybun. Maybe they just forgot.”, Ms. Henderson says, taking a slight peak over to her son.
Taking her words in, Dustin lowers his comm and looks out the window.
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Dustin’s House
After the fiasco that was the Party’s welcome to Dustin, which sent Lucas to the kitchen trying to get the pepper spray out of his eyes. It went well!, besides Lucas getting pepper-sprayed.
Moving along, Dustin, Will, Eleven, and Mike sit on the floor of Dustin’s room. Max leaving to go help Lucas clean out his eyes.
“And this is a forever clock, powered by wind. Very useful when the world ends.”, handing over the clock to Will, Dustin begins looking for his next project.
“Ohhhhh, this , this is the-, this is taking the cake. Fellas, feast your eyes upon Cerebro.”
“What are we looking at exactly?” Mike asks, squinting at the deconstructed ‘Cerebro’. El peering over to poke and prod at the parts.
“Only the best thing ever built. It’s an unassembled one-of-a-kind- battery-powered radio tower.”
“So, a ham-radio?” Will sums up.
“The Cadillac of ham radios.” Dustin adds on. “It can relay messages over vast distances. I’m talking North Pole to the South Pole. Not only that, but this means I can talk to my girlfriend whenever and wherever I want.”
The three stare at Dustin, uncomprehending of his words, looking at each other to ensure they aren’t hallucinating this entire conversation. All replying with the same remark.
“Girlfriend?!”
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Melvald’s General Store
Walking into the general store, Hopper begins to sweat. Not literally. He’s just nervous, that's what it is, although he has no reason to be. This is just one parent asking another parent how to parent. He just needs some advice, it’s not like he’s asking her out on a date. Although…NO! Do not follow that train of thought, focus on Jane right now. Right. Jane.
Joyce is currently sitting at the front counter, flipping through pages of a magazine. No one really comes into the general store that often, even during the summer, and especially not with the mall opening up. Which has caused Hopper more problems than ever, but that is not what he is here for right now.
“Joyce! Funny seeing you here..” . Idiot, she works here!
“I work here Hop, or did you forget? Duties got you too busy?”
“Yep, that mall opening up really screwed over a lot of the shops here. I can’t even begin telling you how many complaints I’ve gotten, and the mayor! ”. Huffing, Hopper takes off his hat, leaning against the counter.
“Tell me about it. The mall is all anyone really talks about these days.”
Staring at one another, Hopper begins to even wonder why he came over here in the first place. Other than seeing his friend , he means…RIGHT!
“So Joyce, you're a mother, right?”
“Uhh, yeah. I am a mom, are you okay Hop?”
“Yeah, yeah, I am and I knew that. I just…I’ve been having some trouble with Jane.”
“Ja-? Oh, what’s the matter?”
“She- well this isn’t exactly about her. But more about her relationship with another kid.”
“Oh Mike. How are they?”
“Getting on my nerves.”
“Hop…”
“Look, I don’t want to ruin what Jane has right now, but that kid. Sometimes Joyce when I look at him I want to squeeze his tiny little skull. He is such a disrespectful little-”
“HOP! Calm down. What even is the issue between them? They’re not fighting are they?”
“No, no. It's just that, since fall I’ve been having that little rodent at my cabin more often than he is at his own home. At this point he might as well live with me. And I get it alright, they want to hang out, but Joyce it’s every god-damned day! I don’t get it!”
“He hasn’t seen her for a year prior, they’re young. And they’re in love. But boundaries can be put into place.”
“Boundaries?” Hopper says, sounding out the word as though he has never heard them before. “How? And what good would that do?”
“Well, for one, it might get Mike out of your house. And two, it opens a line for healthier communication .”
Seeing the look of uncertainty and utter disbelief Hopper has in her words, she continues on.
“After the, you know, Will and I had a talk. He didn’t like the fact that I was always watching over him and felt, well he felt like he was trapped, like back in the-. And I understood, somewhat. So, I backed off a bit. Let him get his own space, but we made a compromise.”
“A compromise?”
“Yes, a compromise”
“So…you think that setting up rules is gonna help? ”
“It might. I mean, what exactly do you want to change?”
“For one, I don’t want that bug being in my home every day. And maybe for Jane to, to I don’t know, socialize outside of the Wheeler kid.”
“Has she only been talking to him the entire time?”
“Nah, the other kids come by every week. And Max stays over every other week for a sleepover. But I mean, I don’t want her to feel trapped. Like she’s stuck in the cabin.”
Sitting in silence Joyce beckons him to continue.
“I want her to…I want to go outside. To talk to other kids her age. I mean, we don’t have to hide her forever. And she is going to start schooling next year. I don’t want her to be overwhelmed. ”
“Awwww Hop!”
“Don’t. Please, just help me.”
“Alright, alright…But it is sweet of yo-”
“Joyce.”
Rolling her eyes, Joyce moves to grab a notebook and a pen. Settling back next to Hopper, over the course of two hours they go back and forth creating his speech. Outlining exactly what he wants to say, and giving him time to memorize it.
Once they’ve completed it, Hopper feels a weight lift off his shoulders. Now, to talk to Jane. shouldn’t be too hard, right?
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Dustin’s House
“Her name is Suzie, with a ‘z’. She’s from Utah.”
“If she’s from Utah, why can’t you just, I don’t know, call her? ”
“Okay, first of all, phone bills are very expensive Micheal, and two she’s a Mormon.”
“Mormon?” El asks, moving her way in front of Mike.
“Her family is like crazy religious . And since I'm not Mormon, they’d never approve of me dating their daughter.”
“Do girls even go to Science Camp?” Will remarks from the back of the pack.
“Suzie does, and she’s a genius.” Dustin gushes, happy to talk about her.
“Is she pretty?”
“Think Phoebe Cates, only hotter.”
Confusion washes over El’s face, not understanding Dustin’s answer to her question, but nevertheless moving forward with the group.
Opening the door, the four kids, each carrying the supplies to build Cerebro, prepare for the long trip they’re about to make.
“Where are you going?” questions Max, leaning herself against the sink’s counter.
Will slightly stops before leaving the door, wanting to make this as dramatic as possible, and to catch sight of their faces before responding.
“To talk to Dustin’s girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend!?”
-+-+-
Up the hill
“I still don’t understand why we need to walk this far up? Shouldn’t this be enough?” Mike asks, seemingly out of breath.
Over the course of a few hours, the Party has been lugging around the parts of Cerebro up the largest hill found in Hawkins. Of course with complaints coming from each member in various levels of exhaustion, frustration, and hunger. The worst of the lot being Mike, followed by Lucas, Max, Will, and finally Eleven. The odd one out being Dustin, who, due to the fact that he was going to talk to his girlfriend soon, seemed to be fine. Nothing could bring him down, not when Suzie was so close from his reach.
“In order for Cerebro to actually work, it needs to be 100 meters above. And the top of this hill is the best spot for it!”
“Yeah Mike, getting tired?”
“NO! Why, why would you even think that Max. I could do this in my sleep.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that Wheeler.”
“Oh, okay Mayfield. Honestly, why are you always inserting yourself into my life ?”
“You’re the one who decided to make this a group thing. No one told you to complain out loud.”
“Well, you didn’t need to-, to-, to incite something!”
"Ohhh, a ten dollar word, where'd you get that from?"
“GUYS! Seriously, quit fighting. This is Dustin’s first day back.”
Looking back at the teens arguing, Lucas and Will stare at them both. Not wanting to ruin Dustin’s day back, and also to prevent either one from fist-fighting the other. Which has become a much more frequent concern than it should have been.
Grumbling to themselves, Max moves ahead to catch up to Lucas, who started walking back up to Dustin. Mike shifts back to walk alongside El, as Will gets caught between the two groups. Way too far back to catch up to Dustin, yet not wanting to intrude into either couple, sighing in defeat, he begins his walk back up the hill.
“HEY GUYS! HURRY UP!”
“YEAH! WE’RE GOING!”
After reaching Dustin at the top of the hill, each person all but collapses to the ground. Lying flat on their backs staring at the blank blue sky, struggling to catch their breaths.
Dustin begins opening up each bag, hastily starting construction on the build. As Lucas drinks all the water, getting yells from both Max and Will, along with a groan of disgust when he spits it back in. Watching fondly from the sidelines, El and Mike sit, leaning against one another and just enjoying the group being back together.
..
“TA-DA! It’s done. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Uhhh, it sure looks like something. Are you sure we did it right?”
“Don’t disrespect Cerebro like that Lucas! It works, trust me.”
“Sure it won’t like blow up on us? Because I do not need my mom fretting on me anymore than she already does.”
“Yee of little faith Byers. It won’t blow up, alright?”
Staring at the monstrous build that was Cerebro, it sure looked like it was one tap from falling over. Yet as Dustin reassures the group, Mike and Eleven start making their way back. Everso slowly moving away from the group.
“Hey! Where are you guys going?” Dustin asks, turning around to face them. Bringing the attention of the entire Party.
“Oh, ummm, El has a curfew.”
Turning his head back from their retreating figures, the same chill runs through Will’s body. This isn’t his body, this isn’t his body, he needs to go back, this isn’t-
“Yes. I need to be home by five three zero.”
Reaching up to grab his neck, the emotion fades away, like it was never there at all.
“Are you kidding me? It’s my first day back, and they're leaving early?”
“I mean, she has a curfew .” Max defends.
“Yeah, at 5:30?”
“They’ve been like this all summer.” inputs Will, no longer really focusing on the couple in the far distance.
“It’s cute.”
“It’s gross.”
“Let’s agree to disagree, Byers.”
..
Hours pass, and Dustin is still trying to reach Suzie. The same question being asked, gaining no response from her. Max and Lucas began arguing about the best flavor of ice-cream, Max taking the stance that mint-chocolate chip is the superior flavor, while Lucas argues that anything is better than that.
“What about you Will? Do you agree with me, or with” Lucas pauses, giving a dramatic shudder, “Max?”.
“Pick the superior choice Byers. It’s obviously me .”
“No way!”
“Yes way!”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“ Yes. ”
“ No! There is absolutely no defense for someone liking mint-chocolate chip! I don’t think I know anyone who likes that flavor.”
Deciding to chime in, Will replies, “Mike does.”
“Well, Mike is weird.”
“HELL YEAH! In your face Sinclair!”
“You don’t even like Mike .”
“Well, as of right now, he’s alright.”
“Oh come on.”
“Who knew, all it took was them having the same favorite ice-cream flavor for them to bond.” Will says, grinning.
“Oh that’s it Byers.”
That was all the warning Will got before Max shot up, going straight for him. All that followed was a series of grunts, yells, and laughs from the two teens as they wrestle on the grass. Lucas chiming in every now and then to either cheer for Max or Will, depending on who looked like was winning.
-+-+
Hopper’s Cabin
After leaving the general store, Hopper felt very confident with his parenting abilities. However , the farther he drove away, the more it all came crashing down onto him. So many what ifs ran through his head, what if Jane gets upset with him? What if that Wheeler kid is there? What if forgets what he wanted to say? Or says it wrong? What it-
Groaning out loud he forces himself to stop those thoughts. It will not do him any good as of right now. Right now, he needs to calm down and breathe. Healthier communication, yeah right. If anything this might screw their relationship up even more. Hopper isn’t fit for parenting, that’s more Joyce’s territory. Why couldn’t she have done this for him?
“Because it would do no good for me to talk to her. It needs to come from you. From her dad.” A voice which sounds too much like Joyce for his taste says within his mind. Alright, I can do this!
Hopping out of his truck, he makes his way over to the cabin. He’s not walking slowly, shut up. This is his normal pace.
..
“So, how was your day Jane?”
“Good.”
“What did you do today?”
“We welcomed Dustin back. And then me and Mike came back to hang out.”
Sighing deeply, Hopper is mentally preparing for his speech. Opening his mouth, he gets cut off by Jane.
“Do you think I spend too much time with Mike? Max says we are ‘attached at the hip’, but we are not. I don’t think so.”
Clearing his throat at her question, he answers “Well, do you think you spend too much time with him?”
“I didn’t see him for a year…But I see him everyday now. More than I see the others.”
“Do you want to hang out more with the others?”
“Yes.”
“Why don’t you then? They can come over, you know that right?”
“Yes, but Mike wants us to have time. As a couple.”
“Does he now? Well why haven’t you told him no?”
“No?”
“Yeah.”
“But what if he says no.”
“Listen kid,” moving to get more comfortable in his chair, Hopper is very thankful he memorized his script, “setting boundaries is important alright. I didn’t want to overstep on your relationship with Wheeler, but it's alright to not hang out with him all the time . It’s okay to say ‘no’.”
“But we are dating.”
“Yeah, but dating someone doesn’t mean glued to each other's sides. You can spend time alone, or with the other kids in your gang-”
“Party.”
“-yeah party, whatever- but, Jane, you know you don’t have to agree with everything he tells you.”
“But-”
“Jane, I want you to be happy, okay? And to be honest with you, I don’t really like that kid coming over and constantly eating our food.”
Giving her a little smile, Jane giggles. Out of everyone in the Party Mike treats the cabin like his second home. Waltzing in and eating all of Hopper’s favorite snacks, not even Jane does that.
“So, I can tell him no.”
“Yeah, and you could even invite Max over if you wanted. Go to the new mall or whatever kids do nowadays.”
“I can go to the mall? But won’t that be unsafe?”
“Kid,” setting down his fork he leans a bit over the table, “you’re gonna be starting school soon, you know that right?”
“Yes, the others have been helping me catch up.”
“And you do realize that a lot of people are going to be there.”
“I do not understand.”
“Well, there are going to be a lot of people. People who are your age. And you’ll share classes with them.”
“But the others will have classes too.”
“Yeah, but I can only do so much to make sure you share a class. And because of how far behind you are, you probably won’t have that many with them. What I’m trying to say is, it would be good for you to socialize more . With people outside the party.”
“But will I be safe? What about the bad men?”
“The bad men are gone, alright? And, it’s not like you’ll be showcasing your powers, right? Gonna perform a one-man circus?”
Giving Jane a certain look. Both bursting out with laughter a few moments later.
“Do you mean it? I can go to the mall?”
“Yeah, I mean not alone. But of course. Just tell me, alright kiddo. And I expect a call from you. Every hour.”
“Every 4.”
“2.”
“Deal. And if you plan to sleep over at Max’s house, tell me, alright?”
“What about if I wanted to sleep over at Mike’s?”
“No.”
“Dustin?”
“Nope.”
“Lucas?”
“Sorry kid.”
“Will?”
Giving this a few moments of thought, “Yeah, why not?”
“Really?”
“Yeah, Joyce loves you Jane, almost as much as her own kids. I trust her. And I trust Will.”
“Okay, so tomorrow. I can go to the mall.”
“I mean yeah, why not? As long as someone else goes. And you don't use your powers.”
“Okay, and thank you.”
“Not a problem kid. But finish your vegetables.”
-+-+-
Top of the hill
“Alright Henderson, I think me and stalker here are gonna head out.”
“Yeah, sorry Dustin, but our parents expect us back before 9.”
“Good luck on talking to your girlfriend. She sounds really cool.”
Sighing, Dustin waves them off. As Will gets up to hug both before they make their way back down the hill.
“Looks like it’s just us Will.”
“Yeah, looks like.”
..
Another hour passes as Will continues to lie in the grass. Having Dustin’s voice fill the background, continuously asking if Suzie copies. He wonders if this is what the rest of the Party had to deal with when he was in the Upside Down. Constantly asking if Will copied, if he heard them at all. Wondering if they even tried all that long, because apparently his body was found in the quarry .
As the sun darkens, Dustin’s voice begins to die down. As his hope for Suzie picking up leaves his mind, he looks back down at Will.
“Sorry, I really thought she would pick up…guess I was just being… hopeful you know.”
“Yeah, it’s alright man. She’s your girlfriend. We can always try again tomorrow, or maybe play D&D? For old times sake.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
Starting to pack up his belongings Will starts to make his way down the hill, stopping to turn back.
“Welcome home.”
“Wait! Do you want me to walk you back?”
“Uhh, no, I think it’s fine. I’ll be fine . Stay here, see if she does end up picking up. And if she does, tell me!”
“Alright, alright, see you tomorrow!”
As Will begins his slow descent down the hill, the radio begins to crackle. A series of unintelligible words emit from the machine, Dustin immediately perks up, dropping down to talk to Suzie. Only, this was Suzie speaking at all. A male voice rings through the radio, although he is speaking in another language.
“Holy shit! Hello? Who is this?”
Turning back to look at Will’s retreating figure, Dustin decides to call out to him.
“HEY WILL! GET BACK HERE! SOMETHING IS HAPPENING ON THE RADIO!”
“WHAT?”
Running back up to the top of the hill, Will is panting as he stops near Dustin. Almost toppling over the sitting boy.
“Dustin..? What? Why did you call me-”
“Shut, just listen..”
“Серебряный кот кормится- Когда синий встречается с желтым на западе- Поездка в Китай звучит красиво- Если вы ступаете налегке- Неделя длинная” [The silver cat feeds- when blue meets yellow in the west- A trip to China sounds nice- If you tread lightly- The week is long]
Looking at one another, the boys’ faces are of utter confusion. Not quite understanding what it is they’ve just heard, but having a deep knowledge that Hawkins is looking at something big.
“Well…shit.”
“Exactly.”
“What do we do now?”
“I don’t know Dustin, I don’t know.”