Chapter Text
Nov 7th, 1983 Jogging on the sidewalk, listening to Lucky Star on her Walkman as she went to Chrissy’s house for their morning run before school. At first, she regretted offering to do this, the thought of getting out from her soft, warm queen-size bed made her pout. She quickly reminds herself to when she found Chrissy in the girl’s room a few months ago, crying about what that vile woman that was her mother said about her “gaining weight” when Chrissy already looked skinny enough to make Dawn worry that one strong breeze was going to blow her away, she decided to do it with Chrissy so she wasn’t alone. Walking up to her house and turning off her Walkman as Chrissy opens the door to walk out but is grabbed by her mom who whispers in her ear, Dawn puts on a fake smile as she calls out, “good morning Mrs. Cunningham, do you mind if I leave my Walkman at the house so I’m not distracted?” Watching her put on a mask as she lets go of Chrissy and smiles as she puts out her hand, “of course Dawn, it’s no problem. Go on now, we got to make sure my girl is in tip top shape.”
Handing over her baby, Dawn gently loops her arm around Chrissy’s and walks away, “absolutely Mrs. Cunningham, we’ll see you soon.” Turning her head slightly to look behind as she watches Chrissy’s mom hold her Walkman like it was a disease and closes the door, Dawn looks to Chrissy with a wink and a little tongue poking out, “I think I almost gave your mom a heart attack.” Watching Chrissy shake her head as she lightly chuckles, hugging Dawns arm before letting go, “you know she doesn’t like anything that isn’t Christian.” Stretching her arm up to warm up as she responds back with a giggle, “exactly, when my dad gave me the Walkman and the tape for my birthday, I knew I had to put it to good use. With great power comes great responsibility.”
“You’re such a dork, come on I’ve already stretched. Mom wants me doing two laps around the block.” Groaning as she shakes herself and follows after Chrissy, listening to the call of the mourning doves and watching the sun behind them slowly turn the clouds into hues of reds and oranges. As much as she loves sleeping, she can’t deny the view of watching a new day appear. After a few minutes in she hears Chrissy’s soft voice, “Hey Dawn, what do you plan on doing after school?” Coming back to earth, she watches as Chrissy slows down and matches her speed. Confused, Dawn looks to her and looks back to the front of her, “you mean today, after school or graduation?”
“The second one, do you plan on going to college or staying in Hawkins?” Biting her lip as she shrugs and thinks out loud, “I haven’t given it much thought, we’re only sophomores. We got a few years before really thinking about it, why? Do you have a plan… And don’t say your mother has a plan.” As Chrissy says at the same time, “my mother has a plan.” Stopping as holds out to grab Chrissy's hand gently, “Chrissy, what is it you want to do? not for your mother… For you. Your mom had her time to shine, she can’t live through you forever.” Chrissy looks away as she responds downhearted, “you know it’s not that easy Dawn.”
Squeezing her hand and letting go as they continue walking, “I know, I just want you to be happy. So, let’s imagine. If you had the chance to do ANYTHING you want, go anywhere… what does that look like for you?” Turning to look at Chrissy who tilts her head with thought, “I’d like to travel, eat delicious food and never worry about the numbers on the tape measurer. Fall in love, get married and have kids.” Nodding back with a hopeful smile, “that sounds like fun.” Feeling her stomach rumble and growl as she holds her stomach thinking that would stop it, “and now I’m hungry.” They both laugh as they finish their run that turned into a walk, she watches Mrs. Cunningham open the door with a stern face, “come on Chrissy, go get ready for school. Here’s your… thing back. And please be mindful of my daughter’s schedule next time.”
Getting the door closed on her, Dawn walks away whispering as she rolls her eyes, “bitch.” Putting on her Walkman and running back to her house, she nears her house when she sees Steve walking out of his house in a periwinkle blue and dark blue striped polo with beige khakis to his BMW with his breakfast sandwich he always has. She didn’t mean to but finds herself staring at him, hoping he’d come over and say hi like when they were kids, not watching where she was going as she tripped over her own feet. Yelping as she lands face down, managing to catch herself with her hands as she feels her heart racing from the fall. Groaning as she sits on her butt and insults herself, “damn my two left feet.” She pauses in brushing herself off when she hears someone calling her name, a voice she’s heard from afar in school but now sounds frantic and closer. ‘If I don’t move maybe he won’t see me’ as she feels her face burning with embarrassment.
“Dawn, Dawn! You ok?” Steve crouches down to check on her, but she continues to stare deeply into the sidewalk, she watches his hand go to her face to lift her head up and she instinctively smacks it away lightly. “Dawn?” She hears the hurt in his voice, and it feels like an arrow shot through her heart but remembers when he decided to stop hanging out with her as soon as he went to high school. Feeling petty as she groans trying to lift herself up, but the adrenaline fades and the pain on her knees and the palm of her hands start pulsing, Steve reaches out, “let me help, please?”
Taking a chance, she looks up to see Steve look at her with his big brown eyes all sad, like a puppy that was scolded, and she feels someone took that arrow and started twisting it to make her suffer. Huffing with a pout, she places her hand in his and it feels so warm in contrast to hers being out in the cold air. “Fine, just… help me get in my house. We have a medical kit.” Dawn replies reluctantly. Standing up, he places her arm around his waist as he puts his around hers. Feeling her face grow warm again, she pulls away as she asks guarded, “what are you doing?” Steve looks at her with confusion as his eyes widen and eyebrows raise, “helping… you?”
“I can walk just fine, just, stay beside me in case I fall or something.” Beginning to try to walk but the sting from her knees causes her to wince and limp, hearing him scoff as she hears something get picked up behind her and he puts his arm around her waist again, “yeah, no. Come on.”
“Steve, I can walk.” She responds gritting her teeth, she could hear amusement in his reply, “no, no I got that. I know you can walk, but if you won’t let me help you walk then I’ll have to carry you like when we were in middle school.” Rolling her eyes as she tries to hold back a smile, “that was not my fault.” Steve tips his head back as he laughs loudly, his laughter brings a flutter in her stomach. “Yes, it was! It was your decision to do it.” Scoffing as she looks up and points to him with her free hand, “it was a dare! You never go back on a dare.” Joining in on his laugh as they make it to her house, her joy quickly dissipates by reality as she digs in her cheer coat for her key and hands it to Steve to unlock. Opening the door to the smell of bacon, eggs and the sound of the news on TV as her mom’s humming can be heard in the kitchen.
“Dawn, breakfast is ready. How did the run go?” her mom asks in a cheerful tone, before she answers Steve announces himself as he teases her, “She decided to not watch where she was walking and almost face planted the sidewalk, also that smells good Mrs. Thompson.” Hearing her mother squeak and rush out of the kitchen, her elbow length blonde hair sways behind her in a braid as she covers her mouth joyfully. “Oh Steve!” Watching her mom look at her and gasp, taking her from Steve as she takes her to the guest bathroom. “Steve, go ahead and help yourself to breakfast. Could you let Jack know please, he’s in the living room probably asleep.” Looking behind her to see Steve look apprehensive as he agrees, she looks up at her mom as she shakes her head with a smile, “what am I going to do with you Dawny? You have clumsy feet just like your mother.”
Snorting as she sarcastically replies, “oh ha- ha, I was doing just fine. The run went good, I was walking home and I got distracted by…” Stopping herself from finishing that sentence but knows it’s too late as her mothers eyebrow raises and a smirk appears as she grabs the medical kit from under the sink, “what had you so distracted that you fell?” “Uh… a dog.” Silence fills the bathroom as the sound of her hissing as her mom was cleaning the wound on her knees, “a dog you say? Must’ve been a cutie to get you.” ‘She knows!... No, she doesn’t know, does she know? Oh god what if she knows?! SAY SOMETHING!’ “Yup, it… it was a cutie…” Hunching her shoulders as she wilts inside. ‘Nice save Dawn, she definitely can’t tell now.’
Watching her mom nod back slowly as she finishes patching her up, standing up to wash her hands and place the kit back under the sink, “well, you’re not too injured to stop going to cheer practice so that’s good news. Why don’t you go upstairs and get ready for school. I’m going to head back and check on Stevie… Make sure Jack doesn’t interrogate him too much.” Giving her mom a two finger salute with a smile, “roger that, you better hurry he looked like he was going to pee himself.” Watching her mom close the door behind her, Dawn gets up to look at herself in the mirror and groans at the mess in front of her. Leaving the bathroom, heading upstairs while hearing her dad’s deep rumbling voice in the dining room asking Steve questions and her mom amusingly pitching in. Opening her door that has her name on her nameplate, she looks at her bed with her light pink floral duvet and thinks about just crawling back in to sleep but goes to her closet to pick out her outfit for the day, a white tank under a long white sleeve with her cheer jacket and high waisted light blue jeans with white sneakers. Putting her blonde armpit length hair in a high ponytail with a few loose hairs to frame her face, she puts on little makeup, sprays on some perfume and grabs her backpack.
Briskly walking down, the stairs, as she sees Steve opening the front door but stopping to turn around and stare at her. Feeling anxious, she looks away with a light blush and rolls her eyes. “Thank you for the help.”
“Yeah, no problem. Do… do you need a ride to school?” he asks with a stammer. Narrowing her eyes as she turns her head quickly, “what?” He rubs the back of his head, “I mean, will you be ok driving? It seemed like a hard fell and you were limping.” Crossing her arms defensively as she steps on the floor and pops her hip a little, “you seemed fine leaving before I came down.” Steve’s mouth opens but nothing comes out, he shakes his head and starts to frown as he puts his hands on his hips, “I just wanted to offer you a ride, you know, like a friend would for a friend.” She barks out a laugh, “friend? That’s rich coming from you. Well, thanks for thinking of me but I can drive myself just fine.”
“Is everything ok out here?” Her dad asks with protectiveness as he walks out of the dining room. She looks at Steve and wants to bite into him but chooses to let him go as she turns her head to her dad, “everything’s fine dad, Steve was just leaving, and I thanked him for helping me.” Her dad places a hand on Steve’s shoulder and squeezes it, “thank you Steve, you should come over sometime. You used to play here all the time when you two were kids. Tiny troubles Helen and I would call you two.” She watches as Steve looks guilty but quickly replaces it with a small smile, “I’ll try sir, with school and basketball practice…” Her dad nods back and let’s go, “well, you know if you need anything the door is always open.” Steve’s eyes sparkle but he quickly turns around to walk out the door, “thank you for the breakfast, I’ll see you at school Dawn.” Closing the door behind him, she looks at it with a sense of false hope that he would open it and offer her the ride again just so she could…
“You alright sunny?” Shaking her head to reality as she looks at her with a sad smile as he tilts his head with worry, “yeah, I’m alright dad.” Walking into the dining room and seeing her Walkman on the table a bit scratched but in one piece, she quickly eats some of the food as she hears Steve’s car driving away.
Parking into the school’s parking lot, she grabs her bag and gets out of her Chevrolet Suburban. Looking around to look for Chrissy but feels an elbow on her head, smacking the culprit as Eddie laughs, “woah, watch it shortcake. Don’t want you hurting yourself.” Stepping back as she pats her head to see if she has to fix herself, glaring at him with daggers as he puts his arms up in defense. “You are so lucky my hair is fine bubs; I would kick your ass till next week.” Clenching at his chest of his Hellfire Club shirt as he fans himself, “why Ms. Dawn, such naughty language coming from a sweet girl like you. You’ve been tainted.” Rolling her eyes with a laugh as she hitches her brown bag to her shoulder, “I wonder who…” Scoffing back with a smirk and a wink, “hey, who am I if I can’t corrupt the minds?” Shaking her head lightly, “have you seen Chrissy or have you been hiding in your bat cave?” He pats his black jeans for something and pulls out a cigarette, cupping it as he lights it, “nope I haven’t seen her, I’m not looking to have my ass kicked this early in the morning just by looking at her.”
Patting his upper arm gently, “if I see her, I’ll tell her you said hi…” His eyes go bug eyed as he shakes his head, “no, no don’t do that. Here’s an idea… don’t mention me.” Pouting as she teases him, “oh come on what about your many spiels about hierarchy being bullshit and all that. Don’t tell me it’s all talk.” He leans back on his van and rubs his face, “just, ok…. Listen, if you happen to see her, without anyone else… Then sure.” Nodding her head in acceptance, “of course, you got it. I’m going to head to class, you should too.” he laughs as he puts his middle finger up, “if I feel like it, now go little black sheep.”
Entering the school, she sees Barb alone and walks up accidentally startling her, “I’m sorry Barb, where’s Nancy she’s usually with you?” Barb rolls her eyes as they walk together and replies back with a soft annoyed voice, “having a make out session with Harrington, I don’t know what she sees in him.” Stumbling over her own feet but is caught by Barb, “woah, you ok?” Quickly righting herself as she replies rapidly, “yeah, yeah absolutely, just REALLY clumsy today. So, Nancy and Steve… Are they together or?” Barb looks at her with concern but shakes her head as she scoffs, “Nancy says it’s not like that, then says he does like her but not like that? Like which is it?”
“What do you think?” Dawn asks with worry, “I think he’s just playing her, I mean he’s been with so many girls. I know for one thing; she’s probably going to be popular now and will be too busy hanging with him.” Stopping in front of her class, she shakes her head, “there’s no way Nancy would choose being popular than be friends with you. I mean, look at me. If I can try to make it work than who’s to say she couldn’t.” Hearing the bell ring, she waves goodbye to Barb as she enters her class. Sitting in her seat and looking out the window with her reflection staring back at her sadly.
Hearing the final bell, she gets out of her seat and feels excited for cheer practice, a place to help her release any tension from the day. She sees Chrissy waiting for her with a soft smile, “so, how was your day dear?” Dawn asks as Chrissy giggles, “it was fine dear, just another day. How about yours?” Groaning as she recalls what happened in the morning with Steve, “why did you two stop hanging around each other? I always saw you two hanging out.” Taking a deep breath, “It happens I guess, he went to high school, and I was one year behind him. It just… it happens.” Feeling Chrissy take her wrist and rub her thumb to console her, Dawn looks at her with a small smile. Remembering her and Eddie’s conversation, she whispers in Chrissy’s ear, “oh, just want to tell you that Eddie says hi.” Watching her lightly blush at it, she pushes her shoulder to Chrissy’s lightly with a smile. Entering the girl’s locker room, they see their cheer captain looking upset.
“No, no. Please don’t tell me practice is cancelled.” Staying silent as the other girls come in and gossip. Clapping to get everyone’s attention as their captain calls out, “ok, so, we have to put a hold on cheer practice. It’s not just us, everyone else is stopping. I guess some middle schooler named Will Byers went missing last night and they are searching for him.” Dawn gasps as she covers her mouth with shock, “Will’s missing? Can we help in the search?”
“I think so, you probably have to talk to the office or something. I know everyone is upset but I don’t want you to be lacking, so practice at home until then. Meeting dismissed.” Hearing everyone scoff with agitation or gossip about the Byers, she hears Chrissy whisper, “isn’t he the kid you babysit?” Nodding back as she stands, “yeah, I need to go help. I need to get home and talk to my parents.” Grabbing her bag and looking at Chrissy, “I can take you home.” They walk out together in silence as chatter can be heard echoing from outside the building. “Dawn, they’ll find him.” Chrissy says as they get in her car, gripping the wheel as she tries to settle herself. Nodding back, “yeah, of course they will. We’ll find him.” Looking to Chrissy who shakes her head, “mom won’t let me go out, especially considering it’s a missing kid. As much as I’d want to go help you look I can’t.”
“I understand, I just hope I can convince my parents to let me help.” Looking out the windshield, she sees the boys on their bikes, honking to get their attention. “What are you doing?” Chrissy asks as they watch the kids stop and move to the side, “these kids are friends with Will, I end up babysitting them too at times.” Parking by the sidewalk and rolling down Chrissy’s window as she sees Mike walk up, “hey boys, do you guys want a ride home?” Watching Dustin perk his head, Mike turns his head to look at the Dustin and Lucas who shrug their shoulders, “yeah, sure.” Getting out to open the trunk and help the boys lift their bikes in, they get in and start driving to Dustin’s first. “How are you boys holding up?” Dawn asks, watching them through the mirror as they look at each other, “as good as we can, I guess.” Mike replies with a sense of melancholy. “Hey, they’re going to find him, and I’ll be helping so I’ll do whatever it takes to find him.”
“We want to go look too but Chief Hopper said we couldn’t.” Mike pouts as Dustin pipes in, “he’s so uncool, mixed Lord of the Rings with the Hobbit.” Watching Chrissy try to hold back her laugh, “Well, he just wants to keep you boys safe.” Pulling up to Dustin’s house, and helping him get his bike out as she ruffles his curly hair, “here you go D, tell your mom I said hi, ok?”
“I will, thanks DD.” Walking up to his garage, and into his house. She gets back in and continues driving silently. Pulling up to the Sinclair’s and Mike gets out along with Lucas. Getting out to help them as she reassures them in a soothing voice, “Hey.” They look up with a look of despondence, “they’ll find him, ok? I promise I’ll be helping in the search.” They nod silently as they go to their houses. getting back in the car and leaning her head against the headrest as Chrissy holds onto her hand, “it’s going to be ok.” Squeezing gently in response, Dawn drives to Chrissy’s and pulls to the sidewalk, “call me if you need to talk, ok? And please be careful if you do go out tonight.” Chrissy insists, looking over to her and her big blue eyes, “of course I will, don’t worry.”
“We’re friends, it’s my job to worry as you worry for me.” Chrissy jabs lightly as she takes her bag and heads to her door. Driving down the road to her house, she parks and looks at herself in the mirror to hype herself, “you can do this, you just turned 16, you should have more freedom to do things… Like finding a missing kid.” Grabbing her bag and getting out, she sees Steve’s car in his drive along with his parents car and hesitates, ‘should I apologize for this morning? No, no I said thank you. Though I was a bitch when he offered me a ride, then again, he was the one who ditched me for his cool friends…’ shaking her head as she goes up to her house and looks back to his house.
Watching her mom move quickly upstairs, she goes into the kitchen to see her dad cooking, “dad, what’s going on?” Watching him pull out his famous lasagna from the oven as he jumps, “oh Sunny, you’re early. This is actually good because it’ll give me and your mom time to talk to you.” Watching him set the dish on the cover to cool, letting out a nervous chuckle as she replies, “talk to me about what?”
“Dawn, sweetie your early. Did you not feel good?” Looking side to side at her parents, “no, Will Byers went missing last night and they cancelled practice just until they find him. What’s going on, are you guys going to search for him tonight?” Her mom gasps as she looks to her dad, “oh Jack, maybe I should stay home. Help look for him with the others.” Dawn narrows her eyes, “you guys are leaving?” Taking off his glasses to rub his eyes tiredly, “they called me a few hours ago, said there’s a conference to do interviews on my latest book and it’s over in Chicago.” Tilting her head as she shrugs her shoulders and interrogates, “they just told you now? Don’t you need a heads up or something.” Putting on his glasses as he looks at her with composure, “one of the other authors got sick and had to cancel, they offered me the slot and I took it. I didn’t know about Byer’s until just now, we could decline…” Putting her hands up and waving them in front of her as she denies, “no, no. It’s ok, you deserve this.” Her parents look at each other with apprehension, “mom, dad, please… go, everything will be fine. I want you to go enjoy yourself, you deserve the recognition.”
Her mom places her hand on Dawn’s cheek and kisses her forehead, “alright, if you’re sure. We can eat dinner before we have to leave since we have time together.” Eating in silence as she fights with herself ‘should I ask them if I can go tonight, or should I go without telling them?’ Hearing her dad ask, “what’s going on in that mind of yours sunny?” Putting her fork down and looking at her parents, “I was hoping to ask you guys if I could go help the search for Will tonight.”
“No.”
“Absolutely not Dawny.” Her parents replied at the same time, “why not? There will be police and I’m sure Joyce and her son will be looking, I could help.” Her mom sternly replies, “exactly, they already have the police searching and there are others who would help. We’d feel reassured if we knew our daughter was home.”
“But mom!” Her dad interrupts in a steely voice that he uses when she was in trouble, “Dawn, that’s enough. We don’t want you going out, please don’t fight with us just before we have to leave.” Gritting her teeth, she nods her head as she picks up her fork to continue eating. “Dawn, I’m sorry if we look like terrible people in your eyes right now. I just hope you can understand when things cool down.” Her dad calmly clarifies. Feeling her anger simmer down as she nods sadly, “I just want to help, I babysit him and he’s a good kid. He deserves to have everyone looking for him.”
“We know baby girl.” Her mom responds quietly as she reaches over to hold her hand and squeeze it.
Standing before her parents as they look at her with the door behind them, the sky starting to turn to night, “we’ll call you as soon as we can when we get to the hotel.”
“We’ll be gone for a couple of days, if you need us to come home, we’ll do what we can to get home as soon as possible.” Her mom continues, Dawn nods her head with a chuckle. “I will let you guys know. Oh, be sure to bring me back a souvenir.” Her dad laughs as he opens the door, “we will, we love you, Sunny. Don’t have too much fun without us.” Following her parents out as she sarcastically laughs, “ha-ha, you fool, I plan on throwing so many parties while you’re gone.” Yelping as her mom pinches her cheek, “you’re so adorable.” Playfully smacking her hand away as she rubs her cheek, “mooom. Go you guys, before it gets too dark. Also, I love you guys too.” Her mom smiles serenely as she whispers back, “we love you more. We’ll call you.” Watching them walk to their Buick. Watching them leave, she turns around to see the Harrington house and hears his parents arguing from the house, “I wonder if Steve’s ok?” Remembering the times she’d stayed over at his place, and they’d end up coming to her house because his parents were arguing, and it caused her to cry.
Closing the door and locking it, she heads upstairs to change into more proper clothes for going to look for Will. Changing her shirt and jacket to a black top and a grey Hawkins hoodie, deciding on keeping her jeans and changing her white shoes for black. Taking her hair down and massaging her scalp to release the tension, she puts her hair in a low ponytail. Just as she was going to leave, she hears the walkie that the boy’s had given her a few months ago, “Lucas, do you copy? It’s Mike. Lucas?” Hearing Lucas respond as she grabs the walkie, “hey, it’s Lucas.” Mike huffs, “I know it’s you, and say “over” when you’re done talking so I know when you’re done. Over.” Chuckling as she walks out of her room. Walking down the stairs as Lucas bites back, “I’m done. Over.”
“I’m worried about Will. Over.” Looking down at the walkie with somber as Lucas sighs, “yeah. This is crazy. Over.” Heading to grab a flashlight and her backpack as the conversation continues. “I was thinking… Will could’ve cast Protection last night, but he didn’t. He cast fireball. Over.” Confused but realization hits ‘their D&D campaign’ she remembers watching them do a few sessions as she sitted for them. “What’s your point? Over.”
“My point is… he could’ve played it safe, but he didn’t. He put himself in danger to help the party. Over.” Silence hits as a cackle comes from the radio, “meet me in ten. Over and out.” Grabbing the walkie quickly to intercept, “wait, wait! Where are you boy’s going?” Hearing Mike scream, “Dawn? How did you get on this channel?”
“… You’re supposed to say “over” when you’re done talking.” She snickers as she hears Mike ask, “how did you get on here? Over.” Rolling her eyes as she replies while locking her front door, “you guys gave me the walkie, I don’t know how to mess with it. Anyways, tell me where you’re meeting so I can meet with you guys. Over.”
“Are you going to tell our parents? We really want to find Will. Over.” Lucas asks anxiously as she walks outside to the garage and gets her bike, “no, my parents didn’t want me going out either but now I have reason to go. You need someone older than you to help you. Over.”
“Mirkwood, it’s where Cornwallis and Kerley meet. Over.” Mike answers with reluctance. “Got it, I’ll be there. Wait for me. Over.” She affirms as she puts her walkie in her bag and starts to pedal that way. Getting there before the boys, she looks at the barrier and into the woods, taking out the flashlight to get a deeper look. Hearing thunder rumble and a flash, she starts to regret the idea but shakes it, ‘for Will.’ She sees lights appear and three bikes ride up, “hey boys. I was wondering when you’d show up.” Dustin smiles, showing his missing teeth, “hey DD, I thought they were messing with me when they told me you were coming.” Shaking her head with a smirk, “someone has to watch over you three. Without Will the Wise you guys are troublemakers.” Hearing the thunder roll and feel a raindrop hit her head, Dustin looks up with caution, “hey, guys. You feel that? I think maybe we should head back.”
“No. We’re not going back.” Mike denies, Dawn looks at Dustin who looks scared and puts a gentle hand on his shoulder, “hey, just stay close to me. Got it boys? If we can’t find Will and the rain becomes too much we head back.” Hearing Mike and Lucas get ready to argue, she looks at them with daggers in her eyes and watches them quickly nod. “Alright, let’s do this.” Walking towards the woods with her flashlight, she hears Mike pipe up, “come on, just stay on channel six. Don’t do anything stupid.” Looking behind her as she watches Lucas and Mike follow her and Dustin looks hesitant. Looking up at the sky as thunder rumbles through, “hey, guys, wait up. Wait up!” as he ducks under the barrier towards them.
Walking through the woods as the boys yell out for Will, rain begins to pour down and she pouts as she is soaked, hearing Dustin chuckle, “you didn’t prepare well, did you?” Looking at him with narrow eyes, “I didn’t plan for rain… Dusty buns.” Focusing on the boys in front of her, “oh yeah, I have to ask… is Mirkwood the place from the Hobbit?” Watching Dustin Throw his hands up in the air, “THANK YOU! At least someone understands.” Lucas groans as he turns around, “it. Doesn’t. MATTER!” Looking back n forth at the boys with amusement. Mike turns his head with annoyance, “guys, come on I can’t be the only one calling out for him.” Lucas turns around as he yells out with Mike and Dustin calls out, “I’ve got your X-men 134!” The rain starts to fall heavier, and Dawn calls out, “Guys, I think we should turn back.” Mike counters, “no, just a little more time. Please? It’s not that bad.” Stomping as she gives in, ‘I’m such a sucker for these kids, god’s dammit.’ “Ok, fine just a little more. If the rain gets worse, we’re leaving.”
“Will! Will come on buddy, where are you?!” Dawn calls out loudly as the storm tries to drown their yelling. She hears Dustin yell out, “ok, maybe Dawns right, maybe we should really turn back.” Lucus argues, “seriously, Dustin? You want to be a baby, then go home already!”
“Just being realistic, Lucas!” Dustin replies irritated, “no, you’re just being a big sissy!” Dawn stops as she lowers her voice sternly, “stop it, right now you two!” Watching the boys pause and turn to her with wide eyes. Putting a hand on her hip as she rips into them, “I understand that you want to find him Lucas, but you have to see it from our point as well, look how hard the rain is coming. We can barely see much, I need to make sure you guys are in one piece.” Dustin whispers with dread, “did you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad? And we could be going to the exact same spot where he was last seen? I mean, Dawn do you even have a weapon to protect us?” Closing her eyes in realization, “so, we don’t have any weapons to protect us.” Mike looks over into the woods and narrows his eyes, “Dustin, shut up.”
Following Mike to where he was looking as Dustin continues, “I’m just saying, Dawn doesn’t seem strong enough to win against whatever took Will, does this seem smart to you?” Scoffing as she bites back, “hey, you don’t know how strong I am. I’m in cheer and you have to be able to lift.”
“Oh great, someone that can lift pom poms, we’re saved.” Lucas teases, Mike puts his hand out, “shut up, shut up.” Hearing rustling from where Mike’s light was directed, “you guys hear that?” Dawn picks up a branch and holds it like a bat, “a stick?!” Lucas whispers agitated. The rustling gets louder, and Dawn puts herself in front of the boys as they cling onto her sweater, movement turns to her right and the boys’ gasp. Turning to see a kid with a shaved head flinching at the light, she looks at them as they look like they’ve been running and there’s blood on the yellow shirt that came from Benny’s. Dawn whispers shell-shocked, “What. The fuck.”