Its_Styx22

Bonus:

Summer of '85. Dustin had finally returned from summer camp, eager to spend time with everyone, but as soon as he arrived, he realized something had changed. Max and Lucas were closer, which was understandable since they'd been a couple for quite some time (even after breaking up more than seven times). Mike and Will had some unresolved tension, making up unreasonable excuses; leaving him alone the very day he arrived.

Jane had spent the entire summer locked in the cabin for her own safety, and she was tired of it. She and Mike had broken up (realizing that what they felt was more like platonic love, an innocent crush they didn't want to let go of at first). Thanks to the party, she had managed to convince Hop to let her come to Dustin's welcome-back party, and she was quite excited to finally go outside and feel the warmth of the sun on her skin. At first, it was funny; no one expected the boy to react with a scream of terror at the surprise.

Her doe eyes curiously observed the gadgets Dustin pulled from his bag, tilting her head gently at the excitement with which the newcomer explained each invention. Happiness mixed with pride was evident in his voice; her eyes never left his, listening intently to every word even if she didn't quite understand half of what he was saying. The boy couldn't stop smiling, feeling a pleasant sensation expand in his chest, a warmth that enveloped his ribs as he was listened to with such devotion. Both momentarily forgot about the other two boys, who seemed to be in their own world as well.

They didn't know how, but the whole party had ended up climbing a hill under the bright sunlight. The redhead chatted with her boyfriend while Dustin took the lead, eager to reach the top and assemble his beloved invention. Halfway up, Mike and Will stopped, using the excuse that the dark-haired boy had to walk his "best friend" home because Mrs. Byers had asked him to.

So the remaining four resumed their climb to the summit, none of them believing that excuse for a second. The brunette's chest tightened at the disappointment in the boy's eyes; his voice betrayed his disillusionment at being abandoned out of the blue. She had to admit that the constant heat of the sun was overwhelming, but she didn't understand why they’d left so brazenly. Weren't they supposed to celebrate Dust's return together? Even if it took hours, she preferred this over being locked in the solitude of her room, especially since it had been too long since she'd seen them all.

The afternoon flew by as they climbed to the top of the hill and assembled the famous contraption, without realizing the sun had already set. Jane couldn't help but smile slightly at the view; for anyone else, it would be a simple sunset with the small town as the backdrop. But for her, it was one of the most beautiful sights she had ever witnessed. Watching the golden hour arrive, bathing the land in orange-gold, was simply breathtaking. She was so lost in the moment that she didn't even notice the couple had also decided to leave, bored that Dustin's invention wasn't working.

The Henderson boy felt that familiar pang in his chest again, but this time it was deeper and more painful. Bittersweetly cruel. He didn't understand it; it was only his first day back after being gone for a whole month, and they had already left him out. His brow furrowed in annoyance, frustration throbbing in every vein as he put the radio aside and looked away; Lucas's laughter and the redhead walking away in the distance didn't help.

However, when his gaze met the only remaining member, he felt his chest release the ache and his complaints fade from his mind. Small beads of sweat trickled down her forehead, a result of the summer heat combined with the physical exertion of getting there. Those sincere eyes observed the landscape with fascination; her face, kissed by the last rays of sunlight, was simply ethereal. Her beauty was ethereal. The way her cheeks were slightly flushed from the summer heat was simply beautiful, making him want to caress that rosy skin with his thumbs with the same tenderness it inspired.

They both sat there, watching the last hours of sunlight before the moon stole the show in the sky. Sometimes conversations began with small questions about the camp, a few words that came out in uncertain murmurs, only to be answered with that characteristic enthusiasm of his. Her gentle eyes had abandoned the spectacle to focus on him, on his answers brimming with feeling and pure joy, on how he kept his voice at a similar tone to hers, how he took the time to explain things to her so she could understand.

Jane liked how he explained things. He didn't make her feel silly or ignorant; he took the time to give examples so she could understand instead of simply giving up. Neither of them noticed how much time had passed, nor that they had lain down on the grass side by side to continue talking. The gentle night breeze was cooler than usual, so the girl didn't wonder when a soft blanket was draped over her stomach.

They both shared a smile, captivated by each other's eyes. Not that they wanted to look away. However, after a minute—or perhaps two—they both looked back up at the starry sky; not a single cloud obscured the nighttime spectacle. Dustin couldn't remember how the conversation started; he just knew his hand was pointing to the sky, tracing the constellations for her. She, who was simply gazing at his hand, fascinated, listened intently, and tried to trace the constellations herself, imitating his movements, making him smile gently; sharing soft laughter as he taught her something new.

Maybe his return hadn't been so bad. Maybe it was worth staying longer, even if it meant a scolding from Hopper.