#strangerthingsimagine

And then there she was, potentially an equally amusing sight, cheeks rosy from the brace of the early spring evening air as she had rode her bike against it for the ten miles between Eddie’s trailer and her home. Her h/c hair was wind-tousled, tongue poking out of the curve of her lip in an inconspicuous endeavor to settle her elevated heart rate; sure, she was a decently active individual, having been at track practice for the entirety of that Saturday, and the adrenaline of Eddie screaming over the phone that he had 9-1-1 had encouraged her fierce pedaling the string of ten miles, but now that epinephrine was wading into a dull ache throughout her limbs as she stood there.

Yet, the earnest glint in his broad doe eyes made her sideline whatever listless anchor yanked at her extremities. She’d be a bitch to ruin it with her grouses about his misuse of their 9-1-1 code.

“I’ve been analyzing it, note for note, lyric for lyric, like a damn psychopath — all day,” he ventured further into the ramble, round cheeks flamed red as the flannel that was haphazardly knotted around his waist, and over a wrinkled pair of gray sweatpants. A look her mind would’ve gone astray with if she hadn’t minded her priorities at that moment.

Eddie then padded quickly over to his guitar, the instrument residing amidst the folds of disordered sheets as he had placed it aside when she had entered his room fifteen minutes prior. In a fluid movement, he was propped on the cushioned edge of the twin mattress, red and black hued guitar straddled on the subtle bounce of his legs, the curve of his rings flashing with the luster of his desk lamp as he patted the spot alongside him for her.

The cotton of his Hellfire shirt wandered across the wool of her sweater as she settled beside him, their shoulders resting comfortably against one another.

His calloused fingers then poised themselves on the arrangement of strings, deliberate and meticulous in accordance with the notes that he had scrawled in a composition notebook that was tucked beneath his right thigh.

A,E,A,E,G,E,F,E — four times. Riff ‘A’ is next.

The remainder of slapdash notes were obscured by the crease of his sweatpants, only in visibility to his peripheral and not to her own as she angled her head against his shoulder, his dainty wisps of his brown ringlets moving freely across her forehead. One of her palms shifted to his tousle of shadowy brown hair, tugging lightly at the frayed ends, noting how his earnestness stuttered fleetingly within his chest.

He tutted then, a smirk replacing his subtle pout of concentration. “Comfortable, sweetheart?”

Y/N briefly shook her head to get his hair away from the cusp of her eyelashes before pivoting her chin on the round of his shoulder to peer up at him, “You talking to me or the guitar? Be honest.”

Eddie’s bold, umber eyes fluidly met her own, almost amused.

“I dunno…she doesn’t quite give me as much backtalk as you do,” he chided with a curl of a smirk, only for her to scuff the rear of his head with the heel of her palm to silence his insolence- more or less attesting to his point.

“Ow! You said to be honest - and what sort of healthy relationship would this be without pure and unadulterated honesty?” his bottom lip dipped into a faint frown, angling his head to the side vaguely.

She rolled her eyes, though the slight chuckle that spurted from her lips deceived the gesture, “Eds, ‘pure’ and ‘unadulterated’ are the same thing.”

With the assurance that his guitar was fairly placed between his legs, he ventured a hand towards the contour of her thigh, a spring in his fingers as they drummed against the muscle. He groaned slightly, “Jesus, you got a thesaurus in your back pocket or something? Spare me and do remember that I didn’t actually pass English class.”

A dense proximity was between them now, a certain sensory overload for both, him facing her with his eyes sparkling with mischief.

And the rather cadenced dance of his fingers over the washed denim of her pants was enough to make her somewhat dizzy, a content sigh bobbing in a lump within her throat, one that her response wriggled past — scarcely.

“So…was this 9-1-1 about the song or something else?” she chided, aware when his pupils dilated after a drawn moment of silence.

The fleeting mention of the Metallica record, one that still breezed dimly out of his player on his shelf, was enough to burst some recollection beneath his gaze, a glint of ‘oh, yeah’. The song had evidently seeped within an esoteric crack in his mind within moments.

“You’re so easily distracted,” Y/N hummed, placing her palm on his cheek, her thumb discreetly skimming the faint line of exhaustion beneath his eye.

“It’s your fault,” he partially whined, only after sparing a cursory kiss to the ridge of the pulse point on her wrist.

“Yeah, I’m totally alluring in my sweater and Mom jeans,” she mused, patting his cheek teasingly before idly placing her hands within the depth of her lap.

Eddie clicked his tongue behind his teeth - a rather teasing sound when paired with the subtle smirk playing on his lips, and he begrudgingly poised his hands on the Warlock propped in his own lap, “You got me at Mom jeans, baby.”

The gold of the desk’s lamp fluttered across her delicate features as he cast an earnest sidelong glimpse towards her, the light nearly playful amidst the sheen of rouge that sunk in her cheeks as she elbowed him fondly, “Just play the song, horndog.”

A theatrical exhale huffed out from the gaunt space offered by the bow of his smirk, which wilted into a melodramatic frown, “So bossy.”

He plucked his revered guitar pick from the oak rim of his nightstand, the spherical plastic piece fixed between his teeth, poking out at the corner of his mouth as he wriggled out the notebook from beneath him.

“Now,” Eddie started, voice vaguely tossed with a strain in his endeavor to steady the pick whilst his right hand ransacked his sheets for his discarded pencil, “I will play this song…only if I’m promised an encore.”

A flippant wink emphasized the innuendo that strung beneath his words, and a swift warmth of fluster extended its tendrils up her neck.

“I am giving you a free and personal show, after all,” he pleaded his desires further, releasing the pick from between the grit of his teeth, teasing it over the thin strings, “My generosity is conditional, you know.”

“You’re ridiculously relentless,” Y/N laughed dryly, easing off his mattress in a fluid movement, a proper distance being settled as she shuffled backwards. Her hands then subside to the slant of her hips, assured that he was observing as her fingers tinkered with the denim fringe of her pants. She then nodded as if to spur him to play with a rather evident beckoning of a challenge in her stare, “Go on.” She knew exactly what she was doing.

His euphoric brain was an electrical storm, lightning striking with tidal waves of desire, adoration, and longing amidst his neurons and the psychological influence of his early afternoon dabbling of Purple Kush. All at how the hem of her periwinkle sweater was scrunched with a flashed reveal of her hip bone. How she stared at him with fire and gold in her eyes.

He was whipped.

And therefore the Metallica song exhausted within the obscurities of a mind entirely keen on the girl standing in his room.

“Fuck it,” he murmured, discreet in his forgoing of his Warlock to a residence within disheveled sheets, yet earnest in his curt strides towards her, nearly tripping in his haste.

Her mouth drew apart to challenge him, yet it was a cumbersome gesture as his own mouth came onto hers, stifling every ounce of stubbornness to a harboring on her tongue. The hairs on the nape of her neck shocked straight with the flashes of content brilliant in her mind as she nudged him in the vicinity of his mattress once more with hands at his clavicle.

By some fortune, their lopsided steps eluded the sundry items askew across the plush of the bedroom’s carpet, the rear curve of his knees nearly buckling against the margin of the bed. Yet, it was ultimately her that was plunked onto it as he had promptly spun her about at the hips, a subdued oomph ambling from her lips from the ardent encouragement onto the mattress. She had ultimately been forsaken by him to be a broad-eyed, breathless disaster in the humbleness of moonlight that dribbled through his shades as she barely resolved herself on the edge of the cushion.

“No personal show?” Y/N exhaled, voice far more labored than she anticipated it to be.

“I decided to skip to the encore,” he shrugged, his eyes - copper against honey in the moonlight - greeting his old companion of mischief as he eased himself into a hover over her, arms caging her in, “I gotta keep practicing anyway. Can’t go humiliating myself.”

Her fingers decisively strode up his clothed navel, his breath falling with a stutter as all he could fixate on was the sensation of her fingers as they flexed and trailed over his Hellfire shirt.

“I dunno - I think your ego could use a little humbling,” she murmured with a teasing tilt of her head, fingertip meticulously tracing the contour of the devil embellished on the white fabric.

Clearing your throat you turned your attention anywhere but the man sitting beside you.

“What do you guys what to do today?”

“Well.” Max spoke. “There’s going to be a Fourth of July fair…”

Once Max brought it up, the party began bickering among themselves about whether or not they wanted to go or not.

Letting out a sigh, you leaned back against the couch. Your shoulder brushing against Steve’s in the process.

Turning to face him, he was already gazing at you. Catching him in the act, he cleared his throat attempting to look anywhere else but at you.

Heat danced along your cheeks as you smirked to yourself.

“Fine!” Mike’s voice bellowed. “We’ll go. Only if,” He turned to face you and Steve.

“Only if, Y/N and Steve come with.” His face held a devilish expression, alerting you that he was up to something.

“Mike…” Your voice trailed off.

Turning to face you, Steve gazed at your features. Somersaults erupted in your stomach, as a Twitter patted feeling came up in your chest.

“Fine, we’ll go.” Steve spoke, not taking his eyes off of you.

Whipping your head in his direction, your eyebrow furrowed together in confusion. “Steve-“

“Alright, dick heads.” Steve spoke standing up suddenly. “It’s about time I drop you off.”

The sound of everyone packing up and getting ready bounced off the walls.

“Do you want a ride home?” He questioned his features softening, as he gazed down at you.

“Yes please.” You nodded, offering him a closed lipped smile.

Holding his hand out for you to take, he helped you up to your feet. The close proximity caused the same feelings to return.

Taking a deep breath, you removed your hand and moved to help the party get ready.

The car ride was filled with laughter and loud bickering. Once Dustin was dropped off, you were the only one left. It had become later in the night.

Pulling up to the street you lived on, he pulled to the side of the road. Putting the car in park, Steve turned to face you. The street light illuminating his features, his hair shining. Your mind became plagued with thoughts of the softness of his hair.

“Can…Can we talk?” Steve questioned softly.

Nodding, you hummed in response.

“I-“

“Steve…” Your voice trailed off, you let your head fall back against the head rest in Steve’s car.

Steve opened and closed his mouth as if he was a fish out of water. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“We…We can’t.” You mumbled, gazing into his mesmerizing eyes.

“Why not?” He questioned, anchoring his hand behind your head gently tugging you closer to him.

“Because…” Heat rose in your chest as you were in closer proximity. All valid arguments leaving your mind as you gazed at his plump lip.

“Because why?” Steve teased, his nose bumping yours.

Your words dying on your lips as you close your eyes waiting for the inevitable.

Gently nuzzling your nose, his breath danced along your lips.

“Can I kiss you?” He mumbled upon your lips.

You nodded gently.

“I need to hear you say it, bunny.” He whispered.

“Yes.”

The electricity that filled the car finally snapped. His soft lip enveloping yours. Steve’s hand lacing in your hair holding you close to him.

As soon as the kiss happened, it was over. Resting his forehead against yours, your breaths mingled as you panted.

Reaching up, you laced your hand in his hair gently yanking him back into you. The kiss was much more needier and passionate than before.

Taking his bottom lip between your teeth, you nibbled on it before tugging it and letting it snap back in place. The sound of Steve’s groan filled the car.

Before it could go further, your eyes snapped open as you jolted away.

“Are you okay?” Steve questioned suddenly, his voice filled with worry.

“We…We shouldn’t be doing this.” You muttered, furrowing your eyebrows together in confusion. You reached up touching your lips as you reached for the phantom kiss.

“I’m sorry…” You mumbled. “I have to go.”

Without waiting for a response, you bolted out of Steve’s car, jogging to your house. Leaving a dumbfound man in your wake.

—

“Hi, Mrs. Wheeler.” You greeted as you passed her at the Community Pool.

“Hi, Y/N.” She beamed up at you. “Nancy’s with Barb in the pool.”

“Thanks.” You grinned nodding your head.

Placing your belongings at the pool lounger chair, you made your way over to where your friends where.

“Y/N!” Nancy and Bard chirped happily at you. “You made it!”

“Of course!” You giggled, perching yourself on the edge of the pool. Your legs dangled into the water allowing yourself to get adjusted to the chilly temperature.

“There’s been a lot of hot guys here.” Barb spoke, giving you a toothy grin.

“Oh?” You questioned, feeling a ping of guilt from the other night.

“I’m going to go that way.” Barb spoke pointing at the opposite end of the pool. “And try my luck.” She winked at you and Nancy.

Leaving you and Nancy alone, there was an awkward silence.

“There’s something I have to tell you.” You mumbled, feeling dread wash over you.

“Shoot.” She spoke, placing her arms on the edge of the pool allowing her to kick her feet underneath the water.

“Steve and I kissed.”

“Oh.”

Squeezing your eyes shut, you waited for her to get angry at you and leave you alone sitting on the edge of the pool.

“Okay.” She shrugged, patting your thigh in a comforting manner. “If you’re happy…Then I’m happy.”

“What?” You questioned as your eyes snapped opened, gaping at the woman beside you.

“Yeah, I mean I’ve moved on.” Nancy shrugged. “He’s really changed a lot since high school. Steve’s actually a nice guy now.”

You hummed in response. The sound of people calling your name caught your attention. Turning your head in their direction, you were met with beaming members of the party.

“Y/N!” El exclaimed swimming her way towards you with Max in tow.

“Well, I’m going to go find Bard.” She spoke grinning at you. “See you at the fair.”

Nodding your head, you turned to the two girls in front of you. They began explaining what they did their last girls night. Your gaze wandering around the pool, before their landed on Steve. Gazing at him like a deer in headlights, he was splashing Dustin and Will.

“So,” Max giggled, resting her elbows on the edge beside you. “When are you two going to make your moves.”

“Well…” Your voice trailed off capturing the attention of both girls. “We did kiss the other night.” You giggled, the twitter patted feeling returning.

“What!” They exclaimed in union.

Biting your lip, you nodded your head.

The sound of their squealing filled the air. With widened eyes, you attempted to hush them. Glancing in the direction Steve was, you caught his stare as he sent you a smirk.

Rolling your eyes, you sent him a closed lip smile.

“How was it?”

“Max!” You hissed.

“What? It’s a serious question!”

—

Walking beside Steve, the sound of scream and carnival music filled your ears. Droves of people were at the fair.

Leaning into Steve, you grasped his hand as your other hand rested on his bicep. Glancing down at you, he intertwined your fingers as he gently tugged you closer to him.

The night was filled following the party making sure not lose any of the kids. As you ventured through the grounds, Steve hadn’t let up on holding you close to him.

“I bet I could beat you at that.” Dustin spoke shrugging nonchalantly, poking at the water gun game.

“Oh yeah?” Steve spoke challenging him. “You’re on.”

Paying the vender with tickets, Dustin chose his spot, while Steve turned to face you.

“I-“

Cutting him off, you placed your hands on his jaw gently tugging him into you. Giving him a chaste kiss, you pulled away grinning. Steve gazed at you with widened eyes.

“For good luck.” You mumbled against his lips.

“Steve!” Dustin yelled. “Come on man!”

“Yeah, give me a sec!” He waved a hand behind him attempting to quiet Dustin.

Giggling, you pulled away from him. “Better not keep him waiting.”

Reluctantly he nodded his head before finding his spot. Placing your hands on his shoulders, you stood behind him.

“On your mark, get set, go!” The vender yelled.

The bell rang signaling the start of the game. In no time, Steve had been announced as the winner.

“I’ll take the Kola.” He spoke.

Once he had the stuffed animal, he turned towards you giving it to you.

Furrowing your eyebrows in confusion, you gaped at him. “How…How did you-“

He shrugged shoving his hands into his pockets. “I remembered the first time you told me.” He shrugged gazing down at his feet.

Somersaults erupted in your stomach. Standing on your tippy toes, you placed a hand on his bicep allowing you to steady yourself. You placed a kiss on his cheek.

“Thank you.”

Steve gazed at you with a softened expression.

“Steve!” Dustin yelled, rushing up to you both. “Let’s go! The fireworks are about to start.”

Giggling, you followed behind the boys. Steve reached behind him silently asking for your hand. Grinning, you reached your hand into his intertwining your fingers.

As your group from a spot to sit, everyone splayed along the grass. Steve found a spot gently tugging you down into him. Your back was against his chest, as your legs rested along his as you cuddled into one another in the grass.

“Hey, mind if we join?” Nancy questioned tugging Jonathon along.

“No, not at all.” You responded, grinning at the couple.

Jonathon and Nancy mirrored your and Steve’s position.

The feeling of Steve chuckling caused a rumble in your back.

Fireworks erupted the sky, illuminating the grassy area that was filled with couples, families, and friends.

Humming in content, you allowed yourself to burrow closer to Steve. Wrapping his arms around your waist he nuzzled his face into your neck, making sure to place a gentle kiss in his wake.

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‘’Why can’t we do this now? We haven’t talked since last night.’’

‘’Yeah, and I wonder what that reason is.’’

‘’Hey, this is not only my fault. You know how it makes me feel when there are always girls all over you, Billy. I’ve told you many times before.’’

‘’Yeah, yeah, I know. I just don’t understand why you get so upset over that. I didn’t do anything with those girls. You were right there, and you saw me do nothing, right? Okay, then.’’ He grips the steering wheel harder, trying to stay calm.^^^ I noticed he did this a lot when we first started dating, and he would have to deal with his dad more often than now.  

‘’You have no right to say that to me, knowing how you are. You practically put any guy that comes near me in a coffin.’’

‘’That’s because I know these guys’ intentions.’’ He says, quickly turning to look at me, before continuing back at the road. He is driving faster now, but not too fast to make me nervous. We’re only a few minutes from the party now, and I anxiously await it's come to so I can take a breather. And get a drink.  

‘’And I know these girls’ intentions. Come on, Billy. I’m not stupid.’’

‘’You are if you think that I would do anything with these girls.’’

‘’Well, you don’t make it seem that you don’t.’’ I say and put my head down.

‘’Come on, Y/n. Don’t actually be stupid.’’

‘’How would I know, huh, Billy?’’

‘’God, maybe if I did go with them, they wouldn’t bother me so much. You never give it a rest. I never get any peace with you Y/n.’’ My face falls, and I don’t even feel like arguing anymore. I look over to Billy, but his face doesn’t falter. He just continues to grip the steering wheel until we make it to the party. We pull up and he quickly pulls up next to the yard to park the Camaro.  

‘’I’m, uhm, gonna go find Nancy and Steve.’’ I say in a quiet voice.

‘’Of course, you are.’’ He gets out of the car, and slams the door harder than I was expecting, which makes me flinch from the sound. I feel like crying from the words he said to me, but I ignore the feeling of tears swelling in my eyes, and get out of the car.  

I make my way into the house, needing to find a drink. I quickly find one of the many kegs, and fill my solo with the liquid. I down the whole cup, and fill it again before walking away to find Nancy and Steve.  

I walk around, not seeing anyone I know well enough to talk to. Across the room, I see Nancy standing the corner, slightly swaying to the music blasting throughout the house. I go over to her, getting run into and hit on the way over, but I sigh with relief once I am standing in front of her and she is smiling at me.  

‘’Hey, Y/n!’’ She says to me, in a very cheery voice.

‘’Hi, Nance.’’ I say, trying to mask my sadness, but I don’t do too good of a job, cause her face immediately scrunches in confusion.

‘’Wait, Y/n, what’s wrong?’’ She grabs my arm in endearment.

‘’I just got into it with Billy right before coming here. I'll be fine. I just want to drink, and forget about it for now.’’

‘’Oh, okay. I’m sorry.’’  

‘’It’s alright. Where’s Steve?’’ I ask, needing to change the subject from me.  

‘’He went to go get us both drinks.’’ As she finishes her sentence, Steve is handing her cup of whatever drink he found. ‘’Speak of the devil.’’

‘'Hey, Y/n.’’ Steve smiles to me. He wraps his arm around Nancy’s shoulder, and pulls her close.  

‘’Hi, Steve.’’

‘’I assume Billy is doing a keg-stand somewhere?’’ He chuckles. I shrug, and lightly smile.

‘’Knowing him, probably.’’ I see Nancy nudge him in the side, signaling for him to shut up about Billy. He looks visibly confused, but doesn’t question it.  

We talk a little more, about the exam we have on Monday in Mr. Lazinski’s class, and about how last night’s party was insane because of the pool jumping that happened at the end.  

‘’Yeah, so I ended up being pushed in by Steve, but I grabbed his arm so he fell in with me.’’ Nancy laughs as she tells me. I laugh too, being able to picture the look on both of their faces as they fell into the water. I go to respond, but I am stopped by Nancy’s squeal. ‘’I love this song.’’ It’s Super Freak by Rick James.

‘’Come on, dance with me.’’ Steve pulls her away, and I smile as I watch them go away. My smile slowly falters as I think back to my situation with Billy. Does he not want to be with me? That can’t be true. He said I bother him, so maybe he would be okay if we weren’t together anymore. I’m pulled out of my thoughts when someone taps my shoulder. I turn and see one of my friends from my physics class, Johnny.  

‘’Hi, Johnny. How’s it going?’’

‘’Going good. Sorry I tapped you. I called your name, but I guess you didn’t hear me. How come you aren’t with Billy?’’ I sigh, once again thinking about Billy.

‘’He, uhm, he went to go find Tommy and Carol. Probably to commend them on the party.’’ I don’t know him well enough to spill out all my problems.  

‘’Oh, okay. Do you want a refill?’’ He asks me, gesturing to my semi-empty cup. I nod to him.

‘’Yeah, sure. That would be nice. Thank you.’’ I smile to him and hand him my cup. He takes my cup from me and walks away. He’s back in a few seconds with a drink that’s different than what I had the first time. Instead of the color being red, it’s now a dark purple, and it’s fizzing a little. Hmm, maybe they had to make more. I thank Johnny for the drink and take a sip. It's gross, so it’s probably a lot stronger. There’s also not as much, so I assume it’s supposed to be taken like a shot. I came for the free booze anyway, so down the hatch. I quickly down it, and I see Johnny smile. I assume it’s because I took it like a champ. He walks away from me, but I feel too buzzed to even care. I look around the party and see Steve and Nancy still dancing.

~~~~

A few minutes pass by, and I feel worse and worse. My head is spinning and feels like it's being pounded into, my throat is on fire, and my limbs feel like they’re going numb. Like I could fall at any second. My mind starts to feel hazy, and I can’t think about anything. I feel woozy, not tired, just very out of it. There’s no way that drink was that strong, or took affect that quickly for me to feel like this. There is a hand on my waist, and I sigh, assuming it’s Billy, regardless of how we left off. I turn to the face, but I am met with Johnny’s instead.  

He wraps his arm around my waist, and begins to pull me away. My mind screams for me to stay put, suddenly feeling very scared, but my body follows involuntarily. I have almost no control.

‘’Where’s Billy? I wantt to go home, nowww.’’ I slur as Johnny helps me up the stairs, but more like drags me up them.  

‘’Shh, shh, shh.’’ He hushes me, and opens the door to one of the various rooms in this house. He leads me to a bed, and sits me down. I fall, laying on the bed now, as my body seems too tired to even stay sitting straight. I feel so tired, but I don’t want sleep. I want Billy.  

I feel hazy, and not in control of any aspect of my body or my movements. I can feel my shirt being taken off, but I'm not doing it.  

‘’Bil-Billy.’’ I whisper incoherently.  

‘’Shh, shh, shh. Don’t worry. He shouldn’t disturb us.’’

~~Nancy’s POV~~

‘’Hey, wait, Steve? Where did Y/n go?’’ I ask Steve over the loud music. I looked to where she was, and I didn’t see her anymore.  

‘’I don’t know. Maybe she went to go find Billy, or something?’’ I shake my head, knowing better than that. Y/n would have come over and told us that she was leaving. Especially if it was to Billy, because of their fight. She wouldn’t just walk away. I have a bad feeling my gut.

‘’I don’t know, Steve. I think something is wrong. She wouldn’t just leave. She’s never done that.’’ I walk away from him, and go over to where she was previously. I try to think back to if I saw her speaking to anyone. I rack my brain, but I can’t think of anyone besides the kid in our physics class, Johnny, that was talking to her for a moment.

‘’Wait, Nancy. What’s wrong? Why are you worked up over it?’’

‘’It’s just that I have this awful feeling in my stomach, Steve. I don’t know. I just feel weird. Can you go find Billy, please? And quickly Steve. I’m worried.’’ His face seems to understand the severity of my tone, and he nods. I walk away, and start looking through the people in the house.  

I make my way around the open part of the house, not finding her anywhere. I decide I should check the rooms. I open the door to one, and I see a pair of teens making out on the bed.  

‘’Oh, uhm, so sorry.’’ I close the door quickly, feeling awkward for walking in on them. I dismiss that, remembering that I am looking for Y/n. I check another two rooms, and turn up with nothing. I wish that Steve and Billy would come back so I can have some help trying to find Y/n.

Maybe she’s fine. Maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe she just went to find Billy, they made up, and they got caught in each other.  

I almost give it the benefit of the doubt, then I open up the last door in the back of the house. I see Y/n laying under Johnny, half naked. I audibly gasp in fright, turning his attention to me. He backs away from Y/n and runs out the door. I follow him with my eyes, my jaw laying open, not totally understanding what is happening.  

I turn my attention back to Y/n, seeing her still laying on the bed. She hasn’t moved at all. I walk to her, confused. My eyes widen in panic when I see that her eyes aren’t open. She’s unconscious.  

‘’Y/n? Y/n!’’ I shake her, trying to get any type of response from her, but I get none. She doesn’t budge, and my panic sets in even more. ‘’Y/n!’’ I shout again, trying one more time to wake her up. I run out of the room, to find Billy, or anyone that can help me. I see Steve, and I run to him.  

‘’Whoa, whoa. What’s wrong, Nance? You’re crying.’’ He rushes over to me, and I can tell by his face that the look of mine isn't good.  

‘’Did you find Billy? There’s something wrong with Y/n. I think Johnny did something to her.’ I cry.  

‘’What! Where?’’ I run to the room with Steve hot on my heels. He runs to her side, and cups her face. He lightly taps her to not hurt her, and she shouts her name to get her to wake up.

‘’Steve, what do we do?’’

‘’I saw Billy, I told him we were looking for him, but he brushed me off. He was going outside to say bye to Tommy. Go get him, Nance.’’ He tells me in a semi-calm voice. I quickly stand up and run out of the room again.  

I run into him in a few seconds, and I shout his name.

‘’Billy!’’ I grab his arm to get him to look at me.  

‘'What? Why are you guys both so wigged out? Can you calm down?’’ He scoffs and shrugs my hand off of him. I feel a lump form in my throat.  

‘’Come with me. I think that she was drugged. She’s in the last room.’’ His eyes widen, and he runs to the room, pushing past the people that are in his way.

~~Billy’s POV~~

The only thoughts that are running through my mind are where is Y/n? Is she okay? Is she safe? What happened? I shove people out of my way, needing to get to her. Needing to find her. Needing to make sure she is okay. I know that there is music playing, and that there are people everywhere, but I hear no noise. All the noise is cancelled out in my ears.  

I barge into the room that Nancy alluded to, and I see Y/n laying on the bed. Her head rests in Steve’s lap, and she’s barely conscious. I run to her and take Steve's spot.  

‘’Y/n! Y/n, what happened, baby? Holy sh*t! What? What? What do we do? What do I do?’’ I grab at my hair, feeling fear and stress starting to take over my body and my thoughts. What do I do? What the h*ll do I do?

‘’Biii-’’ She starts, but she makes no other sounds.  

‘’Billy, we have got to do something. The longer whatever is in her system, the worse she will get. She has to get rid of it. I just barely got her conscious, and she can’t do much.’’ Steve tells me. I try to tune out everything, and think. I think about anything and everything that could possibly help me. She was drugged, probably from a drink she had. She has to get it out of her system, and fast. She has to get rid of it.  

‘’Help me.’’ I gesture to Steve, and I pick up Y/n. Her head lulls to the side, and I make sure it has support. I walk with her to the bathroom, with Steve’s help. I lean her over the toilet bowl, making sure that no part of her is touching it. I don’t know what these people do in these bathrooms.  

‘’What are you doing?’’ Nancy asks me.  

‘’I have to make her throw up whatever it was that she took. It needs to be gone.’’ She nods in understanding, but puts her hand on her mouth in disbelief.  

‘’Nancy, call an ambulance.’’ Steve says. She nods again and runs away to find a phone to use. I stop focusing on them and worry about my Y/n. I take a deep breath, and let it out, regretting what I'm about to have to do.

‘’Oh, God. I’m so sorry, baby. Open her mouth for me?’’ Steve lightly grabs her chin and pulls it open so I can fit my fingers through. I use my two fingers, and hesitantly put my fingers down her throat. She gags, but nothing happens or comes up. I take a deep breath, but I hold it as I push my fingers down farther. She gags again before her stomach contents are released. She coughs and continues to vomit. She seems more conscious, but she is still very out of it.  

Once she seems through, as nothing comes up when she gags, I pick her up again and carry her to the bed. Nancy runs back into the room.

‘’They’re here.’’ An EMT and a police officer both walk into the room.  

‘’She already filled us in. Let us get in here, please, boys. Go ahead and clear out for me.’’ I shake my head in protest.  

‘’I’m not leaving.’’

‘’I’m sorry, but I need to ask you three some questions.’’

‘’No, I can’t leave her. Not again.’’ I say.  

‘’I’m sorry. I know you’re worried, but I need to get in here and make sure your girl is alright. I can’t help her or check on her if I’m talking to you. I promise, we’ll take care of her.’’ The EMT tells me, slightly calming my nerves. I nod reluctantly, and Steve and I are ushered out of the room.  

I see that the party has cleared out, and the only people still here are the ones who couldn’t get away, and the owner of the house, also being questioned by an officer.  

I look around at the people, and I see Johnny standing in one of the corners. I push past the officer in front of me and run to him. I punch him square in the face, with most of my strength. He doesn’t fall, but he staggers a good bit.  

‘’Whoa, what the h*ll was that for?’’

‘’You know d*mn well.’’ I say as I punch him again, this time, making him fall. I quickly drop on top of him and hit him two more times before two officers are pulling me off. There is one pulling Johnny back to, probably so can’t reach him and hit him again. ‘’It’s him. He did it. He’s the one that drugged my, baby girl.’’

‘’Oh, come on.’’ He scoffs. I try to get at him again, but the police hold me back.  

‘’It was you, you a**shole!’’

‘’Come with me.’’ the officer escorts Johnny away, good for him.

‘’Excuse me, Y/n is talking about someone named, Billy?’’ One of the EMT’s comes out of the room. I turn and walk quickly back to where she is. She is still laying down, but she’s conscious.  

~~Y/n’s POV~~

I look up when I hear Billy’s voice. I’m still groggy and gross, but at least I can move. I blink a few times and watch him walk to me. I don’t remember really anything that happened after Steve and Nancy went for a dance to now when Billy walked into the room.  

‘’B.’’ He cups my face and leans over me.  

‘’Be careful, she’s not fully recovered yet. She should be okay, you getting those drugs out of her system helped a lot. We’re going to take you to the hospital, just to be sure, since you are underage. We’ve contacted your parents through your other friends. We’ll be taking you now, you’re welcome to ride with us.’’ One of the men says to me. I nod, and they put me on the gurney and walk her out to the ambulance.

~~~~

It's later in the night now, almost two in the morning. My parents came, my mom cried, my dad scolded me for drinking, but they were overall not mad at me. Billy was by my side the whole time, in the ambulance, throughout my check-up, and now.  

I reassured my parents it was okay if they went home since they both have to work super early in the morning. I promised them I was okay, and they were super reluctant to go, and they promised to make it up to me later in the week. This is the first time that me and B have been alone.  

He sits across from my bed, and I turn to him when I hear sniffling. I cross my brows in confusion and try to see any part of his face.  

‘’B?’’ He looks up quickly before looking back down. ‘’Billy, come here.’’ He slowly gets up and stands next to my bed, but I still can’t see his face, as he is hiding it from me. ‘’B, look at me.’’ I lift his chin to meet my eyes, and I see tears wetting his cheeks. ‘’What’s wrong?’’

‘’What do you mean? Y/n, you got-you were-you.’’ He can’t even finish his sentence.

‘’I know.’’

‘’It’s my fault Y/n. I did this to you.’’

‘’No, you didn’t B. You saved me.’’

‘’No, I didn’t. Nancy and Steve did. I didn’t even know this was happening. I let this happen to you when I was hanging out with Tommy and Carol. I don’t even like Tommy that much. I yelled at you before the party. I told you that you bother me. I said that I never have peace. I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean nay of it. I’m so sorry, Y/n. I’m sorry, baby.’’

‘’It’s okay. I know that you didn’t mean it. I get worked up too easily, and I need to do better but, Billy, you didn’t do this. I was with Steve and Nance. I was okay. And then I was stupid and took the drink from Johnny.’’

‘’No, no, no. Don’t put this back on yourself. Johnny did this. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there. I should have never left you for that long by yourself. I’m so, so sorry.’’

‘’I know, B. But’s it’s not your fault either. Please don’t blame yourself.’’ He looks down and lets the final tear fall down. I wipe the tear away, and he looks at me.  

‘’I’m sorry, Y/n.’’

‘’I know, Billy. And I forgive you, but you did nothing. I forgive for the fight, and I hope you will do the same for me. But, please don’t beat yourself up. Please.’’ He nods and grabs my hand.  

‘’And I forgive you for our petty fight.’’ I lightly smile and he brings my hand up to his face. I pull him into a hug, the best I can with the wires and things hooked up to me. I put my hand in his hair, which always seems to calm him in any situation. He sighs into my embrace, and I pull away. He pulls me into him, kissing my lips softly.  

He pulls away after a few seconds, and rests his forehead on mine.  

‘’I love you, Y/n/’’

Now, you've returned years later when your grief isn't heavy and the memory of her is pleasant, but even so, your return isn't pleasant. There wasn’t any desire or want in your mind to come live at Hawkins. You didn’t want to be the new kid at school now that you were already a junior in high school.

It's a silly reason, stupid really, but it is one of them.

The second and most important reason why you don't want to come is that you don't want to live with your estranged father. It has been years since you last saw him. At first, it started slowly; entire summers together turned to certain holidays, holidays turned to short visits, and short visits turned to calls that also started to dwindle. Every day turned into once a week, but that failed too, and then it was once a month. Eventually, there were no phone calls ever. He’d send letters, but those stopped getting to you when the phone calls stopped coming.

Now, you don't hate him, even if the communication between you has been rare. You just don't harbor the love you once had for him like when you were a child. Perhaps coming here is going to change that, though. Perhaps.

Even then, you didn’t really come to Hawkins to fix your broken relationship with your father. You came because there wasn’t much of a choice, it was more so an obligation after…your mother died. Yet another tragedy that brought you to this town that you now have to call home.

You couldn’t even process your mother's death like you should’ve before you were forced to come live with your father by Child Protective Services. It made you bitter and angry, but you're underage, they said. You can't live alone, they said. Your father is a policeman, they said. They were cold and forced you to console yourself with only the music playing from your Walkman that currently blasts through your headphones, making the long car ride tolerable in every way.

The loud Walkman also blocks out your aunt's consistent call of your name though. No matter how many times she said your name, or how loud she forced herself to be, you were too lost in your music and the passing fields and trees that led to your new home. You don't even hear her when the music tunes out and you ultimately hear nothing in your ears but the sound of the car driving down the road, but that's because the silence makes you so uneasy.

It makes your leg start bouncing up and down nervously. It makes you forget your aunt until you feel her hand on top of yours, stopping your leg from annoyingly bouncing up and down.

“I’ve been trying to get your attention.” You hear her say now that she has your attention. “But you had that thing blasting in your ears. We’re almost there, okay?”

She looks at you with concern, but you only meet her eyes for a second before you focus back on the passing scenery.

“Okay,” you mutter nervously. “Can I put my music back on? I can’t stand the sound of the car.” You say in a low whisper, not waiting for an answer before you put another mixtape in your Walkman.

Yet before you can start the music, she stops you. She then turns up the sound of the radio, bringing you some small comfort as the sound of the car tunes out, somewhat.

“I just wanted to ask you again if you were sure that you want to come live here. We can always fight them to give me custody so you can come back with me to Oregon, you know.”

You nod stiffly. “I know, but I think I want to give my dad a chance, even if my mom didn’t really like the idea,” you explain, slightly turning to face her, but not having the courage to keep your eyes straight ahead or fully on her.

Your aunt huffs and you catch her rolling her eyes. “Maybe your mom was right, you know,” she grumbles. “Hopper is a good-for-nothing deadbeat.” Her annoyance with your father is as clear as day and that's because she hates him just like your mother once did too. Your aunt complained about him the entire way to Indiana and it got worse when you got to town. However, you miss most of her complaints by tuning her out, but this time to try and take it all in.

Albeit, there isn't much to see. It's all as you last remembered it; old and small, nothing has changed. Absolutely nothing.

Thus you listen to your aunt and catch your aunt's reaction when you finally pull up to the police department. It was the same as the last time.

Upon sight of your father, your aunt scoffs and then she complains. “Look there he is and he’s fat. Oh my god.”

Your father was leaning by his car with a cigarette in-between his lips, and his hat was in his hand, showing the sight of his receding hairline which also shows that he's only getting older.

“Are you sure you want to stay with him?” Your aunt asks once again as the car comes to a stop.

You turn to her and nod, but in a lot of ways you're unsure if you actually want this…

But you need to at least try.

Yet when you open the door to get out of the car, you hesitate. You look out the front window and watch the way he pushes himself off the car to walk towards you.

The excitement he doesn't express physically is expressed in his eyes. You however, let out a small sigh as you finally push yourself off the passenger seat, mustering a small smile as he reaches you.

“Hey, Dad.” You greet awkwardly.

“Hey, kid.”

His smile is more real than yours as he places his hands on your shoulders to study you. “I guess you’re not a kid anymore, huh?” He chuckles as he pulls you in for a hug that you hesitate to return, but ultimately do.

Yet the embrace isn't as comforting as it once used to be. At least, it isn't for you. He refuses to let go right away so you imagine it brings him comfort or some kind of satisfaction. You can't say.

Either way, after he pulls away, your aunt approaches you, passing your dad a side glance.

“Mona,” he greets with an almost cheeky smile.

“Hopper,” she greets dryly, giving him a cold side glance before she reaches you to place one last kiss on the top of your head while he goes to her trunk to collect your stuff.

“Remember you can always call me if you want to go back home.”

You nod in comprehension before offering her a sad smile.

Your aunt, Mona, proceeds to caress your cheek one last time before turning towards your father as he puts away the last luggage in his car, shooting him a distasteful glare before addressing him with the same emotion. “Take care of her, Hopper.”

“I will,” he offers her without sounding taunting. He assures her seriously, but it's not like it matters. She still turns away from him curtly, offering you one last smile before heading towards her car and driving away, leaving you with a slight doubt about not leaving with her.

You watch her turn away from the police station and your doubt grows as she gets further and further away until leaving is impossible as she's no longer visible, leaving you with an awkwardness you have to suffer through alone when you're in your dad's car.

You try enduring through it, but it gets the best of you so you put your headphones on to listen to music.

“Hey, kid.” He greets you at that moment, but it goes unheard and therefore receives no response so he says your name once and then again before he taps your shoulder, making you jump slightly and quickly pull off your headphones. You then glance at your father before tearing your gaze away as you feel your heart skip a beat at the sight of the moving car.

Yet it doesn't stop the memories that suddenly flash in your mind and make your heart pound as panic slowly swells and causes your leg to bounce up and down again.

“Can you slow down the car, please,” you whisper, making him turn to you slightly with concern before he does as you said.

“Right, sorry.”

The car goes silent with neither one of you uttering a word to each other, and it's not like he doesn't want to, it just looks like you don't want to, but you have to talk to each other eventually and well, he has something important to tell you, that much you can tell with the way he's staring at you.

“Before we get to the house,” he finally breaks the tension. “I need you to know something important.”

Your eyes flicker to him, but you quickly drop them to look at your Walkman before you probe. “Okay, what is it?”

He sighs and you can tell he's having a hard time finding the right words to say, but eventually, he finds them. “There's someone living with us...someone…special…”

It’s a girlfriend isn’t it?

That’s what your mind goes to anyway, that and well other kids, another family that he didn’t tell you about…

Would it really matter though?

...A little.

“Someone I sorta adopted.”

So, it isn't another family that’s...relieving.

“Sorta?” You pick on that word

“Her name is Eleven, El for short. She’s 13 and well she’s...special.”

So he's said.

You slightly shift in your seat and feel your eyebrows knot in confusion as you briefly meet his gaze. “Special?” You ask. “Okay, in what way?”

“She can,” he pauses and clears his throat. “She can move stuff with her mind.”

You fully meet his gaze and nod slowly as you form an ‘o’ shape with your mouth while you process all the emotions passing through you; confusion, disbelief, amusement, and slight concern.

It's why it takes a moment for you to react, but when you do, you just laugh. It makes breathing difficult as you ultimately choose that what he said is amusing.

However, when you see that he doesn't laugh with you, you stop laughing, and as your smile fades you bite your bottom lip before clearing your throat and shifting in your seat again. “You’re being serious,” you point out.

He nods. “Yes, I am. Look I know it sounds weird, but she’s not dangerous, I mean she is, but not to us. She’s actually excited to meet you.” He smiles slightly, making you exhale deeply before mirroring his smile. However, yours is a bit feigned, not only because you don't believe him on this girl's abilities, but because he has no reason to lie or make that joke, he’s never joked with you like that.

Another reason why your smile is feigned is because he adopted a child when he already has...you.

——

*LATER*

As the cabin finally comes into view after what seemed to be a long car ride of darkness, you immediately notice a curly-headed girl peeking through the curtains.

Upon sight of your father and you getting out of the car, the curious eyes and mop of brown curly hair quickly disappear, making a small amused smile tug at the corner of your lips despite your…complicated feelings.

The entire ride to the cabin you've been picking at the revelation your dad told you and been wondering the same thing over and over again, why.

Why would he adopt some girl who would be the same age as your little sister?

Is this new kid someone to fill the hole your sister left behind in his heart?

Is he that lonely?

But if he is, why not try to mend things with you and be a father?

Is this girl some kid he had with some random woman?

Once again, why?

You could ask, but you don't want to ask either.

But you have to know if he's being serious.

Yet, before you can ask and take a step closer to the cabin, your dad brings you to an abrupt stop, causing you to immediately freeze in place and turn to look at him with slight panic.

Your dad finds your gaze through the faint yellow lights coming from the cabin, notices your panic, and then points down to the trap wire that is well hidden just a little bit off the ground.

“So, you’re being serious, huh? You’re not fucking with me on what she can do?” You ask with your filled with some alarm.

“No, and you can't tell anyone about her. Not your aunt Mona, or your friends. You can't even tell Jonathan. Do you understand?”

You glance at the wire and exhale deeply before you look back at him and nod, feeling alarmed but still unsure about the ordeal. So you just step over the wire and move along, but get stopped once again just before you can go through the door.

“I want you to learn this knock,” your dad says. “It’s a special knock to let her know that it’s just us, okay?”

You raise a quizzical brow, but agree.

However, before he can even touch the wooden door with his knuckles, the door flies open, but no one stands in front of the door to greet you. Instead, the girl is much further away, making Hopper's statement about the girl have some truth to it. Still, you can’t believe him. Your mother said he went through a lot when he was in the military. That’s why he is the way he is, or so she said.

Maybe Agent Orange is finally getting to him?

“Hi.” The curly-headed girl waves excitedly, but you don't return the same excitement.

You offer her a smile in return in a quiet greeting while you study her well, noticing that she doesn’t look strange. The moment your dad said she could lift stuff with her mind your mind went to a little green alien before you started to picture someone completely the opposite of how she looks.

The girl doesn't have long limbs or a big head like that of an alien. The hair on her head is curly and brown. Her teeth seem to be growing in so it makes her smile adorable. The flannel she's wearing is quite baggy to the point it almost drowns her, but she's not strange-looking. She looks like a normal thirteen-year-old girl.

Actually, if he hadn’t told you that he adopted her, you would actually believe it was his actual daughter.

“El,” your dad interjects after he closes the door behind him. “This is my daughter,” he introduces you with warmth in his voice. “The one I told you would be living with us from now on,” he says and then introduces you to Eleven, making the girl walk over to you and offer you her hand.

You look at what she offers and then return the gesture with an amused smile playing on your lips whilst a warmer smile grows on hers, as if she can't believe she's actually looking at you.

“You are…really pretty,” she then surprises you by saying, making your smile deepen,

“Oh,” you laugh breathlessly. “Thank you. You are very pretty too.”

A faint blush creeps on her cheeks and her smile widens. “Thank you,” she offers sweetly.

“Now that we all know each other's names, why don’t we let her move her stuff in the room,” your dad cuts in as he finally moves around you and Eleven to walk you to the room where you’ll be staying. And to no one's surprise, there's two single beds on opposite sides of the room.

You imagined you'd be sharing a room the moment your eyes fell upon the small wooden cabin.

“The cabin is not big,” your dad points out as he sets your luggage down by the bed where you'll be sleeping. “So I hope you don't mind sharing with Eleven. If you don't want to, I could give you my space. I can sleep on the couch.”

You walk to the middle of the room to take in the sight of the cozy room and reassure him. “I don't mind sharing.”

You turn to face him. “This will be fine.”

He pats the door frame. “Once you're all settled you can talk to El about any changes you might want to make. She'll probably love to hear your ideas.”

“Okay.” You nod. “Yeah. Sounds cool.”

His eyes linger on you to study you under a much brighter light and sighs deeply before he points back. “There's no point in giving you a tour. You saw everything when you came in, but we'll be having dinner in a little so come out and join us. Oh, and I've signed you up at school. Your first day is tomorrow.”

“Great,” you breathe out deeply. “I could always stay here and teach myself.”

He chuckles and turns away to walk off. “Jonathan will be there. He can show you around,” he says as he walks off. “Come on El, let’s give her time to settle.”

Said girl lingers outside the door to steal one last glance at you before she follows after your dad, letting you approach your bed and just sit on the edge.

You don't think about tomorrow, or this girl your dad adopted. You don't think about how awkward it is between you and your dad, or the grudge you hold against him.

There's silence for a moment before grief seeps through and then a longing for the life you lived before with your mother.

You don't miss the room you didn't share with anyone. You don't miss your house minutes away from the cold beach. You miss her. Life with her.

Things were simple with her, now you have to start over again in a strange place with strange people.

Usually, she'd be the one you'd go to for help and consolation, but all you have is memories and pictures of her now and all a picture does is make you smile sadly at it as you set down a picture of her and you on the vanity dresser you share with this strange adopted sister.

Your mother would tell you not to mind her. She'd say your dad had no business adopting a girl when he can't take care of himself, so you try to live by that.

Besides, you're finding her quite…endearing.

Eleven seems to be quiet, shy, and curious like a newborn baby deer navigating the world. She even talks like she's only recently learned English which only makes more questions arise, but you don't ask yet. First, you want to try and figure her out yourself.

Either way, once morning rolls around, her curiosity is the first thing that greets you when you catch her watching you when you open your eyes. She quickly closes her eyes when you open your groggy eyes, but it was far too late for her to go unnoticed, but you don't expose her. You just smile and turn around to try and get a couple more minutes of rest before having to get ready for a new day.

——

*LATER*

Rules. Three stupid rules, that’s what your father told you over the very awkward breakfast.

They’re for Eleven’s safety he said, but it sounded more like they were made to incarcerate her in the cabin. He'd probably use them to incarcerate you too, but people already knew you were arriving in town, and you had an obligation to go to school.

School however, is something you'd be fine without, that way you could avoid the stares you get from the other students as they look at you like they’ve never seen a new student before. You hate being gawked at

Luckily, however, you have your Walkman to distract you from making eye contact with anyone. It also helps you avoid people who want to make conversation with you. That is until someone taps your shoulder.

You let out a silent annoyed sigh and take off your headphones before turning away from your locker to face the person who had so rudely interrupted your streak of avoiding communication with anyone. You're prepared to shoot them a cold glare, but once you notice who it actually is in front of you, your face softens and a smile breaks through your hard exterior.

“Jonathan?!” You squeak, your smile growing wider as you see your best friend before you with a smile much like your own. “Is that you? What the hell, look at you!” You exclaim with joy before throwing your arms around to wrap him in a hug and receiving more weird looks from the people who pass by.

“Hi,” he chuckles as he returns your embrace before letting go seconds later to stand all awkwardly in front of you. “You didn’t call.” He finally says while he puts his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah I know, sorry I’ve just been getting settled down at home and everything has been uhh...strange,” you mention, remembering that El’s existence is supposed to be a secret to everyone else besides your dad and you. “But look at you! You're so tall! I’ve missed you.”

He smiles and a slight blush grows on his cheeks. “Me too. My mom has been talking about you nonstop ever since Chief Hopper told her you were coming. She and Will are excited to see you again, so when you have the chance, you need to come over so she can stop asking when you’re going to arrive.” He says, making you laugh.

“Oh, expect me there soon. All I see in my dad's fridge is pre-packaged and frozen food.”

“I’ll have her give him a call so you both can come over then. It’ll be nice.”

You agree to his idea with a nod and close your locker door with the intention to walk with Jonathan to your next class, but then behind him the sight of a guy with the fluffiest looking hair nicely styled back catches your attention.

Maybe it is also the sunglasses that he’s wearing inside the hall that catches your attention, but you see him and instantly you find him quite charming.

It’s unexpected, you didn’t come to Hawkins with the intention of finding anyone attractive, but here you are looking away and then glancing at this mysterious guy again and wondering if his eyes are warm and easy to get lost in.

His face is square. Noticeably so, but his nice brown hair complements it nicely. The sunglasses sit on his nose hiding a part of him, but you can still notice how perfectly carved it is; it looks like the noses on the nicely carved statues of handsome men from years and years past. And his jaw is so nicely defined that it’s easy to tell that he takes care of himself by the definition of it, at least it’s easy for you to tell.

It doesn’t matter if he takes care of himself or not though because it wouldn’t take away from how captivatingly pretty he is.

Yet, no matter how hot you think he is, you only just now notice the pretty brunette girl walking next to him.

You would like it if they were siblings, but you’d be delusional to believe so. So you’re immediately disappointed and then startled when her big blue eyes land on you.

At first instinct, you assume they have lockers close by, but the girl's eyes drift to Jonathan and then return to you, seeming to notice how close you're standing to Jonathan before reflecting a weird look on her pale face for a flicker of a second.

The cute guy next to her doesn't seem to pay Jonathan or you any attention. At least it seems that way because of his sunglasses, so if he's looking at you or not, you can't tell. You still look away to ignore the pair though, but the pretty girl starts to lead the cute guy toward you.

But that can’t be. They’ll pass right by…

They don’t. She keeps approaching you. She’s coming toward you.

Oh shit. Oh god.

She’s coming and they’re both so much prettier up close.

They’re coming!

“Jonathan,” the girl says and even her voice is so nice and pretty sounding, but the look she passes you is anything but. Once again she passes you a weird look before offering you a small smile.

Not like that makes the interaction any less awkward. Thankfully, Jonathan speaks up. “Oh, Nancy, hey.”

Her smile spreads wider before she parts her lips and seems to search for the reason why she came over.

Once again, thankfully Jonathan fills the silence by introducing you to the girl he dubs Nancy Wheeler, and the guy he hesitantly dubs Steve Harrington.

“This is my best friend,” he says about you. “She's the chief's oldest daughter. She just got here.”

The pretty girl you now know as Nancy offers you a much kinder and sincere smile whilst pretty boy Steve, flashes you an amused grin as he takes his sunglasses off and places them on the top of his head.

“Holy shit, you're Chief Hopper’s daughter? Like in the Chief? I never knew.”

You offer him a tight-lipped smile and scoff. “Yeah, I don’t think he knew he had one either.”

“You don't look like him,” he points out, making you chuckle.

“Oh thank god. I don't think I could pull off his mustache or beer belly.”

Steve snorts and his laugh makes you genuinely smile while the other two stay quiet until he interjects with more on the matter on a much serious note. “I genuinely didn’t know that the chief had a daughter, that’s shocking.”

“Yeah, I left Hawkins when I was really young. So I’m not surprised.” You mutter and finally hold his gaze for longer than a second, seeing that yes, his eyes are warm and easy to get lost in even if you can tell that he's trying to look smug, like a tough guy.

“Well, welcome back to Hawkins,” Nancy addresses you, making your eyes flicker over to her. “I’ll see you around.”

You offer her a small nod in agreement and a faint smile before you look back at Steve and catch the smile he offers you before they both turn to leave without being forgotten.

You hear Steve tell Nancy how surprised he is about you being the Chief’s daughter because he's actually very loud, so it's hard to miss as he walks down the hall with Nancy.

The comment makes you roll your eyes before you turn to face Jonathan, noticing the lingering look he gives Nancy's retreating figure, and not being able to help the playful smirk that takes over your lips.

Jonathan notices and seems to know what you're thinking so he shakes his head as a response.

“What?” You ask innocently. “I didn’t say a thing.”

Jonathan points at you and shares a fake laugh before answering your internal question. “Nancy is with Steve.”

“Oh,” you mouth and then shrug. “Well, I didn’t say a thing.”

Damn it. How disappointing. Even if you assumed as much.

Nevertheless, no matter how disappointed you are by the fact, Jonathan seems ten times more disappointed than you are.

Or maybe he's not disappointed, but much rather, sad.

So, to distract him from his agony, you pull out an orange flyer you were given earlier today and show it off to Jonathan with an excited grin on your face.

“Do you want to get sheet faced?” You mock the flyer, making you both laugh before you walk down the hall and read him the flyer to a Halloween party—a party that you're actually eager to go to.

“Let's go!” You exclaim, but Jonathan shakes his head and shoves his hands in his jacket pockets.

“I’m going to take Will trick-or-treating. You should actually come so I have someone to talk to while I take him.”

You sigh and put the flyer back in your pocket as a sad frown replaces your grin. “I’ll have to ask my dad.”

Albeit something told you that he wouldn’t let you go to either the party or with Jonathan and Will. It wouldn't hurt to ask though, and if he does say no then…there are other ways you can go to either or. Most importantly to the party.

——

*THE NEXT DAY*

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

“Hey kid, breakfast is ready!”

That’s the second call but there’s no need to scream the house is basically a box, so you can hear him even if he’s speaking quietly. Which means, you heard him turning Eleven’s plan down to go trick or treating covered in a white sheet, but even so it wouldn’t hurt to ask him about what you want.

Thus, you shove the lip gloss and mascara in your backpack to put them on later and scurry out to join the pair for breakfast, noticing Eleven’s pout and getting hesitant, but you still push yourself.

“Dad,” you address him, which takes him by surprise because you've hardly spoken to him. “There's a Halloween party tonight and I was wondering…if I could go. Jonathan would go with me and I wouldn’t be out too late,” you say, lying in desperation to be given permission.

Then again, it could be true. You'll just need to beg Jonathan.

Regardless, you drift your eyes to him to await his response.

First, though, he chews fast and then sighs deeply and looks at his food. “I just told El, she couldn’t go trick or treating, so uh, no, you can’t go. I know that you want to make friends, but if I’m not letting El out tonight then I can’t let you out either, sorry kid.”

You groan and turn away from him to focus on the food in front of you.

You don’t want to be trapped here like he traps Eleven. You aren't “gifted” so you don't have to be hidden and you know that he knows that.

“All right, look,” your dad interjects as he notices the displeased look on your faces. “How about I get off early tonight, and buy us a bunch of candy, and we can sit around and get fat, and we can watch a scary movie together?”

He looks up and looks between El and you to see the reactions to his offer.

And, unlike Eleven, you give it to him without hesitation or bothering to look at him. “You got off late last night, how are we supposed to trust you’ll actually do what you say?”

Eleven sits up and then echoes your response. “Yeah. How?”

Your dad looks between you and eleven again and then just retorts. “Just got to trust me, I’ll be here.”

You and Eleven share a doubtful look before you look back at your food, not really believing that he’ll be true to his word.

“I’ll be here.” He continues to insist. “How’s that for a compromise?”

“C-compromise?” Eleven stammers in confusion, making you look over and see her actually look puzzled.

“C-O-M-promise,” your dad spells it out for her. “Compromise. How about that's your word for the day? Yeah? It's something that's kinda in-between. It's like halfway happy.”

“By 5-1-5?” Eleven repeats in a silly yet adorable way which also just keeps proving that what your father said about her is right. She’s learning.

“Five fifteen,” your dad agrees. “Yeah, sure.”

“Promise?” Eleven asks and you look over at him now too.

“Yes,” your dad assures her and you as he leans over the table. “I promise.”

Eleven shrugs. “Halfway happy.”

You smile in amusement and finally start eating from your food, seeing your dad ruffle up Eleven's hair and making her laugh while you think of his promise.

A part of you doesn't believe him, over the years he's given you many reasons not to believe his promises, and that part of you wants to go out and spit at his decision, but…you also want to try and rekindle that relationship you had with him years ago. You also don't want to be strangers with Eleven, and to achieve that it means that you have to at least try to go along with the compromise.

——

*LATER THAT DAY*

5:00—He said five-fifteen, so it’s still early, he’ll get here.

5:15—It’s okay, maybe he’ll be here in a couple of minutes, it takes a while to get to the cabin since it's so far from the road. He’ll be here, he promised both you and Eleven, and he isn't going to break his promise to Eleven, will he?

5:30—You shift on top of the skateboard you've been sitting on outside of the cabin to wait for your dad to get here like he promised. You never went inside because a part of you knew he wouldn't follow through with his promise.

He never does….

5:50—You let out a frustrated groan and throw a pine cone across the ground, making sure not to make a lot of noise so Eleven wouldn’t see you outside waiting for the man who had promised you both he’d be here by now.

6:00—Nothing.

You shoot up to your feet with anger clouding your judgment to think rationally about the choice you're about to make.

Yet it's your dad's fault, not yours. You waited and he didn’t come, so you're not going to be here if he isn't.

Albeit, a part of you, the rational part, hesitates to leave Eleven alone.

Yet you hardly know her and she hardly knows you, so she wouldn’t care…

Probably not. Hopefully, not.

Either way, even if doubt creeps into your mind, anger has taken over you and it makes you grab your skateboard to head towards the Halloween party that your father told you not to go to. After all, you waited for him! He broke his promise. And maybe you should've just known better than to hope he was actually going to do as he promised, so maybe you're the foolish one for believing he would.

Either way, in ways this is his consequence for breaking his promise. If he had made it in time you wouldn’t have left for the party, you’d be home with Eleven and him. You’d be trying to fix the broken relationship, but no, he chose not to make it. Typical.

He shouldn’t even be mad that you’re at the party then. Your mother wouldn’t.

Your mother would give you permission because she'd want you to make friends! She'd want you to listen to music, and have fun!

However, when you make it to the party you start to dread the music since it plays so loudly. It's even audible as you sit inside Jonathan’s car.

You tried convincing him to go inside with you, but that was only once because you keep hesitating going inside the craziness that you know it will be.

It's actually kind of funny how you found him—well, he found you riding on your skateboard while you were both making your way to the party.

“So…I thought you were going to take Will trick-or-treating. Why are you here now?”

“Why are you?” He retorts. “Knowing Hopper, I assumed he wouldn't let you come.”

You nod. “He didn't.”

He looks at you with shock and parts his lips to press you on that, but you just press him instead. “Why are you here?”

He shrugs as he glances at the front door once again. “There was a change of plans,” he says curtly almost as if he's nervous to go inside. “I can turn back. Take you home and meet up with Will.”

You glance at the door, listen to the echoing music, and make the decision for the both of you in a heartbeat. “No, you're already here. I have risked my life too. We're going, so the real question is…Are you ready to get sheet faced, Byers?” You tease, earning a small chuckle as a response before you both get out of the car and immediately receive weird stares from those hanging outside, but that's mostly likely due to the fact that neither Jonathan nor you have costumes on, but it’s not like you had time, you weren’t going to come, and Jonathan had a change of plans.

However, when you walk inside, as if getting slapped in the face by a force of sensibility, you start to kind of regret choosing a party over this girl who also had her promise broken.

You were supposed to get to know her better and here you are at a party where everyone but your best friend is a stranger. You do spot Nancy and Steve in the distance, but you haven't spoken to them since you were introduced to them, so it's basically like you don't know them.

“I’m going to get some drinks. To get…sheet faced,” you joke with Jonathan much more morbidly, but you don't think he hears you, he gets stopped by this girl dressed like some punk rocker, or well, who knows what she’s supposed to be, she just looks cool!

Either way, when you make it to the punch Nancy and Steve are also making their way over too, but only Steve notices. “Hopper!”

You offer him a faint smile and a small wave before you correct him and tell him to call you by your first name. You don’t like being called by your dad's last name.

Yet, Steve doesn’t seem to care what you tell him, he ignores you and pushes his sunglasses up to continue the conversation whilst Nancy is scooping some of that smoking red drink in her red cup.

“I’m surprised you’re here considering you’re new,” Steve says.

You scoff and offer him an amused smile. “Yeah, well who can pass by the offer to get sheet faced?”

“Yeah,” Steve agrees all sarcastically. “No, I couldn’t. It’s what brought me here too.”

You huff in amusement and fill two cups of spiked punch. “What are you supposed to be anyway?” You question Steve.

“Take a wild guess.” He says and turns to pose.

You chuckle and take a good look at him before you hum, feeling a smirk grow on your lips. “Steven Harrington? Your twin?”

Steve scoffs and retorts. “Don’t be a nerd, it’s easy. My cool shades? My suit jacket?” He pops his jacket and you giggle and then tap your chin before giving him the answer you had thought of right away.

“Joel from Risky Business?”

Steve grins. “Exactly! You’re the first person to get that!”

He pushes his sunglasses down to study you. “How about you?” He probes.

You finish pouring the drinks and shrug. “Guess.”

Steve sighs and frowns. “New girl? How typical.”

You turn to face him with a smirk before you begin to walk back. “I think it’s smart! I am the new girl!” You flash him a bright smile before turning and walking off to return to Jonathan.

Yet you stop yourself halfway when you spot a keg outside. You don't have the intention to join, a flood of memories of when you and your friends had parties passes through your mind at the sight.

They would have made this party better for you…but alas, they're miles away.

With that in mind, you go back to looking for Jonathan, but he isn't in the place you last saw him.

You continue to look for him in the sea of people, but he isn't anywhere to be found and you get easily frustrated. Besides, someone else finds you instead.

“Hey, you’re the new girl right?” A redhead asks as she stops in front of you with a very sloppy grin on her face, letting you know that she's already drunk.

“Yeah.” You feign a smile. “That’s me.”

“I’ve been looking for you! Why don’t you drink from the keg? Let’s see what you can do!” She exclaims happily as she grabs your wrist and pulls you to the crowd of people gathered around the keg.

They all seem to be cheering for some guy, but he doesn't last much longer. He falls on his face all too quickly, making everyone around him laugh at his failure.

You try to pull away to quickly escape in the uproar, but the girl grabs on tighter to make sure you won’t escape her as she pushes through the crowd to get to the center.

When you're by the keg and in everyone's line of sight, the redhead immediately shines all the attention on you.

“The new girl wants to drink from the keg!”

You don't really want to, but no one reads the dread on your face. They only encourage you further and make your plans to sneak away, fail.

“New girl. New girl. New girl!!” They roar and keep pushing you towards the keg even if you plant your heels in the ground to make it harder for them. They then lift the nozzle and you hesitate to drink, but then some guy with blonde curly hair and a leather jacket over a bare sweaty chest speaks up smugly.

“Are you scared, new girl?”

Your eyes dart to him and narrow on his cocky smirk. “No,” you counter, feeling your competitive side get the better of you. “Just…getting ready.”

You smile at him and snatch the nozzle, making everyone around you cheer louder while some people quickly lift you up to make you drink dangling in the air.

At first, the drink threatens to make you throw it all back up, but the taste is all too familiar as it goes down your throat, and the sound of people counting the seconds you're in the air drinking makes you forget your reluctance to drink and get caught up in the moment until you can't drink another gulp.

When you get back on your feet, everyone cheers louder and the crowd gets closer around you, roaring out how long you had been on the keg with too much excitement. “Thirty-Nine!!”

You grin, wiping the alcohol that trickles down your chin while you feel the all too familiar fuzziness quickly present itself in your head as the alcohol spreads throughout your system, making you forget how you felt about your father breaking his promise, and forgetting for that while that your mother died and forced you to come back to this strange town, and meet this strange new adoptive sister.

It's all forgotten for now as you let the alcohol take over you and let a brief happiness drown out all the problems. And, in order to keep all your problems away and continue to feel that same joy, you go in search of more alcohol.

You fumble over your own feet on the way there, but before you can fall a pair of strong arms catches you.

“Hey, hey, careful now.” The deep voice says, pulling you up gently to come face to face with your savior; the same cocky guy from before who asked if you were afraid.

This time though, you notice how pretty his blue eyes are as he seems to scan your body.

“Impressive out there,” he rolls out in such a seductive way. “You almost beat my record. I’ve never seen a girl go on for that long. You really impressed me, but you are the new girl here so that explains a lot, everyone here sucks.”

You let out a small giggle whilst taking a step back to really take a look at who had saved you from falling. That’s when you see how charming his cocking grin is on his lips. You also notice how good he rocks that blonde curly mullet.

You’ve seen him at school too, he's also new to Hawkins. You don't know his name even if you have him in one class, but you do know that he's hot. Not as much as Steve is—or was since he’s with Nancy, but either way, this guy is attractive, especially with just that leather jacket over nothing but his bare chest.

However, maybe you find him attractive because you're also tipsy...

“What are you supposed to be?” He asks as he checks you out once again, making your cheeks grow hot as you hesitate to answer this time.

“The new girl.” You joke loudly so you can be heard over the loud commotion around you.

The guy chuckles and the smell of beer and cigarettes engulfs your nose as he takes the same step forward that you had taken back, letting him be only inches away from you. Not that your tipsy self cares though, you offer him a charming smile.

“I’m Billy.” He introduces himself with a smirk while his eyes travel down to your lips before he licks his own, which is an action that goes unnoticed by you because your eyes briefly shift to his lips before you both meet each other’s gaze and pull the same mischievous look on your faces.

You then proceed to lean in closer, letting your lips be inches away from his. You then smirk and before he can close the gap between you, you introduce yourself too.

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