December 21th, 1985 HAWKINS, INDIANA
Will's POV:
After what felt like months of driving we had finally gotten to Hawkins. We stopped by the cabin, which was built up again in honor of Hopper. We even had two extra rooms. There was a box filled with the Chiefs stuff. El was clearly uncomfortable about being in her old house. I offered to go grocery shopping with El again.

We grabbed the items we wanted and I grabbed a pack of envelopes, and checked out. We walked back home passing by all the places we've missed dearly. El stopped, holding on to her bracelet.

"Did Mike give you that?" I asked.

"My dad did," She said quietly.

"Oh sorry,"

"No it's not that it's just that I miss him ya know?"

"I understand, do you want to write letters?"

"To who?"

"To who anyone you want," She nodded. She quickly grabbed my hand and ran down the path. I knew where we were going.

"Castle Byers?"

"I thought you'd miss it,"

"You've never been in Castle Byers have you?"

"Not since we first met,"

"Come on,"

"But make sure were back by 3:15, I want to see Mike!" She giggles.

Your POV:
"Will all cheerleaders report to the gym immediately,"

"Hey ladies, I am giving out your uniforms, there brand new and be sure to wear it around today!" Kathy smiled. The uniform was a yellow and dark green two piece. The tops were short sleeved and the skirts were mid-thigh, and began at my belly button.

"I'm not wearing this," I said coming out of the stall.

"Come on it's kinda cute," Tanner chuckles, I groan as I walk down the halls embarrass as multiple boys stare holes into my skin.

"Wow, Tanner, y/n," A boy from our class says stunned. (Oh My GoD BeTtY, aRcHiE GoT hOt!)

"So this what celebrity status is like?" Tanner smiles.

"Thank god I'm not a celebrity," I joke.

"I feel like you guys are paged everyday," Mike says.

"The feeling is mutual." I sighed.

"I still can't believe you two are cheerleaders," Lucas says.

"Too be honest neither can I," I smile awkwardly.

"So are you guys still going to that party tonight?" Richie asked.

"Yeah, but tomorrow we're still on for our friend-mas!" Tanner cheers.

"You gotta work on that name." Dustin says playfully then pulling Tanner into a side hug.

"Anyways were still here for a couple hours wanna go to—"

"Y/n."

"Yes?" I say annoyed.

"Will," I look up at Max's gaze.

"MIKE!" El screams, as her and Mike run towards each other engulfing, each in a big hug. El sees us from over Mike's shoulder, we all give her a group.

"What did I miss?" She asked.

"Well Tanner and Y/n became cheerleaders,"

"What no way!" El yells loudly, we giggle at how loud she was. (Her inner Millie is here 😏)

"Oh and Lucas made the basketball team and Dustin is the science competition," Tanner rambled as El hugged the boys too. She ran back to grab Will's hand.

"Hi." He mumbled.

"Come on, let's go back to my house," We all walked back to the Wheeler's house. We all decided to have some fun and we turned the basement into a winter wonderland of sorts. We hung up snowflakes and decorated holiday stockings.

"Wait!" El says causing us all to stare at her.

"What?"

"What about the chimney, for Satan?" El says innocently, I bust out laughing along with Max and Lucas.

"ITS SANTA, JESUS CHRIST EL!" Dustin yells.

"Yes, Santa," She corrects herself.

"Well y/n can draw it, she's really talented." Richie says, causing me to blush. Ever since that night Will left, Richie has been feeding me compliments after compliments and honestly it's very sweet. He's funny, kind, and a loyal person. He's been keeping me occupied since Will left me. And it's been kinda nice!

"What about Will, he hasn't picked up a brush in a while," El said, Will had been very hesitant and quiet. I haven't even said hello or anything it's just awkward. I saw what she doing and it was very unnatural and just odd. I mean he hurt me and were supposed to magically be together again? (I THINK NOT!) I am not some prize to be won over. I'm gonna give him a piece of my damn mind.

"Sure!" I said, Will was very confused and he nodded. I grabbed his hand and I dragged him outside to look for cardboard.

"So you're a cheerleader?" Will started.

"What I am not good enough?" I snapped.

"No, it's just you always thought cheerleaders were the saddest people in the world,"

"Well I changed my mind," I say coldly.

"Look y/n, I know we didn't leave on good terms but—"

"But what Will?! I loved you and you hurt me, and abandoned me. You didn't even try to make us work.Then suddenly you just waltzed back into my life and you think I'm gonna pretend that it never happened. No, I deserve better than that shit."

"I know and I wanted to apologize for being such a douchebag,"

"Why didn't you call?"

"I was scared, hell El was too, we, I thought you forgot about me,"

"I cannot possibly forget you, that's why I can't forgive you, at least not yet,"

"What can I do?"

"We can start over as friends and then go from there," Will nods. We pick up the cardboard, and we walk back in, start working on the chimney.

"Shit! Y/n let's go!" Tanner says grabbing my hand.

"Bye guys see you tomorrow!" We said waving goodbye. Since Tanner's house was farther from Mike's we went there first.

"Hey Liam," I waved.

"Hey, L/n." He smiled.

"LIAM STOP FLIRTING WITH MY FRIENDS!" She yelled, she ran back downstairs where I was and dragged me upstairs to her room.

"This is so—"

"Childish, I know, I want to change it up a bit." She says referring to the posters she has up. Her room was a bright pastel yellow, she had movie posters all over the walls. She had a collection of awards across the shelves.

"No it's absolutely beautiful,"

"Thanks, come on help my pick out my pjs," She said walking towards my closet. "Blue or orange?" She asked.

"Okay, um pick the orange one," With that she finished packing, and we headed to my house.

"Y/n! Let's go!" Kate says throwing my bag at me.

"BYE MOM, I'LL BE AT THE WHEELERS TOMORROW!" I yelled.

December 22cd, 1985 HAWKINS, INDIANA
Your POV:
Tanner and I got up early and left Kathy's place. I have to admit that slumber party was quite fun! Being a cheerleader wasn't so bad after all, it felt like a family or more like a sorority of all girls. We knocked on the door and Mrs. Wheeler let us in. She made us and baby Holly, a huge pancakes.
We thanked her and we woke up the rest of the Party. Will and I finished the chimney. We were just waiting on the paint to dry. It actually looks realistic too. El set out a bunch of pen and paper on the small table.

"What's all that for?" Mike asked.

"I thought we should write letters to each other."

"That's a great idea," Max said.

"We all pick our person we wrote our letter to and started writing while listening to the radio.

I look at my person and he is humming along to the beat of 'Last Christmas' by Wham!

Dear Richie,
Thank you for being so kind to me and being there for me. I glad I met you and I feel like were facing some similar battles. I love your compliments and jokes, they warm my heart. Even thought it's short I want you to know I'm glad everything happened so your here.

~ y/n

P.S. Thank you for hearing me out, you're a lifesaver!

I seal up my gift and I put his name on it and I pass it to him.

"What's this?"

"My Christmas letter to you."  I whispered.

"Thank you, also here," He says handing me a envelope with my name neatly written on it. I blush a bit before placing the card in my bag. Suddenly a timer goes off and El screams:

"COOKIES!" And runs upstairs.

"El be careful!" Mike yells after her. We wait for the cookies to cool off and then we decorate, well most of us. I was drawing Rudolph and then Richie put icing on my hand.

"Hey!" I laughed. I drew a mustache on his face he began to talk in a British accent.

"May I say it is a lovely day Miss Y/n?"

"Indeed." I respond curtsying at him. Everyone broke out in laughter, it finally feels like our family is back together again.

TIME SKIPPPP TO CHRISTMAS!!!

Third Person:
On Christmas day, the party spent time with their loved ones. The Wheeler's spent the day watching Christmas movies and eating chicken for dinner. The Sinclair's had a large stack of pancakes and loads of syrup to go along with it, Lucas taught Erica some D&D moves after breakfast. The Henderson's had invited the Brady's over for Christmas, the adults a couple drinks and Dustin and Tanner exchanging kisses. The Byers had a huge Eggo Extravaganza and watched westerners that morning. The Mayfield's had Christmas dinner with one empty chair. This leaves the L/n-Hathaway's well, I guess it's better for Y/n to explain it herself isn't. Maybe let's give her well deserved break. She spent the holidays singing songs and spending time with her friends and family, and by that I mean playing in the results of the heavy snow from last night.

WC: 1645

MERRY CHRYSLER! HAPPY HANUKKAH! HAPPY KWANZAA! HAPPY HOLIDAYS FOLKS! I spent sooo damn long on this chapter, I'm gonna enjoy the rest of my winter break. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! I love you guys so much! See y'all in 2020!

~Bri🌻

P.S Netflix helped me big time making this chapter, El's letter to Hopper was heartbreaking hence this chapter was born! I love you guys so much!