𓆩♡𓆪

  THE DOOR TO EL'S bedroom didn't open the rest of the night. Brooke tried to clean it up but Hopper had told her to stop, that it was El's job, not hers. Brooke had even wrote on a little note telling El to have a good day and that she misses her and slipped it under the door but still—nothing.

   She had stepped over the glass to get to school and now she's sitting in the ugly school gym watching Steve get his ass handed to him by Billy. Oh, and—Jonathan and Nancy have disappeared. Both Paisley and Brooke called both households and both parents thought their child was at school. Nope. Paisley had to walk to school thanks to Byers' sudden absence.

   "Did Billy follow you home?" Brooke laughs. Paisley sighs dramatically, "No. Thankfully his loud ass car was gone when my dad picked me up. I did talk to Robin though. She saw your little outburst."

  Paisley was right—Brooke is fine, well, she's not mad at her so it's fine.

    Brooke's eyes go wide. Robin didn't mention anything during class about the temper tantrum. "What'd Robin say?" Brooke asks. Paisley shrugs, "Oh, nothing bad. She just asked if you were okay. She's pretty," Paisley casually blurts out. "Prettier than Billy?" Brooke points at the blonde.

   "King Steve!" He shouts to the whole court. Paisley freezes up. "No, Billy is handsome as well," Paisley feels sick even saying it but what the hell else is she supposed to say? Brooke sits up from the bench and looks at Paisley with pure shock, jaw dropped and eyebrows raised to the ceiling. "Don't tell me you like that son of a bitch!" Brooke whispers and smacks Paisley.

   "I never said that! He did ask me out like I said—"

  "You gonna go?" Brooke quickly asks. "Playing it tough today! I like it!" Billy shouts again and catches the girl's attention. Why they're here in a room of sweaty boys is still unknown to Paisley. Brooke claims it's because it's too cold outside to smoke but Casey Windward wiping the sweat off his forehead with his own shirt might be the real answer.

   Steve bends down, "Jesus, do you ever stop talking?" He complains about Billy. Paisley knows the answer is no to that question. Billy laughs, "What? Afraid coach is gonna bench you now that I'm here? Huh?" The condescending tone Billy has makes Brooke want to throw a basketball right into his face. Then, Billy pushes Steve to the ground and Brooke frowns at the action, she doesn't even catch herself doing it.

    The coach whistles and the boys run into the locker room. Casey and Brooke spot each other from across the gym. He sends her a wave before making his way into the showers. Steve also spots Brooke—and Paisley, on the bleachers. He keeps his eyes on the brunette who is paying him no mind.

   "Lunch time, buckaroo," Brooke shoves Paisley gently, "Oh, I have a story for you. I forgot." Brooke didn't forget, she was just waiting till the thought of the men didn't drive her crazy. Paisley walks down the bleachers and after Brooke, "A story? What kind of story?"

   "The one where Steve Harrington goes from King to an attempt at a Knight in Shining Armor!" Brooke wiggles her fingers around in Paisley's face.

    PAISLEY STANDS AGAINST BROOKE'S locker as everyone else leaves school for the day. Their last class isn't together on this day so Paisley just always sucks it up even though everytime she knows Brooke is just getting more weed from Eddie Munson.

    Footsteps come closer to Paisley and she looks up from the keychain she found herself playing with. A bright smile forms on her face as Robin gets closer to her. "Hi!" Robin waves. Paisley pushes herself off the locker, "Hi, Robin. What's up?"

  "Well, you said we could talk another day. This is indeed a whole 24 hour wait which means it's another day. Waiting for Brooke?" Robin asks. She hopes her anxiety doesn't scare Paisley away or anything about her scares Paisley away.

   "Yeah, she's probably just buying," Paisley explains. "Buying? Buying what?" Robin asks, genuinely confused. Paisley thinks she's joking for a second but then remembers that this is Robin, she's probably never even seen a blunt in person. "Weed. She's buying weed," Paisley says. Robin's eyes go wide and Paisley giggles a bit. "Oh, that's cool!" Robin's voice cracks a bit, "I'm scared to smoke. My parents are like total hippies but they convinced me not to do it. They said it might make me more talkative or something."

    Paisley doesn't want to come off like she's making fun of Robin in any way but the giggle escapes her before she can stop it. She notices Robin's slight panic and Paisley stops her giggles. "I'm not making fun of you! I just don't know why you being talkative would truly be a problem," Paisley feels more confident than yesterday when talking to Robin. Maybe it's because it came out of the blue yesterday.

  "Robin?" Brooke yells from down the hall. She shoves the bag of weed into her hoodie pocket and gives the girl a tight side hug. "You two making friends or talking shit about me?" Brooke jokes as she opens her locker.

   Robin looks towards Paisley waiting for what answer she'll give so she can just go with it. "Talking shit," Paisley answers. "Yeah, all complaints here," Robin nervously laughs.

   "Okay, well, don't start any rumors at least..." Brooke's voice fades from Paisley's head. The sound of heavy boots coming up behind her makes her turn around. Billy leans in the locker in front of Paisley and Brooke abruptly stops talking.

   "Paisley, what are you doing today?" Billy smirks. She's backed into a corner again.

   "We're going out. Ask her out another day, Hargrove. Or don't at all. I like the second option," Brooke says as she steps in the side of Paisley. Billy just always looks like he forgot to brush his hair in the morning and she knows that's not Paisley's type—she likes the pretty ones.

    Billy steps into Brooke's space, "I'm sure Paisley can answer for herself," He then looks at Paisley, "Can't you?" Paisley clenches her jaw, "Ask me another day, Hargrove," She regretfully says. It's like her mouth and brain don't communicate when it comes to getting asked out. Everything she says feels forced.

     Billy smirks again and looks at Brooke, "Another day it is," He walks away but not before winking at Paisley. Brooke doesn't even care if he's still in ear shot, "Weirdo." She goes to turn towards both Paisley and Robin but Robin is gone.

   "Shit, where'd Buckley go?" Paisley's heart sinks a bit, "I have no idea. Why'd you let me say yes?"

  Brooke scoffs, "I gave you an out!"

  
BROOKE HAD RUNG THE Byers and Wheeler's house 5 times tonight. "I've had enough, we need to go over there," Brooke slams the Slora phone back on the hook. "Woah! Hey! Don't break that, Brooke," Cory sternly tells her. Paisley sighs, "If they're doing something that has to do with Barb I highly doubt Joyce or Will knows about it."

    Paisley had explained everything to her dad. She shares practically everything. He didn't believe her, he claimed that not all the weed in the world couldn't make him high enough to believe her. He just lets the girls always go on not knowing he quite literally knows about government secrets.

     Brooke sighs and snatches the cigarette from Cory, "If they don't call tomorrow we will go by their houses, okay? We can at least fucking do that." Brooke rolls her eyes at Paisley's lack of concern for their best friend and friend. "That's great. Jonathan doesn't take my cigarettes," Cory snatches the cigarette back.

   Brooke had agreed to sleeping at Paisley's. She hasn't been able to do it in awhile due to Brooke feeling a need to watch over El and then running to her old house to see Danny—it's been a mess. A couple months even since she slept at the Slora's. All Paisley knows is that Hopper took Brooke in but she's never been in the cabin. It's against Hopper's rules of staying apparently.

   "Yeah, we can do that. Can we just sleep now? I think I'm drained from Billy Hargrove having the nerve to speak to me," Paisley starts to drag her feet into her room when her dad calls out for them.

  "I have work tomorrow so, you can't use the car." They both groan. "So how the hell are we getting to their places now?" Paisley rolls her eyes and just falls flat face onto her bed. Brooke thinks for a second and then happily skips into Paisley's room. She closes the door.

  "I know someone who has a car," Brooke says. Paisley lifts one side of her face off the bed, "Who? The kids?"

    CASEY MAKES A SHARP turn onto the Wheeler's street. Brooke grabs onto the passenger seat in front of her. "Where did you get your license?" Paisley yells at him. They've been taking wild turns since they got in the car.

   Casey looks in the mirror and smiles, "The great state of Indiana."

  "This is why I drive most of the time," Stella tells them. Casey smacks the brakes practically into the street and Brooke's face hits Stella's seat. "Alright, ouch," She holds her nose, "I'll be right back." Brooke steps out of the car and spots Dustin walking away from the front door of the Wheeler's.

   "Dustin?" Brooke asks. Dustin stops his walking, "Brooke? Why are you here?"

   "I'm looking for Nancy and Jonathan. What about you?" She plants her hands on her hips. "I'm looking for Mike and Danny," Dustin notices Brooke's eyes go wide, "He's fine. Just looking." Dustin sucks at lying but before she can question him, Steve's car pulls up in front of Casey's.

   Paisley gets out of the car as Steve gets out, a bouquet of red roses in his hand. "He does realize that's not gonna win Nancy back, right?" Casey says. "Let him think it will," Stella laughs.

    Brooke and Dustin stay still, watching Steve mumble to himself. "This is sad. Steve," Brooke calls out. Dustin walks with her, "Are those for Mr. or Mrs. Wheeler?" Brooke snorts at the kid but Steve just glares at her. Steve looks down at the roses, "No."

   Brooke snatches the roses from him, "Nancy isn't home."

   "Where is she?" Steve asks as Brooke hands Dustin the roses. "Doesn't matter. We have bigger problems," Dustin opens the car door but Brooke stops him. "Yo, what's the problem? Can Paisley come?"

   Dustin looks towards Paisley who waves at him. "Yeah. Who are the other two?" Dustin asks. Casey gets out of the car, "Can we join—"

   "No!" The four who know about everything quickly answer. Stella now gets out as well, "Why not? We don't have anything else to do and you did ask us to hangout, Brooke."

   "You brought everyone you know, Martel?" Steve points at the two. Brooke tilts her head at him, "Next time should I bring the girls you've sent to the clinic for STD examinations?"

  "Where do you even hear this shit? I've never had an STD!"

   "That you know of!" Brooke yells back. Steve clenches his jaw and ignores Brooke. He turns to Paisley, "She can come. The other two can't." Paisley runs to Steve's car before any more arguing can be done to change his mind.

   "We can just follow you, dipshit," Stella curses at Steve. He takes a step back. He's never talked to this girl and he's already being called a dipshit? Brooke walks towards Casey and Stella.

   "Whatever the fuck you're about to see, you can't tell anyone—"

   "Brooke! This is dangerous!" Dustin yells but Brooke puts her pointer finger out towards him. Casey puts his hand out, "I won't. Neither will Stella." Brooke looks into Casey's blue eyes for any sign of lying or betrayal but nothing is there. Brooke puts her hand out and grabs his, shaking it with a smile. Brooke glances over at Steve, "You still have my bat?"

   "What bat?"

   "The one with the nails, Harrington," Brooke rolls her eyes. "Yeah, why?" Steve asks. "I'll explain on the way. Just get in the car," Dustin closes the door. Brooke walks over to the passenger door and Steve still hasn't moved from the lawn.

   "Get in!" She yells at him. "Now?" Steve starts to run back to his car. "Now!" Brooke slams the car door shut.

   Paisley looks through the back windshield at Casey and Stella. "I don't think they should come, Brooke."

"Yeah, well, neither does Dustin but that's too damn bad," Brooke says as she buckles. "If they die, it's on you, Martel. If we all die because those lab people find out—" Steve starts the car. "They won't, Harrington. They won't," Brooke reassures him and herself.

  HAMMER TO FALL PLAYS in the car. Dustin explained everything about Dart. Brooke had scolded him for even thinking about keeping something that apparently looked like a booger in the first place.

   "Wait a sec. How big?" Steve asks. Dustin leans forwards in the seat, stretching his fingers only a little bit, "First it was like that," He uses both hands to measure it now, "Now he's like this."

    Brooke looks in the mirror to make sure the other two are still following them. Casey's black Honda is still right behind them. "I swear to God, man, it's just some little lizard, okay?" Steve rolls his eyes. "It's not a lizard!" Dustin insists.

   Paisley turns slightly towards Dustin, "And how would you know that?"

   "How do I know it's not a lizard?" Dustin restates the question. "Yes, how do you know it's not a lizard?" Steve yells. "Because its face opened up and he ate my cat," Dustin deadpans. Steve and Brooke glance at each other and there's a pause.

   "Kinky lizard," Brooke says. Paisley snorts but Dustin just sits back down confused at her comment. Steve stops the car at Henderson's house and they all get out. Casey and Stella stop right behind them and each get out. "Why are we at Dustin's?" Stella asks. Steve pops the trunk open and grabs the bat—Brooke's bat.

  "I don't even know you. How do you know where I live?" Dustin asks. Stella just shrugs genuinely having no idea how she remembers. Steve spins the bat around, "The boy is Casey and the girl is—"

  Brooke cuts him off, "Stella. And that's my bat." Steve closes the trunk and dodges Brooke's attempt at snatching the bat. Paisley steps in front of Brooke, "Can we just go see the thing?" She rolls her eyes and they all follow Dustin into his backyard and towards the cellar.

   Steve stares at the red doors of it, "I don't hear shit." He's right, all Brooke can hear is the hooting of an owl somewhere around them. "He's in there," Dustin quietly says. "What's in there?" Casey asks. "Dart. Not a lizard. Why don't we just open the damn doors and see if he is?" Brooke explains to Casey and Stella and turns back towards the doors.

   "You open the doors," Paisley tells her. "I would if I had my bat," Brooke points to the weapon in Steve's hand. He ignores her and gently hits the chain on the doors with said bat. Nothing moves or makes a noise.

    Steve thinks for a second and then smacks the doors with the bat. Brooke flinches at the loud noise. Steve glances at her almost as an apology. There's once again no noise or movement in the cellar. "Alright, listen, kid. I swear, if this is some sort of Halloween prank, you're dead," Steve shines the light right in Casey and Dustin's face.

   "It's not. It's not a prank. Get it out of my face," Dustin tells him. Steve continues to shine the light, "You got a key for this thing?" Brooke steps forwards and moves the light from Dustin's face. Dustin hands Brooke the key. "Why me?" Brooke isn't willing to admit it but she's a bit concerned that a whole thing that ate a cat is possibly down there. It's only right to be scared but Brooke's pride eats away at her.

  "I don't know. Open it," Dustin shrugs. Brooke takes a deep breath and unlocks the doors that lead to a dark empty room. Steve crouches down next to her and takes the flashlight from Dustin which shows no cat eating not a lizard thing. "He must be further down there," Dustin says. "Is this like a lost pet of yours, or?" Stella bends down to Dustin's height.

   Brooke looks up at her, "Kinda."

  "I'll stay up here in case he tries to—escape," Dustin says. Brooke and Steve both look at him. Dustin is clearly scared so Brooke just takes the flashlight out of Steve's hand and descends down the stairs slowly and carefully. She checks every corner. Her hands sweating so bad she can feel it on the flashlight.

   It's face opened up.

  Brooke can only hope it's not that monster. The one that she has nightmares about. The stupid fucking Demogorgon.

  She finds the ceiling light and quickly pulls the chain for more visibility. "She doesn't have a weapon down there," Steve groans and goes down the stairs as well.

  "I feel like Brooke can handle herself against a rabid lizard," Casey laughs. Paisley and Dustin both look at him. "Not a lizard," They both say. Paisley is just hoping it's gone so they don't have to explain everything to them. At this point she knows the government hasn't wire tapped her body or whatever they do because of her explanation to her dad but they could just be waiting on the right moment. Her own overthinking makes conspiracy theories up for her.

   Brooke scrunches her nose at the leftover skin in front of her. "Steve...." Brooke trails off.

   "Yeah," Steve picks it up with his bat. It's even grosser in the light. Brooke looks to her side and gasps, "There's a fucking hole in the wall," Brooke smacks Steve with the back of her palm and he looks towards it as well.

   "Steve? Brooke? What's going on down there?" Paisley asks. "You guys alive?" Dustin asks next. Brooke crouches down to get a better look at the hole. She's really starting to wish El was here, she'd feel much safer.

   Steve calls down the others. Dustin looks at the skin on the bat and immediately knows that this means it's gotten bigger, "Oh, shit," Dustin curses. "How is that not a lizard?" Stella asks as her and Casey stare at the skin. Paisley is already gagging at it so she doesn't even bother stepping closer.

  Brooke stands up from her spot when Steve shines the light on the hole she's in front of. "Oh, shit," Dustin curses again. The others step forwards towards Brooke.

  The hole leads to a tunnel. A long tunnel that none of them can see an ending to. Brooke turns towards Dustin, a disappointed look on her face to mask the worried one she had a second ago, "This is why we don't take strays in, Henderson."