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     DIRT COVERED CONVERSES sneak into Brooke's house. Paisley and Brooke pant, soaked from the downpour outside. "What the hell was that?" Brooke says, slipping her red sneakers off and onto the mat. The human-like figure and the growls and the screams. It's just running on a loop in her head.

    "A bear. I told you," Paisley places her shoes next to Brooke's. "P, are you kidding me? That was not a bear," Brooke harshly whispers. She points her finger in the direction they came from. She refuses to believe it was a fucking bear. A bear doesn't scream like that. Unless there's a new breed of bear Brooke didn't know was discovered.

     "Okay, I don't care. I'm soaked. We're gonna get water everywhere!" Paisley tugs at her shirt. It's see through at this point and her jeans feel glued to her body. She's so uncomfortable standing in the Martel kitchen. None of the lights are on except the dim one above the sink.

    "You stay here. I'll get the towels," Brooke uses Paisley to help herself as she takes off her socks. She shivers slightly as she walks over to the closet. She rolls her eyes knowing she'll have to clean the water up before Paisley and her fall asleep.

    Every movement is so quiet, at least Brooke hopes. Between the adrenaline and the high, she still feels like her head might just spin off her shoulders.

    The sound of her studded leather bracelet accidentally smacking against something in the closet makes her curse under her breath, grabbing two random towels and tip toeing back.

   "I'm gonna freeze to death in your kitchen."

   "You're so dramatic," Brooke tosses the towel right in Paisley's face, "Wrap your hair up with that when you're done. I have to ask Daniel what the cops said about Will in morning, and if there's a new breed of bear that looks like a fucking human—"

   "Oh, quit it. Even if it is a new breed of bear, Will missing is way more important," Paisley says and wraps the towel on her hair. Brooke knows her mom is home but she has work in the morning so she and Paisley can't even breath all too loud. Her pants from earlier gave her anxiety about waking Kathleen.

    Family pictures line the walls. All lies. That is all they are to Brooke. Lies.

  She narrows her eyes at the picture of her grandma. Her mom's mom. Brooke hates her. Even Paisley hates her. She's pretty sure Kathleen hates her as well but God forbid she says that. Her mom always told her the story of the insults flung at her when she told her mom she was pregnant the first time—and when she found out who the dad was? Jesus. Kathleen holds her head in her hands each time she brings it up.

    Brooke can talk all the shit she wants about her parents but her grandma opening her mouth every visit or holiday nearly sends Brooke into a spiral. Constant judgement. She feels bad her grandpa had to deal with her for 53 years. Death was his only escape—actually, she still talks shit about the man, even six feet into the ground.

    "Okay, carefully walk up the stairs," Brooke whispers. Everytime the slightest creak starts, Brooke wants to just run up the stairs. Slowly but surely, both girls make it to the top and to Brooke's room.

    "Did you clean my clothes from last time?" Paisley opens the drawer Brooke made just for her. "Yeah," Brooke changes into her pajama shirt and shorts, "Chair over there."

   "Thank you. Love you," Paisley changes as well.

   Brooke sees the figure each time she closes her eyes before she gets so tired she can't keep her eyelids open.

    THE SOUND OF DANIEL weeping in his room wakes both the girls up. The first thing that comes to Brooke's head makes her stomach turn, that they found Will. Not alive though. That's the problem. Brooke jumps over Paisley's body on the floor and runs to Daniel's room. He's curled up in a ball on his bed. Brooke falls to her knees in front of him, "Danny, what happened?" She moves the curls from his face.

   "They—they can't find him!" Daniel manages to get out. Brooke scans over her brother's face before engulfing him in a hug. "Okay, hey, I'll be right back. I'm gonna go to Jonathan's. Paisley will stay with you." Danny nods slowly at his sister but doesn't move from the ball he's in. Brooke gets up and sees Paisley in the doorway already. "Stay with him," Brooke points at Danny.

   "What are you going over there for? Jonathan said he'd call us—"

   "I am sick to my stomach thinking about Will and Jonathan and Joyce. I'll storm the police station for information. I don't care," Brooke's voice cracks slightly, "Stay here with him." Brooke storms out of the house, slippers barely on her feet. Hopper's vehicle sitting in the driveway only makes Brooke's fears larger.

   Hopper leaves the house right as Brooke touches the lawn. "Hopper, what the hell is going on? Did you find him?"

   Hopper looks up at the girl, the instinctive eye roll he usually gives her, "No, Brooke. We haven't." Brooke is taken back. He seems—sad. He's usually just angry but then again she usually sees him when she's trying to get out of an arrest. Brooke steps closer to him, "What about the bike? No clues?"

   "We searched everywhere. We're not gonna stop until we find him." Now Brooke is getting annoyed. He's given her the typical police answers. That's not at all what Brooke wants. "Cut the bullshit, Hopper. You have to have more answers—"

   "I don't, Brooke. I really don't!" Hopper yells, stepping closer to the brunette. "Don't yell at me! I'm allowed to be panicked over this. Danny is in there sobbing his eyes out!" Hopper sighs, he opens his mouth to say something else but Jonathan comes out of the house, calling for Hopper. He cocks his head back at the sight of his best friend yelling at Hopper in her pajamas yet, he's not all that surprised.

   "Let me go," Jonathan pants out. Brooke is confused now. Go? Go where? Hopper turns around, "I'm sorry?"

   "To Lonnie's." Brooke furrows her eyebrows at Jonathan. He wants to go to his shitty dad's place, which Brooke and hopefully Hopper, isn't gonna let happen. "You know, if Will's there, it means he ran away. And if he sees the cops, he'll think he's in trouble. He'll hide. He's good at hiding," Jonathan stammers out. Brooke's hand goes to her head. She can't believe he'd want to see Lonnie again, after everything. "Yeah?" Hopper grabs a cigarette and grabs the older Byers boy by the shoulders, "Well, cops are good at finding. Okay? Stay here with your mom." Hopper lets go of Jonathan and walks over to Brooke, "And you, support your best friend instead of breaking windows and spray painting," Hopper jokingly shoves his pointer finger into Brooke's head, making her stumble back slightly.

     He walks away from both teens and starts his car, driving off. "We're taking Danny to school," Brooke tells him. Jonathan just nods and goes back inside to get ready, Brooke does the same, feeling useless as her best friend and brother sulk. 

      JONATHAN PINS THE POSTER of Will to the school board. Brooke stands with her back to the brick wall, arms crossed, making sure no one tries to be a dickhead towards him. Paisley does the same, more so frowning in worry. Brooke's eyes land on Steve and Nancy staring at them. Tommy H. must've said something stupid because Steve lightly shoves him. Brooke can't hear what he said but he's ready to knock him out for simply looking at them.

     Nancy Wheeler, being the sweetheart Brooke knows she is, walks over to them. "Hey," She softly says. It's more directed towards Jonathan than anyone. Brooke zones out the conversation, eyes narrowing on Steve and his shitty group of friends. Barb awkwardly stands there after being left with the assholes. Brooke pushes herself off the wall. "Where are you going?" Paisley asks, following her.

   "Tommy," Brooke nods, "Mind diverting your eyes literally anywhere else or are you gonna say something else stupid so I can punch you?" Paisley sighs, ready to grab Brooke away if she tries to claw at Tommy or Carol or Steve.

   "I'm just so concerned for Jonathan, Brooke. Jeez," Tommy fakes sympathy, hand on his heart. Brooke scoffs, "Jesus Christ. Are you mentally insane? A child is missing yet you're making jokes?" She steps closer, right into Tommy's face. She feels a push on her shoulder and she glares at Steve. He didn't mean to do it to annoy her, he just doesn't want a fight to break out in front of him and, he's honestly tired of Tommy's insensitive jokes.

   "Don't put your hand—hands—whatever, on me ever again, Harrington," Brooke shoves him back, harder than he shoved her. Steve just rolls his eyes, "Get to class or something, Martel."

   "Brooke, let's go. This bullshit isn't more important than Jonathan," Paisley holds the same glare towards Steve. Paisley turns, looking at Nancy Wheeler. A smile tries to fight its way onto her face but it quickly shoots down when Tommy speaks.

   "Yeah, might wanna get Jonathan checked out. He's too quiet to not be a suspect." Steve whispers Tommy's name disappointedly. Brooke shoves Tommy into the lockers behind him. Jonathan watches the scene from where the two girls left him. Normally he'd run over to help Paisley stop Brooke but as the P.A. announces the assembly on the football field for his little brother later, he can't take it, leaving Paisley to deal with an angry Brooke.

     "Brooke!" Nancy yells. Brooke stomps on Tommy's foot. She can see him holding back his groan of pain. "Say that shit again and your head will be slammed into the locker instead of your back," Brooke says. She thinks about spitting in his face but a tug on her backpack pulls her away from him. "Brooke, now," Paisley whispers.

   Brooke listens to her, backing away from the boy. A sorry excuse of a man. Brooke catches Nancy's sympathetic glance before walking away with Paisley and to math class.

    BROOKE AND PAISLEY WERE asked way too many questions about Will or Jonathan the whole day. Teachers told them they could come to them if anything is needed, as if either girl would take them up on the offer. "Jonathan must've left or is just hiding out in the bathroom," Paisley says as she grabs her stuff from her locker.

    Brooke knits her eyebrows together, "What if he went to the city?"

    "To look for Will?" Paisley raises an eyebrow. "No," Brooke shakes her head, "Well, yes, but Lonnie is in the city." Paisley hastily shoves her book in her bag, "You think Lonnie has something to do with this?"

   "You think of all the people Will would run all the way to him? Are you kidding me? Of course I don't. Lonnie and Shawn are shitty dads, why do you think they're best friends? Jonathan mentioned it to Hopper this morning, now I'm just worried." Brooke remembers all the times both Byers boys would come running to her house before Lonnie left. The things she'd hear him yell as she stood outside, waiting for Jonathan to go on a bike ride with her. Brooke doesn't want Lonnie anywhere near Jonathan or Will but she knows how hellbent Jonathan gets on certain things.

    Over Paisley's shoulder, Brooke can see Nancy quickly walking towards them. Brooke taps the other girl's shoulder and points behind her. "Hi," Nancy says as she clutches her books in her hands. "Hi," Paisley waves. "What's up, Wheeler?" Brooke asks.

    "Would you guys wanna go to a party?" They glance at each other. A party? Brooke and Paisley's favorite word is party. Wait, Brooke thinks, what party could Nancy possibly be going to?

   "Who's party?" Paisley asks, locking in her locker. Nancy opens her mouth and hesitates to say Steve's. She's suddenly wondering why she's even asking Brooke but Nancy knows Brooke and Paisley know how to party. It might get her out of her shell in front of Steve.

    "Steve's," Nancy finally spits out. Brooke laughs in disbelief. She's inviting her to Harrington's house? She's been there before for other parties but never invited. Brooke has just kinda followed the music. "Does Steve know you're inviting us?" Brooke asks. "Well, no—"

   "Then, we're going. Anything to get on his nerves. Get his ego down a bit," Brooke teasingly elbows Paisley, swinging her head around with a smile.

"Can you just not be too aggressive? I like Steve. I'm bringing Barb so, try to make her comfortable," Nancy smiles at her childhood friend. They don't talk as much anymore, mostly in school so Nancy even inviting Brooke anywhere is a surprise.

    "We got you. Pick us up?" Paisley smiles back. Nancy nods, relieved the two girls said yes, "Yeah. Don't worry." With that, Wheeler walks away and Brooke claps her hands. "Harrington's house. This should be fun."

   "I'm betting how long it takes you to kill one of them," Paisley says as they start to walk down the hall. "How long?" Brooke opens the door for her. A dramatic hand gesture as Paisley walks past. "10 minutes, if we can even get in the door. Is Steve even gonna let us in?" Paisley asks.

   "People love us," Brooke shouts so loud that the freshman on the bench jumps. Paisley mouths an apology before looking back at Brooke, "Oh, yeah. We're famous."

   "Infamous," Brooke corrects her and skips ahead, leaving Paisley to run after her.

     THE GIRLS HOP INTO Barb's car, bottles of alcohol clinking together in their bags. The drive is short as well as the words said. Brooke swears Nancy is so nervous she might puke before she consumes alcohol. Steve Harrington's house comes into view and Brooke lets out a fake gag. "Please be nice," Nancy turns to the backseat, dragging out the word nice. "We'll try our best," Paisley throws a thumb up at her.

    The four girls walk up to the big brown doors, music plays in the distance. Nancy rings the doorbell. All the girls can tell how hesitant Barb is to even be here. "Barb, chill," Nancy says. "I'm chill."

   She's not chill.

     The doors swing open to reveal a stupid smirking Steve Harrington. The smug look on his face only makes Brooke want to be here even more. His gaze immediately falls on Nancy, "Hello, ladies." He finally looks at Brooke and Paisley. "What are you two doing here?" Steve deadpans. "Your girlfriend invited us," Brooke grabs the bottle of rum from her bag and holds it up to Steve, "Don't worry. We bought our ticket in." She pushes past Steve and walks into the house. Paisley shrugs at him, following Brooke to the backyard. The house layout is familiar to both girls, even if the last time they were here they were too drunk to remember much of anything else.

    "You invited the delinquent?" Steve asks. Nancy just smiles nervously at him.

   "Sup, bitches!" Brooke shouts, "When I say bitch, I mean it literally."

   "Why the hell is she here? Paisley I can deal with—"

   "No you can't," Paisley cuts Tommy off. Brooke takes a swing from the rum bottle, "You'll be fine, Tommy."

    NOT EVEN AN HOUR later, Paisley is tipsy and Brooke is swinging her feet in the pool, a bit more sober than Paisley. She decided to at least stay somewhat conscious incase someone opens their mouth. Nancy is having the time of her life while Barb looks like she'd rather drown in the pool.

     Brooke watched Steve's movements from across the pool. Her distaste for him is very obvious with the disgusted facial expression she has as he shotguns the beer. He's surely trying to impress Wheeler. It's amusing how desperate he seems to be. He chugs it with a cigarette behind his ear. Brooke is so tempted to walk over and push him into the pool. Paisley thinks the same as a smirk forms on Nancy's face.

   She sits next to Barb, trying to crack jokes in hopes to make her comfortable but every single one of Paisley's jokes are falling flat. To be fair, she doesn't even know if she's speaking out loud as the rum and beer run through her system.

   "Is that supposed to impress me?" Nancy asks. Steve stares at her, cigarette now in his mouth, "You're not?" Brooke scoffs and removes her feet from the pool. She wants a cig now. She can't believe she forgot them. How dumb of her.

   "You are a cliché, you do realize that?" Nancy is into whatever the hell Steve is pulling. "You are a cliché. With your.....grades and band practice—" Steve lights the cigarette. Now Brooke really wants a cigarette. Even desperate enough to ask the asshole for one. Nancy laughs, "I am so not in band."

   "Okay, party girl, why don't you show us how it's done then." Steve hands Nancy the knife. Barb shakes her head disapprovingly. Brooke walks over to where everyone has crowded, eyeing the pack of cigarettes next to Steve. He tries to tell her how to shotgun the beer but he's cut off by Nancy saying she's got it.

   "Yeah, she's smart, you douche," Tommy slurs. Brooke and Paisley both roll their eyes as he crushes the beer can and throws it. It takes a second for Nancy to get the hole in the bottle but then Brooke hears the hissing noise of the beer fizzing.

   It's ironic considering the fact that Brooke is 50% sure that the reason Nancy and her distanced, is because Brooke started drinking. Brookie turned into just Brooke over time and at one point. Everyone except Barb cheers Nancy on to chug, the shouting getting louder as Nancy drops the empty beer can.

  Nancy bows and Tommy whoops. "Didn't know you had that in you, Wheeler," Brooke claps and smiles widely at the girl. She's been sneakily stepping closer to Steve's cigarettes. While everyone seems to be distracted by Nancy, Brooke sits down in the lawn chair next to Steve and quietly slips out a cigarette. Shit, Brooke curses to herself, I need a lighter. She looks around not seeing a free one, the only one is in Steve's hands.

   Brooke has almost completely zoned out Nancy and Barb's conversation as she figures out a way to light the cigarette hanging out of her mouth. Paisley though, she's painfully aware of what's going on. Nancy is pressuring her best friend to shotgun a beer, shoving the can in front of her. "Just give it a shot!" Nancy exclaims.

   Barb glances at Paisley, trying to look for help. Paisley stands up, slightly wobbling to the side, "I can do it if she doesn't want to"

    "Oh, that's no fun. I've seen you down 4 shots of vodka, no wince or anything! She's the real party girl," Steve laughs, pointing at a confused Paisley who has no memory of Steve fucking Harrington watching her do that many shots.

   Barb stands up, giving into the pressure. She tries to poke a hole through the can when it slips, slicing her hand rather than the metal. "Are you okay?" Nancy immediately asks. "Yeah," Barb answers. All the commotion makes Brooke look towards the girls. "Yo, your hand is bleeding," Brooke says as she holds up her own hand. Nancy walks forwards, trying to help Barb. "I'm fine. Where's your bathroom?" Steve gets up to show her where it is.

     Brooke takes that as her opportunity to swipe the lighter from Steve's chair and quickly lights the cigarette. Steve walks back, "Where'd you get that cigarette from?" He points as Brooke blows smoke out of her mouth.

   "Oh, hope you don't mind," Brooke shrugs and takes the cigarette out to give her a fake pout. She doesn't give a shit if he does mind. "Here's your lighter," Brooke tosses it to him. Steve just barely catches it as he stands there, jaw slightly dropped and annoyed with the Martel girl.

   "You owe me a dollar, Martel," He laughs. "I don't owe you shit, Harrington," Brooke slumps down into the seat, looking up at the stars. Paisley walks over to Brooke, crouching down next to her, "Party girl wants to leave." She sarcastically uses the name Steve gave her earlier.

   Brooke groans, "I thought you were tipsy?"

    Paisley goes to answer but the sound of Carol screaming and then water hitting the both of them makes her lose her words. "What the hell, Tommy?" Her tone isn't actually annoyed, as much as Brooke would want it to be. Both girls watch Tommy now jump in the pool, fully clothed. Paisley tries to warn Nancy as she sees Steve's hand hit her back. It's too late, Nancy falls into the pool, her splash hits the girls once again.

   "Hey!" Brooke yells, "You made my cigarette go out!" Paisley, who was annoyed to even be around these people two minutes ago, is suddenly laughing her ass off. Brooke marks it down to the alcohol. "You wanna leave? We can leave—" Paisley pushes Brooke into the pool, laughing so hard she snorts. Brooke reaches the surface, "You're an ass!" The two girls stare at each other while the other teens wrestle behind them. Paisley takes off her hoodie, jumping in right next to Brooke.

    Brooke stays her distance from the King and his Royal Jesters. Only managing to get splashed by Steve once before she kicked him in the shin. Paisley and Nancy splash each other before eventually Paisley manages to toss Nancy. Everyone laughing despite the insults that have been thrown over the years between all of them.

    It doesn't take long for all the teens to start to get cold. They're in a damn pool in November. Steve runs inside, finding towels for everyone. Brooke harshly grabs it from him, drying herself off and walking into the warm house. Paisley and Nancy follow her in. "Jumping in the pool sobered me up. I wanna go home," Paisley groans.

   "Me too," Brooke throws the towel behind her somewhere, "Thanks for the invite, Nancy."

   "Thanks for, uh, not causing a scene."

    Brooke steps forward and ruffles Nancy's wet hair, "Can't promise you that everytime." Brooke figured if this night somehow ignited her and Nancy's friendship again, it'll mean more interaction with Steve if all goes well. She hates Steve, completely and totally but, Brooke wants Nancy happy, even if Brooke isn't happy that they're—together. "Brooke, I'm about to leave without you—"

   "Alright, alright. Let's go, Slora," Brooke grabs Paisley's hand, ready to drag her out the sliding glass door. She isn't looking as she waves goodbye to Nancy. Brooke collides with someone or something. It's not Paisley or Nancy so there's no way she's apologizing. "Excuse you," Brooke says and looks to see who it is.

   "You bumped into me, Brooke," Steve says her first name almost like it's a curse word. Brooke cocks her head back, "So, you do know my first name?"

   "How could I not? Everyone's parents warn their kids of your family."

     Paisley sighs and Brooke's hand drops from hers. "Yeah, what do they say, Steve?" Brooke crosses her arms. "Just—get out. You behaved for once," Steve pushes past her with his shoulder, "Don't ruin it." Nancy and Paisley look at each other in relief for a second.

    Brooke looks between Steve and Nancy. As much as she hates them together, she doesn't wanna be the asshole that ruins her night. So, Brooke and Paisley leave, not even bothering to wait for a ride from Barb or something. Paisley's house is closer to Steve's so that means Brooke is left to walk home alone.

   Getting home wasn't any better. She could hear her parents arguing from the start of the walkway. Brooke, deciding she's too tipsy for this, doesn't go home. She doesn't wanna go to the Byers and be a burden given everything going on, even if Joyce said she's always welcome.

   Somehow, her brain goes to Hopper. Brooke walks all the way to Hopper's place very late in the night only to realize how dumb this might be. She's intoxicated and going to the Sheriff's house.

   Brooke stands at the end of his driveway, still slightly dripping from the pool. She makes her way up to the door, knocking on it before she psychs herself out. A minute later, Hopper opens the door, struggling to get a shirt on. "Brooke? The hell are you doing here?" Hopper isn't even focused on how late it is, just why the hell she'd come here.

   Brooke holds her head, "I'm sorry. I, uh, didn't wanna go home. You know how it is. I mean, you used to arrest my mom and dad all the time—"

  "Are you drunk?" Damn, Brooke thought she was doing a good job acting sober. She narrows her eyes, "No." Hopper goes to shut the front door but Brooke pushes it open, still having no idea why she'd go to Jim Hopper of all people for refuge.

   "I don't wanna be home, Hopper. Aren't you supposed to protect the kids of Hawkins?" Brooke's hand lands on her hip. That's when she catches a woman behind Hopper and she covers her laugh with a cough. "I'll take the couch so you can....continue," Brooke points at the woman. Hopper looks back, huffing when he realizes what she meant. Hopper opens the door all the way, "Sandra," He calls to the woman, "Can she borrow some clothes?"

    Brooke awkwardly waves at Sandra who stammers out a yes. Brooke steps into the warm home. "Don't make any noise. Don't eat my food and I want you out by 6am. You have school and I have better shit to do than babysit."

   "What time is it?" Brooke asks. "12:30a.m. Better fall asleep now," Hopper points to the couch. Brooke doesn't say anything else, still wrapping her head around why her brain went to Hopper.