𓆩♡𓆪

OPENING THE DOOR IS the most powerful Brooke has ever felt, just seeing the big bad so vulnerable makes a smile creep on her face, even with the pain in her nose. There's blood dripping down her face and into her smile, running around the spit of her gums but she keeps smiling.

   Molotov in hand, Brooke tosses it up and down a few times before chucking it at him. They all watch as the flaming bottle hits him and he bellows in pain. The fire immediately catches, causing them all to throw their hands over their faces.

   Everything on Vecna is catching fire, dying, turning into ash right before the elated Brooke Martel's eyes. The things connecting Vecna to the walls of the attic burn off, leaving him to hit the floor and at their feet now. Flames and all, the creature finds the strength to sit up and see the people who are killing him, defeating him.

   He stands up, reminding Paisley of a demon. He is one though. Only something as evil as a demon, power hungry fucker like him could stand with fire burning his skin. Vecna can see them, he's putting their faces in his memory. Brooke smirks, imagining the fear he must feel, if he can even feel fear.

   A lighter clicks in Robin's hands and another molotov is thrown. Paisley does the same, watching it all catch flame around them.

  Nancy steps forwards, sawed off shotgun in hand and pure vengeance in her soul. Vecna dares to step closer to the wrath that is Nancy Wheeler. Whether it be the adrenaline or the ping of proudness, Brooke is smiling ear to ear.

The shot goes off, hitting the monster's shoulder.

  Nancy cocks her gun back, not letting him recover and shoots again and again and again. Closer to him with every shot, closer to killing Vecna once and for all, Vecna screeches out one last time before Nancy shoots him in the chest. The velocity of the shot sends him flying out the window to the attic.

    Flames reflect all around them as the teens take in their damage. Brooke wipes the blood from her mouth, spitting some out as they run down the stairs.

   When they get to where Vecna landed, it's just a pile of ash. No body.

    Vecna is still out there, he managed to run. "Where the hell did he go?" Steve asks. "Doesn't matter. He's gone. Can we get outta here now please?" Paisley says. holding her neck. Steve chuckles, "We're gonna have matching scars."

  "Fuck off," Paisley curses, pointing a finger at him. As much as they want to run, it's hard with all their supplies so a light jog does it.

   Finally, they see the start of the trailer park. Brooke grits her teeth in excitement, happy to tell the four that he's gone, no longer a worry for the teens of Hawkins that fell upon the curse.

   "Brooke!" Steve shouts, running to catch up with her. "Guys! Guys, we did it!" Brooke runs, her voice echoing off the Upside Down sky. She turns the corner and there's an echo of a sob that's let out that sounds like it belongs to Stella.

   Her chest tightens, stopping all movement. The others heard it, catching up with her. Brooke takes a deep breath, running around the corner and the sobbing gets louder, now coming from multiple people.

    In the middle of the trailer park, three of them are crowded around someone. Narrowing her eyes, Brooke realizes it's Eddie that's not crouching, no long haired boy.

   She stops in her tracks again, "Eddie?!" Brooke shouts, on the verge of a sob again. The others stop again, eyeing the same thing Brooke is. "No, no, no," Paisley nearly falls to the floor right there.

  "Eddie!" Brooke runs, the pain in her nose and neck nothing compared to the fear in her heart. Danny hears his sister over his own sobs and panics. She doesn't deserve to see another friend like this.

   "Brooke, no," Danny jumps in front of her, "Brooke!" She tries to get around him, wanting to see if he's actually dead, maybe just badly hurt.

  "No! No!" Stella is screaming, the barely patched wound of Casey Windward's death is ripped open tenfold. "Danny—"

  "Brooke," Steve jumps in front of her, replacing Danny, "You don't need to see that—"

  "Let me see him!" Brooke tries to run past Steve but his arms catch her, "Steve!" She pleads. Paisley is sobbing now, hand on Eddie's bloody shirt as Robin holds her, weeping for their friend. Steve regrets looking over his shoulder, catching the dead eyes of Eddie Munson, blood still leaking from his mouth and wounds.

  The situation is all too familiar to everyone right now. The familiar cries from Brooke and Stella, the weakness Brooke feels in her body yet she's still fighting to see Eddie. With whatever strength she has left she pushes past Steve but his hands fall to her waist. It wasn't quick enough because Brooke sees the dead body of Eddie. Sound leaves her body, the world goes silent. Instead of screaming again, she just falls limp in Steve's arms.

  There's four chimes that bring her back when it bongs.

   "Four chimes," Robin says, holding onto Paisley.

   Nancy's breath catches in her throat, "Max," She whispers, realizing the girl is dead.

   The world begins to shake and then a portal rips through the world, splitting the group into two different sides of it. The chiming gets faster and faster when the rip gets deeper and deeper.

  It's a violent shake under their feet. A trailer burns, splitting in half not that far in front of them.

  It stops. Steve still has Brooke's body in his arms, Danny and Nancy on their side. Stella had to be pulled away from Eddie but as soon as it's okay, she's back over to him, gripping at his shirt hoping some miracle happens and his beautiful, kind heart starts beating again.

   But, it's minutes that go by and nothing happens. They have no choice but leave Eddie in the Upside Down, burying him in the same place he fought so hard to defeat.

TWO DAYS LATER

  HAWKINS NOW HAS FOUR large lines that run through it. It's destroyed homes, killed people and has driven people out of the once small, quaint town.

  Some of the many victims of this earthquake?

  Jason and Grandma Harriet. Died. Dead. Brooke doesn't know how to feel about Jason, there's a part of her that's grieving her cousin, not her grandma. He's a dickhead, yeah, but she's sure if Steve had mysteriously and brutally died, she'd be on a revenge streak as well.

  Harriet? When Kathleen told the kids through her tears, the kids high fived as soon as their mom turned around, their father doing a shitty job of comforting his wife.

   There is another victim though, one that's recovering down the hall from Max Mayfield.

  Penelope Bauman. She was shot trying to protect Max and Lucas. Shot right in her thigh, just next to a major artery. The doctors say she'll make a full recovery but Brooke still gets sick just thinking about all this happening as they stood over Eddie's dead body.

   Hawkins is filled with smoke and military. Helicopters that buzz above them all the time for the past two days. There's been a shelter set up in the school that desperately needs donations.

  Boxes of Nancy's stuff fill Steve's trunk along with stuff the others plan on donating. Brooke has been in daze, she doesn't even remember waking up today. Thanks to the portal ripping up the road in front of her parent's house, they had to evacuate. But, it gives Steve a valid excuse for Brooke to be there then. That's the only good thing at this moment.

   Nancy hands Brooke another box, "How many of mine is that?"

  "Making this a competition?" Brooke asks monotonically. "Five," Nancy answers, trying her best to make Brooke smile. She just shrugs though, not having a remark for her friend.

  "Someone order pizza?" Karen Wheeler asks. "Pizza?" Dustin questions. A loud honking turns all their attention onto a pizza truck making its way towards them.

  Surfer Boy Pizza is what the side of the yellow van reads. The passenger door opens and a kid with long hair and multiple patterns on hops out. Then, the van door slides open. Brooke nearly bursts into tears at the sight of El, Will, Mike and Jonathan. Paisley does though.

  Danny's eyes widen, taking in the much taller and much more mature sight of Will Byers. Brooke removes herself from Steve's arms and Jonathan is the first person that hugs her, spinning her around as she lets the tears fall. He puts Brooke down, spotting Paisley running towards them. She tackles the two, nearly making all three teens fall into the grass with such force.

   "What the hell happened?" Jonathan asks with a shaky breath. "A lot. Have your girlfriend explain," Paisley chuckles, moving with Brooke so that the couple has room to embrace each other.

   Brooke spins, looking for El. She spots her in a tight hug with Dustin and her heart melts. She takes in El's appearance. Her head is shaved again, just like when she first met the young girl. El leaves the hug and feels eyes on her. When she sees it's Brooke, she sets off running for her sister.

  "El-Bear!" Brooke shouts, a cry breaking up the name as their arms wrap around each other. Both girls are happy crying, refusing to let go. Brooke rubs her hand over El's shaven head, "What happened?" El pulls back, "It doesn't matter. He's gone."

  "Who's gone, El?" Brooke asks, wiping El's tears with the pad of her thumb. The younger girl takes a breath, gulping, "Papa. I...killed him." Brooke has to hide the smile that plays on her lips. She's ecstatic to say the least. The man that abused El and many other kids is finally dead. Good riddance.

   Brooke just smiles, pulling El's head into her collarbone, "I missed you."

  "I missed you too," El smiles into the hug, "We have to explain what happened—"

  "Explain why you didn't call me? Please do," Brooke giggles and El giggles with her. "Where is Lucas?" El asks. Brooke sighs, shoulders dropping at the question. "He's at the hospital," Dustin answers, approaching Brooke with Will who she immediately puts into a bear hug. "My boy," Brooke says. Will looks squished at the tight hug, trying to get out of Brooke's grip, "Hi, Brooke."

   "Is he hurt?" El asks Dustin. Brooke and Dustin share a look. Tears well up in her eyes. How does she tell El her best friend might never wake up again? "Hey, why don't you take her to the hospital and then I'll meet you guys at the cabin? We can redo it. Make it our home again," Brooke's eyes drift over to Danny who is laughing with Mike over something, "A home for the three of us, okay?"

  El raises an eyebrow, "Three?"

  "Three," Brooke confirms, "Okay, meet you at the cabin?" El and Will nod, walking over towards Nancy to ask them to go to the hospital.

 
  THE SCHOOL PARKING IS filled with people either donating or needing donations. Brooke picks up a box, resting it on her hip, "I think we need to go to Stella's."

  The brunette has disappeared, no calls answered, no signs of life. "Yeah, we can do that," Steve agrees, grabbing another box and walking towards the school with Dustin, Robin and Paisley.

   Beds are all set up in the gym as well as a nurse and supplies station. Injured people who look miserable lay on some. Brooke can't help but feel guilty. It's her fault they've lost her homes or loved ones. She looks towards her box of stuff as a distraction.

  They approach the table and a sweet girl greets them. "Hi," Robin says, "Uh, so these. are blankets and sheets. And some clothes and some kids toys."

  "Wow. It's already so organized!" The girl exclaims. "We tried," Paisley laughs. In reality, she and Nancy organized them so there is no we but it's fine. "Do you want a tax receipt for it?"

  "Um, no. None is needed," Brooke smiles, waving her hand in front of her. This is for the town she once hated, not a tax write off. "Is there anything else we can do to help?" Robin asks, looking around the gym. The girl smiles at their willingness, "Yeah! Yes. Here. You can sign up for jobs on this sheet."

  So they do. Brooke and Steve sign up for laundry duty and Paisley and Robin sign up to make sandwiches.

   After a brief explanation of the order of the piles of the clothes, Steve and Brooke are set.

   "Robin, can you hand me more jelly?" Paisley asks. "Mhm," Robin blindly grabs, giving Paisley what she thinks is the grape jelly she asked for. "Thanks—Robbi, this is peanut butter. You can't have a peanut butter and peanut sandwich," Paisley laughs, handing the jar back. Robin purses her lips out, "Really? Double peanut butter sounds good to me."

  "That's far too dry," Paisley teasingly rolls her eyes, reaching over for the jelly herself. Robin steps back, heart speeding at the close proximity she should be accustomed to. Paisley smirks, "So, anything you need to ask me?"

  "Uh, no. Anything you need to ask me?" Robin plays dumb, slightly hip checking Paisley. She does it back and then steps closer to Robin and whispers, "Wanna be my girlfriend, Robin Buckley?"

   The blonde's face goes red, dropping the knife with jelly on it. Recollecting herself, Robin picks up the knife and turns towards Paisley, "Would you wanna be my girlfriend, Paisley Slora?" Robin whispers so low she can barely hear it. Paisley just shrugs, "Sure. I guess."

Robin scoffs, hip checking her again. The two catch each other others eyes, mad they cannot express their need for each other in public. They look away, giggling nervously at each other.

  Across the gym, Steve and Brooke are smiling at the two girls. A smaller smile playing on Brooke's face. "You think they asked each other?" Steve whispers, throwing a folded sweater over his shoulder. Brooke nods, "Mhm. Look at their nervous smiles. Paisley is a mess."

  "So is Robin," Steve chuckles. Brooke throws a shirt over her shoulder, grabbing Steve's and turning him towards her, "Thank you."

  Steve cocks an eyebrow, "For what?" His hands are on his hip, shirt on his shoulder. He looks like they're already married with four kids. "Just being there for me every time I feel I might fall apart. I mean—everytime, Steve," Brooke softly smiles, her eyes wide in love.

  "Then, I should thank you, Brooke. For getting me out of deadly situations each time. How's your nose?" Steve asks, bopping the part that doesn't have a bandaid on it. Brooke has yet to get it checked out. There's more important things going on and as long as she keeps it in place, she won't need a hospital, even if that's against Steve's wishes.

   "I didn't get everyone out of the deadly situation though," Brooke frowns, reminding herself of those they've lost in the hell journey. Steve drops the shirt from his hands, embracing Brooke, landing a kiss on her head. He doesn't know what to say, no words can solve the grief she's been through, so he just holds her, letting her take whatever energy she needs from him.

  "I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND why she left a note? Her mom said she was there this morning," Brooke says, flipping the envelope over and over again as they approach the cabin. It's dark now as Steve panics at every turn, "It's Stella."

  "What does that mean, Steve?" Brooke raises an eyebrow. Steve just shrugs and puts his car in park. Headlights shine into the cabin. She hasn't been here in a year and she can tell they did some work already because the windows are boarded up to hide El, or more likely because they were completely blown out. The mysterious ash that mimics snow is still falling on Hawkins.

   It's not over. She knew that the moment the pile of ash sat in front of the Creel's house.

  She stays in the car, gripping the envelope from Stella as she stares at the house. Her home. The only one that's ever felt like a proper home.

   "You okay?" Steve softly asks, hand reaching for hers. "Yeah. Let's go help the others before Nancy curses at us," Brooke laughs off her tension. She knocks on and the door and the comforting sound of the millions of locks unlock the door. Joyce Byers stands in front of her.

  "Joyce?"

   "Oh, baby, come'ere," Joyce embraces her, Brooke falling apart in the woman's arms, "I'm sorry about your friend. Nancy told me," Joyce moves hair from Brooke's face, taking in the slight difference from nearly a year ago. Her eyes seem sadder, a difference Joyce doesn't like.

  Steve nods at the woman but she just engulfs him into a hug as Brooke walks into the house. There's already a decent amount of progress. It's a bit cleaner and the furniture is back where she remembers it. The green door that leads to her own old room taunts her. It's like a movie playing out as the memories dance around.

  "Oh, you're here," Mike awkwardly says. "Yeah. I am, kiddo. Don't seem so excited. Now, leave me alone," Brooke playfully shoves him out of the way, choosing to ignore the devious smile she noticed.

  She takes a deep breath, hand twisting the doorknob to her room. Her hand knows right where to go to turn the overhead light on. Brooke flicks it on and a loud yell rips from her throat.

   She touches her face, having to make sure she's not losing her mind because God does it feel like it.

   "Hopper?" Brooke's voice cracks. The man she thought died a brutal death is sitting on her bed, laughing as she gets closer. "Hey, honey," Hopper gets up. Brooke doesn't move, still wondering if this is Vecna fucking with her. But once his arms, much smaller arms now, wrap around her, she's back down to Earth. Sobs so strong that her body shakes rolls through her, arms tight around the man.

    "You're alive?" Brooke says and Hopper can just barely make it out. He leans down, landing a tender kiss on her head, "I'm here, kiddo. I'm here." His words just make Brooke cry more.

  Steve stands in the doorway, smiling at Hopper who nods and smiles back at him. Brooke steps back, eyes scanning Hopper's, "What happened?"

  "Wanna answer that first? Why's your nose broken?"

  "Why aren't you dead?!" Brooke retorts, lightly shoving Hopper in the chest. "Russians," Hopper answers. "Russians? Like, they saved you?"

  "Kinda. Maybe. There's a lot of wild shit up there," Hopper laughs, embracing a Brooke in another tight hug.

  When Hopper lets go, Steve takes this as a moment to step in. Hopper puts on a serious face, adjusting his flannel. Steve puts a hand out and Brooke smiles at his nervousness around the man. Hopper grips Steve's hand tightly. "Taking care of her?" Hopper asks sternly.

  Steve smiles his nerves off, "Trying to, sir."

  "Oh my God, let him go. Steve is fine. He's an asshole but he's fine," Brooke rolls her eyes. Hopper leaves the room backwards, signaling that he'll keep an eye on the couple.

   The envelope is placed back in her hand from her pocket. "I don't like letters," Brooke grimaces, sitting on the bed. Steve joins her, "I'll read it."

  Brooke takes his offer, placing the letter in his hand. Impatiently, he rips over the envelope. "My God, you'll rip the inside, Steve," Brooke shouts, reaching for the letter. "Hold your horses," Steve giggles, dangling the letter away from her.

  A notebook sheet falls into his hand but instead of reading it outloud, the two read it in silence, shocked.

    Dear Brooke and everyone,

    You said you were tired of people leaving you with letters and I apologize for doing just that. Grief seems to follow us both and I'm sure in another world we're just as close as you are with Paisley or Nancy or Jonathan due to that fact. Or maybe grief never followed us in that one and we smoke weed on rooftops like normal teens. I should've never let my jealousy ruin what could've been a lovely friendship. Casey wouldn't have wanted that. It was just so hard after he passed. I didn't know where to lay all this grief and i'm thankful for everyone for even attempting to help me but now I really have no place to put it. No home. No motivation to even try and better myself. I'm not going to harm myself, please don't worry about me. I'll worry about all of you. Please tell Dustin I'm sorry. I'm sorry about eddie. You don't deserve to mourn another family member. I just hope the bullshit we went through together means enough that this letter means something to you.

   You're the best of us, Brooke Martel. I'm sorry for being such a cunt the past year and a half.

With love, Stella Machado

  "Where do you think she is?" Steve asks, folding the letter back up. Brooke sniffles, throwing her body back against the mattress, "New York fits her."

  Steve does the same, putting his hands behind her bed, "Maybe we'll find her when we go to the concert." The same concert that doesn't even exist yet. Brooke knits her eyebrows together, "The worlds gonna burn, isn't it?"

   Steve moves to hover over Brooke, "What if it does?"

   Brooke grabs his face, "At least be with me when it does."

  "Wouldn't have it any other way, angel," Steve smirks, lowering himself for a kiss. Brooke lets her fears wash away, all the grief washes away for a second when their lips connect.

    "I don't have pillows," Brooke laughs. Steve points his finger, slipping a hand under her head, "Best I got."

  Their kisses are heavy as the others set up the house. Bodies connected as the world around them falls apart but as long as Steve Harrington and Brooke Martel are with each other, it'll be okay. That part they know.

  "Will wants food—"

   "El, close the door!" Danny shouts out of fear, slamming the door and not even letting El ask the question.

   The couple stares at each other and then they erupt into proper laughter. It fills Brooke with a warm feeling. Steve on top of her giggling after everything. Eddie used to always poke fun at Brooke for falling for Steve. She hopes he's still giggling at her wherever he ended up, if hell or heaven are real, both he's qualified for.

  She's aware the fight is far from over. Men like Vecna, monsters like him, all they want is power and control and until they think they've won, it's not over.

   But for now, Brooke runs her fingers through Steve's hair, ignoring the pain in her nose and arm and him ignoring the pain in his back, just wanting to feel each other forever.

   Even if the world is burning around them.

———

holy. shit. bad reputation is done. thank u guys so for nearly a year of support on this book. it's crazy. it's some of my favorite ocs n development n storylines. i hope u guys enjoyed it as much as i did. when s5 comes around, i hope i'll be able to make another book for it. i will be in college tho so we'll see 😢 but i really want to.

in honor of it being over, maybe y'all can tell me ur fave character or chapter. anything form the book:)

thank u again for the support