02.

"ᴵ'ᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍⁱʳˡ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵈ ᵈⁱᵉ ᶠᵒʳ."
—ᵇᵘᵇᵇˡᵉᵍᵘᵐ ᵇⁱᵗᶜʰ ᵇʸ ᵐᵃʳⁱⁿᵃ

  Halloween in Hawkins was always the most talked about. Especially after all of the spooky talk that still continued from the year prior. Kids would always go crazy because they couldn't hold in their excitement for the piles of candy they would receive. But it was slightly different for the kids in Hawkins Middle School when almost everyone decided after watching the high schoolers, that this year they wouldn't wear their costumes to school and leave it for the night time. The ones who didn't get the memo would be four best friends who decided on a group costume. As they were bickering outside of the middle school about there being two Venkman's, Amber-Lynn was walking out of the middle school with a box filled with office supplies. Her eyes had fallen onto the familiar group of children in front of her which caused her to slow down instead of carrying on with her task of bringing the supplies to the high school's main office.

"Who you gonna call?" She sang out as they whipped around quickly.

"GHOSTBUSTERS!" They happily yelled as they saw Amber.

"Don't you all look badass in those costumes." She said as she ruffled Dustin's hair since he had been the closest. They had all begun to slightly blush at the older girl's comment as Will had instantly attached himself to her side for a hug.

"You haven't come over in a few days. Jonathan has been clingy." Will let out which caused the girl to chuckle.

"Sorry, bud. I've been picking up shifts at the library to get some extra cash. Which reminds me that I have a present for all of you the next time I see you." Amber told them but that had only caused them to start nagging her for what it possibly could have been.

"You boys just have to wait to find out. Now don't forget to go to the rich neighborhood for the big candy bars. I have to get back before they send someone in the office to look for me." She waved to them before walking away.

"I think I'm in love with her." Dustin let out.

"Dude, she's totally out of your league. And I would have more of a chance before you." Lucas told Dustin who shoved him a bit.

"She's so pretty." Mike let out as Will nodded slightly.

"Let's face it. She wouldn't go for any of you." Will said.

"A man can dream." Dustin commented.

"A boy. A boy can dream. You're no man." Lucas corrected which caused Dustin to push him again.

    Amber had dropped the box of supplies back into the office before taking the things she needed to bring to Click's class. Every Wednesday she would get things the office needed from the middle school before grabbing anything for her teacher whether it would be mail, a box of tissues, or a new pack of chalk. It helped give her a few extra downtime minutes before entering the boring class.

    On her way to class when she turned down the hall leading to the classroom, she had run into the boy she had been hoping to avoid. He had a smug smile on his face as his piercing blue eyes stared down at her.

"Excuse me." She spoke up as she tried to go around him but he blocked her path.

"Not so fast. I thought you would be happier to see me." He said.

"I really don't have the time for this." She muttered as she tried to go around him again but failed.

"What? So a couple of months and you just forget about me?" He asked her.

"I didn't forget about you, Billy. It's just a shock when you leave someone at the end of the summer and then they show up exactly where you live towards the end of October. I was trying to move on from an amazing summer that turned to shit and then here you are." Amber told him.

"Maybe it was fate bringing me back to you. But it seems like you want nothing to do with me now. So what's up with that?" He questioned as he crossed his arms and a slight glare began to settle in his eyes as he looked down at her.

"Oh we both really know why I'm not so keen on seeing you. And seeing and hearing about how you have already got this reputation around school. Whoever this new Billy is that everyone is praising, I don't think I'm interested in knowing him. Now if you'll excuse me, I got class." She scoffed as she went past the boy who just watched her walk away. Something he had gotten used to seeing. Her walking away from him. And now experiencing it again, it set a fire inside of him making him burn with anger.

*

"Jonathan, I still really think you should go to this party tonight with me." Amber tried to get him to budge.

"No, Amber. I'm going out with Will trick or treating. I will drop you off before I go to bring him to meet up with the boys. But I can guarantee you won't see me at Tina's party." Jonathan told her.

"You are the biggest party pooper ever." She groaned.

"So, how's your Billy issue? I really thought you would've been more excited to see him, given that he was all you talk about when you got back to Hawkins." Jonathan brought up.

"Jonathan. Look at him." She slightly pointed over to Billy and the swarm around him. "I have no idea who that is over there. That isn't the Billy from the summer I was telling you about. That guy over there is a complete asshole. And assholes like that don't deserve my attention." Amber said as she frowned while she still kept her eyes on Billy Hargrove who had a few girls hanging off of his arm.

"Maybe you just got too caught up in the version he was showing you in the summer that you never realized he was just like this." Jonathan told her as she shook her head.

"No. That guy over there, something had to have happened for him to be like that. I just don't know what it possibly could've been." Amber trailed off, thinking about to how cold he had turned before she had decided to leave him there on the beach.

"Hey, I have to go to develop some of my film, will you be alright at lunch by yourself?" Jonathan questioned as she scoffed.

"I'm an independent woman. I can handle being alone." Amber told him.

"Well, I know that. I meant it as, will you be alright to be left alone and not get in a fight, specifically with Steve." Jonathan couldn't help the playful smirk that washed over his face.

"No promises." Jonathan shook his head and chuckled as they parted ways.

    Amber had made her way into the cafeteria. Once she had gotten herself something for lunch, she had walked around to find a place to sit. Walking right past the watchful eye of Billy Hargrove to sit down at the table Nancy and Steve were sitting at.

"Dang, Harrington. Your hair is looking like it's missing its volume today. Did your ego not get fueled enough this morning to make it look alive?" Amber teased as he rolled his eyes.

"Ha ha. You're just so funny, Hayes." She shrugged as he glared at her.

"Choke."

"Nah. I'm not feeling that right now. Maybe tonight I'll find someone to fulfill that though." She winked at him as he fake gagged and Nancy laughed.

"What are you going as tonight?" Nancy questioned Amber.

"That, Nance, is a surprise. But honestly it's the most basic thing I could come up with in the moment." Amber admitted.

"Well, I'm sure you'll look good in whatever you wear." Nancy said as Amber smiled. Her eyes casually scanned around the room while she was eating her food to see a small group a few tables away with their little leader at the head of the table. An idea popped into her head as she began to shuffle from her seat.

"Where are you going?" Nancy wondered.

"I need to replenish my stash. So I need to go make a small negotiation. I'll see you on the flipside." Amber said as she turned to get ready to walk away.

"Wait, you're going to talk to 'the freak' right now?" Steve questioned as Amber rolled her eyes and waved Steve off. Amber made her way up to the table to have the dark brown eyes of Eddie Munson stare into her soul before a small smirk began to appear on his lips.

"Amber Hayes. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked her.

"I'm just here to ask about the usual." She shrugged.

"Oh. You almost had me thinking it was because you wanted to have a real conversation with me." He tried to tease.

"Will you be at the party tonight?" She wondered and he nodded his head in response.

"I figured I would make a quick appearance to exchange some party favors."

"I will have some money on me to give to you later on then." Amber told him.

"See you later then Hayes. This talk has been fun." He said sarcastically as saluted her.