ONE MONTH LATER...

(3rd person)

"Since the realse of the incendiary tape, the once quiet town of Hawkins, Indiana has spent time in a place it never expected. The national spotlight. Under mounting pressure, severaal high ranking members from. The U.S. Department of Energy has admitted involvement in the death and cover-up of Hawkins resident Barbara Holland, who died due to exposure to an experimental chemical asphyxiant that had leaked from the grounds of the lab We sent our own April Kline to Hawkins to speak to residents. Residents who thought they lived in a safe town, they say the kind of town where nothing ever happens..."

Cheif Hopper walked into the bar and made his way to a booth, and sat down. 

"Cheif-O!" Dr. Sam Owens aid.He was the the head scientist at Hawkins Lab when they started running tests on Will, you know.

"How's the leg?" Hopper asked. Dr. Owens had his leg chomped on by one of the demo-dogs at the lab which led to serious injury.

"Better, but I'm pretty sure my football career is over." The 2 men chuckle. 

"Hey, I got you a little something.." Dr. Owen's says, he reaches in the bag he had with him and gives Hopper an envelope. 

Hopper was confused but he didn't ask any questions and opens the envelope and peaks inside. It was adoption papers got Eleven, or Jane Hopper.

"Congratulations, Pops.." Owen's said.

"I thought.."

"Sometimes I impress even myself. Still, I'd let things cool off for awhile if I were you.." 

Hopper sniffles, "How long is awhile?" 

"If you wanna be safe, I give it a year.." the Doctor said.

"A year?"

"What about one night out?" Hopper asks. 

"One night? What is so special about one night?" 

                                                                                           ●○●○●

Chapter 16 (Tatums POV)

    THE SNOW BALL 

"Son of a bitch! Son of a bitch.." Dustin yells.

"Where did you last see it?" My mother asks.

"Right here. Where I put it." Dustin says, pointing to a spot on the kitchen counter.

"What is in there? That's so important anyway?" I ask.

"I got it!" Dustin says. He holds a brown paper bag, he rushes to his room with joy. I had no idea was he was keeping in the bag but whatever. 

I plop onto the sofa next to my mother and sigh.

"So you and this Steve guy are dating?" My mother says breaking the silence between us.

I slightly blush and nod, "Yeah, I guess. I dunno.." 

"It's a simple question hun, yes or no?" 

I pick and a finger nails nervously, "It's not that simple mom, but yes. He is my boyfriend." 

Around a week ago me and Steve made things official.

My mom and I continue to chit-chat about Steve until..

The doorbell rings.

"Dusty! That is your ride!" My mom yells.

"Dustin, hurry up in there!" I shout bagging on his bedroom door.

"One sec..! Done." Dustin comes out of his room with a smile. His hair was styled. I shrugged, and we walked out the front dood to Steve's car. I sat in the back so Dustin could sit in the front, after all it was his special night.

"Thanks for driving me." Dustin says.

Steve nods, "No problem." He shoves a key into the car and begins to drive off. A car filled with talking and laughter.

Steve drove up to Hawkins Middle School. 

"Alright, buddy, we are here." Stevs says, putting the car in park. 

"So remember, once you get in there..."

"Pretend like I don't care."

"You don't care."

"I don't care."

"There you go. You're learning, my friend. Your learning."

Dustin looks into the mirror in the car.

"Hey. You look great." Steve encourages.

I really loved seeing Steve and Dustin together. It made me happy.

"You look great. Now you're gonna go in there and look like a million bucks! You're gonna slay'em' dead." Steve says.

"Yeah! Like a lion.." Dustin purrs.

Stevs clicks his tongue, "Yeah, don't do that, ok?"

"Ok." 

Steve puts his hand out, and Dustin grabs onto it, giving a firm handshake. I give Dustin a smile and a nod. Dustin opens the door and walks out followed by a short wave.

We watched as Dustin checks in at the little table they had and talking to his teacher Mr. Clarke.

Steve turns back at me in the backseat.

"Where do you wanna go?" He asks. 

I just stupidly smile at him.

"What?" 

"Oh, nothing.." I giggle.

"What?"

"I just like seeing you and my brother together. It's sweet, and I love that."

Steve blushes, "Thanks.." 

"Your also very annoying too. I know you care. Are you giving him bad advice?"

"I don't know, I hope not, and yes I do care about you."

Steve pulls into the parking lot behind the school.

"That's so sweet Harrington." 

"Yeah, yeah.. don't me so flattered."

"Well that sucks because im very flattered."

I smile at Steve and he smiles back at me.

"I love you." Steve says. 

"I love you too."

"So, what do you wanna do for the rest of the night?"

I smirk and grab him by the collar of his sweater and pull him into the back seat. 

His hands on my waist and in my hair and my hands on the back of his neck. Slow kiss shared back and forth.

                                                                                           ●○●○●

(3rd person)

Mike sat alone at a table as he waited. And waited. He looked towards the door to see if she had come in yet. And therahshe was.

Mike gets up from his chair and walks over to El. 

"You look beautiful." Mike says.

"You wanna dance?"

"I don't know how." El admits.

"Me either. Do you want to figure it out?" He asks.

El nods, and they make their way to the dance floor. 

Mike puts El's hand on his shoulders, and he puts his hand on her sides.

They chuckle as they do the slow dance. 

Nancy and Dustin were smiling and dancing together.

Will looked very happy and so did Max and Lucas. 

They all danced around, and Max kissed Lucas. And El kissed Mike. I guess you could say it was a room filled with love.

                                                                                           ●○●○●

"Hey, I though I might find you out here.." Hopper says, stepping towards Joyce who was standing outside her car at the Hawkins Middle School.

"Will wanted me to give him some space, so.. I'm giving him a few feet." Joyce chuckles. 

Hopper grabs something from his pocket and taps on it. 

"What do you say?" It was a pack of cigarettes. "I'm pretty sure that Mr. Cooper retired in the 70s, so.. we might be ok."

 Joyce smiles and sighs. 

Hopper puts the cigarette in between his teeth and lights it. He inhales sharply and passes it to Joyce.

She puts it in her mouth and coughs as she inhales. 

"How are you holding up?" He asks.

"You know.." Joyce begins. 

"Yeah, that feeling never goes away." Hopper says. "It's true what they say, you know. Every day does get a little bit easier." 

He passes the joint back to Joyce and pulls her into a hug.

"You remember when we used to share cigarettes behind the bleachers in high school?"    Hopper asked.

Joyce nods, "Speaking of high school." Joyce points at a car.

"Let's go catch them in the act." Hopper says. Hopper and Joyce chuckled at they walked over to the car.

Hopper knocked on the window and looked through it.

Tatum and Steve looked through the window stunned, almost like a deer in headlights. Steve had no shirt on, and his face was covered in a lip stick. 

Hopper and Joyce laughed some more and walked back to their cars.

"Well, it looks like we got caught." Tatum shrugs.

"And?" Steve asks.

"And you're covered in lipstick.. fuck." Tatum licks her thumb and attempts to get it off his face.

"Don't stop now. Plus, Billy got us covered." 

"Huh?"

He digs into his pocket and whips out a condom..

"Steve Harrington!" Tatum whisper shouts.

He smiles sheepishly and glances at the watch on his wrist, "When is this dance over?"

"Like 11:00? Why?"

"C'mon we got time!" 

Tatum rolls her eyes, "You're so annoying."

"I love you." Steve smiles.

"Sure, and exactly how much?"

            "To the moon and back."