ू ₒ ु ─── » » »   ↳ episode three ↴

↳ IT WAS THE NEXT morning, you could hear people skating outside. Joyce had already left for her business trip, so it was just the Byers, Mike, and El left. El hadn't come out of her room since last night, the only person who had seen her was Melanie.

Breakfast was awkward so far, nobody was talking, just eating. Melanie picked at her food, she didn't have much of an appetite. Will glanced over at Mike, who was eyeing what was supposed to be El's plate.

"Hey, guys, there is a 4:00 p.m. showing of Police Academy 3," Jonathan informed them. The three just kept quiet. "Could be fun." Will looked up at Jonathan. "Maybe we just stay home today."

"What is this? What, you guys just gonna mope around all break?" the older Byers shrugged. "No one's moping. It's just the movie is supposed to suck," Jonathan sighed in response.

Melanie bounced her leg, tapping the table. Mike randomly stood up, grabbing El's plate of food. Will tried to say something but didn't, he and Melanie just watched him walk away.

Will sighed, taking another bite of his waffle. Melanie kept picking at her food and Will certainly noticed. "Hey, you not gonna eat?"

Melanie shook her head. "No." Jonathan walked over to them. "What's wrong with you two?" he asked. "Nothing," the two Byers siblings said at the same time.

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A knock was heard at the door. "Ten bucks says Mom forgot something," the Byers boy rested his left on the table. Melanie chuckled. "I'll get it," she stood up and walked to the door.

She opened it, revealing a blonde girl standing on the porch. Melanie looked back at her siblings before walking outside, closing the door behind her.

"What the hell, what are you doing here?" Melanie asked the girl in front of her. "I just want to talk," Angela questioned. "Why?" the Byers girl folded her arms.

The two stood there in silence for a while. "Uh— how are you feeling?" Melanie said, giving a sign to her nose. "Fine, I guess,"

"I'll let you come inside if you promise not to do anything to Jane." Melanie sighed in defeat. "I want to apologize, for real, this time." the blonde admitted.

"How can I be sure, you're actually going to apologize?" the blonde cleared her throat. "I realized that I shouldn't have.. uh— bullied her for being different. And I deserved the roller skate to my face."

"Come on," Melanie held out her hand for her to grab, which she did. The two went inside the house, Will stood up as he saw the girl.

"What is she doing here?" Will approached them. Melanie stood in front of Angela. "I want to apologize."

Will glanced over at Melanie who nodded. "To which one?" "Both Jane and you.." Angela sighed. Melanie looked around. "Where is El exactly?" the Byers boy motioned toward her bedroom.

"Hey guys, I'm ba-" Jonathan stopped in his tracks. "Oh, uh who is this?" he asked, clearly talking about Angela. The girl held out her hand. "Angela." the two shook hands.

Melanie let go of Angela's hand. "Angela is the one that-" "El hit with a roller skate," Jonathan finished off. Melanie nodded. "Yeah."

"Uh— I'm gonna talk to Angela.. in my room." Melanie walked to her bedroom with Angela, leaving the boys behind.

The two walked into her bedroom. "Your room is.. pretty." The blonde complimented. "Thanks," Melanie smiled at her.

Angela looked around Melanie's room. "Hey, what's this?" she grabbed the papers on the desk. Melanie's eyes widened as she ran over to her desk. "Wait no don't—"

Melanie let out a sigh. "Why are you.." before Angela could say another word, there was another knock at the door. "Stay here."

Melanie walked out of her room, seeing Jonathan by the front door. "Hi, does uh— Jane Hopper live here?" the police officer asked Jonathan. Melanie looked over at Will on the couch.

"Uh, yeah. Um, what is this about?" Jonathan furrowed his eyebrows. "Is Jane's father or mother around?" "Uh, no. No, her mom's out of town."

Melanie heard footsteps on the stairs. "I'm her brother. Um, stepbrother. But, uh. I'm sorry, what.. uh, what is this about?"

Melanie and Will approached the door. "You may or may not be aware of an incident involving Jane at the Rink-O-Mania."

"That was an accident," Will blurted out. "We have a warrant that says otherwise." the police officer informed them. "A warrant?" Melanie scoffed.

"Come on, that's crazy. That doesn't need to happen." the police officer looked into the house, seeing a brown-haired girl. "Hey there."

"You Jane Hopper?" Eleven eyed the police officer with no response.

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The police officer tightened the handcuffs on El's wrists. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law."

Melanie and Will stared as they put on the handcuffs. Jonathan put his hand on his face, he couldn't believe what was happening.

"You have the right to an attorney." Eleven stared at Mike, who kept eyeing her as if she was some kind of monster. "If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you."

The police walked out of the house, along with the Byers siblings and Mike. The neighbors began crowding around, trying to see what was going on.

"Can you please tell us where you're taking her?" Johnathan pleaded. "Are the cuffs really necessary?" the Wheeler boy questioned. "Officers, answer me."

The police officers kept quiet as they put El into the car. Melanie glanced at Jonathan. Mike looked into the car. "Eleven. Eleven, listen to me. Okay?"

"Eleven, will you please look at me?" he begged. El turned her head to the window. "Everything's gonna be fine. I am going to fix this. Okay?"

The car's sirens turned on as it began moving. Mike put his hands on the window, following the car's tracks. "Mike!" Melanie shouted.

The three went after Mike, ending up on the road, where they could see the car driving away. Will grabbed onto Jonathan's shoulder.

"Has Mom's flight left yet?" Jonathan turned back, running to the house. "Shit," he whispered.

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"Jane Hopper. Okay, yes, I see her now. It looks like she's still being processed." the lady at the counter informed them. "Okay. So, uh, what does that mean exactly?" Jonathan slightly slapped his hands on the counter.

"It means they're putting her in the system. After, she'll be transferred to juvenile hall?" "What?!" Will exclaimed. "Jail? You're gonna put her in jail?"

Melanie rolled her eyes. "Why the hell do you think we're here, Mike?" Mike gave her an annoyed look and turned back to the counter.

Will kept glancing back at Melanie and Angela, making sure the blonde wasn't doing anything. "A detention hall for juveniles," "That's jail."

"Hey, look, is there any chance we can just see her?" Jonathan asked. "Are you a parent or a guardian?" the lady intertwined her fingers. "No, but—"

Will cut him off as he put his hand across Jonathan. "Well, we're her siblings, and we're family." "That's not enough. You have to be a parent or legal guardian." Melanie groaned.

"You have to be kidding. That is ridiculous." Mike said in disbelief. "I don't think she's fucking kidding," Melanie told the Wheeler from across the counter.

"Listen to this young girl, besides, that's the law. And You're not gonna change it complaining to me." Melanie gave Mike an "I told you so" face. "You want to see Jane? Find your mother." the lady pointed at Jonathan.

"Thank you." Jonathan thanked her, sarcastically. The five turned away from the counter, walking straight to the door. Will and Jonathan pushed open the doors.

"It's bullshit. Such bullshit. I mean, she was even trying to help." Will signaled to the building. "Then what do we do?" "I don't know," Jonathan admitted.

"Well, what can we do?" Melanie extended her arms, slightly hitting Angela in the face. "Sorry." the blonde smiled. "It's fine."

Melanie turned to her brothers. "I guess we have to wait for Mom to land in Alaska," Jonathan told them. "How are you guys gonna wait that long?" Angela questioned.

Jonathan sighed. "I don't know." Mike pushed through Melanie and Will, heading to the road. "Hey!"

"Hey!"

"Hey, Mike!"

"Hey, stop the car!"

"What are you doing?" Their voices began to overlap as Mike continued to run to the road. They watched the Wheeler boy eye the car, driving away.

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"The reservation's under Byers," Jonathan spoke over the phone. Melanie laid her head on Angela's shoulder.

Jonathan began arguing with the person on the phone as Mike paced back and forth. Will shook his head before looking at Mike.

Everyone knew it was gonna be a long night.