"I STILL DON'T GET IT," Eve's voice was heavy with sleepiness and irritation as she leaned in the bathroom door frame, peering at her brother with narrow slots. "Why did we have to get up so early for this? It's not even like you to dress up this much on Halloween. I mean, seriously, blue hairspray?"

Eli was perched in front of the mirror, a cold can of hair product cradled in one hand. "Seriously, Eve, if you don't like it then just don't say anything." He had become defensive, mostly to mask the anxiety and hesitation gripping at his conscious right now.

"I like it, I just don't get it. What if someone asks about your costume? What are you gonna say?" Her questions were insistent, piling onto Eli's second thoughts about his costume choice.

His began to quiver, causing his teeth to clamp down on the skin forcefully. "The truth, I guess." He didn't wait for another interrogative comment before popping the lid off and shaking the bottle feverishly. "Now, make sure I don't mess this up. This has to be perfect."

"Hey, just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I know how to work hairspray. Especially if it's bright blue." Eve stepped further into the room, gazing warily at the contents printed on the packaging. "I mean, you couldn't have picked another color?"

Eli rolled his eyes, his frustration deepening as he fired another glare at his twin. "Eli Electro has bright blue hair, not firetruck red or piss yellow."

The curse had been enough to take Eve aback, shocking her into silence and leaving Eli to begin his work. Slowly, and fearfully, he raked his hair back and streaked the product evenly into his curls. He prayed that the hairspray would be strong enough to keep his unruly locks slicked back into place. Otherwise he'll just look like a ridiculous clown with an ocean-colored afro.

"That's enough, E," Eve reached over and gently took the bottle from him after a few more layers. "We don't want to turn your hair into crispy blue strings."

Eli wheeled around to face her nervously, barely patting the top of his hair with his palms. "You think it looks good?"

Eve scanned his new hairdo silently, licking her lips in contemplation. "Yeah, actually. It'll look really cool with the jacket, too."

A relieved grin spread on his face, and he pushed past her to retreat back into the bedroom. On top of his navy bedspread was an electric blue jacket that almost perfectly matched his hair now, along with a pair of light jeans and a white T-shirt. The clothing was fairly plain, which is exactly why he poured so much of his energy into perfecting his hair.

"Hey, E?" Eve chirped up again, scouring her closet for an outfit to wear. Neither her or Rene were dressing up this year, mostly because they had opted for candy and scary movies at home tonight rather than trick or treating, meaning they didn't need a costume. Eli remembered how teasing he had been when the girls told him their plans a few weeks ago, berating them for thinking they were "the cool kids".

"Yeah?"

"Did Dad say anything about your costume?"

His body heated up with nerves again, his back to her as he kept his fingers busy running them along the jacket's lining. "No, but he's not around much anyway, right? Mom thought it was a great idea though. She bought me the jacket and hairspray."

"Oh," Eve answered plainly, but her words had already reminded Eli sourly of last night's events.

"He's been acting weird," Eli began, his grip tightening on the jacket's cloth.

"Dad? Well, yeah, he has been ever since his new job. But I'm not complaining, it's nice to not have him around so much, don't you think?" She chatted casually, continuing to fish around in her closet.

"He was in the attic last night," he confessed, whirling around and gazing at his sister. "He was acting really suspicious, too, Eve. He had some secret file he didn't want me to see."

Eve cautiously draped her chosen outfit over her arm, her wary gaze glued to him. "You said the attic?"

Eli nodded vigorously.

"What the heck?" She cursed sharply, her eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement. "No one goes up there."

"That's what I thought, too!"

Eve pressed her lips into a thin, tight line. "Should we look into it?"

That caught Eli's attention. "You mean, go up to the attic?"

Eve shook her head. "No. If we want real dirt on him, we have to go where his work is at."

Oh no. "Wait, you're suggesting—"

"I know it sounds crazy, but..." Eve inhaled and exhaled deeply. "I overheard him talking with Mom a few nights ago. He said he's doing very important work at the lab. Work he can't tell any of us about."

Eli narrowed his eyes. "He's a bone doctor. How is that super confidential?"

"That's what I'm saying!" Eve fanned her arms out dramatically. "I ignored what I heard, but now that I know he's crawling around in the attic too and hiding his work, I think we need to go to that lab."

"When?"

"This afternoon."

Eli's expression grew large with denial and shock. "No! Tonight's Halloween, Eve! I'm going—"

"Trick or treating. I know! We'll go right after school," Eve cut him off briskly. "Mom has a doctor's appointment at 4, so once she drops us back off here we can sneak off with no problem. We'll just say we're looking for our dad when we get there."

Hesitation gripped at Eli's thoughts, but he caved and found himself agreeing. "Fine. We'll do it. Let's just not get caught," Eli huffed, disbelief wavering inside him as Eve left to go change. Perhaps his boldness from last year had stuck around a little.

When Eve reentered, Eli was already clad in his cotton candy tinted clothes and peering at himself worriedly in the mirror. Eve could tell he was having a plethora of doubts, which was typical. Eli never liked drawing attention to himself, and dressing up like a blue highlighter was the definition of that.

"Hey, don't sweat it, E," the young girl's hand swept over her brother's forearm briefly. "The other guys are dressing up too, right? And so will everyone else. It's been like that every year. You won't feel out of place, I promise."

Eli nodded, though still unsure as he smoothed the wrinkles in his jacket. "I just hope it's not too much."

"It's perfect. Besides, don't forget the kid that carried a giant fake zombie head and scythe all day last year. He stood out a lot too."

"I don't even know what he was supposed to be," Eli giggled, the humor of the conversation easing his anxieties slightly. "Thanks, Eve."

"Of course, E," she lightly punched his arm. "It's Halloween! Have some fun!"

"Gosh, now you sound like Mom," a second voice cut in, and Brandy had swung into the room when the twins weren't looking. Her maple eyes raked Eli's look up and down, an impressed smirk falling upon her face. "Hey, not bad, little bro. I dig it."

"Thanks."

"Eli Electro, right?" She asked, pointed a guessing hand at him, her fingers gripping her car keys.

A light crimson dusted his cheekbones, and he ducked his head slightly in embarassment. "Yeah." He had tried to be a little more open about his writing over the last year, explaining Eli Electro's identity to his sisters and friends. He even talked about his trustworthy companion, Will the Wise, to them.

But there was still one part of the narrative he couldn't pry into with anyone, not even Will. Midnight Raven. Although he hadn't written anything about the dark-haired superhero that would give his secret away, he couldn't bring himself to share it with anyone.

Midnight Raven had remained a part Eli kept entirely to himself for almost a year now.

"Sweet," Brandy snapped him from his heavy reflection, waving the keys in front of them tauntingly. "Y'all better eat breakfast quick. If you're leaving with me, you leave in ten."

Eli felt his worry dissipate and his excitement begin to unfurl in the car. He kept his head gazing out the window the entire ride, but instead of focusing on the passing scenery, he was thinking about what his friends (especially one) would think of his costume. He expected a flurry of shocked faces, disbelief pouring over them as shy kid Elijah Brooks walks into school with jet blue hair.

"Hey, Eli?" Brandy called over her shoulder, peeking a glance into the rear view mirror at him in the backseat. "You ever heard of David Bowie?"

"I think so. Jonathan might've shown Will and I once. He sings?"

"Yep." A coarse smile danced on the girl's lips, and her eyes returned to the road. "Your costume reminds me of his album Ziggy Stardust. I'll let you listen sometime."

"Okay, cool. Thanks!"

His light, airy fantasies were shattered, however, as Brandy's car swerved in front of Hawkins Middle. It didn't take long for him to realize that not a single kid was adorned in any costumes. There were no zombie heads or giant scythes. Not even any ninjas or princesses. Just ordinary middle schoolers shuffling off to class, hugging their books and chatting excitedly.

"Maybe they didn't get the memo about it being Halloween?" Brandy glanced over at Eli, who had become paralyzed with fear in his seat.

"Or maybe I didn't get the memo about not dressing up this year?" He muttered meekly, his voice already stiff and shaky. His gaze quickly turned accusingly at Eve. "How did you not know about this? Rene tells you all the gossip!"

Eve's lips were parted into a small circle, astonishment draining the color from her face. "I swear I didn't! Rene said nothing!"

"I bet she knew, though!" He fired back, glancing back at Brandy with wide, pleading eyes. "Take me back home. Please."

Brandy's voice became a string of stutters, her hands furiously rubbing the steering wheel in hesitation. "Look, little bro, I can't. I'd promise Martha I'd meet her before first period and—"

"Martha will understand!"

"It's a ten minute drive back, Eli! Your costume isn't even that bad! Just go wash the blue out your hair and then it'll look normal."

"She's right, E," Eve wheeled around in the passenger seat, sorrow glazed over her expression. "We can't go back home without being late. Besides, didn't the guys dress up as Ghostbusters?"

He hadn't even been thinking about the party. A pang of empathy hit his chest, knowing they probably felt the same humiliation he was going to experience once he stepped out of Brandy's Impala. "Yeah, they did."

"So you're not totally alone! Look, just don't stress okay? If anyone gives you a hard time, you have my permission to give them the finger," Brandy smirked, but her humor wasn't helping anymore. Her gaze softened when she realized this. "You'll be fine, alright? No one will remember this in a few days anyway."

But Eli wasn't looking at his big sister anymore. His eyes had trained themselves onto a familiar set of boys, dressed in Ghostbusters costumes and gawking at the normal-clothed kids around them.

"Yeah, okay, thanks," he mumbled, hauling his backpack over one shoulder and sliding out of the car. He didn't check to see if Eve was following, he was too busy trying not to focus on the stares following his blue figure as he made a beeline for the party.

Will noticed him first. "Hey, Eli! Woah! You look so cool!" His cheer had been enough to make the others spin around, their huge eyes now marveling over Eli.

"Eli! No way!" Mike grinned happily, and for a moment Eli forgot about his embarrassment. "It's Eli Electro!"

"Who?" Lucas demanded in bewilderment.

Eli parted his lips to reply, but Mike was already pouring out an excited response. "It's one of his characters he wrote! It's based off of him!"

"Cool! Is he a superhero?" Dustin inquired.

"Yeah," Eli answered this time, smiling mildly. "He's got electric powers."

"It looks awesome!" Will piped up, pointing a finger at Eli's curls. "You even did the hair!"

Eli felt himself grow nauseous again at the mention of his brightly colored hair, and he began to tug at one of his ear lobes nervously: a strange habit he had picked up recently. "Yeah, it looks kind of stupid now, though. Did you guys know nobody was dressing up?"

"No way," Lucas scoffed, folding his arms over his chest. "Otherwise I wouldn't have come dressed up as Venkman," he emphasized heavily, throwing a pointed glance at Mike that Eli didn't understand.

"I don't get it," Eve interrupted, and Eli almost forgot she was there with all the excitement. "Everyone dressed up last year?"

"That's what we said!" Dustin groaned.

"Hey, well, there's no turning back right?" Mike cut in calmly, and Eli envied him for his collected behavior. "Let's just go in there with our heads high and eyes forward."

As Eli strode next to the boys in the hall, he felt each and every tease and jab thrown their way. A few kids made references to the Ghostbusters movie, calling his friends nerds and such. But he could really only focus as the insults thrown at him.

"What are you supposed to be, blueberry?"

"He looks like a walking lightsaber!"

"I think the circus threw up on his head!"

"That's exactly where queers like him belong! The circus!"

Eli had grown sick with nerves and shame, and hearing the fateful word of "queer" once again sent him reeling over the edge. "I can't do this," he tried to say, but the words became lodged in his throat and he found himself unable to speak. Instead, Eli ducked into the nearest bathroom, thankful it was empty as he launched himself into one of the stalls before hot tears exploded from his eyes.

His breaths came out short and staggered, and he could feel his panic consuming his entire being. He didn't even hear the bathroom door open and Mike knocking softly at the locked stall door at first.

"Eli? You okay? Eli!"

"M-Mike," Eli struggled to answer, his quivering fingers unlocking the door as he stumbled out and fled to the sink. He switched the sink on and splashed cold water all over his face before Mike could note the tears rushing down his cheeks.

"Eli? What's wrong?" Mike's face was lit with worry, which made it even more impossible for Eli to look at him.

"I-I..." Eli tried to slow down his breaths, continuing to lap the cold water into his cupped hands and washing his enflamed face. "I'm sorry," he finally managed.

"Don't be. Those kids were assholes back there," the Wheeler had placed his hands on the tip of the sink's basin that Eli was using, watching the Brooks boy continue to soothe himself. He whirled around and grabbed a fistful of paper towels, offering them kindly to Eli.

"Thanks," he accepted them timidly, still unable to meet Mike's pensive gaze. The panic was still racing in his mind and his heart, but he forced it down knowing Mike was there and class would start soon. He dried his face gradually, and he couldn't help but stare at his blue reflection. Letting out a heavy sigh, he tossed the crumpled paper ball into the trash. "I should probably wash this stuff out my hair. I look ridiculous."

"No!" Mike cried defiantly, and before Eli could even meet the boy's eyes, his warm hand was clutching Eli's firmly.

Oh my God.

Eli's head snapped in Mike's direction, and he was met with an ambitious, determined expression. His entire body grew numb, except for the hand that was cradled in Mike's fingers tightly. He could only imagine the tropical burn that had spread across his entire face, his thoughts becoming broken, incoherent noises as all he could focus on was their hands.

Their hands. Mike Wheeler was holding his hand.

"Don't wash it out. It looks way too cool," Mike pleaded, actually pleaded. "Besides, I...I like it," he admitted, and if Eli wasn't mistaken he sensed a sort of shyness in Mike's compliment.

"Oh," Eli murmured weakly. They were still holding hands. "I won't, then. I won't wash it out."

Mike smiled again, a warm type of smile that made Eli's chest sting with a strange sense of wanting. He felt like crying, but he had no idea why. The bell didn't give him time to figure it out though, because it was already chiming through the speakers, signaling five minutes until first period.

Mike slowly released Eli's hand, letting their palms fall back to their sides. But Eli had managed to catch a glimpse of their interlocked hands, and he knew that image would burn in his head for a very, very long time.

"Guess we should get to class," Mike chuckled, and Eli mimicked the action.

"Yeah." Even though Eli had no strong urge to leave. He would gladly skip class all day just for Mike to hold his hand again.

But Mike didn't reach for his hand. He just smiled again and led the way out of the bathroom, murmuring a playful, "C'mon, Eli Electro."

Once Eli was in class, he opted for daydreaming rather than attentively retaining any of the words his teachers spoke. It was highly unusual for him, but then again he also had blue hair and had just held his crush's hand—

Wait.

Yeah. Eli knew. He knew for a long time, maybe even back when Mike gave Eli that Supercom, the November night illuminating his freckles endearingly.

But still, he had been excellent at lying to himself. Pretending that he was just happy to be Mike's friend, and that's all he wanted from Mike. Pretending that he didn't think of himself with Mike while writing those passages about Eli Electro and Midnight Raven. Pretending that thoughts like holding hands and kissing didn't cross his mind. That they weren't fantasies he wanted to become reality.

But the lying stopped once Mike held his hand.

~

"I just don't get what's up with her," Steve rambled on, dismay falling across his face.

Brandy let out another irritated sigh, pinching the skin between her brows. "Look, Steve, I didn't ditch Martha today just for you to rant about Nancy all lunch period," she murmured harshly, popping another chip into her mouth.

"I thought you said Martha had an essay to work on," Steve mumbled in confusion, making Brandy's face fall with realization.

"Right. Well hey, I still could've chosen to sit in my car, basking in that peaceful silence, rather than listening to you rave about your ex," Brandy mumbled, dusting chip crumbs off her jacket.

"Easy, tiger," Steve chuckled, his face glinting with mischief as he wrapped his arm around Brandy's shoulders. The Brooks contemplated plucking his arm off, but opted to just pretend she hated the touch instead. "Nance is just a friend now. You've got all my attention, Bran."

Now the arm was getting slapped away, because flirty comments like those infuriated Brandy to no end. Not necessarily because she disliked them, but because they always left her relationship with Steve in an unknown gray area. And she hated the gray area. It left nothing but questions and the overwhelming fear he would eventually find a new girl to play with. Just like he had last year when he picked Nancy.

"Why are you so hung up on this anyway? She lost her best friend to a demon monster and still has to face her parents over dinner. I'd be acting weird too," Brandy didn't meet his eye, keeping her gaze lowered to her ham sandwich.

The teasing, flirty look on Steve's face dissipated into a serious one again, and he rested his arms in his laps. "Well, sure. But still. She doesn't even seem excited about Tina's party tonight."

"Oh yeah, because what's more exciting than keg parties with a bunch of teenagers on Halloween night?" Brandy chortled, pressing her back against the cool glass of Steve's windshield.

It didn't take long for Steve to join her, his amber eyes moving back to her. "You're coming tonight though, right?"

"Only because Martha is choosing school work over a movie night with me."

Steve's cocky grin was bigger than Brandy liked, which is why she kept a hard glare on the clouds rather than facing him. "Want me to pick you up?"

"Hm? Nah. I gotta drop my little bro off at his friend's house. Nancy's brother, actually. I gotta pick him up there too, so I probably won't stay all night," Brandy explained, and with the thought of Hopper's apprenticeship crossing her mind, she realized her day was jam packed.

"Let me guess. You'll show but you won't be dressed up?" Steve was as teasing as ever, and he even surged the confidence to brush his knuckles against Brandy's thigh.

She didn't move away from the touch, but didn't address it either, despite the nerves it was sending shooting through her. "Pardon me, but I think you'll be very happy to hear I plan to come as 'Girl Who Hates Parties'."

Steve let out a laugh, moving his hand to sit atop Brandy's leg. "Sounds like something Jonathan would do."

"Guess I've got something in common with him, then," Brandy answered quietly, laying her hand over Steve's slowly.

She tried not to smile as she heard the Harrington's breath hitch a little.

~

Brandy wasn't the type to grow queasy very easily, but the sight of an entire pumpkin patch infested with flies and littered with jet black, moldy pumpkins, had almost been it for her. She swallowed the bile in her throat painfully, standing next to Hopper as the two eyed the field in disgust.

"How does this even happen?" Brandy inquired out loud, playing with one of the marking flags in her hands.

"Beats me," Hopper huffed, shoving another large handful of flags into Brandy's chest. "Walk the perimeter. Mark anything unusual. Goop on trees, moldy soil, whatever. Once you use all your flags, you can go."

Brandy's mouth plopped open in honest surprise. "That's it? This'll only take me an hour, an hour and a half tops," she wheezed in disbelief, gawking at the chief.

"Happy Halloween," he mumbled half-heartedly, reaching into his truck and gathering more flags to hand off to his partners. "Besides, I'm not trying to stay out here too long either."

"What, you've got plans?" Brandy taunted, expecting a straightforward denial. So when she was met with stony silence, her interest became piqued. "You do! Is it a date? Who is she?"

"Just do your job, Brandy. And make sure to wear your gloves," Hopper cut her off, barely catching her gaze again before lumbering off in one direction.

"Grumpy old man," she quietly chastised him, shaking her head disapprovingly. "He probably doesn't have plans. Unless chugging beer and watching TV the entire night counts."

Brandy did as told, however, strolling around the pumpkin field's perimeter and sticking to the first line of trees. Every time she saw rotten earth or slime painted over tree bark, she stuck a yellow flag into the soil and marched away without a second thought.

It wasn't until she came upon one tree did she really stop and observe the scene. Its entire trunk was midnight black, complete with greenish white slime that stuck to the leather of her gloves when she brushed her fingers against it.

"What the fuck?" She grumbled to herself, attempting to shake the strange web tendrils off her hand.

Web. Brandy paused, giving the tree another long, hard look. No. There's no way. She hated to admit it, but the substance covering these trees seemed painfully familiar, transporting her back to last year, when she was pushing herself and her sister through a gate to the Upside Down.

But there was no way these rotten pumpkins could be connected. The Demogorgon, along with the evil lab men, the strange telekinetic girl, and everything about that week was gone. In the past.

At least that's what Brandy chose to believe, despite the fear settling uneasily in her stomach.