***

A MONTH LATER...

Her winters weren't usually this cold. Despite the weather, the Californian sun would still keep them warm. But this was Indiana, and their climate was on a different scale.

It snowed a lot more here. She'd always dreamt of having a white Christmas and dancing in the snow, getting flurries in her blonde hair. It was a kind of magic few get to experience. Sophie didn't envy those trapped in blizzards, though.

Over the last month, she had grown closer to the Mayfields. And because of her bond with Max, Neil seemed to be laying off her a bit. Of course, the smallest things would set him off once in a while, and his arguments with Billy seemed neverending. That seemed expected, though -- Billy could never get anything right in his eyes. The Hargrove twins would remain Neil's burden for as long as possible.

Her father wasn't around on the night of the Snow Ball, claiming he was getting some work done elsewhere. But with empty beer cans and bottles popping up around the place, Sophie knew he was turning back to alcohol again. He always did.

Susan shoved another pin into her daughter's hair. "Ow," Max winced, cringing at the slight pain, "ow. That hurts."

Her mother smiled, playing with Max's red hair. "It's gonna be worth it. Promise."

At Hawkins Middle, the Snow Ball was a huge deal. The dance was the height of the kids' social season, almost like a winter formal. It's a second-to-last hurrah before they all head off to high school and go through the intense stages of puberty.

Sophie stood on Max's right, her arms folded. She leaned over Max's shoulder, gazing at her reflection. The teenager smirked, muttering. "At least you didn't let her do your whole outfit."

The sisters shared a casual giggle, agreeing with one another. Max was given the liberty to choose what she wore to the party, refusing a dress and instead wearing a jumper and trousers. Max wouldn't be seen dead in a skirt.

In the corner of their eyes, the girls noticed a figure appear in the living room. They turned their heads, their wide smiles faltering. Billy observed his sisters from afar, his fists tensing then releasing. He'd barely spoken to them since November, ignoring them as much as possible.

Though, once in a while, he'd stop and glare -- as if he wanted to start an argument. He wore rage like a shirt he'd never wash. His words burned into his chest, the way a cigarette would. Keeping all the things he wanted to say under wraps was like withholding smoke; it choked him.

Max lowered her eyebrows, shooting him an evil glare. But the look Sophie returned was a mix of pity and grief -- losing someone so close to her wasn't something she was used to yet.

Their staring contest went unspoken, Billy stepping out of sight soon after. Tension simmered and abruptly dissipated -- Susan barely acknowledged the shared animosity.

"See?" Susan unfurled her daughter's hair, admiring her. "Pretty."

But no matter what -- Max would never be a true girly-girl. No one could force her to be anyone she wasn't.

"You know, I think it's missing something. Hold on." Sophie reached behind her nape, grasping the chain of her butterfly necklace -- the one her mother left for her. She undid the clasp and removed it from her body. Instinctively, Max pulled her strawberry-blonde hair to the side as Sophie placed the necklace around her neck. As she fixed the clasp, she smiled and uttered. "It's yours now."

She scooped the small butterfly centrepiece into her palm, brushing her thumb over the sapphire embellishments. Her face softened, her jaw going slack. "Seriously?"

"Yeah." Sophie adjusted her posture, straightening her back as she gazed at her younger sister's reflection. "My mom said it was a family heirloom and..." she took in a cleansing breath, her smile growing larger, "... well, you're family." It's something she'd never thought to admit, but the company of the Mayfields felt natural now and she enjoyed their presence in her life.

Max wasn't the type to own or wear jewellery. She wouldn't mind getting piercings in the future, but anything else held no significance in her eyes. But this encrusted butterfly was special and she could feel the connection between her and Sophie evolving into something Max never realised she wanted.

Her eyes glistened, filled with this inner glow that brightened her expression. Max rotated to face her then wrapped her arms around her waist, embracing her. She couldn't be more grateful for the kindness Sophie had shown her over the last couple of months. "Thank you."

The teenager reciprocated the affection, sharing a tingling warmth that surged through their veins. "You better get your stuff ready. Our ride will probably be here soon."

As they broke away from each other, Max hid her face from her mother and Sophie, briefly grazing her face with the sleeve of her jumper before heading to her room.

Susan rubbed her stepdaughter's shoulder, wearing a considerate smile on her face. "That was really sweet of you, honey."

That necklace was the only thing she had left from her mother, but she didn't need it anymore. Her mother wasn't coming back to save her, nor was anyone else gonna fix her life. Only she could free herself from this predicament, and now that she had allies, Sophie was ever more hopeful.

Whilst Max was busy, Sophie decided to bury the hatchet with Billy -- or make an attempt at the very least. After all, he couldn't be angry at her forever. She wandered into the kitchen, under the guise of grabbing a quick drink.

Billy didn't acknowledge her presence, and she assumed he didn't want to. He stood by the sink, rinsing a glass cup under the running faucet. 

Sophie opened the fridge, curling her fingers around the handle of a glass pitcher. Ice clinked against the sides as she placed it under a see-through cabinet. From within, she grasped a cup of her own and poured fresh water into it. She pulled it towards her lips and washed her dry throat, combatting the nerve to talk to him.

Once finished, she pushed the glass aside and turned around. She gulped, tucking her hands into the back pockets of her light blue jeans. "Hi." Sophie didn't know what else to say to start the conversation.

"Talking to me now, eh?" It wasn't like he was the first to give her the silent treatment. "You ready to be honest with me about what happened?"

"If it's any consolation," she leaned her lower back against a kitchen counter, folding her arms, "I am sorry about how we handled things that night."

Billy cocked his head to the side, his expression neutral. "Oh, you mean when I was drugged, threatened with a gun and nearly got my balls screwed by a nail bat?" he asked with a deliberate raise of his brow. "I wouldn't say it's taking a leaf out of my book, but damn."

"You almost killed a man, Billy." An inexcusable action like that leads to consequences that wouldn't benefit either of them. She didn't want to be known as the twin sister to a killer. Billy the Butcher -- that's probably what they would have called him if he did go through with it.

He slammed the cupboard shut, holding a can of soup. Billy shot her a brief glare. "That was after the gun."

Sophie the Slaughterer had an interesting ring to it as well. "You're lucky you weren't arrested."

"Oh, yeah," his tone remained sharp despite the light sarcasm, "because you're all buddy-buddy with the Chief now, and there's this whole cover-up thing going on."

Sophie rubbed the bridge of her wrist, pressing her thumb against the small bone under her skin. "I wouldn't say that."

"No, there is." Billy approached her right, opening the drawer and retrieving a can opener. "Unless it's something to do with you and Harrington screwing each other."

Her chest thrust out, her muscles tightening. She moved away from him, grimacing. "Oh, my God! We're not together!"

Billy smirked at his sister's annoyance, his gaze following her. "Not yet."

She pressed her hands against the counter opposite, her lips flattened into a white slash. "What if we were, huh?" Sophie turned to face him, looking him straight in the eye. "What are you gonna do?" 

Anger seethed from his flaring nostrils; Billy could blow a blood vessel. He couldn't help it, of course. As long as Sophie and Max were around, their friends were untouchable -- and that made him furious.

Sophie sighed, bowing her head. "Why do I even bother talking to you? All I wanted to do was straighten things out between us."

"And what, we go back to being happy-sappy siblings?" he forced an irritated grin before it swiftly fell. "No way." Billy turned away from her and began to unscrew the lid of the soup can. "You gave up that right when you broke your promise."

"No, I gave that right up years ago," she confessed, tapping her fingers against the countertop, "when my brother became an unhinged psycho." They may have been crafted from the same blood and bone, yet they couldn't be more different. "You're so hellbent on your own self-destruction -- you know that, right?"

With his back to her, and Sophie unable to discern his expression, he uttered. "You're dead to me."

It was a soft yet potent blow to her heart, but she didn't let it get to her. She used to be so scared of losing him, but now Sophie wasn't sure that she even wanted him in her life anymore. "So are you."

A ray of bright light poured through the blinds hanging over the kitchen window, attracting the twins' attention. Billy wandered over, pinching his right index finger and thumb together. He slid his hand through a gap in the blinds before separating his fingers and taking a look outside. Lo and behold, Steve Harrington's car was parked by their porch.

His lips rattled, a blow of breath escaping his mouth. "Well, would you look at that?"

It was the worst timing. "He's just giving us a ride."

"Yeah, I bet he is." He responded, returning to his spot by the soup can.

Her nose twitched, her expression pinched. "Can you just fuck off?"

"Gladly." He spun towards her and tilted the can of soup, throwing its contents onto her woollen sweater. Thick liquid splashed against the fabric, seeping through its threads. A few cold drops landed on her neck and chin, staining her pale flesh. Her mouth fell open, yet his action rendered her speechless. "Oops," he glanced at the now-empty can and frowned, "what a waste."

Billy strolled past her, chucking it in the bin and leaving the room. His sister couldn't tell if he was smiling or not, but she could tell he was pretty satisfied.

"Asshole." She muttered under her breath. Sophie snatched some kitchen towel and dabbed at the spots on her neck. "Max! They're here!"

But first, she was going to have to change into something else.

***

Sophie chucked on a purple sweater, discarding her soup-stained one in the wash. She didn't let it hang over her head, though. Of course, she was a little angry at Billy; she hadn't worn that sweater in a long time. But she wouldn't let it affect her.

The car came to a halt, directly across from the main entrance to the Snow Ball. From a distance, Sophie could see blue and white streamers dangling from the ceiling, creating a wintery aesthetic.

"All right, here we are." Steve glanced over his shoulder, addressing the pair of kids in the back. "You guys ready?"

Max smiled, unbuckling her seatbelt. "Thanks for the ride, Steve."

"No problem." He responded with an amicable smile.

As she was about to leave, Dustin hesitated. "I'll catch up with you in a minute." He gestured to his friend in the front seat. "Just gotta talk man-to-man."

She glanced between them, her pleased expression faltering. "Okay."

Sophie got the memo, freeing herself from the seatbelt and opening the car door. She eyed Steve. "Thanks for doing this at such short notice."

"Any time." He answered,

The young women stepped out, shutting the doors behind them. They began to approach the school, watching other kids being ushered inside the building. Max slowed down, looking up at her sister. "You didn't have to come with me."

They came to a stop, and Sophie raised her shoulders. "What? I wanted to see you off."

"But you're gonna have to wait for the next hour or so." She acknowledged.

She retained a carefree attitude. It was better waiting in a parking lot than staying at home. "So what? I'll find something to do."

Her gaze darted from side to side. Max smirked, raising her eyebrows. "Or someone."

Sophie gave her shoulder a soft whack. "Max!"

Her hands jerked upwards, her palms spread. Max giggled with a curled lip. "I'm kidding! I'm kidding! No one gets frisky outside a middle school. That's gross." And highly inappropriate, Sophie wanted to add. "But, like..." she lowered her voice, leaning in, "... is he your boyfriend or not?"

"No, we're just friends, okay?" Sure, they'd hung out a few times since the junkyard, but he wasn't interested in being anything more. She could tell. Obviously, a part of her wanted more, though she knew it wouldn't happen any time soon. For now, she was content with their bond. "Just friends."

"Okay." Max nodded. She looked back at the car, popping her mouth. "So, how long's that gonna last?"

"Right," Sophie forcibly pivoted her sister away from the car and guided her towards the main entrance, "you have a good time, all right, little red?" She gave her a light shove. "Don't keep me waiting forever."

"I won't!" She climbed the steps, glancing over her shoulder and giving her a little wave. "See you in a bit!"

Sophie raised her arm, returning the gesture. She took a few steps back, pivoting on the fourth step. Pulling at the sleeves of her sweater, she headed back to Steve's car. As she approached, Dustin exited the back, sauntering across the parking lot. "Have fun in there, Dustin."

"Oh, I'm planning to." He adjusted his tie before slicking his gelled hair back. Dustin was almost incomparable to his mentor, despite their difference in status. "Gonna woo some ladies tonight."

"Sure you are." At least he was confident; it was an excellent quality. For Dustin, though, she remained unsure. Maybe he would have fun tonight and her doubts would be swayed. "Good luck."

Her gaze trailed his movement, observing him enter the school and approach the front desk. His teacher seemed to appreciate his new look; that was a good start.

She returned to the car, opening the door to the passenger seat and climbing inside. "I can't believe he took your advice." Or was attempting to, at least. Whether or not it would work, she could not decipher. "I mean, I'm not that shocked. That kid adores you."

Steve tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, wetting his lips. "You know," he started, "I've always wanted a little brother." The house wouldn't feel so lonely if he had someone to share it with. "And Dustin's cool, you know. Despite his..."

She smirked, finishing his sentence. "... Massive ego?"

He snickered. "Yeah."

"He's a good kid." She commented. Steve crooked his head to the side, giving her a look. Sophie rolled her eyes, adding. "At heart."

Dustin had his moments, but overall, he'd proven himself to be a smart kid capable of calming beasts and tackling them all the while thinking of a logical solution to the problem. People may look down on him now, but one day, this kid will prove himself to be a hero -- or die trying.

"Things seem to be going well with you and Max." He said.

There was a fond glow in her eyes. "Yeah, they are."

But that faint glimmer faded when he queried. "What about Billy?"

Her face grew solemn. "Not so much." She admitted, turning her head away from him. "We barely speak," her heavy sigh fogged up the window, creating a blurred white patch, "and he said I'm dead to him today." 

Sophie loathed this blend of love and contempt she held for her brother. She wanted to hate him, but a part of her just couldn't. He was still her brother, and she was still his sister -- a falling out wasn't going to change that.

"He doesn't mean it." Steve insisted to her apparent shock.

Water sparkled on the rim of her eyes, her expression growing pensive. "How would you know?"

"Because it's not like Billy to give up a fight." He was right. Of course, he was. It's why Sophie was always on her guard around him; he was unpredictable and dangerous.

Steve's focus travelled from Sophie to the entrance of the school, something catching his attention. She followed his gaze, peering inside. Her eyes landed on Nancy in the hall, working as a volunteer for the Snow Ball. She tipped a ladle of punch into a cup before handing it to a kid, her expression bright and warm. She was with Jonathan now, and she looked better for it.

She sniffed, blinking her tears away as she remarked. "She looks happy."

"Yeah, she is." Steve agreed with a melancholy tone, his gaze falling back to the dashboard.  "Just proves it, doesn't it?"

Her brows drew together, her head twisting towards him. "Proves what?"

He picked at the dirt under his fingernails, his voice meek. "She was never happy with me."

"I doubt that." They must have had their good moments -- it couldn't have been all bad. But from the look on his face, Steve was focusing more on the flawed memories than the happy ones. "Look, I'm sure you'll find someone who..." she hesitated, clicking her tongue, "... who gets you." Sophie raised her chin, exposing her neck. "There's someone for everyone."

She liked to believe that was a possibility.

"I don't think that's the case for me." His tongue ran free, and yet his wandering thoughts did not consider the girl sat beside him. 

Steve didn't see her smile falling. He didn't notice her forlorn gaze -- the expression of a girl whose heart just plummeted. In his quest for love, she wasn't an option. But she knew heartbreak. Sophie had swallowed it more than once; it was just another feeling she could bottle up.

"Girls shouldn't define who Steve Harrington is." She declared, her eye contact unwavering. "Maybe, instead of jumping straight into a relationship," Sophie began, "you should gain a better understanding of who you are as a person." 

Sure, she wasn't as experienced as Steve was at dating, but from what she'd learnt from her parents and Billy's many dates, love is pretty complicated. Sometimes, a relationship can only work if both halves are their true selves. If the other accepts them for who they are, that's a healthy response. Honesty is the best foundation for true love to bloom.

He continued to stare at the dashboard, offering no response. His mind was clouded. A weighted feeling confounded his senses -- a mixture of shame and heartbreak.

She didn't expect him to heed her advice, but as long as she was being helpful, that's all that mattered. Perhaps he just needed a distraction.

Sophie adjusted her posture, twisting over her torso and leaning her elbow against the back of the seat. Her lips curved into a smirk. "Hey, do you wanna do something fun?"

His mouth twitched upwards. "Like what?"

"Well, I kinda want to get Billy back for being a dick to you and me." She wrinkled her nose. "But, like, not in a mean-mean way -- and definitely not in a violent way." Sophie stared out the front window, pursing her lips. "I don't know. Like, I wanna pull a prank on him."

His eyes narrowed, sounding uncertain. "A prank?" His gaze darted from side to side. "What, like putting shaving cream in his locker?"

Her head snapped back. "Do you have shaving cream?"

"Funnily enough, yes." He always had products in his car in case of emergencies. It was usually when he was running late for dates.

A tentative smile crept across her face. "You're full of surprises."

"So are you." He smirked. "I guess you're suggesting we break into the school then."

A slight brush of anxiety crept up on her. She leaned back, brushing her hand across her forehead and chuckling. "I mean, we don't have to. I was only-"

"Okay, let's do it." Steve interrupted her.

Her light smile dropped, twisting into a dazed expression. "Seriously?"

"Yeah." Steve reiterated his enthusiasm for the idea. "Hawkins High always leave a window open or something." "It'll be a laugh, come on."

Usually, he was against any and all plans that involved criminal activity or weird stuff, even when he was roped into them. But, for once, he was actually agreeing to help. What made this any different?

Still, if he was up to it, why not?

"Okay..." She considered it again. Her blue irises sparkled with mischief, a grin slowly widening. "...Yeah, okay!"

So that's what they did. They snuck into their high school through an open window, nearly breaking some items in the process. Not all the lights were off, allowing the pair to proceed through the vast, empty hallways. It was a little eerie when it was just them, but they were too giddy to feel bothered by it.

Soon enough, they had located Billy's locker. Steve shook the can of shaving cream before placing the nozzle in the ventilated slots. He pressed the valve and sprayed, destroying whatever books and personal items were in there with this thick white foam. It was gonna stick for sure by the time Christmas vacation was over.

They were having a blast, and for a moment, their troubles were forgotten. Here she was, in the presence of fallen royalty, sharing a manic grin. This short-lived joy was what they needed for a little bit. After all, there were worse laws they could break, and this one was worth every second.

They didn't even care when the janitor almost caught them. Steve just grabbed Sophie by the hand and fled into the library, closing the doors behind them. With their backs against the wood, they heard the janitor's cleaning trolley wheel past. Its squeaky wheels came to a halt, but Steve reached for the bolt before he could try the door. He yanked it across, locking the janitor outside.

The doorknob wiggled, yet the janitor could not get inside. After a few tries, he swiftly gave up. "Darn librarians have locked it again. I keep telling them." He grumbled to himself outside before swiftly moving on. His silhouette from under the door disappeared, and the sound of squeaking wheels faded soon after.

Sophie pressed her back against the door, wearing a giddy expression. "Oh, my God. That was so close. I've never run that fast before."

"Adrenaline, I guess." In the faint light, she could see him beaming away like a madman. "It does strange things."

He was amazing -- she hoped he knew that. "Sure does." 

His eyes squinted, searching the darkness. "Is there a lightswitch or-?"

"Should we risk that? What if he comes back?" She wasn't certain Chief Hopper could get them out of this scrap if they were found and arrested.

"Well, it's kinda creepy in here," he remarked, "and hey, we fought off worse than janitors so-" Steve located the lightswitch, tucked a finger under it and flicked it up. Streaks of lightbulbs flickered and burst to life, illuminating the room. A corner of his mouth curved upwards. "- Let there be light." The girl giggled shyly as they wandered further into the library. "We'll just wait until the coast is clear to flee."

On the main desk, a magazine laid askew and folded over a certain page. "Ooh," Sophie picked it up, intrigued, "looks like the librarian's a fan of horoscopes." She glanced at Steve. "Wanna know yours?"

He shrugged. "Why not?"

She lifted herself onto the desk and sat down. "All right, what's your star sign?"

Steve leaned against a bookshelf, scratching his chin. "I don't know."

"Okay, what day were you born?" she queried.

"August 14th." Realising his parents got a little too excited during the Christmas season horrified him when he was younger. He folded his arms, tilting his head. "What about you?"

"March 29th." She answered, biting her lip. "So that makes our signs Aries and Leo."

His forehead creased. "Which one is mine?"

"You're a Leo guy." Sophie took a glimpse at the known traits. "Figures, though. They're known to be fiercely loyal, passionate..."

Steve's brows shot up. "Sounds about right."

"... And have a flair for the dramatic." She finished with a pressed smile, struggling to contain her amusement.

His brief smirk slipped. He shifted his weight and crossed his arms. "All right, just read the horror scope."

The odd pause between the word caught her ears. She squinted at him, pronouncing the word a little slower. "Horoscope."

Steve shrugged again, pouting. "That's what I said." 

Did he know it was one word? 

She brushed it off, loosening her shoulders as she returned her attention to the magazine. "Okay, for you, it says you may feel an urgency for stability in your life." Sophie read. "Go slow, and you'll soon find the right path."

"Well, that's cryptic." He responded.

"It's really not." She said, the magazine crinkling between her fingers. "You just don't understand what it's trying to tell you."

"All right, what's yours telling you then?" Since she was so interested in his future, he might as well know hers.

Her eyes scanned the page, searching for her star sign. "Okay, Aries." She located the section and began to read. "You're sensitive to your own desires. You know what you want, but are unsure how to attain it."

"Okay," he asked her, "what do you want?"

Sophie bit the inside of her cheek, looking up at him. "To be happy," she tilted her head to the side, "I guess?" Unlike Steve's prediction, hers was a little vague. Her mouth opened, making a small pop. She returned the magazine to the desk, the coated papers slapping against the wood. "Yeah, this is bullshit."

"You don't have to tell me twice." He remarked.

She jumped off the desk, eyeing a stack of bookshelves. Sophie began to walk. "I'm gonna have a look around."

"What for?" wondered Steve.

Sophie traced her finger across the shelves, searching with a curious gaze. "I wanna find some weird books." She removed a textbook from a shelf, taking a quick look at the name before putting it back. "Every library has one."

He glanced around the library with furrowed brows. "And you couldn't have done this during the day?"

"Uh, no. I study during the day." She spun back, giving him a bewildered expression. "Also, who reads weird books in public?"

As she disappeared behind the bookshelves, "You know, the only weird books here are the vandalised ones."

"I'll prove you wrong!" he heard her exclaim.

A genuine laugh fell from his mouth, his fingers grazing his pale pink lips. Steve's stomach fluttered, recognising the pure euphoria bursting from within. He hadn't experienced that in a long time.

For once, he felt at peace with himself. He'd never been so expressive before. So emotive. It was so unlike him to lower his walls and speak his true thoughts. After all he'd been through, Steve knew that something was changing. Sure, Nancy and Jonathan sparked that growth a year before, but the combined effort of Dustin and Sophie cemented it. Steve never had a friend like her before -- and maybe there was a part of him wanting more.

But if he wasn't good enough for Nancy, who's to say he would be the perfect match for Sophie? He didn't want to ruin what they had now, especially if his feelings weren't reciprocated. Another heartbreak would only cause another low.

"Steve." She appeared from around a corner, making him flinch. "Steve, look." Sophie grasped the edges of a large book and pulled it open. A sketched dragon blowing paper flames appeared from within, surprising him. Guess they did have a few weird books in here.

He chuckled, his head bobbing. "I swear anything will entertain you."

She closed the book, her arms dropping. "Come on. Don't tell me you didn't like these when you were a kid."

"I did, actually." It was strange to admit, but he did miss the nostalgia of his childhood. Steve didn't have to think about fighting monsters or flirting with girls back then.

"See!" Sophie giggled, gently flicking through the pages. "Can't believe a high school library has this. It's so random."

She smiled at him again, and his heart skipped a beat. He couldn't see why anyone would want to hurt her -- this girl who only saw the good in others. Sophie saw something in him that he couldn't quite see yet, but if she believed he was a good person, that was all he needed to be content.

Struggling to breathe in this ocean of chaos, the pair had found each other, reaching their hands out as they inhaled the salt air. They went stroke by stroke, swimming through uncharted waters. And though they did not realise it yet -- they needed each other to return to shore.

Otherwise, they'd both drown.

***

Honestly, I kept going back and forth on writing this chapter, but I wanted to include the Snow Ball because it felt right.

I doubt Hawkins High or their middle school thought of putting CCTV in their buildings because the kids keep breaking in and getting away with stuff. Also, it was the 1980s and I don't think they were that common at that point.

Anyway, that's part one of IKTE and I hope you liked it. Honestly, it's been a blast writing this. It's been a while since I've been this passionate about a fanfic because writing Sophie's story gives me such serotonin -- which should be a bad thing considering her story is very sad and it'll kinda get worse from here.

Well, not immediately, okay. I'm giving her a good few months until PAIN.

So in the next part, she'll obviously be a part of the Scoops Troop, and she might not react well to her brother being possessed. Who am I kidding -- she won't be very happy at all. But the best thing about the next part is that we're gonna get some action on the Steve and Sophie thing. But things are gradually getting a lot spookier...

I'd say I was taking a break from this fic, but I've already started writing the next part. Like, I'm plotting it out as we speak. I just want to get the first three parts of this done before Stranger Things 5 comes out. I know I have time, but it takes me ages to write one chapter, so who's to say I'll finish this by the time it's released? And obviously, I have quite a few fics I've been wanting to write, including some Stranger Things ones, so we'll have to see what happens over the next several months.

Thank you so much for reading and for the support you've given me so far, whether that be through votes, comments, or putting my story on your reading lists. I see all... and I appreciate the love for this fic. I never expected it and it warms my heart, honestly.

Also, I'd like to mention that this fic is currently being translated into Brazillian Portuguese by amalia0188. Check it out if you haven't already, it's so cool!!

Hope you stick around for part two because things are getting a whole lot stranger. I'm sorry but I had to. It's an instinct of mine.

Thank you for 20k reads. Love you all xx

- Alice.