TOUGH NIGHT

The night was aglow with the vibrant hues of Halloween. The houses gleamed under the flickering lights of jack-o'-lanterns, and children wandered the streets, dressed in their scariest, most creative costumes. Laughter and the occasional shriek of surprise filled the air as kids embarked on their annual quest to gather as much candy as possible, competing silently in an unspoken war of who could collect the most sweets.

Among them, four kids in Ghostbusters costumes trudged down a well-lit street, their steps slow and tired after visiting house after house. Their haul was disappointing—mostly 3 Musketeers bars. Though decent, the candy didn't excite them anymore. They needed something better, something worthy of their efforts. Behind them trailed Lilith, dressed as Wednesday Addams, with her hair neatly braided and her face set in a tired but determined expression. She had been quiet most of the night, the boys barely acknowledging her presence despite being the ones who had invited her. Dustin and Lucas had exchanged a few words with her, but it wasn't enough to shake the growing feeling of discomfort and loneliness gnawing at her.

Lilith, feeling the weight of her hunger and fatigue, fished a 3 Musketeers bar out of her bag and tore open the wrapper. She took a small bite, instantly regretting it as she wrinkled her nose. Lucas was right—this thing is just nougat. She spat it out, disgusted, and tossed the rest away.

As they continued down the street, a masked figure holding a pumpkin and a fake knife jumped out at them, growling menacingly. The five of them screamed, their voices piercing the night.

The masked figure's chuckles gave away the prank, and moments later, the mask came off to reveal Max, the red-haired girl, grinning triumphantly. "Holy shit!" she laughed, clearly enjoying herself. "You should've seen the look on your faces." Mike, irritated by her presence, rolled his eyes. Max's grin widened, and she pointed at Lucas. "And you? Who screams like that? You sound like a little girl!" Her playful teasing broke the tension, and Lilith couldn't help but laugh, her earlier discomfort easing at the sight of Max.

Seeing Max was a relief for Lilith. She'd been debating whether to leave early, but now, with Max around, maybe she wouldn't have to make an excuse. Lilith herself, of course, had been the one who suggested to trick-or-treat with the boys, because neither Dustin nor Lucas had found the courage to do so themselves. The answer she got from her wastextually, with a shrug and a half-hearted, "Yeah, why not?". But Lilith hadn't been sure Max would even show up.

Max had indeed shown up, just in time to pull off her grand scare. As she started walking away, fully expecting the group to follow, Lilith hesitated for a moment. Should she come and follow? Her brow furrowed as she glanced back at the four boys, still shaken from Max's prank and the fact she adressed more than two words for them.

When the girl noticed neither of them followed she turned to face them. "Hey, you guys coming or what?" she called out. Lilith, feeling a surge of excitement, smiled. Yeah, definetly join her was the best option. "Oh, I heard we should hit up Lorch Nora," Max said casually, a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

"The rich neighborhood?" Lilith's eyes lit up as she rushed to catch up. "I'm in."

Lucas and Dustin exchanged eager grins before they broke into a run to catch up with the girls. Will, who had been quiet but clearly enjoying the night, smiled and followed after them. It felt good to be out, to have these moments of normalcy after everything he had been through last year.

Mike, however, lagged behind, feeling increasingly left out. His friends seemed to be running off without him, drawn to Max and Lilith. He hadn't even been told about the plan to invite the girls. It felt wrong. He didn't want things to change—he wanted it to be just the four of them, like it always had been. But his friends were moving forward, and it seemed he was the only one unwilling to let things evolve.

***

The pulsing beat of Girls on Film by Duran Duran filled the air at Carol's house party, where seniors from Hawkins High crowded the living room, dancing and laughing in a chaotic whirlwind. The punch flowed freely, and the floor was packed with swaying bodies, leaving barely any space to move without bumping into someone. Emma and Veronica sat on the stairs, both worn out from dancing. They watched Brooke across the room, flashing a flirty smile at a girl dressed as a member of KISS, her face painted with the iconic black-and-white makeup.

"Does she even know she's flirting with a girl?" Veronica asked, breaking the silence. Her voice carried a hint of discomfort, more from unfamiliarity than outright disapproval. She shifted slightly, as if trying to shake off the unease crawling under her skin. Seeing two girls flirt wasn't something anyone was used to, and it stirred a mix of curiosity and confusion within her.

"Yeah, she knows," Emma replied, her lips curving into a small grin. They all knew about Brooke's flirty streak after a few drinks. She once even flirted with a potted plant at a party, and it had been the inside joke for a week. Emma took a sip of her punch, her eyes still locked on Brooke, who seemed unaware of her audience. "But I'm not sure if this Samantha girl knows." Emma chuckled lightly, raising her cup in a toast to the chaotic mess that was high school parties. She had already downed two cups of punch, but Veronica, more cautious, had switched to apple juice after one taste of the overly sweet concoction.

"And is that... normal?" Veronica hesitated, her eyes seeking out Emma's, unsure of how to frame the question.

"After three cups of punch?" Emma smirked, knowing the alcohol was doing its work on everyone, loosening inhibitions and blurring lines. "On Brooke? Pretty usual. She would even flirt with a cactus." She turned to her friend, but the look on Veronica's face gave her pause. There was something deeper there. It wasn't just about Brooke or the punch.

Realization dawned on Emma, and her playful grin softened. "Oh." The atmosphere between them shifted into something more serious. "You mean... about liking girls?"

Veronica's silence spoke volumes, her shoulders tense as she waited for Emma to say something, anything that would make sense of what she was feeling.

"Yeah, that's normal," Emma said gently, her smile warm and reassuring. "It wouldn't change anything between us, you know that, right?" She placed a comforting hand on Veronica's knee, trying to bridge the awkward gap that had opened up between them. Veronica nodded, relieved by her friend's acceptance, but before either of them could say more, Brooke plopped down between them, slumping onto the step below.

"Gosh, tonight's a bust," Brooke groaned, her voice slightly slurred. "Munson didn't show up, and Jonathan totally stole my moment. What's next?" She flopped her head into Emma's lap dramatically.

"Wait, Jonathan what?" Veronica asked, raising an eyebrow, her earlier tension fading as she focused on Brooke's new drama.

"Yeah, Samantha—" Brooke's head lolled onto Emma's lap as she tried to explain, clearly affected by the alcohol. "I don't know... she went to get a drink." Emma gently brushed Brooke's hair, concerned by her friend's state. "So I waited for her like a minute."

"I think you just followed her, girl." the blonde corrected.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, anyway, I go after her and PUM!" she clapped her hands and got distracted by her own movements. "Jonathan Byers is there flirting with her."

"Byers?" it probably was the first time the guy was spotted on a party since middle school, as much as Ronnie could remember, just like her.

"Yeah!" Brooke giggled, her voice high-pitched and tipsy. "Weird, right?"

"I think we should take care of other things." Brooke hicupped at Emma's words.

"Okay, I think we need to focus on more pressing issues." Veronica suggested.

"I'm perfect!" Brooke protested, sitting up suddenly and wobbling a bit on the step. But her protest was cut short when they all noticed Nancy Wheeler storming up the stairs, her blouse stained with punch, followed closely by Steve, who looked equally flustered.

"What the...?" The three girls exchanged curious glances. The alcohol in Veronica's system seemed to evaporate as her mind cleared, sensing that something serious had just happened. Nancy disappeared into the bathroom upstairs, slamming the door, while Steve, looking frustrated and furious, turned on his heel and rushed down the stairs.

Without thinking, Veronica reached out and grabbed his arm. "Where's Nancy?"

"Up stairs in the bath."Steve muttered, trying to brush her off.

It didn't take more than a minute for neither of Emma or Brooke, who was still quite affected by the alcohol but at a low level, to rush up stairs to check on the girl. Veronica, however, held firm, refusing to let Steve go. She recognized the storm cloud on his face—something had definitely happened, and knowing Steve as well as she did, she was certain he had something to do with it. "What did you do?"

"Not in the mood, Veronica," Steve snapped, trying to pull away, but she wasn't letting him off the hook that easily. She followed him outside, determined to get answers.

"What did you do?" she repited bluntly. Her eyes narrowed, her tone firm. Steve stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face her, his expression incredulous.

"Why do you always assume I did something wrong?" he barked, his frustration spilling over. He ran a hand through his hair, looking as though he was on the edge of losing it. Veronica didn't flinch. She crossed her arms, giving him that look that only a childhood friend could give—the one that said, Don't even try to lie to me.

"Do you really need me to answer that?" she shot back, her eyebrows raised. The tension between them hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Steve sighed heavily, realizing he wasn't going to win this one. His hands dropped to his sides in defeat.

"She said we're bullshit," he admitted quietly, his voice raw with emotion. "She said... she doesn't love me."

Veronica didn't even blink. "Like if nothing in your life wasn't already bullshit," she replied, her voice cutting through his self-pity like a knife. Steve stared at her, a mix of hurt and exhaustion in his eyes. He knew Veronica was brutally honest, and tonight was no exception.

***

"Another full-size!" Dustin exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement as he stared at the candy bar in his hand. "Seriously, rich people are such suckers." The group of kids made their way down the path of yet another house in the upscale neighborhood. Their bags and pumpkins were nearly overflowing with enough sweets to last a year, but none of them wanted the night to end. Dustin and Lucas led the way with Lilith and Max, their Ghostbuster costumes flapping in the cool autumn breeze.

Dustin paused mid-stride, his brow furrowing as he glanced at the girls. "Wait, neither of you are rich, right? I didn't mean—" He trailed off, suddenly realizing his words might have sounded offensive.

Lilith, twirling her lollipop around in her mouth, smiled slightly, her mood far lighter than it had been a couple of hours ago. "Just my grand-uncle, but that doesn't count," she shrugged before turning her gaze toward Max. "What about you?"

Max chuckled, kicking a pebble as she walked beside them. "Nope," she said, staring down at the sidewalk. "I live up Old Cherry Road."

The others went quiet, understanding what that meant. Max lived on the poorer side of Hawkins, something that carried a weight no one liked to talk about. Lilith, however, looked confused.

"Wait, is that like a... poor neighborhood or something?" she asked, genuinely curious. Lucas raised his eyebrows at her question, as if it was absurd she didn't already know.

"How long have you even been living here?" he asked, clearly surprised.

Lilith hesitated, pulling the lollipop out of her mouth. "Uh, like... six months? I guess."

Dustin's eyes widened in disbelief. "And you still don't know where Old Cherry Road is?"

She shrugged again, attempting to explain. "I spend too much time locked in my room."

Max stepped in, offering a smile that was more understanding than teasing. "You should come by sometime. The street's great for skating. I could show you, if you want."

Lilith's eyes lit up. She had never tried skating before, but Max made it sound fun. "That'd be awesome!" she said, grinning.

"Yeah, the streets are totally tubular," Dustin added, his voice exaggerated, drawing groans from the others. Lucas and Max shot him looks, rolling their eyes.

"It's super tubular," Lucas corrected, while Max added, "Totally tubular, Dustin."

Lilith chuckled, enjoying the easy, goofy banter that had blossomed between them. She found herself glancing back over her shoulder, though, noticing that two of their group were lagging behind. Will was holding his camera up, filming the ongoing conversation, but Mike... Mike looked annoyed. No, more than that. He looked mad.

Lilith frowned, her good mood dampened slightly. She saw Mike turn to Will, his voice low but sharp. "Did you agree to this?"

Will lowered the camera, his expression shifting to one of discomfort. "What?"

"To them joining our party," Mike bit out, glancing over at Lilith and Max with clear frustration.

Lilith rolled her eyes, realizing Mike was being... well, Mike. Ever since they'd left the arcade earlier that night, he had been in a bad mood. She couldn't figure out why, but he was acting like having them around was some kind of betrayal.

"It's just for Halloween," Will tried to reassure him, brushing it off. But Mike didn't seem to care.

"You should have checked with me," Mike said, sticking stubbornly to his point, oblivious to how uncomfortable Will was becoming.

"They were excited," Will explained, glancing nervously at the others. "I thought you'd be okay with it."

Mike's expression hardened. "They're ruining the best night of the year," he muttered before turning sharply and walking ahead, his shoulder colliding with Lilith's as he passed.

Lilith watched him go, her patience wearing thin. She brushed off her shoulder with a roll of her eyes and moved toward Will, her voice softening. "Hey," she said, pulling the lollipop from her mouth. "Have you been filming all night?"

Will gave her a small, awkward smile, glancing at his camera. "Kind of," he mumbled.

"Planning to make a memory movie?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood as she fell into step beside him.

Will's smile grew a little more genuine. "Nah, just for fun."

"That's cool," Lilith said, returning his smile. But before she could say more, a group of older teens in creepy masks jumped out at them, causing both her and Will to scream in surprise. Lilith quickly recovered, but Will stumbled back, falling to the ground.

"Will!" Lilith exclaimed, her heart racing as she knelt beside him. At first, she thought he was just scared, but then she noticed the vacant look in his eyes, the way his body trembled. Her breath hitched—this wasn't just fear. He was having some kind of episode, something she recognized from dealing with her sister's panic attacks.

"Shit," she muttered under her breath, panic bubbling in her chest. She shook his shoulders gently, trying to reach him. "Will? Hey, you're here. You're safe. You're not there, okay?"

Before she could say more, Mike's voice cut through the air, sharp with worry. "Will!" He rushed over, pushing past Lilith to get to his friend. "Will, what's wrong?" His hands trembled as he gripped Will's shoulders, trying to steady him.

"Holy shit," Dustin muttered as the rest of the group caught up. "Is he okay?" Lucas asked, concern etched on his face.

"I don't know," Mike replied, his voice strained as he tried to comfort Will, who was still trembling, lost in whatever dark memory had gripped him. "I'm going to get you home, okay? " he offered focused on him trembling, looking out of place and fearful. "I'm going to get you home." the boy repeated in case he didn't hear well.

"Hold on." Dustin stepped closer sighting how Wheeler was getting a very dizzy Will up all by himself. "All right, take it easy."

"I got him." Mike snapped, his frustration palpable as he hauled Will up, practically dragging him away. Will clung to him, his face pale and full of fear.

"Mike?" Dustin called, his confusion growing. But Mike was already moving, his back rigid with anger. "Keep trick-or-treating. I'm bored anyway."

Max watched the two boys disappear down the street, her brow furrowed in worry. She turned to the others, her voice low. "What's wrong with him?"

***

In a small, dimly lit bathroom decorated with wallpaper covered in flowers and butterflies, Nancy Wheeler stood unsteadily at the sink, her reflection staring back at her. She leaned heavily on the basin, trying to scrub a stubborn punch stain from her blouse with a small towel. Her brows were furrowed in frustration, the events of the night with Steve running through her foggy, alcohol-clouded mind. She didn't fully understand what had happened—or even what was happening now. All she knew was that there was a deep, painful knot in her throat, a constant need to cry, and a growing anger at herself. She couldn't handle this anymore.

The bathroom door opened quietly, unnoticed by Nancy. Emma, a blonde girl with worried blue eyes, stepped inside, followed by Brooke, her black-haired friend sporting a ginger wig for the party. Emma spotted Nancy's reflection and immediately approached. "Nancy," she called softly, placing a gentle hand on hers. "Stop." She saw how Nancy was still rubbing the towel against the fabric, only making the stain worse. Emma pried the towel from her hand and set it aside, ignoring Nancy's faint protests.

"No," Nancy mumbled, shaking her head as her eyes fluttered closed. "No."

Brooke stepped in, holding Nancy's head gently and turning her face toward her. "How much have you drunk?" Brooke asked, her voice a mix of concern and curiosity. Nancy wrinkled her nose, shaking her head again, trying to pull away.

"I'm fine," Nancy insisted, her voice weak, barely believable. Both girls exchanged a worried look. She was far from fine. "I'm fine," she repeated, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes, her hands bracing against the sink as she stared back at her reflection in the mirror. But as she gazed at herself, the weight of everything hit her, and tears began to spill uncontrollably down her cheeks.

Emma reacted first, wrapping her arms around Nancy in a half-hug as she collapsed into sobs. Brooke hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. The small amount of alcohol she'd had earlier left her feeling slightly off-balance, but she quickly joined Emma, awkwardly embracing their friend. They all ended up sitting on the grimy bathroom floor, comforting Nancy as she cried.

"My life is bullshit," Nancy whispered through her tears, barely audible. "I'm bullshit." The name Barb slipped from her lips, over and over, between the sobs. Barb, her best friend who had disappeared almost a year ago at a party at Steve's house, had never been found. The guilt and grief of it all had been eating Nancy alive.

Emma and Brooke exchanged another glance. They had known for some time that Nancy was struggling, but this... this was worse than they'd realized. Nancy had been keeping up appearances, forcing smiles, going through her daily routine—but underneath it all, she was crumbling.

A few minutes later, Nancy's sobs softened as exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep in Emma's lap. Brooke leaned her head against the sink, sighing deeply. "What do we do now?" she asked, her voice tired.

Emma stroked Nancy's hair soothingly. "I think I should call Dad," she said softly. "He can drive us home, and maybe we can call the Wheelers and let them know Nancy's staying with us."

Brooke raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You sure that's a good idea? Wouldn't it be better if we took her home? She needs rest, and maybe she can skip school tomorrow."

"Yeah, you're probably right," Emma replied, sighing. But before she could say more, the door creaked open again, and Jonathan Byers stepped into the room, his expression filled with concern.

"Jonathan," Brooke greeted, her brow furrowing slightly at his sudden appearance. "Right on time."

Jonathan ignored her sarcasm, his eyes focused on Nancy. "How is she?" he asked quietly, clearly worried.

"Not great," Emma said, her tone gentle but truthful. "She needs to get home."

Jonathan nodded without hesitation. "I'll give you guys a ride. Let's get her out of here."

Between Jonathan and Emma, they helped Nancy to her feet, her arms draped around them as they carefully guided her down the stairs and out of the house. The cool night air hit them as they stepped outside, where Jonathan's car was parked at the curb.

Brooke followed a few steps behind, but her attention was caught by something else. In the garden, Veronica stood, locked in a tense conversation with Steve Harrington, who looked just as distressed. Brooke frowned, watching the two exchange heated words.

"What's going on?" Emma asked as she returned from helping Jonathan settle Nancy in the car.

Brooke pointed toward the couple. "Steve and Veronica... not sure, but they're definitely having a moment."

Emma pressed her lips into a thin line. Steve had left Nancy drunk and heartbroken at the party—she wasn't surprised to see him being confronted. "Coward," she muttered under her breath, crossing her arms as she watched Steve storm off to his car, leaving Veronica standing alone in the yard.

After a brief explanation to Veronica about Nancy's condition, the three girls piled into Jonathan's car. The drive to the Wheeler's house was quiet, filled with the soft sound of the car engine and the occasional murmur from a half-asleep Nancy. Once they reached the Wheeler residence, Jonathan and the girls carefully helped Nancy to the door and explained the situation to her parents, excusing Steve with forced smiles. Karen and Ted Wheeler accepted their explanation without too many questions, and soon enough, the group was heading back to Emma's place.

As they finally arrived home, the girls found Lilith and Max sitting in the living room, munching on Halloween candy while watching Ghostbusters on TV.

"You're early," Emma commented, glancing at the clock. It was only half-past eleven.

"You too," Lilith replied, her eyes narrowing in curiosity.

"Long story," Veronica muttered, sinking into a chair.

"Long story," Max echoed with a knowing grin. "I'm Max, by the way."