Grace couldn't sleep that night.

She kept tossing and turning. Thinking about Will. Thinking about Mike. Thinking about what Eleven had said.

She could've helped Will. It's all her fault he's gone. If only she cycled with him down to Mirkwood, it's much safer in numbers. She felt so guilty. Her stomach churned thinking of all the possible things that could be happening to him.

It was late. She heard someone moving outside her room. Grace could hear the person walk down the hall - towards Lance's room. It was probably her, seeing as when Grace came home Lance was nowhere to be found. She probably went to that thing Nance was talking about, whatever it was.

While going to the bathroom, Grace heard sniffling. Almost as if Delancey was crying.

The girl knocked on her sister's door. "Come in," A quiet statement came from behind it afterwards. Grace slowly opened the door to find Lance sitting on her bed. She had tears coming from her eyes, her mascara was running and her makeup was blotchy. She had her hair curled and wore a short red dress, which she had probably hidden under her oversized hoodie. Her heels were discarded messily at the door, Grace almost tripped over them while entering the room. Her sister had a box of tissues with already used ones practically scattered all over the bed, covered in her makeup.

"Holy shit, are you ok?" Her younger sister questioned, concerned for the older girl. She shook her head to signal no. Grace ran up and hugged her sister. "What's wrong?"

"Me and Barb fell out with Nance."

"Is it because of Steve?" Delancey paused for a while before finally answering. "Yes."

"Where were you? Did you do anything inappropriate?" Grace propped herself up on the bed, she wasn't tired whatsoever but maybe talking to Lance would help calm her down. "Oh god no! Well yeah, kinda. If you consider beer inappropriate."

Grace rolled her eyes. So, her sister had probably been to a party. "Me and Barb only went for Nance. Then she went all flirty with Steve and probably had sex with him." Delancey turned to look at Grace. "I probably shouldn't be telling a 12 year old this, huh?" Grace laughed slightly. She really didn't care. "I'm mature for my age, just like Will." Lance snorted. "Who told you that?" "Jon." Referring to the oldest Byers boy, who was fond of Grace. He was like the older brother she never had. She loved to visit Joyce's house, it was cool to hang around with Jonathan and Will, seeing as she grew up in such a feminine household. Delancey jokingly rolled her eyes at her sister trying to seem grown up, knowing Jonathan most likely only said that to both of them to make them feel better about having different, more mature tastes in things like music.

"Anyway, basically, me and Barb were meant to keep her grounded but she just ignored us. I left. Barb stayed. Nancy treated us like dirt. She chose Steve over us. I always had a crush on him but, damn, my friends always come first, y'know?" She was practically ranting, but Grace didn't mind. She could see exactly where Delancey was coming from, Nancy treated her and Barb like shit. Grace tried to divert her attention.

"You're make-up still looks very pretty. You must've looked beautiful." That wasn't a lie. Yes her mascara and eye makeup was ruined, but she could still see glimpses of what it looked like before. Lance was really great at make-up, better than most of the girls her age, definitely the best in her school year.

Delancey laughed slightly, her little sister always knew how to make people smile. "I can do your make-up one day if you want." Grace nodded as Lance stroked her hair. "I can already do a bit of makeup, but I'd love for you to do mine" She smiled at her older sister, who smiled back at her. "You should get to bed now kid. It's getting late."

"I can't sleep, I feel sick."

Delancey gave her a sympathetic look. "Alright, but go back to your room. You'll get us both into trouble if mom finds we've been staying up this late." She gestured to her clock beside her bulletin board. There were several pictures of Lance, Nance and Barb hung up on it. There was also a picture of little Lance holding baby Grace and one beside it of her holding baby Tabby.

It was 1:24am.

Grace gave in and returned to her room.

The plan for that day was to meet at Mike's house before school. But Grace felt so genuinely overwhelmed, she doubted she could even go today.

Hopefully Mike and the gang would understand. Maybe if she felt better she could meet up with them later.

Her alarm signaled for her to get up but she once again ignored it. Usually on Wednesday the household got up a little earlier because their mom usually had work out of town. Speaking of the devil, her mother entered the room.

"Feel sick again?" Grace looked up and nodded. Lizzy sighed.

"I might have to call someone to look after you, Mrs Livingstone won't be available today." By that statement, Grace knew she was either going to be babysat by Joyce or Karen.

"Do you want breakfast? I want to make sure you have something in your system, it might help you feel a bit better." The girl nodded and followed her mom downstairs. Her father was absent, Tabby was happily eating away her breakfast cereal but Delancey seemed... distant.

"Barb said she'd phone me when her and Nancy got home safely, she hasn't done it yet..." She trailed off, speaking to no one in particular.

When Grace came down she sat beside Lance and held her hand. Her sister turned to smile at her and squeezed it, as a sign of 'I'm ok'.

"Right Grace, you're getting dropped off at Karen's and she'll look after you. You and Lance might have to stay at hers tonight because I have a conference out of town and I don't know what time I'll be back in Hawkins by. Tabby's staying at Tawnee's house." Tawnee was Tabby's best friend. They were kinda like Will and Grace or Nance and Lance, only tiny. Rich wouldn't mind, it was always super late when he came in from work so he usually ate dinner alone and went straight to bed, he'd probably order himself a pizza tonight.

Delancey tensed. She knew her and Nancy's friendship would be okay but she was just angry at her for the events that occurred last night.

Grace finished her cereal and rushed upstairs to pick up her overnight bag. She packed enough stuff for today and for tomorrow. Her mom dropped her off at Karen's earlier than she expected, by the time she got there the gang were still talking in the basement. They were crowded around the table talking about Operation Mirkwood while Eleven played with the super comm.

Mike was discussing their plan thoroughly. "We just tell our parents we have AV Club after school, that'll give us at least a few hours for Operation: Mirkwood." He explained.

"What about me? I'm not going to school today." Grace announced her arrival by adding herself into the conversation. Mike's eyes lit up.

"Grace! Are you alright?"

"Not really, but for now I'm fine Wheeler, don't worry about me. Your mom is babysitting me and I'm staying at yours tonight, my mom's gonna be out of town." He was relieved. Obviously he could tell something was wrong but he was glad she was here nonetheless.

Wait.

She was staying at his? Not that they hadn't ever had a sleepover, because she had stayed at his house many times, it was just different this time.

They smiled at each other they seemed to have their eyes locked, they couldn't move them to look at the other people in the room. They were interrupted by Dustin's loud(and obviously fake) cough. Lucas was giving them his signature, 'are you guys kidding me?' look.

"Oh, um, you can just say you feel better and ask to go to the AV Club. My mom will probably write you a note or something but obviously you don't need it." Grace nodded, aware of her part.

"You seriously think that the weirdo knows where Will is?" Lucas meanly asked. Grace rolled her eyes. Lucas was one of her best friends but the way he was treating El was cruel. "Just trust me on this, okay? You got the supplies?"

"Yeah, uh," Lucas got his bag and started pulling out the items he specifically bought for Operation: Mirkwood

"Binoculars from 'Nam,"

"Army knife, also from 'Nam,"

"Hammer, camouflage bandana and the wrist rocket." He brought out the slingshot and proudly smiled.

"You're gonna take out the Demogorgon with a slingshot?" Dustin questioned. "Yeah, the Demogorgon is a mythical being and you thought a slingshot was your best bet?" Grace agreed with Dustin. "First of all, it's a wrist rocket. And second of all, the Demogorgon's not real."

"It's made up,"

"But if there is something out there, I'm gonna shoot it in the eye  - and blind it." Mike sighed as Lucas took the empty slingshot and flicked it at his friends.

"Dustin what did you get?" He asked, Grace felt guilty for not bringing supplies, but she didn't even know if she could come originally. Dustin brought out his bag and dumped what was inside it onto the table. All of it was food.

"Well, alrighty. So we've got  Nutty Bars, Bazooka, Pez, Smarties,  Pringles, Nilla Wafers, apple, - banana, and trail mix." He seemed proud of himself.

"Seriously?" Lucas had brought genuine tactical gear, all Dustin had brought was food.

"We need energy for our travels, for stamina. And besides, why do we  even need weapons anyway?" Dustin looked at Eleven.

"We have her." He pointed at her but was quickly interrupted by Lucas. "She shut one door!-"

"With her mind! Are you kidding me? That's insane. Imagine all the other cool stuff she could do. Like-"

He grabbed Mike's Millennium Falcon toy. "I bet she can make this fly." He held it out in front of her.
"Hey, hey. Ok, concentrate ok?" He dropped it, she did nothing. Grace snorted, El followed Dustin with her eyes. "O-ok, use your powers, ok?" Once again she did nothing, only staring at him with her large brown eyes.

"Idiot." Lucas said while slightly shaking his head.

"Stop treating her like shes a science experiment." Grace grabbed the Millennium Falcon off of him. "Yeah, she's not a toy."

"Boys! Time for school!" Mike's mom called from upstairs. Mike crouched in front of El. "Just stay down here. Don't make any noise,  and don't leave. Stick with Grace. If you get hungry,  eat Dustin's snacks, okay?" He got up and looked at his crush. Grace giggled but before she could speak, she was interrupted by Karen shouting, "Michael!"

"COMING!"

"You know the power lines behind my house?" Mike asked, agitated that he was being rushed. "Uh duh, I had my first kiss there." Mike's heart cringed with jealousy. He visibly gritted his teeth before continuing to speak. Grace noticed this.

"Take Eleven and meet us there after school. Probably about 3:15." Grace nodded but realised she had no bike. "What about my bike? It's at my house and I can't just go and get it. Won't your mom be suspicious that I'm just walking to school?" Mike thought about it for a second but then replied. "Just say you feel like getting some fresh air before you get to AV Club. She'll understand. Here, give Eleven my watch and tell her the plan too." He unbuckled his watch from his wrist and handed it to Grace, who placed it in her jacket pocket. His mom shouted down for him again.

"I'll see ya later I guess," Mike jokingly said to her while smiling.

"Have a nice day at school Mike."

And she kissed him on the cheek.

A/N:

OMGGGGGGG!!! She kissed him on the cheek tho!!!

I was planning on releasing this sooner but school is back and I have to start studying for exams, so you'll get a chapter a week.

Next vol will have the scene I was talking about in the last A/N, but for now you'll have to wait :p

Please vote if you liked, add to library for updates and comment feedback/suggestions it really helps me out!