It's currently April 28, 1986. Seven months since the Byers plus El moved away. Ten months since The Battle At Starcourt. Four months since Christmas- the last time Mike and Eleven saw each other. About eleven months since Mike and El got back together.

Speaking of Mike, he and the rest of the party sat at their lunch table at Hawkins High talking about random nothings. Dustin and Lucas were arguing- when are they not- about what flavor of pudding is better. Chocolate or Vanilla? Mike could care less.

Max was talking to one of her new friends- Rachel- about hanging out after school today.

Mike, wasn't talking to anyone. He was staring down at the table, leaning his head on his hand, thinking about one thing. Well, one person. One very special and beautiful person. El. For some odd reason- today- he just really seemed to miss her more than usual. He couldn't stop thinking about her. Her shoulder length curly hair. Her beautiful, big, brown eyes. Her quiet giggle. Her bright smile. Her hand in his. The feeling of her lips on his. He honestly didn't know why he missed her so much today.

Okay, maybe he did know why. Last night, Mike had a nightmare. A nightmare where he lost the love of his life. In the dream, Billy hadn't sacrificed himself for her and Mike had to watch the monster take her over. Mike had woken up in cold sweat, panting, and eventually cried himself to sleep.

"Mike." Dustin snapped his fingers in front of the boys face. "Mike!"

"What?!"Mike snapped his head up, and irritated look on his face.

"Vanilla or chocolate?" Lucas asked and Mike rolled his eyes.

"Butterscotch." Mike said, exasperated.

"See! I told you he would pick- Wait. What?!" Lucas exclaimed, a look of disgust on his face.

"I like butterscotch pudding." Mike shrugged and stood up to throw away his trash. He set his tray on the table next to the trash can and headed back to his table. As he was nearing where his friends sat, a hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him down at a different table.

"Okay, Michael Wheeler. We have questions and we want answers." A voice said. Mike looked at the feminine voice and saw Brittany Lawerl- A nice girl that's in his science class.

"Um, why?" Mike asked, trying not to sound too rude.

"Because people want to know more about you. You know, the gossip!" Brittany exclaimed. "You're kind of like the mystery man around here."

"Oh, I am?" Mike was confused as heck.

"Yeah, you don't really open up to anyone. Just kind of mope around unless you're out of school then you're all cheery." Lacey- Brittany's friend- said.

"Oh, guess I never really noticed." Mike shrugged. "What do you want to know?" He didn't mind answering a few simple questions.

"Let's see..." Brittany pulled out a blue notebook and a black pen. She flipped through the pages until she found the one she was looking for. "Aha! Here it is."

"How many questions are there?" Mike asked, unsure.

"A lot but we won't ask all of them." Lacey said. "Some are, well, sketchy."

"Uh, okay." Mike made a face.

"So first question." Brittany tapped her pen against the notebook. "You seem to be the only one without a significant other In your group of friends."

"How did you-" Mike started to ask.

"Heard Dustin talking to his girlfriend- what's her name again?" Brittany tapped her pen against her chin. "Oh! Right! Suzie. He was talking to her on his walkie."

"Oh, okay." Mike's shoulders relaxed.

"So, back to the question. Do you have a significant other?" Another friend of the girls- Jessica- asked.

Mike blushed before answering, "I was actually the first out of our group to get a girlfriend." The three girls squealed.

"Okay, okay. That's big news." Brittany wrote his answer down. "Okay, what's her name?"

Mike thought about it. Jane or El? Jane would be safer but no one calls her Jane. If he told then El they'd probably write it down as Elle. Plus she doesn't even live in Indiana anymore. "El Hopper."

"Hopper.. why does that sound familiar?" Lacey looked around at her two friends.

"Because Hopper was the Chief of Police." Brittany muttered. "Chief Jim Hopper."

"Didn't he like.. you know. Last year?" Jessica asked and Mike nodded.

"Poor girl. Where does she live now?" Lacey asked.

"With her guardian, Joyce Byers and her boys." Mike said, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"Will?" Jessica asked.

"Yeah." Mike nodded.

"Okay.. where?" Brittany asked.

"Ohio." Mike said.

"When was the last time you saw her?" Brittany asked quietly.

"Christmas." Mike stood and went back to his table. Once he sat down Max smirked at him.

"Did ya get lost?" She teased.

"No." Mike scoffed. "I got interrogated." The bell rung so everyone stood and went to their next class.

With the Byers and El. Like two hours earlier---

"El! Will! You ready to go?" Joyce called up the stairs.

"We'll be right down, Joyce!" El yelled down to the woman who became more like a mom to her each day.

Joyce understood why El didn't call her 'mom' yet. El never called Hopper 'dad' either. Too many memories of having a Papa. El had a mom and Joyce understood that and which was why it didn't bothered her why El still called her Joyce.

"Okay, lock the door on your way out!" Joyce walked outside and got into the car beside Jonathan- who was in the passenger seat.

-----

"You got everything?" Will asked his sister. El nodded slowly.

"We don't need out school stuff right?" El asked.

"No, Mom said we could take a break from school when we visit." Will explained. El and Will have been homeschooled for a few months now. "Ready?"

"Yup." Will hopped up from his sitting position on her bed, picked up his luggage, and ran down the steps and out to the car. El giggled and picked up her suitcase and pillow. As El walked to the stairs, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her hair now rested right on top of her shoulders instead of over them. She wore her white pants and Hopper's old, long sleeved, blue T-shirt with her white tennis shoes. El wanted to wear something nicer... for Mike but Joyce said to wear something comfy for the five hour drive.

El hopped down the stairs- no pun intended- and locked the door on her way out. She slid into the backseat next to Will and buckled up.

"You ready kids?" Joyce asked, starting the car.

"Yup!" El and Will shouted excitedly. Joyce started driving.

"So.." El said once they'd been driving for a half an hour. "Our friends don't know we're coming?"

"No. It's a surprise." Jonathan told his younger sister.

"Okay." El replied.

"El, who are you most excited to see?" Joyce asked.

"I dunno." El shrugged, hugging her pillow, and looking out the window.

"M-I-ke" Will sing-songed. El's cheeks blushed a light pink. She playfully slapped his arm.

"Stop it." She whispered. "Don't embarrass me."

"But it's true!" Will said back.

"No.. It is not." El said, but her smile and blush told otherwise.

"El.." Will raised an eyebrow and pointed an accusing finger at her. "Friend's don't lie."

El whacked Will's face with her pillow. "Yeah, but siblings do." Joyce smiled.

"Why am I stuck with the violent sister!" Will complained jokingly making Jonathan laugh quietly. "Mike doesn't know how lucky he is. He should try having El for his sister." El gave him a look of disgust.

"Ew." El said.

"Yeah.. that's kind of.." Will shuddered and Joyce laughed. The two younger siblings stayed quiet until.. "Why can't you be more like Holly?"

El whacked him with her pillow again. "Because Holly can't save you from monsters."

"Yeah, but Holly certainly wouldn't beat me up." Will said.

"I don't beat you up. I could do much worse." El smirked.

"Yeah... don't hurt me please." Will squeaked and El laughed. Will raised his pillow, about to whack El when his pillow jerked out of his hands and whacked him.

"Hey!" Will shouted at El who wiped her nose with a wash cloth she carried around. "Just because you got you powers back does not mean you should use them whenever you want!"

"That's a good point.." El nodded.

"Yeah. You never know when they'll go away again. Save them for when you really need them." Will gave great advice when it was needed.

"Okay." El said and leaned her head on Will's shoulder and closed her eyes.

A month ago, El woke up with a head ache. She went to the kitchen to get some medicine but the bottle was too high in the cabinet and she couldn't reach it. She hadn't tried this in a while but she decided to now because everyone was still sleeping and she didn't want to wake anyone up.

El thrust her hand out and focused on the medicine bottle. Soon enough the bottle levitated off the shelf in the cabinet. El brought it out and set it on the counter. She laughed then squealed, which sounded like a scream.

El heard footsteps coming down the stairs and into the kitchen. "El? EL! Why'd you scream?" Came the voice of her worried big brother- Jonathan. El pointed at the medicine bottle on the counter. Jonathan looked at the spot it used to be at.

"Wait.. how'd you get it down? Did you climb? And why do you need it?" Jonathan asked. She shook her head, the smile never leaving her face.

"Head ache. Jonathan." El said. "Stick out your hand." So he did. El thrust her arm out and moved the medicine bottle onto Jonathan's hand.

"El! Your powers!" Jonathan laughed. He wrapped his little sister in a hug and let her go when they heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

"What's.. going on?" Will asked, a tired looking Joyce behind him.

"El got her powers back!" Jonathan said.

"Wait what?" Joyce asked. El moved the medicine bottle back to the counter with her mind.

"El! That's great!" Will rushed to hug his sister.

"Yes, it is. But, El, we can't tell anyone. At least, not over the phone." Joyce said. "We never know who's listening."

"I know." El nodded.

-----

El and Will woke to someone shaking their shoulders. "Will and El. We're here." The sound of their mom said. The two kids got out of the car.

"Are they still at school?" El said sleepily, grabbing her luggage out of the trunk.

"Yes, but, I told Karen to tell Mike to come to his house after school." Joyce said. "Except for Max."

"Why can't Max come?" El asked, cocking her head to the left a little.

"She has plans tonight." Joyce smiled at the young girl.

"I can see her tomorrow?" El asked.

"Of course, sweetie." Joyce wrapped her arm around El's shoulders and gave her a little squeeze.

"Thank you." El wrapped her arms around Joyce.

"It's not a problem." Joyce said back a little confused as they pulled away.

"No, for like taking me in and letting me stay with you." El wiped at her eyes.

"Oh, I couldn't just leave you." Joyce scoffed and kissed El's forehead. "I always wanted a daughter. When we get home, we'll have a girls night."

"Okay." El smiled and they began walking up to the Wheeler's household.

Joyce rang the doorbell. A few seconds later Karen opened the door. "Hey, Guys! Come in!" The family stepped inside.

"Thank you so much, Karen for letting us stay here." Joyce appreciatively said.

"Oh, Thanks for coming!" Karen smiled. "El and Will you can set your stuff in Mike's room. You guys can stay in there."

"Thank you." El nodded and her and Will headed upstairs. Will opened Mike's door and set his stuff at the end of his bed. El set hers on the floor next to Mike's bed. She looked around. His room looked the same except less toys and more books and awards. on one side of the window in his room her had a bookshelf and on the other side he had a chair.

On the wall in front of his bed he had a desk full of papers and pencils. Next to the desk was a garbage can.

What was on his two nightstands- on both sides of the bed- was what caught El's eyes. The nightstand on the left side had two picture frames. One had a picture of them at the snowball-bright smiles and arms around each other. The other picture frame was a picture of her. It was on one of their movie nights they used to have in Mike's basement. El had on a light pink T-shirt on and plaid pants with black socks. She was sitting with cross legs on the couch with the bowl of popcorn n her lap. Mike had taken the picture of her after he had made her laugh about something she couldn't remember now.

El looked up and on the wall above the nightstand were a bunch of drawings hung up. El's eyes got watery when she noticed the pictures were the ones she drew for him after Will had taught her what drawing and coloring was.

One picture was of a flower. Another one was a heart with the words, 'I miss you' and 'I love you'. She head mailed that one to him about a month ago. Another picture was the one where she had attempted to draw them holding hands. It wasn't bad. But it wasn't like if a famous artist had drawn them. There were many more pictures, some overlapping the others.

"Will! Mike hung up all my drawings!" El exclaimed, jumping up and down a little.

"That's great, El!"

On the other nightstand was a picture frame with a picture of him and Will. El smiled. "Will." El pointed at the nightstand and Will smiled. Next to the picture frame was a binder. El opened it and looked through it. "Will he keeps your drawings too."

"That's nice of him." Will laughed at her excitement. "We should head to the basement. That's the first place they'll go when they get here." Will grabbed his sister's hand and pulled her down the stairs.

"Where are you kids going?" Joyce asked her kids from her spot at the table, across from Karen.

"Basement. To wait for out friends." El said and they ran down the stairs.

"She's adorable.: Karen smiled at El's figure disappearing as she walked downstairs.

"Yeah. She really his." Joyce sipped her coffee.

----

El grabbed a wonder woman comic from off the floor and saw the name 'Max' written on the back of the cover. She must have left it here accidently. El shrugged and sat on the couch next to Will who was reading an X-Men comic he took off the shelf.

----

"Finally! School's over!" Lucas exclaimed as The Party exited the building.

"Yeah." Mike furrowed his eyebrows. "For some reason we all have to go to my house. Except for Max because she has plans with Rachel." He pointed at their red headed friend who was walking off with Rachel.

"Well, we'll see soon, right?" Dustin said as he got on his bike.

"Yeah." Mike and Lucas replied as they started to peddle to Mike's house.

---

"Mom! We're here." Mike shouted as he walked in through the door.

"Michael." Karen appeared from the kitchen. "Your sister is sleeping."

"Why's Nancy sleeping?" Mike asked confused and Lucas facepalmed.

"Holly, Mike. Holly." Dustin said.

"Ohhh. That makes more sense." Mike nodded. "We're going to the basement."

"Alright. I'll start dinner." Karen walked back into the kitchen.

The kids headed down the stairs.

----

"No, vanilla pudding is so much better." Lucas said as they walked down the stairs.

"You guys are still arguing about that?" Mike asked. El, who was still sitting on the couch beside Will, looked up at the sound of her boyfriend's voice. Will also looked up when he heard the arguing.

"Yes, Mike. Yes, we are." Dustin replied.

"Why can't you guys just compromise and say they're both equally as good?" Mike asked with a raised eyebrow. He set his back pack down by the table and unzipped it.

"Because, Mike! They just can't be equally as good. They just can't!" Lucas threw his arms in the air.

El covered her mouth with her hand to cover up a giggle. Will slapped her knee and put a finger to his lips to tell her to be quiet. She just slapped him back.

"El, seriously, stop." Will whispered.

"You started it." El whispered back.

"Uh-huh. Sure." Will rolled his eyes.

"You know you love your 'violent sister'." El made air quotes.

"Yeah true even though you can be a pain." Will teased. They turned their attention back to their arguing friends who somehow didn't hear them talking.

"I told you, butterscotch is the way to go." Mike explained, taking his math book out of his backpack.

"How do you even like that flavor." Lucas stuck his tongue out and shook his head. "Yuck."

"Mike rolled his eyes. "I dunno! I just do." He turned to the couch and dropped his textbook and just stared at the two figures sitting there, looking at them. "Uh, guys." He never took his eyes off them.

"What, Mike?" Dustin asked, annoyed.

"Is it just me or is that-" Mike said but was interrupted by Lucas.

"Will and Eleven." He said and Dustin turned to look at the couch.

"Holy mother of God." Dustin said.

"Hi, guys." Will said and El smiled. The three boys rushed to give Will a hug as he stood. Mike left the group hug early and turned to his girlfriend.

"El." He breathed out and El jumped into his arms. Wrapped her arms around his neck as hers went to her waist. They rocked back and forth. They pressed their lips together and their lips moved in perfect sync.

"Ugh, guys, really?" Lucas scoffed. The couple pulled away and laughed.

"Do it in your own time." Dustin said.

"Really, El?" Will said. "Another reason to add to my list: Why I Want Holly As Sister Instead Of El."

"Excuse me." El said to Mike and moved out of his arms. She walked over to Will and smiled sweetly. "Sorry, Will." She hugged him.

"Aw, it's okay- OW!" Will jumped away from her and rubbed the back of his neck where El had pulled his hair.

"That's what you get!" El giggled and move to stand beside Mike after giving Dustin and Lucas a hug.

----

"Sucks Max isn't here." Lucas said while lookin at El who was snuggled up against Mike on the couch as the group of friends watched E.T.

"Why? So you can have a snuggle buddy too?" Will teased and El giggled.

"What?" Lucas's eyes widened. "No! She'd want to see El!"

"Uh-huh. Sure." Dustin said, eyes focused on the TV screen. El sat up-she was leaning on Mike- and ran her fingers through her hair.

"We could go see her. Go to her house and surprise her." El said.

"Uh, El, you can't just go somewhere if you're uninvited. Unless it's Mike's house." Will said.

"But, before we moved Max said I didn't have to ask and could just go over." El said, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh, well in that case. Let's go!" Lucas said and ran up the stairs, the rest of The Party behind them. They were running into the kitchen- nearing Joyce and Karen- when Lucas stopped running. Which caused everyone behind him to run into him and fall over. Karen and Joyce laughed.

"Oof." El said as she hit her head on the ground. She stood and shook her head. Mike stood up and looked at her, concerned.

"El, you okay?" He asked.

"Yes." She replied as they all began walking to the door.

"Wait, where are you kids going?" Karen asked.

"Max's." Mike said and they all headed out the door. El sat behind Mike on his bike and wrapped her arms around his waist. She leaned her head on his back. Will stood on the pegs behind Lucas and Dustin rode by himself.

----

Pretty soon- with the help of El- they made it to Max's house. They all got off their bikes and ran to the door. Dustin knocked and Max's mom opened the door. "Um, Hello."

"Hello, Mrs. Mayfield." Dustin said.

"Yes?"

"Is Max here?" He asked.

"Yes, in her room with a friend. Why?" Max's mom asked.

"We're her friends and we came to hang out." Dustin explained.

"Oh, okay. Yeah. Come in." Mrs. Mayfield said. "I can show you where her room is."

"I know where it is." El stepped out from behind Mike.

"Oh, hi, El. Nice to see you again." Mrs. Mayfield said with a gentle smile.

"You too." El lead the way upstairs.

"Wait. You've been here before?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah. We had a.. sleepover." El said, still getting used to that word.

"Oh." Lucas shook his head. "Okay." They got to Max's bedroom door and Mike was about to knock when El placed a hand on his chest to stop him.

"I got it." El said with a smirk.

"El.." Will warned.

"Not now, Will." El said.

----

Max was with Rachel in her room reading comic books. Rachel was okay, a little girlier then she would have liked but she'll keep her busy until El comes back to visit. Max stood and turned on her radio and sighed as her and El's favorite song came on. Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper. Max moved back to beside Rachel on her bed.

Rachel set her book down. "Max." Rachel said.

"Yeah?" Max looked up from her comic book.

"Do you wanna paint nails or something?" Rachel asked sweetly. Here's the thing, Rachel was a really nice girl and Max just could not say no to her.

"Yeah, I guess." Max said and grabbed the bin nail polish from under her bed. She picked it up and sat back on her bed. "What color?"

"Blue. You?" Rachel asked.

"Red." Max shrugged but before she could reach for it the nail polish bottles began rattling.

"Uh, Max. What's happening?" Rachel asked, a little freaked out.

"I.. don't know." Max said, more confused then anything. Then her radio started turning off and on before just staying off.

"Max.." Rachel shakily said. "I'm scared." Max looked at her friend to see her eyes were watery.

"Um, let me go ask my mom something." Max stood right when her door started to slowly open.

"Max.." Rachel said, looking at the door. "No one's on the other side."

"Hm." Max cocked her head but jumped as her friends crowded around her door. "Guys!" She rolled her eyes.

"Y-you guys did that?" Rachel asked, calming down.

"Not exactly." Dustin said and moved out of the way to show Will and El standing there. Max watched as El wiped blood from her nose.

----

El closed her eyes and made the nail polish bottles rattle. Then her friends heard the radio turning on and off.

Dustin looked at El and saw blood trickling out of her nose "Holy Sh-"

"Shh!" Mike said.

El opened the door and her eyes flew open.

----

"El?" Max whispered and El silently walked over to Max and the redhead wrapped her arms around her best friend. Max wasn't a crier but.. she let a few tears escape.

"Oh my God." Max sobbed and buried her face in El's shoulder. El laughed as tears raced down her cheek and she stroked her best friends red hair. "You're here."

"Yeah. I'm here." El said and pulled away from the hug. "Don't cry." El frowned.

"Happy tears, El. Happy tears." Max wiped her eyes.

"Oh." El looked at Rachel who was looking at her with confusion. "Who's that?"

"Oh, El that's Rachel my friend. Rachel, this is El. My best friend." Max introduced.

"I'm guessing you two haven't seen each other in a while?" Rachel said, standing up, and putting her shoes on.

"Yeah." Max smiled and Rachel smiled back.

"I'll let you two catch up." And then Rachel walked downstairs and out the door.

"How is she going home?" El asked.

"She lives across the street. It's all good." Max looped her arm through El's- much like they did at the mall when El 'dumped Mike's ass'.

"Okay." El said.

"Dinner at the Wheelers?" Max asked.

"Yup." They all said.

They had dinner at the Wheelers and all was good in the world until El and Will had to go home.

The End.