AIN'T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH
Diana Ross

High school drama is ridiculous. Gossip would spread everywhere, no matter which grade you are in, if you are a junior, sophomore or senior, you would hear it in the halls. In the classroom and outside of the school hours, gossip is often the only entertainment outlet for students and do not realise how it could impact those who are the topic.

Each day Steve Harrington roamed Hawkins high school, he could see and hear as he came the main source of discussion. How he is having a secret, inappropriate, affair with Melissa Byers. The zombie boy and the freak's sister. The slut of Hawkins. ( Carol Perkins is to credit for the title )

He had fought Tommy H outside of a convenient store, when he heard Tommy calling Melissa a slew of unrepeatable and horrid names, ending in Steve beating the crap out of Tommy to a point where Carol was the one to intervene.

He repeated the memory in his head, over and over, feeling hot water off the school locker room shower head ricocheting off his face. He pinched his noses bridge, Billy Hargrove stares expectantly with a cruel, derivative, smile and it turned into a smirk.

" Don't sweat it, big guy. You know? Today isn't your day and that is ok, man. You were distracted, want to tell us boys what is on your mind? Who is on your mind?"

Billys smirk faded, replacing it is an unsettling sight of an indescribable stare. He knew who it was Steve is thinking of and he didn't like it.

" You and the princess break up for one day, she is already running off with the freak's and his hot sister's brother." Tommy H wheezed, it sounded like a broken kettle, and he grinned at Steve wickedly. " Oh, shit. Now I get it, dude. I don't know how I didn't see it coming and why you beat the shit out of me. You got the hots on the freaks sister. Man I get it, a babe like that I would get a hard on too, but she's way older." Tommy scrubbed the bar of soap on his chest, Billy's eye twitched at the information.

" Yeah. I see it now, I saw you talking to her in the alley. Comforting her, giving her a shoulder to lean on, like she was going to notice how golden boy Steve Harrington had a little crush. Not knowing the princess of an ex and Johnathan skipped yesterday. Still haven't shown." Tommy rested a hand on the showers pole, water sprinkling off his hand and landed on his face, mockingly he smiled. Steve didn't deny Tommy's claims, which looked bad for his point of view, guilt gnawing it's way into a tiny part of his brain. Tommy's weird laughter became faded while walking out of the shower.

" Don't take it too hard, Man. A babe like her, I would catch feelings too. Hell a pretty boy like you has got nothing to worry about, though it will be worth mentioning that I saw her first. So I suggest you don't get any more ideas and I won't have to beat your ass." Billy plainly said, his eyes apathetic and vacant— an allusion of a promise in his gaze. " You get it, Harrington?"

Steve, shampoo dripping on his head, stared at Billy blinking faster than before. Is he insane? The tone he used did in fact sound serious. He slowly got his hands out of his hair, turning to face Billy. " Cause there are plenty of bitches in the sea." Billy turns the water gauge off, when he did that he made sure to look Steve right in his eyes. " I will be sure to treat her good. Well, we both know what I mean by that, Steven."

He, in confidence, strode away twisting the dry white cloth of a towel provided by the school and wrapped it around his neck. Steve glares at the back of Billy's head, disgusted.

Hitting the shower pole Steve thought of ways to indirectly tell Melissa and warn her of Billy. One way or another. She needs to know and quickly.

Melissa rung up the cash register, opening the till of the money holder, giving change to one of her regular customers and said see you later. Her shop blooming in popularity meaning she is getting more income of money. Her shop is in need of an upgrade but she had to save up for a bigger store. A new mall is currently in its last stages of construction, rumour has it that the mall would bring in more jobs. Running a good portion of small businesses out of the job.

Amanda, reading the week's new edition and editorial on Vogue, uncrossed her legs getting up off her comfortable new recliner she bought for the store. ( With Milly's spoke consent as it was her money used.) she slapped the trending section, of the latest magazine, page down on a part of the bench. " These would look adorable on your little girl, or man. It's these brand new gender neutral clothes all babies can wear."

A picture of an advertised cream natural coloured one piece, Vogue is writing for as the new and improved initiative of the eighties fashion for young kids ages three months to one year wore out, interested Melissa enough to walk around her work station. Katherine, in return, replaces Milly at the counter but leaned on the surface. " I can ask my mom if she's got some of mine, and Dustin's, old baby clothes I can give you. I'm sure she will be glad to give it all to you, Mel."

Katherine told Milly, she is excited to become an honorary aunt of Melissa and hoppers child. Amanda had screeched at Milly telling her, as well as Katherine, how she is pregnant ( Melissa needing to cover her ears because of how loud their screams sounded ) going into a intervention of what to buy the baby. Amanda used a permanent marker to scribble a picture, it's a state-of-the-art crib from Macy's.

" This is the one you need, I read up on it and asked my mom about its authenticity. She say how times have changed, since we girls were all knee high to grass hoppers, and things are more complicated. Expensive. I might see if In a way I can convince mom to give Erica's crib, to you. She doesn't need it no more!"

The bell tolls overhead, it shrills altering Milly to two new customers entering the store. Both wore blacked-out trench coats, and the typical James Bond inspired white tees, ear pieces in their ears. Government agents. Melissa, stiffed with awareness of who they are, straightened up. " Melissa Byers. You need to come with us. Under the order of Doctor Sam Owens." One of the agents, monotonously, declared. " Now."

" Woah. You hold it right there, Mister Big." Said Amanda pointing her acrylic nail at his face. " I know you ain't ordering Milly around. You outta respect ladies as they deserve to be treated." She snaps, glaring at his bald headed face.

The agent rolled his eyes at her, nodding to one of the other officials giving confirmation of detaining Milly, Amanda, and Katherine. He moved out of their way, the three girls put up a fight trying to resist their demands but they all gave in to the reality they were being taken by force. Back to Hawkins Lab where it all went wrong.

Town cars waited for them in the alley behind Milly's boutique, Amanda tried kicking one of the agents legs unsuccessfully which in turn he injected a knock-out liquid and Milly's eyes blow in size feeling the same pinch in her neck. 'Oh shit'. Katherine made quite the noise, when trying to seek help, however it fails after she is too put to sleep.

" Let's get them back to Owens. In one piece. Time can't be wasted."

Coming back to her conscious state Melissa's eyes take in her surroundings, heart machines and other medical equipment she couldn't put her finger on the names of were all connected by some form of line. Everything which is in her body. Like she is a test subject. A rattle of metal hand-cuffs, imprisoning her, made Milly snap her eyes to the pair of cuffs holding her in place. " Ah, you are awake, good. Good. See, I told them not to handcuff you as you ain't a prisoner, here, for crying out loud." Sam Owens, a well respected scientific doctor at the lab, tisks shaking his head with a key in hand.

He untethered Melissa free of the cuffs. Milly massages her wrist, warily staring at Owens, untrusting of him. Sam casually sits on the bed and hummed at her heart monitors readings.

" Your friends are in the rooms on either side of this one. They are both awake, Amanda Sinclair is quite the tough girl. She manage to kick one my colleagues, and the other one Katherine Henderson. She's a rather good girl. Although I was told she tried to bite.. one of the female attendees trying to get her to draw blood."

'That sounds like Kathy and Mandy.'

Melissa's eyes amusingly twinkled.

" Okay, the real reason I asked for you to be brought in. It has come to my attention you're currently in a predicament, of the conception type. I am well aware of you expecting a child, Melissa." Owens hummed at how her heart did spike at the fact he knew of her baby.

" There isn't a need to be alarmed, Melissa. I am in no way here to hurt you or your unborn child. I do believe, however, it's important for us to use it, as an excuse and opportunity to do a check-up. See if your little one needs help with anything."

" Like hell you are doing tests on my baby. No, I won't let you." Milly abruptly denied Owen's claim of wanting to prod and use her child in the name of science. Like they did with eleven. " No way."

" You don't have to agree right away, I rather it be a verbal agreement on both parties that this will be a good deed. It will help us understand you and your child." Doctor Owens explained, with a nurturing tone while offering a smile in return. " Oh, by the way, while you were under. We ran a few laps of testing, you know to check vitals for both of you, and we know the gender. I can tell you? If you wish to know if you're to have a son or daughter." He disclosed, and he stood up. Shoving his hands in his pockets.

Melissa breathed out heavily. She wanted Jim to be present, this is an important milestone in both of their lives and he should be there but it seems like she would be stuck inside of the lab. Owens taps her foot, comfortingly.

" A girl. You have a healthy baby girl, Melissa. A daughter. Her heart beat is strong like her mom's."

Milly lightly gasped.

A girl. She is having a girl. She's going to be a mom to a beautiful little girl and her heart swelled. Her hand rested on her stomach almost instantly. Owens exits, leaving Melissa with her baby's gender news. Hopper needed to hear the good information, seeking for him only to remember where she is. " Jim.. Jim.." she mumbles, weakly. " I need you, Jim. Please find me. Your daughter needs you."

Stumbling out of her hospital roller-bed Milly takes the blue garment scrubs she is dressed and wearing in. They were a size too large. Maybe to help conceal her swelling stomach. She got a few feet away, from her bed, before she saw the view.

Hawkins woods spread for miles, dead are the trees after years of exposure to toxins the lab created from god knows how many day and night testing they conducted. She feels a flutter in her abdomen which made melissa faintly do a small breathe in. She rubbed her stomach.

" We will be okay, honey. I won't let anyone, or nothing, hurt you. Mommy is here."

Owens granted Melissa access to see Katherine and Amanda, he wasn't going to let the three girls be a part from one another, under terms agreed upon they wouldn't cause trouble. That part was specifically aimed at Amanda. Milly's appetite floundered, sticking to eating some of the fruit packs and ice cream Owens gave them to have. Katherine crinkled her nose, the Glob of oatmeal Owens served was questionable.

" Hey, M." Amanda sharply whispers, moving her butt to shuffle next to Milly. " Didn't you.. didn't, you know, your granddad worked here? Brenner?" She inquired recalling Melissa and her own conversation about Doctor Brenner.

" What if he is still around? What if he's the.. you know, one that wanted us here and those men in suits were lying the whole time?"

" Doctor Owens didn't say much about him. All was said is my... grandfather, he was killed by one of those Demogorgans. Not indirectly but I got the feeling he is lying. Something doesn't feel right about the whole thing, Mandy. I just.. have this... sense in me he is still alive." Milly feels chills of unease, a wrecking ball of dread hitting her mind. Katherine shuffled herself in the semi-circle. " They said he is dead but the truth is I think he is Hiding. Waiting for me."

" Do you think they told our parents where we are?" Kathy said, wanting to believe they were searching for their children and realised they didn't come home. Milly aerates her rosining cheeks, she could feel herself running a fever. " Are you all good? Milly? You are sweating."

" It's just... getting hot in here. Real hot. He doesn't like it when it's hot. He prefers the cold and nothing else."

Amanda searched for a thermostat, finding an old analog one mounted on an energy button. The temperature read seventy degrees, it was autumn and Hawkins is cold this time of year. Katherine scooted up, taking Melissa by one of her hands. Milly had deep bags under her eyes.

" Mel's. What do... what do you mean by He?"

Milly slowly tilted her head, the whispers had returned, and her eyes seem to glaze over as an image of inside a dark blue, cold, vine creeped in her thoughts. It showed her Hopper lying on a bed of decrepit, Violet, moving and cushiony alive growths. He is unconscious.

She started to panic, shooting up in her place. Frantically she called out. " Hopper! Hopper! I need to get to him! Hopper! Jim!" Trusting her instincts, Melissa bolted for the exit door. The girls were hot on her heels, the alarms started to blast in their ears. Guards are sanctioned to retrieve all three girls.

" I'm coming for you, I am coming to get you, baby. Just hold on, please. Please!"

Managing to dodge, evade, guards Melissa felt the cold crisp autumn air hit her face while Amanda and Katherine flailed out of the exit door.

Milly didn't know how she knew her way out of the lab, all she knew is that she trusted a feeling in her heart to follow.

" I know there is a weak spot at the back of the lab. Follow me! Let's go. Let's go."

Melissa said, waving her hand for Katherine and Amanda to see where they would go, and it didn't take long for shouts to be heard. Milly sprinted, a new found rush of speed she feels encouraging her to run faster. Jim needed her.

Adrenaline pumped into Melissa's lungs, into her chest, and legs. Every limb which is a part of her body ached as she ran in the way south of Hawkins's lab. Amanda kept the same speed Milly ran, though her pants exposed how she is struggling to stay at the same pace. Katherine's running started to slow, but she reminded herself she needed to keep going.

They were all there to help Milly and to save hopper.

In an open field of rotted, decomposing, dead pumpkins chief hoppers station wag is still on drive and a huge mound of dug up dirt was the first thing Melissa saw sprinting out of the tree line. " Jim!" She screamed, frantically saying a repeated lines of 'No' and 'Oh god.'

Katherine, and Amanda, both follow their distressed best friend to the wide open unearthed ground. She dove down the hill, gliding her bare feet on the parts of pebbles she could feel lodge in her toes but ignored those the sound of growling from a vine below made her fall to her knees. She was distracted by a shovel laid on the ground.

" Stand back." Milly ordered Mandy and Kathy while standing up, her palms tremor while she aimed her hand directly on the vine. She feels her body tingle, blood trickling out of her nose, while pure white and grey light expelled out of her. The vines shrieked escaping into the dirt. That allowed access to see below, without one more second to spare Milly climbed down and Amanda followed. She would follow Milly and Katherine into hell. She'd never leave them to theirselves. Kathy jumped in, Amanda offered her hand to help. " Follow me." Melissa's voice echoes off the growing, extending, vines.

It's a labyrinth of ever evolving, alive, growths. Spores floated around their vision and Melissa became aware of flower-like heads attached in corners, hidden from them, she stopped Kathy. Amanda stumbles a little. " Use caution. Those things are alive, something tells me we need to be careful around them."

Milly said, ducking a bit under the thing. Amanda copied and so did Katherine. Melissa slowed her breathing as to focus, fluttering her eyes close to tap inside of the feeling.

She saw where hopper is and goes in the path she felt's right— Katherine almost went down the wrong tunnel if it wasn't for Amanda pulling her away to the left. Unknown to the girls cigarette buds were left on the vines as a paper trail.

" Hopper. Hopper, baby. I'm here. Where are you? talk to me!"

Milly called out, coming to a dead end. She illuminated the whole section of the Tunnel. On the floor, Jim's fedora is left in view under a spiked skull and Milly searched for any signs of hopper.

" That is his hat! He's gotta be around here some... where... oh gosh. No, no, No. he is in those vines! Help me, get him out, please!"

Milly leapt into action falling to her knees and stared at Jim's face covered in a substance Milly had a feeling was from those flowers they encountered.

Amanda, Melissa and Katherine all heaved off the vines one by one. It started fighting back, tightening its grip on hopper. " Let him go! Let him go, Now." Milly's voice dropped an octave. Like she is fighting an inner-battle. She feels a little glow emit out of her eyes, as her anger is showing, and her hands burned the vines off. Jim coughs, gasping out-loud, for air as Milly sent a burst of energy through the sentient and conscious vines. Sending them away from him.

Hopper, hysteric, stomped on a crumbled up vine staggering back up to stand. Melissa place both her hands on hoppers face, cries of relief wept out of her. " Hop. Hop, it's me. It's me. I got you, I got you."

Jim, touching Melissa on her face to see if she is real, desperately kisses her. Amanda and Katherine both exchanged a look that said 'Mission successful'; smiling at the chief as he checked Milly's face holding it.

Amanda almost knocked out a guy, wearing a hazard-silver suit, from surprise and audibly she said " Woah." Seeing a flamethrower pack. " Go! Go! Go! Clear the area." He rushed while pushing them to back up to the surface, Milly's hand didn't leave hoppers as the girls and Jim ran for safety back to where they first entered.

Milly didn't get far, before she collapsed, and it horrified hopper hearing the love of his life's screams of pure torture. Begging for the pain to stop. Jim, Katherine, and Amanda surround Melissa yelling out to her asking what is going on. Hopper held her convulsing body, foam is flowing out of her mouth and nostrils.

" Milly! Sweetheart? Baby?! MILLY! NO!"

JASMINE SPEAKS;

That was a rollercoaster of emotions and all of the above. I had to write her running for Jim, I feel like that is part of her character. She would do anything to save hopper, and he would do it as well. They would both save each other from danger as you can see in this story.

What is a song you would give Milly and Jim?

I love writing Amanda and Katherine, they are such sweet girls. Their friendship with Milly is just the best.

Billy is so unnerving I swear. Steve having that crush on Milly, oh boy.

What did you think of this chapter? The action, the way Milly and the girls saved hopper?

Her being able to see him in those vines?