Julie is walking with Will Byers, who is riding his bike, on their way to Mike's home. "Here, I got you this." Handing him a figurine. "Thought you could use it for your campaign."

"Thanks, Jules! I can use it as a cleric." He says as her hug her. "You're the best!"

"Uh oh... Don't tell your brother that." She giggles.

"Secret's safe with me." He tells her with a grin.

"And...one more thing." She takes out four handmade bracelets and places them in his hand. "Something to make you boys feel better... Just a reminder that I'll always be there for you guys..."

"It's almost like the ones you made for Jonathan and Sonia!" He looks at them with a big smile.

"Yeah but these are a little different. Think of these as...protection charms."

He hugs her again. "Thanks, Jules."

"You're welcome. Now go inside. I gotta get to the station and make sure my old man is taking his job seriously!" She says with sarcasm. "I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Bye, Julie!"

After he waves her goodbye, things suddenly become strange. Will runs in slow motion towards the Wheeler home and the monstrous voice returns.

"Julie."

She begins to feel dizzy and hears a ringing sound. She shuts her eyes, shaking her head as if will make the feelings go away.

"Should I use him?"

The dizziness and ringing sound soon stop, allowing her to take a deep breath.

"Maybe I haven't been getting enough sleep. Should probably cut back on the movie marathons and go to bed early." She mumbles to herself.

Little did Julie know that Will would go missing the same day...

After waking up and getting ready for the day, Julie heads into the kitchen to see her dad putting two plates of the triple-decker eggo extravaganza.

"Your special breakfast again? Did you bring another bimbo into the house while I was sleeping?" She questions her father with a suspicious look.

"You know I've been done with those days!" Hopper defends himself, feeling insulted. "How is any of this unusual when I do this almost all the time?"

"We have eggo extravaganza three to four times a week. You've been making it every day this week."

"Kiddo... It's been three years since I've cut back on the drinking and sleeping around. If it wasn't for you convincing your old man to come back, I probably still be that guy. So-"

He's interrupted when she gives him a hug. "You're welcome, my old man. Thanks, for giving me my credit."

"You're welcome, kiddo." He says before kissing the top of her head and they both sit down at the table. "You still want me to take you to school?"

"Yep." She answers, pouring extra syrup on her waffles.

"Why do you insist letting me take you to school? I mean I don't mind but isn't it lame to have a parent take you to school, especially in their police car." An amused Hopper says as he watches her fall in love with eggos for the millionth time.

She shrugs. "I don't mind and did you forget? You're my favorite person in the entire world, dad."

"...Thanks, kiddo." He smiles, ruffling her hair.

After breakfast, while Hopper drives Julie to school, they missed a phone call. The caller being a worried Joyce...

"Come on, those earrings would be perfect for a double date! Julie, tell her!" Chrissy whines.

"She did get you those diamond earrings as a birthday gift. Shouldn't you repay her for that?" Julie attempts to back Chrissy up and receives a glare in return from Sonia. "Okay, okay! I will not betray you again! I loyalty remains towards you, my only one!"

Sonia smacks Julie's forehead making Chrissy giggle. "Christina. These earrings are not meant for dates. You never said that they were. You gave these to me so I'm wearing them for you. Besides, I told you that I'm married to my education so I have no time for dating."

Chrissy gasps. "Why are you calling me by my government name?! You only do that when you're scolding me or when you want me to stop talking about Jason!"

"Yeah, well add getting on my nerves to the list." Sonia snaps making Julie cover her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

"Why is she so mean today?" Chrissy whispers to Julie.

"She's mean every day. But she might be craving a milkshake, Lucas got on her nerves or just needs a big old hug from her besties." Julie whispers back.

"I can hear you two. Touch me and I'll slap you two so hard that you'll be knocked out for a week. Meaning no eggos for you or cheerleading for you." Sonia threatens them with a smile.

The girls gasps. "Evil!"

Sonia rolls her eyes and looks down the hallway. "Why isn't Jonathan here yet?"

"Hmm. He might be sleeping in. Jonathan did have photography club until late last night so he's probably tired." Julie informs her, also looking the same direction.

"Or he's hiding from Sonia. He's lucky he doesn't have to suffer from her wrath." Chrissy whispers again to Julie.

"That's it!" Sonia snaps and chases a laughing Chrissy down the hallway.

Julie giggles watching them and feels someone wrap their arm around her shoulders. She doesn't look already knowing who it is.

"Uh oh. Why she's so cranky now? Didn't get any milkshakes into her system yesterday? Or did her cousin prank her again?" Eddie questions.

"If I had to guess, it might be the latter. Looks like I have to scold my kid again." Julie giggles.

"I don't understand how you put up with six kids." Eddie mutters. "Please don't add anymore because I need more of you to myself!"

"My special freak is such a greedy man." Julie teases, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Only for you." He smirks, kissing the side of her head.

"Julie. Christina locked herself in the bathroom. Go get her out so I can strangle her." Sonia demands as she returns.

"Whoa! Ms. Cranky is getting violent today!" Eddie teases the Sinclair getting a glare in return.

"Sonia. You can't kill a member of the friend group. That's breaking a rule. Unless they committed a treacherous act towards you." Julie sternly reminds her.

"Well then I should kill you for bringing this one into our lives." Sonia snaps at her, pointing at Eddie.

"What's wrong with me?" Eddie asks, feeling insulted.

"Have you met you?" Sonia fake smiles as his jaw drops. "For starters, you have terrible taste in music."

"You just had to go there." Julie groans, throwing her head back.

"METAL IS MUSIC!" Eddie screams at Sonia who walks away from them and chases after her as Julie as forced to play the peacemaker, passing a jealous Steve Harrington.

After class is over, Julie returns to her locker to put away some of her things when Heather approaches her.

"Julie, your dad is here. He's questioning the students and teachers." She informs the Hopper girl.

"About what?" Julie asks, confused.

"...Will is missing."

"Oh come on, dad! Let me help look for Will!" Julie pleads to her father as he stops at the front door. "At least let me help since you pulled me out of school early!"

"Kid, do you love me?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.

"What kind of question is that?!"

"One that you use against me all the time when you've done something." He retorts making her roll her eyes. "Look I've got my officers out searching too. I need you to stay here and be safe. Can you do that for me? Please?"

"...Fine. Hate you using my own tactic against me." She mutters, pouting.

"Thank you. You've got your hunting knife, pepper spray and taser, right?" He asks, stern look on his face.

"Horror movies exist for a reason, dad. You know I'm always prepared." She continues pouting.

He kisses the top of her head and tells her he loves her before taking his leave.

"...Please don't let anything bad have happened to Will." She mumbles.

Before getting ready for bed, Julie goes over to the phone and calls Benny's Burgers. When no one picks up, she then calls his house phone and still doesn't receive an answer.

"Must've created a new recipe. Uncle Benny and his ideas." She giggles.

And just as she takes a step toward her room...

"Julie."

The ringing sound returns and she suddenly starts to feel lightheaded...

"Find her."

...

...

...

"Find her."

...

...

...

"FIND HER!"

She snaps out of it when someone grabs her arm. She turns around to see Mike looking at her with a worried expression while behind him is Lucas and Dustin are arguing.

"Jules? Are you okay?"

"Rugrats?" She looks around to see that they're in the woods, not understanding how she got there. She also realizes she's wearing her raincoat and is holding her flashlight. "What are we doing here?"

"Us three came looking for Will. You just suddenly walked past us and I called out to you but you didn't say anything." Mike explains. "Are you okay?"

"...Yeah, uh... I think I might have been sleepwalking." She concludes thinking that's the only possible explanation to how she got out there.

"Really?" He looks at her up and down, taking note of her raincoat."But you're-"

Before he can question her further, a sudden noise startles them both.

"If you wanna be a baby then go home already!" Lucas yells at Dustin.

"I'm just being realistic, Lucas! Did you ever think Will went missing because he ran into something bad? And we're going into the exact same spot with no weapons-"

"Dustin, be quiet." Julie sternly whispers to the Henderson boy.

"Jules, when did you get here?!" Lucas shouts, surprised to see their babysitter.

"While you two were arguing now be quiet!" Mike whispers, glaring at his best friends.

Mike flashes his light in the direction of where the noise is coming from, revealing a young girl with a shaved head and dressing in an oversized t-shirt. He and Julie walk closer to the girl. "Hey, are you okay?"

She doesn't respond. "You must be cold." Julie says as she takes off her raincoat. Mike tries to stop her so he can offer his instead. "No, I don't want you getting sick. You rugrats are my responsibility." She approaches the girl. "I'm not going to hurt you, okay?"

"Not bad person?"

"No sweetie. I'm good and so are my friends here." Julie helps the girl put on the raincoat. "Now, are you okay with coming with us? We'll get you someplace warm and something to eat."

The young girl wraps her arms around Julie's waist. "...Yes."

"Good." She wraps her arm around the young girl's shoulders. "Mike, can we take her to your basement?"

The boys smile at the girl who they've always looked up to. Mike nods. "Yeah."

Father-daughter moment! We know how old Hopper used to be in the show but I made him change his was just a bit earlier because I kinda don't like how in other books, Hopper doesn't get his character development until he adopts Eleven. In a few books I've read in the past, I just don't feel that isn't always fair to his daughter oc who had to put up with his bs. I know he lost a daughter but when he gets a new one, that's when he decides to change? I want him to do better for the child that he already has.

I'm having a lot of fun writing the friendship scenes! Tell me what you think!

I made a last minute decision before posting this and it was part of the reason why this book was late. So originally Sonia was going to be Steve's love interest but because of her personality I can't really see them together. So she will stay single in this series unless something changes with other characters.

And Steve is NOT seeing Nancy. His relationship with Julie will be explained more eventually so I'm going to be more focused on them because it makes sense with what I have planned for next season.

Another surprise appearance! Hi Heather!😊

Not Julie hearing that voice again...

Eleven is supposed to be wearing a Benny's Burgers t-shirt but decided to change it and I don't remember if Hopper already found Benny in this episode but if he did, I'm delaying it for a bit. I need Julie to focus on Eleven for a little while until then. can't find out about her godfather just yet😭