*a week later*

"Halloweens tomorrow!" Will excitedly states, sitting at the swings with Frankie once again.

"Yeah, I know. Do you celebrate?" Frankie grins. Seems that she always smiles when he's around.

"Of course I celebrate! It's my favorite day of the whole year! Obviously because I get to eat lots of candy. What about you?" the Byers boy curiously eyes his new found friend.

"I love Halloween. I love candy," Frankie states, "I don't usually have other people to spend it with though". Will frowns.

Frankie recalls Brenner bringing her candy on Halloween if she behaved well.

"Wanna trick or treat with me and the others?" Will offers suddenly, beginning to turn a small shade of pink. Frankie turns to face him with a bit of confusion.

"What's that?"

Will stops swinging and stares at the girl wide eyed.

"You've never been trick or treating before?!"

Frankie flinches at his loud voice and shakes her head. Will is at a bit of a loss for words. Frankie Prynne really is unlike everyone else.

"And plus, I don't think your friends would like it if I came," she adds. Will looks at her confused before asking, "what do you mean?"

"Mike seems a little hostile towards me," she mutters a bit disappointedly. Will frowns at her words but can understand what she means. Mike is extremely defensive lately, and he's been hostile towards the idea of letting Max into their "party", too.

"You haven't told him about me," she stares.

Will blinks at her surprised.

"W-What?" he stutters. Frankie only knew because the spirits told her so. Sometimes they spy. "You haven't told Mike you hang out with me," she elaborates.

"I know, I'm sorry.." he trails, suddenly feeling extremely guilty. He panics a little when she stands up from her swing, and expects her to leave. "Why didn't you?" She frowns, now standing in front of the boy's swing.

He blushes a little at their close proximity, but quickly reminds himself of the current situation.

"I'm not ashamed of you or anything– I swear I'm not– it's just that, my friends and I have this party system a-and Mike doesn't want anymore members—" Will stumbles over his words, trying his best not to sound rude.

"Why not?"

Will's eyes dart up at the girl's sad expression, and he feels immediately guilty.

"I don't know. He says he doesn't trust you, and he'd be so upset if he found out I've been lying to him to come hang out with you," he explains. Frankie feels a pang of hurt in her chest.

"He doesn't trust me? But, why? I haven't done anything to him...."

Will shrugs his shoulders a bit, watching as the girl fidgets.

"I think I'm gonna go to class," Frankie mumbles, backing away from his swing and rushing to grab her belongings. Will stumbles out of his swing and desperately attempts to stop her.

"No, you don't have to leave– I'll tell Mike to open up," he insists, watching helplessly as the girl begins to trudge out of the lot and back towards the school, "Frankie! W-Wait, I'll walk you to class!"

Frankie stops before crossing the street. Will sighs in relief.

"What if Mike sees you?"

"You're my best friend. He's gonna have to accept that."

Frankie raises an eyebrow. "But isn't Mike your best friend?" Will walks a few steps, placing himself next to her. He nods a little before crossing the street. Frankie follows quickly and falls into step with the boy.

"You sure you want to be seen with me?" Frankie questions.

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because I'm a loser."

Will stops in front of the school entrance and turns to her. "Don't call yourself that! I don't think you're a loser, I think you're really cool," he insists. Frankie smiles and blushes. "Really? But I don't have any friends..." she trails.

"I'm you're friend, and that's pretty cool," he hums. With that, he turns back to the door and goes to walk in. Frankie's hand pulls him back, and he responds with a confused expression.

"Thank you, Will Byers," she grins. Her instincts kick in and she finds herself leaning in and kissing his cheek.

Will blushes wildly, allowing his finger tips to go up to the warm spot on his cheek.

Frankie grabs the dazed boy's hand and drags him into the school with her, just as the bell rings.

She kissed his cheek. He can't stop thinking about it, is heart won't let him. It's beating so fast, maybe even faster than when the Demogorgan was after him. Then, he realizes something else. Her hand is still in his.

He concentrates on how soft her hand is, and how nicely it fits in his.

She is so pretty.

He can't help but think to himself.

"Will?" A voice brings him out of his little daze. He shakes his head a little and stares at the girl in front of him, "y-yeah?"

"See ya later. Maybe I'll go trick or treating with you, if I'm allowed," she smiles. Will nods quickly and frowns when her hand finally leaves his. He watches as she walks away from him down the hall.

"So, you have been hanging out with Frankenstein?" Dustin asks, coming up behind Will. Will flinches and turns to face them quickly.

"I–uh, y-yeah...I have," he admits, trying not to seem so nervous, "and don't call her that!"'
He walks around them and towards his locker. A frown rests on his face as he opens it and sees the news clipping he found earlier. It's a picture of him, labeled 'zombie boy'.

Dustin grins, not noticing the news clipping. Lucas raises an eyebrow, and Mike looks to be having a war with himself.

"I'm sorry Mike, I know you said—" Will starts, but is interrupted.

"No no, it's okay. I don't control you Will, we're best friends. I just— she can't be in the party okay? I don't care if your friends," Mike states, not sounding very convincing. Truth be told, he really doesn't trust that girl, but he knows better than to try and dictate his best friends life.

Will smiles.

"Yeah, of course! She doesn't even want to be in the party, she's really cool– and nice, and
p-pretty, I think you'd really like her," Will rants, feeling relieved that Mike isn't angry.

"So, you have a crush on her?" Lucas smirks.

Will blushes and immediately starts waving his hands around, "what? N-No! Her brother would kill me! Pfft. You're insane Lucas."

Just before the boys can tease him some more, the principal approaches them.

"William Byers? Your mothers here."

Meanwhile, sitting in her own class, a spirit whispers something into Frankie's ear. She blushes as red as a tomato.

"H-He thinks I'm pretty?" She whispers to herself.