The plane finally landed, thank the lord or something that we finally made it. It sure was a long flight, and we aren't in Indiana anymore. Now me and Mike are in sunny California. Lenora Hills to be exact. 

When we got off the flight and into the airport there was a lot of emotion. And uh well, I don't even know what to say about it. Waiting for us at the airport were Eleven, Jonathan, a to us unknown guy and Will of course. The first one to see us was El as she stood up and yelled "Mike." I always find it a bit awkward when someone yells your name and then you have to process and locate the origin of the sound, but Mike found it fairly quickly. 

El ran in a straight line towards Mike, kissed him and gave him a big hug. "Oh, careful, careful, careful, you're squishing your present," he told her. "It's a gift, I uh, handpicked those for you in Hawkins." And then he started over explaining why he picked the colors he picked. Now I know we are all here for the grand reuniting with Will. But something felt a bit off. 

El thanked Mike and came to me as we hugged and had our reuniting moment. But in the corner of my eye I saw Will walking up to Mike and wanting to give a hug but that awkwardly resulted in a weird pat on the back from Mike. Will seemed disappointed, and I noticed something was off. Then Will came to me as I hugged him. "I missed you," I said happily. "Yeah, I missed you too, a lot actually," he said. I wanted to kiss him but realized the people around us might've not really liked that. 

Then my eye fell on a roll of paper under his arm. "What is that?" I asked. "Oh nothing, just this painting I've been working on," he answered, looking down a bit disappointed, which grew my suspicions even more. What was going on? Was life in California really that terrible? 

"That's a rad shirt, man. Ocean Pacific?" The unknown guy suddenly said to Mike. "Oh hey guys, this is, uh, my friend Argyle," Jonathan explained. Mike wanted to shake his hand but Argyle immediately went in for a hug. But actually he didn't, he was just checking Mike's shirt to make sure it was Ocean Pacific. And it wasn't: "It's a shitty knockoff." he said. 

"And you are?" Argyle then asked me. "Oh I'm (y/n)." I answered. "Not the name I expected, and now which of you two was the gay one?" It got quiet as I looked at Will who looked at Jonathan. "Will and (y/n)." El said confidently. I looked at Jonathan, then at Will, then at El. "Which of you three told him this?" I asked a bit angrily. "I did." Jonathan said. "Weed can really get the secrets out of you," he explained. "Seriously Jonathan, weed? You think Nancy is going to like that when she finds out?" I said. "Oh yeah Nancy," Argyle started. He then turned to Mike. "I heard a lot about your sister," he continued. 

"Okaayy, uh, should we go?" Jonathan suggested. "Yeah, this is kinda awkward man," Argyle said. "Yeah, so awkward," Mike replied. "Man I really thought it was Ocean Pacific," Argyle said as we slowly walked towards the exit. 

During our walk to the exit El was explaining the day she had planned out for her and Mike while holding his hand, being happy and all romantic and stuff. Meanwhile Will seemed to be a bit distant. Maybe it was just the amount of people around us. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked him. "Yeah, just, happy to see you again, maybe I was afraid that you, might not like me anymore with all this time apart," he confessed. I threw my arm around him. "And you of all people should know that I would never fall in love with another, I got you, and that is all I want," I said trying to make him feel better. But the distance remained. 

"Are your friends going to meet us there?" Mike asked El. "Friends? What friends?" Will then asked. "You know, Stacy and Angela," El said. I caught on really quickly but doubted, El wouldn't lie right? "You'll meet them, just not today, I want today to be about me and you," El continued. I looked at Will who couldn't take his eyes off of them as he squeezed his painting. 

After the burrito's for breakfast Jonathan and Argyle brought us four to the Rink-O-Mania where we could rollerskate and play games, atleast that's what El told us. We got out of the van and I grabbed Will's hand. Mike and El walked in but Jonathan then said Will's name. So he turned around to see what Jonathan had to say. "Have fun okay," he said. "Okay," Will said flatly, kinda sad almost. I was really confused by now. And I started thinking again. Maybe today wasn't his day? March 22nd today, what could possibly be today. 

And as we walked in I realized. Today is his birthday, and I forgot. But how was I ever going to set things right. I stopped. He looked at me. I hugged him real good. Trying to show him that I still loved him no matter what. "Happy birthday," I said. He responded by also hugging me. And the world around us just kinda went quiet. It was just us standing there, hugging, alone with our feelings, but together. He might have even been crying again but I'm not sure. 

I ended the hug and looked at him. "El might've said it was their day, but no worries, I will do my best to make it our day as well," I said. Then I grabbed his hand and we walked towards the cafeteria area of the Rink-O-Mania. "I will buy you anything you want," I told him. He smiled and proceeded to tell me the things he wanted. "Wait, but, you don't have any money right? You know, with the whole situation with your mom and stuff?" Will then said. "How did you even afford the plane ticket?" he asked. I started explaining. And because it's fun for storytelling, I will share the moment I knew I got the ticket but realized I had leftover cash that wasn't mine.

- Sunday - December 22nd 1985 - Hawkins

Mike had bought the tickets and I paid him the money I managed to get together with the help of friends and the oh so amazing Robin. But eventually I learnt that Robin had given waaaayyy too much money so I decided to go over to the "Family Video" where they were currently working. 

Once I arrived both Robin and Steve were there, and Erica too for some reason. "Hey, what are you doing here?" Robin asked. "To rent a movie of course, do you ever look around?" Erica told her. "No, that's not why I'm here," I said. "Mike bought the plane tickets to California and I realized I had a lot of leftover cash, so I was going to return it to you," I continued. "Oh no, you can keep it," she then said. "Robin, are you sure? That's like 5 months worth of hard work in his hands right there," Steve said. Robin nodded as she calmed Steve down. 

"If no one is taking the cash, I will," Erica said as she almost grasped the money out of my hands. "What are you even doing here Miss Annoying?" I asked her. "Lucas is out with Jason and the others, and her parents are away for the weekend for some last Christmas shopping or something and they won't be home until Christmas Eve which is Tuesday, so..." Robin started. "I have to babysit," Steve said. "And you're hella horrible at your job," Erica told him. I realized if I kept the money out in the open she might go for it again so I quickly put it away. 

"But you can keep the money, in case you need it when you're there," Robin said. I thanked her and quickly made my way out of the Family Video to escape Erica, who almost got me broke. Outside I passed the arcade and looked inside for a couple of seconds. I saw Max, with her headphones, playing Dig-Dug, still not opened up.

- Saturday - March 22nd 1986 - California

"You called her Miss Annoying and she didn't kill you on the spot?" Will asked while laughing. I nodded also laughing and sitting down at the table with the food and drinks we just got. "And I hope Max is doing okay, any news on her?" Will then asked. "Nope, still closed up, she won't tell anyone what's bothering her," I said. "How is El?" I asked. "She, uh, isn't really fitting in, targeted by bullies and stuff," Will explained. "Stacy and Angela?" I asked. Will nodded as he started looking from me to behind me and back signaling something. I turned around and saw El and Mike coming off the rink and over to our table. 

"Mm yes, mine is better," Mike said as he sat down while slurping his milkshake or whatever he ordered. "No it isn't," El said as she moved him aside to sit down right next to him. "Milkshakes?" some random girl said and thus confirmed indeed they had milkshakes. I turned around to see who this "savior" girl was but while turning I saw El's expression change so I suspected it were Angela and Stacy.

"Where, oh where have you been hiding this handsome thing?" the girl asked. "Uh, Angela, thi... this is Mike, my boyfriend, an... and that over there is (y/n), Will's b..." El started but I cut her off "bestfriend," I said as I knew for a fact El was going to say boyfriend. "Angela, pleasure," Angela said as she shook Mike's hand. She then went over to me and also shook my hand. "I heard a lot about you," Mike then said. "It's really cool to finally meet some off El-- Jane's friends," "Oh yeah, friend, well then come on friend, let's skate!" Angela said as she pulled El back up from the seat. "I don't like where this is going," Will whispered which apparently only I heard. So I stood up and went after them, but I first needed rollerskates, which Angela and El already had. I quickly got them as I looked over my shoulder and saw Will discussing something with Mike. 

"Alright ladies and gentlemen, this song goes out to the local snitch, Jane." Music started playing, I knew I did not have that much time left. I tried to put on the rollerskates but they just kept rolling away so it really did not go that quickly. I looked over at El who was dragged to the middle of the rink and Angela and friends were skating around her, calling her a freak. If Lucas were here right now, he would have let El down because his popularity plan would be thrown out the window.

"Once a freak, always a freak," I said as I managed to put on the skates. But then the music stopped. And as I heard wipe-out, El was hit with a chocolate milkshake causing her to fall down. Everyone on the rink started laughing. Mike then passed by as he made his way towards El. I followed him, but the people started skating in our way so we couldn't make it. El was broken, and needed us. But she disappeared in the crowd. So we looked everywhere. Mike even checked the girl's bathroom.

"Not there?" Will asked. "No, you should've told me she was having trouble," Mike said. "Well I didn't know they were gonna be here," he responded. "Yeah but you knew she was having trouble for a year and didn't tell me," "I didn't know she was lying to you," "Which is why you were a douche all day?" "Mike, how could you?!" I said. "Not you too, if anyone doesn't know what he is talking about, it's you, you both sabotaged this day," Mike said. "Mike, process this, EL WAS LYING TO YOU, and if anyone is in the wrong here it's you, El made this a special day for you two, but I'm sorry to say that you all forgot your bestfriend's birthday!" I said.

It got quiet. "Wait, (y/n), is it your birthday today?" Mike asked. "Apparently you can only see El, which is fine, but it ruins any friendship you've ever had," Will said. "Yeah, whatever, man," Mike said calmly as he walked off. "It is your fault Mike, you are losing your bestfriend!" I yelled. "Well then maybe Will should've reached out more, I don't know, but why is this on me? Why am I the bad guy?" 

It got quiet once again. Then Will suggested to just continue the search for El. But then he pulled me down onto a bench as Mike walked off. "Are you okay Will?" I asked. "Happy birthday to me I guess," Will said as he laid his head on my shoulder. I didn't have anything to say, I fully agreed with how he felt right now. Mike, the so called nerd, who has no space for empathy. I laid my head against his and I grabbed his hand. All the sounds faded away again, just us, alone with our feelings, but together. But that got rudely interrupted by someone yelling "Angela," multiple gasps and crying noises. We stood up and saw everyone looking at El. Will and I went over and reunited with Mike and El. 

El apparently had smashed Angela with a rollerskate and broke her nose which in my opinion, she had every right to. "Holy shit," Mike said as he watched Angela's nose turn into a waterfall of blood. "What did you do, what did you do?" he asked. And as Mike said that my mind quickly flashed back to the nightmare last night as I saw Nine, and Chrissy breaking all her bones. I felt something touching my hand, which felt like freedom and safety as I grabbed it. I got pulled out of the flashback back to the Rink-O-Mania, which was silent again as I realized I was holding Will's hand. It was us again, alone with our feelings. But together.