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I hate that she hates me

"Okay so in this example, we're the acrobat. Will, Barbra, and that monster are the flee. And this is the Upside Down where Will is hiding. Mr.Clarke said the only way to get there is through a space in time-" Mike began to speak to Joyce, Jonathan, Hopper, and Nancy once they got into the Byers house. They seemed confused but after what they've seen recently, anything is possible.

"A gate" Dustin nodded along, hoping this would make them understand better.

"We tracked it to Hawkins Lab" Lucas added.

"With our compasses" Dustin quickly said after him.

"They might be connected to Australia," Mavis said with a snap of her fingers. Jonathan gave a confused look as Dustin just shook his head toward him in a way of saying don't ask.

"So the gate has a really strong electromagnetic field and that can change the direction of a compass needle" Dustin tried to explain better for them after all four gave an odd look.

"Is this gate underground?" Hope asked no one in particular but looked to the five with a frown on his eyebrows.

"Yes," El spoke up as Mavis turned to Hopper, a look on her face as if she was waiting for him to say something so she could attack him.

"Near a large water tank?" Hopper asked again as he kept his gaze at the skinny girl, clinging onto Mavis's arm as if her life depended on it.

"Yes," El said again as she look away like she was having a bad memory. Mavis bumped her shoulder some as El simple leaned into her more.

"How- how do you know all that?" Dustin asked the man with a blink and confused look, much like the other were.

"You've seen it, haven't you?" Mavis asked as Hopper slowly nodded his head with a sigh.

"Is there any way that you can reach Will? That you could talk to him in this-" Joyce began slowly and gently at Eleven but was cut off.

"The Upside Down" she finished for her as Joyce nodded in agreement, El nodded her head like a strike of hope flashed through Joyce's sad eyes.

"And my friend Barbra? Can you find her too?" Nancy questioned as El nodded again, Mavis began to worry as she gave Mike a look. If El used too much of her power something bad could happen, she could get hurt really bad.

They y'all gathered around the table as El sat at the end with the walkie-talkie static in front of her. Her eyes were shut as everyone looked at her, a few more concerned than others. The light above them flickered before El opened her eyes again, she looked like she was about to cry.

"I'm sorry," she said as she looked sad at Joyce while reaching for Mavis next to her.

"What- what- what? What happened?" Joyce asked her with a sad look as she held onto Jonathan's hand.

"I can't find them," El said as her lip trebled, making Mavis stand from her chair and pull her up slowly.

"It's okay El, cmon, let's give it some time okay? Guys, okay?" Mavis asked as she looked around at everyone who nodded, aside from Joyce who cried into Jonathan's arms.

"Hey, don't cry. This isn't your fault" Mavis said as she wiped El's tears in the bathroom. She let a few more tears fall as Mavis continued to wipe them away.

"We're gonna figure this all out, we will. I promise" Mavis said as she rubbed El's arms. The bald girl nodded with sad eyes before she looked to the bathtub behind Mavis. The curly-haired girl gave her an odd look before El turned and grabbed her hand as they exited the bathroom.

"The bath" El stated as they stood near the table again at the group.

"What?" Joyce asked hopefully as she turned around to the two girls.

"I can find them... in the bath" El said again as Jonathan looked to Mavis with an odd look, the young girl simply shrugged.

Dustin stood and rushed to the phone as he dialed the only person's number he knew would know what to do in this situation. They began to discuss something along with the phone as Mavis left El with Mike to sit next to Joyce.

"Hey," the girl said as she grabbed her shaky hand.

"Hi honey," Joyce said weakly to her as Mavis offered her a small smile.

"I know right now it may seem annoying and drawn out, but El can do it. She's strong, and she cares even though she doesn't even know Will. She cares. All this is gonna fall into place soon, and he'll be back with us" Mavis spoke to her with a hopeful voice as Joyce sniffled slightly and used her free hand to wipe her face.

"You have a way with words, Mavis Hilton" Joyce said with a laugh through her tears as Mavis smiled.

"So I've been told" she shrugged with an innocent smile.

"Do you still have that kiddy pool we bobbed for apples in?" Dustin asked as he ran into the living room, Joyce and Mavis shared an odd look before looking back up at him.

"Ugh I think so" Joyce nodded, confused.

"Good, then we just need salt, lots of it," Dustin said as he ran back into the kitchen with the two not far behind him.

"How much is a lot?" Hopper asked as Mavis pushed between El and Mike.

"Fifteen hundred pounds," Dustin said as Mavis let out a laugh, getting an elbow from Mike.

"Where are we gonna get that much salt?" Nancy asked him as Hopper held a look on his face, making Mavis sigh.

"Back in the car we go, I assume" she sighed while fixing her dress and heading out the door with the others following.

The school was definitely not somewhere Mavis was looking forward to going, especially not on a weekend. She was helping Dustin and Lucas set up the kiddy pool in the gym.

"It's upside-down," Dustin said as they flipped it again.

"Why isn't of staying up?" Mavis groaned as they yanked on each of the sides.

"Pull," Lucas said to them.

"We are" Dustin glared as the three pulled on each of the sides before it fell to the middle.

"Ugh" Mavis groaned as she ran a hand over her face but flinched when it touched the bruise on her cheek. Dustin and Lucas shared a look.

"Mav?" Dustin asked as she looked his way waiting for him to go on.

"What happened?" He asked while pointing at her face, making Mavis blink.

"I told you... I fell down the stairs" Mavis said as she swallowed. She hated lying to them, she hated it so much but she couldn't tell them this.

"We know... but what really happened?" Lucas asked her softly as Mavis fell silent as she looked down at her feet and shook her head.

"I- I don't wanna talk about it" she stated as the two shared a look and walked closer to her.

"Is it your Mom?" Lucas asked as Mavis hesitated but nodded.

"About El?" Dustin asked her as she nodded again and look up.

"I hate that she hates me" Mavis whispered as the two wrapped their arms around the girl in a group hug, giving Mavis the love and comfort she needed but never got.

. Nancy messed with the temperature as Lucas held the thermometer in the water.

"Colder!" He shouted her way as Nancy pulled the knobs to cool it even more.

"Warmer!" he now shouted as Nancy did it again.

"Right there!" he yelled as the water continued to pour into the pool quickly.

"Need help?" Mavis asked as she went to Hopper and Jonathan's side as they picked up the salt.

"I don't know kid it's pretty heavy-" he began but was cut off by Mavis picking up the bag of salt and pouring it into the water.

"Try watching her grown-up," Jonathan said the the man sarcastically as Mavis helped them one by one pour the large bags of salt into the kiddy pool. Mike set up the static walkie as El took her socks off, she passed his watch to him before shrugging the dark blue jacket off and passing it to Mavis, who quickly grabbed her arm to stop her.

"El, if it gets bad don't be afraid to say so. I'll get you out of there the second you tell me to, understand?" Mavis asked as El stared at her.

"Cool," she stated as Mavis smiled much as the bald girl did before helping her into the water. Joyce passed her the blackout goggles as El laid down in the water.

Mavis felt nothing but horrible, pure, and completely body aching fear that something bad was gonna happen to her.

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