(      darkest before dawn      /      act two      )
episode two  |   stranger things

❛  YOU LOOK BEAUTIFUL  ❜

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      IF AURORA WAS HONEST, she wasn't up for the whole trick-or-treating thing tonight. She had too much homework — who assigns homework on Halloween? But she was going to go for Will, and the dress she spent hours on. So when the final bell rang, Aurora pulled a grin to her face as she bounded over to friends.

      "Hey Rory," Mike greeted sending the girl a soft wave as the three boys pulled their bikes from the rack.

      "Hey Mike," it was so awkward. The two tweens hadn't spoken about their short kiss, or the necklace Mike had given her — one that she almost never took off — or anything that involved the two of them. It had been that awkward tension between the two for almost a year.

      "You riding with me?" Aurora just nodded as she climbed on the back of Mikes bike, something she had started to do for the few times her aunts drove her.

      Her hands had wrapped around his shoulders as he started pedaling towards his house, his blaster pack hindering her ability to safely hold on. She tried her best, as Lucas and Dustin pedaled at the same pace with the two.

      "Really, everyone dressed up last year!" Dustin went on, still irritated about the fact that the four boys had been the only ones to dress up.

      "You looked great," Aurora promised, "besides it was probably just a miscommunication."

      "You're just saying that because you didn't dress up." Dustin scoffed, annoyed at the girl. "You would be just as mad if you did."

      Aurora didn't agree with the boy, "I wasn't going to show my amazing costume beforehand!" The boys had no idea what or who Aurora was going as, she chose to keep it a surprise.

      The deafening sound of a revving engine broke off the rest of the conversation — the sound growing louder as Aurora glanced behind them. Aurora watching as a blue Camaro drove towards the group at a breakneck speed.

      Following her gaze, Dustins eyes grew wide, "Uh...guys?"

      Auroras hand shook softly as she shook Mikes shoulders, "Mike, Mike get off the road! Get off the road!"

      "What?" Mike questioned, glancing back at Aurora, not fully understanding her shouts.

      "Guys! Move!" Aurora shouted, reaching over Mike and grabbing the handlebar — steering them off the road just in time for the car to pass.

      Aurora slipped from her place on Mikes bike, tumbling into the leaves on the side of the road. Her elbow throbbed as the four of them watched the blue Camaro sped down the road, a red mop of hair flashing in the window as Aurora realized it had to have been Max.

      Mike crouched down at her side, "Are you okay?"

      Aurora watched the spot where Max had been — or Max's car had been — with her elbow in her right palm. Mike softly touched her right hand, causing Aurora to glance at him. "Oh um, yeah. I think I just hit it wrong."

      Mike helped to girl into a standing position, before bending to look at her elbow. The joint in question was just a bit red, as Mike rubbed it for a second before speaking, "Now I'm no nurse, but I think you'll live. Maybe a cool bruise, say you fought a wild animal or something."

      Mike repeated the same words Aurora had told him over a year ago when Troy and James had tripped him. Aurora grinned at the boy, before softly pulling her arm away from the boy and running a hand through her hair, trying to brush the leaves from it.

      "Are you guys okay?" Aurora questioned the two other boys, glancing over them to ensure they were.

      Lucas nodded with a glare as Dustin threw his hands up, "That — that was MADMAX."

      Mike scoffed at the mention of the girls name, before ushering them back onto their bikes. The boy paused for a moment, allowing Aurora to climb onto his bike behind him.

      Aurora was the only one in the party that needed to change once she got at Mikes house. Her aunt had done what she had said and dropped her dress off, Mrs. Wheeler had complemented the dress many times as she helped Aurora lace up the back of it.

      "I can't believe you made this gown!" Mrs. Wheeler exclaimed again, admiring the stitching. Aurora just blushed as the mom helped her tie her hair up and place the flower crown on her hair.

      "Thank you," Aurora mumbled, her hands patting at the glittery pink fabric that was flowing down her body. Mrs. Wheeler pulled her to face the mirror in the middle of her room, Aurora finally being able to admire her full work.

      The gown looked just like Auroras sketch's from months ago. The top, a loose corset, hand-stitched with shimmering pink sequins that catch the light like twinkling stars. The neckline, a delicate scoop, adorned with intricate lace, covered by a soft pink tulle fabric that connected to the off-the-shoulder sleeves. The waist had flowers covering the stitching that connected the voluminous ballgown skirt to the corset. The skirt, a sea of glittering pink tulle, seemed to ripple and flow with every movement, as if caught in a gentle breeze. Each layer of the skirt is dusted with glitter, sparkling like fresh snow under the moonlight, adding an enchanting allure. The back of the gown, a corset style, laced with a satin ribbon, added a touch of elegance and charm that Aurora loved — but it was all Mary's idea.

      Aurora grinned as Mrs. Wheeler placed the flower crown that adorned the same flowers that flowed from the bodice into the skirt. She kept her hair half up and half down, and maybe it was a bit extravagant, but Aurora loved her costume. The skirt was flatter than Aurora originally planned, but she didn't want to have to worry about a hoop skirt. But the gown was large enough to still make her feel and look like a princess.

      She didn't know she had begun to cry until Mrs. Wheeler touched her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm crying." Aurora tried to laugh but it was choked by a sob.

      "Oh sweetie," Mrs. Wheeler pulled the girl into a hug, "your aunts let me know what happened to your parents. And they would be so proud of you, I swear."

      Aurora swiped harshly under her eyes, knowing that her aunts had sugarcoated the story — probably telling Mrs. Wheeler the same story that had told Aurora for years, "Thank you."

      "Of course," Mrs. Wheeler smiled, and she stood up.

      "No," Aurora stood up, "Thank you for everything. You treat me like your own daughter, and I can't thank you enough."

      "Well," Mrs. Wheeler brought her voice to a whisper, "between you and me, I'm hoping you do become my daughter." Aurora dropped her chin to hide her blush as Mrs. Wheeler cleared her throat. "Well I guess you better go show your friends what you had spent most of your time on."

      Mrs. Wheeler held the door open for her, and led the blonde down the stairs where Mike, Dustin, Lucas and — just recently arrived — Will were arguing over something.

      Dustin noticed the two women first, his mouth dropping open as he stared at Aurora in shock, before hitting Lucas and Will in the arm. Soon enough, Aurora had the attention of all four boys.

      Mike had been the last to notice, trailing off mid-sentence as his eyes fell on the girl that had been running throw his mind for the past year. He could vaguely remember how Auroras kiss felt, the bright pink blush on her cheeks after he kissed her first. He wanted to kiss her again, even if he could never do it again, just to mark it into his memory. She was everything he imagined, and now she looked like a princess.

      She always looked beautiful to Mike, even in sweatpants and a baggy shirt. But the dress — especially knowing that Aurora had made it herself — made her looked even prettier. Her freckles ( there were forty-seven of them Mike had counted, and her right cheek had one extra ) that were displayed across her cheeks like constatations on a rosy sky. Her blue eyes, they're the kind of eyes that can make you lose track of time, that can make your heart skip a beat. They're the kind of eyes that hold a universe of their own, a universe that he was fortunate enough to get lost in. When they crinkle at the edges, it's like the sun breaking through the clouds, filling the world with warmth and joy.

      The golden heart he had given her almost a year ago rested right above the top hem of her dress. His mom had wanted her to take it off — "it clashes with the colors" Mrs. Wheeler had tutted — but Aurora had refused. The only time she ever took her necklace off, was when she was showering and even then she put the necklace right back on as soon as she was dressed.

      It only took a few seconds for Mike Wheeler to realize that he was utterly in love with Aurora Briar.

"It's too much," Aurora came to a conclusion as the four boys said nothing, "I'm just gonna go change."

Aurora tried to turn away, but Mrs. Wheeler kept her in place, "Boys!"

They broke from their trance at Mrs. Wheeler's tone, and jumped into complementing the girl. Will step closer to her, commenting on how she looked like a real princess. Mike said nothing, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

"Michael!" Mrs. Wheeler exclaimed with threatening eyes, "doesn't Aurora look pretty?"

"I think you look beautiful, Rory." Mike whispered.

⋆ ★ ⋆

THE SUN HADNT FULLY set, and yet the streets were full of kids and adults in all different outfits. Aurora still felt slightly out of place in her literal ballgown, surrounded by four boys in ghostbusters costumes.

She and Mike walked slightly behind the other three, keeping a slower pace than the others.

"I meant it, Aurora," Mike spoke up, "You do look beautiful."

Aurora let a blush coat her cheeks once again, "Thank you, Mike." The boy cleared his throat, and nodded.

"Hurry up guys!" Will yelled, glancing over his shoulder and the two of them rushed forward as Aurora thanked her aunts for forcing her to wear flats.

The five of them grinned, Will holding a camera close to Auroras face before panning down across her dress. He skipped to the other boys before the approached their first house. They skipped up the steps, shouting "trick-or-treat" before getting full-size candy bars shoved into each of their bags.

      "If I get another 3-Musketeers, I'm gonna kill myself." Lucas groaned as the walked through the neighborhood.

      "What's wrong with 3-Musketeers?" Dustin questioned, unwrapping a 3-Musketeers candy bar.

      Lucas mocked the boy, "What's wrong with 3-Musketeers?"

      "No one likes 3-Musketeers!" Mike told the party.

      "Yeah," Will nodded, "it's just nougat!"

      "No way," Aurora protested, "I love 3-Musketeers!"

      "Yeah," Dustin and Aurora high-fived with a grin, "but just nougat? It is top three for me!"

      "Top three?" The other boys exclaimed with horrified expression.

      "Top three!" Dustin nodded, shoving another 3-Musketeers into his mouth. "Seriously, I could eat just a whole bowl of nougat."

      As the boy ranted about his love for the candy bars, Aurora grinned. A masked person jumped in front of the group, causing the five of them to scream. Mike grabbing Auroras hand in a death grip as he pulled the sparkling girl behind him.

      "Holy shit," Max pulled the Michael Myers mask from her face, "You should have seen the look on your faces!" Mike scoffed, rolling his eye but he never dropped Auroras hand. "And you? Who screams like that? You sound like a little girl!"

      The redhead began walking away. Aurora tried to follow the girl she had grown to like but the grip Mike had on her hand had her slightly stumbling.

      "Are you guys coming or not?" Max groaned, "Oh! I heard we should hit up Loch Nora! That's where the rich people live, right?"

      "Hell yeah!" Dustin and Lucas exchanged before rushing to follow Max.

      Mike and Aurora didn't move — well, Aurora tried to but Mike stayed put. He rolled his eyes before the two of them started walking. They hit many more houses, Mike keeping Aurora close to his side as they walked and eventually Will joined the pair.

      Aurora walked in between the two of them in silence. Mike was glaring at the ground, dragging his feet across the asphalt in annoyance.

      "Okay," Aurora scoffed, "what's wrong?"

      "Nothing." Mike shrugged.

      "Really? Because ever since Max showed up you've been tense," Aurora admitted.

      Mike rolled his shoulders, "I don't know why she would be here! This is party only!"

      "What? Mike, I invited Max. Well, she technically invited me to go with her," Aurora trailed off, not noticing the glare the boy sent her. "but, it's never been party only! A year ago, Johnathan and Nancy both came!"

"They're...they're family!" Mike shouted, before turning to Will, "Did you agree to this?"

"What?"

"To her," Mike gestured forward to where Max, Lucas and Dustin were all walking, "joining our party!"

"It's just for Halloween." Will nodded.

"You should've checked with me." Mike answered and Aurora paused.

"Why?" Aurora spoke, "why do we have to check with you? It's literally one night! Everyone else is enjoying this but you. And she's not even joining the party!"

"She's ruining the best night of the year," Mike scoffed and walked away from the two.

Aurora sighed, glancing to the ground before her and Will walked in silence. Which was broken when a stranger jumped in front of them, "Watch it, Zombie Boy."

Another one followed, "Trick or treat, freak!"

Will jumped back, and Aurora scoffed before chasing after the boy for a second, only to turn back after a few seconds. When she turned around, Will was gone.

"Will!" Aurora shouted, "Will? Where are you?" Aurora ran, finding the three other boys in front of her. "Guys, I can't find Will!"

Mike bolted, trying to find the boy while Lucas and Dustin glanced around with Max before following Mike. The boy had ran down a flight of stairs, and found Will hiding under it.

They crowded around him, while Max stood behind them awkwardly. "I'm gonna take you home, okay?" Mike assured.

"Here," Aurora reached out to help Will, "take it easy."

Mike shoved her hand away with a glare, "I got him."

"Mike?" Aurora questioned, a frown on her lips.

"Keep trick-or-treating," Mike scoffed, helping Will walk, "I'm bored anyways."

"I'll come!" Aurora nodded, grabbing her bag from the ground.

"No!" Mike yelled, "Aurora, no. I've got him, you do whatever. I'll see you guys later."

Mike didn't answer any of the other questions the girl sent him, and helped Will away. The latter glanced behind, sending Aurora a soft, reassuring smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"What's wrong with him?" Max question, as Aurora swiped at her eyes.

No one answered, "I'm going home." Lucas assured, and clutched his bag to his chest as he walked away from them.

"Me too," Dustin nodded, "See you later, Rory."

Max and Aurora stood silently for a second, "Last year, Will disappeared for a week. We thought he died, we found a body that looked like him. That's most of what I can tell you, I'm sorry Max."

The redhead nodded, "So, you and Mike?"

They two started walking, "No, no, no. Me and Mike aren't anything."

"Really?" Max raised a questioning eyebrow, "he seems like he really likes you. I mean, I saw him holding your hand when I scared you guys earlier."

Aurora sighed, "I really like him. I think I always have, and last year, we had kissed for like a long time. And then we never talked about again, so I don't think he likes me. The kiss must have been just a one off, and then today, he called me beautiful and—"

"I think you need to talk to him," Aurora paused at Max's statement. It was very different from the advice Will had given her, "lay it all out, and see what he has to say. The worst thing he can do is reject you."

Aurora nodded, "I guess. Thank you, Max."

"Anyways," Max rolled her eyes, "that is way too soft for me. Wanna go get some more candy?"

Aurora nodded, "Yeah."

She tried to distract herself as she and Max filled their pillowcases full of candy, but Aurora couldn't stop thinking about Will.

When she got home, Aurora decided to call the Byers home, the phone rang and rang. She called two more times, and no one answered. Sighing, she headed to her room and picked up her walkie-talkie.

"Will?" She pressed the call.The radio crackled and no one answered, she pressed one more time. "Will, please, I'm sorry. I don't know what is happening, but I just want my best friend back. I don't know how to help you, but I want to try. I want you to know that I'll understand, things are weird and changing, but I need you to know that I will be here for you, no matter what."

She sighed, dropping it to her lap as a tear dropped onto the walkie-talkie. Then the radio crackled, "Rory."

Will responded, "Meet me at Castle Byers in five?"

"Got it," Aurora smiled at the radio.

She hurried out of the costume, and hurried to Castle Byers. Will was already waiting for her, and they gave each other a tight hug before sitting down.

"Okay," Will started. "I don't know who to explain it. But, it's like, I'm still in the Upside Down. I don't know what is happening with me, I'm feel like I'm going crazy. It's like visions, flashes between the Upside Down and here, but it's real. Today, I saw something. It was like a shadow monster, and it felt like I was trapped. Frozen in fear and I couldn't move. I know it's not real, but it feels real, Rory."

"I'm sorry you felt like you couldn't tell me these things." Aurora spoke, facing the boy. "How long has this been happening?"

"Since last year," Will looked down, "I didn't want you to look at me differently."

"Will," Aurora shook her head, "I would only look at you differently if you didn't let me in. We've been friends, for like ever, I want you to know that I will never look at you differently. And since we're being honest, I have nightmares about last year. It's usually the same thing, Eleven sacrificing herself, and then your dead body tells me it's all my fault."

Will just hugged her, both of them silently crying into each others shoulders. They both laughed after a few moments, before parting ways with the promise to meet each other before school.

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( LET ME SPEAK : )

one of my fave chapters, because of the
mikeXrory moments<33 AND HIS
CONFESSION?? at times i can't
believe i can write this romance when
i've never experienced something like
it before :0
BUT!!! some like ideas for her dress
are below!!!

credit goes to fivehxrgreeves