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

❛ TOGETHER   AGAIN ❜

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AURORA HAD BEEN RIGHT ABOUT THEIR parents being pissed at the three when they returned. The three were punished, though not as much as Aurora had expected. Her permit had been taken away and the three of them would need to attend their detentions they received for skipping without an excuse. But the three had fun, Will and Aurora had introduced Eleven to the beach, and the photos they got made Aurora happy—consequences be damned.

When Mary and Aurora arrived back at their house, Mary explained why their punishment was so lenient. "Joyce got a call that Eleven was most likely being bullied, so she was going to give her the day anyways. When she saw the bug gone, she stopped by our house and found the note. But god, Aurora, you had me terrified."

She glanced at her feet, her choppy hair covering her face like a curtain, "I'm sorry. But, we won our first meet, and then when we got back I saw Eleven and—you should've seen her, she just looks so miserable here. I know she pretends for Joyce but I can see through it. She hates it here, everyone is so rude to her. And I just wanted to give her a break."

Mary smiled, standing in front of Aurora as she sat on a barstool in the kitchen. "There are so many things to unpack, young lady. But you are an amazing friend to Eleven, so I'm not mad at you for that, I am mad that you drove without a license. And, look at your hair!"

Aurora ran a hand through the tangled mess, smiling. "Yeah, happened yesterday morning, felt like I needed a change. Aunt Fauna, she always said that hair held memories, and I felt like cutting it off was the first step to letting go."

Mary swallowed, hard, before pulling Aurora into a tight hug, brushing hair hand down her hair to her back. "I think it looks amazing, and I'm sorry I missed your first track meet, but from the photos and the medals I saw on the counter it went very well."

Aurora nodded, hugging the older woman tighter. "Does this mean you'll call me out of detention?"

Mary laughed, "oh hell no, darling. You got yourself into that mess, you suffer the consequences. But, Mike is still allowed to come over tomorrow, but Jonathan's friend—Argyle is it? He is driving you four." Aurora nodded, a smiling gracing her lips, as Mary spoke again. "Do I, uh, do I have to give you the talk?"

Aurora broke into a harsh laugh, clutching her stomach as tears built up in her eyes. When she sobered, she shook her head, "please no. I think I'm still traumatized from the talk you gave me when we first started dating."

Mary raised her hands in surrender, "just making sure!"

After a few moments of sitting in silence, Aurora stepped off her chair, "I'm gonna go catch up on the homework I missed. Don't want to have to do any after Mike leaves."

Halfway up the stairs, Mary spoke again, making Aurora pause. "Aurora, you know if something bothering you, you can talk to me, right? I hear, sweetie, and I'm not leaving."

Aurora swallowed harshly, refusing to turn around and reveal the tears streaming down her face. She simply nodded and tried to make her voice sound as normal as possible, "yeah. I know, Aunt Mary. Love you!"

"Love you too, sweetie."

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THE AIRPORT WAS CROWDED AS THE five kids rushed to meet Mike at his gate. Aurora couldn't sit down, pacing behind the four chairs, she couldn't wait to see him but the fear that he wouldn't like her hair, or the way she looked now—it had been almost five months since the two had seen each other. Will was cradling a bundle of cardboard in his hands and Eleven slowly stood up.

"Aurora," the brunette spoke, and the blonde paused. Glancing where Eleven was facing, she found Mike following the crowd out of his gate.

Aurora smiled, waving at the boy who ran towards her quickly. Aurora rounded the chairs and met him, he bent down, pressing a kiss to her lips and Aurora felt like she was home. She pulled away from the kiss to hug him, savoring the warmth he gave off.

"Wait, careful, careful, careful!" Mike spoke as Aurora pulled away from him, "you're squishing your present!"

Aurora smiled, glancing at the wildflowers he held out to her, "I handpicked those and brought them all the way from Hawkins. I know you like Gardenias, but I couldn't find any so I picked a whole bunch of Sweetspier and then I know you like pink so I tried to find a lot of pink and now I'm realizing that there's probably too much pink."

      Aurora cut him off, "I love them. And they're from you and that's all that matters."

      Will, Jonathan, and Eleven all stood up. Eleven hugged Mike first, greeting him before Mike moved to hug Will and Jonathan as well. It was awkward to say the least, as the six now stood in a semi-circle in silence.

      Mike broke it as he noticed the tube in Wills hand, "what's that?"

      Will glanced at his hands, smacking the tube against his fingers, "this? Oh this is nothing. Just this painting I've been working on."

      Mike nodded, "cool." And left it alone. Aurora furrowed her eyebrows, wondering why the two best friends were so awkward with each other.

      "That's a rad shirt, man," Argyle jumped into the conversation and Aurora hid her snicker in a cough when Mike jumped. "Ocean Pacific?"

      As if just remembering that he was there, Jonathan introduced the two. "Oh, Mike. This is, uh, my friend Argyle."

      "Oh. Hey." He raised his hand for a shake but Argyle moved to hug him, Aurora and Eleven couldn't hide their laughs as they broke into laughter. When Mike was let go, he turn to glare at his girlfriend, a smile breaking across his face.

      He wrapped an arm around her shoulders before pressing a kiss to her temple. "Okay, I've got the whole day planned so let's get moving guys!" Aurora ushered them out, stepping out of Mikes hold to lead them out of the airport.

Mike reached out for her hand, and Aurora let him hold it as she told him out her plan. "I was think El Rodeo for burritos first, incase you haven't eaten yet. Of course if you have then we can do that later."

"I haven't eaten, but burritos for breakfast?"

Aurora blushed, "yes, trust me it's amazing."

"No, no, no. I trust you, Rory, it's just. You know, a little weird." Mike shrugged.

"I guess, but don't knock it until you try it." Aurora nodded, "but after that, I want to show you Rink-O-Mania."

"Okay, and what's Rink-O-Mania?" Aurora held on the flowers she had been gifted, a perfect excuse to not hold Mikes hand anymore.

"It's like a game place, but it's also got a skating rink. So it will be a lot of fun! If you want to of course."

Mike glanced at her, smiling, "if you planned it, we're doing it, baby. Are your friends gonna meet us?"

"No, the team's busy, so I was thinking it could just be the four of us." Aurora motioned to Will and Eleven behind the two of them.

Mike nodded, and the six finally made it out of the airport, and the hot California air hit Aurora full force. Mike was already sweating in his long sleeve. Aurora bumped him with her elbow, "welcome to California. When the air is always this dry and hot."

Mike smiled at her and the two climbed into the way back, Will and Eleven sitting in the middle seats while Jonathan and Argyle sat in the front seats. Aurora turned to face Mike, her seat belt buckled as the car began to drive away. "So how are Dustin and Lucas? What about Max?"

      Mike sighed, "I thought today was about us?"

      Aurora furrowed her eyebrows, "it is. But they're my friends too and I haven't seen them in months. Max doesn't answer me anymore, Lucas and Dustin, I get short, monthly replies that don't seem like they even want to talk to me anymore. I miss them."

      Mike sighed, "I haven't spoken to Max since, well since that night"—everyone had been cagy about what happened in the mall, because everyone knew that Aurora lost people too—"but she seems good. Her and Lucas broke up a while ago, maybe a month after you left. Lucas is on the basketball team, he just won our first championship ever, but other than that he's a benchwarmer. Me and Dustin joined hellfire. . ." Mike continued telling Aurora about everything that had happened in Hawkins since she had left.

      Aurora didn't understand most of what he was telling her, but she just smiled and listened to the boy. Watching him talk as she tried to remind herself that he was here because he wanted to be here. He chose to come here, to come for her. He wouldn't leave if he had come here. But then her thoughts started to spiral downwards.

      Maybe he came here to breakup with her. Maybe he is just here because he felt like he needed to. Maybe he is just here for Eleven and Will. Maybe—

      "Rory!" Mike shouted, drawing her from her thoughts once more. "Are you okay? We're at El Rodeo."

"Oh, right yeah sorry." Aurora nodded, noticing they were the only two left in the car.

Mike grabbed her hand before she could get out, "are you sure you're okay? You've been weird since I got here."

Aurora paused, and debated on telling him every thought she had since before he had gotten here. She took two extra seconds before nodding her head, "sorry, it's just hard to believe that you're really here. I missed you."

Mike smiled, not seeing through her facade, as he pressed a kiss to her lips, "I missed you too. Now let's go get some of these amazing burritos!"

Aurora nodded, jumping out of the van and grabbing Mikes hand to lead him into the small burrito restaurant. The other four had already found them a table inside and didn't mention the blonde absence or that they came late. They all just ordered their burritos and ate happily, the weird awkwardness had escaped them with the car ride, and Mike easily carried on any conversation that was thrown his way.

When they were done, the six piled back into the van and headed to Rink-O-Mania, where Argyle parked in front of the store. The four friends all climbed out of the van, Aurora making sure to grab Wills hand before leading the four into the store. The three waiting as Jonathan yelled out to Will.

      "We'll be back at six! Have fun, okay?" Jonathan yelled to his brother, and Will only nodded before continuing his walk into the rink.

      The two boys and Eleven had rented out their skates while Aurora had already pulled on the ones she had gotten for Christmas. She skates pink and the wheels lit up as she skated—Aurora had asked for them after she had found chewed gum in her skates the first time they had come, and a sticky substance she didn't not want to look into the second time.

      She had her skates on before the other three, and began to skate in small circles as she waited for them. Mike glanced up at her as he pulled off his shoes, "do you guys come here a lot?"

      Aurora began to say yes, just as Will began to say no. "I do, hence my own skates, but Will doesn't. El does too, but not as much."

      "So you'll be helping me when I fall on my ass," Mike asked, glancing at the jean shorts she was wearing along with her oversized graphic shirt. Aurora glanced at his feet.

      "Oh wait you need socks!" Aurora spoke, "you don't want to put your bare feet in there."

      The three Californians shivered before Will spoke up, "I think them sell them at the counter."

      Mike thanked him before running off, Aurora following him with her skates. She spun around when they got in line before skating backwards to meet him where he stood.

      "You are good." Mike grinned, eying her with a smile.

      "What do you think I lied?" Aurora smiled back, skating up to the counter as the person in front left.

Mike smiled at the male, who was eying Aurora up and down. His smile dropped as he plainly asked for a pair of socks. He didn't even thank the man when he got them and his receipt. Just walked away.

Aurora skated after him quickly, spinning in front of him so he couldn't go farther. He was still many inches taller than her even with her skates on. "What was that about?"

"He only looked at you," Mike admitted.

Aurora smiled, "Michael Wheeler are you jealous?"

"No," his words came out mumbled.

"Oh you are so jealous," Aurora teased. "But, I like it and there is no reason because I'm dating you."

Mike huffed, before leaning down to kiss her sharply, he pulled away to smile at her cherry red cheeks before grabbing her hand and pulling her back to where the two others were sitting and made quick work out pulling on his socks and skates. Aurora led Mike to the rink, facing him as she skated backwards to help him.

"I'm so bad at this," Mike chuckled nervously, "I'm like Bambi on ice."

"Just worse," Will joked from behind them.

"Way worse," Aurora continued the teasing.

"You make it seem so easy," Mike pouted, watching as Aurora glanced behind her for a second to make sure she wouldn't hit anyone. Mike began to move towards the wall, allowing Will and Eleven to pass them as he watched Aurora.

His hand reached up, fiddling with the neatly cut ends that brushed her shoulders, "when did you do this?"

Aurora glanced down shyly, "a few days ago. I just. . .do you like it?"

Mike smiled, brushing it off her shoulder before resting his hand at the small junction between her shoulder and her neck. "I love it, just like I love you."

Aurora smiled, reaching her hands up to kiss him again when Will and Eleven skated past them booing. Aurora blushed, pulling away from him to catch up with Will. Mike shouted as she left him, but Aurora just laughed as him and Eleven began skating together. Aurora caught up with Will, grabbing his arm as she pulled him, "happy birthday. I know I didn't tell you this morning but I'm sorry it seemed like I forgot."

Will glanced at her in confusion before a smile broke across his face, and he pulled her into a hug. "I thought you'd forgotten."

"Never," Aurora pulled away, grabbing his hand to continue to skate with her best friend. "It's your birthday, so I'm buying you ice cream. Because—"

      "You can never be sad on your birthday," the two chorused together, before breaking out into a smile.

      "I really thought you forgot," Will spoke after a few moments.

      Aurora scoffed, glancing at him, "we're best friends, I would never forget. Now, cheer up!"

      Will smiled and the two caught up with Mike and Eleven. They made many more laps before Eleven asked for a break, so the four found a booth—Aurora and Mike to one side, Eleven and Will on the other—in the food area. The four of them all got milkshakes, and true to her word Aurora paid and even got Will extra whipped cream just how he liked it.

Aurora was talking to Will across the table when Angela skated up to the four of them.

"Where, oh where have you been hiding this handsome thing?" Angela questioned, eying Mike up and down.

      "Somewhere where your grubby hand couldn't reach him." Aurora snapped back, fed up with Angela. She had never liked the fake blonde and the bullying she saw yesterday just confirmed it.

      Angela glanced at Aurora in surprise, before turning to face Eleven, "is this your boyfriend you talk so highly of?"

      Eleven swallowed harshly, turning to Aurora hoping she could see the apologies in her eyes as she spoke, "yes. This is Mike, my boyfriend."

      Auroras eyes went wide, as well as everyone else at the table. The three all turned to watch Eleven in shook, surprise, and in Auroras case anger. She tried to spin the perfect narrative to her mother and everyone around her but Aurora and Will were the only ones who knew the lies Eleven told everyone. Aurora was fine as long as it didn't interfere with her life or got the three of them in trouble. But this? This was most definitely interfering with her life.

      "Angela, pleasure," the blonde held out her hand to shake, which Mike shook with a smile.

      Aurora couldn't stop the glare she sent Eleven, "he's visiting from our hometown. I was just as surprised to hear they were dating."

      Mike reached under the table to grab Auroras hand but she pulled it away from him. Eleven wouldn't meet Auroras eyes or her glare, focused entirely on her fingers.

      "So are you guys El—Jane's friends?" Mike questioned, Aurora hadn't told him about any Angela so he assumed they were Elevens friends.

      "Friends?" Angela laughed, "of course. Come on, friend. Let's skate shall we?"

      Angela held out a hand for Eleven to grab, and the brunette hesitated. Eleven grabbed her milkshake, "I was actually going to—"

      One of Angela's friends snatched the drink from her hands, "I hold onto that." Then Angela grabbed Elevens arm and pulled her up from her seat, Aurora stood up skating after them in a hurry as Mike and Will stayed by the booth to watch.

      Angela held tightly to Elevens hands as she pulled the brunette into the center of the skating rink. Angela skidded to a stop before leaving Eleven in the center. Two of Angela's friends blocked Aurora from reaching her, even as she tried to fight against them to two boys pushed Aurora back to the wall and kept her there.

      The music stopped as another one of Angela's friends came over the loud speaker. "Alright everyone, this next song is dedicated to Jane, the local snitch."

      A spotlight illuminated Eleven in the center and Angela and her friends began to skate around her. Wipe Out by the Surfaris began blasting over the speaker as her friends began to mock Eleven shouting things at her.

      Aurora kicked out one of the feet next to her, listening to the loud thud of the person falling before doing to the same to other person to her right before skating to the center of the rink. She tried pushing away the people surrounding her only to have the music cut and someone threw the rest of Elevens milkshake on her. Eleven fell backward, her hand bouncing on the plastic of the roller rink as everyone began to laugh.

      "Shut up!" Aurora shouted, skating towards Eleven and helping her up.

      Angela skated up to the two, "didn't you see the sign dummy? No food of drinks on the rink."

      "Shut the fuck up," Aurora cussed, before turning back to Eleven who was crying now. She tried to wipe away her tears but Eleven pushed her away, standing up herself before skating towards the back entrance to the rink. The crowd began to push in, blocking the way for Aurora to get to her. Mike and Will both skated to them, but they were all blocked by the crowd taunting Eleven.

      Aurora slammed her foot to the ground, before quickly skating off the rink and into the carpet. She found the bench where they stored their shoes and slipped her skates off quickly. Mike and Will found her right after, following her lead.

      She had her shoes on first, and left the two to search the food court and bathrooms. Mike and Will went to search the arcade and their bathrooms.

      Aurora had no luck of her own, the amount of people made it hard to work quickly but Eleven was nowhere to be found. Aurora walked past Angela, listening as they laughed at the video they had taken of Eleven.

      As much as she wanted to be nice and ignore it, Aurora couldn't help it. "You're a bitch you know that right?"

      Angela's laughter stopped, "what did you just call me?"

      "Do you need me to repeat it for you? All that bleach gone to your brain?" Aurora replied, rolling her eyes.

      "I'm giving you once chance to walk away," Angela spoke slowly, "it's seven against one, I don't think you have a chance."

      "Or what? You'll dump a milkshake on me?" Aurora gasped, "how terrifying."

      Angela stepped closer to the girl, but someone shouting broke her focus. "Angela!"

      "Uh-oh," Angela turned around, looking at Eleven approaching her, "look who it is."

      "She looks upset," one of Angela's friends commented.

      "You ruined my day," Eleven growled.

      "Oh no!" Angela chuckled, "did we embarrass you in front of your boyfriend?"

      "I want you to apologize to me," Eleven nodded, and Aurora stepped to her side. "And I want you to tell Mike that it was just a joke, and that we are really friends."

      Aurora stepped away from Elevens side, not understanding why she wanted to keep the facade up for Mike.

      Angela blinked raising her hand up to mock Eleven, "or what? You're gonna hurt up with your mean stare again." She broke into laughter again, "sorry you can't cry to teacher today, you'll just have to cry to your daddy instead. Oh wait, can't do that either."

      Aurora scoffed, "that's it." She stepped forward, throwing a punch just like Hopper and Fauna had taught her a few months before everything had happened. Angela stumbled backwards, but Aurora was on top of her in a second, throwing punch after punch towards Angela. She felt bone break under her fist but she kept punching until someone pulled her off.

      Mike held her back, whispering, "stop, stop it. It's okay." Before a way of tiredness washed over Aurora and her vision fell away quickly.

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( LET ME SPEAK : )

my baby had gone through CHANGES let me
tell you, she is no longer the pacifist she was in
season one and i fear this may be her season.
we love rory defending eleven and hopper even
when she pissed at el for pretending mike is her
bf. rory is just done with everyone this season and
i'm so excited for her changes!!

ps. i didn't die, just had to plan everything out...

credit goes to fivehxrgreeves