Chapter Two: The Weirdo on Maple Street

chapter five , Secrets, Secrets, Scecrets...

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Gus looks at the popcorn ceiling of her room and she sputters her lips out of boredom. The phone downstairs rings and her ears perk. The brunette gets up and makes her way downstairs.

She unhooks the phone and places it against the ear. "Hello?"

"Hey, Gus...Uh, it's Fallon. Listen, I wanted to keep this a secret, but I started feeling guilty about it. I didn't want you to be mad at me and--"

"Fal," Gus says as she closes her eyes.

"Right, uh--there's this thing...at Steve's house and...Nancy didn't want to go alone, so Barbara and I are tagging along." Fallon swings her legs over her bed and stands up nervously.

Gus raises her brows, "The same Steve I was just having a screaming match with at school?"

Fallon inhales, "I mean...the only Steve we know, am I right?" she chuckles quietly.

Gus frowns, "I mean...you didn't have to tell me--"

"Right! Exactly! I didn't have to. But I wanted to. Because I didn't want you to feel betrayed."

Gus inhales, "Well, thank you for that." she nods her head. "I...hope you have fun..."

"So, you're not mad?" Fallon inquires.

Gus bites her lip, trying to keep her jealousy under control. "Nope, not even a little."

Fallon smiles, "Okay, cool. Also--if anybody calls you about Nancy, Barbara, and I...were studying."

Before Gus could say anything else, Fallon hangs up the phone. Gus stares at the phone and she arches a brow.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Fallon! I can't go to the party because Steve abandoned me only for me to be embarrassed in front of the class and he talked about my dead parents." Gus says in one breath.

The phone in her hand begins to rattle aggressively. Her eyes shift to the cabinets that were shaking. Gus quickly drops the phone and her breathing quickens. The brunette shakes her head and wipes her hands on her jeans. Gus grabs the phone and hooks it back onto the wall. She stalks over to the fridge that was shaking. Gus inhales a deep breath and holds her breath. She squeezes her eyes shut and presses her head against the refrigerator door. The brunette digs her fingernails into her arms and quietly winces. She drags her nails down her arm and blood seeps from her skin.

Gus opens her eyes and notices everything had stopped shaking. She exhales a sharp breath and looks down at her bloody arm. The brunette grabs a paper towel and wraps the paper towel around her cuts. Gus opens the freezer to the refrigerator and grabs the container of ice cream. She scoops some ice cream into a bowl and sits at the table alone. She tucks a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth and pulls her brows together. An idea pops into her head, she grabs the bag of Twizzlers and opens them. The brunette sticks her tongue out of the corner of her mouth and she breaks the Twizzlers up. She then drops the Twizzlers into her ice cream bowl.

Gus exhales a breath and starts to eat her ice cream again. The teenager closes her eyes and slumps in her chair. "Better than sex." she nods. "Even though I've never had it."

Gus continues to eat her ice cream. She hears footsteps from upstairs. The brunette looks at the stairs and sees a woman walking down in a button-up shirt. Hopper's shirt.

"Oh...hi."

A smile twitches onto her lips. "Hi...?"

Gus leans back in her seat as the lady sits down. "Sandra, right?"

Sandra smiles softly, "Hopper told you about me?"

"No, I've just seen you around," Gus says, eating more ice cream.

Gus watches Sandra's attitude sadden. The brunette inhales a breath and rolls her eyes. "You want some ice cream or something?"

Sandra, "That would be great, actually."

The brunette presses her lips into a small smile, she stands up, and walks over to the cabinet. She grabs a bowl and the carton of ice cream. "It's strawberry by the way."

"I like strawberry." Sandra says.

"Who doesn't?" Gus snorts. She scoops some of the ice cream into a bowl and sets it in front of Sandra. "Enjoy."

"Thanks."

Gus shrugs, "No problem."

Sandra and Gus eat their ice cream in silence. The teenager looks at the woman, knowing something was bothering her. But Gus had a lot more things to think about than Sandra's delusional relationship she thought she had with Hopper.

"Is he always like this?"

Gus stops eating her ice cream and pulls her brows together. "Like what? Stand-offish? A drunk? A pill popper? A dick?"

"Uh, the first part," Sandra says.

Gus nods, "I don't know...barely even know the guy."

Sandra chuckles, "But you live with him?"

Gus' brow twitches out of annoyance. "So?"

"Well, you have to know something—"

"I know nothing about Hopper." Gus snaps. "But I do know something about you..." she tilts her head. "...you're wasting your time with him. There have been many Sandras that come and go. And you sure as hell won't be the last."

Silence settles in the kitchen. Gus freezes, realizing what she just said. Her mouth slightly opens, "Shit—I'm so sorry..." she looks down at her ice cream. "...he's just a dick, all right? And before he can actually care about others...he needs to care about himself."

Gus chews on the inside of her cheek. "I'm sorry." she forces herself to look at the woman. "I'm a dick too, y'know? And I should take my own advice."

"I heard about Will."

Gus' chest tightens and s dry chuckle leaves her lips. "Yeah? Who hasn't? It's a small town."

"I just know you were close to him."

Gus pulls her brows together, "He's not dead."

Sandra slightly opens her mouth, "Oh, I know that. I'm sorry."

"What's going on?"

Gus and Sandra look at the stairs and see Hopper standing there.

"I was just having ice cream with your girlfriend." Gus gives him a teasing smile. "You two are very cute, by the way."

Gus stands up with her bowl of ice cream.

"It was nice meeting you, Gus," Sandra says.

"Yeah, you too, Sandra. And I'm sorry...about what I said." Gus replies.

The brunette walks past Hopper, but he grabs her arm. "What'd you say to her."

Gus looks at Hopper, "Everything." she says in a deep raspy voice.

Hopper pulls his brows together and Gus rolls her eyes. "Relax, I only called you a dick and she could do better." she tilts her head. "Because she can do better, y'know? So if you're not going to take whatever you have with her seriously. Drop her...respectfully--of course."

With that, Gus walks up the stairs.

☆

"Barbara, pull over."

Fallon pulls her brows together.

"What?" Barbara and Fallon chorus.

"Pull over!" Nancy repeats.

Barbara pulls off to the side and stops the car. "What are we doing here? His house is three blocks away."

"We can't park in the driveway." Nancy states.

"Are you serious?" Barabra deadpans.

"I'm sorry--what?" Fallon cranes her neck forward. Barbra and Nany turn to Fallon.

"Oh, hell no. Um...yeah, Nancy, you can go. Barbara and I can just drop you off."

Nancy rolls her eyes, "Guys, come on. You both promised that you'd go. And you're coming. We're gonna have a great time--"

"My heels aren't made for walking." Fallon voices.

"And Steve just wants to get in your pants," Barbara says.

Fallon presses her lips into a firm line. Nancy laughs quietly, "No, he doesn't."

"Nancy...seriously. He invited you to his house. His parents aren't home." Barara says, throwing points out.

Nancy looks at her blankly.

"Come on! You are not stupid!" Fallon states, getting tired of this conversation.

"Tommy H and Carol are gonna be there," Nancy replies.

Fallon snickers, "Believe a person who has witnessed it first hand. Tommy and Carol have been having sex since, like, seventh grade."

Barbara and Nancy look at her.

Fallon looks at them, innocently. "What? It was like, one...four times I did it with them." she shrugs a shoulder.

Nancy chuckles.

"It'll probably be, like, a big orgy." Barbara states.

Simultaneously, Nancy and Fallon speak.

"Gross!"

"Ya think?"

"I'm serious!" Barbara exclaims.

"All right, well, you can be, like, my guardian. All right?" Nancy speaks. "Make sure I don't get drunk and do anything stupid."

Fallon bites her lip, "And I can be your party guardian." she says. "Make sure you party just the right amount."

Nancy looks at the coil-haired girl and smiles. "See? Everything is going to be fine."

Nancy takes her shirt off and Barbara looks at her, "Is that a new bra?"

The brunette looks at Barb. "No..."

Fallon looks over and inspects the bra. "Cute!"

☆

It's been an hour and Gus still couldn't knock it over. Her head started hurting from how much she was straining her eyes. She has to admit, it was ridiculous that she was even considering it. But if she did have powers. Shouldn't she at least try and test them out? Especially since no one was watching.

Gus furrows her eyes and keeps her eyes on the soda can sitting at her table.

Nothing.

The brunette closes her eyes and pinches the bridge of her nose. She then shakes her head.

"Okay." Gus opens her eyes and slaps both of her knees. She squints her eyes at the soda can. She stays like that for a minute and clenches her entire body.

Still nothing.

"Dammit..." she relaxes her body and lays her back on the bed. The brunette keeps her eyes on the ceiling and lets out a chuckle. Her chuckle grows into soft laughter and she covers her face. "I can't believe I actually thought I had powers...I need to lay off the D&D--"

"Gus--Gus, are you there?! It's Dustin. Over." The walkie on Gus' desk echoes through her room.

The brunette shoots up from her bed with wide eyes. "Shit..."

Hopper is going to kill me.

Gus quickly walks over to the bed and grabs the walkie. "Jesus, can you keep it down? Over," she whispers harshly.

"Right, sorry. How is it living with the Chief of Police? I mean, especially since you're always getting arrested. That must be a plus since Hopper gets you released, huh? Over."

Gus closes her eyes and exhales through her nose. "Dustin...why are you calling me?"

"Oh, right! We need you to come over to Mike's place. Right now! There's...someone we want to show you."

Gus sighs, "Is this some D&D shit? Because it's too late for me to be going out right now."

Mike groans, he grabs Dustin's walkie and speaks. "Gus, please. It's urgent!"

Gus bites the inside of her cheek and looks over to her window. "This better be good, squints."

Gus rode her bike to Mike's house. She set her bike against the side of the house and walks up the porch. The brunette knocks on the door. After a few minutes pass, the door opens; revealing Ted.

"Gus, you're here...again."

Gus presses her lips into a timid smile. "Uh--hi, Mr. Wheeler. I'm sorry for showing up here so late."

"Nancy's not here." Mr. Wheeler sighs.

"I'm actually here to see Mike and everyone else. They said I left my cloak here." Gus shrugs a shoulder.

"Oh..." Ted nods. "...do you not have any other friends?"

Gus' face heats up out of embarrassment. "Fallon's my friend."

"Right. You and Fallon are an odd pair." Ted states.

"How so, sir?" Gus tilts her head.

Ted purses his lips, "Well, you're...you." he points at her. Gus pulls her brows together.

"And Fallon is popular."

Gus' mouth slightly opens. "Oh...well, I guess...yeah."

"It's a surprise you two have made it." Ted sighs.

Gus looks at her vans as silence settles between them.

"Well...come on in." Ted takes a step aside.

The brunette gives him a small smile. She walks into the house and heads toward the basement stairs. While she was walking down the stairs, she was so deep in her thoughts about what Ted told her. Did everyone think it's weird that she and Fallon were still friends? I mean, yes they were polar opposites. But, Fallon was there for her, even when Gus tried to push her away.

Gus makes it done the stairs. "Okay, squirts...what the hell is so important that I have to..." she stops talking as she sees a kid with a buzz cut sitting at the D&D table.

The brunette pulls her brows together as she keeps her eyes on the kid. "Who is that?"

The girl turns to the brunette and her eyes widen. "You..." she quickly stands up.

"Wait, do you two know each other?" Lucas asks.

Gus shakes her head, "I don't know...she seems familia..." the brunette's throat slowly closes up and her voice stops. Gus touches her chest and her heartbeat fills her ears.

The kids all look at the teenager, whose face was getting red. "Gus? You okay?" Mike takes a step toward her.

Gus' knees buckle and she falls to the ground.

"Oh, My God!" Dustin jumps. "Is she dying? Is she dying?!"

"Holy shit! Her face is deep fucking red!" Lucas starts to panic.

Gus tries to claw at her neck, hoping for a way to relieve the pressure around her neck. Mike pulls his brows together and turns toward the bald girl.

"El, let her go," Mike says.

Blood slowly leaves Eleven's nose. "Bad."

Black dots form in Gus' vision. She falls to her side and Dustin lays her on her back. "Shit, Gus--you've gotta stay with us, okay?!"

Lucas turns toward Eleven, "Leave her alone!"

"El, listen to me..." Mike's voice was soft but shaking. "...however you know Gus from, she's not that person anymore, okay? She's good--she's our friend."

"She's our Guardian!" Dustin cries, tears stinging his eyes. He looks back at the brunette.

Eleven shifts her eyes to Mike, the girl falters from the tears in Mike's eyes. She then looks at Lucas and sees him with the same amount of panic. Eleven relaxes and Gus inhales a deep breath, she then starts to cough violently.

"Oh, Thank God!" Dustin exhales sharply.

Lucas and Mike run over to the coughing girl.

"Gus, how many fingers am I holding up?" Lucas asks, holding up 3 fingers.

"That doesn't help in this situation!" Dustin says.

"What..."

The boys all look at the girl, who was trying to talk.

"...the fuck?!" Gus rolls onto her stomach. She grips the banister to the stairs and pulls herself onto her feet. Gus touches her throat and exhales a sharp breath. Her eyes look at each of the kids, then her eyes land on Eleven.

Eleven kept a strong glare on Gus.

"Did she...?" Gus inhales a breath and looks at the boys. "...did she almost kill me with the fucking force?!"

"Well...yeah--I guess so." Dustin shrugs.

Gus looks back at Eleven, "I don't even fucking know you!" she snaps. "And what--you think it's okay to choke people to death with your mind?! Are you--"

"Five."

The brunette immediately stops talking, but her mouth was still open. "What...?" she shakes her head. "Why would you say that?"

"You...are Five." Eleven seethes.

"Okay, can someone tell me what's happening?" Lucas asks.

Gus shakes her head, "N-No...you guys--explain to me why you brought me here and why this bald twerp was trying to kill me!"

And so they did, the boys explained everything they knew and everything that they found out.

"So...she really really has powers?" Gus asks, still touching her throat.

"Yeah, I mean--you saw them first hand." Dustin chuckles.

Mike and Lucas hit Dustin's arms and he winces.

"I'm going home..." Gus whispers.

"No!" The boys shout.

Gus looks at them, "Why?"

"Gus, we need your help--"

"Ask Hopper--"

"No way!" Mike shuts down the suggestion.

"And why not?!" Gus shouts back.

Mike looks up the stairs, "The bad men."

"Guys, listen to me..." Gus presses her hands together and tries to control her frustration. "...if there are bad people, and they're the people who took Will...shouldn't we tell someone who can handle this?"

"But...we are," Dustin says.

Gus smiles, relieved that they were finally listening to her--

"You're the person who can handle this."

Gus' right-hand twitches and she flinches. She balls her fist and presses it against her mouth. "Why do you trust me?"

Gus opens her mouth, "Hey, I trust you guys, okay?--"

"If you really trusted us, you would help us." Mike's hand starts to shake. "Don't you think that we're smart enough to try and tell someone already? We did, and then Eleven said that we would be in danger...everyone."

Gus' eyes soften from the fear in Mike's voice. She looks at Dustin, seeing the same shaken expression. Lucas wasn't buying any of this shit, though.

Gus looks back at Mike, "Wh-what kinda of...danger?"

"Danger. Danger." Mike emphasizes.

Gus' eyes travel across the kids scared faces. Her eyes finally land on Eleven's face. Gus' chest tightens with fear and she lets out a soft breath. "Is it even more dangerous than her?"

"You are dangerous." Eleven retorts.

Gus pulls her face back. Her eyes trail to the mark on Eleven's wrist. The brunette's eyes widen, "Where'd you get that?" she points at her own wrist.

Eleven shifts her eyes toward her tattoo and looks back at Gus.

"Do you recognize it?" Dustin asks.

Gus grip the sleeve of her jacket and nods. "Yeah...I do..." she pulls her sleeve up, revealing a tattoo that reads '005'.

Dustin's face lights up, "Holy Shit! I knew it, you do have a tattoo!--" he goes to reach it, but Gus smacks his hand away.

"It's not like I wanted it, dickwad!" Gus mushes his face. She runs her thumb over the tattoo. "I don't even remember getting it."

"I just thought that I couldn't remember anything from my childhood because of my mom's car crash, but..." Gus shakes her head. "...it's something else."

She swipes her tongue across her lower lip. There was so much of Gus' life that was unfamiliar and unanswered to her. And maybe she could find out some of those answers. But above all of that, Gus wanted to find Will. She saw how much Will's disappearance affected Jonathan and Joyce, the brunette would give anything to take that pain away from them.

"Okay." Gus blurts out.

"Okay...what?" Lucas questions.

"Okay, as in...I'll help you guys." Gus nods. "I won't tell any of this, and...I'll tell you guys everything about me."

☆

Fallon sips on her beer and pumps her fist in the air, to the rhythm of everyone shouting, 'chug' for Nancy. Barbara looks at the dark-skinned girl. Fallon feels daggers being through at her. She turns her head and lets her hand fall as soon as she sees Barbara's strict face.

Nancy drops the can and everyone cheers for her. She bows and turns to her quiet friend. "Barb, you wanna try?"

"What? No." Barbara shakes her head. "No, I don't want to. Thanks."

Everyone begins to encourage her.

"Barbara, you don't have to if you don't want to..." Fallon speaks softly.

"It's fun! Just give it a shot..." Nancy says to her friend with a smile.

Fallon was all for partying, but if someone didn't want to do it, they shouldn't feel like they have to. Barbara stands up, they all wait for her to poke a hole in the can. Barbara's hand slips, she cuts her hand, and the can drops. Fallon's eyes widen and she quickly stands up.

Tommy chuckles, "Gnarly."

Fallon looks at Tommy, "Nice, Tommy. Really." her voice laced with sarcasm.

"Are you okay?" Fallon asks.

"Yeah." Barbara lies. She was furious, embarrassed, and bleeding.

"Barb, you're bleeding." Nancy states.

"I'm f-fine." Barbara says to her friends. "Where's your bathroom?" she looks at Steve.

"Oh, it's down past the kitchen, to the left." Steve instructs.

"Okay. Thanks." Barbara walks into the house. Fallon follows Barbara into the house.

"Barb, wait up!"

Fallon reaches the bathroom, but Barbara closes the door before she could enter. Fallon presses her hands against the doorframe and exhales a breath through her nose.

"Hey, Barb...I'm sorry about that." Fallon speaks. "I just want to know if you're okay, all right?"

"I'm okay." Barbara sniffles.

Fallon lets out a soft chuckle, "I'm friends with Gus, remember?"

"I know when someone's not okay when they say they are." Fallon shakes her head.

The door slowly opens and Fallon cautiously enters the bathroom. Fallon sees Barbara going to sit back on the edge of the bathtub, her eyes were on her cut hand. The coil-haired girl walks over to the sink and grabs the rag. She runs the washcloth under warm water.

Fallon walks over to Barbara and sits on the toilet. The coile-haired girl curks her fingers around Barbara's wrist and wipes her cut.

"So...I'm gonna ask again." Fallon's voice was soft.

"Are you okay?"

Barbara swallows the lump in her throat. "I don't know why I did it." she shrugs. "I didn't want to."

Fallon stays silent and listens to Barbara.

"I'm embarrassed and don't want to be here anymore."

"Then, let's go home." Fallon shrugs. "No biggie."

Barbara looks at Fallon with her brows pulled together. 'Why are you being so nice to me?"

A crease forms between Fallon's brows and a small smile forms on her lips. "I mean--no offense. But you're friends with them, and you used to kind of be a..."

"A bitch?" Fallon finishes.

Barbara lets out a laugh and Fallon joins her. The coil-haired girl nods her head, "I have to admit, I'm still a bitch."

Barbara snorts. Fallon shrugs, "But I've kind of got it under control now...? I dunno, Gus...she really keeps me grounded."

A smirk forms on Barbara's lips. "I'm sure she does..."

Fallon's face heats up, "What are you talking about?"

Barbara looks away and Fallon follows her eyes. "Barb, what?"

"Nothing, it's just..." Barbara looks into Fallon's eyes. "...you shouldn't be afraid to be yourself, y'know?"

Fallon's eyes widen, "I am unapologetically, myself."

"I mean...sexually?"

Fallon freezes and her heart rams against her chest. "I don't...I don't like Gus in that way."

"Oh..." Barbara's jaw goes slack. "...then this is awkward."

Silence settles in the bathroom and Fallon looks at the ground. "If...I were into girls in that way. Did I make it obvious?"

Barbara smirks, "I mean, if I questioned it...then, yeah it was obvious."

"Oh My God..." Fallon covers her face with her hands.

"But no one else suspects anything." Barbara reassures the girl. "Gus doesn't suspect anything."

"It's just a crush anyway." Fallon sighs. "It'll go away."

"And if it doesn't?"

Fallon bites her lower lip. "Then, I will live the rest of my life in sorrow. Because she still likes Steve."

Fallon's mouth hangs open and she slaps her hand over her mouth. She snaps her eyes over to Barbara. "No--I mean. She's not--shit..."

"It's cool." Barbara shrugs. "Kinda already knew that."

Fallon pulls her brows together and takes her hand off her mouth. Barbara shrugs a shoulder in a cunning manner. "I observe a lot of shit, Fallon."

Barbara pretends to zip her lips shut. "And your secret is safe with me."

☆

After many times of telling Barbara that she was okay with leaving the party with her, Fallon realized that Barbara wasn't going to budge on her decision and told the girl to stay at the party and enjoy herself.

Fallon walks out of the bathroom and sees everyone soaking wet.

"Jeez, what did I miss?" Fallon laughs softly.

"Oh, just the most epic pool party--every." Tommy voices.

"Yeah, why'd you leave?" Carol tilts her head.

"I wanted to check on Barb." Fallon shifts her gaze to Nancy, who was focused on Steve and only Steve. That irked Fallon.

What was so special about Steve Harringotn that mad girl's losing their fucking minds?

"She's fine. By the way."

Nancy looks away from Steve and her eyes land on her agitated friends. "I was...going to ask about her--"

"Sure you were." Fallon nods.

"And, what the hell's wrong with you?" Tommy asks.

Fallon looks at Tommy.

"Oh, wait--I know!" He snaps his fingers. "She's been hanging out with Guster."

"Yeah, they're best friends!" Carol teases.

Fallon arches a brow, "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Are you...are you serious?" Carol looks at Steve and Nancy, who were silent. "She's a freak!--"

"Watch it." Fallon's told was stern.

"Guys, let's settle down, all right?" Steve finally speaks up. "This is supposed to be a party. We're supposed to be having fun--no need to discuss...unfun subjects."

"Gus is unfun?" Fallon snaps her eyes over to Steve. "You used to think she was plenty of fun as your childhood friend."

Steve opens and closes his mouth, trying to find something to say. "Yeah, well...people change."

"And we're looking at one of them."

Fallon looks back at Tommy and Carol.

"You used to be cool, Price." Tommy scoffs. "If you're not going to prove to any of us that you're still that wild animal from before--there's the door."

Fallon looks at each person in the room and shifts weight from one leg to the other. The coil-haired girl gnaws on her lower lip, thinking. Fallon felt like in her heart that if she didn't prove to them she was the same bitchy Fallon from before, then they would see right through her.

They would know that Barbara knows and that scared Fallon more than anything.

"Whatever. I'm freezing." Carol shivers.

"Well...I hear his mom's room as a fireplace." Tommy says walking away. Carol giggles and follows him up the stairs.

A lump forms in Fallon's throat, "Got room for one more?"

Tommy and Carol stop on the stairs. They look at Fallon then back at each other. "Always for you, Fallon." Carol says.

Fallon forces out a chuckle and follows them up the stairs. Carol throws an arm over Fallon's shoulders, "I knew you were still in there."

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author's note.

How are we feeling about Eleven and Gus' first (not actually first) time meeting? And Fallon and Barb's heart-to-heart?

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