Andrea stayed hidden in Mike's basement during the times that she wasn't at school. Mike taught her about the events that had plagued Hawkins a few months before her appearance. He taught her about Will's disappearance as well as Eleven's.

He taught her about the Upside Down. The demogorgons and whatever else from their weird game that managed to become real. Andrea wished that she could say she was surprised, she wished she could say that she didn't believe it at first.

But she did. Anything seemed to be real.

She ended up at school. The day went by slowly due to Jonathan and Nancy not showing up. She had to deal with being thrown around and flaunted by the other members of the school. Billy Hargrove had continuously tried to catch her eye, but she ignored him.

He was yet another man who thought he had all the power. That thought he was truly something when deep down, he was just the same as everybody else. No matter what his attitude told him. No matter what the others told him, he was just as human as everyone.

"How come she's the IT girl?" Andrea ignored the comments as she walked through the school trying to find Steve.

Everyone kept nagging her. All she needed was to find someone that she was familiar with.

"It's not fair! Look how pretty she is, but look at me! I'm so much better," Another girl shrieked.

"Get a grip on yourself honey, conceitedness doesn't gain you extra points. There's a difference between full of yourself and cute," Andrea managed to reply as she cut the corner right by her.

Andrea found Steve leaning against the wall of an empty hallway. She noticed the look on his face and she walked over.

"Did Nancy send you? Oh right, she's not here so she couldn't," Steve found himself huffing out.

A pang hit Andrea's heart, "No one sends me anywhere. I go to whoever or wherever I want."

Silence settled between the two teenagers. Andrea's arms crossed firmly across her chest. The old jeans she wore were washed out, clashing with her red flannel. Her curls mangled up into a bun that looked like it had seen every war.

"You can't let them get into your head," Andrea spoke as she tilted her head, "That's what they want."

"What more can they do to me, Andrea? Huh? I'm not the big guy on the block anymore. You have nothing to fear. Everyone wants you," Steve shot at her.

"Look, I don't care what you say because, Steve, you are clearly upset. Who says you have to be the big guy to be happy, huh? Isn't that the moral of every story? The little guy always wins and he does so with a good heart? I may seem big now but that's because I'm like a shiny new toy, people want what they can't have," Andrea shot back at Steve, hoping she was correct because everything she said just came from pure instinct.

Steve looked down at the floor, his emotions running through his features, "What do you want, Andy?"

Andy? That's new.

"To check on you," Seven kept her arms crossed tightly, "We're so-called friends after all."

"We're friends," Steve seemed as if he had to confirm it to himself, "Thought you hated me."

"I don't hate anyone. I don't believe in an emotion as strong as hate. I wasn't fond of you but sadly, Harrington, you've grown on me and I have a very hard time seeing people upset so talk to me," Andrea moved to lean against the wall beside the boy.

"It's stupid really. Or in Nancy's tone, bullshit," Steve tried to mock the Wheeler girl.

"Oh, so that ended?" Andrea finally concluded.

Steve cut her an eye and she made a face as if apologizing, "She tried to apologize but I couldn't take it. It's not right."

"Honestly, good for you. I feel like from what I've observed the two of you were just hurting one another more. Now please, don't take this the wrong way but I feel like your feelings were there in the beginning but now they've dissolved into just wanting someone," Andrea looked over at him, "It's going to be okay... but I have a feeling that isn't the only thing."

"How and why are you this observant? Are you a nerd?" Steve couldn't help but ask.

"Nerd? Is that the guess?" Seven rolled her eyes, "God you're.... What's the word ...."

"Stereotypical?"

"Stupid?" The girl spoke with a slight grin.

"Stupid," Steve repeated with a dead expression.

"Yeah, now get on with the rant," Andrea only unlocked her arms to snap her fingers before placing them back across her chest.

She watched the roll of Steve's eyes. He was clearly not used to being bossed around by someone else besides his parents, teachers, hell, even coaches but here Andrea was ordering him around. She was finding it amusing.

"Billy Hargrove, he got into my head, alright? Spitting some shit," Steve spoke simply as he shoved himself off of the wall.

"Well, why are you letting him spit that shit at you?" Andrea questioned.

"Because what am I to do if I'm not top dog?" Steve repeated before he disappeared into the boys room before Andrea could move.

She felt a slight drop in her heart at the action. She was already really tired of the new King of Hawkins and the sad part of it was, he had started soon around the same time she had.

Andrea decided that she was going to take matters into her own hands. The girl walked back through the hallways in search of Billy Hargrove and when she couldn't find him inside she found him by his car.

"Hey! Meathead," Andrea yelled as she caught his attention.

She noticed the way he eyed her up and down, "Well hello there, Princess. What may I help you with?"

"Leave Steve the hell alone," Andrea stood neck and neck with him, "I mean it. Another word of your bullshit to him I'll show you a good time and not one in which you feel anything but pain."

A low laugh left Billy's lips, "You've got quite the mouth. Why don't you use it for something... useful?"

"Like biting the tip off? Gladly," She retorted with a laugh, "If there's anything to even bite."

"You'll regret that you bitch," Billy grabbed her wrist but she turned around and punched him, causing him to shift back some.

"One more word. And I'll bring the king back down," Andrea gave him a glare before shaking off her wrist and walking away.

She turned to walk, walking being the only ride she really had to the Wheeler's. Until she noticed Steve staring at her from a few feet away. He seemed to have noticed that she caught his gaze as he began to trudge over to her.

"Do you want to go for a ride?" Steve questioned.

Andrea raised an eyebrow but agreed nonetheless.

The decision of where to go was up in the air. Steve drove the two around for a little over an hour while talking with Andrea about whatever nonsense was in his life.

"Okay, but you going up to Hargrove? Ballsy, you could've gotten hurt," Steve switched subjects as he took a right turn, "What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that he shouldn't be messing with my friend," Seven's simple answer.

"Jeez, you are a firecracker. Nearly a day ago you strongly did not like me and now I'm being defended? Flattered, Keene. Truly flattered," Steve meant it in a teasing way but it made Andrea's expression fall slightly.

"Don't let that ego of yours go back to your brain or I will get out of this vehicle," Andrea shot at him.

"There she is," Steve gave her a grin as she scoffed.

The decision made by Steve was for the two to talk to Nancy. Andrea being the mediator in case the two would burst into a large argument. Though she did not know how they could really get any worse with each other, all she could tell now was that they had a rocky friendship.

They pulled onto the road near the Wheeler's driveway. Steve getting out and fixing his hair while Seven got out and inevitably made fun of him for doing so. She could tell he was worried.

"What do I say?" Steve asked Andrea as they walked down.

"Exactly what you think. You two need to be honest, even though it's kinda over," The girl shrugged.

"Steve!" Dustin? The curly-haired boy walked over to the two, "You two here for Mr or Mrs. Wheeler?"

"No?" Steve looked at the younger teen with a questioning look.

"Good," Dustin took off from beside Steve and trudged up to his vehicle.

Steve looked at Andrea before looking back at Dustin, "Hey, what the hell?"

"Nancy isn't home," was Dustin's response.

"Where is she?" Andrea questioned as she crossed her arms.

"It doesn't matter," Dustin responded shortly again, "We have bigger problems than Steve's love life. You still got the bat?"

"Bat? What bat?" Steve questioned trying to understand this kid.

"The one with the nails," Dustin stated as if it were the most obvious answer.

"Why?" Steve questioned as Dustin opened the passenger side door.

"I'll explain it on the way," Dustin nodded for the two to get into the vehicle.

Andrea looked over at Steve with a questioning look. What the hell is this kid talking about? And what the hell are we getting into? She couldn't help but the question in her mind while Steve shook his head.

"Now?" Steve questioned as Dustin shut the door.

"Now!" Dustin exclaimed.

"No, Steve. In five years, he's just getting in your car for good measure," Seven retorted before following after the two boys and getting in the backseat.

After nearly an hour, Dustin had finished explaining everything and opened room for questions or just talking in general. Obviously, making sure everyone knew the seriousness of what was happening. Andrea had learned from Mike how dangerous and deep things would get with this kind of stuff so she was preparing herself for the time of her life.

Andrea was laying down in the back seat, having gotten tired of sitting and staring out the windows while listening to the music that Steve had playing through the car. Her tattoo was covered by her hand as she held onto her wrist. Her eyes were staring at the ceiling of the car.

"So, how do you know the chick from the bathroom in the back?" Dustin asked Steve and Andrea paused.

"Chick from the bathroom?" Steve questioned, now confused by Dustin's statement.

"Long story," Andrea did not want to go and explain the entire thing at the moment.

"Her, Steve. How do you know her?" Dustin readjusted his wording.

"We go to school together. She's the new popular girl or in her words ''shiny new toy," Steve looked back at Andrea through the mirror and she stuck her tongue out at him, "Met her through Nancy."

"Oh, so you met Andrea through Nancy?"

"Yes," Andrea replied.

"How do you know her?" Steve now questioned.

"Uh...." Dustin looked back at Andrea who shook her head.

"He met me while on a walk," Andrea lied, "Before the party on Halloween."

Steve had yet to seem convinced but he let it go and continued to turn his music up.

And the drive continued. For what seemed like hours. Andrea had managed to take a few naps along the way. She honestly was not sure what they were doing, she just knew that whatever it was, was an odd choice.

The darkness had settled over Hawkins. The only lights were from the ones that lined the streets. The stars are seemingly gone, causing the world to appear darker than usual. The girl was drifting between sleep and awake before her ears caught the boys' conversations.

"Wait, how big?" Steve questioned.

"First it was like that. Now he's like this," Dustin tried to measure off with his fingers and Andrea sat up, cursing mentally at how unfocused her vision had become.

"I swear to god, man, it's just some little lizard, okay?" Steve shot at Dustin as he continued to drive.

"It's not a lizard," Dustin shot back, getting annoyed.

"How do you know?" Steve shot back at Dustin.

"How do I know if it's not a lizard?" Dustin asked incredulously.

"Yeah, how do you know it's not just a lizard?" Steve's voice raised ever so slightly causing Andrea to hit his seat.

"Because its face opened up and he ate my cat," Dustin now responded rather quickly, trying to say it as fast as he could so no one would understand it.

"That little thing I hid for you.... What the actual shit!" Andrea exclaimed.

"Did she just cuss?" Steve now questioned, "I've never heard her cuss."

The group pulled into the driveway of the Henderson home not too long after. Andrea had realized that they had simply been driving around in circles so that they could learn more. Well, Steve could learn more. Andrea simply napped the entire time.

They got out of the vehicle and Steve went to the trunk of the BMW. Grabbing out the bat that he needed before following Dustin with a flashlight to a cellar.

Andrea made a face while Steve spoke, "I don't hear shit."

"He's in there," Dustin responded weakly.

Steve rocked on his feet while Andrea stood beside Dustin with her arms crossed. She watched carefully as Steve poked the locked underground door with his bat, making a small noise but other than that, nothing. Steve looked scared but he continued hitting it.

"All right, listen, kid. I swear, if this is some sort of Halloween prank, you're dead," Steve flashed the flashlight in Dustin's eyes.

"It's not," Dustin responded.

"Get it?" Steve then questioned.

"It's not a prank. Get it out of my face," Dustin wasn't happy with the light gleaming in his eyes and Steve lowered the flashlight.

"You got a key for this thing?" Steve asked.

Dustin looked at Andrea who gave him a stern look, "She can open it."

"Dustin," She grumbled under her breath, not wanting someone else to find out about her and getting in danger.

"The keys in the garage," Dustin then responded after seeing her look.

Steve gave the two an odd look before he followed Dustin. The two walked off to go get the key. Andrea watched as they walked away before turning to look at the lock. She slowly lifted her hand as her eyes locked on it. She focused carefully and after a moment, the lock dropped off the chain, unlocked. Seven wiped her nose quickly and bent down acting as if she picked it as the two boys returned.

"I just got the key for nothing," Dustin complained before Seven moved, letting Steve open the small bunker.

Steve threw open the doors of the basement. Peering down into the hole of darkness. No sound came from it. Dustin leaned over and flashed the light into the room, but still nothing.

"Let me see that," Steve took the flashlight from Dustin and peered further in.

"He must be further down there," Dustin decided.

"Or he ate through the ground?" Seven joked as she played with her shirt, "Right?"

"I'll stay up here in case he tries to escape," Dustin decided as he moved back from Steve.

Steve let out a sigh before he slowly began to step down the dark stairs. Andrea followed shortly after. Both were extremely quiet as they looked around the room. Steve kept an arm behind him so that he could feel Andy.

She noticed a light and pulled down the chain causing the light to turn on. Steve quickly grabbed her tighter before picking up an oozy skin with the bat causing Andrea to let out a gag.

"That's disgusting," The girl mumbled as her body felt like fire.

"Steve? Steve, what's going on down there?" Dustin began to call out.

Andrea was pulled back over by Steve as he flashed the light up at Dustin, "Get down here," He ordered.

Dustin slowly came down and looked at the weird skin that was stuck on the bat. Andrea stayed behind Steve looking at the jacket he wore so that she wouldn't throw up. It made her sick.

"Oh shit," Dustin said loudly before they turned.

"Oh god, I was right and I meant it as a joke," Seven could feel the bile rising to her throat, "I think I'm going to be sick."

"OH SHIT," Dustin got much louder.

Steve walked over with Dustin and the two peered into the newfound cave. It had been dug through the brick wall within the basement. Seven was almost correct with her joke, she didn't want to be correct.

Andrea was quick to run back up the stairs before she started throwing up. The bitter taste left her mouth before she felt someone grab ahold of a few pieces of her hair that had fallen out of the bun.

"Let it out," Steve's voice caught the teen's ears.

Once Andrea had finished, she held her hand up to her mouth as she continued to wipe it making sure that she didn't look like she had just gotten sick. Steve looked at her with a bit of concern but inevitably let go.

"Here," He slid off his jacket and offered it to her.

"You need it though," Andrea shook her head, "Don't worry about me. That just freaked me out."

Steve tilted his head giving her a stern look, "Take the jacket, Andy."

"Why are you now calling me Andy?" She questioned while still keeping her arms crossed.

"Because I gave you a nickname," Steve let out a sigh before he took matters into his own hands and put the jacket on her himself as a mother would do.

"What are you? My guardian?" Andrea snickered as she pulled away once he finished.

"Better be the guardian angel," He gave her a wink, causing her to scoff.

"Don't be so full of yourself, Harrington. Besides, didn't you just... nevermind," Andrea moved past him.

"You were right, about everything," Steve said simply before he followed after her.

"Now what do we do?" Andrea asked Dustin.

"We sleep and then find him," Dustin looked back at his house, "We meet back here tomorrow morning."

"Got it," Steve gave a sharp nod, "The things you get us into, Henderson."

Dustin gave a toothy grin, "Keep her safe. We're gonna need her help," He pointed at Andrea.

"I'm right here," Was her simple response with a grin before the nerves settled in.

Did he figure it out?