(AN) I do not own Stranger Things or any related media, characters, or trademarks. This is a work undertaken entirely for my own satisfaction and the enjoyment of readers.

Welcome to the collection of one, two, and three shots I mentioned in the last author's note for Run Away and Face the Future. I hope you enjoy this accumulation of random plot ideas and character moments that don't lend themselves to a longer piece. I will update RAFF again before the end of the week, but for now please enjoy this one-shot. (A/N)

Short Fiction 1: Bullies Part 1: Hawkins High School, Fall 1985

The Party had entered Hawkins High School with a combined sense of excitement and trepidation. El had finally gotten permission to join the boys and Max at school, and the year was off to a great start. Their arrival had ushered in the creation of the Hawkins High A/V and RPG Clubs, which—while not attracting many members outside the group of friends—gave all of them a new sense of belonging. The only downside to this new adventure were the bullies: many of them the same from Hawkins and many of them newly minted.

Today was a Friday out of the ordinary for Mike Wheeler and Will Byers. El had to go see Dr. Owens with Hopper today, so she didn't make it to school at all. Dustin had plans with Steve afterschool, so he had run out of the building immediately after the bell. Lucas and Max were going on a date, a development that had taken everyone, especially the two participants, by surprise. Thus, Mike and Will found themselves alone in the A/V room that afternoon working on their latest project. Eventually, the two got tired of working alone and decided to call it a day before stepping out into the hall.

Just when Mike had finished locking the door they heard an aggressive voice from further down the hall: "Hey, Frogface! F*****! You two finally lose the freak squad? You're going to regret crossing me." It was Troy; both boys gasped before running the other direction.

"We're idiots!" Mike exclaimed as they reached the end of the hall. It was a dead end: how could they have forgotten this architectural challenge.

"Nowhere to run now," the taller, bulkier boy said with a vicious smirk. Mike looked down at his companion and could see that he was terrified; he was frozen in trembling terror. Will's expression sparked a new bravery inside of Mike—he couldn't let Troy get to him. Mike had always been more protective of Will than was normal for any but the best of friends, and that's exactly what they were.

"Byers, listen carefully," Mike said slowly. Will only looked up at him and nodded before he continued: "When I tell you to, you run. Run to the school entrance, and get help. Do you understand?".

"Mike," Will said with a tremor.

"No. Just do it. Trust me Will," Mike responded before his friend could hesitate any further. Troy had almost reached the by this point, and the larger boy was duly surprised when Mike Wheeler—the president of the A/V club and unofficial chief nerd—launched at him. The fist that reached for Troy's face was ineffective at any level, but it gave just enough time. Mike shouted: "Run. Now, Will. Run!" and his friend complied.

Troy was irritated to see the small boy escape down the hall but he looked back at his remaining victim with intense venom before saying: "You're mine Wheeler." The hardened bully now turned his rage against Mike and began to hurt him brutally. This went on for almost three minutes before footsteps could be heard coming down the hall.

"Get off him!" a loud, angry voice yelled. Troy was pulled off his victim harshly by Jonathan Byers and Nancy Wheeler. Kicking out violently, the bully got far enough from the two angry seniors to escape down the hallway. Jonathan started to go after him before he heard Nancy gasp. Turning around, he saw Mike. He had two large bruises on his face and was doubled over in pain.

They had promptly taken Mike to the local clinic, where his wounds were determined to be minimal and he was sent home with some bandages. Now, they sat in the Wheeler's basement as Nancy, Will, and Jonathan sat with the boy. Silence had taken hold in the room for quite some time, but now Will looked up at Mike's face from his position next to him on the couch. "Thank you," Will said softly. He let his face fall into his knees before saying "I'm sorry," just as softly.

"Don't even mention it Will. I regret nothing," Mike said with more strength in his voice than anyone expected. He put his hand on Will's back and tried to give him a small hug before wincing from his injuries. Now his best friend looked up with a couple of tears in his eyes before he gave Mike a hug of his own. They smiled at each other in understanding—an action that was followed by a loud outburst from the stairwell.

"Mike!" El shouted as she tumbled down the stairs at reckless speeds. The rest of the party was descending behind her. Immediately upon reaching the bottom, El ran over to Mike and gripped his hands with a worried look on her face.

"El," Mike said finally. "How was your appointment with Dr. Owens?" he asked weakly. Everyone looked at him as though he were insane.

"Did he just ask about that?" Lucas said to Max; both teens looked surprised.

"It was fine. It doesn't matter. Are you alright?" she asked before following up with a startled gasp when she saw the bruises on her boyfriend's face. She couldn't care less about her time with the doctor anymore. Mike was hurt. That was unacceptable.

"I'm alright El. It's not so bad," Mike said unconvincingly.

El didn't fall for it and she asked another question with solemn severity: "Who did this?". The expression on her face when she asked the question made everyone but Jonathan and Max exchange concerned and somewhat terrified glances. Jonathan and Nancy told her the story as they knew it, and Will filled in any details that they had missed.

Will concluded the story by saying: "This is all because he protected me."

Mike shook his head at the statement before saying: "That's what friends do for friends Will. I couldn't let him get you."

El stood up suddenly before saying "Back later," in a small voice.

"Where are you going kid?" Hopper—who Mike and Will had just noticed—said from across the room.

"Troy," is all El said in response before she attempted to walk out the back door. She was stopped by Mike's soft grip on her fingers.

"No El. Please. Don't do anything. It's alright," the boy said looking pained as he moved from his position. The desperate look in his eyes was enough to stop the girl in her tracks as she leaned down to help him back to the couch.

"You can't go out fighting people when you want to," Hopper said sternly.

"He hurt Mike. He's a mouth breather. He hurt Mike," she said as if that was all the justification needed to inflict unspeakable pain on Troy.

"We'll deal with that but you can't do things like this to solve every problem," Hopper said to her.

"You need to be here right now. You need to stay. Mike needs you to stay with him," Nancy said, knowing that the last part would do the trick. She wasn't sure of much anymore, but she was absolutely sure of the bond shared by her brother and his girlfriend. Now that Nancy had properly motivated her, there was no chance of the girl leaving Mike's anytime soon. She sat on the other side of Mike from Will and wrapped her arm around his own gently.

Gripping his hand softly, she asked again: "Are you alright?" the look in her eyes leaving no doubt that she expected a real answer this time.

"I'm hurting some," Mike said with a faint blush.

"No kidding. You look pretty bad dude," Lucas said from a few feet away. Mike just laughed a little and El focused a dangerous glare on the boy who had just uttered what she assumed was an insult.

"He didn't mean it El," Mike said softly before giving them both a small grin.

The group had settled into quiet conversation as they all sat with Mike, trying to make sure that the boy was really alright. He was a little shaken, but with his friends around he knew it was going to be okay. Eventually, it was decided that the boys would stay the night at the Wheeler house and even Max had managed to trick her parents into agreeing to allow her to stay. Now El looked up at Hopper and asked: "Can I stay too? Please. I can't leave him right now." She had whispered the last part to the man.

Hopper looked down at her and then around the room. He looked over at Mike and saw him sitting with his friends, a small smile on his face as he listened to them carry on with whatever discussion had taken up residence in the basement. "He's a good kid," Hopper finally said quietly, but El still hear and looked up at him surprised. "Fine, you can stay," the man finally said. How could he say no?

Later that evening, everyone sat in their sleeping bags and blankets on the basement floor. Max and El had gone to change into sleeping clothes in the bathroom, and before they went out Max grabbed El's arm. She looked at El with a serious gaze and gave her a small smile. "I know how Hopper and the others feel about things, but I get you," she said to the confused girl. Before El could question what she meant, she continued: "If you still want to go after Troy I'll have your back." El smiled at the girl sincerely and nodded her head in gratitude—she had never been one for words but her motions were communicating her thankfulness clearly. "I'm mad about it to. He wasn't the most welcoming at first but he's a really great friend once you break his walls. I'm just trying to say that I understand, and I'm on your side."

"Thank you," El finally said verbally. The two girls shared one more smile before walking out to the rest of the group.

"Thank you guys for staying," Mike said softly once everyone had settled down. El—who was positioned next to Mike—grabbed his hand once again in her own and moved up close to his side.

"Of course, Mike. That's what friends do for friends," Dustin said with a grin. Everyone in the room nodded in agreement, and they knew that they all meant it. They would stick together no matter what, and that meant protecting each other and taking care of each other. This group of friends would never let one of their own get hurt or suffer alone. Struggles with Troy and the other bullies were nowhere near over, but they knew with unquestioning certainty that they had each other to stand together with. Together, there was no question that they could make it through anything.

(AN) I hope you enjoyed the first Short Fiction. This one will have one or two more parts, which will be posted soon.

Thank you for reading, and please leave a review with your thoughts and opinions. (A/N)