Mike: the life left his dark brown eyes. Now there are just bags under them from looking in the woods so late at night. He smiles but everyone knows it's fake. His dark hair is always unkempt and messy. Who needs to brush their hair when one of their best friends has just gone missing? His skin is pale and his freckles are more vivid. He's growing and his arms and legs seem too long for his body. He is now a couple inches taller than all his friends. He's a lot skinnier now, from missing meals, he is too busy looking.
Dustin: still as loud and outgoing as ever, but now there's an air of sadness to his jokes. If he's lucky he'll get a couple laughs. He tries so hard to bring his friends back to what they once were, but he's starting to give up. Is normal even a possibility, after everything that's happened? His hair is as curly as ever, but his teeth haven't grown in yet and he's starting to give up on them too.
Lucas: acts like everything's okay. He avoids the number 11 like the plague. His hair has grown out a bit and he's an inch or so taller. Other than that, he looks the same. The bags under his eyes have vanished. He stopped going out to look with Mike months ago. He tries to protect his friends, but he can't protect them from what he doesn't know. He's worried for all of them-especially Mike and Will.
Will: has changed. His hair has grown out and he refuses to let his mom cut it. It's one of the only things he has of himself from Before. He is spitting out slugs and it won't stop. Neither will the flashbacks. He pretends like he isn't sick, but how long can he cover it? He was in another dimension for a week. Will he ever recover? The bags under his eyes are bigger than Mike's, because who can sleep when every time you close your eyes it's a nightmare?
El: is watching as the people she learned to love in a week slowly fall apart. And it's all her fault. Sobs wrack her body in those few moments when she's safe. The dress, shoes, and jacket that once made her "pretty" are tattered and filthy. Her hair has grown out a couple inches and she's gotten a bit taller. Longer legs are great for running away. She is always hungry, thirsty, and tired. The pain stopped months ago, now she's only numb. She has almost given up hope, but there is one thing that keeps her going-Mike.