Lucas felt as if he had reached out and grabbed hold of a live wire. Electricity and adrenaline pumped through his chest, sending wave after wave of shock and excitement coursing throughout his skin. His eyes were shut tight, the force at which he moved kept them from opening, he could hear a scream, and became vaguely aware that it was his own.

And then snap.

The ascension stopped short, gravity turned off, and for that split second of suspended weightlessness Lucas opened his eyes. The fairgrounds spread out from below him like a thousand twinkling stars. He could see people walking and colors flashing, but it all felt a million miles away. He saw trees in the distance, giving way to tall rolling hills, and a sky that was a thousand shades of cotton candy pink and blue.

And then he was plummeting.

While he fell, a hand reached for his. He turned to see the figure that hand belonged to. Her hair whipping wildly around her face, and her features distorted in a look of pure amusement and thrilled terror. He laughed, and so did she, as they fell back to earth at breakneck speeds.

Somewhere in the back of his mind he thought; "This is great, but i've done better."

Lucas Sinclair sat, bored out of his mind, in 3rd period Social Studies. The teacher was droning on and on about finals, the same way she had probably a hundred or more times before. They were two weeks from school being out for the summer, and some teachers just didn't get the memo. They were still handing out book reports and homework like it was just another Tuesday.

"Oh! And before you head off to lunch, I wanted to bring one things to your attention." Mrs. Arbor smiled at them before pulling out a stack of brightly colored flyers. "The historic Roane county fair is back in town this year, as some of you may have heard, and they are offering jobs to any students in the area."

Lucas sat up in his seat at this. He had always loved the fair as a kid, and it being back was exciting, but being able to work there sounded like a dream job. He immediately fantasized about free ride tickets and deep fried elephant ears.

"I encourage all of you to go for the open sign up day at the end of July," She continued, "It would be great for your college applications."

Mrs. Arbor was a real shrew of a woman, and she pressed about College almost every chance she got. Lucas usually didn't mind, and if working at a carnival was going to look good for college, then he certainly didn't mind now.

There was only one problem in his picturesque little plan, however, he didn't have a car. But he knew someone who did.

Lucas slapped the flyer down on the lunch table with such force that not only did his friends look up at him, but so did the group of people sitting at the table next to him. If he noticed, he didn't show it.

"You guys will never believe what is happening." Lucas smirked proudly, dropping his backpack on the cafeteria floor.

"Did you win the lottery?" Dustin mumbled through a bite of his sandwich.

"Better, im getting a job at the fair." His beaming demeanor was met only with raised eyebrows.

"How is that better than winning the lottery?" Mike asked snarkily.

"Because this will be my first real job, and they are taking anyone who signs up. Colleges love when you have had a shitty summer job, it shows that you have character." Lucas's brows furrowed, bewildered that his friends were not catching on to the gold he felt he was laying before them. Practically Indiana Jones himself, gifting them treasures untold.

Will craned his neck to look over at the flyer. "I thought the county fair closed like... five years ago."

"Yeah," Dustin spat a bit of bread onto the table as he spoke. "I heard some kid got decapitated by the roller coaster."

"That's just a stupid rumor." Lucas rolled his eyes. "It was closed, but thats because of budget cuts or something. But they are bringing it back and they are hiring students!"

It was clear that Lucas was looking for some sort of affirmation. The boys glanced between each other, silently deciding who would be the first to humor him.

"Well... that's really cool, Lucas, I bet you will have a lot of fun." Will finally said with a hesitant smile. Will Byers was definitely the nicest out of their rag-tag group, and he probably would have said 'that sounds nice, Lucas' even if Lucas had told him about how he wanted to try to eat his own leg.

"But it would be more fun if we all did it together. Dustin, you have that van, and we can all split gas money. And Will, they need people to paint sets and props and stuff for live performances." Lucas goaded.

"I don't know dude, its past Kurly. That's pretty far, and technically the Van is Steve's." Dustin rubbed the back of his neck. Dustin was usually game for anything, but he had a weird complex about his van. It was old, a 'Vintage' Steve called it. Which was really just a nice way of saying 'it barely runs and goes through gas so quickly it's single handedly causing global warming.'

"So ask him! He won't care, and besides, he is like four hours away, he won't even know!"

"I guess it would be fun... If my mom says it's okay. She was kind of hoping id work at Melvalds with her..." Will finally responded sheepishly.

"You would rather work with your mom then be able to get free ride tickets?"

"He's got a point there, Will. I guess Steve won't care. He did say that the van was for adventures." Dustin wiggled his eyebrows at his friends. The kind of adventures Steve had most likely meant, were not the kind that any of them would be having even in their wildest dreams.

"So then it's settled! We are all going to work there and carpool and everything." Lucas stated gleefully with a slap onto the surface of the table.

"Well you guys have fun, but you can count me out." Mike, always the naysayer, leaned his head on his fist, propped up on the table. He poked lazily at his musy grey excuse for a lunch with a plastic fork.

"What reason could you possibly have for not wanting to go?" Lucas gestured towards him dismissively.

"Do you remember the last time we went? I went on that ride that spins you all over the place and threw up a hotdog!" Mike whined. Mike was probably the least adventurous out the group. He was often neurotic and anxious, and it was clear he had intended to spend his summer inside, avoiding the world like it wasnt real. A charming idea, but a boring one.

"Okay so don't go on the rides, it's pretty simple." Lucas rolled his eyes.

"So what? I'll just stand in the sun, bored out of my mind, while you guys have fun? That's not happening." Mike's voice was shrill, his floppy hair bouncing up and down and his eyebrows pushed together.

"There is tons of other stuff to do." Lucas passed Mike the flyer. "An Arcade, games, live plays and performances. A ton of really cool stuff! And a live fireworks show!"

Mike still seemed unimpressed.

"Or you can stay at home with your Mom and Nancy and not see any of us for a month. Does that sound better to you?" Lucas pressed.

Mike tapped his fingers nervously against the table before rolling his eyes and passively sliding the flyer back to Lucas. "Fine, i'll go. But if I hate it, then i'm out."

"Nice!" Dustin and Lucas cheered in unison. Will smiled and nodded and Mike, for the second time, rolled his eyes.

To say Lucas was excited was an understatement. He practically bounced in his seat for the rest of the day, and for the rest of the week that followed. He essentially counted down the minutes after school got out until open enrollment.

It was almost silly, how excited he was, but something about it felt... destined. Like this would be the best summer of his life. Part of him knew it was because after this everyone would be getting ready for Senior year, and that next summer would be filled with getting ready for college. This was their last summer to be dumb kids, and he wanted to make the best of it.

Vibrant and enticing commercials aired on almost every channel, promising non-stop fun and entertainment, each one exciting him more. He read and reread the newspaper articles about the fair, and planned to do and see it all. He was going to be the king of thrill rides, and nothing was going to stop him.

Not even Mike, who whined even as they all jumped into Dustin's van, and drove the 35 minutes it took to get there.

The fairgrounds looked nothing like the flyers or commercials, at least not yet.

It was essentially a massive dirt lot, attached to a massive dirt parking lot. It was dusty, and the sun made the air sticky, so the dirt stuck to your skin as soon as you left the safety of a vehicle. The merry-go-round was already set up and being tested, so slow jingly circus music crossed the field. The biggest roller coaster was set up too, and an empty car barrelled down its steep slope. Everywhere you looked, massive machinery was being drilled on and latched into place. Tent poles were being pushed and pulled by teams of grisly looking carnies, and canvas was being thrown over the top. The sugary smell of elephant ears and cotton candy were mixed in the smell of motor oil, and burnt rubber. People barked orders at one another, and a crowd of teenagers was gathered near the soon to be Main Stage.

"I think we have to go over there to sign in and get our positions." Lucas said, rereading the job flyer for the hundredth time.

"Let's get this over with." Mike sighed.

"Dude, if you are going to mope the entire time, then you can just stay in the car all day." Lucas rolled his eyes and pushed forward.

Mike may not have been having fun, but Lucas was practically giddy with anticipation. The warm sun, the smell of deep fried treats, the dirt clouds that they kicked up as they walked. Even the droning jingle spewing from some of the rides sent a thrill up his spine. It felt like summer. It felt like adventure.

There had to of been at least 45 other teenagers waiting up by the stage, along with a handful of greasy looking deep country goons, and some dusty carnies. There was a man up on stage looking over a list on a clipboard, and counting the crowd over and over again. There was a bored looking woman with a deep southern accent, and way too tight hot pink pants sitting at a desk chewing bubble gum, and handing out sign up paperwork.

Everyone here looked so cartoonish. The off-kilter traveling carnival techs, the toweringly large boss with bushy eyebrows, and a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. The woman with the long nails and the teased blonde hair. It was all so... expected.

After the boys filled out their applications and handed them back to the woman (who's name tag said 'Star') they mixed in with the crowd and looked for anyone they might know. All of the faces seemed unfamiliar, all kids from schools all over the county just there to make a few bucks during the summer. Part of Lucas was relieved, the last thing he wanted was for some dickhead jock or some gossipy cheerleader here to ruin what he was determined to make a great time.

But unfortunately, and ironically, he had thought too soon.

"Hey, isn't that Hopper's daughter?" Will asked, looking just past Lucas, deeper into the crowd.

He turned to see the mousy, curly haired girl waiting quietly amongst the crowd. Despite being relatively short and extremely quite, she was pretty hard to miss. She dressed unlike anyone else in Hawkins, and today was no exception. A black denim jacket two sizes too big over a soft pink lace dress.

"El Hopper!?" Mike pushed his way past Dustin to see the subject in question. Mike had had a thing for El since... well since the moment he saw her really. It was kind of ridiculous actually. Three years at the same school, hopelessly in love with someone he never said a word too. His pasty skin tinged pink as he watched her across the sea of people.

Lucas was seconds away from teasing his friend for being such a waistoid, when a thought dawned on him that turned his blood cold, and made his heart race. If El was here, that probably meant she was here too. He turned back hesitantly towards the curly-headed girl and sure enough, there she was.

Max Mayfield.

It was like time stood still. She was laughing at something, the laugh that made her nose crinkle, and her eyes close tightly. Her fire-read hair backlit with the sun. Her orange freckles visible even from across the crowd. Lucas didn't know wether this was the best news he had ever gotten, or the worst moment of his life. That he was going to be stuck for a month working possibly in close proximity to the very girl he had been head over heels for, or that it would just be another missed opportunity where he would make an ass of himself in front of her. All bets were off.

"Lucas! Earth to Lucas!" Dustin slapped a hand on Lucas's back, shaking him from his daydream. "Stop drooling, they are about to give out jobs."

Lucas turned his gaze back to the stage, where the boss had been given the stack of papers and cleared his throat.

"Alright, listen up people. Before I start handing out positions, I want to make one thing very very clear. I am not here to be your friend, I am not here to hold your hand. If this is your first job, then you better learn fast. In this business, there are a lot of ways to get injured, but if you keep your nose where it belongs, and don't act like an idiot, then you have a pretty good chance of being fine. Capiche? Now My name is Big John, and you can call me Big John. This is my wife, Star, and we own this here carnival. This business is my livelihood, and I won't have any pea-brained blockheads messing that up."

Everything about Big John was intimidating. He was built like a tank, with a face like a shark. His voice was deep and gravely, and his accent was thicker than the mud of whatever swampy state he was raised in. He was wearing a suite that seemed eerily clean despite the dust and dirt that covered everyone else, and his hair (or what was left of it) was slicked back perfectly, not a single hair out of place. Even his massive belt buckle, which depicted the Texas state flag, gleamed in the sunlight like it had been shinned no less than five minutes prior. He looked more like a movie mob boss than a carnie.

He started dulling out jobs. Reading a name from the stack of papers in his hand, and then writing than name on his clipboard next to a job title. Jobs like, Ferris wheel operator, ticket taker, Scrambler operator, and Merry-go-round attendant got more excitement from their respective workers than jobs like trash collector, stage sweeper, port-a-john attendants, or mechanic's assistant, and for obvious reasons.

Early on El got assigned to be a Ticket Taker, and she nodded politely. Mike sighed and muttered under his breath that 'that's what he wanted'. It seemed perfect for her however. She was quiet, sure, but she was also painfully sweet. Mike eventually got assigned to operate the tilt-a-whirl. There were jealous grounds from the rest of the crowd, but Mike groaned just at the thought of baking in the sun while watching a machine spin around for eight hours everyday.

At the mention of his name, El's head snapped in their direction, as did Max's. The girls faces lit up in surprise, and Will offered them a well-intended wave.

Will was assigned to help back stage where the fairs various performers would get ready, and help build sets. He was ecstatic with this position, as well he should be. Dustin was assigned to work at the fairs main snack cart. He was also pleased, thinking about all of the things he would get to deep fry and pour sugar on.

After almost the entire list was read through, there were only two names that hadn't been called.

"Max Mayfield?" Big John squinted to read her rushed handwriting. "Im putting you on the dart board game. People aim at balloons and win stuffed bears and shit, its an easy one."

Lucas looked over to see Max purse her lips but nod anyway. Max was... well a bit of a wild child. She didn't get the nickname 'Madmax' for no reason, and it was obvious she was hoping to do something a bit more exciting. Lucas got so caught up in looking at her that he didn't even hear his own name get called.

"And lastly, Lucas Sinclair. Im putting you at the 'Shooting Gallery. It's a Western Themed gun game, pretty self explanatory." With that Big John put his pen back in his clipboard and gave the stack of papers back to his wife. "Someone will be at your stations in a little while to teach you what to do. Don't wander off, and wont get into trouble."

The crowd dispersed in slow droves. A lot had not been setup yet, so crowds of teenagers drifted in between newly assembled fences and soon to be rides. Lucas spotted a row of covered stands that looked a lot like game booths, and he set out in that direction. At least until he heard his name called from behind.

"Sinclair!" It was Max, bonding towards him with a cheerful smile while El stood only a few steps behind. "I didn't know you guys were going to be here, you should have told me, you ass." She punched his arm, as she often did, and he sputtered like an old radiator.

"I-I uh, I- um, Yeah!" Was all he managed.

"Hi Mike." El said softly, brushing a curl behind her ear. "I love the tilt-a-whirl. Are you gonna let me get free rides?" Somehow she managed to be flirty, mischievous, and innocent all at the same time.

"Yeah totally! I love it too." Mike beamed. The others turned to look at him quizzically.

"Anyway... I guess we are both going to be working in the game area, so at least we won't be totally alone all day." Max rolled her eyes and smiled before waving goodbye and heading towards her booth.

"Wow... they are whipped, huh?" Dustin chuckled.

"Yeah, and bad." Will smirked.

"Like a Boston Cream Pie." Dustin shook his head, hooking an arm around the smaller boy who giggled at Lucas and Mikes blushing faces.

"Shut up! Am not!" Mike crossed his arms like a grumpy toddler.

"Really? Mike, need we discuss the hotdog incident of 2k11?" Dustin jabbed a finger at him. Lucas let out a snicker.

"Don't laugh, mister 'Uh uh, um uh'." Dustin taunted

"Man, shut up." Lucas said dismissively at he turned to walk to his booth.

"You're just mad because you know i'm right!" Dustin hollered after him.

"What do you think, Will?" Dustin asked after Lucas was out of ear shot, "You think he is actually going to talk to her? Or just drool over his booth all day?"

"Drool. Definitely drool."

The Midway area of the fair was coming together quickly.

Lucas arrived at what would be his work space just as they were hanging the massive sign above its awning. It wasn't anything fancy, just a counter and a stool with a back wall that had cutouts of cacti and an old timey saloon. There were plastic guns mounted on the wooden counter across from the wall, each with a different bright colored handle.

The men that were putting everything in place gave Lucas the basic rundown before leaving him be. It was a two step process. Step one, take the money. Step two, press the massive red button. There weren't even any prizes to give out, but a small machine that would spit out tickets to the winner, and a digital leaderboard kept track.

Lucas sighed. The Shooting gallery may have sounded like a cool place to work, but he was coming to realize it would involve a lot of standing by himself, and a lot of muffled and staticy fake gunshot noises. Still, he looked on at his surroundings with fondness. The matte white bottles that were stacked up only to be knocked down by some lucky kid. The open mouthed and smiling faces of painted clowns, ready to be sprayed with gallons of seltzer water. Quite possibly the most meager arcade Lucas had ever seen off to one end of the Midway, but an Arcade nonetheless. And of course, Max. She was adjusting a shelf filled with dozens of stuffed animals and trinkets for winners of the classic game. Lucas imagined all of the jockey boys who would inevitably come through and try to win one of those over-sized teddy bears for their high school sweetheart. Lucas imagined being one of those boys, and giving the bear to Max. In real life, she probably would have punched him, but in his mind she smiled sweetly and kissed his cheek. His imagination was a lot nicer of a place to be.

Eventually Big John himself came strolling down the Midway, Star on his arm, to personally asses that everything was according to plan. It seemed to be, as he passed by Lucas without even a glance in his direction. Not that he particularly minded, of course, something about Big John gave him the creeps. It wasn't long after that that the Midway was declared ready for opening day, and that all of the bored teens were told they could walk around and do whatever they wanted or, as Big John put it, 'get the hell out'.

Lucas watched Max run straight to the arcade. He found this curious, not knowing she cared about old video games, and was about to walk after her when a voice from behind called to him.

It was Dustin, dressed in a stripped uniform, complete with apron and folded paper hat. Lucas chuckled at him as he met him near the concessions stand.

"Dude! This place is awesome! They just showed me how to use the deep fryer! And we have a slurpee machine!"

"That's great, are you going to give me free slurpees then?" Lucas teased.

"If you're nice to me." Dustin shrugged.

"Psht, i'm always nice. Let's go find Will and Mike."

They walked over to the tilt-a-whirl that was being tested, but Mike was nowhere in sight. Its pale pink and green carts spun in circles on a track that also spun in a circle. It looked fun, if not a bit dangerous, but definitely not like Mike's kind of ride. They took a long loop around, checking out rides and checking out the faces of people from other high schools. A lot of them looked... well normal. Like preppy kids who probably aren't huge nerds and didn't have D&D characters. Lucas and Dustin always made weird little games out of people watching. Like trying to guess a person's favorite musician or movie. It was stupid, but it made them laugh as they walked to the Main Stage once again.

Behind the deep purple curtains was a trailer, and inside that trailer they found rows of vanities lit for a movie star. Columns of bulbs lined the glass, casting a warm golden hue to the entire room. In a room past that trailer, was a massive workshop. It had none of the hollywood glamour, and all of the smells of paint and saw dust. Massive set pieces laid against the back wall, and props sat across the floor. There were curtained off dressing rooms and a huge tangle of ropes and pull chords in the corner. This backstage area also had Will and Mike, laughing on the far side. Will had been given an apron that was already covered in years of paint splatter, and was about two sizes to big for him. He didn't seem to mind one bit. He had a shine to his eyes that was filled with wonder and excitement.

"William!" Dustin called, sending several disgruntled looks there way from others working in the space.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" Will called back, waving cheerfully at them.

"We got let off the hook. Do you guys want to stick around or blow this popsicle stand?" Dustin leaned against a giant prop that looked a little like an octopus, but more closely resembled a glob with tentacles.

"Well, I would, but Mike here has a date." Will crossed his arms and looked over at Mike with a smirk.

"Shut up! It's not a date." He blushed.

"Why Michael Wheeler! Are you courting a lovely lady this evening?" Dustin put his hands on his hips, doing a passable impression of Mike's mom, Karen.

"No im not, El just asked me if I wanted to ride a few rides with her."

"Wow, she's quick to make a move. Good on her though, if she waited for you she would die of old age." Lucas smirked and the others laughed, aside from Mike of course, who instead stood up and turned to walk out of the building.

"You guys are jerks."

"Well, Will, do you want to check out the oddities exhibit with me? I heard they have a rare land amphibian that I just have to see." Dustin pulled a crumpled pamphlet from his uniform pocket

"Sure," Will Shrugged. "Lucas, do you want to come?"

"And see a bunch of dead mutated animals? Not this time. I'll meet you guys at the car though."

"Dont worry, im sure Dustin will tell you all about it." Will rolled his eyes and awkwardly hooked an arm over Dustin's shoulders, who was about a foot taller than him at this point.

Lucas walked back through the fair grounds, this time alone. It was getting later now, and more rides had turned on their extra lights as they were being tested for safety. It was almost eerie, dozens and dozens of attractions with no patrons, all spinning and moving together in disjointed unison. He supposed he should enjoy the peace while it lasts though, tomorrow was opening day, and it was expected to be the largest opening in the fairs history. He walked past El and Mike as they boarded the smaller of the two ferris wheels. El looked giddy, maybe a little nervous, and Mike looked positively sick. Lucas gave them an off-handed salute as they rose into the air.

There was one thing he wanted to see. The attraction that had been advertised as 'the newest must see thrill ride for those seeking adventure'. He was definitely seeking adventure. They called in the Slingshot. It was little more than a set of padded chairs strapped to two massive poles that jutted into the sky by bungee cables. It was impressive, the tallest thing in the fair, taller than the roller coaster and the ferris wheel. It looked... dangerous, but Lucas was determined to ride it before the summer was over.

He also found Max, staring up at it with wonder and something that looked a little like fear.

"Are you going to ride it?" He asked.

"Of course I am." She grimaced, never taking her eyes from the skyline, "I just have to work myself up first."

"What do you mean?" He turned to look up at it now too, his head falling back against his neck as he watched the tiny carnival branded flags flapping wildly in the breeze atop its poles.

"I have a system." Max turned to him, "I start out on the smaller rides, then move to the medium ones, then the roller coaster and ferris wheel, and that um, whats it called, the Screeching Hawk? And then, this one." She gestured out with her hands the way a game show host might show off a winning prize car.

"That sounds like a plan." Lucas nodded, and turned back to face her.

"Are you going to go on it, or are you chicken?" Her mouth turned up at the corners, clearly egging him on.

"Im want to, but none of the guys will go with me." Lucas frowned crookedly and put his hands in his pockets.

Max pursed her lips together for a moment before turning to him. "Well, how about I go on it with you."

"What you don't want to take El?" His eyes practically bulged out of his skull.

"Are you kidding me? The only reason she is going on the ferris wheel right now is because she wants to impress Wheeler." Max scoffed and flipped her hair passively.

Lucas laughed hard at that. "The only reason he is going on it is to impress her."

"Jesus christ, they were made for each other, huh?" Max began walking closer to the rides safety railing, Lucas followed.

"Whatever makes Mike shut up for a minute, i'm fine with it."

"El is sooo bad about it. She practically exploded when she saw Mike was here." Max chuckled. "Don't tell her I said that though."

Max's laugh was a warm and welcoming sound that Lucas honestly couldn't get enough of. It took his brain a full 5 seconds before he even processed what she asked. "I won't." He finally replied with an honest smile.

Call it wishful thinking, but she may have blushed. "So what do you say? Want to fly into space on this death trap with me?"

"I would be honored."

Lucas met up with the others guys when the sun beginning to set. The entire fair looked stagnant with no patrons, but a sea of glittering lights. Teenagers and haggard looking laborers hoped into their cars, all excited and ready for opening day. Dustin and Will had been waiting when Lucas walked up. They waited together for Mike who walked shoulder to shoulder out of the gates with El. They were both smiling and blushing and being generally disgusting. Lucas was looking forward to making fun of him the entire way home.

Just then, an orange Range Rover pulled up next to the pair, playing The Carpenters loudly. It was Max no doubt, her hair almost the same color as the car. El hopped into the passenger seat and waved goodbye to Mike. He joined up a moment later, a smile across his face that Lucas badly wanted to capture forever for blackmail.

"What's got you all starry eyed?" Dustin chided.

"Me? Nothing. Just uh... enjoyed the ferris wheel." Mike squinted at them, already in defense. Which, granted, was warranted.

"Did you guys makeout?" Dustin stage whispered, way to loudly for anyone in a ten foot radius to miss.

"What? No! Gross! Shut up!" Mike huffed as he moved to get in the van, but everyone saw his face turn pink.

"Wow who knew Wheeler would be the casanova of the day." Dustin sighed, smacking Lucas on the back.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Now it was Lucas's turn to get defensive.

"It means did you even talk to Max? Or did you just stare at her like you do in class?"

Lucas thought about it for a moment, the realization that he had talked to Max suddenly kicking him in the gut. He was in deep.

"For your information we did talk. And I don't stare at her in class!"

"Whatever you say, loverboy, now let's go home. I'm starving." Dustin shrugged.

Lucas was vaguely aware that Dustin was right. And he was vaguely aware of Will making fun of Dustin for 'having just ate'. But he slid into his seat and closed the door, and smiled to himself like an idiot the entire way home. His plans with Max to ride the Slingshot were the furthest possible thing from a date, but it still made him excited. To have plans with her at all felt like some sort of strange fever dream.

He felt positive, just as he had when he proposed this idea a month before hand, that this summer was going to be the best yet.