"Let's see how you did, Kiddo!" Hopper was saying as Jane begrudgingly handed him her report card for her first semester. Jane hadn't even looked at it yet, she was too scared.

Hopper opened up the paper, which revealed that she had gotten a B in English, an A in Biology (as a result of Mike help, no doubt), an A- in Algebra, a B+ in Social Studies, an A in Art, and an A in Gym.

Jane watched Hopper's face closely, trying to read his expression. He looked surprised, but that could mean good or bad. Suddenly, Hopper pulled Jane into a hug.

"I am so proud of you," he said into her hair.

"Good?" she asked, leaning away to look at his face.

"Excellent."


"So, how was the second date, Mom?" Jonathon asked Joyce over breakfast.

"Jonathon!" she said, slightly embarrassed.

"What?" he replied.

"It was good," she said, sipping her coffee to hide her smile.

"Well, if you ever want to invite him and Jane over for dinner, I make a mean broccoli casserole," Jonathon told his mother, laughing.

"Yeah, yeah," she said, giving him a loving elbow. "Is Will still asleep? It's almost ten thirty," Joyce said.

"I'll go get him up. Teenagers sleep a lot," Jonathon reminded her, heading down the hallway to Will's room. "Hey buddy, you up?"

"Yeah," Will said from his bed. He didn't look like he was up. Jonathon laughed and shook his brother awake.

"You're gonna sleep the day away," he told Will. "You must be starting a growth spurt or something," Jonathon said.

"I hope so," Will laughed. He stretched before joining his family for breakfast.


"Dusty!" Dustin's mom called as Dustin was rushing around the living room. "Where are you going?"

"I'm supposed to go to the arcade with the party and I can't find any quarters, as usual," Dustin explained, still rushing around. He dug a couple out of the couch cushions.

"Well, have fun!" his mom said, as he ran out the door.

"So, you move the joystick like this," Mike was explaining to Jane. Mike really wasn't that good at video games, at least not as good as Max or even Dustin, but he loved teaching Jane new things.

Jane liked the arcade. It was so colorful and vibrant, very different from what she was used to. The cold, bleak, lab, Mike's basement (which was pretty, but mostly wood paneling and muted colors), the cabin, her new house, and school were all very bland. She loved seeing the neon colors and electronic noises. She also like how everyone could just be in their own little world. When she was looking at the screen, no one else seemed to matter. It was like TV, only better.

"You think you're ready to try it?" Mike asked once he'd finished explaining. Jane nodded enthusiastically and pulled out the roll of quarters Hopper had given her. She put two in the machine and got started. 'Super Mario Brothers' popped up on the screen and Jane looked at Mike with that magical look in her eyes when she's seeing something for the first time. She started on the game and her character died pretty quickly.

"It's okay! You can play again," Mike told her, which put the smile back on her face.

"Okay!"

"How in the HELL do you play this so well?" Dustin asked Max as she was totally killing it in Dig Dug.

"It's called talent. It's this thing you have at birth," Max started laughing.

"You're incredible!" Will told Max. "You're about to beat your own high score."

"And that's," Max said, finishing, "how it's done." Max's new high score was 800427.

"That's not even possible," Dustin said in disbelief.

"Just admit that my girlfriend is better at video games than you," Lucas said smugly.

"Yeah, whatever Lucas. I'm better at video games than you!" Dustin and Lucas got into their normal rival arguments that were background noise to Will at this point. He looked over at Jane and Mike who were huddled around Super Mario Brothers. Max walked over to where Will was standing and followed his gaze.

"What's up, Will?" she asked him.

"Oh, uh nothing," Will stammered.

"You wanna try to top my score on Dig Dug?" she offered with raised eyebrows.

"I mean, sure. I probably won't though," Will said, laughing.

"That's part of the fun."


"I think winter break is my favorite part of school," Jane said while putting more quarters into their game.

"Why's that?" Mike asked, laughing at her comment.

"I get to see you more. And no homework," she explained.

"Just wait until the holidays start. That's the most fun," Mike told her.

"Yeah… Hopper said Christmas is coming up," Jane said. She enjoyed a small Christmas with Hopper last year after closing the gate. He bought her some new clothes and her radio so she could talk to her friends. It was great.

"Maybe you and your dad can stop by my house sometime on Christmas," Mike suggested. "My mom always goes all out for the holidays."

"I'd like that," she replied.

"Guys, Steve's here to pick us up," Dustin said, running up to them.

All six of them piled into Steve's car.

"Make sure you guys have your seatbelts on," Steve commanded as he drove away from the arcade. "How was it?"

"Max is a beast," Will said.

"Yeah yeahh," Dustin said, ignoring how Max was gloating next to him.

"I got princess Daphne in Dragon's Lair," Lucas said smugly.

"I died," Jane told everyone. The whole car laughed at that.


When Jane got back home, Hopper had dinner waiting for her. It was only macaroni and cheese, but at least Hopper could make that without burning it.

"How was the arcade?" Hopper asked as they sat at the table across from each other.

"Fun," she said. "Better than TV," she commented.

"Ah," Hopper replied, taking a bite.

"What are you getting Joyce for Christmas?" Jane asked.

"Uh- I'm not sure… We've only been on two dates," he stammered, a little put off by the question because he truthfully hadn't even thought of it.

"What should I get Mike?" she continued.

"Well, what things does he like?"

"Me," she said bluntly. Hopper laughed.

"Okay, what else?" Jane thought about that for a moment

"He likes science and movies," she said. That didn't seem to be a right Christmas gift for Mike though, he deserved something more special.

"Hm," Hopper thought. He was at a loss. "You could ask Nancy what to get him. I mean, they live together. She's bound to know something," he came up with.

"Oh! Yeah, that's good," Jane said excitedly. She was definitely going to get Mike the best present ever.


"Okay… On three," Nancy was saying while she and Jonathon held their letters unopened in their hands. "One…Two…Three!" Both of them ripped the letters opened and slowly read what was inside.

"Nancy…" Jonathon said, looking up. "I got in!"

"Jonathon, so did I!" Both of them started jumping up and down excitedly before Nancy pulled Jonathon in for a kiss. In only a few months, they would both be away at NYU together. Jonathon pulled back, beaming.

"I've never been so… happy," he told her, holding her face in her hands.

"Me neither," she replied, pulling him back for another kiss.


The first Monday of winter break was spent in the Wheeler's basement. The entire party practically spent the whole day there. They played a couple board games and watched some movies, which was all pretty normal hang out stuff they did together.

"I'm bored," Max announced when the hang out had met a lull.

"What do you suggest we do instead?" Mike replied, snarky.

"We could…" she contemplated. "Play truth or dare."

"I am so in," Dustin stated.

"Sounds fun," Lucas said, grabbing Max's hand.

"Sure," Will said, putting down his sketch pad he was doodling on.

"What is truth or dare?" Jane asked, confused.

"You get asked 'truth or dare' and if you pick truth, you have to answer one question honestly. If you say dare, we make you do something and you can't chicken out of it," Max explained.

"Oh. Cool," Jane said, looking up at Mike.

"Yeah, let's do it," Mike said.

So there they were, circled on the floor criss-cross apple sauce style, in the Mike's basement. Max decided to go first since it was her idea.

"Dustin, truth or dare?"

"Dare," Dustin replied without hesitation.

"I dare you to go upstairs and sniff Nancy's hair," Max decided, grinning.

"Aw shit," Dustin said, immediately regretting his choice.

All of them crept up the stairs to try and get a view as Dustin went into the living room where Jonathon and Nancy were watching TV.

"Nancy?" Dustin asked.

"Uh yeah?" she said, turning.

"What kind of shampoo do you use? I'm taking a pole… for science."

"I don't really…" Nancy started, confused.

"Let me see," Dustin leaned forward and took a quick sniff. "Okay, thanks! Enjoy your show!" Dustin turned on his heel and basically ran back to the basement.

"Holy shit," Lucas said, cackling. "You actually did it."

"Yeah, it's called a dare dipshit," Dustin said defensively as the group sat back down. "Hmmm… Will, truth or dare?"

"Truth?" Will said hesitantly.

"Do you have a crush on Kelly?" Dustin asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Nope," Will said, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"Wow, that was anticlimactic," Dustin noticed.

"Okay… Jane, truth or dare?" Will asked.

"Dare," she said eagerly.

"This is going to be interesting," Lucas muttered.

"I dare you too…" Will thought for a minute. "Spy on our parent's date!" Joyce and Hopper were on another date tonight, and it felt like a waste for Will not to use Jane's abilities to get some inside information. Jane grinned.

"Okay! I need a blindfold," she said. Mike ran up and grabbed some type of cloth which would work.

"If they're doing it, please don't tell us," Dustin muttered, receiving a punch from Will.

"Everyone stop talking," Jane instructed. She was in the void now. It was very dark and black, but she heard something behind her. There her dad was, sitting on the Byers couch with Joyce. Hopper was putting out a cigarette and it seemed like they were watching a movie or something. Suddenly, Hopper turned to Joyce and pulled her into a kiss. Joyce seemed surprised at first, muttering something into his lips. Then she was grabbing at his hair. Jane was horrified. She quickly pulled the blindfold off and everyone was staring at her expectantly. "Yuck," she said.

"No way," Mike mumbled.

"Kissing," she clarified.

"Way to go Hopper," Dustin said, receiving another punch from Will.

"Your turn, Jane," Max said.

"Mike," Jane said, looking at him. The party sighed in slight annoyance. Who else would she ask? "Truth or dare?"

"Truth," he said. Jane puckered her lips, thinking about what to ask.

"Tell us your favorite thing about all of us," Jane decided. She was really trying to get him to tell just her, but figured it would be sort of awkward to leave everyone else out.

"Alright," Mike turned to Lucas, who was on his left. "My favorite thing about you is how you are so determined. I admire that you never give up on what you believe in."

"Oh, it's getting mushy," Dustin whispered, receiving some glares.

"Max, I like how you cool you can be. I was a total dick to you last year and you still risked your ass to help us. I think that's pretty cool," Mike said. Max nodded, but her face revealed a little surprise at his statement.

"Dustin, I like how you can always bring something new to the table. Sometimes you can be really serious and smart and resourceful, but other times you just bring pudding and make us laugh. I think that's something pretty unique and awesome," Mike told him.

"Ha ha," Dustin said smugly. "Unique huh?"

"And Will, I honestly like how you're always there for anyone. You're definitely the most honest and dependable person I've ever met. I feel like I can tell you anything and you would never judge me for it. I really, really appreciate having a friend like you. Well, we all do, considering how many times we've saved your ass," Mike said, making everyone crack a smile.

Will hid his blushing cheeks by looking at the carpet.

"Jane… I like how strong you are. You're extraordinary in every way. You're so resilient and powerful. I don't think the rest of us would even be here if we'd gone through everything you did. I know I wouldn't. You're also so loyal and you protect all of us, even if we don't realize or appreciate it as much as we should," Mike told her.

Jane smiled from ear to ear. That was better than she could have imagined. No one said anything for a minute, until Mike realized it was his turn.

"Lucas, truth or dare?"

"Dare," Lucas said.

"I dare you to do your best impression of someone in this room," Mike decided. Lucas groaned.

"I am so bad at this!"

"Doesn't matter. It's a dare," Mike reminded him.

"Fine!" Lucas looked around the circle, wondering who would be the best to impersonate. Max would be easiest, he decided. But… maybe not the best idea considering he would probably just piss her off. Dustin would work but… he's hard to do an impression of. Mike on the other hand… Lucas looked down at the floor dramatically before lifting his head back up, this time in character. "El, oh my god! I love you so much! I'm so emo without you, I got detention because I wrote 'E+M=true love' in the bathroom stall! Oh and Max, I hate you and you can't join our party!" Lucas broke, laughing hysterically with almost everyone else.

"Oh my god, I hate you," Mike mumbled.

"You asked for an impression," Lucas said, raising his shoulders defensively.

"Yeah, whatever. Who's next?" Mike brushed off.

"Okay, Max. Truth or dare?" Lucas asked. She was the only person who hadn't gone yet.

"You pick," she said nonchalantly.

"Bold… okay," Lucas considered what he would want to ask if he picked truth and what he could make her do if she picked dare. "I dare you to prank call Steve."

"Oh god. What should I say?" Max considered.

"I don't know," Lucas said. "Just make something up!"

"Great," Max mumbled, taking the phone that Mike handed her.

"Make sure you make the call anonymous, I don't want him to think it's us or Nancy," Mike said. Max nodded, typing in the number that Dustin was reciting to her. She heard the ringing and her heart picked up with nerves. It was a little exhilarating for some reason.

"Hello?" she heard Steve pick up on the other line.

"Uh hello," Max said in a fake deep voice. "I just had a question." Max pulled the phone away from her face to laugh.

"Who is this?" Steve asked, annoyed.

"It's…" she panicked, looking around the room for inspiration. "Bilbo Baggins," she decided on, looking at Mike's 'The Hobbit' book. Luckily, Steve had no idea who that was.

"Okay… and what do you want?" Steve questioned.

"Is your refrigerator running?" Now the whole party was cracking up. That was possibly the dumbest joke to use in a prank call.

"Yeah, asshole." Steve hung up, causing even more hysterical laughter from the party.

"That was so dumb," Dustin pointed out, still wheezing.

"I panicked, okay?" Max defended, laughing as well.

"Mike!" Nancy called from the stairs.

"Yeah?" he yelled back.

"It's almost ten, your friends better get going soon," she called down.

"Okay!" Mike replied.

"Yeah, it is kind of late." Lucas muttered, getting up and grabbing his things.

"See you later, Mike!" Dustin said. Max, Dustin and Lucas headed upstairs to get going. Jane and Will also got up, since Jonathon was taking them back to the Byers.

"Goodbye, Mike!" Will said, trudging up the stairs.

"Bye!" he said back. He turned to Jane, giving her a sweet kiss.

"I'll radio you before bed," she told him.

"Promise?"

"I promise."