THE BASEMENT
'Why is she here,' El blurted out, glaring across the room at Max.
Everyone was there, sitting cross-legged on the floor of Mike's basement. Steve had been waiting outside of the dance to give them a lift home and was happy to drop them at Mike's, hoping to catch another glimpse of Nancy. Eleven and Mike sat in the fort - her right knee touching his left - and the circle formed on either side of them.
'She's here with me,' Lucas snapped angrily, defending his new crush. Mike squeezed El's knee reassuringly, while Max looked defeated.
'Why do you hate me so much, I don't even know you,' she asked, softly. She was used to this kind of treatment, usually from her step-brother. It was unsettling to be on the receiving end of such coldness from the girl who had singlehandedly saved Hawkins.
'Exactly. We don't know you. This is our party,' Eleven clarified.
Mike turned to El and whispered, 'Just give her a chance, please. She's not replacing you, she couldn't.' That seemed to sate her somewhat, and her visibly tensed shoulders relaxed.
'Sorry.' Eleven spat, obviously not meaning it. The boys could read her by now - they were family.
'Thank you,' Max responded, unable to read the insincerity in her words. El smirked.
'Okay Will, tell them what you told me,' Dustin urged, anxious to cut through the tension. Joyce was upstairs having a coffee with Karen, unwilling to leave Will again so soon. They could hear the chatter through the open basement door.
'I saw The Upside Down,' Will whispered, 'and this time it's really bad, guys.'
