A/N: Hello again! Things start getting stranger this chapter, so be warned! But, really, if anyone is triggered by sexual content or abuse, just know that there is a tiny, TINY bit of that in this chapter towards the end. I also realized that I never gave credit for my story title, 'Baby, You're My Dream in Motion', which is a lyric that comes from Billy Ocean's 'Loverboy'. A nice little 80s pop song if you've never heard it. Not much else to note.

Recommended music for reading (AKA, the stuff I listened to while writing this chapter):

'Act of War' by Elton John and Millie Jackson

'Friendship' by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, from ST1

'Take My Heart' by Corey Hart

'Presumptuous' by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, from ST2

'The Upside Down' by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein, from ST1

'Adult Education' by Daryl Hall and John Oates

Disclaimer: I do not own Stranger Things or any of its related characters. They belong to the Duffer Brothers and Netflix.

Chapter 3: Contact

September 6th, 1985

POP! POP! POP!

When the sleek, ebony Beretta in Steve's gloved hands had spat its last bullet, he lowered it, and admired his handiwork. The human-shaped target positioned in front of him some 20 to 25 yards away contained a few missed marks, though most had hit the center mass dead on. Making sure to put on the safety before anything else, Steve holstered his gun, then dropped his protective ear muffs to hang about his neck. A hand landed on his shoulder just then, followed by a cheerful female voice.

"Nice job, Harrington!"

"Thanks, Cindy. Finally starting to show some improvement." said Steve, taking off his protective glasses as he turned to face the girl.

"Knew you would. Just takes time and practice." said Cindy with a bright smile.

Steve smiled back. He really liked Cindy a lot. She was a tall, lean girl close to his age, with a sharp bob of platinum blonde hair and the spirit of a lion. The two were classmates in the program here at Thornwood, and had grown to be good friends since the start. Cindy was not from Hawkins, but the neighboring city of Bergrin. She was the only girl in their class, but she held her own remarkably, garnering much respect from her male companions, including Steve. Though Steve thought she was pretty, and would've perhaps found a career in modeling if she'd tried, Cindy was tough and smart, and not to be fooled with. Not unlike Nancy in many respects.

"Ready for the test on Monday?" asked Steve, heading back up the walkway to the school with the girl.

"Hell yeah. You?" Cindy was almost hopping beside him, she was so energetic.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Steve chuckled.

Cindy shoved him lightly. "Hey, what kind of attitude is that?"

"I suck at testing, Cindy. Always have. I'm better at the physical stuff, you know? Like, just give me the job and I'll do it. Plain and simple." said Steve.

"Well, forget the test for now," Cindy said, giving his arm a playful pinch. "What are you up to this weekend?"

Steve was not expecting her to ask that question. He was taken aback, to be honest. What was he supposed to tell her? That it was his birthday, and instead of a getting wasted with people his own age, he was going to be hanging out with a bunch of high school freshmen? Sure, he'd see Nancy and Jonathan, but they would be connected at the hip and he the classic third wheel. Things were far less awkward now, but still...

"I'm, uh, taking the nerds to see Teen Wolf tonight, and the rest of the weekend I'm helping with some remodeling of a friend's house. So, I'll be busy." answered Steve truthfully, omitting the birthday part.

"That's so sweet!" said Cindy in a high-pitched tone.

"What?" Steve looked at her with a quirked eyebrow.

"You and those kids. I think it's sweet what you do for them." Cindy explained.

"Oh, well, they're great kids, you know? Total nerds, but they rub off on you. A lot." said Steve.

The two trainees relieved their gear and guns to the appropriate secured areas designated to each of them inside the school, showered and dressed in regular clothing before leaving for the day, at which time Cindy caught Steve's arm before he could head to his car.

Steve stopped and looked around at her, his brown eyes quizzical.

Cindy was chewing her lip in what seemed like nervousness, then spoke rather fast. "You know, anytime you want some company other than the nerds, I'm just a ring away. You're too awesome to be alone, Steve Harrington."

And then she had stuffed a piece of paper in his hand, kissed his cheek, and sprung away like a spooked deer, leaving Steve speechless in the middle of the parking lot.

Once he'd gotten over the shock, Steve opened his hand to look at the paper Cindy had put there. It was folded up tight. Steve unfolded it and was not so surprised to see what was scribbled in the middle of it.

233-435-1107

Call me when you're ready!

Cindy

A smile was curling up Steve's lips as he read the name on the paper, and he looked up just in time to catch Cindy waving out her window at him as she drove away in her cute little yellow Volkswagen.

Steve placed Cindy's number in his jeans' pocket and made his way to his car.. Coming to halt at the drivers side door, Steve checked the time on his watch. It was a quarter to four. The movie didn't start until seven tonight, so he still had some time to drop that paint by the Byers. What he had said to Cindy earlier was completely true about remodeling a friend's house, that friend being the Byers family. Hopper had come to Steve with the idea back a couple of weeks ago when Steve had been over for dinner with him and El at the cabin.

It was obvious the chief had a huge thing for Joyce, and after all the shit that had gone down in her home, he wanted to just fix everything for her, make it brand new. Of course, he could not have done it with just he and Jonathan alone, so Steve had been recruited.

Steve was more than happy to help. Not only did he like Joyce immensely (she was the motherly mother he never had), but the job gave him more to do on the weekends besides hanging at the arcade. Which wasn't entirely a bad thing as he had discovered, but Steve knew it was starting to look odd for a guy out of high school playing Pac-man for hours on a Saturday.

Getting into his car, Steve began wondering if he should have just told Cindy about his birthday and invited her over. She knew about the kids from him, and she sounded like she liked the kids without even truly meeting them yet, so it's not like she'd be walking into something unknown. It wasn't going to be a hardcore party with shots and make-out sessions on a sofa. More like pizza and watching Empire Strikes Back. Crazy thing was, Steve was satisfied with the latter. Even looking forward to it, because those shits were pretty much his world anymore. However, he couldn't speak for Cindy. Although she came off as the type of girl who would be up for anything, he wasn't so sure how much she'd really enjoy partying with him and a bunch of fourteen year old dorks for a whole evening.

Not to mention, he had not said a word to the kids about Cindy. Lord knows they would have the two of them pegged as a couple and planning their honeymoon to Hawaii.

Or at least Dustin would.

It suddenly dawned on Steve that he thought of being a couple with Cindy like it was some weird, far-fetched notion.

Steve let the thought sink in and he realized that it was indeed more likely than he gave credit to.

Especially considering she had presented him with her phone number.

Inviting him to call her whenever he was up to it.

Cindy was gorgeous, fit, funny and smart. She was into him, he supposed, though unlike Kim, she was not pushing herself on him. She offered her hand to him in faith that he would take it on his own.

But, would he?

Sure, it would be what was expected, even though it may not have been what he wanted.

"Fuck me." Steve muttered, firing the engine up.

His confused thoughts regarding Cindy diminished for the time he was driving back to Hawkins, on edge the entire way. Nearly a month had gone by since Steve's car radio had spoken to him, and even though he felt better, there was that one tiny part of him that knew it was no fluke. Due to this, Steve would no longer listen to his radio and drove with his windows down to disturb the sinking silence somewhat.

Subsequent to delivering the paint to the Byers, where Joyce had insisted he stay for a bit to have some homemade rice crispy treats with her and Will, Steve went to the Henderson house to chill with Dustin for a bit before going to the movie. Mrs. Henderson was currently out grocery shopping, so Dustin had the place to himself.

"So, first week of high school," said Steve, lounging on the sofa and petting Tews, who was curled up in his lap. "What do you think?"

"It was amazing!" Dustin gushed from the kitchen, where he was at the moment making a bologna sandwich. "Apart from Mr. Clark, high school is way better than middle school. You have more clubs, more teachers, better food, and the girls even seem less bitchy. Tammy Hoyer literally complimented my hair today, Steve! She said it was awesome! Can you believe it?!"

"Of course I can, because your hair IS awesome, Dipshit."

Steve was beyond thrilled to hear the kid's positive reaction, especially since Dustin had quite literally driven himself to be sick a few times from severe anxiety the week prior to the gang's start of freshman year at Hawkins High. Steve had gone with Dustin to buy school supplies on the boy's eager request, to which Miss Henderson reluctantly relinquished the activity with a solid forty dollars given to Steve for anything her son needed. The two boys gathered the basics, such as notepads, folders, pencils and a new backpack, but as Dustin was chattering over whether he should purchase sticky notes or not, Steve had been studying the younger boy's clothing.

Dustin had gotten good at styling his curly mane in the time since Steve had taught him the trick. So good, in fact, the boy was rarely seen in public without it fixed to absolute perfection anymore. However, good hair was not a stand alone. That is why Steve knew he had to give his buddy some pointers on fashion as well. Dustin was unsure when Steve offered to purchase him some new clothes for school, as he felt most comfortable in his favorite baggy T-shirts and jeans. Steve eventually convinced him that he'd look great in a new pair of Nikes and Members Only jacket.

At the end of the day, Steve had spent well over two hundred dollars on clothes for Dustin, but he did not regret a dime of it, because the kid was just so fucking happy.

Although Dustin dressed like a person ready to face the world, he lacked a lot of the confidence to back up his image. Steve must have received at least a dozen late night calls from a tearful Dustin all the way up to the day school was in session, where the boy had confessed to being scared and even puking from the rising anxiety inside of him.

Now here Steve sat, watching the same boy practically dance his way into the living room, holding aloft a plate containing his bologna sandwich, an enormous grin on his face. He was wearing a pair of fit, light blue jeans (similar to a few Steve owned), a purple Lacoste sweater and his hair was towering high.

"So, who is this Tammy Hoyer?" inquired Steve, smirking at Dustin's slick moves.

Dustin sat down next to Steve, picking up his sandwich.

"A girl."

"No shit, I meant who is she to YOU?" said Steve.

"If you're trying to ask me if I have a crush on her, then the answer is maybe in the future sometime." said Dustin smartly, biting into his sandwich.

"What in the hell is that supposed to mean?" said Steve with a frown, scratching behind Tews' ear.

Dustin shrugged, chewing fast and swallowing hard.

"She has braces."

Steve gave Dustin a confused look. "So?"

"So, braces are gross." answered Dustin simply, taking another bite of the sandwich.

"Gross?" Steve echoed, bemused.

"Dif I stuffer?" said Dustin through a mouthful.

Steve scoffed. "Dude, that's kind of dickish."

"Hey, she's pretty behind them, I know, it's just that braces make your breath smell, and I'm really not up to making out with a girl-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Steve interrupted Dustin, his rise in tone causing Tews to sit up. "Who said anything about making out?"

Dustin rolled his eyes at Steve. "Dude, please, don't act so innocent."

"Look, Dickhead, for one thing, girls with braces are cute as hell. Second, you literally just started high school! What the fuck are you thinking of making out all of a sudden?! I mean, don't you have homework or something?" said Steve, quite frenzied and not noticing Tews leaping out of his arms.

"You have a thing for braces, Steve?" asked Dustin, snickering.

Steve scowled at him, then quick as lightening his arm shot out and he snatched the sandwich from right under Dustin's nose.

"Hey! What the fuck, Steve?!" Dustin whined.

"Language." reminded Steve, standing and stuffing the rest of the sandwich in his mouth.

He messed Dustin's hair as he sauntered past him towards the kitchen, earning a slap on the wrist from the boy. Steve almost choked on a laugh that came up his throat as he chewed the sandwich, careful not to trip over Tews, who was padding in front of him, on a mission to her food and water bowls.

"Hey, you wanna know something weird?" Dustin said, bringing his empty plate to the kitchen sink.

"Besides your face?" said Steve, fetching a glass from the cupboard.

"Ha ha, funny, Asshole," Dustin said, rinsing his plate. "No, so Mike and I were talking on the walkie last night, right? Usual campaign discussion stuff and such. Well, during our conversation there was some major interference. It was freaky as shit-like some demon screeching over the walkie."

Steve froze, holding his glass under the cold running water at the sink.

"Demon screeching?"

"Yeah, but what's even weirder was that was not the only thing we heard," said Dustin, turning to Steve, clearly excited by the story he was recounting. "There was this girl's voice. At first we thought it was El, it was so soft.."

"How did you know it wasn't El?" asked Steve, beginning to feel panic blossoming inside him.

"She sounded older, and just different." said Dustin.

Steve was sweating, his heart racing in his chest.

"What did she say?" he questioned, trying to sound normal and hide his escalating dread.

"Lots of things, though she didn't always make sense. It's like we were only hearing snippets. I don't remember everything, but it was stuff like 'be ready', found a way', 'have to hurry' and 'she needs our help'. I don't know, Steve, it was like she was really trying to tell us something. Her voice was full of fear, and-Steve? Steve!"

Steve startled at Dustin's clap in the face.

"I think your glass is full." Dustin told him, pointing at the sink.

"Huh?" Steve looked over and realized he was still holding his glass under the running faucet, and it was overflowing like a mini waterfall in his hand. "Oh..."

Dustin eyed Steve while he gulped down the water over the sink, slight concern wrinkling his brow.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

Steve set the glass in the sink, breathing heavily, then glanced at Dustin, his lips wet and dripping water.

"Y-yeah."

Dustin only continued looking concerned.

Steve pushed himself away from the sink, swiping the back of his hand across his mouth.

He walked over to the kitchen table and took a seat, or rather he dropped down into one of the chairs unceremoniously. Steve then closed his eyes and rubbed the sides of his head, trying to ward off the impending migraine.

This could not seriously be happening... Not again... And to his fucking little shits? It made him livid just thinking of the that thing interacting with Dustin. Son of a bitch. Fucking fuck-

"Steve?" said Dustin quietly next to him.

"Yeah, Bud?" Steve replied in a strained voice.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Steve felt Dustin's hand on his shoulder, warm and comforting.

Steve lifted his head to look around at the boy, putting on a fake-as-shit smile.

"I'm sure. I'm just having one of my migraines."

Dustin's blue eyes widened. "Did I trigger it?!"

"No! Not at all," Steve assured him firmly, playfully poking Dustin in the stomach. "They come and go as they please."

"Did you forget your meds again?" Dustin questioned suspiciously, folding his arms.

Steve sighed, wearied. He's heard this way too much lately.

"No, Dustin. Stop worrying, okay? I'm fine, really," said Steve, his eyes flitting to the clock on the wall. "We better get going and pick up the others.. Don't want to miss Michael J. Fox, do we?"

"Mmmm-ooohhh yeah, yes, harder, harder! Uh, uh!"

The blonde moaned and whined as she threw her head back, gripping the pillows beneath her, trying to keep steady as her partner presently mounted to her backside was slamming into her so violently the bed was in danger of collapsing.

"Shut up." the male growled low, tightening his grasp on her hips.

"Feels so good-"

"I said shut up!"

The blonde cried out when her partner grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back roughly, thrusting harder than before. The bed frame was knocking loudly against the wall with the wild activity. Female whimpers and male grunts of pleasure filled the dark bedroom. Finally, with a crazed scream at the release of pure ecstasy, the two fell apart and became quiet.

"Wow, that was something else." the woman breathed.

The man had already switched on the lamp, retrieved a cigarette and lighter from the bedside table and was sucking on it. He said nothing. The blonde woman rolled onto her side to face her partner.

"I'm one lucky bitch to have Billy Hargrove in bed." she purred, running a finger along his arm.

Billy snorted, pulling the cigarette out from his lips. "Got that right."

"You must feel pretty lucky to have Kim Jones, best lips and hands in Hawkins."

"Don't be so full of yourself." muttered Billy, drawing on the cigarette once more.

Kim watched him in the dim light, nibbling her bottom lip thoughtfully. When he had pulled the cigarette away from his mouth for a second time, Kim went to pluck it from his fingers, not expecting his other hand to whip out and lock around her wrist like a vice.

Kim gasped in pain as Billy sat up in bed, tugging at her arm.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Billy snarled.

"I j-just wanted a turn!" cried Kim.

"What the fuck makes you think I want to share with you?" said Billy, his knuckles white from squeezing her wrist so tight.

Kim had tears now spilling down her cheeks. "Please! You're hurting me! L-let go!"

Billy rolled his eyes and loosened his grip so that she could take her arm back. He ignored Kim's sniffling, stuck his cigarette in between his lips and returned to his previous position.

"Christ, would you stop?! I barely touched you," said Billy after Kim had been crying quietly for a few minutes. "Make yourself useful and go get the beer out of my car."

Kim slowly turned to look at him, lips quivering.

"Well? Go get the beer!" Billy ordered hotly.

Kim frightfully scrambled out of her bed. She slipped on her robe that was hanging on the back of her bedroom door, then left Billy alone to puff on his cigarette while she went to fetch the beer.

Outside the night was cool with a light breeze rustling the leaves of the trees that sprinkled the neighborhood. Kim stomped down the front porch steps and across the tiny lawn to Billy's infamous Camaro, tears still leaking from her eyes. She was both sad and pissed, having expected the evening to go a lot more different. Coming to the passenger side door, Kim swung it open none too gently. She bent and fished for the beer in the back, swearing under her breath. At last she had it. With a groan, Kim picked up the huge pack, using her foot to shut the door.

As she stood and shook her blonde locks out of her face, she let out a squeal of surprise when she spotted someone watching her from the opposite side of the street. Although the street-lamps were weak, they provided just enough light to make out the features of a short, skinny girl with a wild mane of long, dark curls.

Kim was most horrified to see that she was very much nude.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Kim shouted at her.

The girl said not a word, but Kim sensed she wanted, or needed something. Thoughts whirled in Kim's head. Foggy, yet clear in a way. She felt the inclination to disrobe, although that was ridiculous. Right?

Kim hugged the pack of beer to her chest, taking a step back.

"I swear to God, I'll call the fucking police, Bitch!" said Kim, the threat sizzling out on the tip of her tongue.

Before Kim knew what she was doing, she had dropped the beer to the ground. The blonde was truly terrified as she found herself unable to resist the impulse to untie her robe right there. She looked down and saw her hands slowly reaching towards the robe's belt, and even though she knew, somewhere at the back of her head, that this wasn't right, she could not bring herself to stop..

"You want this?" said Kim, her voice less hostile and more relaxed.

The naked girl only nodded her head once, eyes burning into Kim.

"Okay, sure..." Kim nodded back, her hands fiddling with the knotted belt.

As soon as the fluffy robe hit the ground around Kim's pedicured feet, she almost felt as if she were waking up from a dream. The cold wind caressed her exposed skin, sending a chill to the core of Kim. She gasped, looking down at the robe she had just relieved herself from.

"What the fu-"

The rest of Kim's sentence caught in her mouth as she raised her line of sight, coming face to face with a most hideous creature. Kim's heart plummeted, and she opened her mouth to scream, but the monster beat her to it. Its apparent faceless head split open like some sort of gruesome flower, rows upon rows of bloodied teeth lining the inside of the great maw. Out from the depths of its throat issued a blood-curdling screech.

Kim fell into a sudden blackness, like she had fainted. In her head she could hear a girl's soft voice echo,

"Sorry."