Spring had been especially hard for Nancy. Not because she had difficulty with classes or because she wasn't ready to face her senior year.

But it was the sad forlorn face that Steve Harrington had worn for almost six months each time they crossed paths in the hallways of Hawkins High.

They had been friendly to each other, but each time they passed Nancy could still feel that affection she once had for him and it made her heart hurt. Today on the first day of summer she knew it would be especially hard.

The first day of summer was their anniversary, two years to the date; when they first had decided to start getting together. She never would have dreamed to have the experiences she had since then, and Nancy liked to think that part of the reason she had matured in her relationship was because of that.

As she stepped out onto the yard of Hawkins High, she held her head up and tried to focus on the positives, like how Jonathan was already getting a part time summer job or how she was sure she would receive a letter of acceptance any day from one of Chicago's prestigious colleges.

Life was moving on for her, with or without Steve and she couldn't waste much more time feeling sorry for him.

Steve had left class only three minutes after Nancy, placing his shades on he could be spotted dashing across the school yard toward an unfamiliar car.

Nancy watched as a tall blonde girl got out and quickly embraced Steve and she tried to hide her astonishment. Steve made it seem like he didn't see his ex as he kissed this new girl and then climbed inside the red Ford, his eyes drifting momentarily to Nancy as she stood there in disbelief.

Behind her, the horn on Jonathan's car took her back to the present as she nearly dropped her books and then scrambled into the passenger side.

Jonathan immediately could sense something was wrong and asked, "You okay, Nance?"

She pushed aside the thought to cry for the boy she thought would never move on and muttered, "Let's just get out of Hawkins."

He didn't make a word as he shifted the car and they peeled off from the parking lot, passing a larger bus that was moving toward downtown area.

Across town, Mike Wheeler sat in his small basement under a fake tent and waited with his Radio clinging to him like a barnacle. Again he tested the frequency and asked, "Anybody hear from Will?"

There was a brief pause and then Dustin chimed in; "Not a peep."

"Nothing here," Lucas added and Mike sighed, realizing his worst fears could be realized. This could be the worst summer ever. "Hey my mom is calling me to get ready, see you guys later," Lucas said and his radio chirped silent.

Mike sighed, clicking the radio again and saying, "Will, you there? Come in Will!"

"I think she must have said no," Dustin chimed in after another moment of silence.

"Yeah," Mike muttered closing the channel and tossing the radio into a basket of blankets.

He stood up, ready to go vent his frustration maybe on a new LEGO set when he glanced back at the radio again and tested it again.

For now the channel was silent save for him and then he spoke into it. "El," he said, speaking the girl's name that had seemed to leave a mark on his heart.

"I know you can hear this," Mike whispered as he closed his eyes and added, "I just want something to go right this summer. Please come home El."

When only silence greeted him, Mike grabbed a small wrapped gift near the staircase and then rushed up stairs trying to distract himself again.

When the bus had come to a stop near the intersection of Paisley and Denton, the girl had been thinking of the last time she had taken such a trip. A secret rendezvous with a stranger that she shared a connection to in a city she hardly remembered.

She had never told Hopper about the trip, and she wondered why now as she stepped off the bus again in downtown Hawkins that she even thought about it. There was nothing there connecting her to the girl, or to the past that she had tried so hard to fight against for two years.

Hopper was right beside her, carrying heavy luggage and wearing some new clothes he had bought in Indianapolis. It was a fresh start for both of them thanks in no small way to Doctor Owens.

"Jane, come on. I need to swing by the station before we head home," Hopper told her. Even after six months she still found it hard to adjust to the fact that they were family now.

She grabbed her own bag and followed him to where their ride was waiting for them. Joyce Byers looked genuinely happy to see them both and gave her and Hopper a quick hug as she tossed aside a cigarette. "Hey you two," Joyce said with a weary smile.

El knew that when adults normally didn't say much it meant something else was on their mind so for now she quietly got into the backseat and waited as the adults took a moment to talk alone.

"So good to have you back Hopper," Joyce said as they gave each other another quick hug and she added, "How has she been? Has therapy been good for her?"

"Yeah, you know the doctors are saying there's been real progress. So yeah, definitely good," Hopper answered as he stood there and crossed his arms. "How is Will?"

"Good, you know. Making it," she said trailing off even as he gave her a curious look and said dryly, "Wow that was almost believable."

"It's just, this stupid summer camp. He won't let up about it," Joyce muttered.

"What camp? Fortune?" He guessed as he nodded and said, "I saw a few signs on the way in, looks like old man Wright got it back in business this year."

"Will thinks I'm killing him by not letting him go," Joyce explained. He glanced thru the window to where his adoptive daughter sat and remarked, "Yeah well, I don't blame you."

"Maybe once you settle things in you can come by and talk to him?" Joyce suggested as they got in the car.

Eleven stayed quiet as they kept talking, her mind reeling as she thought about seeing her friends again. Still she wished to know more and had often learned the best way to do that was by being observant. That was what Hopper had taught her while they had to hide. Patience had been hard for her, but now as they drove thru Hawkins to the police station she found it easy to wait as she wasn't sure she was ready to see them all again.

When they pulled up to the station, Hopper immediately sensed something was off as there weren't that many cars parked outside and he muttered, "Did they forget to pay the bill while I was gone?" Joyce and El stepped out warily, as he kept his hand on his holster and they all walked into the darkened office slowly together.

Hopper knew something wasn't quite right and he half considered whipping his gun out when El grabbed his hand and then the lights abruptly came on.

All of the people that they were close to stood in one room and shouted "Surprise!" as the three visibly looked relieved and Hopper glared at Joyce. "I know you had a part in this," he said wagging his finger at her as the welcome home party began.