"Are you sure you want to head home right now? I'm actually thinking it might be best if we keep this going overnight and come up with a plan," Mike polls the group as they walk back to the car.
"I'm going home. My parents probably think something terrible happened to me. You know yours are probably worrying about the same thing. The party is definitely over," Lucas insists.
"Once we get home, they'll try to keep us locked in. If Dustin's right, we all need to leave Hawkins," Max responds to him.
"I'm exhausted. I need to go home and rest. I'll convince my mom to pack up the car in the morning and get out of town for a bit," Dustin yawns and stretches.
"You can't be serious! It's not going to be that easy Dustin," Max says.
"You don't know that. All of you should do that actually. Go home, kiss your mom, and make sure when the sun rises in the morning your family is busting out of here."
"Not everyone is going to leave, even if you tell them that another earthquake is coming. They won't believe it will be worse. You know how people here are," Max protests.
"Exactly! We need to find out what's going. If it started underneath the lab, it might be the government again or the Russians or something worse!" Mike exclaims.
"We can't fight any of those things. We're not qualified," Lucas reminds them. "We go home! We pick up the pieces and leave here in the morning."
They hear a cracking noise to their left and all of them shoot their heads over to look as a sturdy tree loses its bearings, snaps in half and comes tumbling down to their side. It misses them by all by several feet. Dustin screams the loudest. His mouth opening wide to see all of his adult teeth and some of his baby teeth as well. They all jog back to the car a little bit faster.
"You sounded excited about what was happening Dustin," El states when they're back in the car. She got shotgun this time so she turns around to see him in the middle squashed on Max and Will's lap.
"No, no, I wasn't excited about the earthquakes happening. I'm just proud of myself for figuring it out," his head hits the roof of the car as they gently pass over the road bump with a lit flare near the end of its fuse.
All of a sudden, police sirens wail behind them.
"What did you do?" Dustin exclaims. El looks to Mike nervously.
"I didn't do anything. We didn't do anything wrong. Everyone just be calm, will you?" he answers and pulls over.
An officer exits the car and their shadow and silhouette through the reflection in El's side mirror makes her heart leap. She can't help but think of Hopper. It seems like she loses track of time. She hardly hears what the officer is actually saying. She remembers his smile, the way his voice sounded when he was happy or when he was mad. Those were all triggers to a past she remembers was her own but feels disconnected from. The pain that had once filled her lungs making it difficult to breathe or talk or even concentrate returns in the presence of the uniform. Hawkins is her home because it was where she lived with Hopper. It's where she had her best and worst memories, but is always drawn to return. The memories she has make coming back so hard and heavy in her heart. She forces herself to think of something else. She returns to the present by catching on to Mike's voice.
"We're heading home now sir."
"What were you doing out this way anyway?"
"Nothing sir, we just took a drive. After that earthquake though, we thought it was best just to go home. That's what we're doing sir."
"Do your parents even know where you are?" The officer is new. El doesn't recognize him. His badge says Carroll.
"No sir, and this is why we are all headed home," Mike can't help but let some agitation out. Why ask these dumb questions when the answers all come down to the same thing? Yes, I know it's late. Yes, I know there was an earthquake. I felt it and almost died. Yes, I'm going to be in trouble with my parents if I don't head home soon. Why are you making it more difficult by having me talk to you about it?
The only benefit of being pulled over comes a moment later when the officer's walkie talkie goes off.
"~10-70 back up requested on Cornwallis."
"10-4 Flo! Sorry kids, have a safe night. Get home!" he says and rushes back to his patrol car.
"She said Cornwallis?" Mike repeats.
"10-70? I think that means fire. Mike, that's on my street, go-go!" Dustin cries. Everyone's back tightens and arches. Mike stomps on the gas pedal. The patrol car speeds past them on their left side leading the way.
~A.N. Big plans ahead! At least 3 more chapters to end this Part!
~A.N. A musical inspiration in the next bit of writing that I recommend to everyone : Good Things Fall Apart by Jon Bellion- the stripped version is better :)