This contains a massive amount of spoilers so please do not read unless you have finished season 4.
The upside down was still leaking into their reality, Eleven was able to slow it down to a certain point but she couldn't stop it completely. It did give them enough time though to start thinking about what they need to do. Most of the people living in Hawkins had either left town or took shelter in the Hawkins High School meanwhile the main media still tried to cover everything that happened there by saying they were just earthquakes and such.
Eleven, Will, Jonathan, Nancy and Mike were all staying at Joyce's old house with her and Hop. Robin, Steve and Dustin were all staying at the High School even though Dustin's mom wasn't very exited about staying in Hawkins she decided to stay at the High School as well so she could keep an eye on her only child.
Lucas had convinced his parents to stay in Hawkins, he didn't want to leave Max here all alone while she was still in a coma. He spent almost every day at the hospital just talking to Max, telling her updates on what's going on or reading to her. Sometimes he would take Erica with him and also Eleven, Will, Mike and Dustin would also visit almost daily, Steve would also visit Max quite often usually taking Robin with him. No one knew when she could wakeup or even if she would. The doctors knew that Max would need to stay at the hospital for many months even if she did wakeup now due to most of her bones being broken and her eyesight gone.
It was an unusually cool evening. Eleven was looking outside of the hospital room window as the red sky kept getting darker. She came to the hospital with Mike, Will, Dustin, Joyce and Hop to visit Max. Lucas had also been there when they arrived but left with Dustin once his mom came to pick them up.
"What are you thinking about kid?" Hopper asked Eleven while putting a had on her shoulder giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Nothing" Eleven said with a sigh. What she said wasn't true thought, she was so worried about Max and everything that is going on. She had no idea on how she could stop the upside down from leaking into their reality. She had no idea if Max would wakeup or if she could help her, because if she could help her she definitely would.
"It's gonna be okay El" Mike said with a slight smile that Eleven then returned to him. Things between them had been kinda off since returning to Hawkins, they could both feel it but either of them had said or done anything to fix it.
"Yeah max will wakeup and then we'll figure out what to do with the whole upside down thing" Will said trying to sound convincing but there was a very clear hint of uncertainty in his voice.
"You know that Max would tell you to stop being so optimistic if she was awake right now" Eleven said half joking trying to lift the mood in the room.
"Yeah she probably would" Will agreed with a chuckle.
"I miss her" Eleven said after a good minute or so of silence quickly wiping a tear off from her face before it could roll to her cheek.
"I know honey" Joyce said before walking over to Eleven and wrapping her arms around her "I'm sure it'll be okay" she continued while slowly stroking Elevens short hair while allowing her to cry. Silence fell again as Joyce comforted Eleven.
"Have you had any luck trying to contact her?" Mike asked breaking the silence and Eleven just shook her head. She had tried so many times to contact Max with her powers with no luck, they think it might be because she is in a coma but Eleven has still not stopped trying. Mike is worried that Eleven will tire herself trying to reach for Max but she refuses to give up.
"It's getting late, we should probably head back home" Joyce said looking at her wrist watch. Everyone just nodded in agreement so Joyce took Elevens hand and they left the room and went out into the parking lot. They drove in almost complete silence apart for a brief conversation between the kids about Dungeons and Dragons. Hopper parked the car into the driveway and the kids almost ran inside because Joyce told them that they could make Eggo's before going to bed. Joyce got out of the car lighting a cigarette and Hopper did the same after going around the car so they would be on the same side. They stood there for a while in silence watching the unusual sky.
"I'm worried about El, she's under so much stress right now" Joyce said before throwing the end of her cigarette into a puddle.
"I know but she's a strong kid" Hopper answered.
"Yeah but she's still a kid, Hop" Joyce argued looking up at him.
"I know I know but she is pretty much our only hope right now" he sighed.
"Yeah" Joyce said turning to look at the ground, she hated that she couldn't help Eleven she could only be there for her. Hopper wrapped one arm around Joyce and kissed her head before taking a deep breath in. They stood there for a while longer before Will opened the front door.
"Mom? We can't find Jonathan" Will told slightly worried.
"Didn't he say he was going to help Steve and Robin at the school with Nancy?" Joyce asked as she started to walk towards the house Hopper behind her.
There was a lot more of people at the school tonight than usual. Most of the people had had their homes destroyed or just couldn't live by them selves anymore due to injury or lack of food but luckily there was also a good amount of volunteers helping others. Steve and Robin had started to work there full time as volunteers, Jonathan and Nancy would also stop by as often as they could. Robin was working almost everyday all day, sometimes Steve would get her to agree to take a break but it wasn't easy. She would get up early in the hopes of getting to work with Vicky, they were starting to get more friendlier and Robin was so head over heels for her but she still didn't have the courage to tell her and perhaps now wouldn't be the right time with the world ending and all. But seeing her there almost daily was enough for Robin, for now.
"Hey I think we have go now before Jonathan's mom gets worried" Nancy said after checking the time, it was now close to midnight and they had been there helping for 5 hours now.
"Yeah you probably should" Robin agreed after checking the time too.
"Thanks for helping, it seems more and more people keep coming here daily to seek for refuge" Steve sighed. He liked to help people but he missed just hanging out with his friends.
"Yeah of course" Nancy smiled and Jonathan just nodded.
"Are you gonna come tomorrow too?" Robin asked them hoping that they would, Robin really liked Nancy as a friend and also appreciated their help.
"Umm I don't know if we have time" Jonathan started.
"We will if we can" Nancy finished for him. After chatting with Robin and Steve for a bit longer they started to make their way outside to Jonathan's car.
"You still don't like Steve do you?" Nancy asked him as they sat down.
"I mean he's okay I just don't know if I feel comfortable that we're hanging out with your ex" Jonathan answered as he buckled up.
"We're just friends Jonathan" Nancy started.
"Yeah but he clearly still likes you" Jonathan argued as he tried to start the car but it refused to start.
"What?" Nancy laughed uncomfortably "He does not".
"Nancy it's clear as day" Jonathan said as a matter-of-factly. "Damn car" he cursed as it still refused to start.
"You know we could just walk and ask Hop to come check your car tomorrow" Nancy sighed. They have had problems with Jonathan's car for a while now and they tried to fix it themselves but it keeps getting broken.
"Yeah you're probably right" Jonathan said while leaning on the steering wheel "He can probably fix it" He finished before getting out of the car.
They started walking towards the house they both called home now-a-days. They decided to cut through the woods because it looked like it was gonna storm again soon and it indeed did start to storm again. They we're walking hand in hand in the windy and rainy forest. Nancy was holding a flashlight in other hand while Jonathan used his other arm to try to shield them from the wind. Soon they saw a figure further away between the trees and Jonathan's first thought was that maybe Joyce and Hopper came to look for them. They walked closer and only then did they notice that this person had buzzed hair and was way too short to be Hopper.
"El?" Nancy asked but the figure gave no reaction. "Eleven?" Nancy asked louder thinking that maybe she hadn't heard her the first time only for them to realize that it wasn't Eleven as the figure turned to look at them with a horrified face before starting to run away from them.
a/n: I haven't written anything in ages so sorry if it's bad lol, I had this idea with my friend and it was just too good not to be written so I'm making it into a fanfic:)