Author's Note: Chapter 2! School has been really hectic, so I probably won't be posting very often. Hope you like it!
Chapter 2: Russian Base
Saturday, June 22, 1985
Scoops Ahoy
"Is he here?"
"Is who here?" Robin asked the curly haired boy. Dustin had just returned from Camp Know Where, upset his friends ditched him, but excited that he could share his pressing news with Steve. What he didn't know was that Steve had caught the summer plague and was practically dying in the supply base.
Still, the teenager came out with a huge smile.
"Henderson," Steve said. Dustin was smiling now too.
"Henderson! He's back! He's back!" Dustin was too happy to notice Steve's abnormal voice and pale complexion. "You got the job!" Dustin exclaimed. "I got the job!" Steve pretended to play an air trumpet and the two did their special greeting.
"How many children are you friends with?" Robin asked. Steve just wiped his nose with the back of his hand and rolled his eyes.
"So where are other knuckleheads?" Steve asked as they sat at a table in the back eating ice cream. "They ditched me yesterday."
"No."
"My first day back. Can you believe that?" Dustin was hurt. Steve couldn't believe his friends had just ignored him.
"Whoa, seriously?" Steve's fever ridden brain was making it hard to answer Dustin, so he just had to do his best.
"I swear to God. They're gonna regret it though, big time when they don't get to share my glory."
"Glory? What Glory?"
"So, last night, we were trying to get in contact with Suzie…" Dustin made a dramatic pause and whispered something incoherent to the older boy. Steve didn't think he'd be able to understand what he was saying even without the throbbing in his head.
"What? What did you say?" Dustin whispered again and Steve was still confused and his face showed it. Dustin looked annoyed and said a bit too loud "I intercepted a secret Russian communication!"
No way. This couldn't be true. After everything with the demogorgon and the Mind Flayer and the Upside Down, couldn't it be over? Why did it always have to be Hawkins? Why not Indianapolis? Or Belleville? Or Crown Point? Or literally anywhere else?! These thoughts swirled in Steve's aching head, which really just made it hurt more, when he was brought back to reality with staring from every customer in Scoops Ahoy.
"Yeah, Jesus shhh. That's what I thought you said." Steve felt another coughing fit coming. He tried to muffle it, but it didn't work. Steve coughed harshly into his elbow and Dustin gave the teen a concerned look.
"It's nothing, Henderson. Don't look at me like that. What do you want to do about those Russians?"
"Translation," Dustin said as he took out a Russian-English dictionary from his backpack.
"Okay, let's just go to the supply base." Steve said, starting to stand. "Seriously dude. You ok? We can do this another time if you're not feeling well. Summer flu is brutal. Even I got it." Steve knew that something like Russians in Hawkins was not something that could wait until he felt…not like death.
"I'm fine. Besides, what if something big is happening? We can't wait. Come on, let's get to the supply base."
"Ok…" Dustin replied. He left his ice cream behind, but his concerns continued to follow him as Steve led him to the supply base.
