Stranger Things: Rebuilding

Chapter 7 of my Stranger Things story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks :)
Wolfigrl2013: Thanks :)
JaynetheFawn: Yes, indeed, it's going to cause a few interesting events, especially as we begin our journey towards the first climax. Yes indeed, and this chapter will reveal what happened to him.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Stranger Things or its characters.

Luck and Tension

Eric lay back on his lumpy steel-frame twin bed in his dorm room. His mind running back to Jessica's letter, he didn't need to pick it up and look at it, he'd already committed it to memory. Jess was ready, how long he had waited to hear those words, how long he had fantasized about this very thing. He couldn't believe it, after catching him with Jane he thought she'd be pissed or at least suspicious but she had been so angelic and trusting. Watching as he read the letter, kissing him afterwards and confirming the meaning of her words.

'Yeah, and I'm an undeserving bastard who is about to get unbelievably lucky.' He noted ruefully. 'Almost too lucky to be true.'

He had to start thinking about Saturday night, Jessica would be coming here, they would be...He let out a soft moan, feeling tingly already. He then paused, realizing there was a slight problem.

His mind raced. 'Oh man, am I overthinking things again. Am I just...no, there is no problem like that, shouldn't get myself worked up. I...of course, it's that.'

He grimaced, there was a problem, just not anything complex. He was simply getting worked up when his problem was simple. His room was a mess and he was seriously thinking about bringing Jessica in here, lying her down on this bed.

He grimaced as he looked around at the chess books, the untidy piles of clothing and the mess of magazines and clippings on his desk. The box of fresh syringes he'd recently got for his diabetes injections. At once horror filled him, he looked down at the bed sheet he lay on, it was greyish and he began to wonder, when had he last washed it. Had it been grey to start with, or was it born white. He couldn't remember the answer to either question, which was not a good sign.

'Wait a second…' He thought horrified. 'I'm going to let Jessica into this...cave. Lay her down on this bed.'

It probably wasn't only unromantic, but surely a distinct health hazard. He immediately swung himself up off the bed, he began grabbing the piles of clothes, setting them on the bed, ready to grab the sheet too. It was time for him to reacquaint himself with the laundry room, deal with whatever floral and fauna there was under his bed, tidy up all the books, magazines and such. He'd also have to deal with the dust, never mind dust bunnies, these were dust elephants. He was startled by the door opening.

"Hey, Gibson."

He turned and sighed at the familiar, smirking face. "Does the word knock mean anything to you, Harrington?"

Steve just laughed. "Does the phrase, lock your goddamn door if you don't want company, mean anything to you?"

"That lock's busted, half the time you use it, it just comes off in your hand." Eric explained. 'Which I better get fixed before Saturday.'

Looking at Eric's actions, Steve laughed.

"Planning on getting lucky?"

"What do you mean?" Eric gasped.

Steve raised an eyebrow suggestively. "I can think of only one reason why a guy would clean his room."

Eric groaned but then smiled. "Yeah, I'm about to get lucky. Very lucky."

He truly believed it too.

XXXXX

"Seriously, again, we shouldn't be-"

But Mike could see already that his words were falling on deaf ears.

"Don't answer back, Michael." Ted snapped. "We've spoke about this before, you need to start listening, I'm only doing this for your own good."

"Ted, this isn't-" Karen tried to explain.

But Ted wasn't listening. "Not now Karen. Listen, Michael, I'm trying to help you here."

"Dad, I'm not-"

"You can't just make yourself a victim all the time, you need to toughen up and joining a sports team will sort that out." Ted insisted.

Mike growled, he couldn't help it anymore. "Dad, you're not even listening to me. I can't do things like that, I don't even like sports, I just-"

"Which is why you're constantly victimized. How do you propose to counter that when you won't even try!" Ted countered, clearly outraged that Mike was answering back.

Karen stepped up however, "Ted that's enough, you can't force Michael to do something he doesn't want to do. That isn't fair on him."

"Karen, for God sake." Ted yelled. "You're happy with Michael being like this-"

Ted's words died on his lips however and he actually quailed under Karen's changed expression.

"Michael is my son and I am happy with him and proud of all his accomplishment, no matter what they are, as you should also be, Ted."

Mike could only stare in amazement and joy at his mother and how she defended him.

But he quickly recalled his responsibilities, he could see the argument already flaring and quickly but quietly slipped out of the room and made his way upstairs, just in time for he saw Holly approaching.

"Mike?"

He put on his best smile. "Hey, Hol, mom and dad are kinda busy right now, anything you need?"

Holly shook her head. "No but...it's kinda lonely up here right now."

"Well, c'mon. I'll come with you, we can just hang out." He offered.

Holly smiled at that and, to Mike's relief, didn't seem to be aware of the argument as he led her back to her room. This was his responsibility right now, to protect Holly from the worst of their parents fighting, his own issues, such as his crush on El, would have to wait.

XXXXX

"So, how's our little gang member?"

Rochelle stood before Brenner, following her encounter. After that gang member started to pursue Eleven, with Rochelle watching carefully, ready to act, she began to follow, trying to catch up. It had taken her a few moments to suddenly realize what Eleven had been doing and adjusted her own plans accordingly.

"Yes, quite a clever plan Eleven used, luring him to a place where he'd be able to carry out his act of murder. But by getting ahead of him and hiding, she sent him on a wild goose chase." Rochelle admitted.

Brenner smiled thinly. "Yes, a clever scheme indeed. I'm impressed, I'll admit that. Then you confronted the gang member."

Rochelle nodded. "Yes, I was able to ambush him and knocked him out. Killing him would only inflame the situation further."

"True, true." Brenner mused. "Well, we'll see how this turns out, at the very least, they must now realize that we have Elven under out protection."

Rochelle nodded and they continued to carry out their plans, ready for their next step.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.