Disclaimer: I don't own Stranger Things or any of the characters in this story.


Chapter 1: Run to You

One year later. Summer, 1986.

There's a certain feeling in the air when summer arrives – an excitement that was dormant during the winter and spring. The nights are longer, the days are hotter, and hemlines get shorter. Even though you know summer never lasts, you can't help but feeling like it could go on forever.

Of course, Hawkins is no Florida or California, but the people in that small town had their ways of savoring summer, too: beach days at Lovers' Lake, bonfires at the quarry, camping trips, and afternoons at the arcade. Another popular hang out spot, especially among teenagers, was Benny's Burgers. It was this little hole-in-the-wall place, home to the best burgers and milkshakes in town…which was ironic, because it wasn't even really in town. The restaurant backed up to a wooded area, practically in the next town over. Maybe that's why it appealed to teens. It was their idea of a getaway, without actually leaving Hawkins.

Another great thing about Benny's? Every Friday night during the summer, he allowed a local band to play a set on the back patio. Benny Hammond might have had a gruff exterior, but he loved kids, and loved giving them a chance to show off their talents. Tonight's band? Rules as Written, or "RAWWWWW" as Dustin would snarl among his bandmates. He was all for just calling the band RAW, and have that be their public image. But he was quickly vetoed by Mike, Lucas, and Will. These were D & D lovers, after all. They didn't want their name to sound like something a professional wrestler would scream at a match.

While we're on the subject of D & D, these boys were about as obsessed as you could get. Despite being 15 years old, they still held a campaign almost every weekend…and had no intention of stopping any time soon. They were very devoted D & D players, so it only made sense to name their band after D & D terminology. The idea of forming a band came up during one of their campaigns a couple of years ago. Mike wasn't a bad guitar player already – there was an old guitar in the basement that he found himself strumming sometimes. Dustin used to be in choir. Lucas would always drum along with a song on the radio. Will was a wealth of musical knowledge, mostly thanks to his older brother Jonathan.

After practicing and a lot of hard work, the boys were ready to make their debut at Benny's. Little did they know that two of the show attendees would change their lives forever.


El Hopper and Max Mayfield were the best of friends. They had met last year under very strange and tragic circumstances…in the woods, of all places. Max's older stepbrother Billy hadn't come home from work one night, which wasn't unusual for him. But what was unusual was the fact that his body had been found face-down in the Hawkins pool the next day. Max hated her brother's erratic behavior, but had loved him just the same. She was heartbroken, and ran off to her secret hideout in the woods. Max had found the empty tool shed after one night when she wanted some peace and quiet. Her stepfather Neil was yelling at Billy for one reason or another. The little tool shed was perfect for her. She decorated the walls with posters of her idols Ralph Macchio and Tony Hawk. She also kept some pillows, blankets, a change of clothes, Eggos, Twinkies, Capri Sun pouches, and a Walkman on hand. As far as Max knew, nobody knew about the shed in the woods. Imagine her surprise when she walked up to it that fateful afternoon, and found the padlock on the door busted open.

She slowly opened the door – house keys in hand, ready to stab whatever scumbag had broken in. That was not necessary, however, as the perpetrator was sound asleep under her blankets. Said perpetrator had to settle for a verbal tongue-lashing.

"Who the FUCK are you?! And how DARE you break my lock!"

The sleeping person let out a startled cry and sat up, revealing themselves to Max. Holy shit, Max thought to herself. This hardened criminal looked no older than she. At first glance, it might have been a boy – the hair was shaved so short. But no…it was a girl, and she looked scared out of her mind.

Max tried to soften her tone. "Look, I'm sorry I swore at you, but you can't just break into things that don't belong to you."

The girl was puzzled. "Break. In," she asked softly.

"Yeah, break in," Max said, cocking her eyebrow. "You know, like when a door is locked and you force your way in? Like what burglars do?"

The girl did not look like she understood any better. "Brrr-guh-lurrs?" She tested the word, and how it felt to say it.

Who is this space cadet, thought Max. She knelt down next to her. "That's right. Burglars. People who come into people's houses, and sometimes they take things that don't belong to them. Did you take anything of mine?"

"No," she shook her head emphatically. "Just sleeping. Was cold."

Something was definitely weird about this girl. For starters, she didn't seem to understand what Max considered to be basic vocabulary. Secondly, her appearance. There was the shaved head, but she also didn't have any shoes on, and looked to be wearing only a hospital gown. And was that dried blood under her nostril…? Max felt suddenly compassionate. She had just lost her brother, but this girl looked even more rough. Where did she come from, and how long had she been wandering around?

"Listen, I've got some other clothes you could put on. Would you like that?"

"Yes."

Max handed her a t-shirt and sweatpants, then turned around to give her some privacy while she changed. "So what's your name," she asked after a couple of minutes. She felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned around to see the space cadet extending her arm towards her. Max squinted at what looked like a tiny tattoo spelling out the numbers 011.

"Holy shit," Max exclaimed. "You're like my age. What are you doing with a tattoo? That's pretty badass." The girl shook her head, pointed at the tattoo, then pointed at herself. "Wait, is that your name? Eleven?"

"Yes."

Max felt like the wind had been knocked out of her. It's like she didn't really understand the world anymore. First, her brother dies…then she finds a strange girl with a tattoo in the woods. Who tattoos a child, shaves their head, and dresses them in a hospital gown? And what about the blood under her nose? Max felt the sudden need to protect her.

Tears welled in her eyes. "Well Eleven, my name's Max…short for Maxine. Can I call you El? Short for Eleven?"

El smiled shyly. "Okay."

"Okay," Max agreed. "So, do you want to come back to my house with me? My stepdad's an asshole, but my mom's alright. We can take care of you."

The blood drained from El's face. "No."

"What do you mean? You don't want to stay out here in the woods. Let's go."

Max pulled the handle on the shed door, only to have it ripped from her grasp as the door slammed shut. She turned around slowly to look at El, who now had fresh blood dripping out of her nose.

"No."


The girls talked during the rest of the afternoon. El learned about what had just happened to Billy, and Max learned more about El. And there was a LOT to learn. For starters, El was telekinetic. She wasn't sure why she got a nosebleed after she used her powers, but she figured out that she needed to limit herself so as not to get drained. As for where she came from, it was hard for El to describe, but Max was able to piece together that she'd escaped from Hawkins National Laboratory. She lived there her whole life, while doctors tested her brain activity and abilities. She hated it there. She never got to go outside…never got to have treats…never got to go to a real school. All these people that were supposedly her "friends" were the same ones that threw her into a tiny cell when she didn't do what they wanted. But she had managed to escape the lab during the aftermath of an experiment gone wrong.

El never wanted to go back, and so it was very important that her existence outside the lab be kept a secret.

Max was suddenly fearful, because her little shed was in fairly close proximity to the lab. If anyone started looking for El, there's a good chance they would find her here. She didn't want to think about what would happen to El or herself if that time came.

The girls both agreed that El would stay at the shed for that night only, and then they would figure something else out for subsequent nights. Max was grateful she'd had snacks and drinks on hand. She also showed El how to use the Walkman before she left for the night, so El could listen to music.

"I promise you…I'll be back tomorrow morning, El," Max said, as she took one last look around.

"Promise," asked El.

"Yeah, it means something you can't break. Ever," explained Max. She reached over and gave El a tentative hug. "I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep good."

El didn't have to be told twice. She snuggled under the blankets and drifted off into the best sleep she'd ever had. Needless to say, Max stayed true to her word and was back in the morning. And she continued to prove to Eleven that she was someone that could be trusted over the next year.


The girls were so excited about the show at Benny's tonight. They hadn't really been able to venture out together, so as to keep El protected. But it had been mutually decided that after a year, they could probably take it a little easier.

In her quest to ensure El stayed safe, Max found an ally in someone surprising: the Hawkins chief of police, Jim Hopper. For about a week or so after El escaped the lab, she stayed in a different place each night. During this time, Max feverishly researched a more permanent place for her to stay. She also tried to find out more information on the lab, to get a sense of what El might have gone through.

Max got more than she bargained for.

As she scrolled through old volumes of the Hawkins Post, she read stories about kidnappings…Project MK Ultra…sensory deprivation tanks…lawsuits…

A familiar face caught her eye.

Chief Hopper and his then-wife Diane were on the front page of the newspaper in 1979, well before Max and her family had come to Hawkins. They had sued the lab after the death of their daughter Sara. According to the article, the Hoppers lived about a mile from the lab. One afternoon, Sara was playing outside when she suddenly collapsed. She was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead upon arrival. The cause of death, according to the autopsy, was asphyxiation. Doctors found a large piece of cookie lodged in her throat. But the chief was immediately suspicious. Diane was outside with Sara the whole time, and Sara was never given any snacks.

The article continued to detail how Chief Hopper had taken samples of dirt in his backyard and had them tested for toxic substances. Those samples tested positive. But when he presented those findings in court, the lab responded with their own samples…which were negative. The inconclusive test results, plus the cookie found in Sara's throat meant the lab was found not guilty.

Hopper was heartbroken. Unfortunately, the stress over their daughter's death and the results of the trial put a strain on his and Diane's marriage. They divorced not long after.

Here Max thought Hopper was just some grumpy old douchebag who hated fun – he always seemed to pop out of nowhere and tell her to stop using her skateboard so much, that skateboarders ultimately became pot-smoking burnouts or got brain damage from falling so much. For starters, Max had no intention of becoming a burnout. She liked school – science especially – and wanted to go to college. Secondly, Max NEVER fell off her skateboard. Even if she were to, at least she'd have her helmet on.

But maybe Hopper had a reason to be grumpy. Maybe he was still hurting.

Max vividly remembered going to visit Hopper that first time at the police station, armed with her new knowledge. At first, he refused to talk to her about the lab. But Max was persistent. She told him all about El: how she had escaped, how she had been treated at the lab, and how she stumbled on Max's hideout. Max could tell the wheels were turning in Hopper's head. He asked where El was staying at that moment. Together, they went to see her in the alley behind The Hawk movie theater. Max had created a makeshift fort for El out of wooden pallets.

She knelt down to let El know that a friend wanted to meet her – a REAL friend, not like the mean ones from the lab. Her secrets were safe with Hopper, and he would not send her back to the lab. After a few seconds, El nodded her assent.

As soon as Jim Hopper came face to face with El, it was like a dam burst. At the sight of her little face and shorn hair, the tears began to flow. All the memories of his poor Sara came flooding to the forefront.

El had been studying Hopper ever since he walked up with Max. She seemed to see something in his face that she trusted, and she gently touched his hand with hers. "Okay," she asked softly.

He let out a long exhale and nodded feverishly, wiping his eyes with his free hand. "Yeah, sweetheart. I'm okay. I think the more important question is, are you okay?"

"Am now," responded El slowly. "Better with Max."

Max smiled happily, thankful that El was able to trust her. "Thanks, space cadet. I'm better with you, too."

"What is space cadet?"

"Shit! Sorry, never mind," fumbled Max. "It's nothing."

"Anyway…" Hopper began, "El…Max told me about where you came from, and what happened to you. Like she said, I promise you, I won't tell anyone about you. It is important to me that you feel safe. Alright?"

"Alright."

"Good," said Hopper with a smile. "Now, I understand you've been staying in different places around town?"

Max rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "Yeah she has. I wish we could have found her nicer places to stay, but I don't really have a ton of money."

"It's okay, Max. You did good. You protected El," Hopper assured her. He then turned to El. "Listen, kid. I don't have a ton to offer you either. But I do have a cabin. We can fix it up nice…make it like a home. No one knows about it – well, except the three of us – so you'd be safe. But I've been looking to get out of my piece of shit trailer for a while. And I could use someone to share the space with. What do you say…want to stay with me?"

El's eyes shone brightly with unshed tears. "Home?"

"Yeah, kid. Home."

For her own safety, El was not allowed to leave the cabin. Instead, Max visited almost every day. She tutored El in reading, math, and science. Hopper was a big history buff, so he was the unofficial history tutor.

Under Max's eye, El became something of a girly girl. She loved makeup, and trying on the new clothes Max would bring her. She and Max also loved watching soap operas that came on TV in the afternoon. Hopper would always roll his eyes when one such show would come on, but if it made El happy, then it was worth it.

"El? Hellooooo?"

El was broken out of her thoughts by Max's voice. "Sorry, I was just thinking."

"What about?"

El put her arm around Max. "I'm happy we met. And I'm lucky."

Max smiled. "I'm happy we met, too…but listen, the band's about to start," she said. "And I'm pretty sure Mike is checking you out!"

"Who is Mike?"

"One of the guys in the band. He's the tall, skinny guy with curly, dark brown hair. I go to school with him and the other guys in the group. They're alright…kind of nerdy, but alright. I didn't know they played instruments, though. Anyway, the other guys are Lucas, Dustin, and Will…"

Max continued to chatter as the band finished setting up their equipment. But El had tuned out after Max described who Mike was. He was DEFINITELY the cutest boy she had ever seen. Even cuter than the guys in the TV shows she and Max watched. Her eyes roamed across his angular face, peppered with freckles. She also had the sudden urge to touch his hair. It looked so soft.

Suddenly, Mike looked in her direction. She gasped and looked away, but not before she noticed just how deep his eyes were. She could get lost in them forever.

El chanced another look at Mike, who was still looking at her. This time when she looked up, he blushed and gave her a shy smile.

Oh. My.

This was going to be a great night.


Some backstory and ending fluff! Please leave a review.