I'd spent the entire time at family dinner last night trying not to burst into happy tears or excited laughter any time I thought about college. I couldn't believe we were actually getting out of Hawkins this year. My mom could tell something was up though, she'd kept giving me strange glances across the dinner table. The main topic of conversation had been about Will staying for the next few weeks, and I saw a little colour rising in Mike's cheeks anytime he spoke. No lie-in for me today; back to the grind. I tied my hair into a low pony and shook my new bangs out of my eyes, getting ready for work with the green ugly polo shirt the higher-ups had started demanding we wear. I got to the store 10 minutes before opening and found Steve in his office on the phone to Linda, it sounded bad. I kept out of the way and did some cleaning. After an hour of being utterly swept of my feet by customers, Steve finally made an appearance and began helping. We weren't able to talk much because we were so busy. Once the rush died down and there were only a few people in the store, I leaned against the desk next to him and crossed my arms. "Everything okay?" I asked. Steve sucked in his cheeks before answering, "I broke up with Linda." I leaned my head back, unsure of what to say, Linda seemed nice but she was so fucking dull. "What happened?" I asked after a while. Steve shrugged and said, "Things were cool, the sex was awesome, but I just didn't feel it with her. There was something missing." Inside I hoped he wasn't going to tell me that the 'something missing' was Nancy. They had been...okay...together back in the day. It was obvious that Steve still had feelings for her, and with the breakup Nancy was going through right now, it wouldn't surprise me if she leapt back into bed with Steve. Maybe they'd be happy together now - I just had a gut feeling that they were both better off without.

Later on Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max and Will stopped by. "Byers, good to see you! how was the flight?" I called out to them, Will looked tired but damn had he grown! "Hey guys! The flight was okay, I got stuck next to a toddler who cried constantly though." That explained it. Steve high-fived them all and said, "The gang's properly back together again. I mean, almost, El isn't here. Wait is it awkward that she isn't here or is that all good?" I put a hand on his shoulder to get him to stop babbling. They all looked at Mike expectantly. "It's fine, not awkward. El and I are still friends. She just didn't feel like coming." he avoided eye contact with everyone as he spoke. "Celebratory movie night on friday? Will's choice." Lucas said, and everyone nodded, except for me. "Why aren't you nodding?" Dustin caught on. Eddie and I hadn't discussed excuses. Shit. I raked my brain for an excuse that sounded plausible, "My mom's partner is on maternity leave and the cover dropped out last minute so, I have to help her out on Friday night." Yeah let's go with that. Steve looked at me, confused I hadn't mentioned this already. "Alright, your loss" Lucas cut in before anyone could question it. The kids stayed for a while longer before heading out. "Will looks different right? like an actual man now." Steve chuckled. "Yeah, they're all growing up now. weird." I agreed.

After work Steve dropped me at home, where I found Nancy sitting with my mom having a coffee. "Hey Nance, what're you doing here?" I smiled to them. Nancy and my mom shared a glance before my mom answered, "I got Nancy a job at my place - the office one - she's in charge of sorting out the bulletins and newsletters for the summer." Nancy nodded and added, "I wanted to see you too Rain, I forgot to ask for my earrings back last night." My brain scrambled, earrings? what? Nancy saw my lips about to move and said, "y'know the earrings you borrowed for the party? I was a little drunk that night and didn't remember you had them til this morning." Catching onto the lie, I nodded along, "They're in my room, come on." I kissed my mom on the cheek as I passed and led Nancy to my room. Once inside I looked at her strangely, "Earrings, really?" she shrugged, "the first thing I though of, sorry." We hopped onto my bed and I shook off my vans. "So what do you really want?" I asked her. Nancy looked around the room and said, "I - could you give me some advice?" Nancy - my cousin - coming to me for advice? that's a first. Seeing the question on my face Nancy went on, "Will arrived this morning, and it was a little awkward at first with the whole jonathan and i breaking up thing, but then it went back to normal. Anyway, I might just be delusional or something, but I can sense something with Mike and Will." Not wanting to out Mike or spill a secret that wasn't mine, I stood up and pretended to look for something in my wardrobe. "what do you mean?" i asked. Nancy cleared her throat, "we all know Will's gay, well most people do." She remembered that Will had only come out to his family and friends, but not her parents or anyone else. "Right..." I murmured, pretending to not find what i was looking for. "It's pretty obvious that he' into Mike - always has been. I used to think Mike never saw it, but it feels different now. They're closer but there's this awkwardness about them. I get the feeling there may be something going on." Nancy said. I turned to face her again, "Okay, and why do you need my advice?" she looked down at the mattress and sighed, "I know that if something was going on with them, you're the one Mike would turn to. That isn't a bad thing. I'm glad you would be there for them. I just - I want them both to know that it's safe to turn to me too."

I returned to the bed and tapped her knee with mine, "The only thing you can do is listen to them. I'm not saying there's something going on, but if there was, they'd need support and help keeping it low key until they were ready." Nancy looked at my face and nodded with understanding, "you're right, thanks Rain." I lay back and stretched with a yawn, Nancy lifted her head to look directly at me. "Now, tell me about your night with Eddie"