Author's Note: Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait. I've had so many tests lately, have been applying to colleges, and have had two chorus concerts with dress rehearsals included. It's been super hectic, but I appreciate your patience! So, this is going to be the longest A/N ever, but the first thing I want to say is that there are two songs I really wanted to include in here by The Cure that really apply to Mileven, but unfortunately they both came out a few years after 1986, which is the year we're at at this point in the story, so let's just pretend like they were released around then if you don't mind. Everything else I've written I have fact-checked to be historically accurate, but both of these songs scream Mileven, so what are you gonna do! Also, one of my readers asked that I add some more Lumax to the book and so going through with that request, there's actually a Lumax plot that I've been wanting to write about for a while now, something that's been in the back of my head and that's a very real struggle- racism. Problems like racism and homophobia were still very much an issue back in the '80s. Gay people couldn't even come out back then and racism obviously continued and still continues to be a problem. So, with that, I just wanted to give you a heads up that the beginning of this chapter is going to be a little intense and racially sensitive because being an interracial couple was very taboo at the time and in many instances, still can be unfortunately, but I think it's important to recognize that and I just really want to see the lovable, fierce Max Mayfield stand up for Lucas, you know? That's what we were missing this season. Some real, raw Lumax moments. So, without further ado, here's the new chapter! (P.S. It's still mainly about Mileven, but Lumax will be a big focus of this chapter)

Walking into his room, Lucas found Max there, waiting for him on his bed.

"Hey, Stalker," she said flirtatiously.

"*smiles* Max! Just the girl I was wanting to see..."

"Aww, what gave me away? My red hair?"

"*slides beside* Well, that, *strokes hair* but also your West Coast, blue eyes, adorable smile, and those irresistibly pokable freckles," he said, nudging each and every one of them until he'd annoyed her just enough.

She couldn't help but laugh, and much like Hopper's face at the sight of Mike in El's room, hers turned as red a tomato. It was the curse of a fair-skinned redhead like herself.

As she sat there, with her ankles cupped in the palms of her hands and her shin resting against his thigh, he threw his arm around her shoulder, not taking his eyes off of her for even a second.

"Oh, and um, those too," he said, motioning towards her lips with his eyes and another thing in mind.

Her eyelashes fanned out, the tips of them pointing toward his eyes and lips accordingly with the shifting of her focus. Seeing as that he was already staring at hers like they were the objects of his affection, she began to follow his lead.

"Oh, I see where you're going with this," she said, playing along in an enticing whisper that faded once their faces neared.

She leaned in, with her bent knee against his abdomen, her face now turning parallel to his shoulder. Plump and smooth, he laid his lips upon hers with gentle intention. And her head twisted and winded as the left side of her face moved to that of his, their lips ending at a different locus than where they first joined.

Lucas was someone who was very sure of himself. He was humble about most things, except when it came to proving his point and his logic. That's where he drew the line, where he had to fend for himself, much like Max in that way, and despite society casting him aside most of his life, he had found his people, people that would never judge him- his core friend group. And Max, well, Max was the person he shared everything with. She was cool, laid back, and didn't care what anybody else thought. She was just always herself, even when it got her into trouble and he couldn't help but like that about her.

Max was a feminist to the core. She didn't let other people push her around and liked to feel like she was in control. When it came to relationships, she found that she often liked to take the lead, but at the same time, she didn't want to date some wimp. She wanted someone who knew what they wanted and wasn't afraid to put themself out there, yet was still at a loss for words when it came to the big steps in their relationship. That was when she helped fill in the gaps, but there was another part of Max that was a little shy, and every now and then, when she would least expect it, Lucas would sweep her off of her feet. She would put him in his place though, of course. She was really good at that because she didn't want to be someone's pet, she didn't want them to be tied down to each other. She just wanted something fun, something light and casual that became familiar with time and who better than with the boy that had been pining for her ever since she moved to town. In Lucas, she found someone with whom she could go on adventures with, and yet, have just as much fun spending the night in.

Kissing Lucas was like when you wander around the block, driving without a clear destination in mind, whereas kissing Max was the revving of the engine when you go for a wild ride. Though their kiss only brief, their lips moved with such ease and sense of direction for something so spur-of-the-moment, or shall we say "impetuous." However, once they let go, the edge of their lips still touched, unintentionally exhaling as they savored the moment, secretly wanting more.

With Max still leaning into the right side of his chest, Lucas then reached over to his stereo and popped in a cassette with "Diamond Dogs" on the label.

[Rebel Rebel plays in the background]

"*pulls away* Whuh- *laughs* What is this?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

"You like Bowie, right?"

"Yeah, but since when do you listen to him?" she asked, turning her body toward him, interested in what he had to say.

"Since you," he said, rubbing her arm.

"Mm, *kisses* good answer," she said, returning to his lips once again.

[A minute or two later…]

"Lucas-" she said, muffled by his lips.

"Yeah?" he replied, pulling away.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Do you ever...I don't know...miss going out like we used to?"

"Yeah, sure I do."

"*sits up straighter, her back against the headboard* I feel like we're always too busy breaking up and getting back together to actually go on a proper date."

"And whose fault is that?" he asked, crossing his arms and noticeably tilting his head for effect.

"*snickers* Okay, fair enough."

"What are you doing this Saturday?" he asked.

"Nothing. It's pretty quiet now that Billy's not around blasting heavy metal throughout the whole house. Why? What'd you have in mind?" she asked with a slight smile.

"I'm taking you out. I'll pick you up, 6:30."

"And do what? There's nothing to do in this hick town."

"Oh, but you're so wrong...There's plenty to do!"

"Like?"

"Like…"

She crossed her arms in boredom, waiting for whatever amusing ideas he would come up with, if any!

"Well...I'm waiting!" she said.

"Oh, ye of little faith! *pauses more to think* Well, you could teach me some tricks on your skateboard like you've always wanted to do or we could just walk around a little and then maybe stop by the arcade and play some games, you know, like we used to."

"That actually doesn't sound entirely awful, but you're totally just saying that because you want to beat me for once."

"You know, not everything's a competition, Max," he said.

"Whatever you say, Stalker…" she said with a knowing smile.

Until then, they flipped through some of Lucas' comic books, all snuggled up together. And the next day, he showed up, parked by her windowsill to avoid any conflict that might result from her very traditional, close-minded, stepdad knowing of their relationship. In his hands were a bouquet of flowers fresh from the market.

"What's all of this

"Oh, just a token of my affection…"

Through snorts, both syncopated and repressed, she tried to hold in her giggles, but instead broke out into laughter.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked.

"I just- *laughs more* I can't you take you seriously when you say things like that…"

"You wanted a date, I'm just trying to give you a memorable one!"

"Lucas, I'm flattered, but you don't have to try and be Mike for me! I love you, not him," she said, her hands sliding up his chest.

"Guess you're right...I mean, I don't mind it though. I'd be up to doing a little bit more of this, a little more alone time and a little less group dates," he said, his hands wrapping around her waist.

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind that either," she said with a smile.

"C'mon, MADMAX. Let's show this town who's boss!" he said, grabbing her hand and encouraging her to hop on.

"Your Mike impression was spot on by the way *laughs*...You nailed it! I think I liked it even more than the flowers!"

"*laughs* I've spent enough time with him to know his ways."

"I just don't see how you did it!" she teased.

Now at the arcade, they parked the bike and walked inside.

"Up for a little Dig Dug?" he asked.

"Always," she said with a smile.

Lucas had harvested all of the quarters he could muster in preparation for this date. He needed all of the chances to play he could get if he was really going to try and beat her top score! Max, on the other hand, was just waiting for the moment when Keith would sneak up behind them and make some lame, dorky remark, but he never did and then it occurred to her that he didn't work there anymore. Sure, he was a little obnoxious, but it wasn't the same without him disrupting every few minutes or so when she was in the zone and she couldn't help but miss it a little. As much as she hated to admit it, it was almost like she needed the distraction. It was part of her routine and now with him not there, she wasn't sure if she could beat Lucas, who had been practicing all summer. Even so, she still kicked his ass...like royally.

"You drive me mad, MADMAX," he said.

"I know," she said with a giddy smile.

"C'mon, Don Juan, let's grab something to eat," she continued, tugging on his shirtsleeve.

"Alright, Strawberry Shortcake," he said.

He loved the little pet nicknames they had for each other. It always left a smile on his face.

They walked around the block, with Max holding onto his arm with such warmth. There was something so wholesome about their relationship, but some people just didn't see it that way and among that innocence was a lot of hidden scars...

It was already hard enough with Neil watching Max's every move and Billy not there to detract attention away from her mistakes, but that didn't even begin to describe the hardships that Max and Lucas had to face as a couple. Sure, they were more low key about it than Mike and El, but part of the reason was that they had to be. You see, growing up in the time that they did, equality was still a very prevalent issue. Lucas hanging out with a group of white kids all the time was already seen as weird enough, but dating outside his race was a whole other story, an almost unheard-of thing at the time, especially for someone his age.

Stares and glares directed their way, insults exchanged in oodles of whispers. That was what it was like, everywhere they went. It was inevitable and unavoidable, but a reality for them that was, at times, too hard to ignore. But particularly that day.

As they walked into the diner, they were stopped by Troy, who ever since the incident with El had left them alone. Well, that was until high school came around. Now, things were different. He felt that since El had moved away and he didn't have her to worry about anymore, that he could go back to his old ways, teasing the boys like he used to. He had found new nicknames for them, to replace his juvenile-innovated ones from before. Now Midnight was replaced with something much worse…

"Hey! Hey, Oreo!" said Troy.

*Lucas turns shoulder*

Not Midnight- Oreo. That was his name now and while it might seem like a stupid pet nickname to some, it was with fowl intention, as opposed to the oddly endearing "Stalker" or "Don Juan."

"Oreo? What's that supposed to mean?" Max asked, looking at Lucas for an answer.

"What do you think, Oreo? Who should tell her? You or me?"

"*sighs* He's saying I'm black on the outside and white on the inside, like an oreo...He means that for a black person, I act like I'm white," Lucas mumbled with his head down, then glaring at Troy.

"What is wrong with you, Troy? Why do you have to go out of your way to taunt him about things that you know aren't true?! Don't you have anything better to do with your life?"

"C'mon, Max. Let's just go."

"No, Lucas, I got this!"

"Damn, Oreo...Has she got you whipped or what? What a loser!" he said.

"And you wonder why you don't have a girlfriend, Troy?! Well, I got news for you- this is why," said Max.

"Oh, just put a sock in it, Carrot Top!"

"*chuckles* That's really the best you could come up with?! Why don't you pick on someone your own size for a change or better yet, NOT AT ALL! And seriously, what's up with the food names? What are you, in 1st grade or something?"

"You don't like that name? Okay, well would you prefer n-"

"Don't say it. Don't you dare say it…" she said aggressively, her fists balling up.

"Nig-"

POW! She clocked him, right in the nose. He could hear birds chirping, just like one would in a cartoon, and as he got dizzier, his scrawny little body collapsed to the ground.

"What the fuck?! You broke my nose, you bitch!" he yelled.

"What'd you just call her?" asked Lucas.

"Max, I called her Max. She likes being called that, right?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought, asshat," she said.

And she stood over him and said in the most Max Mayfield way possible:

"If you ever hurt my boyfriend, I'll break you. You got that?"

"Whatever."

And they thought everyone was looking at them for being together! Well, now it was for a whole different reason.

"That was kickass," said Lucas. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," she humbly said. "C'mon, let's get out of here."

She was just the person he needed, the person who would stand up for him, the person who didn't put up with people's bullshit and would tell them off, whether it be via her strongly opinionated rants or by doing a fist dance on their face. She had guts and he loved that about her.

"Lucas?"

"Yeah?"

"Is that why we never go out anymore?"

"I mean, if I'm being honest, yeah, sometimes, but I really try to not let it get in the way because I love you and I want you to be happy."

"Well, that's why I'm asking...because I love you and I want you to be happy! I don't want you to get hurt, ever."

Meanwhile, Joyce had driven the kids out to Hawkins for a visit.

"Alright, well, here we are, kids," Joyce said, pulling up in front of the motel.

"Um, Jonathan, Will, El, would you all mind getting the key card? I'll just be a minute," said Joyce, her voice giving out a little.

"Y-You guys go ahead," said El. "I'll catch up with you in a second."

"Something the matter, sweetie?"

"Yeah. With you," she said looking into her eyes and tilting her head with concern.

"Honey, I'm fine, don't you worry about me!"

"You don't have to be strong for me, Joyce. We've both been through our share of it."

"*sniffles* I just, I- *sighs* Every time I come back to this place, I think of him. I think of him and that stupid date we had set up and how he gave up his days to search for my son and saw to it that he got better when he was infected."

"I know. I feel it too. A part of me is happy, *tears roll* halfway happy. My friends are here, my family, but he was my family too...My first shot at a real family and it was ripped away from me."

"He may have been your family and I know it's not the same, but I can *shivers* assu-u-ure you that I will be that as best as I can for you."

*nods through tearful smiles, holds hand*

"*holds chin* I love you, El."

"I love you too," she said, pulling her in for a sudden hug.

After checking in to the hotel, Will went to Dustin's house and El went to Mike's along with Jonathan, leaving Joyce free to do whatever it was that she pleased.

[Mike's Basement]

"Your mom said I might find you here," said El, walking up to the couch and plopping down right next to him.

"El!" he said, cupping her cheek in his hand and then hugging her. "What are you doing here?"

"I missed you, why else?"

And he reached out and grabbed her hand from her lap, bringing it to his face to kiss. Then, throwing his arm around her shoulders, he chuckled.

"What? What is it?"

"I think I just kissed my own hand."

"You did?" she asked, laughing.

"Well, you didn't feel it, did you?"

"I guess not, but I guess I was just a little distracted."

"By what?"

"The boy kissing it," she said, running her fingers through his hair.

And they gazed into each other's eyes like they were stars in the sky, feeling perfectly comfortable with each other in every sense of the word. But after hearing those words, those killer words come out of her mouth, Mike couldn't help but want to put his face on hers, his eyes fixating on her lips, the red dot in his optical illusion.

"Wait, *pulls away* what are we forgetting?" she asked.

"Music," he said, raising his finger in the air.

"Oh, you're so right! Well, what do you have?"

"I know just the thing," he said.

"Ooh, I love surprises!" she said.

"And presents too?" he asked, referring back to the conversation when she first returned his love.

"Yeah. Presents too," she said softly, first smiling, then letting it fade along with her voice as he came nearer.

As they kissed, Lovesong by The Cure played in the background, lyrics which resonated with El strongly. Whenever she was alone with Mike, he made her feel at home. He made her feel like she was whole again and no matter how far away, no matter how long she'd stay, nor what words she'd say, she would always love him, just as the song said.

Mike sat up straight at first, both of his feet lying flat on the ground and his back to the couch. And El's head swiveled around his nose to meet his lips. He leaned into her chest, holding the shoulder of her arm which was wrapped around the back of his neck. Nearly curling up into a little ball, she clutched her body toward his, with her dainty little feet dangling off of his lap ever so sweetly and her legs folded at the kneecaps, forming a bridge above his.

Now existing among this manmade little nook of warmth and physical touch, they sunk into the blanketed cushions of the couch. The blade of his cheekbone came knocking into her face and she could feel her own lip beneath her nostrils, curling up to mesh with his. That was until they were rudely interrupted...

With no sense of privacy, Mrs. Wheeler barged through the basement, "gracing" them with her presence as she entered the room. With a basket in her hand, she proceeded to bend down, setting the clothes off to the side as she lowered the volume of the boombox.

"Hey sweetie," said Mrs. Wheeler.

Like two magnets repelled away by an unknown force, their lips immediately withdrew, realizing that Mike's mom had just joined their company. And quickly peeling themselves off each other, they split in opposite directions, with Mike on the floor facing the couch and El attempting to "act natural" while trying not to freak out. Quickly improvising, however, Mike said:

"*looks around floor and coffee table* Gosh, I don't see it anywhere! Do you?" Mike asked El with a lot of eye contact.

"What are you doing?" she asked in a hushed voice.

"Just follow my lead," he replied in a soft whisper, as he snatched the couch cushions from under her and held them up in his arms.

"Oh, I uh- I dunno. Let me help you look," she said in a very robotic-sounding, almost scripted way.

They pretended to look for whatever fake object Mike acted like he had lost until Mrs. Wheeler left the room. The only problem was that she never did, not nearly as soon as he had thought she would at least.

"Whatcha looking for over there?" she asked.

El ungrasped the hand holding hers and on the spot, decided that she would slip Mike's watch off of his wrist, pretending that that was the thing that was missing.

"My uh- My watch," he said, with El placing it into his hand and folding his fingers over it.

He then quickly hid it and pretended to find it again. It was a diversion that went on far too long and pointlessly, but at least it passed some of the time that they aggravatedly waited for Mrs. Wheeler to leave.

Climbing back on the couch and situating himself next to El.

"I don't know who we were kidding. There's no way she couldn't have seen us," whispered Mike.

"*whispers* It's not like it's that big a deal. I mean, really, what's the worst she's gonna do?! She's no match for the rath of Hopper," said El.

"*whispers* True, very true."

As Mrs. Wheeler finished loading the washing machine, Mike huffed and puffed, sighing as they both sat and waited for what felt like an eternity.

"Any day now…" he said, earning giggles from the girl beside him.

He banged his forehead into his palm repeatedly, eventually letting it sink into El's chest, where she kissed the top of it and ran her fingers through his hair so sweetly.

*Mrs. Wheeler walks out*

"Thank god, I thought she'd never leave," said El.

Mike liked this El, this El who prioritized her time with him and got bitter when it was taken away from her. They both were a little selfish for their own relationship because it was so important to them and it always seemed to come first in their book.

"Now, where were we? Oh, that's right!" he said with a suggestive smile.

And he looked her in the eyes with an eyebrow-raising smolder that was too enticing to neglect. Rather than steering clear of him, it steered her nearer, her face leaning in to meet his. And before she knew it, she was captured by his arms and invested in his kiss.

At the same time, Lucas and Max headed over to Dustin's house, claiming that they needed to have a party meeting asap without any indication of why. So, Dustin tried to reach Mike.

Beep. Static. A voice emerged.

"Mike, do you copy? This is Dustin, over."

"*sighs* Again?" Mike aggravatedly asked aloud.

Beep. Static.

"I repeat: Mike, do you copy? This is Dustin, over."

And they both lazily reached their arms out to grab ahold of it, their hands touching in the process, with Mike's first instinct being to shut it off and El's to respond to their friends.

"Let go of it, you goof!" she said, fighting over possession of the supercomm.

"No way, José!" he replied.

"C'mon, Mike! Seriously, just quit it already."

"Only if you say the magic word…" he said in a sing-songy voice.

"Oh, get bent!" she said, throwing him to the ground with an accidental flick of the head.

Thud. She felt bad for the sudden burst of force that jerked his scrawny little body to the ground with a mind of its own.

"*gasps* Mike!" she said, rushing to his side.

However, after seeing a shocked Mike lying below her, she couldn't help but find some hilarity in it too. And like a turtle crawling back into its shell, her bottom lip retreated behind the top, pushing air out through the slight gap of her mouth in a hushed laugh.

"Oh my god, are okay?" she continued through laughs.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said, laughing along with her.

"You sure?" she asked with raised eyebrows.

"*nods* Promise."

"*smiles* Here, let me help you up," she said, grabbing his hand.

"And how am I supposed to know that you won't try something like that again?" he asked, not budging from the floor.

"*smiles* It won't, don't worry."

"Or…" he said.

"Or what?" she asked, helping him up halfway.

"You could do something like that again, you know, just to spice things up. Just an idea…*exhales in a breathy laugh* I don't know, I probably sound crazy to you."

With her face close to his, she continued to hold him up by his right hand, as if to help him to his feet, but then, letting go of her grip, she flattened her hand, her fingers webbed and curling as she gently slammed him back to the ground. It was similar to the way Billy pretended to help Steve up at the basketball court only to drop him like he was nothing. The only difference here was that the driving force behind this conflict was not testosterone-driven aggression, but was rather driven by El's powers themselves. Consumed by the desire to shake things up with a little excitement and spontaneity, he looked her up and down, examining the position they were in. His eyes were wide with surprise and his mouth unhinged with awe, knowing that there was just so much potential that lied behind that stare they held.

"Are you sure you can handle it?" she asked.

*nods vigorously*

"You're in for a wild ride, *pauses* Wheeler," she said confidently, raising her eyebrows to signify the irony in his last name at that very moment.

Before losing himself in a series of kisses, he reached an arm out, feeling around the floor for his supercomm.

*compresses antenna, flips switch*

"He shut it off! That son of a-" Dustin reported back to Lucas in outrage.

*Just Like Heaven by The Cure plays in the background*

Though Mike's idea, El's execution was even more perfect than imaginable. If he was a puppet, then she was the master. Of course, with streaks of red dripping from her nose like a leaky pipe, she could only manipulate his movements in moderation, but always managed to throw him curveballs every now and then and when he would least expect her to. However, all it took was a wipe of the noseblood and by then, they were back at it again.

Like the plucking of strings, she teased him with the faux sensation of her fingers against his skin, the illusion of her caresses so powerful that he struggled to tell the difference between the actual feeling of her touch and the one governed by her powers. And through fling and pull, push to shove, snuggle and nuzzle lied much tension and love.

Guided by the power of her mind, his arm levitated along with her thoughts. And the palm of his hand came parachuting down onto the side of her neck, situating itself in place as she repositioned his lips onto hers. With silent concentration, she would join and pry their lips together and apart, the laugh lines of his face bunching together with each tweeting pucker. His kiss was a light touch that deepened in pillowy pressure as it progressed.

[Back at Dustin's House]

"Let's just show up. We know he's there," said Lucas.

"Lucas is right. I mean, really what's the worst that could happen?" asked Max.

"Lots of things!" Dustin argued.

"Name one," said Lucas.

"Okay, um…"

"Oh, here we go again!" said Max, throwing her hands up in the air.

"No one asked you," Lucas teased.

"Meh!" she said mockingly, shaking her head and sticking her tongue out at him.

"Guys, guys, c'mon! We're getting way off track here," said Will.

"Right. Let's go then," said Lucas.

Not long after that, the boys and Max headed over to Mike's house, peaking through the basement windows before they came in.

"I don't see him in there," said Lucas.

"Wait, Will, where's El? Do you know?" asked Max.

"I'm pretty sure she was supposed to come here today," he said.

"You think they're making out somewhere?" asked Dustin.

"Most definitely," said Lucas.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Just open the door already," Lucas continued.

"And interrupt them?"

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time!" Lucas remarked, referring to Dustin's terrible timing.

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Oh my god, who cares, just open the damn door, nerd!" said a familiar, sassy voice.

"HUH?" they all said in unison, turning around only to find that Erica was there with them.

"Erica! What the hell are you doing here?!" asked Lucas.

"I'm in the party now...I mean, that was what the Dungeons & Dragons game was for, right?"

"What? No! No, it was just a gesture."

"You sure about that?"

"Pretty damn sure!" said Lucas. "How did you find us anyway?"

"I followed you, DUH!"

"But why?"

"I don't know, I was bored!"

"Does Mom even know where you are right now?"

*raise eyebrows, shrugs*

"*sighs, touches forehead with thumb and index finger* Erica, just go home."

"*sighs* Fine, but it's getting dark outside and if anything happens to me, I'm telling Mom whose fault it was!"

"Fine, see if I care," he said.

"Hold up! Last year, at the Snow Ball, all of you had dates or at least someone your own age to dance with, but I didn't. Instead, I got rejected by every girl I approached. Now, Nancy was kind enough to dance with me so that I didn't feel left out, but now we're put in kind of the same position she was in. So, no, we're not gonna do my girl Erica like that...I don't care if she is younger! She's one of us now…" said Dustin, placing both hands on her shoulders and shaking them with welcoming emphasis.

"You can take the scoop out of the troop, but you can't take the troop out of the scoop!" she said with a smirk.

"Damn right! *high fives* You can't spell America without the Erica either," Dustin joked with a wink.

*Erica giggles*

"What *pauses* is happening right now?" asked Lucas.

"Friendship, that's what. *high fives Dustin*"

"Ay ay ay…" said Lucas. "This is going to be a LONG 4 years!"

"Well, now that we've established that…" said Max, eyeing Dustin and the door with her eyes.

"*sighs* Here goes nothing," said Dustin, finally opening the door.

With El nowhere to be found and Mike nowhere to be seen, well, not from the window at least, they all assumed that they were probably just upstairs trading faces or something, but they never expected to find them both on the floor of the basement, canoodling.

"See, what'd I tell you," said Lucas.

"*clears throat* Ehem!" said Max.

They didn't move a muscle. Knowing they were caught, they remained glued to one another's faces. El held onto Mike's lip with fervor, but as the two slowly realized they were being watched, the thin edge of her lip glided off of his and let go with a click as it retracted back to stillness. Like two fallen dominos that had somehow magically set themselves back into place, El pulled herself up with Mike, each directing their attention towards their friends. And the two stared in their direction awkwardly, with wide eyes and gaping mouths.

Clinging to the tips of her eyelashes, El's hair was in complete disarray. However, with one fist clenching Mike's shirt, she used the other to move a piece of hair out of the way, which ended up falling right back into place, just as the same eyebrow-raised expression remained on her face. Sure, El's hair may have been a frizzy, fuzzy, tangled mess, but Mike's was practically a haystack of static, looking especially poofy from all of the tousling that went on. And sensing this by all of the strange looks he was receiving, he tossed it to the side with a jerk of the head.

"What in tarnation is going on here?!" Dustin hysterically asked.

"Oh, um, hi guys…What's up?" El asked, removing herself from Mike's warm, tempting arms as they fixed themselves up and jumped to their feet.

"Too busy to answer, huh?" asked Will, directing his question towards Mike.

"Whoops!" said Mike like a question, throwing his arms up with a funny expression across his face.

"Didn't seem like an accident to me..." Erica remarked under her breath.

"Okay, who invited her here?" asked Mike, annoyed.

"Don't look at me!" said Lucas, throwing his hands up in innocence.

"Fine. What's this about anyway?"

"I thought it was about time we had a party meeting," said Lucas.

"Well, I'm glad you said that. I was just about to suggest the same," said Mike.

"Oh really? Was that before or after you were playing tonsil tennis with your girlfriend?"

"Alright, that's enough, Lucas. El's your friend too, you know," said Max.

"Yeah, I know...you're right. Sorry, El. I didn't mean it like that."

"It's okay," she said.

"Wait- What the- E-El...Why-Why's your nose bleeding?"

"Oh. That," she said, first looking at Max, then at Mike with a smile. "Well, I didn't want to make a big deal out of it because I didn't want to jinx it, but I've been gaining some of my powers back little by little…I am sorry for not sharing it with you all sooner though."

"I knew it!" said Will.

"Yeah, how did you not figure it out sooner? You literally live with me!"

"I don't know...We both keep to ourselves."

"True," said El.

"Aww, El, that's great! I'm so happy for you!" said Max, catching her in a hug.

"Yeah," said Lucas. "Wait, why is it bleeding?"

"Um, well, we were making out and-"

"You used your powers on him?!" asked Dustin.

"Maybe just a little bit..." she said, making a pinch with her fingers.

"Which would explain the smudge on his lip- I just assumed it was El's lipstick," said Max.

"Wait, what?" he asked, wiping it off.

"So, you made him do things...with your mind?" asked Dustin.

"That's what surprises you?! I'm just surprised they didn't think of it sooner," said Lucas.

"Well, El's not the only one with a bloody nose…" said Max.

"What do you mean?" asked Will.

"Lucas, can I tell them?"

"Tell us what?" asked Erica.

"Yeah, you can tell them," he said first eyeing Erica, then answering Max.

"Okay, well, today, Lucas and I were hanging out around town and we walked into the diner to grab some food, when all of a sudden, Troy pops out of nowhere, first calling Lucas 'Oreo' and suggesting that he's "white on the inside" and then starting to call him a, you know."

*Erica's head goes down*

"No, no, I don't know," said El.

Mike motioned her over with his hand and explained through whispers in her ear.

"Oh…" she said.

"Shit...Lucas, we're really sorry that you had to go through that, man," said Dustin.

"No, it's okay."

"Well, it's never okay, even though you still have to put up with it," said Mike.

"Yeah, seriously, man. We've all been through a lot these past few years, more than a lot, but you most of all and we don't acknowledge that nearly enough."

"Thanks, guys. Means a lot."

"Bring it in, guys," said Will, sensing a bro hug moment.

*hugs*

"Hate to cut this bromance short, but what about this related to a bloody nose?" asked Erica.

"Oh right!" said Max. "Let's just say that I didn't let him finish the word because I punched him, right in the nose."

"Holy shit!" said Dustin.

"Not bad for a white girl," Erica said with a smirk.

"Thanks," Max said with a sisterly nod of the head.

"So, Mike, what'd you wanna have a party meeting for?"

"Well, I'm glad you asked, Dustin!" he said, cheerily, like a teacher answering a class question. "*clears throat* Well, now that all of you know about El's powers, it's time we tell you about the research we've been doing."

"Research! What kind of research?" asked Erica.

"About her powers. We came to the conclusion that they were caused by all of the LSDs that were fed to her mom in MKUltra. We just haven't figured out what controls them yet. That's the last step, but the way I see it, if we all put our heads together, maybe we could figure this thing out."

"But why is that important, to figure out what controls them?" asked Will.

"I don't know, I just feel like we might be able to figure out how to get all of them back if we knew how they formed in the first place."

"Well, do you have any working theories?" asked Lucas.

"Yeah, actually."

"You do?" asked El.

"Well, sorta."

"Sorta?" asked Max.

"*sighs* I was thinking- *pauses* You know how we started talking about mutations in Bio?"

"Yeah," said Dustin.

"Well, what if this whole thing, it's a mutation?"

"*sighs* Elaborate," said Lucas.

"Back at Starcourt, when that thing was in her leg, she lost a lot of blood. The thing even sucked some out of it! And then whenever she uses her powers, her nose bleeds, so maybe her powers are laced in her blood."

"Your point?" asked Lucas.

"As her body replaces the lost blood, she is slowly gaining them back."

"How is that though? First, you said it was a mutation that caused them and now you're saying that they're connected to my blood somehow?" asked El.

"Mutations are genetic. DNA can be found in your white blood cells, but when you lose blood-"

"You only lose your red blood cells," said Dustin.

"Precisely! So maybe your powers actually come from your blood, even though your brain is the one that actually controls them, but think about it! Blood has to go to the brain in order for it to work. So, if your powers are found in and connected to your blood-"

"Then maybe it sucked the powers out of her blood and as she lost more of it, she lost more of her powers as a result," said Max, who once proved to be the party's very own nurse.

"That would make sense because red blood cells help you replenish blood, but El's been kind of experiencing anemic-like symptoms back at home, which means her iron levels have been low and she hasn't made as many red blood cells because of that. BUT people traditionally eat a lot of meat on holidays, like turkey on Thanksgiving and ham on Christmas, both of which are foods filled with iron. So, now that your iron levels are creeping back up and she's back in Hawkins, surrounded by the people she loves and that love her-" said Mike.

"She's starting to show signs of them again," said Dustin.

"I don't think it's just the mutations or the blood. I think that you've learned to rely on people and your powers have adapted. You feel motivated by the people around you to some extent and we're always counting on you, but that's a lot of pressure. And when you're not around us, you're isolated again, just like the lab, but no one is forcing you to use your powers because your new town is not as demanding, so you're numb to the ability to use them in full," Mike said, directing his proposition toward El.

"So, then it's all three. The mutation, the blood, and the motivation?" she asked.

"I think so, yes."

"Working theory, huh?" asked Lucas. "Seems to me you've got everything figured out."

"Well, I didn't want to toot my own horn or anything, but yeah, pretty much."

"So now what?" asked Will.

"As amusing as I find this theory to be, I have one tiny problem with it- it's bullshit," said Erica, not buying it for one second.

"Erica!" Lucas yelled.

"What? I'm just stating a fact!"

"Well, please, if you have a better idea then I'd love to hear it," said Mike, crossing his arms.

"How am I supposed to know?! I'm eleven!"

"Um, I beg to differ!" said El, earning some laughs.

Once the rest of the gang had left, there was none left but Mike and El. It always seemed to work out that way- Mike and El and no one else. Who's to say whether or not it's a coincidence.

"Well, that was something, wasn't it?"

"*exhales laughingly* You could say that again!"

"I'm really feeling for Lucas though, you know...That's just so fucked up. *shakes head* I hate that they give him that shit," said Mike.

"I know! Those-Those- mouthbreathers!" El exclaimed.

"Worse than that...They're flat out racist!"

"You're right, mouthbreather just doesn't cut it...Those-Those- MOUTHFUCKERS!"

Mike's lips vibrated as he attempted to hold in his laughter.

"What? What's so funny?"

"El, you-you can't say that…" he said, continuing to laugh.

"Why not?"

"Be-Because adding 'mouth' to the beginning of every word or 'fucker' to the end of a word doesn't automatically make it a bad word. 'Mouthbreather' and 'motherfucker' are two separate insults that don't and shouldn't ever mix."

"Okay, but why is 'motherfucker' a word then if it actually means fucking your mom?"

"Well, that's not how it's used or it's just been accepted as an insult I guess."

"So, let me get this straight: You can call someone a motherfucker even if they haven't actually fucked your mom, but you can't call someone a mouthfucker just for the hell of it."

"Correct."

"That doesn't make any sense…"

"What can I say...English is weird!"

"Yeah, I'll say!"

"But El, the real reason you can't say it is because it means-" he said, cutting himself off to whisper in her ear.

"Oh," she said, having trouble holding in her own giggles.

"Yeah…" he said, with wide eyes and raised eyebrows.

"Well, this awkward..." she said, laughing nervously and fanning her now blushed face.

"Little bit!" said Mike, nodding, again with wide, almost bug-like eyes.

"Well, let's change the subject, shall we?!" she then said.

"Gladly!"

*lifts ups wrist*

"*sighs* I hate that I have to leave soon," she said after checking his watch.

"Quit checking the time! Don't think about that...Think about this. *holds hand* Think about us. Right here, right now."

"I am," she said. "It's all I think about! At home, in the car, and here most of all."

No one had bought it, no one would dare touch it. It was haunted, they said, everyone in that town. And that is precisely why Joyce Byers decided to pay her old house a visit because it was her house and it always would be. Because she didn't have any adult friends left to talk to, or so she thought…

She never thought she would, but something was telling her she should. And coming inside, she walked around, revisiting all of the things that happened in that house. All of those memories began replaying in her head like plot recaps in a soap opera, the most notable one being when she communicated to Will through the lights, but just as this thought crossed her mind, a sinking feeling overcame her. She started seeing things that she never in a million years thought she would see again- flickering lights. First, it was the lamp, then the other lamp, then the overhead, and so on, all leading her over to the cabinet where she had hidden the string of Christmas lights.

The kids were not aware of the fact that she had been in contact with Murray again. She tried to involve them as little as possible, and while she wanted nothing more than to put it all behind her- Hawkins, Hopper, and the horror that came from it all, she just couldn't seem to refrain from her old ways.

After seeing him explode before her very eyes, she thought she had convinced herself that Hop was gone for good, but then Murray showed up at her doorstep with a long-ass theory to bore her with, except that it wasn't boring. It wasn't boring at all! It was quite interesting in fact.

His theory was that Hopper somehow escaped through a gap in the gate and that maybe he even ended up in a base in Kamchatka, under the custody of Russian guards. He thought this because the machines were all designed by the Russians and Russia wasn't exactly close to Hawkins, so they had to have some way of passage.

He then explained that his phone number, which Hopper had so carelessly given away over the phone wasn't just any phone number. He reserved it specifically because the numbers in it could be separated and flipped around into Russian coordinates. They were very hard for him to obtain, but he had purposefully set it up this way so that he would never lose those numbers, as he knew they would come to use someday and he was right.

Over the months, they did much undercover work and conversed over the phone with not much progress or success. Joyce was still so caught up in the theory that she even thought that Billy might have been the one talking to her through the lights. She even asked them directly, only to find two blinks following her question. Joyce had a lot of problems with Murray's theory to begin with, but she was willing to entertain any possibility and explore all of her options if it meant seeing Hop again. And just as they had almost lost all hope of finding him, she was convinced again by the lights, which at first, refused to confirm their identity, but instead left it all to a single phrase shown upon the alphabet wall which revealed it all- 3 inches.

"*shaky, panting breath* H-H-H-Hop?" she cried.