"Call me crazy, but acting like everything's normal isn't really helping," Dustin said as he got to work putting books back on shelves in the library. He was lucky that he'd managed to get a part time job in the library, but he couldn't help but feel like there was danger lurking at every corner. He was just glad Lucas had come to visit him at work.

"I mean, it's not like it was last time there was a demogorgon just walking around Hawkins," Lucas said. "No missing persons, no murders. The most sinister thing that's happened is a deer got hit by a car and my dumb sister freaked my mom out because she wanted to build a monster trap. It's been quiet. I dunno, maybe Mike and Nancy didn't really see a demogorgon."

"I highly doubt that they'd mess with us like that, dude," Dustin scoffed.

"I don't doubt that they don't think they saw it, but I thought I saw Santa Clause in my house when I was seven," Lucas said. "Just because you think you saw something and believe it with all your being that doesn't mean it wasn't really your dad in a fat suit."

Dustin wasn't entirely convinced, but their conversation came to an end when Miss Marissa stormed up to Dustin with a copy of Stephen King's Firestarter in hand. Lucas unceremoniously stepped aside as Marissa waved the book in Dustin's face.

"It happened again!" she exclaimed. When someone shushed her she actually shouted, "I am the librarian! You shhh!"

"Again?" Dustin groaned as he took the book and flipped it to the back page. "How many is this now?"

"Dozens, at least that we know of," Marissa huffed. "I tell you the more of these that I find the more furious they make me. This...this...rapscallion isn't going to regret messing with me like this."

Lucas looked between Dustin and the librarian, at a loss for words. "What happened again, exactly?" he asked.

"Someone has been...borrowing books," the librarian said reluctantly.

Lucas laughed at this, unable to help himself. "You're making it sound so sinister. I mean, you're supposed to borrow books from the library."

"Yeah, but these books aren't checked out," Dustin explained.

Marissa nodded to confirm this. "If it was just once or twice I wouldn't be so concerned, but this is happening on a large scale. At least four books a week!"

"That is kind of weird," Lucas said. "Who do you think's doing it?"

"My money is on Evan Larson," Dustin said. "He's got a fat fine he probably wants to dodge."

"We can't count anyone out," Marissa said. "I expect you to keep your eyes peeled while your here, Mr. Henderson."

"Do you know what books they checked out?" Lucas asked. "If you know what they're looking for it might be easier to catch them."

"That's quite a good idea, Mr. Sinclair," Marissa said. "I'll go write down the books they took. I'm going to get to the bottom of this even if it kills me."

"You don't really think they're just screwing with us, do you?" Steve asked Robin as they went through the movie returns.

"Mike and Nancy?" Robin asked. She held up the movie that happened to show up amidst her sorting and said, "You know, this movie isn't half as good as it is on that truth serum shit."

Steve glanced up to find she was holding a copy of Back To The Future and he scoffed. "You're not wrong. I'm being serious, though."

Robin heaved a breath and moved the tape back into the sort pile before saying, "Man, I don't know. Probably not. No one's seen anything, though, and it's been literally days so maybe they thought they saw it? Or maybe it's gone now? I don't know. I"m not saying they're full of shit, but I'm not blind to the possibility."

"I guess," Steve said. "Things just got good and boring, though. That's usually when shit starts to hit the fan."

"Look at it this way, Harrington," Robin said. "Worst case scenario, shit's hit the fan, but it just hasn't hit us yet. Best case scenario it was just a false alarm."

"It can't hurt to be careful," Steve said. "I dunno, I guess lately I just get...nervous when it's too quiet."

Robin gave Steve an incredulous look before she threw one of the tapes at him, hitting his head. "You aren't telling me that you miss the chaos, are you?"

"I wouldn't say that," Steve said. "I dunno, maybe my brain's just broken or something."

"It sounds like PTSD, dude," Robin said. "You might wanna go see a shrink or something."

"Maybe," he said reluctantly. "I dunno, therapy seems kinda...I dunno. For wimps, I guess."

"There's nothing wrong with therapy, stupid," Robin said. "I mean, you've been through some shit. It would probably do you some good."

"I dunno," Steve said again.

"Well just...think about it, okay?" Robin asked.

With a shrug, Steve said, "Alright, I'll think about it."

"Hey, you two!" Keith shouted as he came into the back room, passing by them to count out the till. "I need one of you to take out the trash. I don't care who, just do it."

Robin and Steve looked at each other, both looking equally exasperated. Neither of them really wanted to take out the trash. It was the end of the night and they still had plans to scout around the roads a bit again. Robin extended her fist to him.

"Best two out of three, Harrington?"

Steve smirked, "You're on, Buckley."

Steve won with paper.

Robin won with scissors.

Steve won again with paper.

"The dumpster awaits," Steve declared.

"Bite me," Robin grumbled as she sauntered off to gather up the garbage bags. On the way out to the back alley, Robin flipped Steve off.

She hated closing. She didn't use to mind being out alone at night, despite all the creeps on the news. The Night Stalker and The Highway Murderer were both concerning. Bundy was terrifying, but he in prison now. Then again, he'd broken out twice before so that didn't really mean anything. What really concerned her was...well...everything. The wold seemed a lot more sinister since what had happened at Starcourt.

When Robin heard some shuffling in the bushes she spun around with a start. She didn't know what she had been expecting to see in the dark. Maybe a big mind flayer monster thing. It wouldn't have been the first time that was her first assumption.

There wasn't anything there, however.

Maybe I have some PTSD too, she thought to herself.

Another shuffling came from the other direction and this time Robin heaved an annoyed sigh. "Get out of here you stupid raccoons!"

Robin opened the dumpster and threw the bags inside. Once that was done she rubs off her hands and grumbled a bit more about garbage duty before she turned around to go back inside. She didn't get more than two steps out before she ran into an eight-foot-tall man. A man without clothes. A man without a face.

I live. Sorry it took me so long to get back to this. But I'm back at it, as my muse and schedule allow. As always, if you wanna leave a review that'd be awesome. Catch you next time