"Suzie, this is Dustin - do you copy? Over."

...

"Suzie, this is your Dustin - do you copy? Over."

...

"Suzie-"

"Dustin come on!" Max finally snaps. "She's not there!"

Faye starts awake at the sound of Max's voice, having been dozing on Will's shoulder. When she closed her eyes, the sky was blossoming into a burnt orange, and now it's a star-flecked navy blue.

Dustin scowls at Max. "She's there alright! She'll pick up!"

"Maybe Cerebro doesn't work?" says Will.

"Or maybe Suzie doesn't exist," Lucas asserts.

"She exists!" Dustin snaps, affronted.

Lucas scoffs. "She's a genius, and she's hotter than Phoebe Cates? No girl is that perfect."

Max sits bolt upright. "Is that so?"

The color slowly drains from Lucas' face. "I-I mean, you're perfect! That is, perfect in your own way - in your own special way."

"You guys believe me, don't you?" Dustin asks Faye and Will.

"Yeah," Faye answers, a little too quickly. "Of course we believe you, don't we?"

Will nods. "Yeah, for sure."

"They're just being polite!" Lucas accuses.

"Come on," says Max, pulling her and Lucas to their feet.

"Where are you going?" Dustin demands.

"Home!" Max shouts as the two of them set off down the hill.

Dustin watches them go, then turns to Faye and Will. "Well, guess it's just Henderson, Byers, and Wheeler left standing."

The pair exchange awkward stares and Faye grimaces with guilt. "Actually, uh-"

"- it's late," Will supplies, apologetically.

Dustin's face falls. "Oh, okay."

"Maybe tomorrow we can play D&D?" Will suggests.

"Yeah, sure," Dustin replies without enthusiasm.

Faye steps forward and gives him a hug. "It's good to have you back."

Bidding Dustin goodnight, Faye and Will walk hand-in-hand through the darkness, with only the distant lights of Hawkins as a guide. As soon as they're out of earshot, Faye groans. "I feel so bad!"

"I know," Will agrees. "Do you really think he made Suzie up?"

"No!" Faye answers, truthfully. "I think she exists... but maybe she's not officially Dustin's girlfriend? Maybe she's just a girl he met at camp that he has a crush on. I mean, no-one can miss that many radio calls unless they're ignoring you."

Faye adores Dustin, but he can come on a little strong at times. Usually, it's a good thing; Dustin is one of the best students at Hawkins Middle School because he works harder than anyone, and last year he stood up for Dart even when the rest of the Party hated him. Sure, Dart turned out to be a Demodog who nearly killed them all, but that's besides the point. When Dustin cares about something, he gives it everything he's got. However, when it comes to girls, Faye can see how this attitude might put a person off. Like when he used an entire can of hairspray at the Snowball to impress Max (although in fairness, that was mostly Steve's fault).

"Well hopefully tomorrow we can take his mind off it - I've been working on a new campaign for weeks," says Will excitedly.

"Yeah, hopefully." Despite the fact they're alone, Faye lowers her voice before speaking again. "About earlier, d'you really think it was just the wind that gave you a bad feeling?"

Will's smile falters. "I don't know. It was the same thing I felt in the movie theatre. One minute I was fine, and then out of nowhere the hairs on the back of my neck stood up and everything went cold."

The skin of Faye's neck prickles uncomfortably in response. "Should we tell the others?"

"No!" Will answers immediately, startling her. "I mean, it was just a feeling. I didn't see anything, so we don't know for sure it had to do with the Upside Down."

Faye bites her tongue to silence the protest on her lips. She doesn't want to push him, but if there's even a chance the Mind Flayer is back or the Gate is open again - they can't ignore it. Will has felt this 'cold presence' twice now; and the first time just happened to coincide with a blackout that shut down the entire town?

Noticing her reaction, Will sighs. "All I'm saying is I don't want to make a big deal about it unless we're sure. The last thing I need is everyone treating me like a baby again. My mom has only just stopped bursting in on me when I'm peeing."

Faye tries to stifle a laugh and fails miserably after a few seconds. Will bumps her shoulder, but he's grinning too. "Okay," Faye states once she has caught her breath. "We won't say anything to the others, on one condition."

"What?"

"You always tell me, no matter what. Even if it's just a feeling - deal?"

Will halts in his tracks and pulls Faye towards him, catching her around the waist. The way he's smiling at her makes Faye's entire chest swell with warmth. "Of course I'll tell you. No more secrets, remember?"

Faye leans up and kisses him.

After collecting their bikes from Dustin's house, the pair walk down Maple Street to the Wheeler residence, where Will gives her a final goodnight kiss before heading home. The lights are still on when Faye walks through the front door, and she can hear her dad's snores from the living room. Faye wonders whether her mom asked him to wait up and make sure she and Mike got home safely, and instead he fell asleep in front of the TV. If so, that's another argument waiting to happen. Not wanting to get caught in the crossfire, Faye decides to go straight to bed, but just as she's heading upstairs she runs into someone going the opposite way.

"Mom?"

Mrs. Wheeler freezes mid-step. "Hi sweetie. Did you have a good day?"

Faye is too stunned by her mom's appearance to answer the question. Mrs. Wheeler is wearing a chic red dress with a fitted waist, matching bright red lipstick, and a pair of elegant white heels - all of which appear to be brand new.

"Where are you going?" Faye asks.

"Nowhere," Mrs. Wheeler says in a strangely high-pitched voice. "I-I mean nowhere special. Just going to meet Jill for a drink."

"Oh. How come you're so dressed up?"

Mrs. Wheeler laughs nervously. "I'm not dressed up, am I? Just you know, making an effort."

Faye frowns - isn't it supposed to be the mom who interrogates the teenager, not the other way around?

"How was Dustin's going away party?" Mrs. Wheeler asks, changing the subject.

"You mean welcome home party?"

"Oh, right yeah," she says distractedly. "You know, I think I forgot something upstairs. And hey - you should be in bed, missy."

Faye holds her hands up. "I'm going, I'm going."

When she gets to her room, Mike's bed is empty - which Faye would usually be glad of, but right now she wishes she could talk to him about what just happened. Mrs. Wheeler is a terrible liar, she obviously isn't going to meet Jill. The question is, who is she meeting; at this time of night, looking like she just stepped off the cover of Vogue?

Suddenly, Faye remembers what Will said about his dad the other day. How he started staying out late just before he and Ms. Byers got divorced. A horrible sinking feeling plucks at her chest. What if her mom is... going on a date?!

No... no way. It can't be. Faye shakes her head and tells herself she's overreacting. Her mom is married for God's sake! Just because she and Mr. Wheeler are fighting more than usual doesn't mean she's going to run off with another man. In an effort to put these thoughts out of her mind, Faye changes into her pajamas and goes to brush her teeth. On her way back from the bathroom, she passes her parents' bedroom and finds the door slightly ajar.

Mrs. Wheeler is sitting at the dresser with her head in her hands. She looks upset and Faye's first instinct is to comfort her, but a sudden idea keeps her rooted to the spot. Out of respect for their privacy, Faye makes a point never to read her family or her friends' minds. If the situation were reversed, she definitely wouldn't want them reading her mind; but on the other hand, if her mom really is going on a date, then maybe her parents are getting divorced for real. In which case, she has a right to know.

Faye lingers in the doorway wrestling with her conscience, until eventually curiosity wins out. Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes and extends her arm. There's a ringing sound followed by a sharp tugging sensation in the pit of her stomach, and when Faye opens them again she's in the black void.

In front of her are two figures, one of which is her mom. She's wearing a blue and pink bathing suit and talking to a lifeguard in red shorts. They're standing close together and talking in hushed voices, as if they don't want to be overheard. Wait a minute... that's Billy. Max's brother Billy! Faye remembers seeing him at Hawkins Community Pool when they all went swimming a couple of weeks ago.

"Shall we say tonight? Eight o'clock?" Billy asks.

Mrs. Wheeler hesitates, then shakes her head. "I'm sorry, I can't."

"Can't what? Have fun?"

Faye's confusion grows by the minute. What are they talking about? Why would her mom and Billy, of all people, be arranging to meet up?

"I just don't think I need any lessons," Mrs. Wheeler replies.

Billy smirks and leans closer to her. "Oh, you see - I think you do. I just don't think you've had the right teacher."

This makes even less sense. What is Billy Hargrove qualified to give lessons in - how to be a sleazeball? Mrs. Wheeler bites her lip and giggles, and all of a sudden Faye realises how naive she's being.

"It will be the workout of your life," Billy promises.

Shivers of disgust sweep Faye's skin as if a bucket of cold slime has been poured over her head. Not wanting to hear another word, she breaks the connection with a jolt and finds herself back outside her parents' bedroom. Wiping the blood on her sleeve, Faye runs back to her room and slams the door.

For a few minutes, she's too shocked to think straight. Did that really just happen? Faye grabs fistfuls of her hair and squeezes her eyes shut, hoping - pleading - that this is all a nightmare and she's still asleep on Will's shoulder in the field. When it becomes clear this isn't the case, Faye sits on the edge of her bed and tries to calm down, but ends up springing to her feet again and pacing back and forth in agitation.

Her mom is having an affair. And not only that - she's having an affair with Billy Hargrove! Max's brother, who is eighteen years old. That's the same age as Nancy! Faye can't decide what grosses her out more; the affair, the age gap, or the fact it's Billy. Faye always knew he was an asshole, but she didn't think even he would stoop this low. What if they've kissed, or worse... what if they've had sex?!

The thought is so repulsive it makes her physically gag. What should she do? Should she confront her mom? Should she tell her dad? Should she just pretend it didn't happen?

Suddenly, the sound of tyres screeching diverts Faye's attention. She peers through the window and sees Mike exiting Hopper's cruiser. The second Mike is clear of the vehicle, Hopper spins around in the middle of the street and the cruiser speeds back the way it came. Feeling a surge of relief, Faye rushes downstairs, but when Mike walks through the door he hardly seems to notice her.

"Mike-"

"Not now," he grumbles.

"I need to talk to you-"

Sighing impatiently, Mike pushes past her. "I don't need another lecture on me and El sneaking off."

Faye follows him upstairs. "It's not that, it's-"

"I don't care what it is!"

"Will you just listen for five seconds, this is important-"

"I SAID NOT NOW!" Mike yells, slamming the bedroom door in her face. Seething, Faye debates whether to burst in and force him to listen, but in the end she settles for banging her fist against the wood.

What the hell is his problem?! First of all, that's not his room it's their room - so he can't just throw Faye out. Secondly, whatever is causing him to have a tantrum like a five year old isn't Faye's fault. Maybe he had a fight with El, but even so, after that behaviour Faye can't bring herself to care. Fine - if he's going to act like an asshole then screw him.

Stomping back downstairs, Faye heads into the basement and sits on the couch, trying to figure out what to do now. There's no way she's going to be able to sleep without talking to someone about her mom and Billy. It feels as if there's a swarm of angry bees inside her that are anxious to get out. Faye desperately wants to call Will, but it's way too late for that and the radio signal doesn't reach his house. She could try Lucas (he's the only person in range), but he would end up telling Max and Faye doesn't think she'd be able to look her in the eye afterwards.

On the edge of her vision, Faye spots the table El slept under when they first found her in the woods, and an idea springs to mind. Faye switches on the TV and fiddles with the dials until there's nothing but the gentle hum of interference, then she rolls a napkin into a makeshift blindfold and ties it around her eyes. El is much better at this than Faye, but it's still worth a shot.

For the second time that evening, Faye finds herself in the black void. "El? El, it's me. Can you hear me?"

At first there's no answer, and Faye is about to call out again when a voice comes from behind her.

"Faye?"

Turning on the spot, Faye sees El standing in front of her and she lets out a breath she didn't realise she was holding.

"El! Thank God!"

"Is your nana okay?" El asks, concerned.

"My nana?" Faye frowns.

"Hopper said she was sick."

"What? No she's not."

El's eyebrows knit together. "Then why would he say that?"

"I don't know, but listen - I really need to talk to you," Faye asserts. "It's about my mom-"

"Is she sick, too?"

"No! No-one's sick! She's..."

Faye has been dying to tell someone all evening, but now she can't seem to get the words out. Swallowing thickly, her voice drops to a whisper.

"She's having an affair."

El just blinks in confusion. "What's an affair?"

"It's when a person cheats on their boyfriend or girlfriend, or husband and wife in this case," Faye explains, with a tinge of bitterness.

"Why would she do that?"

"Because she's not happy with my dad I guess, but that's not the worst part."

"What's the worst part?" El questions nervously.

Faye cringes as the images flash through her head again. "It's with Billy."

"Billy?!" El exclaims, eyes bulging. Faye can only nod in response.

El pulls the same face she did when Faye and Max told her where babies come from. "Ew."

"Exactly. What do I do?!" Faye yelps.

There's a brief pause before El answers. "You should tell the truth."

"To who?"

"Your mom."

"I can't!" Faye insists. "I only found out because I read her mind and I can't tell her that!"

"Then, tell Mike?" El suggests.

Faye scoffs. "I tried but he was in full bitch-mode when he got home... did you two fight or something?"

A flicker of doubt passes across El's expression, but she shakes her head. "No. Hopper said your nana was sick then drove Mike home."

Before Faye can question her about the nana story, El glances over her shoulder. "I have to go."

"Okay," says Faye, somewhat reluctantly.

"We can talk more tomorrow," El promises.

The girls share a smile before Faye closes her eyes and allows herself to be pulled back to reality. Removing the blindfold, Faye flops onto the couch and notes that there are no longer bees in her stomach. She feels much better after speaking to El, even though she still doesn't know what to do. Just getting it off her chest will suffice for tonight.

When Faye creeps back upstairs and enters her room, Mike is already in bed facing the wall, which is his "leave me alone" position. Glad to oblige, Faye shoots him a dirty look before getting into her own bed and praying that her mom and Billy don't make their way into her nightmares.

Author's note: Apologies for the delay in updating, I've been a bit busy. Thank you to everyone who left lovely reviews - I read them all and they make my day! Let me know what you think of chapter 3!