Thank you so much for reading, don't forget to review and let me know how I'm doing! I'm trying to balance 'normal' with the plot, so let me know what you think! Enjoy!

Susan Hargrove was getting ready for work Monday morning when she heard a knock on the front door.

"Hello, are you Mrs. Hargrove?" A man asked when she opened the door.

"Yes, and who are you?" was her reply.

"I'm Ed Richards, from Social Services…"

At Hawkins high, Will sat in Art, immersed in his drawing. He had had a restful weekend with Jane. She had slept over every night, along with Max and Hopper. It was the most rested Will had felt in a long time. His mom and Chief Hopper kept trying to come up with a better plan to keep Will from the upside down again, but no one had any other suggestions besides Jane's. She wanted to kill that thing once and for all. He knew it would take time to prepare her for the kill and that it would take a lot of convincing on their part to get the parents on board, but they both knew it was the only way. He tried not to think that far ahead and focused back on his drawing.

Max had met up with her mom for breakfast on Saturday, where her mother apologized for Neil's actions yet again. Max tried to explain that she wasn't happy living with them. Susan was understanding to a point, but her solution was always "I'll talk to him." As if that was going to somehow erase all of the abusive tendencies her step father had. It was all bullshit. By the end of breakfast, Max was nearly in tears and couldn't wait to head back to the Byers, where she knew she wouldn't be treated like shit. Now it was Monday morning, in English with Jane. Max was dreading heading home from school today. She really hoped Hopper's buddy had come by, because Max didn't know how much longer she could take it.

At lunch, the party sat at their usual table, talking about the usual nerdy stuff they liked. Jane sat at the end of the table, listening to the conversation, but not being one to chime in often. Mike sat between her and Will, Mike's thy touching hers every so often when he got animated into he conversation. Jane couldn't help but smile at the electricity she felt at his touch. Soon, Jane saw a figure coming her way. She looked up and saw Carter Tims walking right up to her. Mike stiffened next to her and the rest of her friends looked up at him anxiously, as if not exactly sure what was about to unfold.

"Hey Jane, can I talk to you for a minute?" Carter said, gesturing for her to stand up. Jane looked at him and tilted her head. She reluctantly got up, her body language indicating that she was in 'bitchin' mode right now. Mike stared as she stood up to go stand a few feet from the table to go talk to Carter. Mike was feeling very insecure about the amount of attention Carter had been giving her lately, but he couldn't exactly do much about it. He was just some nerd after all, and Carter was practically Jesus at Hawkins High.

"So, I know you were homeschooled and all, but did you know there's a homecoming dance coming up?" Carter asked with a raised brow and smoldering eyes.

"Yes," was her short reply.

"I was wondering, if you'd wanna go with me? I mean, it's really an honor to be asked by an upper classman. I had to ask you because you're just so cute for a freshman," Carter continued confidently. He seemed oblivious to Jane's complete lack of interest. "So, you in?"

Jane looked into his eyes with that signature badass glare.

"No," she said forcefully. "I'm with Mike." Jane turned on her heel, leaving the other boy in the dust. Carter, not knowing what rejection felt like, grabbed her arm as she walked away. Mike instantly stood up, knowing this was brewing a perfect storm. Almost too calmly, Jane turned back to Carter.

"You don't mean that! You and frog-face? Come on!" Carter exclaimed, drawing the cafeteria's attention. Carter looked at Mike Wheeler and Jane Hopper, trying to find a reason that she would ever choose Mike over him.

"Let go." Jane looked down at his arm and pulled her hand away while simultaneously fracturing his fingers with her mind. The other students would just figure she had a really strong arm, but her friends knew what she had really done. She walked back to her seat as Carter clutched his hand in pain.

"You're a freak, Hopper!" he yelled, running to the nurse's office. Jane was unbothered. She was actually sort of impressed that she didn't even get a nosebleed from that! Her powers were improving all the time, she thought.

"Holy shit!" Lucas exclaimed.

Will looking into his lunchbox trying not to laugh, while Max laughed out loud proudly.

"Damn Jane, I don't think he'll be bothering you at all anymore," Dustin said.

Mike slowly sat back down. He wasn't even sure what to think at that moment. Sure his girlfriend had totally defended him to some mouthbreather, but the guy had basically insulted Mike to Jane's face, which made him worried that she might realize how much of a loser he was and that she really could do better than him. It also worried Mike that Carter had called Jane a freak. Glancing at Will, Mike knew that nicknames popular people gave outcasts really stuck around. Jane could read all the hesitation on Mike's face and grabbed his had reassuringly.

"As if we didn't already know, the whole school just found out how much of a badass my little brother's girlfriend is," Nancy said, coming up to their table with Jonathon.

"Do you think anyone noticed?" Jane asked, the adrenaline wearing off as she started to worry.

"No way, I wouldn't have even known if I didn't know you! Everyone's just gonna think you have a lead arm or something!" Jonathon told her.

"Seriously though, so badass!" Nancy said again. Jane smiled as the pair walked away.

Billy Hargrove was in Ally Yarder's basement smoking a cigarette as he put his clothes back on and was heading out from his 'date'.

"You leaving so soon?" Ally said from the couch wearing only a sheet.

"Uh yeah. You're a bit of a bitch and I've gotten everything I came here for, so there's really no point in staying," he told her, loving the way her face fell at his insult. "See you, Al."

Soon Billy was driving home, flying through the streets of Hawkins. When he reached his house, he was surprised to find a car he didn't recognize in the driveway. When he walked inside, there was a strange man talking to his dad and Susan. All three of them looked up as Billy entered the room, but his step mother's face caught his attention. She looked scared and relieved at the same time.

"This must be your son, Billy," the unknown man said, looking at his notes. Neil nodded robotically.

"What the hell is this?" Billy asked.

"My name's Ed, I'm here to check out your house and make sure everything is running smoothly and safely around here," the man explained. Ed shook Billy's hand whie Billy's blood went cold as he realized what was going on. He looked at his dad. Sure, he hated Susan and Max, but the possibility of seeing his dad get busted for being the abusive piece of shit he was, was alluring. With a smile he tried to hide, Billy sat down with them. This was going to be good.