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Hopper picked Jane up from Joyce's house after work and took her to a small restaurant for dinner. Jane loved eating out because Hopper, although he tried, was not the best cook. Also, it made her feel more normal. Eating in a restaurant was something new for her that almost everyone else had been doing their whole lives.

"You have to order real food, okay? Then you can have some eggos when we get home, deal?" Hopper said, opening his menu. Jane nodded excitedly.

She decided on a club sandwich and fries with a Coca-cola (which she had to beg her dad for since it had caffeine in it on a school night). Hopper got a steak with a baked potato, also with a Coke. When the waitress brought their drinks out, Hopper made his move.

"So, have you thought about when you'll be ready to tell me about Chicago?" he asked distantly, swirling his straw as if to look more nonchalant.

"Yes," she replied, mimicking his straw swirling. He rolled his eyes at her and dropped the act.

"And?" he pressed, looking deeply into her eyes. She glared back.

"Ask me what you want to know," she said simply. God, she could be so mysterious sometimes, Hopper commented to himself.

"Alright. You left your Aunt Becky's… then what?"

"Bought a bus ticket."

"How did you know where she was? Or who she was?" Hopper questioned. Jane gave him a look. "Oh right. Dumb question. So… you find her. What then?"

"Met her and her friends. Her friends were… skeptical?" she made it a question, unsure that she was using the word correctly. Hopper nodded and she continued. "Kali took me in once she realized."

Hopper took a moment to soak this all in. "What exactly did Kali take you into? I saw her and her… gang. They look like trouble," he said darkly.

"They went after…" Jane trailed off, knowing how paranoid Hopper could be if they discussed anything in public. He understood: Bad Men. Okay so…. Revenge sister and Runaway combined forces for one day. It must have left some kind of lasting impression on Jane if Kali had really taught her so much in that short amount of time.

"How did she teach you?" he switched topics.

"She showed me what emotions to channel. How to make myself stronger." Hopper nodded, making a mental note to ask Jane for more details when they got home.

"Alrighty, here's this and," the waitress said, handing down plates. "this. Can I get you anything else?"

"I think we're all set, thanks," Hopper said, flashing a fake smile. Jane dug in as if this meal would be her last, just like she always did.

Billy Hargrove was driving home from his father's court date. Billy wasn't required to go since they had his statement on file, but he went anyways just to see that asshole put in his place. Billy took a drag of his cigarette as he drove on the empty road, feeling a mixture of emotions that he couldn't name. He was relieved, hurt, happy, confused, and most of all he felt like breaking something. Billy licked his lips and took another drag as he turned onto the street to the house. As he parked, Billy wondered when he should head back to California. He had nothing here for him. Now that he wasn't forced to stay here, Billy realized he didn't really have anything at all, not even back in California, though the girls were hotter there. The walls Billy built and the hate he'd acquired had been sealed inside of him. He wasn't close to anyone. But hey, at least his dad was going to jail.

Mike sat at the dinner table with Nancy, Holly, Ted, and Karen. He'd been trying to get closer with his mom since he felt sort of bad at how he'd pushed her away last year, but with his dad, Mike didn't even think he wanted to be close to him.

"How is it?" Karen asked as she watched her family stare into their food and ignore each other.

"Good Mom," Nancy said with a suspicious amount of sweetness.

"It's good," Mike agreed, pushing his peas around with his fork. Jane hated peas, Mike thought, which unwillingly brought a smile to his face.

"I haven't seen Jane in a while. How's she doing? I was sad to hear she had the flu last week," Mrs. Wheeler asked, as if reading Mike's mind.

"She's better," Mike said.

"That's great Mike," Nancy commented.

"What's gotten into you?" Karen vocalized what everyone was thinking.

"What? I can't just be nice? Okay whatever. Me and Jonathon were thinking about going on a college tour of NYU November 18th. He said he would drive us," Nancy rambled.

"NYU?" Ted chimed in. At least he'd been listening. "That's nice."

"Well, that's a pretty far drive, isn't it? And you would have to stay the night there," Karen told her, trying to talk some sense into her.

"I know. Just think about it," Nancy said, getting up. She planted a kiss on her Mom's cheek to really seal the deal as she put her plate in the kitchen. Mike rolled his eyes at her goody-two-shoes act.

"Bye-bye," Holly called as Nancy walked out.

Will was eating stew his mom had just finished making. She was eager to hear how it tasted since it was a new recipe. Will swallowed and grinned.

"It tastes really good," Will stated, which caused Joyce's lips to turn up into a smile.

"Amazing," Jonathon agreed from where he sat across the table from Will. "Sit down and eat Mom," Jonathon told her since she was still fiddling with some dishes in the sink.

"Oh alright," she exhaled, grabbing herself a bowl. Will loved this. Spending time with his family when there was no immediate threat to their existence.

"How was school guys?" Joyce asked her sons.

"Not bad," Jonathon said as Will shrugged and nodded in agreement.

"Anything exciting happen?" Joyce pressed, doing the usual 'Mom' thing to get her kids to spill about their lives.

"Mrs. Spring put my painting in the art showcase at school. She said it was the best in the class," Will said, giving a hesitant smile, as if not wanting to brag.

"Oh honey, that's so exciting! What did you paint?" Joyce asked. Will shifted in his seat and took another bite of stew.

"A superhero," Will said softly. He really didn't want to tell his mom that this particular superhero was flying from a radio shack holding a flashlight and walkie talkie, but Will knew his mom could probably guess who it was without all of those clues.

"Oh," Joyce breathed. She quickly perked back up. "I'm sure it's wonderful. We can hang it up when you take it home," she told him. Will nodded.

"I got asked to do the photography at the Homecoming game," Jonathon said, changing the subject.

"That's awesome! I don't know where you kids get your talent from, certainly not me!" their mom replied. "Will, you and your friends should go to the game too. That could be fun, right?"

"Yeah, totally!" Will agreed.

The Byers house phone rang and Joyce stood to answer it.

"Hello? Oh hi, Hop! It's no problem. Of course! See you then. Okay, bye!"

"What was that?" Jonathon asked when his mom sat back down.

"Hopper asked if I could take Jane tomorrow after school," Joyce explained.

"Sweet!" Will said. "Can the rest of the party come over too?" Will asked. Joyce couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.

"Sure, sweetie. That sounds like fun."