Day Two
Mike
"We're screwed," Dustin announced.
"We're not screwed," Mike argued. "We're just—"
"Out of time," Will finished.
Mike's shoulders drooped. "Yeah, out of time." He looked around at his friends and their defeated expressions. "Well, not quite," he reconsidered. "We have two days."
Dustin looked completely unimpressed. "Two days, Mike?" He exchanged exasperated looks with Will. "Two days to figure out how to get to Hawkins, find Lucas, rescue him and escape, all without being demolished by a Demogorgon army."
The boys were back on the hill, perched on the edge of the shale block and invisible to the remaining campers below. From the vantage point, they could see the animated conversations Steve was having with his mom and Nancy with hers. They could even see Jonathan sulking nearby. Mike had a suspicion he knew why Jonathan was looking extra downcast since the three of them had returned from collecting water. After another unsuccessful attempt to reach his dad, Mike's mom had connected with her aunt who had a large estate in Washington and was willing to host the Wheelers until they could return home. They were leaving first thing Friday morning – less than three days away. The Byers, meanwhile, would be staying in Hopper's cabin until Hawkins was safe again.
"What about your parents?" Mike asked Dustin. "What are their plans? Are you guys going to stay with someone?"
"Are you kidding?" Dustin asked with a big toothless grin. "No way. My parents are in love with Mr. Clarke." He tugged on the brim of his hat and looked down at cabin seven. "I'm serious. My parents are academics; they're into all the same things. They're not leaving unless Mr. Clarke does."
Mike frowned. "At least you guys can stick together," he said, unable to keep the note of jealousy out of his voice. "Even Steve is leaving," he added. Mrs. Harrington had decided to travel with the Wheelers as far as Colorado where she and Steve would stay in their vacation home.
"Who cares about Steve?" Dustin asked.
Mike scowled. "I like Steve," he replied. "He's nice."
"If you say so," Dustin mumbled under his breath.
Before Mike had a chance to respond, Will spoke up. "Let's steal a car."
Dustin and Mike stared at Will, at a complete loss for words. Leaning back casually, Will raised his eyebrows at them, challenging his friends to come up with a better idea.
While Mike gaped wordlessly, Dustin said, "Okay, you've officially gone insane."
"Why?" Will asked.
Mike finally found his voice. "I missed the part where any of us knows how to drive," he pointed out. "That's kind of important if we're planning on stealing a car."
"I know how to drive," Dustin replied, puffing out his chest.
"Bullshit," Mike shot back.
"I drove last fall at the harvest festival," Dustin argued.
Mike rolled his eyes. "Bumper cars don't count!"
"It was go-karts," Dustin retorted. "And yes, they do count." He held his hands up on an invisible steering wheel and tapped his feet on ghost pedals. "Gas, brake, left, right. It's the same basic principle."
Will and Mike looked at each other, weighing their options, each waiting for the other to say something that would decide their next move. It was Will who finally did. "It is kind of the same principle," he agreed. "And we need to act fast, if Lucas might be in the Upside Down."
Mike was hesitant, but he didn't have a better idea. "Who's car are we stealing?" he asked.
Dusting snapped his fingers. "My parents' car. I'll take their keys tonight and tomorrow," he looked slowly from Will to Mike with a determined look on his face, "we get Lucas."
