Lyn was sitting in her brother's room. Dustin was giving her a play by play of what happened last night. There were a few times she had to get him back on the subject because he would sidetrack. She interpreted him when he told her that El led them to Will's house and said that he was there. "It doesn't make sense. How did she know where Will lived?" Lyn rubs her temples.
"What about her makes sense? She can move things with her mind." He shrugs, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"I don't know, I keep thinking about how she flipped the board upside down. It has to mean something." She confessed to him. She couldn't get it out of her mind. She felt like it was the missing piece to the puzzle that she couldn't figure out.
"Dustin, Dustin, you there." Lucas's voice came over the walkie.
"I'm here." He grabs the walkie.
"Mike just contacted me. He said to come over that he has information that Will still alive." Lucas explains to them.
"What? Alive?" Dustin's eyes filled with hope despite seeing his body being pulled from the lake.
"That what he said. He also said to have Lyn bring her make-up and a wig." He told them.
"We'll be there." Lyn grabs the walkie from her brother.
"The wig must be for El. I think she would look good as a blonde. Get ready." She orders as she left her brother's room.
Roselyn walks into her room. Although she slept there every night, she felt like it had been days since she was in there. She took a moment to look around and remember how much work she put it to make it hers. She never let a thing like not having enough money stops her from getting what she wanted. She either saved up or got creative. She likes being fashionable, but she couldn't afford those prices so, she learns how to knit and sew. She would buy clothes from garage sales and cheap stores turn them into the new trend.
In the corner, there was a furry bean bag chair next to it a basket full of yarn that Meows like to take naps in. There were two antique armoires that she got from garage sales on opposite sides of the room. One was painted white and she converted into a sewing station with a cushioned stool in front of it. There were two sewing mannequins on either side of it that she also bought at a garage sale. Another was painted purple and she converted into a vanity desk that had a furry stool that could be slide underneath it. She put chalkboards on the insides of the doors, where her mother and brother like to write messages for her on. She also uses the vanity as a desk to do her homework.
There was a decent-sized closet that she put shelves and a rod in, to make more storage space for all the clothes she got over the years. Her favorite part of the room was the queen size bed that cost a month's wage but it was worth it. She had plenty of pillows on it with a large gray blanket that she knitted.
She shook her head to get herself out of her nostalgia state and remind herself that she was on a mission. She grabs her backpack and dumps the school supplies out of it. She loads it up with her make-up and a blonde wig she used last Halloween when she was Alice in Wonderland. She changed into a pair of acid wash jeans and a Madonna T-shirt. She did her makeup light and grab a scrunchie to put her hair up in a high ponytail.
She walks out of her room to see Dustin waiting outside her door. Without saying a word they walk to the car. They pick up Lucas on the way to the Wheeler's house. Dustin knocks on the door and Mike opens it. He led them down to the basement where they sat in a circle by El's fort.
"Show them El." Mike point to the walkie talkie in her hand. She looks down at the walkie and muffled whining mixed with static interference came over the walkie. The group sat there for a few minutes listening to it.
"We keep losing the signal, but you heard it, right?" Mike looks at them with newfound energy to find Will. While the rest of them wanted to believe it, it wasn't much to grasp on to.
"Yeah, I heard a baby." Lucas looks frustrated. Despite all the imagination Lucas had when it came to playing dungeons and dragons, when it came to real life he was a skeptic.
"What?" Mike look at him shocked.
"Mike, you obviously tapped into a baby monitor. It's probably the Blackburns' next door." He tried to reason with his friend.
"Did that sound like a baby to you? That was Will!" Mike argues.
"Mike," Lyn spoke his name. Denial was a painful thing to see anyone in.
"You don't understand. He spoke last night. Words! He was singing that weird song he loves. Even El heard him!" Mike look to El to back him up, but she didn't look up from the radio.
"Oh, well, if the weirdo heard him, then I guess" Lucas rolls his eyes sarcastically.
"Are you sure you're on the right channel?" Dustin asks. He was open to the possibility that Will was out there, but he needs more than what Mike was giving him at the moment.
"I don't think it's about that. I think, somehow, she's channeling him." He explains. Somehow that made sense to Lyn. It wasn't like Will had his walkie on him. If so he would have contacted them a long time ago.
"Like Professor X." Dustin looks excited by El's superpowers once again.
"Yeah," Mike was excited that one of his friends was getting it.
"Do you actually believe this crap?" Lucas glares at Dustin for encouraging Mike's wild ideas.
"I don't know, I mean… do you remember when Will fell off his bike and broke his finger? He sounded a lot like that." Dustin thought back to the time. It was scary at the moment, but they were able to joke about it now.
Lyn remembers how she stayed calm and focuses on the way to the hospital, but after she called Joyce from the hospital she cried like a baby. She felt so bad, Joyce trusted her to keep her son safe and she failed her. She thought the mom wouldn't let her son see her again.
"If there's a possibility I'm not going to ignore it." She told Lucas when he turns to her.
"Did you guys not see what I saw? They pulled Will's body out of the water. He's dead! " Lucas yells at them.
"Well, maybe it's his ghost. Maybe he's haunting us." Dustin said.
"That makes me sad to think of Will's spirit wandering the earth. If he's dead, I want him to rest in peace." Lyn's heartfelt like breaking at the thought. Will went through enough pain in life with the bullies and an absent dad. He didn't need to suffer in the afterlife too.
"It's not his ghost." Mike shook his head.
"So how do you know that?" Lucas turns to glare at Mike. He was already frustrated with Mike for making it harder to mourn Will. It pushes him over the edge for him to dismiss Dustin's supernatural idea when they were all supposed to believe his blindly.
"I just do!" Mike glared at Lucas. Even Lyn was started to get upset with Mike. She wanted to believe Will was alive too, but at this point, it felt like they were hurting themselves more than anything else.
"Then what was in that water?" Lyn asked softly. She wasn't there to see it, but Dustin said it looked exactly like Will.
"I don't know! All I know is Will is alive. Will is alive! He's out there somewhere. All we have to do is find him." Mike told them with confidence that the rest of the group wish they felt. They fell into silence, all of them frustrated and sad. They turn to El when they heard the static come from the radio again. "This isn't going to work. We need to get El to a stronger radio." Mike shook his head as he watches El try her hardest.
"Mr. Clarke's Heathkit ham shack," Dustin smiles brightly for having the idea. Mike smiled back at him nodding his head.
"The Heathkit's at school. There is no way we're going to get the weirdo in there without anyone noticing. I mean look at her." Lucas points at her. He had a point a young girl with a shaved head isn't something people saw every day.
"That where I came in. Come on doll, I'm going to make you look fantabulous." Lyn stood up and held her hand out to the girl. She took her hand without hesitation this time. The older girl helps the younger one to her feet and led her over to the couch.
"You guys go look for something of Nancy she can wear." She told the boys. They went upstairs to look for something.
Lyn set up her makeup on the table beside them with El watching her with interest. She rubs some blush on a makeup brush; she went to put it on El's face. The girl leans away from her. "It's okay, it's this." She points to her own cheek that had blush on it. El leans forwards so she was closer to Lyn. After the blush, she put on lipstick, eye shadow, and mascara. Lyn went with all light natural colors, not wanting to go over the top on such a young girl.
There was a knock on the door. Lyn got up to open it. "Here you go." Dustin passes her a pink dress that had a white-collar.
"Thank you. I'll do the big reveal in a few minutes." She shut the door in her brother's face. "Here the dress. You can change in here. I'll turn away and you tell me when you need zipping up." Lyn turns around. She looks around the room wondering if she should remodel her basement.
"I need zipping," El told her. She turns around and zips up the pink dress.
"Okay, now it's wig time." Lyn pulls the wig out of her bag.
"Is that hair?" El tilts her head.
"Fake hair, people aren't used to seeing a bald girl. We need you to blend in for the next mission." She put the wig on El. She grabs a comb to fix the wig that got messed up in the bag. "I always wanted a younger sister. I imagine us playing dress up and talk about boys. I would teach her to be independent, so when she got with a man it would be because she wants him, not that she needs him." Lyn confessed to El. She was the first person she ever told that too.
"I could be your little sister." El whispers.
"I think you're already on your way there." The two girls share a big smile. "Ready to show the guys," She asks.
El took a deep breath before walking to the door. She opens it and slowly walks out making the boys jaws drops. Rosalyn smile in the back like a proud mama. "Wow. She looks..." Dustin was the first to recover.
"Pretty." Mike stares at her in the way that every girl dreams about being stared at. Dustin, Lucas, and Lyn look amused by their friend. "Good. You look pretty good." He tried to cover up making Lucas narrowed his eyes at his friend's failed attempt.
" Pretty. Good." El walks over to a mirror to repeat herself.
"You look more than pretty good. You look beautiful whether it be in Mike's sweats or Nancy's dress." Lyn moves behind her to smile at her through the mirror.
"Let get her to the strongest radio in Hawkins," Dustin said to them but kept his goofy smile on Mike.
They got into Darling and Lyn drove to the middle school. The boys lead El and Lyn in through the back entrance. "Okay, remember, if anyone sees us look sad." Mike reminds them that everyone else thought Will was dead.
"Attention students, there will be an assembly to honor Will Byers in the gymnasium now. Do not go to your fourth period." The principle's voice came over the intercom.
Mike tried to open the Audio Visual Room, but it wouldn't move. "It's locked." He sighs.
"What?" Lucas tried to open it.
"Hey, do you think you can open it with your powers?" Dustin asks El. He was excited to see her in action again.
"Boys?" Mr. Clarke, the boy's science teacher came around the corner. They jump in fright. Lucas slams himself against the door.
"Hey," Dustin said weakly.
"Assembly's about to start," The teacher told them.
"We know. We're just, you know..." Mike looks down at his feet, pretending to be sad.
"Upset." Lucas finishes for him.
"Yeah, definitely upset." Dustin nods his head in agreement.
"We need some alone time." Mike look about to tear up. Out of all the boys, he seems to be the best actor.
"To cry," Dustin told him, hoping the man would leave them alone out of pity.
"Yeah, listen I get it. I do. I know how hard this is, but let's just be there for Will, huh? And then, the Heathkit is all yours for the rest of the day. What do you say?" He throws the keys. The boys smile down at the key in Mike's hand.
"Hey Rosalyn, you here to support the boys," Mr. Clarke turns to her.
"Call me over protector, but I couldn't leave them yet." She reached out and hugged Dustin to her. He struggles to get out of her hold.
"I understood." He nods to her with sympathy. "I don't believe we've met. What's your name?" He notices El standing there.
"Eleven." She whispers.
"Eleanor! She's my, uh" Mike yell over her.
"Cousin," Lucas helps him out again.
"Second cousin," Dustin thought the little details would make it more believable.
"She comes every summer to visit. She's here for Will's funeral." Lyn explains her presence there.
"Ah, well, welcome to Hawkins Middle, Eleanor. I wish you were here under better circumstances." Mr. Clarke smiles softly at the girl.
She looks them over before turning back to Mr. Clarke. "Thank you."
"Uh, where are you from exactly?" He asks her out of curiosity. He never heard the boys mention a cousin before.
"Bad place." She answers honestly making them tense up.
"Sweden!" Dustin corrected her.
"I have a lot of Swedish family," Mike told him.
"She hates it there. She misses us." Lyn nod along with the boy's background story.
"Cold!" Lucas gave the reason before the teacher could ask.
"Subzero," Dustin points at the man.
He nods his head, buying their story. "Shall we?" The man points toward the gym. They follow him to the assembly.
"At times like these, it is important that we come together as a community." The Principle was saying when Dustin throws the doors again. The doors slam loudly against the walls causing the Principle to stop speaking and everyone to look at us.
"Abort." Dustin tried to turn around but Lucas and Lyn stop him. They walk over to sit in the stands.
"We come together to heal we come together to grieve." The Principle continued his speech.
"Will Byers' death is an unimaginable tragedy. Will was an exceptional student and a wonderful friend to all of us. It's impossible to express the hole his loss will leave in our community. I'd like to introduce you to Sandy Sloane. She's a local grief counselor from the church over in Jonesboro. But before she comes up here, I just want those of you who are having trouble dealing with this tragic loss…" Lyn zone him out when she heard Lucas and Mike talking.
"Look at these fakers." Mike glare at their classmates, while none were crying a lot of them look sad.
"They probably didn't even know his name till today." Lucas agrees, glaring at his classmate too.
Lyn turn her head when she heard snicker to see Troy and James. They were two punks who got their rocks off by bullying her ducklings. She wasn't ashamed to admit she kicks both their asses, even though they were five years younger than her. But, they were always brave when she wasn't around or when they were in a public place. She glares holes into them as they mock the Principle.
"Mouth breather," El hisses, making Lyn realized that everyone in the group heard them.
The bell rang making everyone get up to leave the gym.
"Hey! Hey! Hey, Troy! Hey, Troy! You, you think this is funny?" Mike made his way through the crowd to yell at the boy. The group was fast on his tail to back him up.
"What'd you say, Wheeler?" Troy got in his face like he was some tough guy.
"I saw you guys laughing over there. And I think that's a really messed up thing to do." He didn't back down from the bully. He was drawing a crowd in the process.
"Didn't you listen to the counselor, Wheeler? Grief shows itself in funny ways." James smirks at the boy.
"Besides, what's there to be sad about, anyway? Will's in fairyland now, right? He's flying around with all the other little fairies, all happy and gay!" Troy made like he was a fairy, flopping his arms around. James and he walked away laughing.
Lyn swells up with pride for the second time today when Mike ran up and pushes him down on the ground. She would have been happier if he did it when Troy was facing him. But, he was standing up for himself none the less. The crowd let out an 'oh' as they watch the bully fall.
"You're dead, Wheeler! Dead!" Troy started to run at Mike when he froze mid-run. The look of confusion on his face made Lyn turns to El to see the same intense look on her face that she had when she slammed the door and stare down at the walkie.
"Dude, Troy peed himself." A random kid yells making the crowd broke out in laughter.
"Holy shit!" Dustin laughs. Mike turned to look at El. She wipes her nose that was dripping blood and walks away.
"Hey! What's going on here?" The Principal yells, making everyone scatter. Lucas grabs Mike and they ran out of the gym.
They went back to the Audio Visual Room. Mike unlocks it and locks it again once they were inside. El next down on the table as the boys turn the machine on. "Now what?" Dustin looks at Mike.
"She'll find him. Right, El?" Mike turns the control knob. El closes her eyes making the radio switch channels. "She's finding him!" He told them.
"This is crazy." Dustin gasps.
"Calm down. She just closed her eyes." Lucas rolls his eyes.
"Holy shit!" Lyn screams as the lights went out. There was a banging noise coming from the radio. Tears came down her face when Will's voice came through. He was crying out for his mom. He sounds so scared and helpless.
"Will! Will! Can you hear us!" Lucas and Dustin started screaming out to him.
"Shut up! He can't hear you. Just listen to what he's saying." Lyn shouted. She didn't know how long El could keep the connection. She wanted to hear if Will would give any hints to where he is. "Mom, it is coming! It's like home, but it's so dark. It is so dark and empty. And it's cold! Mom? Mom! Mom, please!" Will screams out. The radio short circuit and burst into flames making them jump back. Dustin grabs the fire extinguisher and put it out.
"El, you okay?" Mike turns her chair, so they could get a better look at her. Her nose was dripping blood. "Can you move?" He asks her. When she didn't respond, the group shares a look of panic. "Help her up." Mike grabs one of her arms while Lucas grabs the other. Dustin and Lyn grab all their things. They put her in a wheelchair and rush her out of the school.
Lyn picked up El bridal style to get her into the car. The boy pushes the wheelchair to the side before getting into the car themselves.
"What do we do now?" Dustin asks as his sister pulls out of the parking lot.
"We make sure El is okay and then we get Will back." Lyn stares at the road, but her mind was somewhere else.