Since what happened to Will, our mom has been keeping a close eye on myself and Dustin, trying to get us to stick together, which meant I was his personal taxi service and tracker, needing to know on her behalf where my brother was at all times. That was easier said than done with Mr Dustin Henderson. he pretty much followed his own rules, but it wasn't too hard. If he weren't at any of his friend's house, then it was the arcade or the library. It was his difficulty to keep track of time which made the job challenging, a family trait it seemed.

I was nearly ready to go out on the lookout when he came crashing into the living room, causing our mom to jump as she clutched her cat tightly, as if Dustin was a violent intruder.

"Dustin, sweetheart!"

He cut her off, having expected a lecture, "yeah I know mom, I'm so sorry. It was just that me and Lucas heeded the call of an epic quest to the arcade and one thing led to another and before i knew it, the hour had grown late indeed!"

my brother planted a charming kiss on her cheek, knowing she would ease off him with such an affectionate display. Favouritism was a thing in this household and Dustin was our moms crowning prince and second place was awarded to the cat. As for me, she rarely could look in me in the eye or know how to have a natural conversation, like mothers and daughters were meant to. our connection weakened as the years past, yet I remained quite protective of her.

Truth is my mom had a nervous disposition and if nothing was perfect, she didn't really know how to handle it and needed led along in a lot of things and constantly reassured. Her anchor was the cat. It seemed to keep her calm and rational for the most part. However, what that also meant was that a lot of the responsibility in keeping the house functioning and Dustin breathing, landed on my shoulders.

I was just setting the dinner table, thankful that mom still had it in her to cook for us since my abilities in that area were non-existent, when my brother marched over to me, knowing I wasn't so easy to coddle out of knowing his whereabouts.

"the arcade huh, this have anything to do with that guy kicking your butt at that game?"

I tried to keep my language PG around him after catching Dustin on more than one occasion letting out the odd profanity, much to our mother's dismay. But i guess if he was going to swear, he might as well learn from the best.

He mocked my girlish giggle right back at me, sensitive to the fact his high score had been beaten but wasn't wallowing in pity, as he snapped his fingers, "ah, now see there's been a development! turns out that mad max, ain't a guy! It's a girl just started at my school, Max-ine."

My eyebrows shot up at the mention of a girl. Dustin was always too preoccupied with whatever it was that went on in his mind to stop and consider if he might approach one. It was actually the first time I heard him mention girls, other than Nancy wheeler, so it came at a bit of a surprise.

I looked over at mom to see if she had overheard and wanted to take the reins in this new development, but since she was too busy getting a facial from the cat's tongue, I thought the two were better left alone.

Clearing my throat, I aired on the side of caution. He was still just a kid after all and very unlikely to be interpreting his feelings beyond just an innocent crush, whereby hand holding would probably be a big deal to him, so for now I was pretty sure I was safe in avoiding a conversation concerning the birds and the bees.

"oh, a girl…you say hi to her?"

He was about to reply eagerly, signalling to me that he had taken quite the shine to this Maxine, having found more luck in his new fellow student, than the other girls he had grown up with. frequently among that bunch I found more and more I was putting my intimidating stare into place, if I caught them:

A. laughing at my brother,

B. taking advantage of him

&,

C. blatantly bullying him

Needless to say, they were quick to stop their actions, but it meant Dustin was more isolated beyond just him being his own person who didn't follow the social clichés to make him popular at school, which earns me a fair bit of guilt as his circle of friends were literally dwindled to three.

I considered it was too much of a coincidence that on the same day Hawkins high had a new student, so did Dustin's class and that Maxine might actually be this Billy's sister. I hoped for Dustin's sake she was nothing like him if it happens to be that he hasn't approached her yet and was just marvelling from afar. One Hargrove was enough for me to waste me energy on at the moment, because I knew I hadn't heard the last from him yet.

Dustin didn't finish in telling me more about her though as mom had finally set the cat down long enough to sit with her human children.

Beaming at us behind her cherry red lipstick, she placed a napkin down on her lap, asking, "what are you both talking about?" making an effort to get a catch up on her kids so when she was out and about and people enquired, he actually could provide an answer.

I wasn't going to say anything about his new crush but Dustin had to make sure I didn't as he beat me to the bullet, "nothing!"

Oh yes because mummy dearest would be to upset at the thought of sharing him, I laughed and dismissed the subject for now, plating up some of the steamed veg and chicken for my consumption. I poked it around with my fork whilst Dustin dug into his mac and cheese. No one said the diet of a dancer was the fun part.

Her knife and fork squeaked on the plate as she dug in, grinning manically, "by the way, I finished your costume for tomorrow. How's the umm…box thing coming along."

A few weeks ago, Dustin had finally revealed what he and his friends had decided on going as for Halloween. Apparently, the kids had started dressing up in school now too and for someone like Dustin who thrived on fantasy and make believe, he was so excited at the prospect of being someone different for the day in the guise of one of his beloved fictional characters.

"my ghost trap, that I've been making fully functional for the full effect, of course it near completion!"

I laughed at his excitement as it was contagious and practically radiated off him. Then I remembered a flyer I had been given today. Halloween was another excuse for a party among the high schoolers, so while the kids were still trick or treating, we were getting drunk and trashing a house, just for the thrill of it. I actually didn't mind attending some of them just to get a different scene from time to time and like Dustin, if I could pretend to be someone else for a night, that made it all the more alluring.

I pondered over my own costume while I eat, letting my mother and brother chat on. Last year it was Elizabeth Taylor, an attire I had put together from my mother's old wardrobe through the decades and then a light bulb went off

"hey mom, mind if I go up into the attic to look at your clothes again?"

She was sheepish when I asked to poke through them. she was all sweaters and curls now, but back in the day my mom had a good grasp on fashion, which i was hoping was going to work in my favour.