"Are you sure that I'm doing it right?"

Steve chuckled as Lucas stood in front of him, holding a basketball above his head. His legs were bent at the knees and his arm in a crooked position, as if he were about to shoot a basket.

"You're doing it perfectly, it's like you forgot that you threw the winning shot last season." Steve said, gesturing for him to pass him the ball. Lucas complied, and Steve caught it with ease. "You just have to remember to take your time, I know that in a game it's hard to, you know, with everyone trying to steal the ball from you, but rushed shots never make a basket."

Lucas nodded, taking in Steve's every word.

The new school year was coming up, despite everything that Hawkins had been through. With Jason out of the picture, not only because he was dead but because he would have graduated, the captain position on the team was now available for any able candidate. Lucas wanted to be captain, he knew it would be hard but he wanted to be a leader of a game he loved.

Everyone in the Party didn't get it. All they wanted to do was play D&D, which Lucas respected and enjoyed every so often (he wouldn't admit it, but he had tons of fun at D&D, even now), but he wanted to do something else. Basketball wasn't about popularity anymore, he loved the game and wanted to play all of the time.

Thankfully Steve understood. He never got into D&D, but he was the best basketball player at Hawkins High until Billy showed up. He was the only one who understood the thrill of the game, the way you felt when you shot a 3-pointer, and the excitement when your team won.

Lucas decided that, if he wanted to be Captain, he would have to get help from the best of the best, and that was why they were here, standing on an abandoned court in the middle of the summer. Steve had been thrilled when Lucas had asked, and had jumped on the opportunity to help out.

"Okay, you try to shoot a basket一" Steve said, passing the ball back. "And I'll pressure you."

"Won't that put me at a disadvantage? You're…Steve."

"As in, I have more muscle mass than you?"

Lucas nodded hesitantly. "Yeah, I'm a lot skinnier than you."

Steve laughed. "Yup, you are, but you're going to come across people like me on the court. If you want to be captain, you need to get used to that. I promise I won't push you to the ground, though, I have a bit of humanity in me."

Lucas smiled, and got into a defensive position. As he began dribbling the ball, he quickly made his way to the basket, his sneakers rough against the pavement. But Steve was faster. In the blink of an eye, Steve was in front of him, his arms around him and blocking Lucas from throwing the ball.

Lucas spun around him, keeping the ball close to the ground, but the older boy didn't let him get away with it. With a swift move he batted the ball away from him, taking it into his own possession.

He slowed to a stop and watched as Lucas eyed the ball with a bit of anger, likely wishing that it was in his hands and not Steve's.

"Again?"

"But what did I do wrong?" Lucas asked, and Steve put his arm out to the side, bending it in a 90 degree angle, getting low to the ground as he kept the ball moving.

"You forgot to block me. Without that wall that you make with your arm, it doesn't matter how low you dribble the ball, anyone can take it with ease."

"I knew that." Lucas huffed. "I just…forgot."

Steve gave him a knowing smile. "Because I was intimidating you?"

"Yeah."

"That's fine, it's just something you're going to have to learn. I was intimidated by other people too, you know."

Lucas looked up at the words. "Really?"

Steve chuckled. "Really. Especially when I was your age. There were so many guys that had more muscle than me, were taller…but I learned how to deal with it. Eventually."

The ball was passed to Lucas, who shot it into the hoop on instinct. It missed, hitting the backboard, but Steve caught the rebound and got it in.

"It's funny how this bothers me." Lucas said. "Even after everything that happened…I'm still afraid of people bigger than me."

"Not bigger, but more…aggressive. And, I know what you mean." Steve let out a sigh as he dribbled the ball thoughtlessly, weaving it in between his legs every so often. "I've fought monsters from other dimensions and some things scare me, too. Things a lot less worrisome than a demodog. But don't tell Dustin, okay? He'll never let me live it down."

"I won't, dude. Scout's honor."

"Okay, enough with the sob stories." The ball was passed back to Lucas, and Steve got into position. "Again."

Lucas didn't know how long they practiced the same drill, but he was finally getting the hang of it. Arm out, dribble low, move fast. Don't become predictable. Try to make a basket. Steve catches it, whether it goes in or not. Pass it to Lucas. Try again.

Steve was trying his best, he could tell, and that made Lucas smile as he made basket after basket. It was after the seventh successful run that Steve let the ball fall onto the ground instead of catching it, the older boy clearly tired.

"Take five?" He asked, breathlessly, and Lucas nodded, walking over to his backpack and pulling out a couple of bottles of water. Steve sat down in the middle of the court, pushing his messy hair away from his face, and accepting the water Lucas brought.

"Do you want to sit on the grass?" Lucas asked, taking a sip. "It's probably more comfortable."

Steve shrugged. "Nah, you can, though."

"It's fine." Lucas sat beside Steve, and poured some water onto his hair, hoping to cool off a bit. Steve rinsed off his hands with the water, and gently lifted up his shirt, revealing the bat wounds from months before. Lucas' eyes widened at the skin that still hadn't healed all of the way, the wounds that looked painful.

"Dude. I'm sorry, I didn't even think一"

"About what? The wounds? Don't worry about it, they're just a bit sore."

"You shouldn't be training with me like this! I shouldn't have even asked you!"

"Watch it, Sinclair." Steve's angry tone quickly dissipated at Lucas's horrified look. "Sorry. Look, I'm glad you asked. And I'm not stopping my whole life because some bats decided to have me for supper, no matter what Nancy,k or Joyce, or even Hopper say. I'm fine, really. I just need a quick break."

Lucas couldn't stop the feeling of guilt, guilt that hadn't really left, from swelling up in his stomach. Steve needed to rest, not practice for a stupid school sport.

"I don't mind, Lucas, I really don't. It's better than sitting at home."

Lucas swallowed, looking down to his feet. "Okay. But we'll take a big break."

Steve smiled, but it was pained. Lucas didn't bring it up. "That would be good."

The two fell into uncomfortable silence, and Lucas didn't really know how to break it. They were friends, sure, but not close. Should he just start talking about basketball again? It was a safe option. But, then his eyes fell down to where Steve was inspecting his wounds, and decided to be more risky than he wanted to be.

"Do you ever regret it?"

"Regret what?"

"You know, getting involved in the Upside Down."

A shrug. "Not really, it's not like I had a huge choice. The first time I needed to help Nancy and Jonathan, the second time Dustin needed my help."

"Would you change what you did?" Lucas asked. "Going to the Byer's house in the first place?"

Steve thought for a second, taking a sip of water. "No. Even though a lot of bad things have happened, both to me and other people, I like to think that I saved more people through getting involved."

Lucas thought about Max, who still lay in the hospital bed, in a coma for…for too long. For possibly forever.

"I think Max would think that way, too. She was willing to risk her life to save everyone else's." Steve said, noticing his faraway look. "But, we're not going to lose her, Lucas. She's strong."

"I know. I'm still worried, though."

Steve reached over and put a steady hand on his shoulder. "I am too. We just have to keep going and be there for her. I'm not sure if she can hear us, but it's worth a shot."

"How am I supposed to keep on going, though? We were supposed to spend the rest of high school together, we were supposed to see a movie. How can I live my life knowing that she can't?" Lucas felt tears burn behind his eyes but no matter what he did they wouldn't go away.

He didn't mean for this to happen. He didn't want to get emotional, especially in front of Steve. The man was the definition of strength, and Lucas couldn't go one day without losing control of his feelings.

"She would want you to live your life." Steve said, slowly. "She would want for you to be happy, or go to school, play basketball, or anything else, even though she can't. She loves you, Lucas. She loves you and only wants what's best for you. It might take some time to realize that, but it's true. I know it is." He looked into the distance where the hospital sat. "I may not be the best at romance, but I can tell just by the way she looks at you. And, if you need help living your life? Take it one step at a time."

Lucas gave a strained laugh, wiping tears from his cheeks. "You know, for the dumb guy of the group you're pretty wise."

Steve rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Sinclair. I really needed that today." He was clearly being sarcastic, but it made Lucas a bit happier, and for that he was grateful.

Lucas stood up and helped Steve to his feet. Steve shook some gravel off of his pants and ran a hand through his hair.

"What do you say? Do you want to play a game of 21 and get ice cream after?"

"That would be great, if you can, Steve. I don't want your wounds to get worse."

"I'll go easy, not only for my health, but for you, too. You clearly need practice." Steve teased, and the younger boy broke into a smile.

"Really? After I beat you earlier?"

Steve picked up the ball and tossed it to him. "Yup. Go crazy, Sinclair. Try and beat me."

"You're on."

Thanks for reading! Next chapter will be Max's chapter!