It Couldn't Get Any Stranger

The Byers Family

You hear a load of kids shouting and screaming.

Actually it was your friends.

They were so excited about seeing the Byers. You smile and watch them it's kind of adorable.

You see Nancy and Jonathan kissing and hugging, you see Mike and El smiling at each other. You see Mrs Wheeler giving Mrs Byers a hug. It kind of made you feel a bit lonely.

"S-seven?" You hear someone say from the crowd.

It was Will.

You walk over and pull him into a hug.

He was the one boy you would've trusted with your life and even though it turns out you didn't kill him, you still felt that pang of guilt that you left him by himself.

***

It was 1983, in the upside down.

"Seven? Where are you going?"

"I'm getting us some food Will"

"What kind of food even is there here?"

"You won't like the answer to that."

You begin to walk away from Castle Byers.

"Seven.. don't leave me here.."

"I'll be back in about 15 minutes, don't worry"you reassure him.

***

"Woah, you've grown" he says.

"Yup," you smile, "Long time no see"

"How did you get here?" He asks.

"There was a gate at the Russian warehouse, I escaped the upside down about 4 days ago" you reply.

"How did you survive in there for that long?" He looked genuinely worried for you.

"It turns out I do have superpowers." You smile and he smiles back.

"Whatever! It's good to see you" he says before reaching over to Mike and giving him a hug.

That left you and Eleven.

"Hi" you wave awkwardly.

"Hello Seven." Her voice showing no emotion.

"Are you alright, I haven't seen you in so long!!" You look at her and she smiles.

"Fine, how you?"

"I'm good"

Suddenly without warning she pulls you into a tight hug.

"I've missed you,Seven"

Suddenly all the jealousy you had previously felt vanished. You had missed her too.

You weren't sure if she was crying.

"I've missed you too,Eleven"

She pulls away from the hug and there were definitely tears in her eyes.

"Have you got new name?" She asks.

"Yeah it's y/n"

"That's pretty. Mine turned out to be Jane but you can just call me El. I found my mum and I even found out I had a sister." She smiles, "I mean besides you y/n, her name wa-"

"Kali," you finish "yep, I remember, from when we were younger"

Her eyes widen with the memories. "You were 'no mutated genes located' remember?"

You nod.

"S-sorry, didn't mean to bring back memories"

"It's alright, it's nice that you can speak though"

"Oh shut up" she smiles and hits you playfully.

"Kids you can come in now! Dinners ready!" Mrs Wheelers voice filled the October air and glided across the breeze.

You are grateful that she mentions this now so that Eleven wouldn't pry to deep into your life and problems.

It would be hard explaining that I'd been through nothing compared to her.