The Next-Door Down

Assembly

It was weird to think that you were going to sneak El into school. You were sure that even with makeup, she'd still look like some sort of lab rat.

But, you were pleasantly surprised when she rode in on the back of Mike's bike looking like an actual human.

"Hey!" You smile at the both of them.

Mike didn't say anything but for the first time, Eleven smiled back.

Suddenly, Lucas and Dustin ran towards you.

"Guys! Guys! Guys!" Dustin panted, "It's the assembly now.. you know.. for Wills death."

"Yeah.." Lucas continued, "We can sneak in now. Quick though! We don't want to get caught!"

The five of you headed round for the back entrance, Mike yelled instructions half the time.

"Remember, if anyone sees us, look sad." He said, like it was obvious already.

You rounded another corner, coming across the AV club room. You walked up to the door and fiddled with the handle.

Shit. It wouldn't open.

"Do you think you could open it?" Dustin asked El, "You know, with your powers?"

But the poor girl didn't have time to answer, Mr Clarke came hurtling around the corridor, and automatically started talking.

"Boys." He said sternly, "Assembly's about to start."

"We know.." Mike begins faking his sadness. He clearly wasn't a good actor, "We're just..."

"Upset." Lucas finished, trying to avoid eye contact with his teacher.

"Yeah.. definitely upset." Dustin stammered.

"We need some alone time." Mike continued.

"To.. cry.." Dustin says unsurely. You try to suppress a giggle.

"I get it. I do. I know it's hard. But let's just do this alright.. for Will." Mr Clarke says solemnly before digging around in his pockets for something.

"Do this and the HeathKit is yours for the rest of the day." The teacher grinned, chucking Mike the keys.

"And.. I don't believe we've met." The teacher continued.

"I'm Elev-" Eleven begins but Mike cuts her off.

"Eleanor. She's my cousin-"

"Second cousin!" Dustin shouts dumbly.

"Yeah, she's here for Wills funeral. She doesn't speak English." Mike finished.

"Oh, where's she from?" Mr Clarke asks, intrigued.

"Bad place.." El starts to speak.

Everyone shared an awkward moment before someone piped up.

"SWEDEN.." Dustin shouts.

"Errr.. I have a lot of Swedish family." Mike stutters.

"Yeah she hates it there." Dustin continues, "Its very cold."

"Cold." Lucas adds uselessly.

"Yep, subzero." You decided to join in.

The teacher just shrugged and lead the lot of you towards the assembly hall. At least he believed what you were saying.

The five of you awkwardly found your seats in the hall. Surprisingly, everyone seemed a lot more upset than you'd expected.

"Why is everyone so sad?" You whisper to Mike, "I thought he didn't have many friends... No offence."

"Yep," Mike replies, "They're all fakers."

"Bet they didn't even know his name til today." Lucas adds, staring bitterly at the people around him.

Eleven and Mike started chatting quietly to themselves and pretty much the whole way through the assembly you eavesdropped on their conversation but barely got any words.

At the end, Mike chucked you the keys for the AV room. The five of you practically sprinted out of the call and headed to the radio, slamming the door behind you.