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Ethan was now in Indiana, heart broken and awaiting to see his friends as he sat in Steve's car, looking out the window as the radio plays some Corey Hart song. He now knew Mike wouldn't be there, going to California to see Eleven and Will. So that left him with Dustin, Lucas and Max. He didn't even know how Max was holding up, or what the three were even up to anymore. He hadn't spoken to any of them since he left, no phone calls, no letters.
It was night time, he got on his flight at 6:30pm, and it was now around 9:30pm. He sat in the passenger's seat as Steve looks over at him. Steve had a sort of worry growing on his face, seeing Ethan looked sort of sad. He knew that look. Ethan already looked miserable, and he's been back for at most an hour, half of it being spent in the airport.
They're almost back to Hawkins, now isn't the time to not want to be here.
"Hey, kid. You okay?"
"Yeah. I haven't talked to anyone since I left and I'm scared they hate me now," Ethan mumbles.
"Dude, are you kidding me? Those dorks love you! They don't shut up about you, honestly," Steve chuckles, turning onto another street, driving past Ethan's old house.
"I just can't help but, like, you know..." the boy draws off.
"Implode and not have to deal with responsibilities ever again? Yeah, I get that," Steve nods.
Ethan looks back out the window, watching the trees pass by in the dark, "So, how's Hawkins?"
"Fine as ever," Steve smiles, a clear lie Ethan didn't pick up on. "Great, great."
"Max?"
"She's... she's distant. Hasn't been talking to anyone, step-dad left, her and her mom had to move into that trailer park of Kerley."
"Oh, shit."
Steve hums, turning onto another street, headed towards the lake.
"Where are we going?" Ethan asks, slightly concerned. "I thought we were going to Dustin's, cause I'm staying with him,"
"Uhm- surprise party, yeah," Steve smiles. "The gang wanted to do something special for you,"
"Okay...?"
"Just act surprised, okay?"
"Yep," Ethan pops his lips, staring out the window again as Steve drives slower, pulling up next to one of the homes that overlooked the lake.
Ethan sighs, drumming his fingers on his thighs, anxious. He opens the car door, standing still as he looks out at the lake. He thinks about how much he missed coming here with Will during the summer before the world went to shit again. The sound of the water moving brings a tranquility that Ethan had been desperately craving, something about it helped him escape his racing mind for just a moment.
