Kate Hopper's life had finally gone back to normal.
With the summer after her senior year in session, she'd soon be leaving behind the horrors of Hawkins behind, returning to New York City in the fall.
Kate only tried to live in the moment as Steve...
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JONATHAN, ON THE way back to the mall, had almost gone faster than Steve had.
Kate, once again, was absolutely amazed that they hadn't gotten pulled over. Whenever they'd pulled into the parking lot, Jonathan had barely even put the car in park when Kate had jumped out of the trunk of the car, a bundle of fireworks in hand. Quickly, the others followed her, carrying Lucas's arsenal.
The group was glad that Lucas had had the idea about the fireworks. El had been too weak to fight the Mind Flayer, to fight Billy, and otherwise, she might not have made it.
Kate knew if her sister's life wasn't in imminent danger, she probably would have enjoyed the fireworks display, especially with it being Independence Day. In a way, the explosion of lights and colors were numbingly beautiful. She had hardly noticed and only appreciated that they seemed to weaken the beast, distracted it from El and Billy below it. She only hoped it was enough time for El to best Billy in a fight, but she knew there was no hope for her sister—El had barely been able to stand on her own two feet, and Mike and Max were nowhere to be found.
"Dustin! We're out of time!" Steve shouted into the radio.
Kate, once she'd thrown her last firework, sucked in a deep breath. She shut her eyes, hoping, pleading, wishing that her father was okay. That at least their part of the plan had gone right. If everything had gone right, the Gate should have been nearly closed. But she knew, somewhere deep down, that the Gate should have been closed long ago, but they couldn't stall any longer than they already had; they were down to the last couple of fireworks.
