FREAK ; steve harrington

3.4

A week passed since Roses visit to the lab. She apologized to Jean for shutting her out that night. Jean asked what had been wrong but Rose lied saying she was just tired and needed space. She didn't want to tell Jean and have her worry. Jewouldn't ldnt even like that Rose went to the lab in the first place.

No more episodes since her panic attack on the floor of her room. She had called Will the next day and he told her he had one that night too. Said that all he saw was the lightening. Rose asked if he was okay and he responded with he was fine. She knew he wasn't, but neither was she.

Rose woke up on the couch. She groaned, stuffing her face back into the pillow. The light was shinning bright into the open curtains of the cabin. She could hear the sizzling on the stove, and the smell of cinnamon.

Someone poked her side.

"Wake up." Rose stuffed her face deeper into the pillow. Another poke landed on her side.

"Go away. Let me sleep." She mumbled into the pillow. Rose yelled out when a body landed on top of her.

She felt her back bend from the weight.

"Jesus El!" She rose her lower back pushing off the girl. She sat up glaring at the girl. She noticed the sheet covering her face and two eye holes cut into it. Rose yawned stretching out her limbs. "I like it." She rubbed the girls head from under the sheet walking over to where Hopper was making breakfast.

She took her spot at the small table against the wall. A plate in front of her. Jim walked with a hot pan of French toast.

"Morning." He greeted setting two peices on her plate. She grumbled in response, rubbing her eyes. Eleven walked over to him asking to go trick or treating. Rose remembered today was Halloween. She had to go to that party with Nancy. Rose groaned at the thought, dumping Maple Syrup on hurler toast.

"You wanna go trick of treating?" Eleven nodded under the sheet. "You know the rules."

"Yes but-" Jim pushed pass the girl trying to her coffee.

"Yeah, so you know the answer." Eleven began to protest. Rose watched, hed heart breaking for the girl.

"I dont care! You go out there, ghost or not its a risk. We don't take risks alright?" He ushered the girl into her seat bending to speak to her closely.

"Rose gets to go!?" Eleven gestures toward the girl sitting at the table.

"El, they know where I am. They know I'm alive. I'm not hiding. You are. They think you're dead El. They want you a lot more then they want me. It's too dangerous." Rose defended adjusting in her seat to look at the girl.

"See?" Jim pointed to Rose. "Risks are stupid, and..." He waits for Eleven to finish.

"We aren't stupid!"

"I wouldn't go that far." She says with a grin. Even from under the sheet she can see Eleven glare at her. Jim pushes her head down.

"Eat, foods getting cold." He sits back down in his spot. Eleven rips off her sheet her curly hair a bushy mess.

Rose sticks out her tongue making the younger girl smile. Her smile quickly fades and she sits with her arms cross over her chest.

"How about I get off early and come back here with a bunch of candy, we can sit around get fat, and watch a movie. How's that for compromise?" Rose smiles at the man taking a bite of her toast.

"Compromise?" Eleven asks.

"C-O-M-promise. It's like halfway happy." He explains. Eleven nods sitting up to eat.

"Can you come?" Eleven speaks slowly, her speech already improving since she's gotten to the cabin. Rose looks over seeing that she's talking to her.

"Nancy is making me go to a party tonight. But, I'll see if I can come by after and sleep over?" Eleven nods, her lips pulling into a smile.

"Promise?"

"Promise." Rose assures.

"Eat, your foods getting cold." Jim said, a smile on his face. Rose looked back down at her meal. Rose takes a bite then looks up at the clock above the table.

"Shit." She curses, her mouth still full of food. She runs up carrying her plate over to the sink. She places her dishes into the sink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. She runs over, tying up her hair as she does to where she put her shoes and back pack.

"You need a ride?" Jim, sets down his cup of coffee staring at the girl.

"Yeah, could you? I'll be late if I don't." She sticks her feet into her shoes. Jim stands up leaving his dishes on the table. He walks across the living room putting on his jacket and hat.

"El, can you clean up before I get home tonight?" El nods, still eating at the table.

"Bye El, see you tonight!" Rose waves to the girl rushing out the door.

---

Rose rummaged through her closet trying to find the shirt she needed for her costume. She didn't want to dress up but Nancy made her swear to come up with something. Roses favorite movie was Halloween, so she decided to go as Laurie.

Rose grinned in victory when she found the blue button up. She was already in the jeans, standing in only a bra. She pulled it out, sliding her arms through. She stood in front of her mirror as she buttoned it up. She tucked it into her jeans, adjusting it slightly. She let down her head flipping her head down then back up again.

She went over to her bed grabbing her plastic knife she found in Jeans Halloween things and used it as her prop. Jean was out for the night. Rose shut off her lights, and the hallways lights as well as she made her way out. Her fake knife in her other hand. She grabbed her keys, turning off the living room lamp then leaving the house. Being sure to lock up she went down to the car.

She turned on the radio, letting the music flood out of the speakers. Then she made her way to the party.