MELANCHOLY [S.T. B. Hargrove]

57

"Come on, Dustin," I plead.

"It's working," Robin swears.

I was standing up in a kitchen chair, hand in the glitter that fell from the light fixture. I was a little crooked in the chair since a live vine ran up along the chair. Billy kept me steady with a hand on my back and thigh.

"How'd you know Morse code?" Eddie wonders.

"Been here before," I answer shortly.

"We had a run-in a couple of years ago with the Mind Flayer and Will. Will could only talk through Morse code and Rocky had to translate," Nancy explains.

"It stuck with me," I admit.

"Hey, uh.." Dustin's voice echoes. "Remember when I said they weren't stupid enough to go through watergate?"

"Yeah.." Lucas' voice is next.

"I overestimated them."

Steve shines the flashlight to the area Dustin was heard. "Rude."

"Wait.. They're in the Upside Down?" Lucas asks.

"S.O.S.," Dustin answers, and I imagine him pointing at the light.

I huff and change the pattern.

"What's that, then?" Erica questions.

"H. E. L. P.," Dustin translates. "D. U. M. B. A. S. S.."

"That's Rocky," Erica decides.

A faint smile grows on my lips.

"I thought Rocky was just getting a Walkman?" Lucas wonders.

"Yeah, man. So did we all," Steve mutters.

I change the Morse Code pattern again.

"Six," Dustin figures. "She.. There's six people stuck in the upside down?"

I code out 'Y. E. S.'.

"All right.. Go.. Go in Nancy's room. We're surrounded by cops in the other room. We'll be up there in a bit- I have an idea."

I flash out 'K'. Billy wraps his arms around me and lowers me back to the floor.

"Nancy's room?" Eddie asks. "With the nonexistent guns?"

"The what?" Steve questions.

"Talk and move, people," Robin ushers. "Talk and move!"

We fall in line behind Robin and go upstairs.

"My room is stuck in the past. Things are just like they were the day Will went missing," Nancy explains.

"That explains the house," I figure. 

"Which one?" Nancy asks.

"I went by Billy's old house. Things weren't like they are now with the new people that live in there. There weren't signs of the Hargroves ever being there."

"What signs would that be?" Billy wonders.

"Like.. holes in the walls. Scrapes on the floor from your bench press thingy."

"We're in the past?" Steve recounts. 

"The Upside Down is stuck in '83. I don't know, it's weird."

"Let's just get out of here first," I offer.

"Less talking more moving!" Robin snaps to us.

Steve holds his hands up in surrender and we pile into Nancy's room. 

Distant echoes of the kids running through the house is audible. I almost wanted to scold them for running in the house. Warn them to not trip on the vines. I had to remind myself every few seconds we were in different worlds.

"Hey," Billy whispers, grabbing my arm. "C'mere."

The others kneel on the floor by Nancy's bed as Erica explains to wait.

Billy tears at his already shredded shirt. "Put this like a mask."

"I'm all right," I promise.

"If this shit caused your breathing problems, it'll only get worse. We'll have to find another gate and that means running and or walking. You need the protection, Roc."

My chest swells at his nickname for me. I tie the cloth around my neck and pull it over my nose and mouth. Billy cracks a smile.

"I'd give you some pain med if we had any," I offer in regards to his chest.

"Not much longer," he assures.

I couldn't help but duck into his arms. Billy's chin rests on the top of my head and I relax into his chest. Warm. My Billy was warm again.

"I didn't hear Max," Billy whispers. 

"I know.." I relate to the concern. "Maybe she's just.. talking to those cops."

"Since when did you trust cops?" Billy snorts, squeezing me a little.

"I don't. But, I trust mythical, demonic, cursed shit less."

Billy tugs me closer and deeper into his chest. I curl closer, his heartbeat in my ear, only making me smile more under my mask.

"All right," Nancy stands. "Let's go."

"Go?" I ask.

"Well, look at the two lovebirds over here when we're trying to like.. you know.." Robin motions around the room. "Escape freaking purgatory!"

"We're biking to Eddie's," Nancy says.

"Biking?" I repeat.

"Hop on the back of mine," Steve decides. "Nice mask, but it won't cure everything. You'll pass out trying to bike through this."

"No," Nancy holds her hand to Steve's chest. "She gets on mine."

"What?" Steve asks as we leave the house.

"Billy is injured, too. He can't pedal," Nancy reminds. "You'll take Billy, I'll take Rocky."

"Me? Ride Harrington?" Billy questions.

"Dude," Steve cringes. "Wording. Context matters."

I find myself giggling as Nancy and I pick up one of the kids' bikes.

"Come on," Nancy urges everyone.

Before the two guys could argue anymore, Eddie and Robin take off down the road. I laugh again and get behind Nancy on the bike.

"Now!" Nancy snaps to Billy and Steve.

Without another word, Nancy pushes the bike and we follow behind Eddie and Robin.

I hear Steve and Billy bicker a little behind us. Then, they're catching up- Steve pedalling as Billy stands on the back with his hands on Steve's shoulders.

Once more, a. giggle escapes my lips and I rest my head on Nancy's shoulder. "You're amazing for that one."

"Figure the future in-laws have to get along one way or another," she snickers and I poke her side then wrap my arms around her waist.