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A long and agonizing two days had passed since the battle.
Eddie had died, giving his life to try and save a town that hated him. He saved Dustin at the last moment to ward the Demobats away, perfectly playing Master Of Puppets before his death, a hard as hell guitar line to learn.
Max was snapped, died, and was brought back to life with some sort of God-given miracle. She was stuck in a coma, though, with relatively no brain activity.
The gates had all been opened, black smoke polluting the air. Cracks emerged through Hawkins, leading back to the library.
So many homes were destroyed, so many people were missing, hospitals were filled to the brim. Donations were being taken at Hawkins High for anything that people didn't need that could've benefited others in these trying times. The world seemed bleak and dull, no one, not even the ones who knew the truth, could cope.
SWAT and the military were in Hawkins. That was the scariest part to Ethan.
He, Dustin, Robin, Nancy, and Steve were filling up the car to take old stuff down to the high school to donate. Nancy needed to do some spring cleaning anyways, so giving her things away to young girls who would appreciate it more than she would now meant the world to her.
Ethan stands next to Dustin in a dark tie-dye sweatshirt, with the sleeves rolled up so he could breathe. He wears dark blue baggy jeans that nearly covered his black Converse, his hand stuffed in his pocket. The other hand, which he'd injured, was now properly treated by medical professionals, was wrapped in some wonky cast. Dustin was the first to sign it, the canvas around his wrist painted with green sharpie and Dustin's name. Ethan's hair, like Dustin's, was damn near a mess. He needed a haircut and a hug from his mom.
"Did someone order pizza?" Karen asks, eyeing the pizza van pulling up to the house.
The four at the rear of the car turn to look at the bright yellow pizza van, not recognizing the brand. Nancy joins Steve by his side, watching as the occupants of the vehicle exit.
In that car was Mike, El, Will, Jonathan, and some friend they'd made along the way that drove them from California to Indiana.
It was an emotional reunion to put it lightly. God, they all looked so different.
Mike runs to his mom while Jonathan runs to Nancy, El and Will rushing to Dustin.
Ethan awkwardly stands to the side by Robin, needing his awful gay feelings validated. Robin lightly and discretely rubs the boy's back as he stares down at his casted hand, obviously not wanting to talk to Will. He doesn't know how to speak to him after all this time. He's scared he'll screw everything up. He's scared to get attached in fear whatever comes next may steal Will away from him.
Ethan shares a look with Robin, a sad and scared, almost embarrassed look in his eyes. He uses his good hand to scratch his opposite hand under the cast, feeling nervous rashes pop up on his arm. That's what he liked about Robin, she didn't invalidate him. She got him. Gay solidarity for the win.
