False Start

Episode five: The flea and the acrobat

authors note: edited, no warnings. 

With how many times you've knocked on the Wheeler's door this week, you'd think that Mrs. Wheeler would stop looking so surprised when she answers.

"Stacey?"

You give the woman a small smile. "Hi, Mrs. Wheeler. Is, uh, Mike home?" "Yes... he stayed home today because of Will. Is there something you need?" The usually friendly woman seems beaten down from this week's events as well, which you're understanding of.

"I was wondering if I could come in and see how he's doing? Dustin is really shaken up about it, so I figured..." You shrug, trying to come across as a concerned older sister figure rather than a worried and horrible babysitter who should really retire.

Mrs. Wheeler places a hand over her heart. "Oh, Stacey. You've always been so good with the boys, of course you can check on him. It means a lot that you care."

Oh, no problem, but if we're being honest I'm here because I'm scared I accidentally let your son get involved with the supernatural and dangerous monster men thingies that I honestly can't wrap my head around!

Of course you can't tell the woman this, so instead you thank her and let yourself in. Immediately you head towards the basement and fling the door open. You like Mrs. Wheeler, but the amount of times her son has snuck out of the house without her noticing honestly concerns you, so you're a bit unsure if Mike even is home.

You get deja-vu from a few days ago as you head down the basement steps, once again hearing the three boys panicking as they try to hide El. Unlike last time, which had only annoyed you, seeing them scramble to hide the girl makes you relieved.

They're here, alive and well. You'd let Steve distract you from your worrying on the drive over, so the relief hits you like a damn truck.

"Oh god not again!" Dustin groans when he sees you, worried that he's once again going to get yelled at for being at the Wheeler's with El.

You ignore his theatrics and walk over to the girl, who is laying face down on the couch. You notice that she's dressed in one of Nancy's old costumes and a blonde wig that suits her well. What the hell did the kids get up to today?

"Do I want to know why El is dressed like a doll and almost passed out on the couch?"

"That depends on if you're going to yell at us again," Mike says.

You shoot him a glare, but you guess he has a point. The last few times you've been with the kids you've ended up yelling at them one way or another. You feel bad about that, but then again: they won't stop getting into trouble.

El manages to raise her head from the couch, "Hi, Stacey."

"Hi, sweetie," you approach the couch and gently nudge her to the side so that you can sit down and place her head on your lap. She nuzzles into your warmth and lets out a sleepy sigh. "And to answer your question, Mike: I'm not here to yell at you guys. I just... Please tell me what's been going on. I know I haven't been here for you guys like I should've, but-"

"Your boyfriend needed you more," Mike quips, though there's some resentment in his voice that causes you to feel even worse. Dustin hits his shoulder against the boy. "He isn't her boyfriend, but she couldn't just abandon him; he needed her. Besides, we have been sneaking off without telling her anything." You cast an appreciative smile at your brother, thankful that even though he's a pain in your ass, he always has your back like you do his. It's something he's always done with you and Mike; being so similar, you and him are constantly butting heads, yet Dustin has always been the first to defend you against his friend (even if you've never needed it in the first place). "I'm sorry, okay? I messed up, but I'm here now and I really, really need to know if I'm being paranoid. What mess did you dweebs manage to get into?" The three boys suddenly can't look at you. Their heads turn in different directions, Lucas scratches the back of his neck, Mike kicks at a board piece on the ground, and Dustin whistles a tune.