Shadows of the Night •a Stranger Things story•

Nothing Scary

June 30th, 1985

Hawkins, Indiana

Lisa stands on the threshold of her front door, her features relaxed and comfortable. Her hands are clasped behind her back, as she peers down at Will Byers, who stands on the gravel driveway clutching his bike—his presence a comfort. She's glad Nic has Will—that they have each other. Sometimes, secretly, she worries. That Will is holding onto something so desperately that it will inevitably slip from his grasp. Lisa worries that Will holds onto Nic so tightly that he'll slip and fall. They're so young, she really shouldn't worry. Not yet.

"What are you and Nic going to do today?" she wonders, not questioning, but curious.

Will shrugs his shoulders slightly, a hint of anticipation flickering in his eyes. The morning air is already scorchingly warm, and he's eager to see what the other boys are up to. Maybe they'll pile in the Wheelers' basement, playing games to dodge the heat and find some relief. He genuinely hopes that Mike and Lucas will step up and make the effort to talk to Nic. It means a lot to him. Especially since the school year has ended. They've always been so worried about El and Max, often leaving Dustin, Nic, and Will to do their own thing while Mike and Lucas poured their focus into the girls. He wishes for a little more connection, a little more understanding among friends. On a deep level, Will understands the feeling of being left behind, and he doesn't want that for Nic. Why don't Mike and Lucas get that?

"I think we'll go to Mike's," he says.

Nic steps to the door, quietly passing by Lisa, whose presence always provides a sense of grounding for him. Will's expression shows a slight change, a hint of happiness emerging. Nic offers a calm expression, providing quiet reassurance. He reaches for his bike by the small porch, his movements steady and deliberate, like those of an old man, remembering how to ride a bike. Turning back to Lisa, his eyes hold a quiet sincerity. "Curfew?"

"9:30 pm." Lisa sighs, pausing for a moment. "You and Will should come back here, so you aren't riding in the dark alone. Maybe have a sleepover?" Lisa stares between the two of them. "Do boys your age still do that?"

Will and Nic exchange a look. What would Nic know about sleepovers? Will doesn't mind the idea. "That sounds like fun."

Lisa smiles back at Will, tilting her head. "I'll stock up on some snacks. Any movies you'd like to watch?"

"Nothing scary," Will and Nic say at the same time. The two of them mount their bikes, ready to start their day. Lisa gives them a knowing smile in return, taking a step back toward the house.

"Got it."

Being late to work is uncharacteristic of Steve and Chris. When they spend the night together before a shift, they're usually diligent about holding each other accountable and making sure they get there on time. Many of their shifts align perfectly, but today, Chris isn't scheduled, and Steve's antsy because he's got to be at the mall in just five minutes. Or maybe it's for another reason. The BMW idles at one of the only stop lights in town, just a few blocks from Starcourt Mall, as urgency and a flicker of annoyance settle in.

"You'll be meeting Ronnie here?" wonders Steve, glancing across at his girlfriend, who is not invested in the conversation. They haven't really spoken much since they left Lover's Lake this morning. Of course, Steve isn't feeling too upbeat today; he had terrible nightmares last night, but he can't bother Chris with something like this. He's noticed that she also seems off, which also makes him feel uncomfortable. He hates not feeling steady. Chris makes him feel grounded, but when she's not grounded, he struggles.

"Yes."

The two girls have plans to shop for new pool shoes for Ronda. Ever since Nic was rescued from the Columbus labs and El "came back from the dead", Ronda and Chris have worked hard to repair their friendship—which has been pretty spotty ever since Ronda found out the girl she liked was horrendously killed and Chris was somehow there to witness it and didn't tell Ronda for days. Sometimes Chris thinks keeping secrets will protect the people she cares about, when it truly only puts them in greater danger.