DANCIN' ► DUSTIN HENDERSON [1]

1/4

JASPER AND DUSTIN biked in a complete and comfortable silence that morning to Mike's house. The two of them were lost in their own thoughts, wondering if Operation Mirkwood will succeed.

Jasper let out a small sigh as she remembered the promise she made to Eleven last night. She knew everything. She knew where their friend was, and she knew how to get to him. But her promise to Eleven was important. It was something Jasper had vowed she wouldn't break. Not to mention breaking it could potentially hurt Eleven.

Who knows what a girl with telekinetic abilities could do to us when she's upset?

"I'm gonna tell them," Jasper suddenly murmured, breaking the silence.

"What?" Dustin pedaled to her side, glancing over at her occasionally. "Tell them what?"

"About my powers," Jasper replied, meeting his gaze. "They deserve to know."

"How do you know that they'll believe you?" Dustin challenged, his eyebrows pressing together. "Mike, maybe, but we all know Lucas is a skeptic."

"I have an idea," she shrugged lightly, her lips curving into a half smile. "More or less," she mumbled before speeding up, gaining distance on Dustin.

"What does that mean?" Dustin shouted after her. "Jas, what does that mean?" he yelled, attempting to catch up to her.

She finally slowed, matching her pace with his again. Laughter escaped past her lips as she realized Dustin was out of breath trying to keep up with her. "You asshat," the boy playfully jeered between pants before giggling himself.

They finally arrived at Mike's house, meeting the other two boys downstairs. Eleven was casually laying on the couch, fiddling with Mike's walkie.

The four huddled around the table, which had been cleared away of all campaign stuff. Jasper leaned forward and placed her palms on the edge of the table, listening to Mike as he instructed all three of them.

"We just tell our parents we have AV club after school," Mike explained. "That'll give us at least a few hours for Operation Mirkwood."

Lucas let out a contemporary sigh, his dark eyes traveling past Mike's shoulder to glance at El. "You seriously think that the weirdo knows where Will is?"

"Just trust me on this, okay?" Mike pleaded.

Lucas nodded, mumbling a small "okay" back.

"Did you get the supplies?" the raven-haired boy demanded.

"Yeah," Lucas reached over and slammed his heavy backpack on the table. He began pulling out each item and naming it before placing it on the table.

"Binoculars, from 'Nam. Army knife, also from 'Nam. Hammer, camouflage bandana, and...the wrist rocket!" Lucas pulled out the device, shooting the other three a triumphant look.

"You're gonna take out the Demogorgon with a slingshot?" Dustin chuckled in disbelief.

"First of all, it's a wrist rocket. And second of all, the Demogorgon's not real! It's made up," Lucas declares, causing uneasiness to ripple through both Jasper and Dustin. They both knew that wasn't true.