DANCIN' ► DUSTIN HENDERSON [1]

2/2

BRADLEY'S BEST BUY was crowded with anxious faces and its two glass front doors completely shattered when Jasper and the two boys arrived. El was nowhere in sight, but there was no denying that she had been there earlier.

"Holy shit," Dustin breathed, pedaling his bike next to Jasper. "You were right. She was here."

Jasper glanced over at the Henderson boy, her reddened lips pursed together. He slowly diverted his eyes to her, lurching away when their eyes met. "God, that is so fucking cool! You predicted where she was."

"Calm down," she taunted, cocking an eyebrow. "I can control time and you're freaking out about this?"

"C'mon guys, let's go look for her," Mike lead the way, pedaling faster than before. Jasper knew how determined Mike would be to find her again.

The three ended up in the woods, holding their bikes anxiously. Mike walked away, desperately shouting El's name. Dustin strolled beside Jasper, occasionally calling out for Eleven. Jasper stayed silent, instead using her eyes and ears in hopes to find El.

"Why weren't you mad at me?" Jasper suddenly questioned, nervously gnawing on her lip. Her pure blue eyes met the sky colored ones that belonged to Dustin. "About me keeping El's secret from you three?"

Dustin shook his head, contemplating his answer. "You've been through enough shit already," he huffed. "And I've learned that being in a fight with your best friend is the worst feeling in the world. So I chose to let it go."

Jasper nodded gratefully at the boy's words, glancing up at the raven-haired boy that walked ahead of them. "Mike's mad about it," she murmured. "Well, maybe not mad," she hesitated.

"What are you thinking?" Dustin inquired.

"He doesn't want to admit it, but," Jasper's head lowered to face the ground. "I think he's upset that El told me about the gate and the Upside Down, not him."

Dustin let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, that's probably it."

Jasper feet planted in the ground suddenly as she froze. "Hey, stop," she reached out and grabbed Dustin's arm. Mike paused, spinning around and giving the two confused looks. Gradually, the redhead turned to gaze into the woods more. "Do you hear that?"

"What?" Dustin pondered anxiously, scooting closer to Jasper. "What, Jas?" Ge looked around desperately, trying to see what she was seeing.

"El?" Mike called out hopefully. "El?"

Two figures appeared at the perch of the hill Jasper had been staring at: Troy and James. The bullies both stormed towards the three, looking extremely pissed off.

"Hey there, Frogface," Troy growled at Mike, unsheathing something from his pocket. A knife.

"Toothless," James hissed back.

"Red," they both snarled in sync, most of their hate directed at the seemingly fearless redheaded girl.

"Shit, guys!" Dustin screeched, dropping his bike. "Run!"

Jasper lashed out and wrapped her hands around the arms of both boys, using her physical contact with them to freeze time. "I can buy us a little time, but," Jasper planted beside dustin. "If I hold it for too long I'll be drained."