DANCIN' ► DUSTIN HENDERSON [1]

2/2

"ARE WE ACTUALLY DOING THIS?" El asked Jasper, sending an incredulous look at the redhead. There was a hint of fear in her eyes as she accepted the bag of food and other necessities from Jasper. "What about Hopper? Shouldn't we at least stick together?"

Jasper grunted, tugging at the beanie on top of her hair. "We're gonna be okay. If you're in trouble just use our connected powers to contact me, okay? I'll come get you. I'll find you. About Hop, something tells me he probably won't be home for a while."

"But—"

"Hey," Jasper cut her off, sliding an assuring hand onto the brunette's shoulder. "It's gonna be okay. I swear. I'll have Ruby with me and we will come get you the moment something bad happens. As long as you tell me. Got it?"

"Ruby?" Eleven echoed, raising an eyebrow. "She's helping you?"

"Well, I'm gonna try to get her to. She might be too pissed over the fact that I didn't go to her first once I got out of that hellhole," Jasper shrugged, doing her best to ignore those anxieties rippling in her chest.

"She's your sister," El shook her head lightly. "She will help you."

Jasper nodded in agreement, then froze, her blue eyes suddenly boring into El's with a strong passion. "You're my sister too. Maybe not by blood, but you're my sister. I love you, El."

El nearly crumbled under Jasper's touch, her entire body trembling as the redhead pulled her into a tight hug. The brunette didn't hesitate to swing her arms around the redhead's torso, crying softly into her collarbone. "I love you too, Jas."

"Take care of yourself, okay?" Jasper pulled away, cupping the girl's cheeks with her hands. Tears pooled in her eyes as well, but she didn't let them fall. "You're strong. We both are. We'll see each other again."

"Soon," El breathed, a bittersweet smile splayed on her lips.

"Soon," Jasper repeated, mirroring the brunette's expression of mixed happiness and heartache. "Now let's go find our moms."

And with that, the two girls stepped out into the open woods, diverging and wandering off onto their own paths. El, now entirely entranced in the idea of finding her mother, stomped with purpose through the undergrowth. Jasper, on the hand, stood desolate in the thin tree line, watching wistfully as the brunette vanished from her sight. She

"See you soon, El."

Her blue eyes casted down, observing the small, shiny weapon she held in her right hand. Jasper felt grateful to have her powers back, and was sure she wouldn't be in any danger. But there was no risking it. If her powers disappear again, and something happens to Ruby, stealing Hopper's pistol will suddenly become the best choice she's ever made. "Well, here goes nothing!"

The Marrow cabin looked exactly the same to Jasper it as it had one year ago. Although she had seen it briefly yesterday, she didn't get to analyze just how unchanged the building was. Jasper didn't expect much of a difference, but it shockingly looked like she had never left.

That was when the redhead noticed it—her bike, laying untouched against the front porch railing. Where she would always leave it after coming home from school or a day with the boys. Something about seeing the old blue and silver bike sent chills shooting up Jasper's arms, creeping onto the nape of her neck and her spine.