Downside Up [W.Byers]

016

"Get your money, Rube!" Will shouts from his room. "We're leaving now?!" She asks, frantically searching under the cushions. She finally finds a few coins, shoving them in her pocket.

"Alright. Come on." Will says, grabbing her arm and pulling her out towards the car, where Joyce is waiting.

They arrive at the arcade just as the others make it on their bikes. "Hey!" They call out. Will and Ruby wave, throwing open the car door. "Okay. So, I'll pick you two up in two hours. That's 9:00 on the dot, okay?" Joyce asks.

"Okay." Will nods. "If anything happens, if you need to come home, just ask them to use their phone and call home. Okay? Don't—"

"Don't walk or bike home." Will finishes. "We know." Ruby chuckles. "Okay, but, sweetie—"

"Mom, I have to go." Will says frustratedly. "Have fun." She smiles. "Ruby, look after him." Will rolls his eyes as he leaves the car. "I will." Ruby laughs, following the boy out. "Bye, Joyce!" She waves.

"Bye!"

"So protective." Will says in annoyance. "She just loves you, that's all." Ruby ruffles his hair, then runs ahead to the boys. "Hey, Wait up!" Will calls, following behind her into the arcade.

"To slay the dragon, use the magic sword." The video game character says. "Oh, Jesus! I'm in unchartered territory here, guys." Dustin speaks nervously. "Down! Down! Down!" They all exclaim.

"I'm going! I'm going!" Dustin shouts back, anxiously pushing the buttons and ducking his character down.

Their voices all merge together, until it becomes hard for Dustin to focus. "Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!" He orders. Everyone quiets down, watching as his character burns in flames, and dies. "No. No. No! I hate this overpriced bullshit!" He slams the machine.

"Son of a bitch! Piece of shit!" He kicks it. "If you keep kicking it, you're gonna break  it and then actually have to buy it." Ruby states, chuckling. "You're just not nimble enough. But you'll get there one day. But until then, Princess Daphne is still mine." Lucas smirks.

"Whatever I'm still tops on Centipede and Dig Dug." Dustin rolls his eyes. "You sure about that?" Keith, the arcade employee questions.

"Sure about what?" Dustin widens his eyes. Keith doesn't reply. He takes a bite out of his Cheeto. "You're kidding me. No, no, no." Dustin shoves past the group, rushing to the Dig Dug machine.

Everyone quickly follows. "No! No! No!" He yells as he looks at the high-scores. "751,300!" Will exclaims in amazement. "That's impossible." Mike gasps.

"Who is Mad Max?" Dustin asks angrily. "Better than you." Ruby chuckles. Dustin flips her off, then looks to Keith, who had just arrived. "Who is he?" He repeats.

"Is it you?" Will speaks up. "You know I despise Dig Dug." Keith scoffs. "Then Who is it?" Lucas asks. "Yeah, spill it, Keith." Dustin sneers.

"You want information, then I need something in return." He raises his eyebrows, popping a Cheeto in his mouth. Everyone turns to mike. "No, no, no. No way. You're not getting a date with her." Mike shakes his head. "Mike, come on. Just get him the date." Lucas pleads.

"I'm not prostituting my sister!"

"I second that. That's super unethical." Ruby nods. "But it's for a good cause!" Lucas argues. "No, don't get him the date. Know what? He's gonna spread his nasty-ass rash to your whole family." Dustin insults.

Ruby 'oohs' then stops as the others glare at her. She clears her throat, backing away. "Acne isn't a rash and it isn't contagious, you prepubescent wastoid." Keith replies.

"Oh, I'm a wastoid?" Dustin raises his eyebrows. Will slowly turns around, gaining Ruby's attention. "Hey, Will. Where are you going?" She asks, slowly following him. He stares outside through the door curiously.

"Hey. Hey, guys do you see the.." Will turns around, seeing right through Ruby. "Will? Hello?" She asks, yet he doesn't respond. He gasps, turning towards the door and shakily walking to it.

Ruby fearfully follows behind him, not wanting to leave him alone. "Will! Are you okay?" She asks, taking his hand as they stand outside, looking up to the sky. Will gasps, spinning to face her.

Mike runs out, curiously watching the two. Will turns back to the sky, then sighs. "Yeah. I just..I needed some air."

"Come on. You're up on Dig Dug." Mike pulls him inside, leaving Ruby. She glances up at the sky for a moment, then walks back.

"Will, are you sure you're alright?" Ruby asks as she sets up the blanket on the couch, where she had been sleeping ever since the Byers' took her in. "Yeah." He nods.

"You can tell me anything, you know. I've been through it all." She takes a seat, patting the space beside her. Will sits beside her. "What happened at the arcade?" She leans her head on his shoulder.

"It was like a bad dream. I saw a vision of the upside down. There was.. a shadow in the sky. It was so cold. Dark, too." He says anxiously. "Has it happened before?" She asks. "No."

"It's probably just trauma, you know? Maybe you're like me. Your body and mind adjusted to the upside down, and now it's re-adjusting." She suggests.

"Maybe." Will shrugs. Ruby sits up to face him, smiling at the boy. Will smiles back. The two stare for a few moments, before Joyce walks in.

"Will, Honey. Time for bed. You, too, Ruby." Joyce calls, leading Will to his room. "Goodnight, Will." The blonde calls out. "Goodnight, Ruby!"

"Night, Hun." Joyce says as she walks out, shutting the lights.