Joey Hopper//Will Byers -Book two-

Trick or Treat, Freak: Part three

I walk through the dirt using my costume as a blanket. I don't live very far away from Mikes house, at least not any farther than I used to. The real problem is that I have to walk through the woods. I know it probably makes me sound like a baby but everything's scarier in the dark. The trees that usually don't scare me a bit, now remind me of something out of a horror movie. Before I know it I start running. I hear my heart thumping in my chest along with my feet slamming against the floor. Finally I see my house and jump over the tripwire. I rush to the door, giving the secret knock.

"Come on, come on-"

Finally the door opens and I run in.

"What's wrong?" El asks, concerned.

"N-nothing." I stutter, "It was just cold."

I look around and realize that my dads nowhere to be found.

I turn to El. "Where's Dad?"

She just looks down, "didn't come."

My eyes go wide. "What, seriously! I'm so sorry El."

I give her a hug.

"Come on El," I say as I lead her to the couch. I sit the two of us down and change the channel until I find a scary movie. Finally I flip to Carrie and sigh. "Dad said I'm not allowed to watch this one. Lets do it!"

I see El smile, "okay."

I then proceed to dump all of my candy out onto the floor.

"Perfect." I say, "we've got candy, a movie, oh and I even got Lucas to give me all of his 3 musketeers. Here."

I hand them to her and then we both turn our attention to the tv.

.

.

.

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Suddenly a loud knock comes from the door and I nearly scream. I'm starting to think my dad might have been right about me not wanting to watch Carrie. The knock comes again, and I realize it's the secret knock.

"Dad..." I mummer.

He knocks another time but neither me or El move to open the door.

"Hey, kid. Open up all right? Look I know I'm late." 'Kid?' I think to myself. He must think I stayed at one of the boys houses or something. "I got candy here alright? I got all the good stuff."

I look to El and then shout, "we don't need your candy!"

There's a long pause. "Please, will you two open the door? I'm gonna freeze to death out here."

With that El angrily stands up, turns off the tv, and then marches over and unlocks the door. Before Dad can even come in she runs to our room and turns the lock.

My dad walks over to me, "where-"

I just point to our room. He nods and stands next to the door.

"Hey, kid. Open the door would you?" No response. "I got, uh...stuck somewhere, and I lost track of time. And I'm sorry...El, would you please open the door? El?

He sighs and sits down next to me.

"All right. I guess I'll just have to eat all of this candy myself then!" He calls.

I turn to him, "Dad she's not going to-"

He cuts me off and shouts, "I'm gonna get fat...It's very unhealthy to leave me out here. Could have a heart attack or something...but you know, do what you want."

I glare up at him and walk to the bedroom door, "El its just me. Can you let me in?"

With that the door flies open and I slip inside. I see my dad sigh in relief but I just slam the door closed behind me.

"Oh, come on!" He shouts.

I turn on my cassette player and 'Time after time' starts playing. El walks over and turns it off. Before I can say anything she reaches under my bed and pulls out my walkie. She turns the knobs until she's met with static.

"What are you-"

She puts a finger over her mouth and then puts a black cloth over her eyes.

"El, maybe you shouldn't-"

"Shush."

With that I sit down next to her. I'm not entirely sure what she's gonna do but whatever it is I'm not going to stop her. I think about going in with her but ultimately decide not too. I don't really want to get on her bad side today. Instead I stand up and walk over to my bed, lie down and close my eyes.

Almost instantly I'm brought to the dark inky place. Who do I want to see?

Max.

And with that I'm brought back onto the streets. I see her, Lucas and Dustin still out and smiling like the rest of us never existed. I wish I could scream in all of their faces but I know that even if I were there I couldn't do that.

Max walks ahead of the other two for a second and I catch onto a conversation.

"She's definitely into me." Dustin says with a smile.

Lucas arches an eyebrow, "you sure?"

God, there such idiots! I hope she's not into either of them. Why do they even care about love and all of that stuff? Its all just stupid.

I open my eyes to Eleven sobbing.

I turn over and whip the blood from my nose. "El, what's wrong?"

She doesn't answer me and just falls into my arms.

"Hey, it's okay." I try to comfort her, "Everything's gonna be fine."

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EDITED