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out of reach
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. ✧ ・゜. +・o ✧
It wasn't just Nancy behind the door. Behind her was Jonathan, which should've been expected, as they were an official couple. Alina was glad to see him, anyway, as it had been a few days. She'd been worried about him. And apparently, she wasn't the only one, as the same emotion was evident in his eyes, but as Mike moved slightly, allowing him to get a glimpse of the party members (including El and Max, who'd come out of the bathroom) gathered at the bottom of the stairs, he let out a sigh of relief, immediately pushing past him to make his way downstairs to throw his arms around both Alina and Will. The sheer level of relief Alina felt at the presence of her older brother shone through as she hugged him, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. He was hugging them so tightly she could barely breathe, and although it was hurting her ribs, she didn't tell him to loosen his grip.
Meanwhile, Nancy had followed him down. She didn't seem much in the mood for greetings, but she was pulled up short when she noticed Gabe. She knew Gabe well, because whenever he saw her, he would always pester her with questions about the Hawkins Post, where he hoped to work someday. Sometimes it could take nearly an hour before he lay off her.
"I'm so glad you're alright," Jonathan was murmuring. "Both of you."
"Why wouldn't we be?" Will asked nervously, because he could tell something was up. Both he and Alina could. Because Jonathan had looked genuinely terrified at the top of the stairs, and he'd practically sprinted down here.
Jonathan didn't answer. Nancy, running a hand through her perfect curls, asked Gabe, "What happened to your face? And..." her eyes moved up to the white bandage wrapped around the lump he'd acquired from the locker, "your head?"
"I got beat up with Billy Hargrove along with Alina and El," Gabe explained. At Nancy's surprised look, he elaborated slightly. "He threw me into a locker. And kicked Alina in the ribs. And nearly strangled El. He wasn't himself, though. He was being possessed by the Mind Flayer. Although, considering everything he did with Steve last year, I wouldn't be surprised if you thought he wasn't." And then, "Oh, yeah. That's a terrible way to break the news. But yeah, the Mind Flayer's back. And we're all completely and utterly terrified."
