"SO, THESE ARE CIRCUITS," Kat said, holding up a few pieces of material she'd nicked from the high school lab. She connected them with some wire, attaching a thumb-sized mini lightbulb at the end.

"So the electricity goes through them and the wire and gets to the lightbulb?" Lucas asked.

"Pretty much, yeah," Kat said, handing him the mess, which he delicately balanced over two palms. "Hold this, and slowly, slowly move the end of the wire clip to let it touch the battery,"

"Okay..." Lucas said, concentrating as he slowly moved towards the battery she held, careful to not let the mass drop onto the carpet below.

And just like that, when the end of the clip touched one end of the battery, the lightbulb ignited a small but unwavering light.

"Cool, yeah?" Kat smiled at Lucas, who was looking between the battery and lightbulb, confused but grinning. 

"Stellar," he agreed, rapidly touching the battery and then letting go. 

"Let's do two batteries now," Kat said. She grabbed another one. "Here, this time I can hold the mess, you touch the batteries,"

Lucas did so, and this time the little golden light filled all of the bulb.

"You got it!" Kat said encouragingly, and Lucas beamed. "'Kay, you passed Level One. Next step,"

"What's next, three batteries?" He laughed, but his smile dropped when Kat took two wires, a circuit, and a roll of electrical tape from his drawer. "Where're you going?"

"Outside. C'mon, Level Two,"

Lucas scrunched his face, before stepping over some stray papers and heading out of the room. 

"I see the living room is finally clear, you nerds finally done experimenting?" Erica said, popping out of thin air.

"Erica," Lucas hissed irritably. He hated when she'd interrupt his tutor sessions with Kat.

"Nope. We're just taking this next one outside; more space for a bigger experiment and better results, you know? Wanna join?" Kat replied instead, her voice calm and friendly.

"No thanks," Erica said sarcastically, raising a brow at the pile Kat was balancing and going back up the stairs.

"Ignore her," Lucas said.

"Don't worry, I've got experience with younger siblings," Kat said, and they bumped shoulders as they headed towards the Sinclairs' driveway.

"Are we leaving home?" Lucas frowned as he noticed they were heading to Kat's car. 

"Nope. I'd rather not get in trouble with your mom for taking you for milkshakes when we're supposed to be doing physics," Kat said as she opened the driver's door. "She's scary when she's mad,"

"Yeah, definitely," Lucas laughed again.

"So, here's the thing. My car horn has been broken for the past few days. Luckily, it didn't make that much of a difference-" she indicated at her throat, which Lucas knew was probably capable of hundreds of decibels of screaming. "-but since we just did some electric wiring, I'd figure Level Two would be to rewire this to make it work again,"

"Are you kidding?" Lucas said incredulously. "Rework a car? Don't you think this is a little advanced?"

"Not really. I think you can do it," Kat shrugged. "Go on. Open the cover,"

Looking where she pointed, there were two broken wires and a circuit just like the one they practiced with, hanging limp. 

"That circuit's dead," Lucas noticed.

"Exactly, which is why we're gonna replace the circuit and rework the wires. Easy enough,"

"Replace the dead circuit with that one?" Lucas indicated at the circuit Kat was holding. "Thought that one was Hawkins High's property?"

"That one and the dead one look the same. They'll never know," Kat shrugged again, and Lucas grinned.

Lucas then gently removed the old circuit, making sure it was aligned with the rest of the wires and not overlapping anything, gently securing one of the wires into it and taping a few small parts down. When he looked up briefly for the second one, he could see Erica staring through a window, and he smirked. He then tried to put the second one in and found it was a lot harder; a few other wires from some other feature were blocking it. He tried going from up and down, sideways, but it wouldn't fit.

"Here, squeeze the tip and fit it through those green bottom ones there," Kat murmured, and Lucas did as so, concentrating and getting the wire in. He taped it down, then let his hands go little by little, as if afraid that the wiring would come loose any second. Thankfully, it stayed put, and looked like it would work.

"Should we test it?" he said nervously. Kat nodded, and Lucas closed the cover, hand hesitating over the horn button on the car.

"Go on," Kat said, and Lucas pressed it.

A loud beep enchoed across the house, and Lucas could see Erica jump in suprise out from the living room window.

"Great job, kiddo!" Kat grinned, and gave Lucas a fist bump. "You just rewired a car. C'mon, let's go for milkshakes,"

"Wait, what?"

"Scoot. I need to drive," Kat smiled, her face all flushed with excitement as she pulled out of the Sinclairs' driveway with ease.

"But-but you just said my mom would be scary if she found out!"

"Who said she'd find out? You said she's at work till six-thirty, and Erica won't snitch if we bring her one too,"

Lucas's heart hammered a bit with the adrenaline, starting to grin a bit as they accelerated down the road.

"Have you tried for advice?" Kat pursed her lips as she took a sip of her caramel milkshake.

They were sitting in Kat's car in the diner parking lot, since all the seats were full inside.

"Yes," Lucas rolled his eyes, vanilla shake in hand. "But every time I ask my Dad, he just goes 'I went up to her at a dance, asked her to tango with me, and from then on it was just my good ol' charm that won your mom over',"

Kat snorted.

"I don't suppose you have any relationship advice?" Lucas asked sarcastically.

"Sorta," Kat took another sip of her drink. Kat had never been in a relationship that lasted more than two weeks- she'd always said yes to plenty guys asking her out, but it just never worked out. And zero guys had asked her out since a year ago when she'd solidified her 'Bitch' title. Going through the ways previous guys had asked her though, Kat could point out some superlatives. 

Lucas shifted a little closer, interested in what she had to say.

"Not gonna lie, you're dad's advice is pretty solid, so I'm gonna build on that. After you make the first move, lure her in. Kinda like a cat trap, just way nicer. Talk about what you like about her, why you asked to be with her. Obviously don't take it too seriously and overload her with information, but make her feel special, wanted,"

"Aaand what if the first move doesn't work?"

"If she isn't impressed, especially if the reasons why are beyond your control, like a banana peel on the ground, then try again with a little more practice. But don't try too many times. If she says 'no' all those times, you're wear her out, you'll be a creep. Get it right, but never overdo,"

"Okay," Lucas looked unimpressed. "So like, how many times can I try to get it right before I become a creep?"

"Depends on the girl,"

"Well, I don't know how Max likes to be asked out. But I think she wouldn't like it if it was too dramatic, like Elle and Mark last year. More casual. But also not too lazy. Maybe something..."

"Genuine?" Kat suggested. "From 'the heart'?"

"Yeah. That's good, 'cause I can do that in most locations," Lucas said. "And if I get it wrong the first time, maybe when the party goes to the arcade again, I can bet her on a date if she loses at a machine-"

"-I thought you said Max beat you all at the games-"

"-and if I get it wrong the second time, then?"

"Then you drop it," Kat said. "Don't do it a third time. I don't want to jump the gun, but Max seems like the type to dislike if you do it more than twice,"

"Okay. Pressure's on, then? Two times to get it right,"

"Yep. You'll be fine, just remember 'from the heart'. Got it?"

"From the heart," Lucas repeated.

"Gr-oh shit." Kat's voice dropped an octave, and she frantically revved the engine.

"What?" Lucas said in shock, holding onto the door to keep his balance. 

"It's six-twenty-three!"

Kat's throat squeezed close in panic as she instinctively stepped on the gas pedal to run. Her gray eyes went as wide as saucers as she frantically buckled her seatbelt, almost knocking over her milkshake, before reversing out of their parking space.

"Oh, shit, shit shit," Lucas said in panic. "Drive, drive!"

"I am, I am!" Kat said in a hurry as they drove over the curb onto the main road, definitely speeding.

"Eyes on the road! I'll look for police!" Lucas yelled, as Kat pushed the accelerator further.

They sped through several neighborhoods, some people on the sidewalks looking towards them disapprovingly. Damn. There were some high schoolers that were walking as well. Steve Harrington and his little brood of folks. Christ, she'd be made fun of tomorrow.

But nothing was worse than the possibility of an angry Mrs. Sinclair.

They sped through more shops, colored lights flashing by against the sunset. The golden blots of streetlamps blended into the horizon, a mass of layered blues, oranges, and pinks. Yet, there was no time to appreciate the view, as her and Lucas blasted through the semi-empty streets like a bullet train.

"No police right now! Faster!" Lucas urged.

 "I'm going as fast as I can!" Kat yelled, unfortunately getting Harrington's attention through the open window. Luckily, they sped past him faster than he could bat an eyelid.

"Left!" Lucas yelled.

"What?!"

"Turn left onto Cherry!"

"I thought it was right onto Admiral?!"

"Cherry's the shorter way!"

"No, it's not!"

"Left!" Lucas suddenly grabbed the steering wheel as they approached the intersection, yanking it left. Kat screamed in shock, and the tires screeched as the car made a ninety degree turn. Kat was thrown into the driver's door, the handle hitting the side of her shoulder, causing a dull shocking ache to run all the way to her fingertips.

"Now right!" Lucas yelled, spinning it right. 

"Give me it!" Kat found her balance and pushed his hands away as the car accelerated smoother, the duo now inside Lucas's neighborhood.

"She's not here yet, faster!" Lucas yelled louder.

"Oh, oh my god, okay! Jesus H. Christ!" Kat hollered as they haphazardly pulled into the driveway, parking messier than ever before, and clambered out all tooth and nail. Her heart was pounding a thousand miles per second as she frantically pulled her keys out of the ignition and made sure she was parked in the same spot as before.

"Wait! Get Erica's milkshake!" Lucas said before Kat could slam the door.

"Okay, okay! You go inside, first!" she replied.

"No, we're going in together!" Lucas argued stubbornly.

With a huff, Kat grabbed the drink they were going to bribe Erica with, and they tumbled through the Sinclairs' front door. Leaning on the sides of the doorframe, panting, they were met with an Erica.

"Now," she said saucily. "Mom's gettin' here in one minute, you have fifty-nine seconds to form an alibi,"

"Erica!" Lucas took the milkshake from Kat and shoved it in her arms. "Don't tell. Please,"

Erica looked speculatively down before glancing back up. 

"What flavor is it?" She said in a deadly tone.

"Strawberry!" Kat blurted out. "We remembered! Your favorite flavor, right?"

Erica looked her up and down before turning heel and heading back upstairs, her footsteps hitting the wood with a solid echo.

"Whew," Lucas said after a long pause.

Kat began to laugh, shoulders shaking with adrenaline.

Then Mrs. Sinclair's car appeared.

"Oh, go go go go," Lucas said, pushing Kat in the direction of the living room.

"Ookay okay," she said, trying hard not to erupt into giggles.

After colliding into their seats and smoothing their hair, Kat and Lucas tried their very best to maintain their image of being in a physics tutoring session for the past hour.

"Hey, Lucas, hello, Kathryn," Mrs. Sinclair came through the door, calm and collected with a beaming smile. She wore her afro like a crown, paired with pastel blues of her blouse and pinks in her skirt.

"Hey, mom,"

"Hello, Mrs. Sinclair,"

"What are we talking about?" she asked, setting her scarf and bag down draped over a chair, approaching their table.

"Electrodynamics," Kat smiled back. "Circuits and Current,"

"That sounds lovely," she replied. "I'm going upstairs to get myself settled. Kat, feel free to leave before seven, I know schoolwork and college are getting harder to balance as a senior,"

She headed upstairs, calling for Erica. Kat and Lucas slowly redirected their gaze to each other, a lump rising from their throats, as they waited for Mrs. Sinclair to enter Erica's room. The moment her door closed, they erupted in peals of laughter.

"She didn't see shit!" Lucas choked out.

"No!" Kat said weakly, before they both burst into another round of laughter.

"And the cation has a charge of? Anyone, anyone? Four-plus. And the next step is? Anyone? Determining the numberal," Mr. Longrie droned on.

Kat loved the subject of Chemistry, but boy, she hated her class. All of the worst people were in it, and neither Cameron nor Monique were. There was obvious chatter coming from people like Hargrove at the back of the room, but in the middle there was none. To her right, a band girl (Vickie?) held her head in her hands as she tried to focus. To her left, Steve Harrington was annoyingly wobbling his foot up and down as if he was nervous for the end of the world.

His shoes made the faintest squeak sounds as they repeated scuffed against the linoleum flooring, and worst of all, a lock of his mud-brown hair bounced up and down along with it.

"-redirect to our table, the ion is? Anyone? Ammonium. Very common-"

Harrington's pencil started bobbing along with his foot. Kat curled her lip, trying to take notes but desperately failing. 

"If you need to take a leak, there's no harm in asking," Kat finally spat out, done with his nonsense.

"What?" Steve blinked suddenly, as if coming back up to earth. His foot stilled.

"Nothing," Kat said with a sickly smile, and turned back to her notes now he wasn't being so nervous anymore. "You seemed hyperactive,"

"Why would I be hyperactive?" Steve said monotonously, looking down at her as if he was a pubescent teenager dealing with a grandma who had dementia.

"I'm afraid I can't answer that for you. Maybe take a look around yourself and find how you're practically shaking to the bone,"

"Maybe take a look around yourself and find how you're obsessing over me, Ice Wheel," he snapped, unusally harsh.

Kat scoffed. Ice Wheel was a stupid nickname some kids had made up for her years ago, and it had somehow braved through all the years of high school better than she had.

"Reality check, I don't think you're that worth obsessing over, King Steve. Hargrove back there's got a way better chance,"

"As if he'd ever date you," Steve turned away and muttered. "Speeding on Main Street with a middle schooler,"

Damn. She knew yesterday would catch up with her. Kat rolled her eyes, appearing nonchalant but internally grappling with different ways to formulate a passing response.

"Never knew you were such a mom," was her lame choice. "Were you walking there with your little friends too, moping about my sister?"

The topic of Nancy seemed to strike a chord, as Steve stiffened in his plastic seat and faced forward once more.

"Heard she skipped today with Jonathan Byers," Kat continued, taunting him. She knew Nancy liked Steve, but she could tell she wouldn't be in for the long run.

"She's not skipping with that freak," he said, barely audible.

"And how'd you know that? Heard he beat you in a fight once over Nance,"

Steve just muttered something again and turned his head away.

"-now the atomic number for strontium is? Anyone?" said Longrie.

"Thirty-eight," Kat replied crisply, and all heads turned to her, a different voice compared to Longrie's monologue.

"Anyo- yes, Kathryn. Now when strontium pairs with oxygen-"

"Never knew you were a nerd for Chemistry," Steve was running out of insults.

"Never knew you're still hung up on my sister," Kat bounced back, though not as strong as she normally could.

"Who was that kid you were speeding with again?" Steve was clearly grappling with trying to roast her.

"Lucas Sinclair. You probably don't know him, your head's in the clouds."

"Wasn't he in the case with Will Byers last year? Stop bringing up Nancy,"

"He wasn't involved, but he helped. And no,"

Steve suddenly shifted in his seat to fully face her.

"Look, I've talked to you in my entire life a grand total of two times. And honestly, from what Nancy's told me you're not the greatest at being nice. And I agree. So keep on messing with laws and mind your own damn business," he said in one hissed breath, before striking up a conversation with a scared-looking junior to his right.

He was an asshole for shoving her and Nancy's sisterly relationship into that conversation, but Kat could admit she was also in the wrong for kickstarting an argument. Your intrusive thoughts borne from trauma may cause some unwanted arguments with people around you, Ms. Kelley said. Christ, she needed some help.

━━author's note ━━

yep, kat does indeed need some halp. everything from her mood swings, arguments, impulsiveness, and rudeness to her siblings is all from the Older Sibling Trauma (TM). its serious and it happens to a lot of people.

okay also but i luv kat and lucas together theyre so adorable babes~~