CYNEFIN!

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ALINA FAIRGRIEVES-BYERS has long since learned that the world won't give her a break. Everywhere she goes, disaster and mayhem follow—along with a healthy dosage of tragedy. She lost her father. Almost lost her friend. She was possessed, then nearly killed, then targeted by an interdimensional monster for the mysterious powers she still struggles to control. No matter where she is, she isn't safe—which is why her adoptive mom's decision to uproot the Byers household and ship them all off to California is such a nonsensical idea to her. After all, it's not Hawkins that's cursed: it's her.

Indeed, California isn't the walk in the park that Joyce Byers imagined it would be. Relentlessly bullied by her peers and desperately missing Lucas, Alina begins to act out, shooting back at others instead of shying away from conflict the way she used to. And when someone decides to go after El, who is still struggling to adjust to life outside of the Lab, Alina makes the final move that nearly ruins things for her completely.

Fortunately, there is a silver lining. If Alina can make it to spring break, she'll get to go back to Hawkins. A week with Lucas, her half-sister, Nicole, and all of the friends she's been aching to see seems like bliss—but Alina's not naive enough to believe that everything will be right as rain.

She's right, of course, though that doesn't make her any less disappointed. The day she arrives, a shocking murder rocks the town, which would be bad enough on its own without the details that unfold around it. Because the death of Chrissy Cunningham wasn't caused by some run-of-the-mill freak snapping out of control. There's a darkness unfolding, one that threatens to take over everything that Alina has ever known and loved. She'll have to fight her hardest in order to make it to the other side—and even then, she may not win.

A normal life was never in the cards for Alina Fairgrieves-Byers. But at this point, she's fighting just to have one at all. 

GABRIEL BURTON is having a rough time. After the events of last summer, all he wants is for life to return to normal. Unfortunately, everything around him seems to be changing faster than he can keep up with. His boyfriend has moved away, his grandpa is sick, and he's worried he's growing apart from his friends. But even worse is the enemy that he's spent the past eight months battling—one he's not sure he can end up beating in the end.

High school. 

Getting through four years of quickly piling up homework, strict teachers, and judgmental classmates seems impossible, especially without the full extent of the party by his side. So, when spring break comes, it feels like a breath of fresh air. Mrs. Byers has invited him and Mike to spend the week in California, and he can think of nothing better—here's an opportunity to spend seven whole days with Will, go roller skating, and have a temporary escape from the problems that have been plaguing him. What more could he ask for?

Of course, he should've known better. Because even outside of Hawkins, a town that has seen far too much news for its small population, trouble is brewing. Soon, Gabe finds himself on a harrowing road trip in the back of a pizza van, escaping government agents who seek to take down his friends. And, to make matters worse, his friends and family are in danger, and he can't even warn them of what's approaching. He must somehow figure out how to defeat an undefeatable evil—or risk the world as he knows it.

Geez Louise, can someone please give him a break?

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CAST

SOFIA WYLIE as Alina Fairgrieves-Byers

CHOSEN JACOBS as Gabriel Burton

with...

SINQUA WALLS as Brandon Fairgrieves ♱

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MIXTAPE

Side A.

A Place in California Jeremiah Burnham Hot Blooded Foreigner Bust A Move Young MC Boys Don't Cry The Cure Maneater Daryl Hall & John Oates California Dreamin' The Mamas & The Papas Break My Stride Matthew Wilder Mad World Tears For Fears 

Side B.

Pretty Girls Make Graves The Smiths Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) Kate Bush Anything, Anything Dramarama Babooshka Kate Bush We Belong Together Ritchie Valens Cherry Bomb The Runaways White Rabbit Jefferson Airplane Tonight You Belong To Me Nancy Sinatra

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DEDICATIONS

gordieseubank dynamicty99 saImondean Coruscant_Cosmonaut tameryawrites -empyreans rodrighoes_ ooTsty loveIieer sunszn -sarcasticfilms sadiesswift -virqoswrld jackboxes milevenmagic M-MADMAGES SPDERM4N kitconnorswiife cassie831alvarez blossomflow72 Alison_214

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WARNINGS

this book will contain show-typical violence, angst, death, blood, vomit, mentions of child abuse, homophobia, ableism, PTSD, and grief. other warnings may be added.

also contains: brandon fairgrieves and dolores burton povs, plenty of bonus scenes, improved writing, the return of skywalker, and two different plotlines!

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made by @saImondean !