I was sitting up in the tree looking down at El to make sure she was okay. I haven't slept much since the incident yesterday with the boys. Eleven wakes up, breathing heavily I jump down from the tree hugging her.

"Monsters aren't pretty." El whispers to me.

"Hey your not the monster El you didn't open the gate 9 year old me did. And your very pretty." I answered hugging her close.

"Food?" El asks me. I nod and take her Bradley's Big Buy. El walks over to the store still holding my hand. Upbeat music playing on PA indistinct chatter. Alex remembers being in the lab.

"It's okay, Ten. Don't be frightened. These are all friends. They're just here to watch. Don't focus on them. Stay in here, like before." Brenner says. 

"Yes, Papa." I answered.

"Now, remember. Whatever it is, it can't hurt you. Not from here. So there's nothing to be frightened of. It's reaching out to you... 'cause it wants you. Hmm? It's calling you... so don't turn away from it this time. I want you to find it. Understand?" He asks.

"Yes." I answered. Cuts back to present day.

"Are you lost? Is your mom here? Your dad?" The manager asks.

"Bold of you to assume we have a mom and dad." I answered looking at his shocked face to my words.

"Mouth breather." El answered making me laugh. El looks around and grabs some Eggo boxes while I look for chocolate.

"What should we do?" I heard the Clerk say.

"Uh... Call the police. Excuse me. Young lady! You know you have to pay for those! Hey! Stop right-" The manager tries woman screams as Eleven uses her powers to push a trolley in front of the manager.

"Please. You have to pay for those! Stop right there! Thief! Thief!" The manager yells I flip him off walking out with my chocolate. Eleven walks out of the store with the Eggos she uses her powers to slam the doors closed, the glass shattering. I smiled at her and walked away with her. Me and El were sitting down eating our things.

"El! Tess!" I could hear shouting.

"Eleven! Ten! Eleven! Ten! El! Tess!" I could hear Mike. 

"El we better go they are friends." I said looking at her before she nodded.

"El! Tess! Eleven! Ten!" Dustin yelled. Me and El followed the four boys. I saw Mike jump off. I made Troy and James fall down in pain while El got Mike back to safety. The boys looked over and saw an angry Alex and a angry El walking over.  

"Go!" El starts.

"Away!" I yelled letting the boys go. They started running,

"Yeah, that's right! You better run! They are our friend and they are crazy! You come back here and they'll kill you! You hear me? They'll kill you, you sons of bitches! They'll kill you, you hear me?" Dustin yells.

Alex and Eleven almost faints.

"El, Alex, are you okay? El? Alex?" Mike asks.

"Mike... I'm sorry." I answered.

"Sorry? What are you sorry for?" Mike asked looking at me.

"The gate... I opened it. I'm the monster." I answered.

"No. No, Tess, you're not the monster. You saved us. Do you understand? You saved us." Mike answered. Mike pulls me and Eleven into a hug Dustin joins the hug we walk home.

We all except Lucas arrive at the basement door and goes inside.