Despite her previous encounter, Melissa Byers wasn't going to let Billy Hargrove ruin her day. There is nothing he could do to determine the mood she would feel. Mandy and Kat were disturbed, to say the least, learning with Billy's lacklustre of respect for her as a woman who's in an a relationship. Though Amanda's offer, at the least sounding tempting to follow, she'll find Billy to 'beat his ass for harassing her best friend' she didn't wish Mandy to have a charge for aggravated assault. Hopper would agree.

" What has you deep in thought? Thinking 'bout that chief of yours, Missy?"

Milly is brought back to reality by a new voice coming from in-front of her. There stood a face she hadn't seen since arriving back in Hawkins last year. " Oh my goodness. Murray! I haven't heard from you in such a long time!" Murray joyously booms out a laugh, catching Melissa in time, intercepting her hug.

" You are out in the world? What brings you here? I thought I'd only ever see you in your hermit hole."

A scoff left Murray. Pretending hurt. He scoured the outside of Melissa's boutique, in case there are implanted microscopic listening bugs Brenner placed in the store.

" You can call it whatever you please, Missy. But I took risks coming here, to warn you. You aren't safe." He forewords, phrasing his statement in a manner where he changed his tone to not alarm her.

" Why am I not safe? What.. what're you saying Murray?" Asks Milly, wanting to understand if she was hearing him right.

" I know your secret, you've hidden, Miss. about your true identity. Brenner. Everyone. Don't give me that face, it's not a crime for me to want to look out for you. Including the part where you have Powers."

Milly had forgotten his previous line of work.

He was an investigative journalist working for Chicago times. Fired and outcasted for making conspiracists reports, the Russians invaded the United States of America working covert operations to conspire against them. In Milly's honest opinion, Murray could be intense. Too honest. Melissa rubbed her head.

" let me get this right. You don't contact me for a Year, and now you say all of this, thinking that it's fine?".

" I had my reasons." He shot back, puffing out air. " I was building a classified case on your behalf, and the Hollands, That is all I can say."

'The Hollands? Barbara's parents? Nancys friend. How does he know them?' Melissa had enough on her plate to worry about. El. Will. Her brother, Mom, a grandfather that wants to take her child, and Hopper. Added stress is not the solution for her.

" Say if what you're saying is all true. I don't need you being so Willy-nilly with how loud you are being, knowing I have these powers."

Milly snips. Her words sharp, low.

There was a high risk chance someone from Hawkins lab could be listening, in while he's sprouting a whole heap of incriminating material and her risk of being made.

" Look. Mills, Missy. That is why I came all this way. Why is it you think I came from Illinois, to here? There's nothing in the world I want than to see these pricks fall. But I cherish the friendship I have, with you, more. I don't wish what they're doing on my worst enemies."

Melissa understood the cautious, and hard, risk he'd taken traversing to Hawkins. In order to get the word out.

Milly, knowing her role in the world had changed since last year's events, liked knowing she could have a friend outside of those she trusted.

" Thank you, Murray. You just gotta know this is everything i can't make a proper comprehension of myself. My powers I mean."

Joyce gifted her a letter written from Abraham, on the night of her twenty third birthday. She hadn't opened it. Being afraid to be confronted by the truth, her whole life is one massive lie. It terrified Milly to even think of the contents.

" All I can say is this. Your secret is safe with me, Missy. I need to take my leave, I've spent a lotta time here more than needed. Come here."

Murray clamoured Melissa's body, in his arms. He loathed human connection and its entirety, however there are instances of exceptions. She is one. " Stay indoors. It's safer here than out there in the world."

Milly blocks his unkempt beard with one hand. The rims of his reading glasses fogged, from a radiator heater warming the work space.

" Duly noted, Mar. Duly noted."

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Melissa slouches her head, and shoulders, as she ducked under a loosening picture on Wills wall. Will had drawings of his dungeon and dragons campaign, and him in purple robes he wore as an old wizard named 'Will the wise'. It did not take will long until he'd seen her.

" Mil. Hi! Are you coming trick-or-treating tonight?" He moved his crayons to the side. Milly sat on his bed.

" I might be. Don't you think it's a bit odd for me to join? You want your old sister there. Are you sure?" Asks Milly, admiring the talent her little brother has. His scribbled and colourful portraits, on paper, a reminder of his past ones he's sent to her in mail. " Of course. I need you to go with me! I don't want you spending a day like Halloween alone. Jonathan is too! Please."

How could Milly say 'no' to will. She pretended to give it a thought. Her smile gave it away. He beams an enormous grin on his face.

" You hit T to zoom in. W zooms back out. See? Easy-peasy." Bob Newman, Joyce's new boy friend she began dating a few months after the return of will, did a step-by-step on how to use a digital recording camera for Jonathan. " Just make sure to turn off the power to save energy there." Bob prosthetic dollar store fangs, fitted on his teeth, to complement his Count Dracula costume had Melissa dying of laughter. Bob is the first one at speaking up, hidden by his arm.

" You mocking the Dracula? My dear. Prepare for your blood to be sucked."

He mocked a fake accent, copying an old Hollywood script. Milly waved her hands acting scared. " Don't kill me. I'm too pretty and young to die." Bob laughed.

" So. Melissa, I hear things are going good in that relationship of yours, with chief hopper. I have to say when I first heard, I didn't expect it to be him of all people. Not that I'm trying to tell you who you should or shouldn't be with."

Milly smiled. She understood his concerns for her. He was the first person to admit he wasn't all expecting her to pursue a relationship that had a significant gap in age differences.

Joyce's words. 'She is a consenting adult and a grown woman.'

Melissa wasn't ignorant to the stares she'd got in town, at the police station, just anywhere all those could see her being affectionate to Jim.

" I know. Thanks, Bob. It's a work in progress. I will admit." Noticing her frown, Bob put his hand grasping it on her arm.

" You alright, M?" She tried smiling, Bob knew better.

" Don't let those dinguses in town get the best of you. I hate to see you be down about who you love. I know the heart wants what it wants. Cherish it. 'Kay? There are going to be highs, your lows, in every relationship. That is how you know it'll be okay in the end. Make it stronger. I can see how much you love the chief and he with you."

Bobs advice brought a new light of life in her eyes. She loved Jim. She has never loved no one much as she did with he. Her life started when she came back to Hawkins, meeting him. Again. He's the whole reason he made her a mother, to eleven. She hugged Bob.

" Now. Go enjoy your trick-or-treating. Be a kid, for one night, let your inhibitions and stress of life out of your mind."

Bob ruffled her hair. " have fun! M."

'I'm certainly hoping I will.'

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Kat and Mandy had made an agreement on meeting Melissa at Mike wheelers house. The party of three Lucas, Dustin, Mike made sure to express their opinion known on being babysat by their older sisters.

Dustin, ecstatic is one word to describe him, shared his white candy satchel knowing his sister didn't bring one.

Katherine, plastic devil horns on her head to replicate Satan, munched her teeth chewing a peanut butter Reese chocolate bar he gave.

Amanda, arguing about authenticity and how much of a budget ghostbusters used to make it look 'trashy' with Lucas, halted her speech. She spots Milly coming out of her brother's car.

" I was real close to committing a murder, Mel. You hadn't step out a second later, chief would have been called on me. This little shit stays continuing to raise my blood pressure." Mandy states, cat whiskers face painted on her cheeks and Fluffy ears included.

" You look adorable, man." Milly giggles. " I am sorry 'bout you know, yesterday. Making you guys leave early." Katherine offered a piece of candy to Melissa, she takes it grinning.

" Don't mind if I do."

Mandy was pushed out of the way by her brother. " Will! Dude! You're here!" He cheered, excited he had his friend back. Kat smiled to her own brother racing over to will.

" Brings me memories of our times together. I missed the age, they are. Carefree. Not a single care about life. They're being kids. Just.. kids." Melissa observed. Amanda wrapped one arm in hers, Kat crossing hers sticking close to Milly. " it's the way it should be. Nothing else."

" Why do I have a feeling you've just jinxed it?"

" I probably did. That is a later problem, let's just go and get a shit ton of candy to eat. Until we throw it all up. Come on."

JASMINE SPEAKS;

Short chapter again. Consider this a Filler chapter of the sorts. I wanted to focus on Bob, Murray, Amanda and Katherine's relationship with Milly than hopper.

You will be seeing a whole lot of Jim x Milly content in the later chapters. I can't wait on your reaction to my plans.

Some will include a few scenes where Murray is being Melissa best friend in season four and has another role. I'm hoping these won't change your opinion on my book.

Because there'll be a story trope added.

®️ Written by Jasmine. 2024.