CHAPTER SIX
( the makeover )

MADISON WALKER WAS upset to say the least. Her best friend was dead and he wasn't coming back. She was destined to not be in a good mood.

She could hear the news about Will from her bedroom, her dad seemed to have the tv on. She hadn't left her room and her dad didn't try to talk to her. He felt bad, but he didn't know what to say to her so he just did what he always did, ignored the problem. The girl hadn't spoken to any of the boys yet, they didn't mind. Everyone seemed to be in their own little world, unable to get together and talk.

Maddie had spent the whole morning just laying in bed, not mentally strong enough to actually get up and walk around. "Maddie? Do you copy?" Maddie's ears purked up at the sound of Mikes voice. She grabbed her walkie and just stared at it.

"Maddie, i know you're there!" Maddie ignored him again. "This is urgent. I'm serious. Lucas already pulled this crap, please." Maddie sighed and put her walkie next to her on her bed.

"I'm not gonna stop until you answers." He then began annoying the shit out of Maddie. "Maddie. Maddie. Maddie. Maddie. Maddie. Maddie. Maddie. Mad-" Maddie had enough and grabbed her walkie. "Shut up, Wheeler. Over and out."

"no, not "out." i'm not messing around, okay?" Maddie groaned. "neither am I Mike. stop."

The next thing she heard had her moving around her room and packing her bag. "It's about Will. Over."

Maddie frowned. "What about Will?" She waited for Mike to respond, though it took a second. "Just get over here and I will explain everything. Okay? Over and out."

Maddie sighed before slinging her bag over her shoulder and jumping out of her window. She grabbed her bike and made her way to Mike's.

THE KIDS SAT in Mikes basement watching as El turned the buttons on Mikes supercom. "We keep losing the signal, but you heard it, right?" Maddie looked at Mike, all she heard was random whimpering. "Yeah, i heard a baby." Lucas stated and Maddie nodded in agreement, it's the only logical conclusion.

"What?" Mike scoffed, hearing Will. Maddie sighed. "I think you're trying to find any reason to hold onto hope." Mike shakes his head no, he had heard Will. He heard him.

"Mike, you obviously tapped into a baby monitor." Lucas noted. "it's probably the blackburn's next door." Mike faced the two. "Uh, did that sound like a baby to you? And Maddie, this isn't me holding onto hope. That was Will!" Lucas sighed. "Mike..."

"Lucas, you don't understand. He spoke last night. Words! He was singing that weird song he loves. Even El heard him!" The mention of El made Lucas rolls his eyes. "Oh, well, if the weirdo heard him, then i guess—"

"Are you sure you're on the right channel?" Dustin looked at mike hopefully, obviously hoping this is all true. All the kids wanted it to be, it was just harder to persuade the pessimistic Lucas and the logical Maddie.

"I don't think it's about that. I think, somehow, she's channeling him." Mike tried to explain and Maddie looked at El. El obviously was able to manipulate stuff with her mind, why couldn't she contact him?

Dustin made a connection. "Like.... like Professor X." Mike nodded his head and smiled. "Are you actually believing this crap?" Lucas questioned, looking at Dustin. "I don't know, i mean.... do you remember when Will fell off his bike and broke his finger? He sounded a lot like that." The more Maddie thought about it, the more that statement became true.

"I don't know Lucas... maybe she did find Will." Lucas looked at Maddie, shocked that she was this easily persuaded while Mike smiled.

"Did you guys not see what i saw? They pulled Wills body out of the water. He's dead!" Dustin and Maddie looked down after Lucas's statement, the maybe passing of their friend going back into their minds.

"Well, maybe it's his ghost. Maybe he's haunting us." Dustin hypothesized and Mike sighed. "It's not his ghost."

Lucas looked back at Mike. "So how do you know that?" Mike groaned in annoyance. "I just do!" "Then what was that in the water?" Lucas countered.

"I don't know! All i know is Will is alive. Will is alive! He's out there somewhere. All we have to do is find him." Mike explained, trying to get his friends on his side.

"How do we do that?" Maddie questioned, looking Mike in the eyes. If there was even a chance Will was alive, she wanted to find him and if it ended up leading them nowhere, at least they tried.

"By having El use the supercom to contact him." Mike replied and then El took that as her cue and began messing around with the supercom. They all watched and waited but then El stopped trying and looked up at the group. Mike sighed. "Okay, this isn't going to work. We need to get El to a stronger radio."

Dustin smiled. "Mr. Clarke's heathkit ham shack." Mike smiled with a nod while Lucas pointed out the problem with the plan. "The heathkits at school. There is no way we're gonna get the weirdo in there without anyone noticing. I mean... look at her."

Maddie smacked Lucas over the head before smiling when she got an idea. "Leave that to me. You boys look for a wig and a dress." All the boys look at her confused but she just held her hand out for El, who took it before standing.

"Maddie where are you going?" Mike wondered while Maddie pulled El up to stairs. She turned back to the boys. "What are you boys doing just sitting there? Find her something to wear to school!"

Maddie then pulled El to Nancy's room for some makeup. She looked around until she found different bits of makeup and sat El down on the bed. Maddie smiled as El looked at her confused, obviously never seeing makeup before.

Maddie grabbed blush and a fluffy brush. "This is blush. It makes your cheeks look rosey and just adds color. I don't think you need makeup, El you're super pretty, but most girls our age do. I only wear a light bit, but still."

Maddie went to apply the blush but El moved back and eyes it weirdly, making maddie laugh. "It's okay. Trust me." She put some on herself to show El it was okay. "See? Nothing to worry about." El nodded allowing Maddie to put the blush on her face.

This is how it went. Everything Maddie was gonna do on El, she'd do to herself first to show El it wasn't scary.

A little later the boys came up to give El the outfit and wig. Maddie opened the door and grabbed the clothes, shutting it right after and shouting a small thank you once the door was shut.

Maddie smiled at El again. "Okay, last thing I promise. This is lipgloss. All it does is make your lips shinny and it tastes good when you lick your lips so that adds to its charm." Maddie put a q-tip into the gloss before applying some to her lips. El nodded, telling Maddie she was ready and so Maddie dipped a new q-tip into the gloss and applied it to Els lips.

Maddie left El to get dressed and was met by her three friends staring at her. Lucas looked confused, Dustin a bit shocked, and Mike was just staring in awe.

"What happened to your face?" Dustin questioned and Mike hit his shoulder. "Ignore him you look pretty." He coughed and Lucas looked at him weirded out. "good. pretty good."

Maddie smiled. "Thanks Wheeler. El was nervous so i put everything i put on her on me so she'd be comfortable with it." El then came out and Maddie smiled at her. "you look pretty El."

El went to the mirror and looked at herself. "pretty." Maddie went next to el and smiled. "You've always looked pretty, El. This is just a new pretty, but i like both versions." That made El smile.

The kids all ran out and hopped on their bikes, El on Maddie's, and they were off. As they biked, Maddie couldn't see it but El was leaning forwards staring at the world around her she'd never seen before in wonder.

They all kept biking till they reached the side entrance of the school. Mike led the group in, after they parked their bikes, towards the AV room.

"Okay, remember, if anyone sees us, look sad." Mike reminded as an announcement about an assembly for Will sounded out. The group made it to the AV room, but as Mike wiggled the handle, he quickly realized it was locked.

"it's locked." Mike told the rest of the group. "What?" Lucas questioned, going to shake the nob. Dustin looked to El. "Hey, do you think you could open it? With your powers?" Before El could even try, Mr. Clarke appeared.

"Boys?" Maddie fake coughed and Mr. Clarke looked her way. "Oh! So sorry, and Maddie."

All the boys quickly stop what they were doing and face Mr. Clarke. "Hey." Lucas smiled. "Assembly's about to start." Mr. Clarke reminded.

Mike started to look sad. "We know. We're just, you know..." "Upset." Finished Lucas still smiling. He quickly frowned, though, as he remembered he was meant to be sad.

That moment almost made Maddie burst out laughing, but she held her tongue.

"Yeah, definitely upset." Dustin added. Mike nodded. "We need some alone time."

"To cry." Dustin finished awkwardly. Mr. Clarke sighed and looked at the kids. "Yeah, listen... I get it. I do. I know how hard this is, but let's just be there for will, huh? And then..." He threw the keys to the AV room towards Mike. "The heathkit is all yours for the rest of the day. What do you say?"

All the kids smiled and nodded before Me. Clarke looked at El a bit confused. "I don't believe we've met. What's your name?"

"Eleve-" El began but Mike cut her off. "Eleanor! She's my, uh-" Lucas then cut Mike off. "Cousin." Dustin finished it off. "Second cousin."

Mike sighed. "She's here for Wills funeral." Mr. Clarke nodded. "Ah, well, welcome to Hawkins Middle, Eleanor. I wish you were here under better circumstances."

"Thank you." Mr. Clarke looked at her confused, her unused voice obviously showing. "Uh, where are you from exactly?"

"Bad place—" El began but was quickly cut off. "Sweden!" Dustin improvised and mike nodded. "I have a lot of Swedish family."

"She hates it there." Lucas added with a smile. Mr. Clarke looked at Maddie and she just nodded her head. "Cold!" Mike continued. "Subzero." Dustin emphasized before Mr. Clarke just looked at the group weirdly. "Shall we?"

"Yep!" Lucas stated and the group made their way towards the gym. Once there, they walk into the principle already giving his speech.

Their appearance made everyone in the gym look their way. Dustin looked at all the kids and whispered to his friends quickly. "Abort." He began trying to turn around but Lucas pushed him towards the bleachers.

The group walked into the bleachers and the principal continues his speech. The group was sat Lucas, Mike, El, Maddie, and then Dustin as they listened to the speech go on. When Maddie heard giggling, she immediately knew who it is and turned her head to glare at Troy and James.

"mouth breather." Maddie looked at El and nodded her head in agreement before she went back to watching Troy and James make fun of her friend, which made her very mad.

After a little bit, the assembly ended and everyone went to leave. Maddie storms up to Troy and James as they continued to laugh together.

"Troy! Hey dumbass!" That caught his attention. The boy turned around and smirked. "What can I do for you, babe!" Maddie rolled her eyes. "First of all, I'm not your babe, not even close. And second, I think it's a really shitty thing to do, you know? Laugh at a dead kid? How deep do your issues have to go for you to sit there and laugh?"

Troy looked the girl up and down before scoffing. "As if. I'm not the one with the issues, at least both of my parents are alive and my dad wants to be around me. How does it feel, Maddie? Knowing that he'd rather be out screwing any whore he can find than being near you."

Troy continued. "You know Madison i bet your mom didn't even die of the cancer. No, i bet, she died early because she just couldn't take being around you or anyone else in your screwed up family any longer."

Maddie looked at the boy furious. She had no clue how he even knew about her dad, even her friends didn't know. But she knew damn well that he'd never open his mouth like that towards her again, ever.

"You know, Troy... I honestly feel bad. You must have some real issues with the constant projection. How many times has your mom cheated? This would have been the 7th time, right? Go fuck yourself." Maddie spat. She didn't care who was listening now, rage was fueling every move.

Troy looked at the girl just as angry. He didn't like that people knew about his home life. He didn't like that she knew about his home life. Troy got up in Maddie's face, but she didn't even flinch. "Don't even think about saying anything about my family till you fix the mess of your own. How long has it been since your uncle could even stay in the same room as you without needing to leave? Yeah, I've seen it. The way that the adults in your life could only be around you when your mom was alive. Guess not everyone deserves to be loved."

With that statement, Maddie slapped the boy across the face. A bunch of kids who had been watching gasped. Everyone wanted to watch what would happen next between the two.

They were ready to see Maddie Walked finally explode.

Many people were rooting for her, wanting Troy off his high horse. But others just wanted to watch Troys dilutions finally crumble. The dilutions that Maddie Walker would ever have a crush on him. They didn't care who ended up on top, they just wanted to see someone fall.

Troy stared at the girl in shock before shoving her as hard as he could to the ground. Maddie looked at the boy with pure hatred, her scuffed up palms didn't even hurt as she was so blinded by her rage.

Lucas and Dustin where quick to run to the girls aid as Mike walked closer to Troy, taking Maddies place and getting in his face. "Don't you touch her!"

"What are you gonna do Wheeler?" James laughed. Troy and James had a bit of fear when it came to Maddie, both knowing if she wasn't held back she'd go off. As for Mike, neither boy even batted an eye at his attempt to stand up for his friend. So, the two began to walk off, but Mike wasn't done yet. He went up and pushed Troy, making Troy fall flat on his face. Mike smiled proudly to himself, finding this little bit of justice for his friend. Troy let out a breath in anger before standing up and turning back to Mike, fully pissed off.

"You're dead, Wheeler! Dead!" Troy went to run at Mike before he suddenly froze, unable to move. Everyone looks at him confused until his pants begin to go a darker shade in the front.

Troy had just peed himself.

Maddie looked over to see blood had begun to go down Els nose, which made her smile a bit. El had made Troy pee himself by squeezing his bladder.

"Dude, Troy peed himself." Everyone around began to laugh at Troy as he continued to be stuck and watch people laugh in horror. Maddie got off the ground as Mike looked back at El, who just wiped her nose and walked off.

"Hey! What's going on here?" Maddie turned to see the principle and kids start to leave the gym quickly. Maddie and Dustin followed El out while Lucas went to get Mike.

Maddie walked next to El, smiling at the girl. "Thanks for protecting him, that was really cool of you." El smiled at the girl. "I did it.... for both of you. Friends." Maddie nodded. "Friends."

The boys caught up to the girls as they continue to the AV room. Mike grabs Maddie's wrist, which makes her turn to look at him. "Hey, you okay? What was Troy talking about... with your dad?" Mike questioned and Maddie frowned. She definitely did not want to talk to him about it. "Honestly, can we just not talk about it? I really don't want to get into it right now."

Mike hesitantly nodded. "Um, sure. Later?" Maddie shrugged. "Maybe." She quickened her pace again, going back to walking with El. Lucas and Dustin both sent Mike worried glances and he just shrugged. He was confused as to what exactly Troy had meant. And he was confused why someone like Troy knew more about what was happening with Maddie and her family than the party did. Then he did.

But he had to ignore it for now. They had to contact Will. So, once inside, Mike made sure to lock the door to the room so no one can get in and ushered El into the seat in front of the heathkit.

"Now what?" Dustin questioned as he stood behind El. Mike and Lucas began to turn the heathkit on and mike sighed. "She'll find him. Right, El?"

El puts her hands on the table and closed her eyes. Maddie looks around at her friends and Dustin just shrugged before going back to watching El.

Maddie's gaze went to el as the boys talked. "She's doing it! She's finding him!" Mike exclaimed excitedly, he wanted to prove Will was okay. Dustin sighed. "This is crazy."

"Calm down. She just closed her eyes." Lucas responded and at any other time Maddie would have some type of rebuttal, but she just really wasn't in the mood. Right after Lucas said that, the lights above went out, leaving them with only the light of the heathkit.

"Yeah, Lucas that's more than closing her eyes." Maddie mumbled, keeping her eyes on El. Lucas sent her a look but it was more worried than anything else.

The group began to hear noises from the heathkit, making them get closer to El quickly. The noises continued to intensify as time went on.

"What is that?" Dustin questioned as the noises continued, no one having an answer for him.

"Mom?" The voice of Will questioned, Maddie gasped out loud. "No way!" Lucas exclaimed as the kids all listened to the heathkit, El did it. She proved Will was alive.

"Mom..." Wills voice continued. "Please... mom!" Mike grabbed the microphone that was used to talk to people and shouted to Will. "Will!"

"Will, it's us! Are you there?" Lucas continued Dustin and Maddie make eye contact, the girl grabbing his hand in comfort for the both of them as he lightly smiled at her and they turned their attention back to what was happening.

"Can you hear us? We're here!" Dustin added before wills voice came bacm. "hello? mom?" Maddie frowned. "Why can't he hear us?" Mike looked towards her anxiously. "I don't know!"

"It's like home, but it's so dark... it's so dark and empty. And it's cold! Mom? Mom!" Maddie put her hand over her mouth to stop herself from saying anything. One of her best friends was scared and in danger, and she didn't know how to help him.

The heathkit suddenly exploded. All the kids, besides El, got up suddenly and tried to move away from it as it caught fire and the lights came back on. The fire alarm began to go off and Dustin ran to grabs the fire extinguisher, putting out the flame.

Maddie looked at El worriedly to see the veins around her eyes showing and El looked like she was gonna pass out. She puts her hand on Els shoulder, El looked at her a bit and lightly laid her head against Maddies hand for comfort. Maddie begun to try and help El stand, Lucas helping quickly.

They put El on a cart and begin racing her out the back of the school, the opposite way everyone else was going. After turning a corner Mike told them where to go. "This way." They turned once again.

The group got El out and the boys helped El onto the back of Maddie's bike. Maddie grabbed Els arms and pulled them around her body and she then felt Els head rest against her back.

The boys all got to their bikes and the group, slowly, began biking back towards Mikes. The whole way back, Maddie made sure that El was safe on her bike.

When they all get to Mike's, Maddie and Dustin helped El onto the couch in the basement. Maddie sat on said couch and let El lay her head in her lap.

The boys all began to discuss what they had heard.

AUTHORS NOTE!
I start school so soon and I'm not excited to go back fill time in person