CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
( stay on the bench )

"HE LIKES IT cold." Joyce realized as she looked towards the open window in Wills room. "What?" Hopper questioned confused, looking towards the woman. "It's what Will kept saying to me. He likes it cold." She shut the window. "We keep giving it what it wants."

Nancy looked around slowly. "If this is a virus, and Will's the host, then..." Jonathan nodded, realizing what she was saying. "Then we need to make the host uninhabitable." Nancy sighed. "So if he likes it cold..."

"We need to burn it out if him." Joyce finished. "We have to do it somewhere he doesn't know this time." Mike instructed. "Yeah, somewhere far away." Dustin nodded. Hopper sat there for a moment. "I have a place we can take him."

And then, they were all off. Nancy, Joyce, and Jonathan were taking Will to Hoppers cabin and we're going to try and burn the mind flayer out of the boy so El could close the gate. And while the three of them did that, Hopper would be taking El to said gate to prepare to close it.

Which seemed to leave Steve Harrington with the rest of the kids. El quickly hugged Maddie, using this as a see you later moment for the two. "Give that gate hell, okay?" Maddie mumbled, hugging the girl back just as tight. El let go, smiling. "Hell."

She walked away from Maddie and went towards Hoppers car, the two pulling out of the driveway as the rest of the group watched them leave. Maddie was the first back inside the house, looking around for anything she could use that might be helpful.

Everyone else seemed to follow, working on their own small projects. Steve and Dustin put the Demo-Dog in the fridge and once they were done Steve turned his attention towards Maddie, who he saw walking out of Wills room with a bat in hand.

Steve smacked Dustins chest quickly to get his attention. "Hey, what's your friends name? The girl over there with the brown hair." Dustin turned to steve confused as to why he was asking. "Maddie. She—"

Though he didn't get to finish as Steve cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled out towards the girl. "Hey! Maddie!" Maddie turned around to look at the older boy curiously. "Yeah?" Steve ushered her over towards him. "You're my new favorite. Come over here and let's get some nails in your bat."

Maddie caught Mikes gaze and just shrugged at the look of utter confusion he was sending her, making her way over to the older boy before handing him the bat. "It's not my bat." Maddie told him, though he didn't seem to care. "A bats a bat."

"Oh... kay. Here." She handed him the bat, to which Steve immediately began hammering nails into said bat with scary ability. Maddie assumed he'd done it before, which she also didn't know how to feel about.

Once he was done, Steve sent Maddie on her way as he began working with Dustin to get the Demo-Dog hidden away for the time being. Maddie was fine to do something else, joining Max, Lucas, and Mike with cleaning. Well, Max and Lucas cleaned while Mike paced around.

Maddie picked up a broom and swept the glass off the floor best she could, putting the glass into a pile for Lucas and Max to fully clean. But Lucas wasn't having it with Mikes pacing, "Mike, would you just stop already?"

"You weren't in there, okay, Lucas? That lab is swarming with hundreds of those dogs." Mike explained.

"Demo-dogs!" Dustin yelled, unhelpfully, from the other room.

"The chief will take care of her." Lucas responded, everyone ignoring Dustin's comment. Maddie rolled her eyes, still angry with her uncle. "Like she needs protection." Max mumbled to herself.

Steve walked over, ready to give Mike some advice. "Listen, dude, a coach calls a play in a game, bottom line, you execute it. All right?" Mike just looked at him, unimpressed. "Okay, first of all, this isn't some stupid sports game. And second, we're not even in the game. We're on the bench."

"Righ— So my point is... Right, yeah, we're on the bench, so, uh, there's nothing we can do." Steve concluded, throwing a towel over his shoulder. "That was just incredibly unhelpful." Maddie noted. Steve pointed a finger at her. "Attitude? Unhelpful."

Maddie just gave him a look, completely and utterly shocked Jonathan and Nancy were willing to leave all of them with him in the first place.

"That's not entirely true. Steves thing— not Maddie's. She was right. I mean, these Demo-dogs, they have a hive mind. When they ran away from the bus, they were called away." Dustin explained. Lucas pointed toward him, thinking more into Dustins plan. "So if we get their attention..."

"Maybe we can draw them from the lab." Max finished, realizing where the two boys were going. "Clear a path to the gate." Mike further contributed. "And boom, everything is solved." Maddie added, wanting a positive spin on the situation, for once.

"Yeah, and then we all die." Steve shot back, throwing his arms out as he looked around the group. "That's one point of view." Dustin replied. "No, that's not a point of view, man. That's a fact." Steve frowned, looking the boys way.

"I got it!" Mike realized, running past everyone. They all quickly followed, watching as the boy bent down and pointed at the map Will had made. "This is where the chief dug his hole. This is our way into the tunnel. So..." He moved past them all again, moving to another part of the map. "Here, right here. This is like a hub. So you got all the tunnels feeding in here. Maybe if we set this on fire..."

"Oh, yeah? That's a no." Steve cut in. "The mind flayer would call away his army." Dustin realized. "They'd all come to stop us." Lucas added.

"Hey." Steve spoke. "We circle back to the exit." Mike continued, looking at his friends. "Guys." Steve tried again. "By the time they realize we're gone..." Mike spoke. "El would be at the gate." Max nodded.

"Hey. Hey! Hey! Hey! This is not happening." Steve decided, placing his hands on his hips. "But—" Mike tried. "No, no, no, no, no. No buts. I promised I'd keep you shitheads safe, and that's exactly what I plan on doing. We're staying here. On the bench. And we're waiting for the starting team to do their job. Does everybody understand that?" Steve questioned.

Maddie just rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "This isn't a stupid sports game." Mike shot back. "I said does everybody understand that. I need a yes." Steve bossed.

The kids just looked between each other, all very obviously annoyed by the older boy. And then they heard a car rev, peaking everyone's interest as Max ran over to the window with Lucas on her tail. "It's my brother. He—He can't know I'm here. He'll kill me. He'll kill us."

"All of you stay in here." Steve decided, stepping out of the house.

The five kids immediately ran to the window, all watching silently as Steve talked with Billy. They couldn't hear a thing but the way the two boys even just looked at each other showed their distain.

Maddies eyes widened as Billy suddenly pointed their way with his cigarette, all five kids ducking away from the window. "Shit. Did he see us?" Dustin questioned. "Definitely." Maddie replied, all five moving away from the window and backing up into the Byers house as Billy threw the door open.

"Well, well, well." Billy spoke, slamming the door shut behind him. Maddie had never wanted Steve Harrington around more as she looked at the other boy. "Lucas Sinclair. What a surprise." He spoke before shooting his head toward Max. "I thought I told you to stay away from him, Max."

"Billy, go away." Max fought back. Maddie felt Mike grab her hand, pulling her behind him slightly. She didn't fight it, keeping her hand interlocked with his as she stared forward nervously.

"You disobeyed me. And you know what happens when you disobey me." Billy spoke slowly. "Billy..." Max frowned. "I break things." Billy finished before suddenly grabbing Lucas, moving the boy across the room and slamming him against a cupboard. "Billy! Stop! Billy! Stop!" Max screamed, the rest of the group yelling with her for the older boy to let their friend go.

"Let him go you asshole!" Maddie yelled, watching horrified as Billy stared at Lucas. "Since Maxine won't listen to me, maybe you will. You stay away from her. Stay away from her! You hear me?" Lucas just frowned, pushing forward. "I said get off me!"

He kneed Billy in the dick, the older boy leaning over himself in pain. "You are so dead, Sinclair! You're dead." Billy glared, only to get pushed away from the boy when Steve came back in. "No. You are." Maddie watched as Steve punched Billy across the face, shocked. "Steve!" Max gasped, watching as well.

Billy began laughing and Lucas took that as his time to go back to his friends, all of them immediately wrapping him up in their arms.

"Looks like you got some fire in you after all, huh? I've been waiting to meet this King Steve everybody's been telling me so much about." Billy yelled, moving close to Steve. "Get out." Steve replied, pushing Billy back with two fingers.

There was silence for a moment before Billy swung, Steve dodging before punching Billy in the face again. "Yes! Kick his ass, Steve!" Dustin yelled. "Get him!" Mike added as Steve punched Billy again. "Mess him up!" Maddie joined in, watching as Steve punched Billy yet again.

"Murder that son of a bitch!" Dustin shouted. "Now! Now!"

"Get that shithead!" Mike continued. "Kill the son of a bitch!" Dustin repeated. Maddie's eyes widened as she watched Billy grab a plate, cupping her hands over her mouth. "Steve watch out for the plate!"

Billy then threw the plate on Steve, the Harrington boy moving away from Billy slowly in pain. Maddie jumped back as Billy swung again, Dustin squatting down to avoid the blow as Billy just continued to chase Steve before grabbing him in the living room.

"No one tells me what to do." Billy spoke, slamming his head into Steve's and sending the other boy to the ground. "Whoo! Get up!"

"Hey! Stop! You're gonna kill him." Dustin screamed as they all watched in horror as Billy got on top of Steve and began punching him over and over again. "Get off of him you dick!" Maddie yelled, feeling Mike holding her back from trying anything.

But it didn't seem she had to as Max ran forward, ignoring her friends calls as she stuck something in Billy's neck, pressing down to reveal the same kind of syringe Hopper had used on Will to make him sleep.

Billy stood up, syringe still in his neck. He looked toward all the kids before pulling it out, walking toward Max. "The hell is this? You little shit, what did you do? What did you do?" Billy wondered, suddenly falling to the ground with a laugh.

"Holy shit." Mike gasped. Maddie watched as Max looked at Steve's bat, suddenly grabbing it and holding it up where her step-brother could see it. "From here on out, you leave me and my friends alone. Do you understand?"

"Screw you." Billy replied. Max then swung the bat down, barely missing Billy's dick before pulling it back up again. "Say you understand! Say it! Say it!" Max screamed.

"I understand." Billy spoke quietly. "What?" Max wondered. "I understand." Billy restated louder before closing his eyes. Max dropped the bat to the ground, grabbing the car keys in Billy's pocket before holding them up to the group. "Let's get out of here."

The four just looked between each other nervously, all nodding to the girl.

MADDIE SAT IN the back of Billy's car beside Mike with Dustin on Mikes other side while Lucas sat up front with Max while she drove, giving her directions. Max had promised she knew how to drive and now with their supplies needed for their plan, the group was on their way to the opening into Wills map.

But craziest of all was an unconscious Steve Harrington lying across the three in the back as Dustin kept an ice pack to his head. Everyone else thought they should just leave him behind in Joyce's room or something, but Dustin was adamant on bringing the older boy along.

Maddie watched as Steve began to stir awake, eyes going to Mike confused. "Nancy?" Mike just sent the boy a look, definitely not expecting to be mistaken for his sister as Steve moved to touch his eyes. "No, don't touch it. Hey, buddy... Shh. It's okay. You put up a good fight. He kicked your ass, but you put up a good fight. You're okay. You're okay." Dustin soothed, well, the best he could.

Maddie frowned as Steve's feet began to move around her while the boy tried to understand what was going on around him, leaning closer to Mike to get away from the bottom half of Steve Harrington.

"Okay, you're gonna keep straight for half a mile, then make a left on Mount Sinai. "What's going on?" Steve wondered, eyes widening as he realized Max was driving. "Oh, my God!"

"Steve, just relax. She's driven before." Dustin tried to calm. "Yeah, in a parking lot." Mike shot back. "That counts." Lucas defended. "Mike, would you rather drive?" Maddie asked, sending Mike a quick look "No." He replied. "That's what I thought." Maddie nodded, turning forward again.

"Oh, my God." Steve just stressed once more. "They were gonna leave you behind. But I promised that you'd be cool, okay?" Dustin explained. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What's going on?" Steve yelled, only shouting more are Max hit the exhilaration.

"He is not being very cool, Dustin." Maddie noted, plugging her ears as Steve continued to yell. "Oh, my God. No! Whoa! Stop the car. Slow down."

"I told you he'd freak out." Mike shot at Dustin. "Stop the car!" Steve yelled again. "Get him to shut up!" Maddie added, facing Dustin's way. "Everybody shut up! I'm trying to focus!" Max yelled over Steve's screaming.

"Oh, wait, that's Mount Sinai. Make a left." Lucas yelled. "What?" Max wondered, not hearing him. "Make a left. Turn left!" Lucas screamed again.

Max turned left suddenly, throwing everyone around as Lucas screamed.

"Hello!" Steve shouted as Max brought the car to a stop when they made it, Maddie breathing deeply to calm her racing heart. "Incredible." Mike breathed out, actually impressed that Max had gotten them all there without crashing.

"I told you. Zoomer." Max replied, everyone quickly getting out of the car and getting into their gear to go down. Maddie tied the bandana around her face, hoping to keep all the nasty stuff in the hole out of her. She then put her goggles on, ready to be fully protected.

"Oh, no. Guys. Hey, where do you think you're going? What are you, deaf? Hello? We are not going down there right now. I made myself clear. Hey, there's no chance we're going to that hole, all right? This ends right now!" Steve yelled, all of the kids ignoring him as he spoke while they continued to set up their plan.

"Steve, you're upset, I get it. But the bottom line is, a party member requires assistance, and it is our duty to provide that assistance. Now, I know you promised Nance that you would keep us safe. So, keep us safe." Dustin spoke while the rest of the group finished setting up to rope.

"I'll go down first." Mike spoke, slowly moving to the rope they'd tied against the car and going down into the hole. "Maddie!" He yelled, signaling for the girl to go next. She took in a breath, beginning to slide down the rope herself.

Maddie felt someone grab her as she got closer to the ground, Mike immediately helping to slow her down and help her land safely. Once she was away from the rope the rest of the group continued to come down, Steve being the last one down as they all looked around.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's this way." Mike voiced, shining a light on the crayon map he'd made to help them all travel through the tunnels. "You're pretty sure, or you're certain?" Dustin questioned in response.

"I'm 100% sure. Just follow me and you'll know." Mike yelled back, turning to face the boy for a moment annoyed before going to lead the group. Maddie moved to walk with him, Steve yelling out stopping her in her tracks. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, hey, hey. I don't think so. Any of you little shits die down here, I'm getting the blame. Got it, dipshit?" He turned to the rest of the group. "From here on out, I'm leading the way. Come on, let's go."

"So dramatic." Maddie spoke, following the boy. "Come on." Steve just replied, looking behind himself. "Hey, a little hustle." He finished.

The group continued silently as they followed Steve, trying to find the one zone on the map that would be perfect for their idea. "God." Lucas frowned as he pointed his flashlight up. "What is this place?" Max wondered. "Nasty. It's nasty." Is all Maddie replied with, looking around as well with a frown.

"Guys, come on. Keep moving." Steve instructed.

They all did, until they heard Dustin scream from back where they came. "Help! Help! Help!" Dustin yelled.

They all ran back as Dustin fell before them, scaring the group. "Dustin!" Mike gasped. "Shit!" Dustin screamed again. "What happened? What happened?" Steve questioned, pushing past the scared kids.

"It's in my mouth! Some got in my mouth! Shit!" Dustin screamed, coughing a bit. A moment later he looked back up, all the chaos gone. "I'm okay."

"You serious?" Max questioned, annoyed. "Jesus, dude." Maddie sighed, turning away. She thought he was actually in trouble. "Very funny, man. Nice. Very nice." Steve added, turning around to lead the group again. "Jesus, what an idiot." Max groaned.

"Hang on. Wait, wait." Dustin spoke, catching up to the group as they continued forward again.

"All right, Wheeler. I think we found your hub." Steve spoke, everyone shining their lights around to see all the different tunnels leading to the large one they now stood in. "Let's drench it." Mike spoke.

They all got to work, drenching the hub in gasoline from top to bottom, trying not to miss a spot. Maddie threw the gasoline everywhere she could, hoping it would work.

Once they were done they all moved back to their original tunnel, looking into the hub. "All right. You guys ready?" Steve wondered. "Yeah." Mike nodded. "Ready." The other four agreed at once, all watching as Steve pulled out his lighter.

"Light her up." Dustin nodded. "I am in such deep shit." Steve sighed, igniting the flame on his lighter. He threw it forward, the hub immediately going up in flames. "Go! Let's go, let's go!" Steve yelled, letting all the kids run away before following behind them.

"Let's go, let's go!" Steve yelled again. "Oh, my God. Oh, my God." Dustin freaked, the whole group just leaving as quickly as they could.

"Help! Help!" Mike suddenly screamed from in front of everyone. "Mike!" Maddie yelled, running toward the boy and seeing the strange tentacle vine wrapping itself around his leg. "Steve, pull him out." Dustin yelled.

"Everybody back! Back!" Steve yelled as the kids tried to pull Mike away. He started slamming his bat down on the tentacle, Maddie immediately letting Mike go and taking her own bat out of her bag and joining in angrily.

"Maddie, get back!" Steve instructed. "Just hit the damn thing!" Maddie yelled back, slamming down hard before the tentacle retreated and the other three were able to help Mike stand back up.

"Guys, we gotta go. We gotta go now." Dustin voiced. Maddie put her bat back in her bag, moving to Mike and wrapping her arms around him right after. He was quick to hug back, holding the girl with him as they moved back from where growling noises began.

Maddie looked forward, seeing the Demo-dog. "Dart." Dustin vocalized.

Maddie frowned, of course Dart was still around.

"Dustin, get back. Dustin, get back!" Steve voiced as Dustin moved toward Dart. Everyone else soon joined in, only stopping when Dustin held a hand up. "Trust me, please."

Maddie watched as he pulled his mask down, looking at the horrifying creature. "Hey. It's me, it's me. It's just your friend, it's Dustin. It's Dustin, all right? You remember me? Will you let us pass?" Dustin wondered, Dart just screaming back at him, showing the Demogorgon face he had.

Maddie jumped back, just sticking even closer to Mike. "Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about the storm cellar. I know that was a pretty douchey thing to do. You hungry? Yeah?" Dustin smiled, pulling his bag off.

"He's insane." Lucas voiced. "Don't." Mike spoke, smacking the boy. "Shut up." Max added, worried that Dart wouldn't be as friendly if anyone else spoke besides Dustin.

"I've got our favorite. See? Nougat." Dustin spoke, unwrapping the candy. "Look at that. Yummy. Here, all right? Eat up, buddy. Come on. Come on." Dustin continued, waving for the group to quickly run past while Dart was distracted.

Maddie instantly listened, following behind Steve and Max as she quickly got away from the Demo-dog. "There's plenty there, buddy. I've got more." Dustin added, moving to follow behind the group. "Goodbye, buddy."

"Let's go, let's go." Steve ushered, everyone beginning their journey to leave once more.

As they continued they all ran, Steve making sure to stay ahead. "Come on! Let's go, let's go." The ground suddenly began shaking and they all fell over as the sounds of monsters roaring sounded out. "What was that?" Max wondered.

They turned around at the sound, all standing up. "They're coming." Mike realized. "Run! Run!" Mike yelled.

Maddie didn't need to hear anything else, sprinting forward as they neared the rope. "There, there!" Lucas pointed. "Come on! Let's go." Mike yelled. "Go, go, go, go, go! Let's go! Come on! Come on!" Steve yelled, lifting Max up first and letting the girl pull herself up.

Lucas, Dustin, and Mike then all pushed Maddie forward, Steve almost throwing the girl up behind Max, who grabbed her hand and pulled her all the way up.

Next was Lucas, then Mike, Maddie looking down through the hole anxiously as she watched Steve and Dustin stop and look forward. "Dustin! Come on!" Mike yelled, holding his hand out.

Maddie gasped as Dustin bent down, ready to take his fate. Only for all the Demo-dogs to run past the two, ignoring Steve and Dustin completely. Steve grabbed Dustin, holding him close to keep him safe.

"Eleven." Mike realized. Maddie shot her head toward him, now horrified for the girl and her uncle. She just hoped they'd be able to complete their end of the plan.

Dustin and Steve made it up once the Demo-dogs all ran by, everyone standing before having to cover their eyes as the lights on Billy's car shined far brighter than before. But just as quickly as the lights had brightened they dimmed and Maddie looked forward again nervously.

"Is it over?" Max wondered, looking around the group. "I don't know." Maddie replied, heart beating fast as she waited for everyone to reunite.

When they made it to the Byers house again Maddie paced around anxiously, waiting for both groups to return. She didn't know if Will was okay or if El was and it was driving her crazy.

When the sound of a car pulling in came from outside, Maddie immediately ran out, ignoring Steve's calls to stay inside. She looked forward as the lights on the car turned off, Hopper and El slowly making their way out.

Maddie ran forward, immediately wrapping El in a hug, insanely happy the girl was okay. "Thank god." Maddie sighed. El just hugged back equally as strong, looking toward Maddie somewhat sadly. "I'm sorry."

"What?" Maddie replied, confused. "Hey, kid." Hopper spoke, a bit shocked when Maddie just hugged him as well. He hugged back, hoping this was her way of showing him that she forgave him. "We have a lot to talk about, Mads." Hopper spoke, sending the girl his own look.

Maddie was just growing more and more confused. "El told me." Hopper then admitted, letting Maddie know her secret was out. "Oh." Maddie replied, feeling her stomach drop. "She was worried about you, don't be upset." Hopper continued, treading very carefully.

With everything El had told him he now understood why the young girl had been so secretive and emotional, it all clicked.

"I— I..." Maddie tried to speak, wiping her eye quickly. "Mads, I'm sorry I wasn't able to see what you were going through and I'm even more sorry now that I hid El away. If I would have known you've been doing it all alone I would have come to help a lot sooner. I want you to come live with us, okay? Let us give you a home." Hopper offered.

"What?" Maddie replied, feeling like she was in a dream. "Sisters." El smiled, lightly grabbing the other girls hand. "What do you say, kid?" Hopper smiled. "Y—Yeah. Yes." Maddie smiled.

Hopper pulled both girls in at that, kissing the top of each of their heads. "We'll make our own family." He spoke, ready to start over.

Maddie smiled lightly, she wouldn't be alone anymore.

ONE MONTH LATER

MADDIE SAT IN the front of Hoppers car with El beside her, both girls dressed and ready for the Snow Ball. Maddie was excited, feeling nerves race through her body.

Living with Hopper and El had been good. They'd made sure to take the things Maddie needed from her home and bring them to Hopper's place, making El's room into both of the girls room.

"You girls ready?" Hopper wondered, nervously looking toward the two. It was strange for him, watching them both grow up and still feeling like he was just entering their lives. With everything he'd found out about Maddie's situation she'd just kept covered up, he was realizing the little girl he'd watched grow up was quickly slipping away.

"Definitely." Maddie nodded, eagerly hopping out of the car. "Hey!" Hopper spoke quickly, stopping the girl in her tracks as El moved to stand beside her. "What? We're already late." Maddie wondered.

"Have fun, okay?" Hopper smiled, looking between the two. "Of course." Maddie smiled, looking toward El excitedly. "Of course." El repeated.

Maddie quickly grabbed the other girls hand, pulling her away fast as they headed inside. They quickly checked in with Mr. Clarke, Maddie saluting the man before heading into the dance and looking around.

She smiled lightly when she noticed Lucas and Max dancing, even Will seemed to be dancing with a girl from their grade. Maddie was just happy to see her friends having fun. She then saw Dustin dancing with Nancy, finding the moment sweet before her eyes moved and landed on Mike as he sat at a table alone.

"Hey. You want to dance?" A boy suddenly asked, catching Maddie's attention as the boy looked Els way. She quickly turned to Maddie, nervous about what to do. Maddie just smiled, nodding with a thumbs up. "Yes." El nodded, following the boy out.

Maddie's smile widened, eyes moving back to Mike as she began to walk his way. He quickly met up with her, cheeks red as he looked at the girl. "Hey, you look beautiful."

"Thanks, Wheeler." Maddie smiled. "You clear up pretty nice yourself."

"Do you, uh... do you maybe want to... I mean it's totally okay if not just—" Mike rambled, looking around nervously. "Yes, Mike. I'd love to dance with you." Maddie spoke, heart-rate quickening as the boy took her hand in his and pulled her out to the dance floor.

Maddie wrapped her arms around his shoulders, swaying to the music. All she could think about was the last time the boy kissed her, realizing just how far they'd come and just how much they'd changed, but mostly just how much her feelings for him had grown from right underneath her.

She caught his gaze and smiled lightly, watching the way he just stared at her like there was no one else around. "Maddie, I—" Mike went to speak, getting cut off when the girl quickly pressed her lips to his, moving away just a moment later.

She watched nervously as Mike just seemed to smile wider, resting his forehead against hers. "I like you, Maddie. A lot." Mike exposed, eyes meeting hers again. "I like you too." Maddie smiled.

It seemed a lot was about to change, but maybe for the better this time around.

AUTHORS NOTE!
hello not me updating after two years that's so awkward uh... hey lol