chapter eleven:
❛ team wren ❜

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Nancy swerved the car sharply, tires screeching as she pulled up in front of the grocery store. Panic surged through the air as Wren, filled with adrenaline, flung the door open before the vehicle had even come to a complete stop. "Mike, Max, help Jane!" he shouted, urgency lacing his voice. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward the glass doors, spotting a rock on the ground. He seized it and hurled it at the doors, watching with satisfaction as the glass shattered, sending shards flying in all directions.

"Wren, you should have let me do that! You're still on probation!" Nancy scolded, shaking her head disapprovingly as she stepped out of the car, her heart racing from the sight of the destruction.
"I don't care! Jane's hurt," Wren retorted fiercely, his eyes alight with determination.

"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch Mind
Flayer," he vowed, his anger fueling him as he followed Max and Mike, who were carefully helping a groaning Eleven inside.

Inside the grocery store, the fluorescent lights flickered ominously as they laid Eleven down in a deserted aisle. Wren leaned against the shelf, his anxiety palpable as he watched Nancy kneel beside her, her expression turning grave. With gentle hands, she pulled up the torn fabric of Eleven's pant leg, revealing a gruesome gash that oozed blood.

"Oh, shit!" Wren, Mike, and Max exclaimed simultaneously, their faces contorting in horror as Eleven let out a pained groan, her breath hitching with every movement.

Nancy wasted no time, quickly rummaging through her medical kit for gauze. She began wrapping it around Eleven's injury, but before she could secure it, Wren stepped forward, his voice sharp with concern. "Whoa! What are you doing?" he exclaimed, his brow furrowing in disbelief.

Max, standing beside him, nodded
vigorously. "Yeah, what are you even doing?" she echoed, her eyes darting between Nancy and the bleeding wound.

Nancy shot them both a frustrated look, clearly annoyed. "I'm trying to clean the wound!" she replied, exasperation creeping into her voice.
Wren shook his head vehemently. "No, no, you have to stop the bleeding first," he insisted, his tone urgent.

"Then clean it, disinfect it, and then bandage it," Max chimed in confidently, recalling the first aid techniques she had learned over the years.
Nancy gaped at them, clearly taken aback.

"And how do you two know this?" she asked, her disbelief evident.

Max shrugged, crossing her arms defiantly.
"Trust me, I skateboard. I've had my fair share of scrapes and cuts," she asserted.

Wren grinned, his confidence bolstered. "I took a health class in juvie," he added, nodding.
Max then looked straight at Wren. "Wren, hold this." She gestured toward the gauze, indicating for him to press down on the wound.

Before Wren could step forward, Mike was already there, pressing his hands down firmly over the gauze. Wren shot him a sharp glare.

"I think she asked me to do it," he snapped, annoyance bubbling to the surface.

Mike's jaw tightened, frustration etched on his face. "I'm her boyfriend," he countered, refusing to back down.

Wren clicked his tongue, irritation boiling over. "Actually, you're broken up," he retorted, crossing his arms.

"On a break!" Mike shouted defensively, his tone rising.

"No-" Wren began, ready to argue further.
"Guys!" Max interjected sharply, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. The two cousins fell silent, exchanging glances that were laden with unspoken words.

"We're gonna need water and soap," Max instructed, her voice steady as she glanced at Nancy and Jonathan. They nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation, and rushed off to gather the supplies. Max then turned back to Wren, her expression serious. "And you, go... go make sure no one's coming. Cops, security, whatever."

Wren rolled his eyes but reluctantly complied, muttering under his breath as he exited the aisle. As he walked, his mind raced with thoughts of the Mind Flayer and the pain it had caused his friends. He was determined to protect them at all costs, no matter what it took.

Outside the grocery store, Wren scanned the parking lot, his heart pounding as he remained vigilant for any sign of trouble. He was ready to fight tooth and nail to save Eleven and put an end to the Mind Flayer's reign of terror once and for all.

Wren perched on the roof of Nancy's car, his legs swinging idly over the edge as he stared out at the parking lot, lost in thought. Despite the beauty of the night, he felt cold inside, a knot of frustration tightening in his chest. He ran a hand through his curly hair, feeling a mixture of anger and defeat wash over him. Just as he was sinking deeper into his thoughts, the creak of the car door pulled him back to reality.

Max stepped out, her hands tucked in her pockets, a familiar grin lighting up her face. "Done sulking over the fact that Mike might win El back?" she called out, her voice playful but edged with concern. She leaned against the side of the car, surveying him with that signature look of both annoyance and affection.

Wren shot her a glare, the heat of his emotions bubbling to the surface. "I think Jane likes me," he retorted, defensively. The words tasted bitter as they left his mouth, but he was too caught up in his feelings to care. "And now my cousin is probably in there telling her that he loves her and to forget about me." The last part came out more like a whine, and he winced at how pathetic he sounded.

Max raised an eyebrow, a mixture of amusement and sympathy dancing in her eyes. "Look, I'm team Wren, by the way," she stated, her voice losing its teasing lilt as she stepped closer, arms crossed defiantly.

"Huh?" Wren blinked, surprised at her unexpected support. He straightened up, resting his hands on the roof of the car, intrigued.

"I think El likes you too," Max said, her tone turning serious as she shifted her weight. "But I think she might be caught up in the past with Mike..." She glanced back toward the grocery store, where they had left Eleven to rest. "He's her first love, you know? It's hard to compete with that history."

Wren felt a small flicker of hope at her words but quickly extinguished it with doubt. "Yeah, but what if she doesn't see me that way?" he said, frustration seeping back into his voice. "What if I'm just the rebound? What if Mike swoops in and tells her he still loves her, and she just... goes back to him?"

Max rolled her eyes, stepping closer, her voice firm. "You're not just a rebound, Wren. You're a good guy. You care about her. I mean, look at how you rushed in to help her after that fight with the Mind Flayer. That's not something just anyone would do."

He sighed, running a hand through his hair again, feeling the weight of it all. "I just don't want to get hurt. Or worse, hurt her," he admitted, his voice dropping to a whisper. "What if I mess everything up?"

"Wren," Max said, her tone softening, "taking a chance is scary. But if you don't try, you'll never know. You've got to show her what she's missing." Her gaze was steady and reassuring, a lighthouse guiding him through the storm of his insecurities.

He considered her words, feeling the heaviness in his chest lighten a little. "You really think so?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope.

"Absolutely," Max said, her confidence infectious. "You're not just some guy. You're Wren. You've got a good heart, and you're brave. Plus, you make her laugh. Just think about the times you guys hung out and had fun together. That means something."

Wren smiled, the corners of his mouth lifting at the memories of laughter shared between him and Eleven. "I guess I do have a way of making her smile," he said, a hint of a grin breaking through the clouds of doubt. "And I like making her smile. It makes me feel... good."

"Exactly!" Max exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over. "So, go in there and remind her of that. Show her who you are. Don't let Mike steal your chance."

Taking a deep breath, Wren nodded, determination coursing through him. "You're right. I can't just sit here and let Mike take over. I need to show her that I care."

Max beamed at him, her enthusiasm contagious. "That's the spirit! You've got this, Wren. Now go get her!"

With renewed energy, Wren pushed himself off the roof of the car, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety flutter in his stomach. "Thanks, Max. I appreciate it. Really," he said, giving her a quick smile before turning to head toward the grocery store.

"Just remember," Max called after him, "if Mike tries anything funny, I'm here for backup!"

He chuckled, glancing back over his shoulder. "Noted!" he replied, his confidence buoyed by her faith in him. As he walked toward the entrance, he felt a spark of hope igniting within him. Maybe he could do this after all.

Wren strode purposefully through the grocery store, his mind racing with the conversation he'd just had with Max. He was determined to find Eleven and make his feelings known. But as he turned into the aisle, he froze, his heart dropping at the sight before him. Mike stood there, animatedly talking to Eleven, a look of earnestness on his face.

"It's like... like a feeling-yeah, something like old people say to each other sometimes," Mike said, a stupid grin plastered on his face. Wren's blood boiled. The way Mike was leaning toward El, the way he was speaking so tenderly, ignited a fire of jealousy within him.

"I fucking knew it!" Wren exclaimed, his fists clenching at his sides as he stomped forward. Without thinking, he grabbed Mike by the collar, slamming him against the shelf. Boxes tumbled off the rack, crashing to the floor with a loud thud. "You think you can just waltz back in and talk to her like that?"

"What did you know?" El asked, her eyes wide and innocent, oblivious to the brewing storm between the two boys.

"Let me go, idiot!" Mike shouted, trying to push Wren away. The indignation in his voice only fueled Wren's anger further.

Wren raised his fist, ready to deliver a punch, when suddenly he heard Dustin's frantic voice crackle through the Supercom. "I repeat... this is a code red!"

The urgency in Dustin's voice pierced through Wren's rage, and he gasped, releasing Mike and sprinting towards the counter where the Supercom sat. He pressed the button, his heart pounding in his chest. "Dustin?! Oh my god!" he exclaimed, his relief palpable.

"Wren?" Dustin's voice came through, sounding distant and strained.

"Dustin!" Wren responded, a mix of worry and anticipation flooding his system.

"Wren!! Oh my god, you have to listen. I know I've been MIA, and I'm sorry, it's not-you blew off-Steve. It was because I was trapped underground-"

"Dustin, you're cutting out!" Wren interrupted, panic rising in his throat. "I can't hear you!"

"-and now-they're using-to open the gate," Dustin's voice crackled, garbled and fading fast.

"Dustin, you're-you're breaking up!" Wren yelled, but there was no response. The Supercom went silent, leaving Wren holding his breath in suspense.

He dropped the device, frustration bubbling over, and turned back to Mike, who was still trying to regain his composure. "You're stupid radio is dumb!" Wren pointed a harsh finger at him, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface.

Mike's eyes narrowed, confusion mixed with irritation. "What does that even mean?"

"Dustin was trying to warn us, and you're over here playing Romeo with El!" Wren spat, unable to hide the hurt in his voice. "What is wrong with you? Can't you see she's in a vulnerable place right now?"

Eleven looked back and forth between the two boys, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Wren, what's going on?"

Wren shook his head, struggling to keep his voice steady. "It's just-Mike thinks he can come back and act like nothing ever happened between you two. But you're not some consolation prize!"

"Consolation prize?" Mike echoed incredulously, his voice rising. "What are you talking about? I was just trying to help her!"

"By playing the part of the knight in shining armor?" Wren shot back. "You don't get to just swoop in whenever it's convenient for you!"

El stepped forward, trying to diffuse the tension. "Guys, can we just focus? Dustin said something about a gate, and we need to figure out what he meant."

Mike and Wren just glared at each other.

El sat cross-legged in front of the pizza freezer, the cold air seeping through her shirt as she adjusted the bandana over her eyes, a makeshift blindfold that Lucas had generously offered. The flickering fluorescent lights overhead cast erratic shadows, illuminating the chaos that surrounded them in the dim grocery store. Lucas, ever the distraction, was perched nearby, his fingers fidgeting with a can of Coca-Cola. He pulled the tab with a satisfying pop, the sound reverberating through the aisle.

"Quiet," Max whispered urgently, a hint of irritation threading through her tone as she shot Lucas an annoyed glance.

"Oh, sorry," Lucas murmured, but his enthusiasm bubbled over as he slurped his soda loudly, the sound echoing like an unwelcome trumpet in the silence. Wren shook his head in disbelief, a sigh escaping his lips as he watched his friends spiral into yet another pointless argument.

"How do you even drink that?" Mike asked, scrunching his face in disgust, his eyes narrowing at the sight of Lucas's sugary indulgence.

"Because it's delicious!" Lucas shot back, his voice dripping with indignation, as if he were defending a treasured childhood memory.

"What?" Mike, Wren, and Max chorused in unison, their incredulity mingling in the quiet space between them.

"It's like 'The Thing,'" Lucas explained, leaning in conspiratorially as if sharing a secret. "The original is a classic, no question about it. But the remake..." He paused for dramatic effect, a mischievous smirk creeping onto his face as he prepared to unleash his opinion. He slurped the soda again, this time with more flair, and sighed contentedly, smacking his lips as if the moment demanded applause. "Sweeter, bolder... better."

Wren rolled his eyes, unable to hide his annoyance. "You're insane. You can't seriously believe that."

"You've never tasted it, Wren! You just got out of juvie!" Lucas retorted, his enthusiasm unshakeable, his voice rising in volume.

"Still, the OG is better!" Wren shot back, shaking his head in disbelief as if trying to shake off the ridiculousness of the conversation.

"It's literally the same concept!" Lucas insisted, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of the debate, his voice rising.

"No, it's not!" Wren challenged, his brow furrowing.

"Yes, it is!" Lucas insisted again, frustration creeping into his tone.

"Hey!" El suddenly yelled, her voice slicing through the air with authority. She yanked the bandana off her eyes and glared at both Lucas and Wren, irritation etched across her face. "Can you two shut up? I'm trying to focus here!"

"Sorry," they mumbled, the fight deflating like a punctured balloon as they turned their attention to her, the moment of levity dissipating as the weight of the situation reasserted itself.

"Did you find him?" Wren asked, his voice dropping as urgency swelled within him, aware of the ticking clock.