chapter two:
❛ boys will be boys ❜

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Scarlett had been clueless about the welcome-home party for Dustin earlier that morning. All she knew was that after her grueling shift at the ice cream parlor, she needed to head straight to Weathertop, a hill nestled between Starcourt Mall, Brimborn Steel Works, and the Nelson farm, to meet Dustin. It had been weeks since she last saw him, and the thought of catching up with her best friend had kept her going all day. As soon as the clock struck her clock-out time, she bolted from work, barely taking a moment to change out of her uniform before grabbing her bike.

The ride was a blur of heat and motion. The summer sun bore down on her, making the pavement shimmer in the distance, but she barely noticed. Her legs pumped furiously, pushing the bike faster as she weaved through the streets of Hawkins, her mind racing with anticipation. She could only imagine what kind of adventures Dustin had experienced while he was away. But as she neared Weathertop, a gnawing feeling of unease settled in her stomach. Something felt off.

When Scarlett finally reached the base of the hill, she didn't even bother to properly park her bike. She simply leaped off, letting it clatter to the ground as she broke into a full sprint up the hill. The dry grass crunched under her sneakers, and her heart pounded in her chest, a mix of exertion and anxiety. As she reached the summit, she scanned the area, her eyes quickly landing on Dustin. He was standing there alone, his shoulders slumped, looking like the weight of the world was pressing down on him.
"Dustin!? Where is everyone?" she
called out, her voice laced with concern and confusion.
Dustin turned slowly to face her, and the sight of his sad, resigned expression made Scarlett's heart sink. He sighed deeply, forcing a small, apologetic smile onto his face. "I'm so sorry, Dustin. I couldn't get off work to pick you up with your mom. Stupid Janice wouldn't take my shift. She wanted to go to the pool... pretty sure it's so she could eyefuck my brother—"

Before she could even finish venting, Dustin moved toward her and wrapped her in a tight hug. The suddenness of the embrace took Scarlett by surprise, but she quickly melted into it, wrapping her arms around him and rubbing his back soothingly. She could feel the tension in his body, the sadness he was trying so hard to hide.

"You okay?" she asked softly, her concern deepening as she pulled back slightly to search his face for answers.
Dustin shrugged, a small, bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Everyone left. They wouldn't stay to talk to my friend —well, really, my girlfriend. But they don't know that. They think you're my girlfriend..." His voice trailed off, filled with disappointment and frustration.

Scarlett nodded, recalling the letters Dustin had sent her over the summer. "Right, Suzie? I remember you telling me about her in the letters."

Dustin nodded, his eyes lighting up briefly at the mention of Suzie. "Yeah, Suzie."

"But... the fake dating thing with us? I don't know if it's working to make Mike jealous."

Scarlett tilted her head, considering the situation. "I still hate him, but a part of me still likes him. But I can't really show that anymore. He broke my heart, Dustin. He kissed me. He saved me. His kiss literally saved my life-if he hadn't kissed me, I'd be dead right now. But then, the moment El came back, he just... went back to her. Like what we had didn't even matter." Scarlett's voice cracked as she spoke, the pain of Mike's betrayal still fresh in her mind.

Dustin's face mirrored her hurt, his own pain evident as he listened. "Yeah... Mike and El were the first ones to ditch me, too. It's like... like none of it mattered."

Before Scarlett could offer any words of comfort, a sudden crackle of distorted sound interrupted the moment. Both of them snapped their heads toward the source-Dustin's

Cerebro, his homemade radio tower that he had built to communicate with Suzie. The crackling grew louder, and Dustin's eyes widened in surprise and excitement. He practically tripped over his own feet as he rushed to grab the radio, his earlier sadness momentarily forgotten.

"Suzie? Suzie, is that you?" Dustin's voice was filled with hope, his heart racing as he waited for
a response.

Scarlett chuckled softly, sitting down on the dry grass, ready to hear Suzie's voice. But as the sound continued to crackle through the speakers, her amusement quickly turned to confusion. The voice on the other end wasn't Suzie's-it was something else, something foreign. The words were garbled and distorted, but Scarlett's ears picked up on the tone. It was Russian.

Dustin's face drained of color as he slowly lowered the radio, his eyes wide with shock. He glanced at Scarlett, who was already on her feet, her expression just as shocked. Without a word, she snapped her fingers, and a spark of blue electricity crackled through the air, latching onto the Cerebro and amplifying the sound. The Russian voices became clearer, their harsh, clipped tones unmistakable.

"Holy shit," Scarlett whispered, her eyes locked on the radio as the realization dawned on her. "There's Russians in Hawkins."

The weight of her words hung in the air between them, both of them frozen as they processed this new and terrifying revelation. The implications of what they had just discovered were staggering, and a chill ran down Scarlett's spine as she realized that whatever was happening in Hawkins was far from over. The adventure that they had thought was behind them was just beginning, and the stakes were higher than ever.

Scarlett pedaled home in the deepening twilight, the soft glow of the streetlights casting long shadows across the quiet suburban streets. The cool evening breeze whipped through her hair, providing a brief respite from the heat that still lingered in the air. She was exhausted from the day's events—work, the disappointment with Dustin, and the shocking discovery of Russians in Hawkins. All she wanted now was to crawl into bed and let sleep take her away from the craziness of the day.

As she approached her house, she could see that most of the lights were off, save for the soft glow coming from Max's bedroom window. Scarlett's bike skidded to a stop in the driveway, and she dismounted, quietly sneaking in through the front door. The house was still, the only sound being the soft hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen. She moved silently down the hallway, her footsteps muffled by the carpet.

As Scarlett passed Max's room, the door was slightly ajar, allowing her to glimpse inside. She paused for a moment, peeking in to see Max and Lucas cuddled up on the bed, watching a movie. Max had her head resting on Lucas's chest, while Lucas's arm was draped protectively around her shoulders. They looked so peaceful and content that Scarlett couldn't help but grin.

"Well, well, well," Scarlett teased, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. "What do we have here? Is this the famous Sinclair cuddling technique I've heard so much about?"

Max's head shot up, and she rolled her eyes at Scarlett, though a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "You wish, Scarlett. Now get lost, we're having a moment."

Lucas laughed softly, shaking his head at Scarlett's teasing. "Yeah, you're just jealous you don't have anyone to cuddle with."

Scarlett feigned a dramatic sigh, placing a hand over her heart. "Ah, the tragedy of being single in the '80s. So lonely. So tragic."

Max threw a pillow at Scarlett, who ducked just in time to avoid it. "Seriously, though, your telephone's been ringing off the hook for the last twenty minutes. It's probably driving Billy insane."

Scarlett raised an eyebrow, now genuinely curious. "Really? Huh. Wonder who it could be."

"Maybe a secret admirer?" Lucas suggested with a playful grin.

"More like an annoying one," Max quipped, shooing Scarlett away with a wave of her hand. "Go on, before they call the police or something."

Scarlett laughed, giving them a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am. Enjoy your cuddling, lovebirds."

She continued down the hall, hearing Max and Lucas chuckle behind her. As she entered her own room, she was greeted by the incessant ringing of her telephone. The sound was shrill and persistent, and it made her wonder who could possibly be that desperate to get in touch with her. With a sigh, she dropped her bag onto the floor and picked up the receiver, finally putting an end to the noise.

"Hello?" she answered, her tone already tinged with exasperation.

"Scarlett!" Mike Wheeler's panicked voice came through the line, making her raise an eyebrow. "You gotta help me! Hopper threatened me!"

Scarlett couldn't help but chuckle at his frantic tone. She leaned back against her bedpost, twirling the phone cord around her finger. "Good. You deserve it. Bye-bye now, Wheeler."

She was about to hang up when she heard Mike's desperate voice again. "Scarlett, please! I just need— I need a girl's advice. Hop said I can't see El tomorrow and that we need to take a break from each other."

Scarlett sighed, rolling her eyes even though Mike couldn't see it. The drama between Mike and Eleven was exhausting, and she wasn't in the mood to play therapist tonight. Still, there was something in his voice that made her hesitate—a genuine fear and confusion that reminded her that despite everything, Mike was just a kid, like the rest of them, trying to navigate a world that had thrown them all into chaos.

"Okay, okay," Scarlett relented, her tone softening slightly. "Here's what you do. Just tell El that something came up, okay? Make it seem like no big deal. You don't want her to think you're bailing on her because of something she did. And for the love of God, leave me alone now."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Scarlett could almost hear Mike's gears turning as he processed her advice. Finally, he sighed, his voice sounding a bit more grounded. "Yeah... yeah, okay. That makes sense. Thanks, Scarlett. I just... I don't know what to do with all this. It's like everything's falling apart."

Scarlett's heart softened a bit more. Despite how annoying Mike could be, she knew he was struggling, just like all of them were. "Listen, Mike," she said, her voice gentler now, "Don't take this that I like you as a friend again, okay?"

"Got it," Mike replied, his tone more subdued. "Thanks, Scarlett. Really."

"Yeah, yeah," Scarlett said with a smirk, though her voice was warm. "Now, go to bed, Wheeler. And tell Nance I said hi."

Mike chuckled, the sound a bit lighter now. "I will. Goodnight, Scarlett."

"Goodnight, Mike."

As she hung up the phone, Scarlett let out a long breath, feeling the weight of the day finally starting to lift. She set the phone down and flopped onto her bed, staring up at the ceiling. The world was a crazy, unpredictable place, but at least she had her friends. And maybe, just maybe, they'd all figure it out together.

Scarlett woke up to the bright morning sunlight streaming through her window, casting a warm glow across her room. She groaned, rubbing her eyes as she rolled over to check the clock on her nightstand. The red digits blinked 10:00 AM at her, and she sighed, realizing she'd slept later than she intended.

Just as she was about to settle back into the comfort of her bed, her telephone began to ring. The shrill sound pierced the morning silence, making her wince. She grabbed the receiver with a heavy sigh, already having a sinking feeling about who was calling.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice still groggy from sleep.

"Scarlett! Your advice didn't help! Now she knows I'm lying!" Mike Wheeler's panicked voice rang through the line, instantly waking Scarlett up.

She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Wheeler, what the hell did you tell her?"

There was a brief silence on the other end before Mike mumbled, "I said that my Nana is sick."

Scarlett's eyes shot open, and she sat up in bed, disbelief flooding her system. "What the hell, Mike? Why would you do that? That's—that's not even true, Wheeler! You just messed up big time. She definitely knows you're lying now. We have a sixth sense when it comes to bullshit."

"I know, I know! But I panicked! What was I supposed to say?" Mike whined, sounding utterly defeated.

Scarlett let out an exasperated sigh and threw off her blankets, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. "You were supposed to tell her something simple, like 'something came up,' not lie about your Nana being sick! Now I've got to fix this. I'll be right over. Just... don't say any more stupid shit before I get there, okay?"

Mike's voice softened with relief. "Thanks, Scarlett. I really appreciate it."

"Don't thank me yet, Wheeler. I still hate you. Plus, this better not take me long—I'm supposed to meet Dustin later," she replied, pulling on her jeans and grabbing a t-shirt from her dresser.

There was a brief pause before Mike spoke again, his voice a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Right, you and Dustin are dating... You know he has a new friend, Suzie? He said you do, but I don't believe it."

Scarlett froze mid-motion, her mind flashing back to the conversation she'd had with Dustin the night before. The memory of his disappointment and the fake dating scheme they'd concocted to make Mike jealous came flooding back. She felt a pang of guilt for a moment but quickly shook it off.

"Yeah, I do," she confirmed, trying to keep her tone casual. "Look, I'll explain more when I get there. See you soon, Wheeler."

"See you soon," Mike replied, though his tone was still laced with doubt.

Scarlett hung up the phone with a huff, running a hand through her tangled hair. The last thing she wanted to do this morning was play mediator between Mike and Eleven, but it seemed she had no choice. With another sigh, she grabbed her sneakers and quickly laced them up, ready to head out the door.

As she passed by Max's room, she noticed that the door was still closed, indicating that Max and Lucas were probably still asleep. Good, she thought to herself. At least someone was having a peaceful morning.

Stepping out into the crisp morning air, Scarlett hopped on her bike and pedaled toward Mike's house, her mind racing with thoughts of how to handle the situation. She had known Mike for years, and while he was generally a good kid, his tendency to overthink and panic often led him to make terrible decisions. Like lying about his Nana being sick, for example.

When she finally arrived at the Wheeler's house, she parked her bike in the driveway and made her way up the front steps. The door swung open before she could even knock, revealing a very stressed-out Mike standing in the doorway.

"Scarlett, thank God you're here," he blurted out, his eyes wide with anxiety.

Scarlett gave him a once-over, noting the dark circles under his eyes and the frazzled look on his face. "Yeah, yeah, don't get all mushy on me, Wheeler. Let's get this over with."

Mike led her inside, and they made their way to the living room, where he flopped down on the couch with a heavy sigh. Scarlett sat down across from him, folding her arms as she waited for him to explain himself.

"So, what exactly did you say to El after you pulled the Nana stunt?" she asked, her tone laced with impatience.

Mike ran a hand through his hair, looking even more distressed. "I told her that Nana was really sick and that I needed to go see her. But then El started asking questions—like what's wrong with Nana, how bad is it, and why didn't I mention it before—and I didn't have any answers. That's when she got suspicious."

Scarlett shook her head, disbelief coloring her features. "Of course she got suspicious! You basically handed her all the reasons to doubt you on a silver platter. Did you honestly think she wouldn't see through that?"

Mike groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I didn't think she'd ask so many questions! I just thought it would give me some time to figure things out, but now she's mad at me, and I don't know how to fix it."

"You gotta tell her the truth, Wheeler."

"No! I can't."

"Um, why not?"

Scarlett was already irritated that Mike had disrupted her morning, but when he sheepishly admitted he had no intention of telling Eleven the truth, her patience snapped.

"I can't tell her now, Scarlett! It's too late!" Mike's voice wavered, eyes wide with panic as he started pacing the living room. "If I confess now, she'll definitely break up with me. She already knows something's off, and if I tell her I lied, it's over."

Scarlett let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing her temples as she tried to calm herself. She had been hoping that Mike would take her advice and do the right thing, but clearly, that wasn't going to happen. She took a deep breath and then shot him a stern look.

"So, what's your plan then, Wheeler? Keep lying? Keep digging yourself into a bigger hole? That's going to work out great," she said sarcastically, her voice laced with frustration.

Mike looked down, clearly conflicted, but still adamant. "I don't know what else to do, Scarlett. I'm stuck. If I tell her now, it's all over. I just... I need more time to figure out how to fix this without losing her."

Scarlett crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "Time isn't going to help you, Mike. The more you stall, the worse this is going to get. But fine, if you're dead set on not telling her, then you need backup."

Mike looked up, a mix of relief and confusion crossing his face. "Backup? What do you mean?"

Scarlett rolled her eyes, pulling her bike up and getting ready to leave. "I mean, you're going to need some serious help to cover your tracks—because let's face it, you're in way over your head. Call Will and Lucas. We're going to need all the help we can get to figure out how to salvage this mess you've made."

Mike blinked, clearly surprised by Scarlett's suggestion. "Will and Lucas? You think they can help?"

"They're your friends, aren't they?" Scarlett shot back. "If anyone can help you figure this out, it's them. And maybe they'll talk some sense into you since I clearly can't."

Mike nodded quickly, already grabbing the telephone and dialing Will's number. Scarlett watched him for a moment, her annoyance simmering beneath the surface. She didn't like being dragged into this kind of drama, especially when it was so easily avoidable, but Mike was a friend—and as much as she hated to admit it, she didn't want to see him screw things up with Eleven.

As Mike started talking to Will on the phone, Scarlett leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms again. She could hear snippets of their conversation, Mike explaining the situation in a frantic tone while Will tried to process everything.

"Yeah, Will, I need you to come over. Bring Lucas too. Scarlett's here, and she thinks we need a plan—yeah, I know it sounds bad. It is bad. Just please get here as soon as you can," Mike said into the phone, his voice shaky.

Scarlett could hear Will's concerned reply, though she couldn't make out the words. When Mike hung up, he turned back to Scarlett, looking both anxious and hopeful.

"They're on their way," he said, though his voice was still tinged with worry.

Scarlett nodded, pushing off the doorframe and walking toward him. "Good. Maybe between the four of us, we can figure out how to fix this mess you've made. But just remember, Mike—this is your screw-up. Don't expect us to be able to work miracles if you're not willing to do your part."

Mike swallowed hard, clearly feeling the weight of her words. "I know. I'll do whatever it takes. I just can't lose her, Scarlett."

Scarlett softened slightly, seeing the genuine fear in his eyes. "I get it, Wheeler. Just... try not to make things any worse before they get here, okay?"

Mike nodded, looking more determined now. "I won't. I promise."

With that, Scarlett moved toward the door, needing a breath of fresh air before the others arrived. "I'm going to wait outside for Will and Lucas. Try to calm down, Mike. Panicking isn't going to help."

Mike watched her go, his expression a mix of fear and gratitude. As Scarlett stepped out onto the porch, she let out a long sigh, feeling the cool morning air against her skin. She knew this situation was a disaster waiting to happen, but she couldn't help feeling a small sense of responsibility to help Mike out of it.

She just hoped that between the four of them, they could come up with a plan before everything blew up in Mike's face.

ASH SPEAKS!

scar helping mike >>