𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐓𝐇 𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓. Will Byers, Lucas Sinclair, Mike Wheeler, and Dustin Henderson sit around a small table playing DnD while Laurie Henderson sits on the couch doing her homework.

Usually, when Laurie is over at the Wheelers for DnD night, she's upstairs chatting with Nancy, but the eldest Wheeler is catching up with Barabra on the phone tonight. So here she is, hanging out with the kids before she and Dustin bike home for the night.

The sent of Spearmint wafts to her nose as she watches the four boys play their game. DnD isn't something she's ever been interested in but is something she likes seeing the boys play as it gives them so much joy.

"Do you hear that? Listen...... Something is coming...something hungry for blood...... A shadow grows on the wall behind you... swallowing you in darkness... it is almost here..." The other boys lean forward. Riveted. Laurie looks at each of the boys with a small smile, her little brothers.

Lucas plays as a knight. He is petite, but his loud mouth more than makes up for it. Lucas and Laurie but heads, but you can't break up the L&L team.

Dustin always plays as a dwarf. He is the most fearful -- and least confident – of the boys, but that's why he has Laurie, his protector, even if he doesn't want her to be most of the time.

Mike is the "Dungeon Master" and de facto leader of the small group of boys. Unfortunately, the boy has more confidence than weight, making her a little concerned about how he will grow up. Luckily he has Nancy, who will knock him back to earth when Laurie can't.

Finally, Will plays as a wizard. He is soft-spoken, gentle, and delicate. But, the one she feels most protective over, Will, has such a big heart and so much loyalty that it scares Laurie about what could happen if the wrong people get into the close circle he keeps.

"... What is it?" Will's sweet voice asks as the anticipation grows. "What if it's the Demogorgon? Oh, Jesus, we're so screwed if it's the Demogorgon –" Lucas scoffs at Dustin, "It's not the Demogorgon –" Laurie sits up as Mike waits for them to settle down.

He slams six-winged miniatures onto the map. "An army of Troglodytes charge into the chamber!" Laurie holds back a small laugh as her entertainment continues. "Troglodytes?" Dustin smiles confidently as Lucas leans back cockily, "Toldja." The boys chuckle then a snort comes from Dustin. Finally, she relaxes into her seat as she goes back to focusing on her homework.

Mike looks over his shoulder. His eyes grow wide. "Wait a minute." Mike's voice says softly while looking over at Laurie, who is focused on her homework. "Do you hear that? That...that sound? Boom!Boom! BOOM! That sound... it didn't come from the Troglodytes. No. It came from something else..." This makes Laurie look up as Mike slams down a large two-headed monster miniature on the map. "THE DEMOGORGON!" He yells, making the groan.

"We're in deep shit," Dustin says before looking over to his sister as she raises an eyebrow at him. "Will, your action!" Mike looks over at the boy, who looks terrified. "I don't know." His voice is defeated as the possibilities run through his head. "Fireball him!" Lucas says as if it's the only answer.

"I'd have to roll thirteen or higher!"

"Too risky. Cast a protection spell." Dustin suggests as Lucas butts in. "Don't be a pussy. Fireball him!" Will quickly looks over at Dustin, "Cast protection." Will looks over to his last resource, which is Laurie. The teenage girl shrugs her shoulders with a sad smile. "The Demogorgon is tired of your silly human bickering. It stomps toward you. BOOM!"

"FIREBALL HIM WILL!" Lucas practically screams. "Another step. BOOM!" Mike's voice gets drowned out as Dustin yells over him, "Cast protection!" Mike seems to be enjoying himself as he raises his voice, "It roars in anger –"

"Fireball!"

"Protection!"

"And –" Laurie leans over as she props her elbow on her knee, rests her chin on her palm as Will calls out Fireball, then rolls. Unfortunately, he rolls it too hard. The dice scatter to the other side of the basement. She quickly puts her feet on the couch. The boys scramble to find it while also starting to freak out.

"Mike! Mike! Mike!" Mrs. Wheeler's voice yells, getting closer before she opens the door and yells the boy's name again. "Mom, we're in the middle of a campaign!"

"You mean the end." She taps her watch. "Fifteen after." Mike chases after his mom upstairs as the boys whine and groan. "Guys, come on. It's not that bad." Laurie finally speaks up as she starts to pack her stuff in her bag. "Says the girl who would only play if she could be a princess," Dustin grumbles at his sister, then squeals as she messes with his hair. "Now come on, guys, if you want to have a good AV meeting tomorrow, you must have enough sleep. You know this."

"Yes, Laurie." The boys say as they start packing their stuff. "Thank you, plus we want Mrs. Wheeler to allow you all back. Wouldn't want to move DnD night to our house, would ya?" She smirks at the boys before heading upstairs.

"Thank you for allowing us to come over, Mrs. Wheeler. I'm sorry if they were being too rowdy." Mike goes to protest, but Laurie turns him to the basement and then pushes him. "It's not a problem, Laurie. I was surprised you weren't doing homework and hanging out with Nancy." The girl shrugs the boys come upstairs. "She was catching up with Baraba tonight. I'll just talk to her in the morning." Dustin holds out a pizza box, "Want the last slice?" She shakes her head, and he quickly goes upstairs.

Mrs. Wheeler and Laurie laugh. She says her goodbyes and then heads to the garage. Not too long after she arrives, Dustin walks out, shutting the door behind him. He's in the middle of eating the last pizza slice. The other three boys and Laurie are out here already: Lucas and Will are climbing onto their bikes, Mike is seeing them off, and Laurie just finished unlocking their bikes.

"Something's wrong with your sister." Dustin's mouth is full of pizza as he speaks, which earns him a glare from his sister. "What're you talking about?" Mike looks at him, confused, "She's got a stick up her butt."

"Yea, it's because she's been dating that douchebag, Steve Harrington," Lucas interjects as Laurie rolls her eyes. "Yeah, she's just turning into a real jerk."

"She's always been a real jerk."

"Nu-uh. She used to be cool. Like that time, she dressed up as an elf for our Eldertree campaign –" Dustin says as he climbs onto his bike, and they all turn on their flashlights. "Guys, Nance is not a jerk. She's a teenage girl who has her first boyfriend. Leave her alone, and your time will come." Laurie defends her friend as the boys look at her, confused. "You'll see in about two years." She says before starting to move the pedals. Dustin and Lucas bike off out of the garage, following her.

The four kids bike home. Their handlebar lights wink in the night. And good thing, because it's very dark out here. Lucas peels off from the group. "See ya, ladies."

"Kiss your mom goodnight for me." Dustin earns a light smack from Laurie, "Dustin!" She scolds as Lucas flips the bird. Will, Laurie, and Dustin bike on silently for a beat, then: "Race to my place? Winner gets a comic?" Dustin challenges Will, which makes Laurie bike faster.

She hears the boys agree and looks behind her to see Will quickly catching up. Dustin pedals in pursuit. But he's already behind. And...Will whizzes past a house at the far end of the neighborhood. He waves at Dustin. Now fifty yards back. "I'll take your "X-Men" one-three-four!"

Dustin stops. Out-of-breath. "Will, do you want me to bike with you home?" He shakes his head at Laurie's offer. "I'm okay, Laurie. Thank you, though!" She waves him goodnight as the two Hendersons park their bikes in the garage.

"Teach me to bike faster." Dustin pleads while looking up at his sister. She laughs before pulling him in on her side, "That is something for a weekend." She taps his nose and then unlocks the door. "Good evening, Mews." She happily pets the orange cat and then picks her up. "Goodnight, bubs. See you in the morning." She calls out to Dustin before closing the door to her room.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The following day: Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Laurie ride to school together. "Okay, boys, have a good day." She calls out as she bikes over to the bike rack in front of the high school. As she walks in, she can see Nancy in her peripheral vision.

"Good morning, Wheeler." Nancy looks up, surprised but smiles when she sees Laurie. "Good Morning to you too, Henderson." The girls laugh as they walk into school. "Have you started studying for Kaminsky's test yet?" Nancy asks, walking side-by-side with Laurie. "Very little. I was catching up on some homework from when I was sick last week." Barbara catches up to the girls.

"So? Did he call?" Laurie looks at Nancy, confused, "Keep your voice down –" Laurie's brows frown as she thinks about who could call Nancy that would make her so paranoid. "Are you talking about Harrington?" She whispers. The ends of her mouth turn up as she sees Nancy blush.

"Did he?" She and Barabra ask with two very different tones. Nancy shakes her head as she walks up to her locker, which is next to Laurie's. "I've already told this to Barb, but I will tell you to. It's not like that." Barbara shoots her a look while Laurie does what she needs to in her locker.

"Okay, I mean, yes, fine, he likes me, you know, but not like that –" Nancy says, then lowers her voice, "We just made out a couple of times." Laurie's jaw drops, looking over at her best friend, who blushes more looking at her expression. "We just made out a couple of times." Barb mocks, "Jesus; you're gonna be so cool now it's ridiculous –"

"No, I'm not!"

"You better still hang out with me. That's all I'm saying. If you become friends with Carol and Tommy H –" Laurie clears her throat, making the two look over at her. "Both of you have raised your popularity because you've been hanging out with me forever. I'm as cool as it gets." The three laugh before Nancy replies to Barbra, "Gross. And I'm telling you, this was just a one-time – two-time thing, alright?" Nancy silences.

She looks over and sees Nancy opening a note. The oldest Wheeler child looks at her best friend, speechless. "You were saying?" Barb teases, making Laurie laugh. Nancy heads to the bathroom while Barb and Laurie walk to class.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Laurie walks out of the classroom after the final bell rings with a big sigh. She runs a frustrated hand through her hair as she unlocks her locker. A familiar cologne makes its way into her nose, "Can't leave me alone for one day, can you, Harrington." Steve smirks at the girl as he leans on the locker next to her.

"That would make your life too easy." She rolls her eyes as she closes her locker. "You have a girlfriend you should be hanging out with." He shakes his head as he follows her with his eyes, "Can't I hang out with my friend?" He catches up to her and then wraps his arm around her shoulder, which she quickly pushes off.

"You can, but with how Hawkins is. It's best if you don't if you want Nancy to like both of us still. Later, Sasquatch"

"How many times have I told you to stop calling me that?!" She laughs evilly but doesn't look at him as she calls out, "Never!"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"What do you mean Will is missing? How in the hell can he be missing?! We saw him last night!" Laurie is frantic. Somehow the rumor mill that is high and mighty in Hawkins didn't get down to the high school to let people know that Will Byers is missing.

"I know, I know. Now please stop pacing around my room! You're gonna mess up my carpet." Dustin whines, then yelps as he receives a hit from Laurie on the back of his head. "This is serious, Dustin! Who knows who could go missing next! I can't lose any of you boys, especially you." Dustin pulls his sister into a hug as tears start to roll down her face.

"Now, I have to go over and study with Nancy tonight. Then, when I get back, we will watch whatever movie you want. Okay?" he nods slightly as she pinches his chubby cheek.

"I thought mom didn't want us leaving the house until Will was found." She shrugs, "Nancy and I had this planned for a while. If I'm going to be Valedictorian, I need to pass this chem test." Dustin chuckles as she smiles kindly at him. She messes with his hair and then heads into her room.

She checks the time and then heads downstairs with her bag. "Mom, I'll be back! I'm going to study with Nancy!" The older woman quickly rushes to her looking frantic, "Okay, just, please call me when you get there and before you come back."

"I will, don't worry." She hugs her quickly, gives a goodbye pet to Mews then heads out. The bike ride to the Wheelers' house takes her about five minutes. She parks her bike in the garage before knocking on the front door. "Laurie, what are you doing here?" Karen asks with Holly in her arms.

"Laurie." Holly says, looking at the girl, "Hi, Holly! I'm here to study with Nancy. She didn't tell you?" She questions. "No, but come on in. I guess your mom wants you to call, right?" Laurie nods as she walks into the kitchen. She gives her mom a quick call, then hangs up as Holly pulls on her pant leg, "Play?" She smiles at the younger but shakes her head. "I'm studying tonight, Hol. Maybe when I babysit you next time, okay?" She bends down to the girl's height with her pinky up. They lock pinkies, and Laurie heads upstairs.

She knocks on Nancy's door before walking in, "So, I was thinking we could start with-" She stops mid-sentence as Steve and Nancy quickly break apart. "I am so sorry!"

"No, Laurie, you're fine. I tried to tell Steve that you were coming over, but you know how stubborn he is." Laurie nods with an awkward smile, "It's fine. I can leave if you two want some privacy."

"No, it's fine. I was about to leave. I'll see you both tomorrow." Steve leans over and kisses Nancy on her head, then waves awkwardly to Laurie before clumsily leaving through Nancy's window.

The two girls look at each other and laugh, "So, should I ask why you're makeout buddy was in your bedroom?" Nancy blushes and throws a pillow at Laurie. "No, let's study so we can both pass this test."

"Whatever you say, Nance." The two girls study for their chemistry test, unaware of their brothers out in the rain looking for their best friend but finding someone who will change their lives forever.