Chapter Eleven
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Never Ending Story

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Olivia Henderson was never particularly fond of Billy Hargrove. Since the first moment they met, he was twisted and heartless. It was masked by his charming good looks and the way he swaggered with a cool confidence, but Olivia could sense his true colors just by the malicious grin that was always plastered on his face and the hint of mischievousness that swirled in his dark blue eyes. Olivia, who always saw the best in people, was convinced that there was not even an ounce of good in Billy.

            Until now.

            As Steve, Robin, and Olivia arrived back at StarCourt mall, Nancy was standing in front of her car with a gun, determination written on her features. Not too far ahead of her was Billy in his Chevrolet Camaro, driving towards her. Billy's eyes were glossy as he gripped the wheel, like he was trying so hard to resist the Mind Flayer that was inside of him. Olivia's heart broke as she watched him, hating that there was nothing she could do to help him.

            Olivia embraced the worst for what was about to come. Steve stepped on the pedal and the car swiveled, crashing into Billy's car before he could crash into Nancy. Olivia's head yanked to the side as the car swiveled and she could feel her head start to bleed, but she couldn't care less. She was only worried for her friends safety.

            "Are you guys okay?" Steve panted.

            Robin looked at Steve, frozen in her place. "Ask us tomorrow?"

            When the ground started to rumble, the trio exchanged worried glances. They stood up from their seats and widened their eyes.

            Thump. Thump. Thump.

            On top of StarCourt, the ginormous Mind Flayer was looming over them. It had 8 legs and it's body was hunched over. The monster was almost like a giant moving rock with devilish eyes. She could feel the ground shake as the oddly shaped creature marched towards them. Olivia gulped and Steve kept her behind him, even though it was of really no use.

            A honking sound pulled their attention away for a split second. "Get in!" Nancy yelled, who was sitting in the front seat.

            "Liv! Come on!" Steve shouted. But Olivia was too stunned to even move. It was like she was petrified. When Olivia was too frightened to move, Steve grabbed her hand and the three of them hurried into the back of Nancy's Station Wagon. She sat next to Steve, and Robin sat across from them. Will and Lucas were seated in the middle row of the car, while Jonathan was in the driver's seat. Olivia curled her knees to her chest and her heart thumped loudly as the Mind Flayer continued to stomp and chase after them.

            God, she hoped Dustin was safe. That seemed to be all she could think about. She was just glad that he was back on the field where it was at least safer and that he wasn't close to the Mind Flayer.

            "Liv, you're bleeding," Steve said worriedly.

            "I'm fine," Olivia replied, not caring about a small injury that was on her head. Steve sighed and shook his head at her. She leaned closer into him, trying to avoid staring through window to not look at the monster behind them. Steve held her close, just wishing for all of this to be over and finally start a relationship with the girl of his dreams.

            Olivia relaxed a little at hearing the sound of Dustin's voice through the walkie talkie and perked up when she heard an unfamiliar voice. "Dusty-bun, do you copy?"

            "Yes, I copy Suzie-poo. It sounds much better now, thanks," Dustin replied.

            Steve and Robin's eyes grew big. "Suzie," They chorused, realization flooding over them.

            Olivia nudged Steve's shoulder and hit him softly. "I told you guys she was real!"

            Steve raised his arms in defense. "Sorry!" He apologized, feeling ashamed of himself.

            "Okay, so listen, do you know Planck's Constant?" Dustin asked.

            "Do you know the Earth orbits the sun?" Suzie quipped with a giggle, and Steve and Olivia raised their eyebrows and smiled at each other. Sometimes Dustin was too smart for his own good, and Suzie seemed to be the same way.

            Dustin chuckled softly. "Okay, so I know it starts with two sixes, and... then a, what is it?"

            "Okay, let me just be clear on this," Suzie began to say. "I haven't heard from you in a week, and now you want a mathematical equation that you should know, so you can... save the world?"

            "Susie-poo, I promise I will make it up to you as soon as possible," Dustin assured her.

            "You can make it up to me now," Suzie said.

            "What?" Dustin asked, taken aback.

            "I want to hear it," Suzie replied, and Olivia could hear the sly grin in her voice.

            "Not right now," Dustin heaved.

            "Yes, now, Dusty-bun!" Suzie demanded.

            Olivia could hear the slight irritation in Dustin's voice. "Suzie-poo, this is urgent!"

            "Yes, yes, you're saving the world. I heard you the first time," Suzie retorted like it was no big deal. "But Ged is also saving Earthsea and he's about to confront the shadow. So this is Suzie signing off."

            "Wait wait wait!" Dustin said hurriedly. "Okay, okay, okay. Shit," He mumbled under his breath.

            And then he did something unexpected, something Olivia didn't see coming from her little brother. He started singing.

            "Turn around," He sang softly. "Look at what you see. In her face, the mirror of your dreams." He dragged the notes at the end of each phrase as he sang. Olivia recognized the song as Never Ending Story. She knew it was one of Dustin's favorite songs. However, she didn't think he would be singing the uplifting melody at a time like this, when their life was in danger.

            Steve looked at Olivia, completely bewildered that he would be singing at a time like this. Olivia shrugged, just as startled as he was.

            Then Suzie joined in the song, and the two of them began to harmonize. "Make believe I'm everywhere, given in the light. Written on the pages is, the answer to a never ending story. Ahhh-ahhh-ahh."

            Olivia had flashbacks of all the times she had with Steve. From their first conversation at Halloween, all the way up until now. Steve had come to her life so suddenly, and now she couldn't imagine a life without him. In a weird way, she had Dustin to thank for that. He was sort of one of the reasons why their friendship was formed. And during the time her and Steve's friendship blossomed, she couldn't help but fall in love with him.

Reach the stars, fly a fantasy
Dream a dream, and what you see will be

            Everyone turned their heads to Olivia, as if she knew why Dustin would be singing. Will and Lucas looked at her with pure confusion.

            "Uh, Liv, why is he singing?" Will asked, perplexed.

            "I don't know! He's Dustin," Olivia shrugged sheepishly. "But I think it's sweet."

Lives that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds
And there upon a rainbow is, the answer to a Never ending story
Ahhh-ahhh-ahhh
Story
Ahhh-ahhh-ahhh

            As Dustin and Suzie sang the last notes of the song, Olivia and Steve looked at each other with the purest love in their eyes. It was like they almost forgot where they were in that moment and that it was just them. If they were about to die, Steve wanted Olivia to know that he was in love with her.

            And it finally happened. Even though the Mind Flayer was storming after them and their lives were at risk, it happened.

            Steve Harrington finally kissed Olivia Henderson.

            "Planck's constant is 6.62607004," Suzie stated, causing Steve and Olivia to pull apart shyly.

            "You just saved the world!" Dustin exclaimed in utter amazement. The two of them say I miss you more back and forth until Erica cut them off.

            "I'm so happy for the both of you," Robin smiled genuinely, looking at her two love struck friends sitting across from her. "But I don't think now is the time. You know, when our lives are in danger and all."

            "Right, sorry Robin," Steve apologized, though his forehead still rested on Olivia's, and the both of them were smiling wide.

            "Hey, it's turning around!" Olivia pointed out, noticing the Mind Flayer was now going back in the direction of StarCourt.

            Nancy turned her head around. "What?"

            "It's turning around!" Steve and Olivia said in unison.

            "Maybe we wore it out?" Lucas wondered.

            "I don't think so," Jonathan grasped on the wheel tighter. "Hold on!" He pressed the pedal and turned around swiftly.

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            Jets of flames and smoke had covered the entire food court and the lights were flickering vigorously. The trio were ducked behind the railing and holding sparklers, preparing to throw them at the Mind Flayer. "Flay this you ugly piece of shit!" Lucas yelled with determination. He threw the sparkler in its face, and the sparkler morphed into a firework. The flames reflected on Olivia's brown eyes.

            "Hey asshole!" Steve yelled to the Mind Flayer, getting its attention. "Over here!" The three of them throw their sparklers, morphing into more fireworks, blasting in the Mind Flayer. Olivia certainly didn't imagine this was how she would be spending her 4th of July, throwing fireworks at the Mind Flayer.

            Olivia scrambled to her walkie talkie when she heard Dustin's frantic voice calling her. "Olivia, do you copy? This Dustin, I repeat, do you copy? Please confirm your safety!"

            "I copy Dustin!" Olivia panicked over the midst of chaos of the fireworks exploding. She could hear Dustin let out a sigh of relief. "We're out of time!"

            "Hurry! Close it now! Close it!" Dustin shrieked.

            Olivia dropped the walkie talkie when the Mind Flayer started marching towards them. Steve held her protectively and they ducked down, embracing for what was about happen, but nothing ever came. The three of them stood up slowly to see what happened with Steve still holding Olivia. The Mind Flayer had crashed and fallen to the ground. It was finally dead amongst the flames.

            Hearing Max's agonizing screams, Olivia went back down the escalator, ignoring Steve's worried cries. Tears were brimming the young girls eyes as she shook Billy's shoulders trying to wake him up, but it was too late.

            The Mind Flayer killed him.

            Olivia knelt down beside Max, and pulled her into her arms. It was too much to bear to hear Max's heartbreaking cries as she watched her stepbrother die. Mike and El were close by, feeling just as heartbroken for their friend. El scooted over to them, and her and Olivia hugged and comforted her.

            "B-Billy's gone," Max wavered, her voice breaking as she spoke. "H-he's gone." Olivia looked at Billy's his lifeless body. Billy didn't deserve to die. She could feel tears rolling down her cheeks. He had died with his eyes wide open and she could still see a hint of heartbreak and sadness in his eyes. Olivia leaned over and closed his eyes gently so that he could die peacefully and kissed his forehead.

            Max's sobs were heartbreaking, and Olivia held the girl tighter in her arms, telling her that everything was going to be okay.