"What's up with you?" Max asks her boyfriend as she sits down next to him.

For the past five minutes, Max has stood and watched Asher look over at Hopper and Eleven with sad puppy dog eyes. Max knew what was wrong with Asher, and he knew that she knew. Asher was jealous. All Asher has ever wanted was a family that loves him, and while he does have Claudia and Dustin, he also wanted his dad to love him. For his whole life, Grayson Hart had blamed Asher for the death of his late wife and Asher's mom, and because of this, Grayson had nothing but resentment towards Asher. Even though Asher hated Grayson, and Grayson hated Asher; all the fifteen year old wanted was for his dad to love him. But that never happened. So, seeing Hopper care so much for Eleven, who isn't even his biological daughter, made him jealous of the girl. She has the one thing he wants and he kind of hated it.

"Nothing" Asher says as he looks down at his feet, not wanting to bother Max with his problems while she had her own shit to worry about. Asher didn't really like talking about his problems, because if he did, then they'd feel real. Whenever Asher had a bad or sad feeling, he'd just ignore it till it went away. It's worked so far for fifteen years, he was sure that he could last a few more.

"Ash, look at me" Max gently says, making Asher look up at her "I can tell something is up. So, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I promise, I'm good" Asher says with a thin-lipped smile before holding Max's hand, lifting it up to his face and kissing it before putting both of their hands on his lap.

"You know, I've always wanted what you and Dustin have with Billy. You two aren't related but you two act like brothers. You both love each other more than anything and will do anything for each other. And ever since I met you guys, I've wished for me and Billy to be like that" Max admits, making Asher look back down at his feet "It's okay to want what you don't have, you know. Yes, it'll upset you and make you feel jealous, but it's something that you want more than anything."

"But I'll never have it" Asher mumbles out.

"So think of the good things you have" Max suggests "You have Dustin, who is your brother. You have Dustin's mom, who is pretty much your mom at this point. You have El, and Steve, and Lucas, and Nancy, and Jonathan, and Will... and Mike, even though you two both hate each other. And, do you know what is the best thing that you have? Your girlfriend, who is the definition of perfect and is sat right next to you" Max says, making Asher look over at her "And I promise you, I'm not going to leave anytime soon. You have me."

"So, you're saying that whenever my mind is fucked up, I should just start thinking about you?" Asher asks, making sure that he understood her.

"Yeah, pretty much" Max says with a shrug "Maybe that could stop you getting high so much."

"But it's fun" Asher says with a laugh, making Max roll her eyes "But you better never go near drugs. They're bad for you."

"Can you promise me something?" Eleven asks Hopper, looking over at Max and Asher talking. After the past few days, Eleven has started to care for Asher, like anyone would do with a best friend, so she wants to make sure he's safe; and for that to happen, he needs to get away from his dad. Eleven wanted Asher to be happy, and that meant that she had to make sure that Asher never had to step foot in that house ever again.

"Anything kid" Hopper says, looking down at Eleven.

"Get him out of there" Eleven says, making Hopper know exactly what she's talking about. Everyone in Hawkins knew what was going on with Asher, even Hopper, but because nothing had ever been reported, Hopper couldn't really do anything about it. So Asher was stuck living with an abusive dad, which Hopper always felt guilty about.

"Hey" Mike says, walking over to the two of them "We should probably go" Mike says, making Eleven hug Hopper before Mike and Max help her get up so she can walk.

"Mike?" Hopper says, making Mike turn around "Be careful" He says as Mike nods before following Eleven and Max before Asher goes to walk with them "Hart, get over here."

"Yes sir" Asher says sarcastically before walking over to Hopper. Over the years, Asher hasn't been Hopper's biggest fan. After being arrested a couple of times with minor charges, as well as Hopper doing absolutely nothing about Grayson, Asher had no faith in the police system, specifically Hawkins' police system.

"I just wanted to say that I'm know what's going on at home and I'm sorry I haven't done anything about it sooner" Hopper says with a sigh "But I promise you, when all of this is over, I'm going to get you out of there and make sure that he never hurts you again."

"Thanks, man, that means a lot" Asher says with a nod.

"Now go with them, kid" Hopper says to Asher "Keep them safe, yeah?"

"Okay" Asher says before turning around before turning back around to look at Hopper "Or I could come with?"

"Not a chance" Hopper sternly says.

"Come on, you're breaking into a Russian bunker" Asher tells Hopper, knowing that the three of them shouldn't go down there by themselves "Who's better at breaking into somewhere than a criminal themselves? And what if they start attacking you guys or some shit? You're gonna need someone who knows how to use a gun and can kick someone's ass. I can do that."

"But you're just a kid" Hopper tells Asher "I'm not letting you."

"You owe me for not doing anything about my dad" Asher says to Hopper "I'm coming."

"Ash, come on" Max says as she runs back to see Asher still talking to Hopper.

"I'm going with them" Asher says as he walks over to Max "Just go to the car, okay? I'll meet you guys there after this is done."

"Wait, what? No, you're not going down there" Max says to Asher before looking at Hopper "Are you seriously letting him go down there?"

"Do you seriously think I'm gonna let him tell me what to do?" Asher asks Max "Look, I'll be okay. You go to the house with El and make sure she's okay. I'll be back in no time, I promise."

"You better no die down there" Max says to Asher with a glare.

"Trust me, I won't" Asher says with a smile before quickly kissing Max "Now go to the car, okay?"

"Okay" Max says with a sigh before walking away from Asher.

"You seriously want to go down there?" Hopper asks knowing that Asher wasn't going to change his mind anytime soon, making Asher nod his head "You listen to me, okay? You don't do anything without me telling you to."

"Yes sir" Asher says with a nod.

"And you said you know how to use a gun?" Hopper asks Asher, making him nod "Good" Hopper says, passing Asher one of the guns from one of the Russians "And after all of this is over, we're going to talk about how you know how to use a gun, because I know you legally shouldn't."

"I've done a lot of illegal things that you don't know about" Asher says with a shrug "At least this one is useful."

1284 Words