HERE'S WHERE THE STORY REALLY BEGINS, with three boys and a girl placing their bikes into the bike rack in front of the school. The group was incomplete. Missing the Party deemed Cleric of the group.

"That's weird. I don't see him," Mike starts while adjusting his backpack.

"He's probably just studying or something," Mariella says while walking over to beside Mike.

"I'm telling you, his mom's right. He probably just went to class early again," Lucas adds, following close behind.

"Yeah, he's always paranoid Gurksy's gonna give him another pop quiz," Dustin reassures them.

Just then, they're stopped by the sound of Troy Harrington's voice.

"Step right up, ladies and gentlemen!" He shouts out throwing his hands up.

"Step right up and get your tickets for the freak show," He chuckles with a smirk.

"Who do you think would make more money in a freak show? Midnight, Frogface, or Toothless? Oh! And can't forget, Disappointment Degray and or, Mute!" He laughs while shoving at the boys. Mariella standing behind Dustin, rolling her eyes. Her patience running thin already, weighing the pros and cons of just telling her father of the torment and putting an end to it. After all, no one ever wants to get on the bad side of Charlie DeGray.

"I'd go with Toothless!" James laughs, mimicking Dustin's lisp.

"I told you a million times, my teeth are coming in! It's called cleidocranial dysplasia," Dustin explains his disability his which causes his teeth to come is slower.

"I told you a million times!" James mimics again while moving his hands erratically.

"Do the arm thing!" Troy demands, point his finger up.

"Do it, freak!" James agrees while staring down at them menacingly.

Dustin reluctantly takes off his jacket and drops his things, cracking his shoulder as they begin to groan in disgust while Lucas, Mike, and Mariella watch their tormentors annoyance. It was the same routine every single day.

"God, it gets me every time!" Troy shakes his head while shoving past Mike and Lucas.

"Then why'd you ask for him to do it?" Mariella mumbles under breath and shakes her head while grabbing Dustin's bag and passing it to him.

"Assholes," Lucas says once they leave.

"Tell me about it. Should I tell my dad? I'll start havoc if I have to," Mariella asks, narrowing her eyes while shaking her head.

"Don't do that, Mars. It'll just make us seem like crybabies!" Dustin groans.

"I think it's kinda cool. It's like you have superpowers or something. Like... Mr. Fantasic!" Mike smiles, in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, except I can't fight evil with it," Dustin replies, disgruntled.

"But you tolerate evil so that's a power in itself, Dustin," Mariella laughs while throwing her arms around Lucas and Mike as they begin walking into the school, their laughs waving through the air.

♧

The day passed and the Party stared at each other in classes with curiosity. Wondering where Will could be, after all, Will wasn't the type to skip school. It was out of character, he'd never do it.

"Remember, finish chapter 12 and answer 12.3 on the difference between an experiment and other forms of scientific investigation. This will be on the test, which will cover chapters 10 through 12. it will be multiple choice with an essay section," Mr. Clarke says out to the class but trails at the end, seeing that the students are now filing out before the bell even signaled the end.

With a sigh, Mariella begins clearing her desk by tossing her pencil case and book she's currently reading into her backpack. Lucas turns to her with a frown, hearing the rustle of paper from behind him and mumbles 'it's okay'. Already sensing her distress from the possibility of Will really being missing. She smiles faintly just as the bell rings, indicating their last class was over. She gets up, walking over to the others who sat in front of her. Standing next to Mike as he gets up. As he stands, he holds onto Mariella's shoulder. A way of comforting her. They could already see the worry dripping from the girl.

"It's gonna be okay, Mars. He'll be okay," Mike says while ruffling her long hair. Mariella was known for her long, light brown locks. Girls at school envied how effortlessly it fell on her back. Lucas however, had his own two cents on it. He talked of how it tickled whenever they would sit next to one another or how the bullies would try to pull it. In short, he wanted her to get a haircut.

She nods with a frown before inhaling sharply. The three boys rush to the front of the class and stand in front of his desk, staring eagerly. Mars trailing behind them and standing behind Lucas.

"So? Did it come?" Mike asked, bouncing on his feet.

"Sorry, boys. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but..." Dustin, Mike, and Lucas' faces fell looking downwards. Mr. Clarke holds in a laugh.

"It came!" He finally smiles. Instantly, bringing the groups spirits back up.

♧

Impatiently, the boys spill into the room as Mr. Clarke and Mariella walk in slowly behind them.

"Yes!" Mike exclaims, seating himself in a chair in front of the radio.

"The Heathkit Hamshack! Ain't she a beaut?" Mr. Clarke says while the boys begin fiddling with the buttons. Mariella standing beside Mr. Clarke while reading a book.

"I bet you can talk to New York on this thing!" Dustin beams while admitting the radio. Mariella smiles to herself while reading at her best friend's excitement.

"Think bigger," Mr. Clarke responds to the excited boy with a smile.

"California?" They'd guess, looking up curiously.

"Bigger." Said once again by Mr. Clarke.

"Australia?" Another guess, before the teacher nods as the boy's eyes light up in excitement. Mariella shakes her head with a small smile again.

"Oh, man! When Will sees this, he's totally gonna blow his shit!" Lucas exclaims while throwing his hands up, excitedly.

"Lucas!" Mr. Clarke scolds, crossing his arms before smiling.

"Sorry," Lucas apologizes as Dustin begins to chuckle.

Mariella sauntered her way beside the boys, leaving her book hanging with her thumb marking the page as Mike begins to do a god-awful Australian accent.

"Hello, this is Mike Wheeler, president of Hawkins Middle AV club!" He says before Dustin snatches the headphones and saying something similar to the microphone.

Their laughs would fill the room, Mariella even closing her book! While Mr. Clarke observes the group happily joke around. Then, the scene would pause. The sound of a knock filling the room from the open door. Quickly, the boys settle down and everyone looks up they see the school principal followed by Sheriff Hopper and another cop.

"Sorry to interrupt, but, uh. May I borrow Michael, Lucas, Dustin, and Mariella?" The principal asks while pointing to each of the children. Their faces fell, and almost instantly, Mariella knew what it was about.

♧

They sat in the principal's office on a small couch. The order going, Lucas, Mike, Mariella, and Dustin. Squished together as the boys begin speaking over each other. Shouting and slapping each other's hands while Mariella sat silently, looking down at her hands shaking her head.

"Okay, okay, okay! One at a time, alright? You." Hopper raises his voice at them, rolling his eyes in exasperation before pointing to Mariella. She looks up, startled and nods.

"They said he takes what?" Hopper asks.

"They said Mirkwood —" She began before getting cut off by the Chief and policeman.

"Have you ever heard of Mirkwood?" Hopper turns to his partner who is writing their words down.

"I have not. That sound made up to me," His partner responds. 

"No, it's from Lord of the Rings," Lucas speaks up.

"Well, The Hobbit," Dustin corrects.

"It doesn't matter!" Lucas snaps.

"He asked!" Dustin fires back.

"He asked!" Lucas mimics Dustin while leaning forward.

"Shut up!" Mike groans.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! What did I just say? One at a damn time! You, again." Hopper snaps at the kids, looking back at Mariella.

"As I was saying, Mirkwood is just an alias the boys made up for the road. It's really just where Cornwallis and Kerley meet," Mariella while gripping the book in her hands.

"Yeah, alright. I think I know that —" Hopper begins leaning back into his chair before Mike piped in.

"We can show you if you want!" He says, excitedly.

"I said that I know it!" Hopper again raises his voice exasperatedly.

"We can help look!" Mike adds, smacking his hands on his knees.

"Yeah!" Dustin says with a dazed smile.

"No," Hopper sighs as both the principal and policeman stare at the kids.

The boys begin to rile up again as Hopper tells them that they are to go straight home after school, no biking around looking for Will or investigating, adding at the end that it isn't some Lord of the Rings book.

"The Hobbit," Dustin corrects again.

"Shut up!" Lucas enunciates while snapping Dustin's leg across from Mike and Mariella.

"Hey!" Dustin says while slapping him back before Mariella grabs his hand and holds it down.

"Stop it!" Mike tells them, biting his lip in annoyance as the boys begin to bicker.

"Do I make myself clear?" Hopper asks, leaning forward, instantly stopping the argument. He then stands up, towering over them.

"Do I make myself clear?" He repeats, enunciating his words.

"Yes, sir." Mike and Dustin nod.

"Yeah," Lucas adds, gulping.

"Clear as day," Mariella agrees while nodding as well.