𝐖𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 ✶ Steve Harrington

𝟬𝟭𝟭. a pretty damn good babysitter

CHAPTER ELEVEN,
a pretty damn good babysitter.

THE REUNION BETWEEN MIKE AND ELEVEN WAS BITTERSWEET. The Wheeler boy didn't give up—even though there were times when he wasn't sure. What if she was really gone? Now, his doubts were put at ease. Here she was...he wasn't imagining this very moment. He never gave up on her. For 353 days, he held on. Hoping that he would see her again. The truth was disclosed to him. Eleven couldn't reach out to him, for her own safety.

His reaction to the news wasn't the best. Solana, with an uneasy feeling in her heart, listened as Mike and Hopper had a private conversation in one of the rooms. Their conversation wasn't quite private, due to their loud voices being heard.

Eleven, on the other hand, embraced her two friends. She missed them dearly. Lucas was thrilled to introduce his older cousin to El.

"Uh, El?" says Lucas as he pulls on Solana's arm to bring her forward. "This is Solana, my cousin that I always talked about last year." He seemed proud. He was indeed proud of Solana, and he's happy that he's able to put a face to the name that he often spoke of.

Solana awkwardly smiles. She didn't know what to say really—she just learned about the younger girl's existence and to make matters worse, she was still trying to wrap her head around the idea, that this young girl in front of her had superpowers. Nonetheless, the older teenager introduced herself. El made a compliment about Solana's hair, earning a genuine smile from Sol.

Then, came Max who stepped forward. Now, it was her time for her introduction. She's heard many things about El, through the young boys. Her intentions were pure, but unfortunately, Eleven didn't view it in that way. She simply ignored Max, and stepped past her, while she strolled over to Joyce Byers.

Max was kind of disappointed—more like she felt embarrassed. She didn't know what exactly she did wrong...and she disliked the fact that it happened in front of other people. She started to feel a little better when Sol gently placed her hand on the Mayfield girl's back, soothingly making small circles. "Hey," Sol spoke up, offering a comforting smile. "Don't worry about it."

Joyce, along with El, entered the room where Will Byers was currently resting. El kneeled on the floor, while Joyce sat on the bed. "He's not doing well," Joyce informs El.

Eleven was aware., "I know. I saw." Joyce decided to ask, "What else did you see?" For a brief second, Eleven makes eye contact with Joyce. Then, she looks back at Will. She wasn't sure how to answer...

Both of the ladies were now at the table, with Hopper's translation of the words, C.L.O.S.E. G.A.T.E., written down. Eleven's face was blank, whereas Joyce was inquisitive. "You opened this gate before, right?"