Experiment - BYLER + REDDIE

➵ chapter three

➵ believe me

June 13th, 1987

Hawkins, Indiana

"Hey, me and Will are gonna go play a different game, okay?"

Ivy glanced over at her brother, then nodded and turned back to the game she was playing with Hugo. "Okay, just tell me if you're gonna leave the arcade or anything." She gasped and slapped Hugo's hand away when he reached over to mess with her control buttons. "Hey! Cheater!"

Hugo just laughed and bumped his shoulder into Ivy's. Richie and Will left for the other side of the arcade, and began a different game.

A few minutes later, another teenager approached Ivy and Hugo.

"Um, excuse me?" he said.

Ivy didn't look away from the game, but she said, "Yeah?"

"Have you seen Mike Wheeler anywhere around here? He sort of went missing last night."

Ivy and Hugo both faltered, and somehow, Ivy's character beat Hugo's. Hugo groaned, then turned to face the teenager. Ivy turned as well, and squinted at the teenager, trying to remember if Mike had shown them a picture of him.

"No," she said slowly.

Hugo shrugged. "We're looking for him too. We haven't seen him since-"

Ivy elbowed Hugo's ribs, and Hugo looked down at her, furrowing his eyebrows.

"What?"

Ivy had an exasperated look on her face. "Shut. Up," she hissed.

Hugo's eyes widened in understanding, and they both turned back to the teenager, who looked very confused.

"Okay..." he said, looking between Ivy and Hugo. "Well... just call the Harrington-Buckley residence if you see him. We're in the phone book. I'm Steve Harrington."

Ivy raised her eyebrows. "Buckley? Like Robin Buckley?"

Steve frowned. "Yeah, do you know her?"

Hugo tilted his head to the side. "Wait, Harrington-Buckley? Are you two married?"

Steve snorted. "No, definitely not. Just living together. As best friends."

"Steve!" someone called from across the arcade. Hugo recognized her as the kid who had opened the door at Eddie's house. "Come here!"

Steve rolled his eyes. "Fine, give me a minute!" He smiled at Ivy and Hugo. "Okay, well just give me a call if you see him."

Ivy and Hugo nodded, and Steve left for the other side of the arcade.

Ivy stood there for a moment, frowning at the floor, until Hugo nudged her shoulder with his. When she looked up, Hugo looked very concerned.

"Hey, are you okay?" he asked.

Ivy sighed. "Yeah, just worried." She lowered her speaking volume. "Do you think the Lab could have gotten him?"

Hugo hugged Ivy. "Hey, I'm sure he's fine. Mike is a smart kid, in most situations. He knows how to take care of himself. We'll find him."

Ivy nodded into Hugo's shoulder. "Okay. Can we get out of here now? It's kind of suffocating with all the people."

Hugo nodded, grabbed Ivy's hand, and led her through the crowd to the door. They passed Will and Richie on the way out, and Hugo told them they were stepping outside for some air. Will and Richie acknowledged them, and they continued outside.