Complete Chaos

033

Murray straightened up, "I'm sorry, why is this four-year-old speaking to me," he asked, annoyed.

"Um, I'm ten, you bald bastard!"

"Erica," Lucas scolded his younger sister. "Just the facts!" She responded to her older brother, who didn't know what she went through with his annoying friends.

Dustin agreed and said, "You're all gonna die, but you don't have to." Dustin walked to the table where the blueprints were, "Okay, see this room here? This is a storage facility" he pointed to a part of the blueprint and circled it with a pencil.

"There's a hatch in here that feeds into their underground ventilation system. That will lead you to the base of the weapon."

He moved the pencil diagonally, "It's a bit of a maze down there, but between me and Erica, we can show you the way," he explained, looking at Hopper and Murray.

Erica nodded, "You can show us the way," Hopper asked, looking down at the two kids.

"Don't worry, you can do all the fighting and the dangerous hero shit, and we'll just be your navigators," Dustin said, looking at Erica, who was on board with his plan.

"No," Hopper said simply. Both kids frown; Hopper shook his head and walked away. Hopper was getting ready; he got the guns from the Russians.

For the plan to work, they needed a place with high frequency that the signal would reach; lucky for them, Dustin had what they needed.

Steve and Julia were near the food court. Steve was looking for snacks that Julia could have. It was getting late, and she was hungry.

He walked to the back of Orange Julius, a fruit drink beverage store. He added ice, orange juice, a little bit of sweetener, milk, and some vanilla flavoring to her drink. Once it was done, he left without cleaning his mess.

"Here," he handed her the drink. Julia's left hand was on her hip, and her head was leaning a little bit to the left as she took some deep breaths. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, I just haven't been sleeping well the last couple of days," she said, taking the drink from his hand.

She thanked him as she took a sip. "How is it," he asked eagerly. "A little bit too much vanilla, but other than that, it's good, thank you."

She took another sip, "I feel so much better." She kissed his cheek lightly, making Steve blush in the process.

He played with his fingers looking down at his lap as he said, "Julia, I think you should go home and stay there until all of this is over."

He didn't want her to get hurt; she would be safer far away from here. Not only her but the baby as well.

She set her halfway done drink down. "I don't want to," she said softly, looking at him.

She was afraid of leaving his side and something happening to him. She didn't want Steve to have the same end as Kimberly.

Steve was the only person she had in her life; she couldn't do another day without him. Having him away with the Russians taught her how much she cared for the boy with sweet brown eyes and crazy hair.

"Julia," he insisted, placing his hand on her thigh. "I don't want you getting hurt."

She moved her hand on top of his and smiled softly at him, "I know, but I want to be with you."

She squished his hand. "I won't be able to go home and be calm knowing you're out there with the mind flayer. Steve, you didn't see that thing. It's not small like the demodogs we saw last year." She explained rapidly, worry written all over her face. The memories of her best friend coming back to haunt her.

She closed her eyes shut, holding back tears. "I'm going with you," she said, opening her eyes again.

She knew Steve's intentions were good, but she was going to make her own decisions. She only hoped she wouldn't regret it.

He knew she wouldn't change her mind. He could maybe trick her and lock her in a safe place, but he knew she would never forgive him for it.

Dustin walked closer to the older teenagers, "Group Scoops Troop, let's go," Dustin said, lifting a pair of car keys. Erica stood next to him.

Dustin threw the car keys at Steve, who caught them in one hand. "You're staying behind me at all times," Steve informed Julia.

Steve, Julia, Erica, Robin, and Dustin walked out of the mall while everyone else stayed inside the mall, getting ready for their own mission.

"Oh, man, now this is what I'm talkin' about," Steve said excitedly, lifting his hand in the air.

"Toddfather"?

"Oh, screw Todd! Steve's her daddy now." Julia playfully rolled her eyes and moved her hand around her large stomach as she walked slowly to the car.

"Did you just talk about yourself in the third person?" Dustin, Erica, and Robin went in the back of the car. Julia fixed the passenger seat and went in the car.

"Did he just call himself daddy?"

Steve closed the door for Julia and jogged to the other side. "All right, where are we going?" Steve asked once he got in.

"Weathertop."

"Weather-what?" Steve asked Dustin, confused.

"Just drive."