June 19th, 1985
10:25 pm
It was way past dark, and the kids hadn't moved from the living room. They had been talking for (god knows how) long and were all getting a little tired. Eddie had explained his theory to Dustin. They had both agreed that they're not sure if they're actually half-brothers, and Dustin would call his mom later to ask about it. But everybody knew that they just had to be.
Beverly and Bill had ended up lying down on the floor and were poking each other every few minutes to playfully annoy one another. Dustin and Mike H were sitting on the floor too, with their backs propped up at the end of either sofa. Will and Stan were still sitting next to each other on the sofa, and were basically in the exact same position with matching posture. Lucas and Max were cuddling on the other end of the couch, after play wrestling each other to find a comfortable position. Richie and Mike W were both on either end of the other couch, and had basically turned into Eddie and El's pillows. Richie was playing with Eddie's hair, and Mike had his arms around El and was fiddling with her hands.
"Hey kids, it's really late I think that you should all go home," said Hopper, peering into the doorway.
Mike W took his arms off of El and looked down at his watch. "Holy shit, guys. It's 10:25."
"We've been talking for 10 hours?" asked Max.
"Oh, well I guess we should all go home," said Stan.
"So, are we going to hang out again tomorrow?" asked Lucas.
"Sure," said Mike H.
"Yeah, we could all show you guys around Derry of you want," offered Bill.
"Sounds good," said Dustin.
"How about we all meet here at nine," said Bill.
"Nine?," asked Richie, "Not happening, I won't be up until at least eleven thirty."
"Fine," said Bill, sighing.
"Noon works, that way we can all sleep in too," said Mike.
"Okay, see you guys then," said Bev. She got up off of the floor and hugged Max, before being followed out by the rest of the Losers, who all biked home together.
The Party was still in the living room, and Dustin was relieved to finally get a spot on the sofa. "Your siblings are all really cool," said Dustin. The others all laughed in agreement.
"Yeah, but I swear I'm gonna slap Richie if he makes one more dick joke," said Mike.
"Don't beat yourself up," said Will.
"You're real funny, Byers," said Mike.
"What does dick mean?" asked El, unaware of their slang. She assumed it meant a penis, but she really wasn't sure. Dustin and Max laughed.
"Mike can explain that one later," said Lucas, winking. Mike gave him the death stare and was now regretting even bringing the word up.
"Okay," said El.
"I think you and Eddie have to be related," said Lucas, poking Dustin.
"Why?" Dustin asked, defensively.
"Because we all are, I think that it just fits that you would."
"Lucas, do we look anything alike?"
"No, but I'm just saying that you don't know your dad anymore and he did cheat on your mom."
"You don't have to remind me."
"All I'm saying is that it is possible, Mike and I look just as alike as you and Dustin do" said Lucas. Dustin sighed, the others all exchanging glances in agreement with Lucas.
"Kids, you need to go to bed," said Joyce.
"Fine," said Mike.
"I call the shower first!" yelled Max, running up the stairs. The kids all shared one bathroom, which was very inconvenient. They all headed upstairs to go get ready for bed.
"Hey, mom?" said Will, who had stayed behind.
"Yeah."
"How do you feel?"
"Well, I feel like a piece of me is here that I never knew was missing," she said, already getting emotional.
"Me too," said Will, being hugged by Joyce. "Don't cry, mom."
"These are happy tears," she said, wiping her eyes dry and laughing at herself, making Will laugh too. "But you need to go to bed, go on upstairs," she said, lightly pushing her son in the direction of the stairs. Will walked into his room and laughed to himself when he saw that Dustin had already thrown on pajamas and was already sleeping.
Mike and Lucas were patiently waiting for Max to finish, and she did quickly. She was in the bathroom brushing her teeth when Mike walked in.
"What?" she asked, mouth full of toothpaste.
"Are we still going with the plan tonight?" asked Mike.
Max spit into the sink while Mike stood next to her, annoyed and impatient. "Yeah, just go straight to her room when you're done in here," she said, leaving the bathroom.
Mike smiled to himself and began taking his shirt off once she left. "Wait, Max."
"What," said Max, walking back to him since she was already down the hall.
"Be a little quieter this time," he said.
"Put on a shirt next time," Max said, referring to the fact that he wasn't wearing one. She flipped him off as she walked into Lucas' room. Mike just rolled his eyes and shut the door.
✰
Richie and Beverly were both sitting on his bed. "Today was fucking insane," said Richie.
"Yeah, it's so weird that I have a sister now, and I'm not the only girl anymore."
"Yeah, Mike's cool and all but I don't think I'm ever going to get used to him having the same face as me."
"You will. I don't even notice the similarities between you two."
"My glasses are that big?" asked Richie, jokingly.
"No, dumbass, your personalities. You're both loud and all, but just so different."
"Yeah, I guess. You and Max are so similar though."
"You think so?"
"Totally, you're both, you know, nice and stuff but also really badass."
"Really?" asked Bev, flattered by her description.
"Yeah."
"I'm just annoyed that she's taller than me because I am older."
Richie laughed. "I wonder who's older, me or mike."
"You're twins."
"Yeah, but like who came out of our mom first."
"You'll never know," teased Bev.
"Shut up," said Richie.
"The whole thing with his girlfriend is crazy though," said Bev
"I think El's cool. I mean I feel bad but also she can make people float." Bev laughed. "It's just weird that they had that whole thing with the alternate dimension and monster. Think about it, what other two gangs of fourteen and fifteen-year-olds both fought supernatural monsters and end up being long lost, siblings."
"None?" asked Bev.
"Exactly! I think this is the biggest coincidence in like, all of history."
"True, but we're never going to tell anybody else about it."
Richie sighed. "We should probably go to bed now."
"Right. Goodnight Richie," she said, standing up.
"Goodnight Bev, and remember to tell Bill I say hi in your dreams," he said as Bev left his room. She shoved her middle finger into the doorframe before going to the guest room.
✰
El was sitting in her bed and reading when she heard a knock at the door. "Come in." Mike walked in and ran to the bed and jumped onto it to sit next to El. She giggled as she put her wonder woman comic book down.
"Hey, Mike."
"What are you talking about? I'm Richie," said Mike.
"Funny," said El, who understood his joke. "I like Richie, he's funny. And Bill and Eddie and Beverly and Stan and other Mike."
"I like them too. I feel like we're all going to be good friends."
"A fun summer," said El.
"Yeah, I can't wait to go do fun things. It's going to be our first summer together," he said. El smiled as Mike began leaning in to kiss her.
El moved her head forwards to join him in the kiss.
"We're going to have so much fun this summer," said El, once they pulled away.
"Well I was having fun right now," said Mike, rubbing the side of her cheek softly. El smiled in agreement, and connected their lips once again.
✰
Max and Lucas were lying on the bed with the lights out. They were both tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.
"Are you still awake, Max?" asked Lucas, rolling over to face her.
"Yeah," said Max, turning to face him as well.
"So, what did you think of today?"
"It was probably the craziest day of my life, but I loved it."
"It wasn't crazier than the day El came back?" asked Lucas. Max remembered all that happened that day: fighting the demo-dogs with Steve, trying to get into Hawkins lab, messing up the Byers' house so they could talk to will through morse code, her brother attacking Lucas and Steve and having to shove a needle into his neck, driving for the first time, lighting the tunnels on fire, El coming back.
"Okay, the second craziest day in my life," she said. Lucas nodded in agreement and shuffled closer to her in the bed. "You know, that's the day I realized I liked you," she said.
"Is it now?" asked Lucas, wrapping an arm around her.
"Yes, it is," said Max, leaning in closer.
They laid close to each other, their legs gently intertwining. "I'm crazy for you, Mad Max."
"I'm crazy for you too, stalker," said Max. She could feel his minty breath on her face because they were so close. She pressed her lips onto his, and Lucas kissed right back. They both pulled away after a few seconds, with stupid grins over their faces.
"So, what did you think of Beverly."
"We're so similar, I really like her."
"I like her too, and she should totally date Bill."
"Totally," said Max, in a funny voice. "What did you think of Mike?"
"Well, we look entirely different but I know that he has to be my dad's son. He reminds me of him so much."
"Yeah, I don't see much of a resemblance either."
"You know he's the only black kid in Derry?"
"Wait, Really?"
"Yeah, but I guess there are two now," said Lucas. Max giggled a little.
"Goodnight, Lucas."
"Goodnight, Max."
They both fell asleep quickly, not moving a muscle because they felt so perfect in each other's arms.
✰
"Dustin," said Will, nudging his friend.
"What?" groaned the sleeping boy.
"You keep farting in your sleep."
"I can't help it."
"Well, it stinks!"
"Go back to bed," Dustin whined before rolling over in the bed, taking a good amount of the blanket with him.
This is gonna be a long summer, he thought.