Steve lifted me out of the hole and then I grabbed his hand, pulling him up after me. We stood in a group, unsure of what to do next when suddenly the headlights of Billy's car flared, brightening to a painful degree, and we all winced, looking away from it.
It only lasted for a moment before it died down again, and I suspected that Eleven had done it. She had closed the gate, and I was just desperately hoping that she was still alive to relish in her victory. I reached into my backpack, pulling out my radio and pressing the button.
"Dad? Come in, Dad? Do you copy? Did she do it, is she ok?" I asked.
"I copy. We both copy, we're fine. She did it." I let out a sigh of relief, smiling at the others.
"She did it..." I repeated, "She's alive and she did it." They all chuckled and began hugging each other and whooping in excitement. Steve wrapped an arm around my waist.
~~~ONE MONTH LATER~~~
The next month was full of what I can only describe as insanity. Apparently when Nancy and Jonathan had disappeared, they were working with Murray Bauman to expose Hawkins Lab for what it really was, though even that was a modified form of the truth. But it was plenty to get the Lab shut down and come up with a cover story for how the Lab accidentally killed Barb and covered up her death, so her parents could finally get some closure.
Not many people came to the funeral. A few people that knew her from glass, some family members, the entire Wheeler family, along with Steve, Jonathan and I. We all stood around the casket as her parents sobbed, and even though we'd had our differences in the past, I still felt sorry for them.
When Dad and Eleven had gone to the lab, they had stumbled upon Dr. Owens and managed to save his life, and in return, he made all of the arrangements for her to officially and legally become a part of the family, her name change from Eleven to 'Jane Hopper', as was her real name, though I doubted we would start calling her Jane anytime soon. But the fact of the matter was that we were now officially sisters...and that meant that I had certain duties to uphold.
"I'm back!" I announced, running excitedly into the living room with a garment bag in my hand. Dad and Eleven glanced up at me from their spot on the couch, and I held up the bag.
"What is that?" El questioned. I smiled.
"This...is your dress for the Snow Ball tonight." She looked at Dad with wide eyes and he nodded.
"I think you're due for one night out, don't you?" She smiled, hugging him before getting up and hugging me, taking the garment bag and running into our room to try it on. I took her spot on the couch beside Dad. "Ok, so don't get me wrong, I meant what I said about the whole 'being the parent' thing...but there are still a few things I'm gonna need you to handle." I nodded.
"Don't worry Dad. You take care of the child-care, I'll take care of the girl stuff." He nodded in agreement.
"I like that plan," He said, "However, speaking of childcare..."
"Dad..."
"You're seriously not gonna tell me who gave you two black eyes?!" He asked. I shook my head.
"No, I'm not, because they've been taken care of, and that is all you need to know. Besides, I'm healed now." He sighed. "And I'm going with you when you take her to the dance tonight, because Steve is driving Dustin so we're gonna hang out."
"And that's another conversation in itself." I sighed again, but nodded in defeat. "Is Steve your boyfriend?"
"Yeah, Dad, Steve's my boyfriend." I confirmed.
"Well then, we need to have him over for dinner. I wanna talk to him."
"Dad." I said, a warning tone in my voice.
"I'm not gonna say anything bad! I just want to know what his deal is, that's all." I shook my head, chuckling at him.
"I'll ask, but I can't promise he'll be into that idea."
"He'd better be, if he wants t keep dating my daughter." I laughed. Eleven came out again, adorned in the dress I had picked up, which was a deep green with a pink band around the middle. My jaw dropped and I stood up.
"You look beautiful!" I exclaimed, grabbing her hand and twirling her around, causing her to laugh. "I've got shoes for you in the bottom of the bag, and if you want, I can do your hair and make up." She furrowed her eyebrows, touching a hand to her short hair. "Trust me, there's still plenty you can do with that mop of yours. Come on, let's go." I pushed her back into our room before turning and shooting Dad a smile.
"Thanks, Kid...for everything that you do for her. For both of us. I really appreciate it." He said. I nodded.
"Yeah, well...right back at you." I replied, turning around and walking into our room.
~~~
Dad pulled the truck to a stop in front of the school and Eleven let out a nervous breath.
"You got this, ok? You look gorgeous, and Mike doesn't even know you're coming, so its gonna be an awesome surprise." I told her. She nodded. "Do you want me to come in and get you signed in, or can you handle it?"
"I've got it." She said. I nodded.
"Have fun. Steve and I will drive you home, ok?" She nodded, getting out of the car and walking towards the school. I sighed, turning to look at Dad. "They grow up so fast."
"Shut up." He said, causing me to laugh. I looked up to see Steve at the empty end of the parking lot, leaning against the hood of his car.
"Oh, there's Steve. I'll see you later, ok? Love you." I kissed him on the cheek.
"Love you too, kid. Have fun. Tell Steve that I said 'Hi' and that I have a gun on me at all times."
"Bye, Dad." I got out of the car, running across the parking lot and sliding across the hood of his car until I rammed into his side, causing him to chuckle.
"Hello to you too, Barbie." I smiled, looking towards the school.
"How'd he do? How's the hair?"
"Perfect. He looks great." He reported. "El?"
"Gorgeous. Its gonna be fantastic."
"Do you remember these? Awkward Middle School dances, not having any clue how to dance with a girl or do just about anything?"
"I don't, no. I didn't do the whole Middle School dance thing. I didn't get to Hawkins until Eighth grade and Dad was way too protective back then to let me attend a school function." He raised his eyebrows.
"What? So you never...Oh, we have to fix that, right here and now!" He stood up, coming to stand in front of me. I furrowed my eyebrows at him.
"What are you doing?" He began bouncing on the balls of his feet, shaking his hands out in mock nervousness.
"H...hey, Riley. We're in the same math class, a-aren't we?" I burst out laughing at his stupid impression of a nervous Middle Schooler.
"You're an idiot." I said.
"So do you...we could...do you want to dance? I mean, I don't know how-I mean, I spent an hour before we came practicing alone in my room, but-I we could do it together, and figure it out." He held a hand out to me and I took it, allowing him to pull me off of his car. He grabbed both of my hands, placing them on his shoulders and he put his on my waist, holding me as far away from his as possible. "They key to a middle school slow dance is to lock your arms. Nothing is getting through here."
"Is this how you got all the girls? The hair and your 'Defensive Slow Dancing' technique?" I asked. He shook his head.
"No, I got all the girls..." Suddenly his hands slipped down to my hips and he pulled me against him, causing me to raise my eyebrows, "Because I learned how to do it the right way." I shook my head, wrapping my arms around his neck and beginning to sway.
"Isn't kind of lame and cheesy, slow dancing in the parking lot of a middle school dance?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, totally lame and cheesy. But I think we deserve some of that, don't you?" He replied. "Also, you know, its good practice for...when I take you to Prom." I raised my eyebrows.
"King Steve is gonna take the 'Mute Missing Girl' to Prom? What will your friends say?" He rolled his eyes and I smiled.
"Those people aren't my friends." He said. "And you're my best friend, so It really only matters what you think. So what do you say, Barbie? Be my date to Prom?"
"Sure...I mean, assuming we're still together in four months. I'm kind of getting tired of you already."
"I hate you."
"No you don't." I pressed myself closer to him, laying my head against his shoulder. He sighed, wrapping his arms fully around me.
"No...No I don't."