---Time Skip---

~Max's POV~

It was Halloween. I walked through the hallways and noticed Dustin and Lucas just watching me creepily. They could be real stalkers when they wanted to.

I had only hung out with Dustin or Lucas a few times, but we didn't really converse much. I had talked to Will mostly. My mom had met his mom at a store a month ago, and they really hit it off. That's how I got in touch with Will.

All of the boys seemed to like me, except for Mike. We had had a few problems over the summer. I still couldn't deny the fact that I might possibly have a small crush on him.

I was at my locker when Dustin and Lucas came up to me. 

"Hi Max, I'm Dustin, and this is Lucas," Dustin said to me.

"Yeah, I know. The stalkers," I said.

"No, no, actually, we weren't stalking you," Lucas stutters.

"We were just concerned because you're new and all," Dustin reasons.

"Yeah, yeah, for your safety," Lucas adds.

"There are a lot of bullies here-"

"So many bullies, it's crazy," Lucas buds in.

"Is that why you're wearing proton packs?" I ask.

Dustin starts to ramble on and shows me his costume, including his 'functioning' ghost trap. I just give them blank stares.

"We were talking last night, and we figured, you're new here, so you probably don't have any friends to take you trick-or-treating! And, you're scared of bullies, so, uh, we were thinking that it would be ok if you come with us!" Dustin told me.

"It'd be ok?" I prompt.

"Yeah, our party's a democracy. The majority voted you could come!" Dustin declared.

"I didn't realize it was such an honor to go trick-or-treating with you!" I said, sarcastically.

Dustin rambled on some more and mentioned that they knew where to get the full-sized candy bars.

"That's presumptuous of you," I said.

"Uh, yeah. Then you'll come?" He asks.

I just walk away, leaving them clueless. I could hear Dustin talking to Lucas.

Yeah, I would come. But not because of Dustin and Lucas. Not even because of Will. I would come because of Mike.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~El's POV~

I was sitting by the television. Hopper said I couldn't go trick-or-treating, but he said he would bring me candy. I said I was half-way happy. I really didn't want to go trick-or-treating for just the candy though. I wanted to see Mike.

Hopper would be at work for a while. I was sure he wouldn't notice if I slipped out for a little. I know I would be breaking our rules, but I just have to see Mike.

I grabbed a pillowcase from my bed, and the sheet I had been using as my costume. I unlock the door, and walk outside, I shut the door, and then I walk farther out, stepping over the trip wire.

I eventually get to Mike's neighborhood. There are so many people. I walk around the streets, trying my best to stay unnoticed. That's when I hear an ear-piercing scream.

I run over and hide behind a tree. I watch as A girl pulls a mask off and starts laughing. She joins four boys. Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Mike.

I follow them until they eventually split up. I follow Mike up to a house.

I stand right next to him as he rings the doorbell. There is no one else. Just he and I.

A lady opens the door.

"Trick-or-treat!" he says, happily. He smiles. It makes me feel so happy seeing him smile. I had visited him many times, and he was always sad. Now, I was right here next to him, and he was happy.

"Happy Halloween!" The lady exclaims. She puts candy into both of our pillowcases.

We start walking down the driveway, leaving the house.

"Nice costume," he says, smiling.

"Thanks," I reply. I really want to say something else. I want to tell him that it was me, El. But, I knew I couldn't. If I did, Hopper would be worried that the bad men would find me. I don't understand how Mike could possibly put me in danger.

Suddenly, Dustin, Lucas, and a girl with red hair come running up to him.

"Mike! Come quickly! I think Will could be having another episode! He left this on the street!" Dustin exclaimed with worry. He held out a camera.

"Come on, let's go," Mike said. The four quickly ran off.

If only I could have told them.

I started to head home. I wouldn't want Hopper to realize I had been gone.