The three made it back to Max's house, the rain still pouring down outside. They had set up some heaters in Max's room and had changed into some dry clothes, Cal in the bathroom.

"So we're just swapping jackets now huh?" Cal asked as came back into the room wearing Max's red jacket while she was wearing Cal's blue jacket.

"Yep, I prefer yours over that one." Max said grinning. Cal shook his amused at the girls actions while El watched the couple, letting out a couple of giggles.

"Suit yourself."

The redhead smiled and gave her boyfriend a quick kiss before she sat next to El on the bed while Cal sat on the floor listening to the two talk.

"Which one?" Max smiled at El, holding a 'Wonder Woman' and 'Green Lantern' comics.

"I don't know." El shrugged. Cal could tell she was still disturbed about the events that transpired today.

"Hey, there's nothing to worry about anymore, okay?" Cal tried to reassure the girl.

"It doesn't make sense." El said.

"What doesn't make sense?" Max questioned.

"Heather. The blood. The ice."

"Heather had a fever, so she took a cold bath, but she's better now. That has to be it." Cal stated. "I'm not sure where the blood came from, but we saw her looking healthy. She's totally fine."

"What about Billy?" That was a good point. Cal remembered seeing him stare at the three as they left, that cold feeling he got as well.

"What about him?" Max asked.

"He seemed wrong."

"Wrong is kind of like his default." Max said with a chuckle, "But it's nice to know he's not a murder, because that would've totally sucked." She said with a smile.

El chuckled lightly before her eyes fell on the 'Wonder Woman' comic, "Who... is that?" She asked, her eyes shining at the comic.

"See this is why I wanted you to hang out with Max, you actually find superheros that aren't boys." Cal said, chuckling as he grabbed the comic. "This is Wonder Woman." He finished, handing the comic to her.

El examined the comic as Max got under the covers with her, opening the book. Cal smiled at the sight and sat at the end of the bend.

"AKA Princess Diana. She's from Paradise Island, which is like, this hidden island where there are only women Amazon warriors." Max told her.

Morning quickly came around once again. Cal slowly woke up and found himself on the floor in Max's red jacket with a blanket around him, but what was more interesting was that Max was sleeping next to him, her arms around him and her head nuzzling into his chest. Cal wondered when she slept with him, but shook his head and decided to try and fall back asleep, well tried to at least.

"Do you copy? This is a code red. I repeat, this is a code red. Max. Do you copy? This is a code red." Lucas' voice came from the walkie talkie, effectively waking up Max as well.

Cal leaned over Max and picked up the radio, "Shut. Up. We're trying to sleep." Cal groaned, pushing the antenna down so they wouldn't be disturbed.

Cal layed back down as Max looked into his eyes, "Sorry about that. Try and go back to sleep." He said, giving her a kiss on the forehead. Max smiled and cuddled back into Cal's chest. They were about to go to sleep until...

RING RING

"Oh for fuck sakes!" Cal yelled out annoyed, fully waking up Max and El by accident who both groaned at how loud he was, "Sorry"

Cal walked up to the phone and pulled it off the holder, "Listen Lucas, I'm sleeping, so kindly fu-"

"This is Mike. Do not hang up."

"Even worse"

"Listen. Something happened, something bad. Our very lives can be at stake." Mike said.

"I don't think El breaking up with you is going to kill us all." Cal said, annoyed at the boy.

"Just come over to my house, and bring the others with you. We'll explain everything. Hurry!" Mike said before hanging up.

Cal put the phone back up and turned around to see the girls with a straight face.

"What did he say?"

Cal sighed, "Get dressed. We need to go to Mike's house." He said. The two girls looked at him confused.

When the three got to Mike's house, they opened the door and made their way to the basement where they saw the three boys waiting for them. Cal looked over at Will and saw the fear on his face. This can't be good.

El sat next to Mike while Cal and Max sat next to each other before Will started speaking,

"I didn't think it was anything at first. I mean, I think I just didn't want to believe it." The Byers boy said, "The first time I felt it was at Day of the Dead."

"Power went out that day too." Mike added.

"And then I felt it again, at the field near the Nelson farm the next day. Then again yesterday outside Castle Byers." Will continued.

"What does it feel like?" Max questioned as she grabbed Cal's hand, who gave her a gentle squeeze.

"It's almost like... You know when you drop on a roller coaster?" Will asked.

"Yeah"

"Sure"

"Totally"

"No"

"It's like... everything inside your body is just sinking, all at once, but... this is worse." Will started, his face showing more fear, "Your body... it goes cold and... you can't breathe. I've felt it before, whenever he was close."

Cal let out a shaky breath, "Whenever who was close?" He asked. He knew the answer, he hoped he was wrong, but he knew it wasn't

"The Mind Flayer."

There it was. Cal's stomach dropped. He didn't want to go through this again, for the third time as well! Why couldn't they just have a nice, relaxing summer, where they don't fight inter-dimensional beings.

"I closed the gate." El said confused, looking over to Cal and Max. Max shrugged her shoulders while Cal listened intently.

"I know but-what if he never left?" Will said, dread running through everyone's body at that statement, "What if we locked him out here with us?" Will pulled out a drawing of the Mind Flayer from last year, "This is him. All of him. But, that one day on the field, a part of him attached itself to me. My mom got it out of me, and Eleven closed the gate. But the part that was still in me, what if it's still in our world? In Hawkins."

Cal couldn't help the guilt that came to him. If he was quicker in saving Will on the field, he wouldn't have to go through all of that, none of them would have to deal with this.

"I don't understand. The Demodogs died when El closed the gate. If the brain dies, the body dies."

"We can't take any chances. We need to assume the worst. The Mind Flayer's back." Mike said, giving a serious look.

"Yeah. And if he is, he'd want to attach himself to someone again. A new me. A new host." Will explained.

Max squeezed Cal's hand softly, noticing him becoming uncomfortable before El spoke up, "How can you tell if someone is a host?" She said, looking over at Cal and Max, both realizing what she was inferring.

"Billy" Cal muttered, causing Max to shiver, "It's gonna be alright, Red, but we should check just in case." He said, everyone nodding in agreement. He turned back to Max and pulled her into a side hug.

The group were now at the Hawkins pool spying on Billy. Max was currently looking at him through the binoculars

"I don't know. He looks pretty normal to me." Max said.

"Normal?"

"No offense Red, but how many times have you seen him with a shirt on?" Cal asked

"I mean it's a little weird..."Max answered.

"More than a little." Mike said, "He was in a tub full of ice. The Mind Flayer likes it cold."

"But he's lounging at the pool, which is like, the least MInd Flayer thing ever." Max defender. Cal quickly grabbed her hand to calm her down.

"Not necessarily." Will added, "The Mind Flayer likes to hide. He only used me when he needed me. It's like you're dormant. And then, when he needs you, you're activated.

"Okay, so we just... wait until he gets activated?" Cal questioned.

"What if he hurts someone?"

"Or kills someone?" Will added on, "We can't take that chance."

"We need to find out if he's the host." Mike said, standing up and heading towards the pool.

"Where are you going?"

"I have an Idea! Boys Only!" MIke said, causing Lucas and Will to follow him.

"Seriously?"

"Just trust me on this one."

As the three walked off, Max turned to Cal, "Why didn't you go with them?" She asked the boy.

"I wanted to make sure you're okay. Plus I know how much you love my presence." He answered with a chuckle, earning a small chuckle from the girl.

"Thanks Blue." She said before looking back at Billy.

Cal and Max were now by the car together, being lookouts, while the rest of the party searched for equipment for the plan Mike made.

"Hey, I just, I wanna say sorry." Cal said to Max, earning a confused look from the girl.

"For what?"

"For bringing you into all of this last year..." Cal said, "It was a dumb thing to do and-and now Billy could be infected a-and-" He conitnued until he felt a hand on his cheek.

Max slowly moved her thumb up and down his cheek, "Hey it's alright. I wanted to know what happened, if anything it's my fault for asking." She said with a soft smile, "Plus, I don't know where we would be if I didn't ask."

Cal gave a small smile, "You would've fallen for me no matter what." He confidently said as Max laughed.

"Maybe, I guess we'll never know"

"Yeah, you're stuck with me."

The two let out small chuckles as they looked at each other before leaning in and gently kissed. They slowly pulled away and smiled at each other.

"We should make sure El hasn't killed Mike yet." Cal suggested as Max nodded, grabbing the radio.

"Mike, Mike are you there?"

"Yeah!" He yelled back.

"Where are you guys?"

"I'm coming. Just... hold on a second. Shit!"

Max shook her head and looked over at Billy again, "God, I hope it's not you. I really hope it's not you." She muttered. Cal went behind her and gave her a hug.

"Me too. Red" He said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, "Me too."

"Pools closed." Billy's voice echoed in the locker room.

Everyone had gotten into their hiding spots, praying that their plan to trap Billy in the sauna would work.

"Hey. Do you hear me? Pool is closed!" Billy shouted as he walked out of the showers.

"Billy!" Mike shouted.

"Who's there?"

"Billy!"

"Who's there?"

"Billy!" Cal said this time.

"You think this is funny, huh?" Billy growled as he got closer towards the sauna.

"Billy! Come and find me!"

"I find you, it's your funeral."

"Come and get me. Come on!"

Billy was now in their sight. He stared directly at the dummy standing in the sauna. He growled as he ran into the sauna and punched the dummy, making it fall to the floor. Cal ran to the door.

"Hey." Cal said. Billy turned around and tried to get to him, but Cal used his powers and pushed back into the sauna wall. He slammed the door and Lucas slid in a metal bar while Will and El connected the chains, locking the door.

They all stood back and watched as Billy looked at them before stopping on Max, "Max..." Billy's voice echoed in the room.

"Do it"

"Max! Let me out of here! Let me out!" Billy screamed at the kids, slamming his fists against the door making all of them jump.

"You kids..." Billy started, giving them all a death glare. "You think this is funny? You kids think this is some kind of sick prank, huh?" He grumbled out, still giving them a glare that could kill.

"Open the door. Open the door! Open the goddamn door!" He screamed out, pounding against the door again when suddenly he stopped. The sound of faint crying could now be heard instead.

"We're at 220"

"It's not my fault." Billy sobbed, "It's not my fault... It's not my fault Max. I promise you, it's not my fault." He sobbed out, falling to the sauna floor.

Max was about to walk towards the window of the door until Cal grabbed her hand. She looked back at him and Cal shook his head, "Trust me." She said, Cal slowly let go of her hand as she now stood at the window.

"What's not your fault Billy?" She asked her step-brother.

"I've done things Max, really... bad things. I didn't mean to. He made me do it." Billy continued to cry as he laid on the floor, his body coated in sweat.

"Who made you do it?"

"I don't know, it's like a shadow. Like a giant shadow." Cal and Will looked at each other.

Well shit.

"What did he make you do?"

"It's not my fault, okay? Max, please... please believe me Max, It's not my fault. I tried to stop him okay? I did! Please believe me Max... please." Billy pleaded with the girl. Cal felt bad for the boy, no one should have to go through this shit.

"Billy, it's gonna be okay." Max mumbled as tears fell down her cheek.

"Max, please..."

"It's gonna be okay. We want to help you. You just have to talk to us, okay? You have to talk to us. I believe you Billy. We'll figure it out together okay?" Max said, placing her hand on the window.

"I feel him... Will muttered. Cal's eyes widened.

"Max get away from the door." Cal said to the girl.

Max spun around, "What?"

"Get away from the door!" Cal yelled, using his powers to bring her towards him as Billy punched the glass, effectively breaking it.

"Let me out, you bitch! Let me out! I'll fucking gut you!" He screamed.

Cal turned Max around, facing him, so she doesn't see Billy. The group watched as Billy started running against the door.

"Oh my god."

"He can't get out can he?"

"No way, no way"

Billy suddenly burst through the door, black veins covering him. He tried to move forward but couldn't.

Cal had his left hand out, holding Billy in place with his powers, while his other hand was pulling Max closer to him. He grunted as Billy tried to out power him.

With a loud scream, Cal lifted him up from the ground and slammed him into the ceiling, then the floor and finally the wall multiple times before he dropped his hand exhausted.

They all watched as Billy layed on the floor waiting for him to move. Their eyes widened as he slowly got up.

"Oh come on!" Cal complained.

Luckily El decided to take a page out of Cal's book and lifted Billy up, slamming him into the wall throwing him through it.

Cal let out an exhausted sigh as Max put her hands on his cheeks and inspected him in the eyes, "I'm fine Red, just overused my powers again."

The group walked over to the broken wall and saw Billy making a run for it.

This was not how the summer should've gone.

To be continued.

A/N

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! It's not that long, but not that short either (2517 words). Also sorry if it seems rushed, I'm really burned out from studying for exams coming up tomorrow and going for 2 weeks.

Anyways, updates will be a bit slow because of that so, sorry about that, So until next time my friends!