chapter twenty-three , And to think I was getting better

a/n : this chapter is—WHOO just brace yourselves

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"So...you and Steve aren't friends anymore?"

Gus sighs, "Nope." She sips her coffee.

Jonathan glances at the ceiling. "So, that's friendship break-up number...?"

"Okay—screw you!" Gus laughs softly.

Jonathan smiles as Gus continues to laugh. She looks down at her coffee and the corner of her mouth twitches. "So, what about you and Miss Wheeler?"

Jonathan rolls his eyes. "We're not doing this—"

"Oh, come on!" Gus holds her arms out. "You can talk to me about my issues with my huge crush on a taken boy but I can't talk to you about yours on a taken girl?"

"Yes." Jonathan nods his head. "Because when I talk about it, it's funny. When you talk about it, you make the both of us sad."

Gus scrunches her nose. "I mean, I'll only be sad when you're not sad."

"But I'm sad all the time." Jonathan states.

Gus arches a brow. "Exactly. Which means you've never seen me sad." She leans toward the boy. "And you never will."

Jonathan squints his eyes. "Wanna bet?"

Gus shifts her eyes to the hand Jonathan was holding out toward her. "Yeah, I wanna bet...$10,000–"

"Neither of us has that much money." Jonathan sighs.

Gus slumps her shoulders. "I know, imagine if we did though..." she sighs. "I'd buy a million bunnies."

"Speaking of which. How is Hedwig doing?" Jonathan asks.

Gus' brows raise. "Awesome—actually! He recognizes his name now." She balls her fists and squeals. "He is so fucking cute, J. Every time I walk into my room and see him I want to scream."

Jonathan laughs softly and looks at his hands. Gus cranes her neck forward, "How's Randy doing?"

"Randy's good. He's a slow walker." Jonathan sips his coffee.

Gus raises her brows and sputters out a laugh. "You're so awkward."

Jonathan presses his lips together. "I thought we already knew this?"

"Tell me more about Randall, man." Gus lightly pats the back of her hand on Jonathan's arm.

"Okay, okay. Uh...he likes celery."

Gus wrinkles her nose. "Oh...that's...nice and healthy." She bites the inside of her cheek. "Good for him."

"You know what you should do?" Gus points at him. "Give him strawberries."

"Okay, why...?" Jonathan inquires.

Gus blinks, "Because strawberries are good."

"I'm more of an oranges guy."

Gus slowly shakes her head. "That...oddly makes sense."

Jonathan squints his eyes. "Is that supposed to be an insult?"

"If you take it as an insult then there's nothing I can do about that." Gus presses her lips together and bunches her shoulders.

Jonathan slightly opens his mouth.

"Yikes. I have to go." Gus looks at her watch.

"Wow, so the track star who eats strawberries is too good for me now, huh?" Jonathan raises his brows.

Gus scoffs and rummages through her satchel. "Oh, yeah! You didn't know? You only get a 2-hour hang-out slot with me, then you're done."

Jonathan chuckles. Gus grabs her wallet and Jonathan raises his brows.

"Oh, don't worry, I can pay—"

"Okay, man. I have money. I can pay." Gus snorts. "It's not like this was a date or anything."

Jonathan's jaw goes slack and Gus looks at him with her brows knitted together.

"Unless...?" Gus lets out a dramatic gasp and touches her chest. "Jonathan Byers, do you—"

"Here we go..." Jonathan rolls his eyes with a smile on his lips.

"—do you like me?" Gus lets out a dramatic laugh. "I am blushing so hard right now. You know what? Just, just pay for the coffee!"

"No, I'm not paying anymore." Jonathan folds his arms and leans back in his booth seat.

Gus raises her brows. "What? Dude, come on—"

"No, you were soooo eager to pay for it. Now you've gotta go through with it." Jonathan shrugs.

"Okay, okay. Truth time?" Gus opens her wallet and reveals it to the boy. "I'm fucking broke."

Jonathan rolls his lips into his mouth to contain his smile. Gus rolls her eyes, "Okay, fine. Laugh at the empty wallet—hardy har har."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Jonathan laughs. He grabs his wallet and sets the money on the table. "What happened to your Babysitting money?"

Gus presses her lips together. "Well, I may have spent it all at the arcade with the kids."

"You are too lenient with them, I swear." He sighs and stands up.

"Okay, husband, someone has to be." Gus stands up and places her hands on her hips. "You barely give them attention."

"Do you want those kids to have attention and not make nothing of themselves or do you want them to be fed and neglected?"

Gus and Jonathan stare at each other in silence.

"We are both so fucked up." Gus sighs.

"Yeah..." Jonathan presses his lips together.

"Also, I'm going to stop by your house one day with a carton full of strawberries for Randall." Gus points at the boy.

The teens both walk toward the diner door. Jonathan holds the door open for the brunette and she steps through. They both walk down the sidewalk together.

"Yeah? With what money?"

Gus' mouth hangs open, "Ouch? Byers!" She lightly elbows his arm. "I'm gonna get a job. An actual one."

"So, you're done babysitting?" Jonathan asks.

Gus shrugs, "Those kids don't need me anymore." She sighs. "Also, I don't think other parents in this town want 'the girl who's been arrested' to babysit their kids."

Jonathan's eyes soften. "Gus, those kids do need you. They always will, all right? We all need you."

Gus looks at Jonathan and her jaw goes slack. "Oh...okay, mister softie. Cue sad music." She lets out a nervous laugh and nudges her elbow into his arm once again.

"Are you coming to the track meet this weekend? It's the finals." Gus changes the subject.

Jonathan raises his brows. "I don't know. I mean...I don't usually go anywhere."

"Oh, come on!" Gus stands in front of Jonathan and walks backward. "I'm actually pushing myself to do something with my life and I actually am enjoying it."

Jonathan watched as Gus' eyes light up talking about Track.

"Can you come, for me?" Gus grips his arms, causing the both of them to stop in the middle of the sidewalk.

Jonathan keeps his eyes on Gus' hazel green ones and his heart starts to quicken from the intense eye contact. "Uh—yeah. Definitely."

Gus smiles. "Awesome!" She stands next to him and continues down the sidewalk with the boy. "I can't believe that I may actually be able to graduate with my year if I do this..."

"I'm proud of you, August," Jonathan says. "You've come a long way."

"I know..." Gus sighs and looks at the ground.

"Your mom and dad would be proud of you."

Gus stops in her tracks and her chest tightens. And just like that everything started hurting again. The issues she had forgotten about. The secrets that were kept from her. Jonathan turns to the brunette.

"Did I say something wrong?" Jonathan asks.

Gus looks at Jonathan. She slightly opens her mouth and chuckles softly. "No, sorry, I just didn't want to step on this bug."

Gus steps over the ladybug and loops her arm through Jonathan's.

"I think ladybugs are good luck." Jonathan states.

Gus inhales a soft breath. "Good, cause I really need it."

☆

Gus has been distant. And Hopper noticed. She was fine with everybody else. Hopper thought it was because of what happened with Steve. But it had to have been something else. Because she was being distant to him. But he knew he couldn't ask her what was going on. Gus needed to focus. All she needed was support. And right now...

Jim Hopper was going to be the most supporting father out there.

"Wait so, I don't understand why we need to wear the paint." Dustin groans.

"These are the colors of the track team." Hopper states.

"It's cracking against my skin—"

"Then put more on." Hopper sighs. "This is important, all right? Gus needs our support and we're going to give it to her."

"Dude, he's stressing out," Lucas whispers to The Party.

Sofía nods his head. "But, I agree with the Chief, Gus is in the finals! Who knew she would get this far?!"

The kids nod their heads and silently agrees with the girl.

"We are going to be the most supportive group out there!" Dustin raises his hands.

"YEAH!!!" The kids all shout.

"Can you guys finish putting the paint on, please?" Hopper's tone was stern.

The kids all stop and continue putting the silver and red colors across their faces.

"What if I give myself a beard with this?" Sofía asks.

"You'd look good with a beard," Dustin says.

Sofía looks at him with brows raised. Dustin slightly opens his mouth. "I mean, you look nice no matter what. Even before the silver and red beard, I mean."

"Nice save." Lucas gives Dustin a thumbs up.

Mike rolls his eyes and Will laughs. Sofía softly laughs. "Thanks, Dustin. You would look good with a red and silver beard too. And you also look good without one."

Dustin lets out a soft chuckle and nods his head. He turns to Lucas, who gives him a thumbs up. Sofía turns to Will and he gives her a thumbs up.

"Oh, come on! Where the hell is Fallon?!"

Everyone looks at Hopper.

"Oh, wow, okay...Hop, can I talk to you?" Joyce touches Hopper's arm and motions for him to follow her.

Hopper lets out a deep breath and follows after the woman.

"You have got to calm down—"

"I'll calm down when Fallon gets here." Hopper sighs. "The other teens can show up, but she can't? She's Gus' best friend—"

"Hey, guys!" Fallon walks over with the chestnut brunette.

Everyone looks at the coil-haired girl.

"Fal, hey!" Sofía runs over to her. "You guys look awesome!"

Fallon looks down at her band uniform.

"Aw, thank you—"

"What the hell are you wearing? That's not the dress requirement." Hopper walks over to Robin and Fallon.

"It is for people who are in band." Robin replies in a snarky manner.

Hopper snaps his eyes over to the short-haired girl.

"Oh, Jimbo, this is Robin. My...friend." Fallon presses her lips together.

Robin bites the inside of her cheek at the word.

"It's nice to meet you, Robin." Hopper nods. "Gus has told me about you and Fallon can't stop talking about you."

Fallon's eyes widen and Robin looks at the girl

"Oh, is that so?"

Fallon shakes her head, "No, mm-mm. He's lying. Hopper is a liar—"

"I am right here." Hopper sighs.

"And, I didn't know you were in band." Hopper says.

Joyce clears her throat. Hopper looks at the woman and she motions her head to Fallon. Hopper lets out a deep sigh and looks at the teenager. "I apologize for...doubting you about being late—"

"Wait what?—"

"—but I see now that you have responsibilities and are a part of today's extracurriculars."

Fallon blinks, "Uh, yeah...okay." She looks at the kids. "I'll see you guys out there." She waves at them.

The kids all wave back.

Fallon looks at Nancy, Steve, and Jonathan. "Bye, Guys!" She squints her eyes. "Steve."

"Fallon."

Fallon waves at Joyce and Joyce waves back. She looks at Hopper and scrunches her nose. "Weirdo."

Hopper presses his lips together as Fallon and Robin walk away from the group. Robin looks at Fallon, "Your friends are weird."

"I know. They're so cool, right?" Fallon smiles.

Robin's eyes meet Fallon's and she softly chuckles. "The coolest."

"Except for Steve," Fallon adds.

Robins slightly opens her mouth and points at Fallon. "That is something I majorly agree with you on."

Nancy looks at Steve and she pulls her brows together. "Hey, why didn't you tell me, that you and Gus weren't cool anymore?"

Steve looks at Nancy with his jaw slacked. Nancy raises her brows. Jonathan slowly steps away from the couple and walks over to the kids.

"Well, I just didn't want you to have to choose between who you wanted to hang out with." Steve shrugs.

Nancy raises her brows, "Choose? What is this middle school?" She folds her arms and tilts her head. "I can still be friends with Gus even if you're not cool with her."

"No, I know that I just...didn't want it to be awkward." Steve shrugs.

"And what if I invited her to something with all three of us? You think that wouldn't be awkward?" Nancy questions.

Steve lets out a soft sigh, "I get what you're saying and I'm sorry for not telling you."

The kids and Jonathan keep their eyes on the couple.

"Do you think if Gus sees Steve and Nancy kiss the crowd, she'd get distracted?" Lucas asks.

"What kind of question is that?" Mike asks.

"Wanna test the theory out?" Dustin asks.

"What kind of question is that?!" Jonathan emphasizes.

"What if that backfired and Gus just sinks the entire school instead." Sofía looks at everyone.

"Killing everyone?" Will asks. Sofía looks at her friend and nods her head.

"Killing everyone." She confirms.

The kids all look at each other with fear. Jonathan looks at the kids and slowly shakes his head. "Who thinks about this kind of stuff?"

They all look at him with attitudes. "We do Jonathan!"

☆

Gus keeps her eyes on her twitching hand. Ever since she saw her biological father again, her twitching came back. This time it hurt more than ever. There were so many pent-up emotions built inside of her. She had the urge to let it out, and the only way she could was by running. Gus slowly opens and closes her hand.

The microphone goes off and Gus' ears perk up.

Next up is the 4 x 4 relay! All competitors please be on the track in 5 minutes.

Gus exhales a sharp breath. "This is it, August. Your entire future is counting on this...nothing else matters today. Just this." She runs a hand over her high ponytail and sniffles. "You've got this."

Gus walks out of her tent and walks over to the track.

"Yeah!!! Go August!!!"

The brunette looks over at the bleachers and sees a banner with her name on it. Her brows pull together in confusion, but she smiles. Gus' eyes shift to each person that was supporting her and her heart starts to swell. Then she feels her every positive emotion slip away when she sees Steve, Hopper, and Joyce.

Don't get her wrong. Gus still cares for all three of them. But she was still raw to everything she had experienced. From what happened on Steve's porch to her talk with Tristan. It still hurt. And she was still angry. Gus curls her hands into fists and her ears start to ring. She then closes her eyes and she inhales a soft breath, trying to control everything.

"Not now, not now..."

"What is this, some kind of loser chant you do before every meet?"

Gus' eye twitches. She opens her eyes and turns to the girl. "Carol, I see you're as nice as ever."

Carol rolls her neck. "Don't drop the relay stick, Freak."

Gus rolls her eyes. "You better just start us off with a major lead." She pulls her leg behind her back and stretches.

Carol quirks a brow. "Of course, I will. You better just get us over that finish line first."

Gus forces a smile, "Of course, I will."

Carol lets out a scoff and gets into position. Gus steps off to the side of the track and watches as each first relay runners get into position. As soon as the gun goes off, everyone starts to run. And just like every relay race in the past, Hawkins gets a major lead. As much as Gus despised Carol, she had to admit. The girl could run.

As it got closer to Gus' turn, her stomach starts to flutter. That's when she realizes that this was really happening. She had to win this. Her eyes shift to Principal McKinely and her stomach turn. "Ah, shit..."

"Castillo."

"Huh?" Gus turns to her teammate, who had already finished running.

"It's almost your turn." She motions her head to the track.

Gus' eyes widen. "Ah, shit..."

"You're gonna do great, Hopper."

Gus slowly nods her head. "Thanks, Grace." She inhales a deep breath. "Also, thank you for calling me Castillo one sentence and Hopper the next. People are always calling me, Castillo-Hopper now and it's weird."

"Well, I was gonna call you, Castillo-Hopper during my next sentence. But I guess I won't." Grace presses her lips together. "Get out there!"

Gus slowly nods her head and walks into the track. She gets in the fourth lane and exhales a sharp breath. Her hand twitches and she quietly winces.

"Go! August!"

"I'm your biggest fan!!!"

Gus softly laughs. "Okay, you've got this—"

"No, you don't."

Gus looks at the girl and rolls her eyes.

"Seriously, Carol? We're on the same team—"

"I know, but it would make me feel so good if Gus just face-planted." Carol shrugs her shoulders. "Because then she knows that she failed and she's not graduating."

"She'll be in Hawkins forever—"

"Shut up, Carol!" Grace snaps.

Carol throws her head back and laughs. "What? I'm kidding—I am kidding!" She looks at the now pale brunette. "Good luck, August. Truly."

Gus looks back at the track and her heart was ramming against her chest.

Runners on your mark.

Get set.

"August Castillo-Hopper. The town slut."

Gus' eyes widen. She snaps her eyes back over to the smirking girl. "The fuck did you just—"

The gun fires off.

Everyone starts running down the track and Gus' eyes widen. "Shit!" She jogs down the track. Usually, when the girl was running, she was focused on herself and winning for her future. But right now, Gus was running for one thing and one thing only.

She wanted to have a chat with Carol.

As Gus starts to get closer to the turning point on the track, she speeds up. Her eyes spot Carol still standing where she was before. Gus' ears start to ring and she feels her chest tighten with rage.

Gus passes the finish line with ease and the entire crowd cheers. The students that Gus was competing against, lay on the ground; catching their breaths. Everyone in the crowd was either cheering for the results of Hawkins or crying over it.

Fallon raises her hands and laughs. She wraps her arms around Robin's neck and the chestnut brunette's eyes wide. Holy shit. She thinks.

Fallon's eyes quickly fly open and she pulls away from Robin. "I'm sorry!" She calls out from over the crowd.

Robin pierces her sapphire blue eyes into Fallon's dark brown ones. In all the months that Fallon and Robin have ever been friends, Robin has never just...looked at Fallon. And right now, she felt everything drown out. A smile spreads across Robin's lips and her face heats up.

"No, Uh, it's cool." Robin softly laughs.

Fallon raises her brows. She smiles and looks back at the track. Her eyes land on the brunette and her jaw goes slack. "Oh, shit!"

Robin pulls her brows together. She follows Fallon's eyes and watches Gus erratically walk over to Carol.

"Gus is totally going to beat the shit out of her, isn't she?" Robin asks.

"We need to..." Fallon snaps her eyes over to the principal. "Get over there. Now."

Robin and Fallon quickly hurry down the bleachers.

"Carol!" Gus slightly tilts her chin up.

Carol looks at the brunette and raises her brows. "Yes, slut?—"

"It was you, wasn't it?" Gus snaps. "You put those flyers up?"

Carol smirks, "Now, why would you think that?"

"How could I not?" Gus seethes. "I'm surprised I didn't figure it out sooner!"

"Gus, hey, let's not—"

"Butt out, Grace!" Carol snaps. She looks back at Gus. "Did you really think that I would stay quiet about it?" She takes a step forward.

Gus slightly pulls her face back.

"Everyone sees the way you throw yourself at Harrington, Guster!" Carol looks around the track. "We all know you're crazy about him and it's pathetic. Especially since you're friends with his girlfriend."

Gus clenches her jaw and her hands curl into fists.

Carol searches Gus' eyes. And she softly chuckles. "So, yeah, Gus. I put the flyers up. And I will continue to do so until people see you for who you truly are—a two-faced slut!"

"Keep going, I dare you," Gus growls.

Carol raises her brows. The bleachers start to shake. Sofía pulls her brows together. Her eyes snap over to Gus and she sees her talking to another girl. "Guys, I think Gus is in trouble...."

Everyone quickly becomes alert. Hopper's eyes land on his daughter. "Shit, shit—August!"

"Principal McKinley is right there." Nancy's back straightens.

"I don't think Gus cares about that," Jonathan speaks.

"Fucking Carol..." Steve scoffs.

Carol takes a closer step toward the brunette, challenging her. "Your mom and dad would be so disappointed in you."

Gus' eyes widen and her mouth opens.

"What the fuck, Carol?!"

"Gus!" Fallon calls out. She and Robin run over to her. "Hey, no, we're not doing this. You can't—"

"Yeah, violence isn't the answer," Robin awkwardly adds.

"Imagine your parents being here today, August." Carol tilts her head. "Seeing how you are. You're a freak, Gus! And becoming friends with Nancy again just to get closer to her boyfriend is fucking low!"

"Shut the fuck up, Carol!" Fallon snaps.

Carol laughs, she holds her hands out. "Oh, come on! I am just saying what we are all thi—"

Gus rams her fist against Carol's nose and she crumbles to the ground. Silence fills the track and the bleachers. Gus' teeth were gritted together and her eyes filled with the same anger she thought she had let go of months ago.

"Shit, Gus..."

The brunette blinks and she slowly lowers her hand. Her face relaxes and she shifts her eyes to her shaking bloody knuckles. Gus pulls her brows together. Her eyes shifted to Carol, whose hand was still covering her nose. The teenager pulls her hand off her nose, revealing the pool of blood in her hand. Carol's eyes widen and a loud shriek escapes her mouth and rips through the entire track area.

Gus' eyes widen, realization hitting her. "C-Carol..." she approaches the girl and reaches out to her. "I am so sorry. I didn't—"

"Get the fuck away from me!" Carol sobs, smacking the brunette's hand away. Gus quickly stops and steps away from the sobbing girl. Like a tidal wave, everyone from the crowd and the side of the track circle around the bleeding teenager. Gus looks down at the blood on her shirt and her breathing quickens.

"What did I..." Gus feels a soft hand on her back and she quickly turns around with a gasp.

"No, hey, August." Fallon softly reassured the girl. "It's just us."

Robin gives Gus a small smile.

"Guys, I didn't...it happened so fucking fast—"

"You're okay. We're just gonna get you to Hopper and—"

"August Castillo!"

The brunette flinches. She looks at the Principal approaching her. Gus' eyes widen, "Principal McKinely. Let me just explain—"

"Explain? Explain what?!"

Gus flinches.

"What are you gonna do, tell me that this was a one-time thing—again?!"

Gus opens and closes her mouth.

"Hey, chill out, all right?" Fallon stands in front of her friend. "Carol was calling her all sorts of names and making fun of her parents—"

"So violence is the answer?!" Principal McKinely seethes. "I can't have you hurting kids—"

"Carol was hurting Gus! And you didn't do shit about it!" Fallon snaps. Robin raises her brows and smiles.

"FALLON LEE-ANNE PRICE!!!!"

Fallon turns to her parents and scoffs. "Mom, not now—"

"We're leaving!" Cynthia snaps. Her eyes land on the shocked brunette and lets out a soft breath. "I think you and Gus could spend some time apart."

"What? No, mom!" Fallon looks at Principal McKinely.

"Cynthia, I don't think this involves us—"

"Greg, no one asked you." Cynthia seethes.

"Mrs. McKinely." Gus speaks in a shaky tone. "I-I'm sorry." She shakes her head. "Just give me a chance to run again and—"

"Absolutely not," Cynthia speaks.

"Mom, stop!" Fallon snaps. "This doesn't involve you!"

Cynthia ignores her daughter and looks at the Principal. McKinley keeps her eyes on Gus' shaky ones.

"Gus, I'm sorry, but I can't do that." She sighs. "You're done."

"B-But without track. I'll have to repeat my Junior year."

"I know—"

"That's such bullshit!" Robin barks. "Carol slut shames Gus and nothing happens to her, because her karma caught up with her?!"

"What the fuck is up with that?!" Fallon shouts.

"Fallon, I swear to the Lord himself—stop talking." Cynthia grabs Fallon's arm.

"Fallon and Robin. You two have detention." Mrs. McKinley snaps.

Cynthia's eyes widen, "Now, hold on a moment—"

"Gus, you're suspended for two weeks." The Principal looks at the hyperventilating girl.

"No, please. Mrs. McKinley. I need this—"

"You made a choice, Gus." The Principal cuts her student off. "A choice you'll have to live with. And you two..." she looks at Fallon and Robin.

"...get a better friend."

Simultaneously, Robin and Fallon open their mouths. Before Fallon could go on a rant, Cynthia grabs her arm and pulls her away. Robin follows after the principal and continues to shout at her.

Gus starts to feel light-headed as the ringing in her ears increases. She inhales a deep breath, but it wasn't enough. Gus exhales sharply and touches the back of her neck. Gus quickly walks away from the track. How could she ruin everything? Tears form in Gus' eyes as she feels her entire future slip from her hands.

"You're so fucking stupid..." Gus wipes her running nose. "You only...fuck!—You only had to focus on your future. You idiot!"

"August!"

Gus stops in her tracks from the familiar voice. Hopper jogs over to the girl who had her back turned from him. "What the fuck was that—"

"Why didn't you tell me my dad was still alive?" Gus turns around, her glassy eyes meeting Hopper's worried ones.

His eyes quickly widen.

"Holy shit—what?" Dustin speaks.

"I did not see that coming..." Lucas exhales.

Sofía wrinkles her nose, "So, does that mean Carol also knew her father was alive or—"

"No, Carol was just in the crossfire." Will states.

"Good. She deserved it." Mike folds his arms.

Gus looks at the kids and they fall silent. Her eyes shift to Jonathan, Steve, and Nancy. Then her eyes land on Joyce's guilt-ridden ones.

"Gus—"

"What?!" Gus snaps. "Are you gonna tell me that it was for my own good?"

"Yes, because it was for your own good," Hopper says. "I know you don't see it that way, but—"

"But nothing, Hopper!" Gus barks. "My dad. The man I thought worked himself to death because of me is alive and you two!" She points at Hopper and Joyce. "Knew this entire time and didn't think to tell me?!"

Jonathan and Will look at their mom.

Hopper's eyes travel to the pavement underneath their feet that began to crack. His breathing quickens and he holds his hands up. "Look, I know you're ma--"

"Mad?" Gus takes a threatening step toward Hopper. A bitter chuckle leaves her lips. "How about sad, hurt, betrayed!"

Hopper looks at everyone behind. Each person had some kind of look of fear across their face; not sure how this conversation was going to end. Especially since the brunette's powers were currently activated.

"Guys, could you give us a second--"

"No! They should hear this." Gus snaps. "I mean, they know everything else, right? From me being in that fucking Lab to now! My whole future is dead in the ground and...I can't..." she shakes her head, her tears blurring her vision. "I ruined everything..."

"Gus, I'm sorry, I kept Tristan being alive from you." Hopper takes a small step toward her. "I didn't want you to worry—"

"Bullshit!"

A sudden crack ruptures between the pavement and pulls the ground apart. Everyone single person that was in contact with the ground stumble from the intense shaking. Gus looks around the area and her mouth opens. The brunette inhales a soft breath and holds it. She looks down at her shaky hands as the quaking eases.

"Shit--what am I doing?" Gus softly cries. "I can't control anything..." she rubs her hands against her jeans.

Hopper looks back at Gus, "Are you okay?" he takes a step toward her.

"No." Gus steps away from him. Hopper immediately stops and his chest tightens with immense guilt.

Gus shifts her eyes to her friends that were standing behind Hopper and she shakes her head. Her eyes meet Hopper's. "I can't...be around you, right now."

Gus looks down at her throbbing hand and walks away from the group.

☆

Eleven wanted to go with Hopper to Gus' track meet. But she knew that she couldn't be in public. The girl hated not being able to go out and support Gus. After everything Gus has done for her and helped her through, Eleven just wanted to be there for the brunette. Eleven raises her brows, a thought popping into her head. If she wasn't able to support Gus in public, she could support her here. Eleven gets off her bed and goes to walk out of the room. The girl then stops and turns to the bunny in the cage. Eleven and Hedwig were the only ones in the cabin that had to stay inside 24/7. So, they had a lot of time to bond.

Eleven walks back over to the bunny and unlocks his cage. The girl gently picks the bunny up. "We have strawberries," she says, walking out of the room. Eleven walks into the kitchen and sets Hedwig on the counter. She points at Hedwig, "Stay."

Hedwig blinks.

Eleven walks over to the refrigerator, he grabs the strawberries and box of Eggos. She walks over to Hedwig, noticing his nose twitching. She softly smiles at his excitement. Eleven opens the carton of strawberries and hands sets it on the counter in front of the bunny. "Hedwig, wait..."

Hedwig stops, but he stares at the strawberry. He then shifts his eyes to the young girl. Eleven slightly opens her mouth, "Go."

Hedwig immediately starts to eat the strawberry. Eleven places the Eggos in the toaster. She turns her head to the bunny and smiles at him.

A rhythmic knock is heard at the door and a smile spreads across her lips. Eleven uses her powers to unlatch the locks. The door opens and the teenager walks through.

"August!" Eleven picks up Hedwig and walks over to the brunette.

Gus looks at Eleven, "Uh--hey, El."

"How was your track?"

Gus wipes at her eyes and Eleven pulls her brows together.

"Is...everything okay?" Eleven asks. "Can I do something to help?"

"No, I'm fine." Gus sniffles. "Just...lost big today."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Eleven bites the inside of her cheek. "Maybe next time?"

"Yeah, maybe."

Eleven keeps her brows pulled together, noticing Gus' distant behavior. "Where's Hopper?"

Gus inhales a deep breath, "I don't know, Eleven--"

"Do you think the bad men got him?" Eleven's eyes slightly widen.

Gus' eye twitches, "No, I think, he's just taking a bit longer to get home. That's all." she readjusts the bag on her shoulder. Gus starts to walk towards her room.

"Do you...want to talk about your track?"

Gus stops and hangs her head low. "No, I don't. I think I'm gonna go to sleep."

"I was gonna make us Eggos," Eleven says. "Maybe we could--"

"El, I said not now, all right?" As soon as Gus spoke the snappy sentence, the cabin started to shake. Eleven flinches, then she looks around the shaking cabin.

Gus' stern expression drops and she slightly slumps her shoulders. Guilt flowing into her. "I-I'm sorry." she pinches the bridge of her nose. "I just...today wasn't the best day. And it wasn't just because I lost."

Eleven looks into Gus' red-rimmed eyes. "Blood."

Gus pulls her brows together, "What?"

Eleven motions her head to Gus' hand. Gus looks down at the dried blood on her knuckles and she thinks back to the track meet. The feeling of Carol's nose shattering against her knuckle. The way Carol cried. It made Gus' stomach turn. All she wanted to do was have a day where she wasn't some kind of screw-up. Gus rubs her throbbing knuckles and sighs. "I fell on my knuckles today."

Eleven's face relaxes, "August."

"Yeah?"

"Friends don't lie," Eleven says. "Sisters don't lie."

Gus' jaw goes slack and her hands start to shake. "I got suspended. From school."

"S-Suspended?" Eleven blinks.

Gus raises her brows, "Uh, they kicked me out of the school for 2 weeks." she bunches her shoulders. "And there is a high possibility that I'm gonna have to repeat my current school year." She walks over to the couch and sits down, setting her track bag on the ground.

Eleven walks over to her big sister and takes a seat next to her. She holds Hedwig out to the teenager. Gus looks at the bunny and a smile appears on her lips. She holds Hedwig in one arm while petting his head with her free hand. "I screw up everything..."

Eleven pulls her brows together, "Screw up...?"

"It's another way to say 'mess up'," Gus informs.

Eleven slightly opens her mouth and nods. A crease then forms between her brows. "You don't screw up." she looks at Gus. "You help."

Gus shakes her head and sighs. "Today, I ruined everything." She lets out a soft breath. "I hurt someone...and I almost hurt everyone else. Because I still can't control my powers."

A lump forms in Eleven's throat while she hears Gus' voice start to shake.

"I just wanted to protect people. But all I'm doing is...ruining everyone's lives." Gus looks down at Hedwig and meets his onyx eyes.

Eleven pulls her brows together, thinking. "Protect..." she softly speaks.

Gus gnaws on her lower lip and softly hums.

Eleven's brows raise. "Protect." She aggressively taps Gus' arm.

The teenager winces, "Ow—what?"

"You want to protect people." Eleven says. "Not hurt them."

"Yeah?"

"Use that."

Gus blinks, "Uh...huh?"

Eleven tilts her head to the ceiling and groans. Gus purses her lips.

"I told you to think of bad emotions when training."

Gus slowly nods her head, "Yeah...?"

"Think about protecting people." Eleven states. "The people you love."

Gus' brows raise, "Whoa..." she slightly opens her mouth. "Oh My God, El!—" she hops onto her feet and Eleven stands on the couch, to match Gus' height.

"You have point..." A smile spreads across her lips. "Okay, okay—I'll meet you outside!" Gus points at the girl. She sprints down the hall and goes to their shared room. Gus puts Hedwig in his cage, she picks up the cage, and runs outside.

"Okay..." Gus sets the cage on the chair that was set on the porch. She turns to Eleven, who was standing in the grass.

"So, should I just...think about the people I love or them dying or...?"

"They call you Guardian, right?" Eleven raises her brows.

A smug smirk forms on her lips. "Well, I hate to brag, but yeah."

"Okay, think about the silly nickname they gave you." Eleven nods.

Gus' smile drops, "S-Silly?" her back straightens.

"Live up to being the Guardian."

The brunette blows air out of her mouth and inhales a sharp breath. "Yeah—okay...that didn't really answer my question, but—okay."

Gus looks into the forest and she shakes her hands. She inhales a soft breath and her eyes fall shut. Gus tries her best to think back to any moment in her life where she tried and wanted to protect.

Eleven raises her brows, feeling a shaking under her converse. She looks down at the ground and watches the gravel in the dirt start to rise into the air. The curly-haired girl looks back at Gus.

"It's working." Eleven calls out.

Gus opens one eye and her mouth hangs open, seeing the dirt and rocks floating. The short-haired brunette opens both eyes and a small laugh escapes Gus' lips. She shifts her eyes to the trees. Eleven notices the teenager looking behind her and she takes a step aside. Gus holds her hand out, a visible waves escape her hands, and hit the trees.

Gus' eyes widen, "Holy—"

The waves knock over at least ten trees and the rumbling across the ground increases, causing Eleven and Gus stumble to the ground. Gus' hands come into contact with the ground, forcing the surface to crack.

"Ah, fuck!" Gus pulls her hands away from the splitting ground.

"Gus!" Eleven snaps.

"Sorry!" Gus call out. "Yeah, that was my bad."

Gus and Eleven look at each other. Then they both bust out into laughter. Eleven walks over to the teenager and holds her hand out.

"We will work on it." Eleven gives him a smile.

Gus pulls her brows together. For a moment, Eleven was able to distract Gus from all her problems. And the teenager was grateful for that. Gus grabs Eleven's hand and she stands up.

"I made Eggos." Eleven shrugs her shoulders. "Or do you still not want any?"

Gus frowns, "I could go for some Eggos right now."

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author's note.

All I have to say is...like sister like sister🤪

Don't be afraid to comment! I love hearing what you guys have to say and I love hearing feedback if you have any!

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