Julie's outfit above!

November 10, 1983

Julie runs through the dark forest, searching for a screaming Will.

"Julie, help me! Help me please!" 

"Will?! Will, where are you?!"

She stops and looks around her surroundings, finally seeing Will running towards her but with something chasing after him...

"JULIE!!!"

"Julie, wake up!"

Julie sits up, gasping for air and is immediately brought into a hug by her father.

"Dad?" She whimpers, hugging him back tightly.

"It's okay, kid. It was just a bad dream." Jim soothes his daughter as he gently rubs her back. "Listen, I want you to stay home today. You're in no condition to be going to school. Just stay here and rest, alright? I've got to check on the autospy on Will's body." He notices her flinch over the mention of Will If you're hungry, there's chocolate eggos waiting for you in the microwave."

"...Thanks, dad."

"Anytime, kiddo." He kisses the top of her head before getting up and heading towards her door. He turns back and gives her a small smile. "I love you."

"Love you too." She responds with a sad smile.

After he leaves, she is about to lie back back until she hears Mike's voice.

"Julie, do you copy? Julie?"

She sighs and takes out her walkie talkie from her nightstand's drawer. "I'm here, Mike. What is it?"

"It's about Will. He's still alive."

Before she can respond, her radio suddenly turns on by itself and she hears a familiar voice singing...

"Should I stay or should I go now?

Should I stay or should I go now?

If I go there will be trouble

An' if I stay it will be double

So come on and let me know."

"...Will?" She whispers, her eyes glistening with tears.

"Jules, do you believe me?"

"...Yeah... Yeah, I believe you." She answers while slowly beginning to smile and shedding a tear.

On her way to meet up with Mike and the others, Julie sees Jonathan getting out of his car and beginning to argue with his mother.

"We have to deal with this, Mom. We have to deal with the funeral!"

"The funeral? For... for who? For that thing back there?!" She yells pointing back at the morgue.

"Whoa! Whoa, guys!" Julie quickly gets out of her car and gets between them. "You two have to calm down, okay."

"Jules, you've got to hear this! Apparently, that's not my brother's body, because he's in the lights." He looks back at his mother. "Right? And there's a monster in the wall? Do you even hear yourself?"

"I know it sounds crazy. I sound crazy!" Jonathan nods in agreement. "You think I don't know that? But I heard him, Jonathan. He talked to me! Will is-is calling to me! And he's out there, and he's alone, and he's scared, and I... I don't care if anyone believes me! I AM GOING TO BRING HIM HOME!"

"Yeah, well while you're talking to the lights, the rest of us are having a funeral for Will! I'm not letting him sit in that freezer another day!" He yells back at his mother as she walks away from them.

"All right, show's over! Move on with your lives, please!" Julie yells at the crowd staring at them. After they look and walk away, Julie turns back to Jonathan. "Jon, I know that you're upset and hurting but your mom is not crazy and she's not in denial! She's telling you the truth about Will being alive!"

"Julie, come on!" He gives his best friend a look of disbelief as she sides with his mother.

"She's not wrong, Jonathan. Whoever you guys just saw, can't be Will." Before he can respond, she cuts him off. "Look, some weird things have been going on. It's not just the lights."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"...I had a nightmare about Will and he was being chased by something... A monster. It had like long arms and didn't have-" She tells him and his eyes begin to widened.

"A face?"

"...I-I... I need to go..." He hurries back into his car and drives away, ignoring her calling for him.

After Julie arrives at the Byers residence, she grabs her walkie talkie out of her bag.

"Hello! You guys there?"

"Hey, Jules." Dustin answers. Are you on your way?"

"No, uh... I'm at the Byers home. When I was on my way to meet you guys, I saw Jonathan and Joyce arguing. Sorry that I can't be there but I have to be there for Joyce."

"Don't worry, we'll be fine here. Eleven needs a strong radio so we're going to use the heathkit."

"Wait... Mr. Clarke's Heathkit ham shack? You're taking her to the school?! Dustin! What happened to keeping a low profile?!"

"Everything is going to be okay! We're giving her a makeover, no one will recognize her and will be able to find Will!"

"Wait-"

"See you- Hey!"

"Julie." Julie smiles as she hears Eleven's voice. "Are you coming over?"

"Maybe later if I have time, sweetie. I have to do something else right now... But can you do me a favor? Stay with the boys and don't talk with anyone else. Keep the boys out of trouble for me. And if I have time, I'll stop by to make you a milkshake. How does that sound?"

"Promise?"

"Hey, I never break a promise." She says with a smirk. "Be good, okay?"

"Okay. See you later, Jules."

"See you later, El."

After they hang up, she gets out of her car and heads to the front door, knocking on it. Joyce opens it, surprised to see Julie.

"Julie. I, uh-"

"After I woke up this morning, my radio suddenly turned on by itself...and I heard Will singing his and Jon's song... Should I stay or should I go now?" Joyce's eyes glisten with tears. "What kind of daughter figure would I be if I didn't help you out?"

The two laugh and Joyce pulls her into a hug.

"Will Byers' death is an unimaginable tragedy. Will was an exceptional student and a wonderful friend to all of us. It's impossible to express the hole his loss will leave in our community. I'd like to introduce you to Sandy Sloane. She's a local grief counselor from the church over in Jonesboro. But before she comes up here, I just want those of you who are having trouble dealing with this tragic loss..." The principal speaks to the students gathered in the gym.

"Look at all these fakers." Mike mutters to Lucas.

"They probably didn't know his name until today." Lucas retorts.

 "Who is interested in this? This is so stupid. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Oh, he was such a great student." Mike hears one of their bullies mocking Will. "Oh, he's going to leave a hole in the community."

"Mouth breather." Eleven whispers to Mike after also heard the bullies.

The bell rings and Mike goes to confront the bullies.

"Hey! Hey! Hey, Troy! You... you think this is funny?"

"What'd you say, Wheeler?" Troy asks after turning around to face Mike.

"I saw you guys laughing over there. And I think that's a real messed up thing to do."

Troy's friend laughs. "Didn't you listen to the counselor, Wheeler? Grief shows itself in funny ways."

"Besides, what's there to be sad about, anyway? Will's in fairyland now, right? Flying around with all the other little fairies. All happy and gay!" Troy says, angering Mike who pushes him. Troy glares at Mike and gets up from the floor. "You're dead, Wheeler!"

As he charges at Mike, he is stopped by some force, confusing everyone. Suddenly Troy feels his pants become wet and everyone begins laughing.

"Dude, Troy peed himself!"

After being embarrassed, Troy turns around to run away only to bump into Sonia. She gives him a sweet smile causing him to gulp.

"Troy... What did I tell you about messing with my brats? Hmm? Next time, you better think before you talk. If you don't have anything nice to say, keep your mouth shut."

She looks at Lucas and the others, noticing Eleven. She then nods her head at the to follow her. Once outside the school, Sonia faces the kids with a stern look.

"What are you doing here?" Lucas asks in an annoyed tone.

"Watch your tone, Lucia." She snaps at him.

The others snicker as his eyes widened. "I told you not to call me that!"

"Why not? That's what your parents were going to name you had you been a girl. Now shut up."

"You-"

Dustin quickly covers Lucas' mouth. "What he means to say is thank you for helping us out!" 

She sighs. "Whatever... Julie called me earlier today and asked me to check in on you guys." She explains, glancing at Eleven. "You kids aren't getting into any trouble, are you?"

Lucas removes Dustin's hand from his mouth. "No, we're-"

"Boy, didn't I tell you to shut up?" She says, making him roll his eyes.

"No! We're just showing our new friend around!" Mike says. "Say hi, Eleanor. This is Julie's best friend, Sonia."

"Hi."

Sonia crouches down and puts her hand out. "Nice to meet you, Eleanor. If these knuckleheads are ever too much of a handful for you, just give me a call and I'll straighten them out for you."

Eleven looks at Mike and he nods. She then smiles at Sonia and shakes her hand.

"I need to get going. You brats do what you need to do and get her home." Sonia says.

"Wait! Why aren't you mourning Will's death like everyone else?" Dustin asks.

"...Because you brats and Jules don't believe that he's dead. So I won't either." She replies with a smirk before leaving.

"...She's so cool." Dustins says with a huge grin.

"She's so annoying." Lucas mutters.

Inside the Byers home, Joyce turns on the radio and Will's song begins playing.

"Come on! Will, talk to me!" Joyce yells, pacing around the living room. "Will!"

"Let me try... Hey, Will? How are you? Wait, sorry that's a stupid question... I know things are tough right now but at least you've got that protection charm that I gave you."

Over in the upside down, Will suddenly sees Julie right next to him as if she were actually there.

"Just a reminder that I'll always be there for you, remember? So when you get back, how about some milkshakes? Hmm?" She asks with a smile.

Suddenly they hear clanging on the a wall in the living room. As the clanging continues, Julie turns off the radio as Joyce walks over to the wall.

"Mom? Julie?" They hear Will's whimpers.

"Will?" Julie whispers.

"Mom. Please..."

Joyce runs outside calling for Will but finds no one. Julie then rips off the wallpaper as Joyce comes back inside, both surprised to see his face through a layer of flesh-like substance...

"Will!" Julie yells.

"Will! We're here right here, baby!" Joyce cries.

"Mom! Julie!"

"Will! Can you describe where you are?" Julie asks.

"It's like home, but it's so dark... It's so dark and empty. And it's cold!" Will voice's echoes.

"Listen to me! I think you're in a place called the upside down." Joyce looks at her with a shocked look.

"No, I-"

Suddenly they hear growling...

"No... Will, you have to hide, okay? Listen to me! I swear I'm gonna get to you, okay?" Joyce says as her voice cracks.

"Mom, please!"

"Stay hidden until we find you!" She tells him before the barrier closes. She then sobs softly. After a moment, she turns to Julie. "Julie... How do you know where Will is?"

"He's... I don't have all the details but he's in a place called the upside down. The boys and I, we... We found this girl and we think she can help us find Will."

"...What? Where... Where is she? Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

"She's been staying in the Wheeler basement but only Mike and us know. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you sooner but we're keeping her hidden. The people who held her hostage might have played a part in Will's disappearance. I promised to keep her safe but have been still trying to find Will with her help."

"How can she help Will? And does your father know about any of this?"

"...She's... She's different from others and her dad, I think he hurts her... She doesn't want him and his people to find her. And no, my dad doesn't know so don't say anything to him. I'm choosing to tell you because friends don't lie. This is about Will, he's your son. You have a right to know... So how can I keep his mother in the dark?"

Joyce gives Julie a tearful smile before giving her a hug. "...Thank you."

Sorry for the long wait! I was focusing on my other books and I had to take a few breaks but this series is finally back! I meant to have this update out last weekend but I got a headache thanks to my NOISY NEIGHBORS!

Also I wanted to do this chapter a little differently than the previous chapters because Julie has spent most of her time with the kids and I want you all to be able to see her relationships with the other characters. So I wanted to focus on Joyce this time, I hoped I did it well! So about Joyce knowing a few things a bit earl... What did you all think or was it too soon? I hope Julie's explanation to telling Joyce was a good enough reason but she didn't tell her too much! Julie still wants to keep her promise to Eleven and for very few people to know her identity because they know that bad guys are looking for her. She wants to find Will but still keep Eleven safe. And you will learn later to why she hasn't told her father. 

But I still managed to put a little Julie and Eleven moment in this chapter! And I also wanted Sonia to get a little moment in here too! You'll be seeing more of her later!