"Remember guys, if anyone sees us, look sad." Mike reminded us for about the 50th time as we walked into Hawkins Middle School. I scoffed, flipping my hair.

"Puh-LEAZE, Wheeler, I got the lead act in the play for a reason."

"I don't like you when you're confident." Dustin mumbled. I shot him a look. The intercom went on, and we all continued to walk, Dustin coaching Ellie on how to look sad.

"Attention students, there will be an assembly to honor Will Byers in the gymnasium now." The man announced. "Do not go to fourth period." Mike tried to open the door to Mr. Clarke and their "secret room", but it wouldn't budge.

"Locked." Mike sighed.

"What?" Lucas groaned. Dustin turned to Ellie.

"Hey, do you think you can open it?" He asked her. I turned around, frowning.

"I don't think that's a good idea-"

"Guys?" Mr. Clarke turned the corner, and all five of us jumped, turning to look at him. I took Ellie's hand, hoping she wouldn't get freaked out by him.

"Hey." Lucas said breathlessly, trying to press himself against the door and act natural.

"The assembly is about to start." Mr. Clarke said.

"We know, we're just...you know.." Mike began.

"We feel a little uncomfortable going...you know, nobody else there really knows Will the way we do...we just need some alone time." I said solemnly, holding my head down.

"Listen, I get it. I do. I know how hard this is, but just be there for Will, okay?" Mr. Clarke asked. I hated that saying. I've heard it too many times in the past week. For Will. Like shit. "After that..." Mr. Clarke pulled out the room key, tossing it to Mike. "The Heathkit is all yours for the rest of the day." He said. My spirits were lifted, and I sent him a small smile.

"Thank you, Mr. Clarke."

"Any time." His eyes landed on Ellie, and I froze.

"I don't believe we've met, what's your name?" He asked. She stared blankly at him.

"...eleven-"

"Eleanor! She's my...uh..."

"Cousin!" Lucas said.

"Second cousin!!" Dustin blurted, and I raised my eyebrows at him. Mike sighed.

"She's here for the funeral." He explained.

"Ah, well, welcome to Hawkins Middle, Eleanor." Mr. Clarke said, smiling. "I wish you were here under better circumstances."

"Thank you." She said quietly.

"Where are you from?" He asked. Shit.

"...bad place." Ellie began.

"Sweden!" Dustin exclaimed.

"I have a lot of family in Sweden." Mike explained.

"She hates it there." Dustin added.

"Cold!" Said Lucas.

"She prefers warm weather.." I trailed off, my face burning from embarrassment. Mr. Clarke looked baffled.

"Shall we?"

"Yep!"

I hated everything about the assembly. The look of boredom And lack of enthusiasm or feeling at all on the students, the fact that the principal called him a friend to all of us, even though nobody even knew Will. What I hated most of all is asshat 1 and 2's little party. I had turned to them when I heard them snickering.

"Who cares about this? It's so stupid." Troy sputtered, laughing. "Oh, blah blah blah, he was such a great student." He mocked. I felt my nails dig into my palms again. I couldn't stand the two of them. "Oh, he's gonna leave a hole in the community." He pretended to sob, James laughing like the idiot he was the whole time. I felt tears well in my eyes, yet Ellie snapped me
Out of it.

"Mouth breather." She whispered. I smiled, laughing a little.

"Yeah. Mouth breather." I repeated, keeping my rage as I watched them.

The bell rang after the assembly, and I immediately stood, speeding off the bleachers and making a beeline towards James and Troy.

"Yo, Troy." I spat. He spun around, a look of disgust on his face. "What's so amusing, huh? What's so hilarious about this to you?" I glared, my fingers digging into my palms deeper than they had before.

"What did you say to me, Byers?" I let out a anger filled breath.

"I saw you two goons laughing. What's so funny." My questions became more of a demand.

"Grief shows itself in funny ways, Byers, it's what the counselor said." James snorted. I felt myself begin to shake.

"Besides, what's there to be sad about, anyway?" Troy said. That's it. "He's in fairyland now, right? With all the little fairie-" I grabbed his shoulder and yanked him towards me, using all in my power to smash my fist onto his face. He went down with a yell. The crowd that had begun to gather gasped, many of them whispering or even yelling.

"What the hell!?" James sputtered. The blood pounding in my ears was limiting my hearing, yet I saw Troy stand up. I rushed at him again, Mike grabbing me and preventing me from getting to him. I kicked and screamed in his grasp.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!! YOU LAY OFF MY BROTHER OR I SWEAR TO GOD ILL MAKE YOUR LIFE SO HORRIBLE THAT YOU WISHED YOU COULD GO TO YOUR STUPID GODDAMN FAIRY LAND!!!" I was insane. My brain knew it, and it kept telling me to stop, yet I didn't. I spat vile words at him, my face burning with rage, kicking against Mike, who was yelling at me to stop.

"YOURE DEAD, BYERS!" Troy exclaimed, beginning to run at me. He then stopped in his tracks. I began to cool off as the confusion settled in, and I stopped kicking against Mike. I stared wide-eyed as Troy began to shake, a puddle appearing in his pants. I smirked.

"Dude, Troy peed himself!" A kid exclaimed, and everyone erupted into laughter. I turned to Eleven, who gave me a smile, and wiped the blood off her nose.

"What's going on here?" The principals voice boomed. Shit. Mike let go of me, and we all rushed back to Mr.Clarke's room.