ৎ ָ࣪ 𓄹 ﹙𝟬𝟬𝟴﹚˖ ᨒ .ﾟ ꗃ 𓄸
❛ A MAKEOVER ❜ 𓂃 𓈒 𓏸₊˚ 〆

           AFTER OPERATION MIRKWOOD WENT DOWNHILL, the ambulance led them to the quarry where they found Will's body in the water. The four kids tried to be in denial, but the evidence was there. Right in front of their eyes. His body was lifeless, cold, and dead. The absence of Will tore their friend group apart. They all tried to grieve in their own way.

"Hey, can I come in, sweetie?" Bailey knocked on her daughters door, the knob twisting to let her in. The woman walked inside the room, her heart breaking at the sight in front of her. Grace was sat on the floor with the friendship bracelets she and Will made each year, crying as she held them in her hands.

"It's okay," Bailey sat next to the girl on the floor, pulling her into her arms. She began to rock Grace back and forth, the girl letting out loud sobs onto her chest, wiping her nose occasionally from all the snot.

It was rare for the blonde to cry, especially in front of people. The last thing she wanted was someone feeling bad for her emotions because being an empath made everything hit her ten times worse.

"No, it's not. Will is dead." Grace told the woman in front of her, staring at the box of friendship bracelets he had made for her. It was a thing she did with every new friend. She made them a bracelet.

Will was her first friend ever, and he was the sweetest, because after she made him one he asked his mom to teach him how to make them just so he could give her a new one every school year. It continued with them making each other bracelets all the time.

         "Okay, no school for you. Ethan is taking you on a little picnic later to cheer you up. How does that sound?" The brunette woman could only smile sympathetically, wanting her to be happy.

"It sounds awesome," The blonde let out a small laugh, her tears drying shortly after. "I have to go to work, but if you need anything, call me." Bailey made a phone gesture with her hand. The girl nodded.

"I will." Grace told the woman, smiling when she kissed her cheek and left the room. Once the door was closed again, the blonde let another tear fall from her eyes. She deserves an Oscar for her skills.

The ability to put aside her emotions, masking them with happiness was her true power. It wasn't the fact that she could control people, read minds, or even move things with her mind that gave her a sense of pride. It was her great acting skills. The blonde guessed that being a test subject had its benefits after all.

"Hey, Grace! Do you copy?" Mike's voice suddenly sounded inside her pink room. The blonde felt her eyes widen, not expecting him to contact her so soon. They all went their separate ways last night after Will's body was found. Mike was the first to storm off in anger, leaving the rest of them behind.

"Yeah, it's me. What's up?" Grace answered almost too quickly. She bit her lip, annoyed that she might've seemed too eager talk to him.

"This is about Will. It's urgent. Over." Mike told the girl, her heart stopping for a split second. "What about Will? You mean about his funeral? Over." Lucas chimed into their conversation, having heard the two of them talking while he was grieving in his room.

"No. Not his funeral. Screw his funeral." Mike scoffed in annoyance. "What?!" Grace and Lucas both asked in shock at his words.

"Just get over here stat. Bring Dustin. Over and out." Mike spoke in a haste. "He's gone mad." Lucas told the blonde, her silently agreeing.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆⠘ *‧☽ ‧* ⠘☆ﾟ‧ ───

           EVERYONE WAS BACK IN MIKE'S BASEMENT, his house seemed to be the only place they went to these past few days. It was starting to become overwhelming for the blonde. Grace had so many great memories with Will here. Her head started to hurt the more she thought about the boy that was dead.

          "I don't get why you called us back here." The blonde called out, looking around the small circle all her friends were sitting in. El who was sat next to the girl began to rub her hand on hers, the blonde lacing their fingers together with a nervous smile.

         "I know. We keep losing the signal, but you heard it, right?" Mike stares at her hopefully. Him and Eleven were trying to convince them that Will was alive. They claim to have heard him talking and breathing.

         Grace didn't want to pin them as crazy, because anything was possible in Hawkins. She knew that firsthand. It was hard to convince the girl otherwise, though, especially after seeing his lifeless body.

         "Yeah, I head a baby." Lucas quietly answered. "What?" Mike shook his head. "Mike, you obviously tapped into a baby monitor. It's probably the Blackburns' next door." Lucas explained, not convince either.

          "Uh, did that sound like a baby to you? That was Will!" The boy with black hair stated angrily, surprised that no one was believing him.

          "Mike—" Grace tried to stop an argument, but Mike was quicker. "No, you guys don't understand. He spoke last night. Words! He was singing that weird song he loves. Even El heard him!" The boy exclaimed, El nodding along with his claim.

         "Well, if the weirdo heard him, then I guess—" Lucas was dissatisfied, not able to finish his sentence when Grace glared at him.

          "Are you sure you're on the right channel?" Dustin asked out of nowhere, staring to believe them. "I think, somehow, she's channeling him." Mike nodded a bit happier when Dustin seemed interested.

           "Like— like Professor X." Dustin snapped his fingers in realization. "Yeah," Mike smiled, Eleven and Grace sharing a confused look. Who's Professor X? Both girls just listened silently, confused.

          "Okay, I'm lost." The blonde told her friends, tilting her head. "Are you actually believing this crap?" Lucas turned to Dustin, still in denial.

          "I don't know. I mean, do you remember when Will fell off his bike and broke his finger? He sounded a lot like that." Dustin told them. Grace thought about it for a second, realizing he was kind of right.

          "Yeah, he did." The blonde nodded. "Did you guys not see what I saw? They pulled Will's body out of the water. He's dead!" Lucas exclaimed, his voice raising at the last two words he said.

         Grace felt all of her friends moods dampen at how realistic the words were. They could only hope that Will was still alive. As unrealistic as it was.

          "Well, maybe it's his ghost. Maybe he's haunting us." Dustin suggested, looking around. "Why would he want to haunt me? I thought he loved me! Everyone loves me, right? Tell me I'm right." Grace stared Dustin in the eyes, grabbing his face to intimidate him.

          "You are right! You're so right! Right, guys?" Dustin answered almost immediately after, scared of the girl who held his face in her hands. When she pulled away he let out a deep breath, scared she'd lost it.

          "It's not his ghost, Grace. Will's not haunting us. Just calm down!" Mike sounded annoyed. It was only his jealousy getting the best of him.

         "So how do you know that?" Lucas glared at Mike in questioning. "I just do!" Mike glared back. "Then what was in that water?" The boy retorted. "I don't know! All I know is. . .Will is alive! He's out there somewhere. All we have to do is find him." Mike finished, finally getting Lucas to calm down and agree with him.

         Eleven began to mess with the walkie-talkie again. The sound of static began to hurt the blonde's ears. "This isn't gonna work. We need to get El to a stronger radio." Mike spoke to his friends, them agreeing.

          "Mr. Clarke's Heathkit ham shack." Dustin announced in excitement. "Yeah," Mike was glad Dustin was onboard with the plan.

         "The Heathkit's at school. There is no way we're gonna get the weirdo in there without anyone noticing. I mean. . .look at her." Lucas pointed at El.

         "This calls for a makeover!" Grace squealed really loudly, standing to her feet as she pulled Eleven up with her. The quiet girl stared in confusion as the blonde in front of her began to jump up and down.

        "Okay, let's start with a mani-pedi, then I can polish your toes! You can have all of my light pink clothes! I've been in a hot pink mood lately! What do you think?" The blonde stopped, noticing their looks.

        "I'm rambling again. I'm sorry. This is why girls at school don't like me. Actually, girls don't like me in general." Grace sat back down, trying to calm down in case she was being too much.

         "It's okay. Makeover. Sounds nice." Eleven held her hand out for Grace to grab again. The blonde felt a huge smile forming back on her face.

        "Let's go to Nancy's room. I'm sure she has a lot of girly things." Grace told El, the boys starting at the two with their mouths held open in shock.

         "That was weird. ." Dustin stated as soon as both girls disappeared from the basement.

         "Super weird. Since when is Grace all bubbly and friendly? She's never like that with us!" Mike blabbed in hurt that she wasn't always super kind to them.

         "It's a girl thing." Lucas stated in understanding. They were her only real friends, and she probably didn't feel comfortable acting so bubbly around them.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE 📝 . . .
Lucas understanding that Grace can't fully be herself around them because they're guys is adorable to me