Alice the Amazing ⇒ STRANGER THINGS

[65] Snack Attacks and Surprise Visits

{The Dive, Part I}

The next morning, Steve snuck out of Alice's window at half-past seven. Using her extensive cassette collection, her boombox, and a tape recorder, she put together the "Kicking Vecna's Ass & Looking Good Doing It" mixtape.

Dustin and Alice ate breakfast with their mother (and Lance) and lied about their plans for the day.

"A movie sounds fun!" Lance said. "Be sure to pack your own snacks ahead of time. Those prices are just outrageous!"

"Well," Dustin said, eyes narrowed. "I happen to like overpriced snacks. I think they taste better."

"If that's the case," Lance said, "let me float you a couple bucks. It can be my treat!"

He fished around in his wallet and gave a $10 bill to both Alice and Dustin.

"Thanks," Dustin said flatly. Much to his chagrin, it was getting increasingly more difficult for him to hate their mother's boyfriend.

When Nancy arrived, the siblings said their goodbyes, promising their mother that they would be safe and stick with the group.

They piled into the cramped backseat of Nancy's station wagon with Steve. A plethora of grocery bags took up the majority of the space.

"Geez," Alice said, moving her headphones so they only covered one ear. "This is enough to feed a small army!"

"Or one very, very hungry man," Kali said.

"Eddie's been surviving on Honey Combs, Spaghetti-Os, and Yoo-Hoo for the past few days," Robin added. "We wanted to give him options!"

"I skipped breakfast," Steve said, eyeing the bags hungrily. "Do you think I can—"

"Help yourself," Nancy said as she drove toward Reefer Rick's.

Steve dove for the Pringles canister, Dustin reaching over to grab some chips himself.

"Al, you want some?" Dustin asked.

"I'm good," she said. She stifled a yawn.

"Late night?" Lucas asked from the middle seat, where he sat between Kali and Max.

"Just more nightmares," Alice said, rubbing her eyes.

"Uh-huh," Dustin said with an eye roll. "Sure."

Alice frowned. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Do you think I was born yesterday?" Dustin scoffed. "You're lucky that I'm so nice, because I could've snitched on you and your late night gentleman caller any time at breakfast. But I didn't."

Dustin nodded in Steve's direction, and the older boy's cheeks turned rosy pink. He pretended to be very interested in the Pringles' nutrition facts.

Nancy, in an effort to not embarrass Steve and Alice, laser-focused on driving and humming along to the radio. Kali mumbled something about "Too much information." Max, Lucas, and Robin snickered, quite loudly.

"Cut it out!" Alice snapped, crossing her arms and glowering. The gigglers quieted down.

"For your information," Alice continued, "we just slept. Literally, actually slept. So you can keep your snide comments to yourself, Dusty."

Dustin had one more snide comment he couldn't resist unleashing: "That's good to hear. Because I'm way too young to be an uncle—"

Alice grabbed a bag of Cheetos and whacked Dustin over the head with it. Repeatedly.