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He saw Dylan first, leaning up against the pizza van, a cigarette grasped loosely between her fingertips. Just as it had been when he'd fallen out of the Upside Down, he was drawn to her, like she was glowing brighter than the bright yellow van behind her.
Steve was relieved that Jonathan was standing nowhere near her. Instead, he was sat on a stump with his little brother, Mike, and his weird friend.
It was Eleven that was by Dylan's side, both women looking weathered and worried.
"Dylan," he called to her, almost sprinting in her direction as he parked and exited the RV. She startled, looking his way with a smile. "I found that rod thing Erica was talking about."
Max was quick to correct him. "Don't you mean Erica found it?"
Steve hardly acknowledged her. "Same thing."
Steve held the piece of metal out to Dylan, who grabbed it, holding it up in the air, rotating and inspecting it. "It looks like nothing."
Dustin was quick to grab it next. "It's because it basically is nothing. We have to supercharge it with electricity and then, trust me, you won't think it's nothing."
Eddie was the next to join the conversation, creeping up on Steve from behind and whistling lowly. "Dustin and I were discussing, in depth, how we should go about electrocuting you. I think we've come up with a method but, man, if it doesn't work you guys are gonna fry."
Steve shoved Eddie, he stumbled back and created more space between them, just as Steve had intended.
"What do you mean 'you guys,'" Dylan narrowed her eyes at Eddie. "You're not gonna join us?"
"Hell no," he replied with a laugh. "I don't need my memories back. I didn't know you guys, anyway. I'll live, thanks."
"Coward." Dylan taunted, appearing more joking than overly mean-spirited.
Eddie still flipped her the bird.
"I think it's just the two of us," said Steve, pointing between himself and Dylan. "I don't think it's as important to anyone else."
Dylan nodded, looking up at him, eyes glassy but trusting. "Okay."
"No, I'll do it, too." Nancy said. She gave Steve a delicate smile. "After our talk, I think you're right. I think it needs to be done."
That left Jonathan and Robin.
While Robin seemed to have the same lapse in memory, it didn't seem to be affecting her all that much. Jonathan was a wild card. If everything the kids were saying was true, and Steve's mind wasn't deceiving him, then to set the world straight—Dylan would be with Steve, Nancy would be with Jonathan, and everyone would feel right again. However, Steve couldn't help but notice how close Dylan and Jonathan seemed to have gotten, they'd been friends now, for years, but now there was a ferocious protectiveness that seemed to radiate from Jonathan when Dylan was around.
