Alice the Amazing ⇒ STRANGER THINGS

[Part 2 Epilogue] DJ Alley Cat

{The Gate, Part II}

About a month later, Alice's life was back to normal—as normal as it could be, that is.

Dr. Owens's serum had reversed the corruption of her powers. She could heal again (and accidentally hit people with mini heat blasts, but she was working on fixing that).

Steve and Nancy had officially ended things, but it was on good terms. Nancy and Alice had patched up their friendship as well; Barb's funeral, as sad as it was, was a chance to heal and finally move past the trauma.

Alice finished fall semester strong, and she and her friends had lots of plans for Christmas Break. What she was most excited for was the Hawkins Middle Snow Ball.

"Alley Cat!" Mrs. Henderson called on the night in question. "Could you get the door, please?"

"You got it!" she said, racing down the hall and smirking as she opened the front door.

"Mr. Farrah Fawcett!" Alice said. "Your protégé is almost ready."

"Hey, Al," Steve said, stepping into the house. "Nice dress."

"Why, thank you." Alice gave a little twirl. "Even chaperones-slash-DJs have to look their best."

She had initially declined on being a chaperone when Mr. Clarke asked her, but he then reminded her chaperones get paid $10 an hour. He also told her she could be the dance DJ—an offer she couldn't refuse.

Her dress was sky blue with a poofy skirt that went to her knees. She kind of looked ridiculous and knew it, but Alice didn't care.

"Oh, hello Steve!" Mrs. Henderson said, carrying their new cat Tews into the living room.

"Hi, Mrs. Henderson."

"Dusty! Your ride is here!" Mrs. Henderson called towards the bathroom.

"ALMOST READY!" Dustin shouted back.

Alice sighed.

"Wow, Steve," she said, wiggling her eyebrows, "you're turning him into a tiny you. He's going to be in there, staring at his reflection for hours, practicing his pick up lines in the mirror—"

"Hey," Steve protested, "I don't do that!"

Alice gave him a look.

"Okay, I don't do that, anymore."

Alice snickered.

"That's what I thought."

Dustin emerged from the bathroom, his curly hair about a foot off of his head.

"Hey, looking good!" Steve said, grinning and shooting him a thumbs-up. "I see you took my advice."

Dustin nodded.

"4 puffs, when it's damp," Dustin chorused, "not wet."

"Oh, I need pictures!" Mrs. Henderson said, grabbing her camera. "Dusty, stand by the fireplace. Oh, you look so dashing!"

"Sooo dashing," Alice echoed in a high-pitched squeal.

"Shut up!" Dustin muttered to Alice through his big grin.

"Now, Alice, get in there!" Mrs. Henderson pushed her daughter toward the fireplace.

"Geez, fine!" 

Alice stood next to Dustin, and they smiled while their mom snapped a billion photos.

"Mom, that's plenty," Dustin said, starting to head towards the front door where Steve was standing with an amused grin on his face.