(timeline: 1985, hawkins, indiana.)

it was 1985 in hawkins, indiana, 14-year-old Mike Wheeler and his friends are going into freshmen year once summer break ends.

Mike and his friends: El Hopper, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Max Mayfield and Will Byers are outside, deciding to have a picnic together.

Dustin: Mike, why exactly did we agree to have a picnic outside in the scorching heat?

Dustin asked while he was carrying the picnic basket.

Max: cmon Dustin, don’t be dramatic, it’s not even that hot.

Max said while she and Lucas were holding hands and walking together, since those two were dating.

Dustin: it is! it’s not 20 degrees out here!

Mike: Dustin, just stop complaining, ok?

Dustin groaned but decided to stop talking.

the friends make it to the place and sit down on the grass.

El: you know, the sun is really pretty from this angle!

Max: yeah, it is.

Max said as she leaned her head against Lucas’s shoulder.

Lucas: you know, with all the weird stuff happening in our town, this is the only thing that’s probably gonna us from losing our minds.

Dustin: seriously? losing our minds? this town is full of shit!

Mike: no shit, sherlock.

Mike said as he sat down next to Will, who’s been quiet since they came.

Max: can yall not argue? we agreed to do this and were gonna have fun.

Dustin rolls his eyes before he puts the picnic basket down.

El: what did you pack in there anyway?

Dustin: food, obviously.

Max grabs the picnic basket and opens it, revealing nothing but a single apple.

Max: seriously Dustin?!

Dustin: what?

Max: there’s nothing in here!

Dustin: what?

Dustin grabs the basket and sees the apple in there.

Dustin: seriously? i could’ve sworn i put food in here!

Max: well you didn’t, you idiot!