It's been 3 years since the Upside Down was closed, El died, and everything happened. After they all graduated high school, they went their separate ways to college. Everyone left Hawkins except for Mike, who stayed in the little city where everything has happened. He enrolled in Hawkins University and started taking a degree in literature and writing while writing his books at about the same time. But she was the only one who stayed at Hawkins. Lucas got a basketball scholarship, and it is taking the curse, but he also enrolled in the ROTC (a college-based program training students to become officers in the Armed Forces). Chance, a guy that went to high school with them, happened to end up at the same college as Lucas to take computer engineering but also ended up joining the ROTC.

Meanwhile, Max, Dustin, and Will went to NYU. Dustin is taking STEM, Max is taking civil engineering, and Will is taking an art degree.

They are all in the third year of college. It's the middle of the semester, just 2 days before break. Mike hadn't seen his friends in a long time, so he decided to pay them a visit and stay at Lucas's place because it was only an hour's drive from NYU.

So Mike took a flight and stayed at Lucas's place for a night before they both drove down to NYU. It was pretty late when they got there, and they met up in Dustin's dorm, where Dustin was getting ready and told them there was a big frat party tonight and Will and Max were already there, and they were going to join them.

So the three boys drove to the party, and Mike was shocked. It was a party like the ones in the movies, and since he had stayed in Hawkins, he hadn't attended many frat parties, let alone THIS kind. It was big, filled with people, a DJ, flashing lights, almost everyone drunk dancing, and some making out.

They meet up with Max, who was with one of her friend groups. She was tipsy. Lucas immediately went up to her and kissed his girlfriend. They greeted Mike. Mike looked around, not seeing Will.

Mike: "Max, where is Will?"

Max: "Ooh, he was here a second ago, probably went off to the crowd."