The radio booth smelled like dust, warm electronics, and the kind of coffee that had been reheated too many times.

Steve leaned back in his chair, one foot hooked around the leg of the table. “I’m just saying,” he said into the mic, “there is no logical reason why the Upside Down would have vines. That’s decorative. Evil doesn’t decorate.”

Robin snorted. “You literally used hairspray as a weapon once. Don’t talk to me about logic.”

Dustin adjusted his headset, grinning. “Okay, but tell me you don’t think demobats are freakier than demodogs.”

“They fly,” Steve said. “Automatically worse.”

Before Robin could reply, a loud HONK blasted through the open window.

They all froze.

Another HONK. Longer this time.

Steve frowned. “What the hell—”

HONK HONK.

Robin leaned toward the glass. “Someone is either dying or extremely impatient.”

Dustin had already slipped his headset off. His eyes lit up like someone had flipped a switch inside him. “Oh my god.”

“What?” Steve asked, standing. “What does ‘oh my god’ mean in this context?”

Dustin was halfway out the door. “You’ll see!”

Steve followed, confused, as Dustin practically launched himself down the steps. Outside, a dusty blue car sat parked crookedly by the curb, horn still pressed down by an unseen hand.

The driver’s door swung open.

A girl stepped out—tall, Steve’s age maybe, wearing worn jeans and a leather jacket, sunlight catching in her hair. She barely had time to shut the door before Dustin slammed into her.

“DUSTY!” You laughed, hugging him tight. “You got taller!”

“You’re back!” Dustin said into your shoulder. “You didn’t tell me you were coming back!”

“Surprise.”

Robin muttered, “Uh… Steve?”

“I don’t—who—what?” Steve whispered. Steve stopped a few feet away, brain short-circuiting.

Who is that.

You pulled back, hands still on Dustin’s shoulders, smiling like you’d just walked into something familiar and good. Then I noticed Steve.

Dustin turned, suddenly remembering. “Oh! Steve!”

Steve straightened automatically. “Uh. Hi.”

“You must be Steve Harrington.”

“That’s… me, yeah.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” You stuck out her hand. “I’m Dustin’s sister.”

Steve blinked.

Once. Twice.

“Sister,” he repeated.

Dustin nodded. “Yeah! My older sister. She was studying out of state, remember? I told you!”

“You did not,” Steve said faintly.

Steve stared between them, brain visibly buffering. “You’re telling me you just… had a secret sibling this whole time?”

You laughed. “I wouldn’t call myself secret...”

Robin appeared in the doorway behind them. “Okay, I leave you alone for thirty seconds and suddenly Dustin has a hot, adult sister?”

Steve shot her a look. “Robin.”

“What? I’m processing.”

You smiled wider. “You must be Robin. He talks about you too.”

Robin lit up. “Oh, I like her.”

Steve finally found his voice. “I just—sorry. I really thought he was an only child.”

Dustin frowned. “Why does everyone think that?”

“Because you give only-child energy,” Steve said automatically, then winced. “No offense.”

“Rude,” Dustin said.

You bumped your shoulder into Steve’s lightly. “Don’t worry. He does that.”

Steve swallowed, suddenly very aware of how close she was. “So, uh. Welcome to Hawkins.”