eleven

Steve and Robin had gone out to apply at the new video store-new because as soon as PJ quit Blockbuster, everything kinda fell apart there and it shut down. PJ, on the other hand, was helping the Byers pack up. Joyce had finally found the house she wanted in Chicago, so she bought it and the old Byers home was going up for sale in two days-meaning it was time for them to go. PJ sat with Dustin, packing up the last of the dining room things. Lucas and Max were in the living room, loudly singing The Neverending Story to mock Dustin. Even after three months, PJ couldn't help but find it a little funny.

"You're butchering it, so could you please stop?" Dustin asked.

"So then join in, Dusty-bun." Lucas said, blowing a kiss.

"Yeah, come on, Dusty-bun. Why don't you join in?" Max asked.

"You guys are so funny, you should be on Carson." Dustin said, obviously annoyed.

"Can't we just hear your rendition?" Max asked.

"No." Dustin answered.

"Please? Just one verse?" Max begged.

"No. No way." Dustin shot back. "It's reserved for Suzie's ears and Suzie's ears alone." Max and Lucas looked at each other for a moment before beginning to over dramatically sing it again. Dustin just flipped them off, causing PJ to chuckle.

"Hey D, help me bring this box outside." She said standing up. He complied, sighing as they carried the box out. PJ waited until they were outside and alone to say anything. "Hey, I can get them to stop if it really bothers you."

"Don't, they're having fun." He sighed, leaning against the truck after they put the box in. "Max needs that right now."

"If you're sure." She said, and he nodded. "Okay. Come on, there's more stuff in the kitchen we should get."

••••••••••

"You call me any time, okay?" PJ said holding El tight. "Any time, night or day. If you want me to come there, I will."

"I know." El said as they pulled away, and PJ couldn't help the tears in her eyes.

"I know you do." She said, letting out a sigh as tears slipped down her face. "I know you do." El reached up and wiped away a tear. "Hey, I'll see you soon, okay? I'm gonna come up there once you're all settled in and we can go find the best restaurant in town, and go shopping."

"A girls day." El said.

"Yeah, yeah, a girls day." PJ nodded. She pulled El close one last time, kissing her forehead before letting her go. She hugged Will as well, and then Jonathan, and finally Joyce. PJ stood in between Dustin and Mike as they watched the cars drive away-Joyce and El in the U-Haul truck with Joyce's car attached, and Will and Jonathan in Jonathan's car. They all waited until the Byers were completely out of sight.

"What are you guys gonna go do?" PJ asked the kids as they made their way towards their bikes-and PJ and Nancy towards PJ's car.

"I'm gonna head home." Max said.

"Me too." Mike nodded.

"We're gonna take Erica Will's old D&D stuff. He said he didn't mind." Lucas said.

"What about you?" Dustin asked.

"Takin Nancy home, then I'm gonna go meet with dumb and dumber-see how their job search went." PJ answered.

"Which ones which?" Lucas asked.

"Well Robin is dumb, because like whatever, she's my girlfriend I can call her that-and, well...you've all met Steve." PJ snorted. "Later dudes."

"Don't forget movie night tomorrow." Max reminded.

"Couldn't forget if I tried." PJ smiled, and they all went their separate ways.

•••

PJ pulled into the burger place the three of them had agreed to meet up at-seeing Steve's car was already there. When she walked in, she spied her girlfriend and brother sitting at a back booth, so she made a beeline for them.

"Hey nerds." She smiled, sliding into the seat next to Robin. "How'd it go?"

"You're looking at the two brand new employees of Family Video." Steve smiled.

"Good for you guys, that's so great." PJ smiled, and she felt Robin take her hand under the table.

"What about the kids? How are they holding up?" Robin asked.

"About as well as you'd expect." PJ sighed, squeezing her girlfriends hand. But I promised El I'd come see her once their settled, so Joyce knows to call me in the next few weeks."

"Least you've got that." Steve said.

"Alright, let's start talking about something happier because I've already cried enough today." PJ said, pushing hair out of her face and leaning on the table.

••

PJ pulled her hair up into a bun, walking out of her bathroom and into the bedroom. Steve and PJ's parents were out of town, again, meaning PJ was free to Robin over as much as she wanted-aka every night for the past week. Robin was already in bed, smoking a joint and reading something in the paper.

"Whatcha reading?" PJ asked, crawling in bed next to her girlfriend and snuggling up to her side.

"It's ads." Robin said. "For apartments."

"Oh, you're gonna move out? That's great babe." PJ smiled.

"Yeah, well...I was kinda thinking..." Robin trailed off. "Maybe we could move out...together?" It took PJ a second.

"You wanna get an apartment together?" PJ asked.

"Yeah, I just figured since I have a job again and your parents aren't gonna make you get another one till next year-we could afford to split it all." Robin said. "Unless you think that's, like, moving too fast since we've only been together three months or-" PJ shut her up by leaning forward and pressing a kiss to her lips.

"I think it's a perfect idea." PJ smiled.

"Really?" Robin asked.

"Totally." PJ nodded. "We get a two bedroom-one for us and one for El when she comes back to visit and shit. It'd be perfect."

"Yeah, it would be." Robin said, kissing PJ again. After PJ pulled away, she laid her head on Robin's chest and they began to scour through the ads to find their dream apartment.