INT. HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY The hallway is bustling with students as they head to classes. Eleven (EL) nervously walks through the hall, clutching her books to her chest. She's wearing simple clothes, her short, dark brown hair in a neat pixie cut. EL's POV: We see MIKE, LUCAS, DUSTIN, and WILL leaning by a bank of lockers. MIKE is holding a small ENGINE PART, talking excitedly to the other boys. WILL strums a few chords on an electric guitar, sporting a leather jacket and undercut hairstyle. ANGLE ON: Lucas, in a letterman jacket, spins a basketball on one finger, nodding towards Max as she arrogantly strides by with her group of friends. Max barely notices Lucas, her focus on her diamond-encrusted smartphone. EXT. HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL - LUNCH COURT AREA - DAY Eleven eats her lunch alone, gazing at Dustin who's passionately lecturing about atomic structures to his friends. She notices Steve and Robin huddled together, adjusting Steve's glasses as they timidly share a smile. EXT. HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL - FOOTBALL FIELD - DAY The sun shines brightly overhead. Jonathan, in his football gear, throws casual taunts to a timid Steve as more popular students cheer him on. Nancy, in her designer clothes, flips her hair, laughing along with the others. INT. HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL - LIBRARY - DAY Eleven dodges into the library to avoid the noise in the hallway and stumbles upon the group we saw earlier. Mike and the others are gathered around Will as he plays a punk song on the guitar. Partially hidden behind a bookshelf, she watches them, her curiosity piqued. Eleven is caught in a moment of eye contact with Mike when he looks up and notices her. Mike blushes, quickly struck by her beauty and unawareness of his gaze when she looks away, embarrassed. INT. HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY AFTER SCHOOL Eleven loads her heavy backpack and sets off as the school starts to quieten down. As she turns the corner, she notices Mike standing alone next to a rusty beat-up car. Mike digs a tool from his backpack and starts repairing something under the hood. With a deep breath, Eleven approaches Mike. ELEVEN Hey, do you... need a hand with that? MIKE is clearly surprised by Eleven's offering to help, but he moves aside to give her room. MIKE Sure, that would be great. Mike hands her a wrench. Their hands briefly touch, a small spark igniting between them, causing them both to exchange shy smiles.

INT. HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL - AUTOMOTIVE WORKSHOP - DAY A few days later. Eleven and Mike are working on the car together, surrounded by the clutter of tools and car parts. Mike holds a flashlight while Eleven tightens a bolt. MIKE You're really good at this. Who taught you? ELEVEN My dad. He's a mechanic. We always worked on cars together before we moved here. MIKE That's awesome. My dream is to have my own repair shop someday. Working with cars just makes everything else... less complicated. Eleven nods in agreement. Suddenly, Lucas storms into the workshop, basketball underarm, looking frustrated and upset. LUCAS Man, Max really knows how to get under my skin. MIKE What did she do this time? LUCAS She's just so distant and cold. I can't figure out how to break through to her. I really thought she liked me. ELEVEN Maybe she's going through something. Sometimes people push others away because they don't know how to cope with their own feelings. Mike and Lucas exchange a glance, acknowledging Eleven's insight. LUCAS Yeah, maybe you're right. I'll try talking to her again. Lucas heads out, leaving Eleven and Mike smiling shyly at each other. EXT. HAWKINS HIGH SCHOOL - SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY Max, still glued to her phone, sits on a grassy hill with her friends, watching the basketball players practicing. Lucas walks up to her, nervously bouncing his basketball. LUCAS Hey Max, wanna ditch the screens and play together? Max looks up from her phone, eyeing Lucas and the basketball. She hesitates, then hands her phone to a friend next to her before standing up. MAX Alright, Sinclair. Let's see if you're worth all this hype. They engage in intense one-on-one play, finally showing genuine smiles and laughter. The path to unmasking their true selves becomes clearer, as the unlikely gang in this alternate universe Hawkins slowly come together.