Welcome to my story! I really hope you enjoy it :)
A few disclaimers...
1) I do not own Stranger Things, nor am I affiliated with it in any way.
2) There is SOME Mileven lemon, seeing as this story is set in 1987 and Mike and Eleven are sixteen. Nothing tasteless, just your coming-of-age, first-time experience kind of lemon. So if you're uncomfortable with that, you shouldn't read on.
3) My profile pic is a Mileven manip I created last year, when I still had my fan account on Instagram (used to be forevermileven.) If you want it, DM me and I'll send it to you!
That's it you guys! I hope you enjoy :)
CHAPTER 1
''I'm scared of EVERYTHING. I'm scared of what I saw, I'm scared of what I did, of who I am, and most of all I'm scared of walking out of this room and and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel…'' Baby makes a slight pause. ''...when I'm with you.''
Eleven let out a small gasp as she reached for another handful of popcorn, not tearing her eyes away from Dirty Dancing. The one positive about working the late evening shift at a movie theatre was that she could attend the final 10 p.m. showing. It was the summer of 1987, and sixteen-year-old Eleven Hopper was working part time at Starcourt Mall's movie theatre, alongside her boyfriend - Mike Wheeler.
El loved action and romance movies the most. Her least favourite kind were the cheesy comedies. A few months ago, she had fallen asleep during Three Men And A Baby and had to be shaken awake by a pair of customers who wanted a refill of root beer, which her boss, Frankie, had threatened to fire her for. Since then, Eleven always made sure to snack on candy before the last movie started, hoping the sugar rush would keep her awake during the last hours of her shift.
Eleven's thoughts drifted to four days ago, when she and Mike had both worked the same Monday closing shift. It'd been one of the first warm, sunny days of the summer, which had translated into a very slow shift at the movie theatre. However Eleven didn't mind, as it meant she and Mike could use the spare time to play cards and study for their final exams instead of serving customers. By 9:30 pm the movie theatre was completely empty. So they'd closed up shop and stayed at work to catch the 10 pm showing of Robocop, all to themselves. The movie had been out for a week and they were both dying to see it.
Unfortunately, most of the movie remained a blur to El, as she and Mike had spent the whole time making out. They were interrupted during the end credits by the janitor, who El recognized from school as Dave Connolly. He was a year older than they were, a junior-going-on-senior at Hawkins High.
''S-s-sorry,'' he stammered, looking away and awkwardly slamming his head against the door as he tried to back out of the room. Eleven glowered at Dave, internally cursing at him for interrupting.
''Let's go home,'' said Mike, rising from his aisle seat and offering a hand to El. ''We can uh.. finish what we started.'' He was wearing her favourite shy, boyish smile, his big brown eyes boring down into hers. El wanted nothing more than to keep kissing him, to keep exploring his body with her hands… just thinking about it made her insides churn. She took his hand willingly.
Unfortunately, when they arrived at the Wheeler residence, Mike's parents were in the middle of a huge fight. Karen had thrown a glass candle holder at Ted, and Ted was bleeding and cursing at Karen, holding up an ice pack to his forehead.
''Sweetheart, I don't think tonight is a good night for Jane to stay over,'' Karen said to Mike, pulling him aside as he and El walked through the front door. Jane was Eleven's official name on her birth register. However, she'd only found out about her real name three years ago, and the name never really stuck with her or any of her close friends. The only people that ever called her Jane were Mike's parents and his older sister Nancy, who was back in Hawkins for the summer after finishing her second year of college in New York.
''But you agreed to it this morning,'' Mike responded flatly.
''Yeah, well things change, son. And don't talk back to your mother,'' grumbled Ted as he sat down in his favorite lazyboy, muttering to himself as he clicked on the T.V.
So Mike pretended to say good night to Eleven, kissing her goodnight and showing her to the door. He glared at his mother as he passed her, and made his way up the stairs to his room, where El was waiting for him cross-legged at the foot of his bed. This was their ritual on week nights, since they were both technically allowed to have sleepovers during the weekend only (except during in the summer.) However, their parents' rules would not keep them apart. They had spent a single night together since their reunion in the fall of 1984. If staying over at Eleven's for the night, Mike would easily climb through her window (the Hopper-Buyers' house only had one story), and if they slept over at Mike's, Eleven would use her psychokinetic abilities to levitate to Mike's second floor bedroom (all the while being careful not to be spotted by the neighbours, of course.) Mike couldn't wait for the day of his eighteenth birthday, when he would finally move out, have his own place, and Eleven could sleepover as often as she'd want - without having to ask permission or sneak around.
After brushing their teeth, they changed into their pj's, and as per usual, Eleven slipped into one of Mike's t-shirts. His shirts were worn, comfortable, and smelled like him, which was an added bonus. It was unbelievable how tall Mike had grown in the last three years. He was now just shy of 6 feet tall, and from the top of her own mere 5 feet 4 inches, Eleven had to crane her neck just to look at him, and get on her tippy toes to kiss him, but she didn't mind - on the contrary, she quite liked it.
Mike turned off the light and sighed as he lay down on his bed next to El, pulling her body closer to him. ''Sorry for the mood kill,'' whispered Mike. ''I shouldn't have brought you here. It's gotten worse this past week. I really wish they would just get a divorce already. It's pretty clear they don't love each other anymore. I told her so a few days ago.''
Eleven considered this for a moment. ''I think they're staying together for you, Nancy, and Holly.''
Mike sighed in frustration. ''Well, they don't have to. I prefer them being separated than them fighting like this all the time. I mean - Nancy and I don't care, but it's bad for Holly. She's 7, she doesn't understand.''
''I know.''
''You know what she said to me, the other day, when I told her it was obvious they weren't in love anymore? She told me I was only sixteen, what did I know about love,'' Mike scoffed angrily.
Eleven found herself surprised that this comment actually hurt her. This was Karen Wheeler, who probably hadn't been kissed or touched by her husband in the last 6 years. Her opinion on the subject of love was therefore completely invalid.
''What did you tell her?'' whispered El.
''That age had nothing to do with it. I told her it was all about luck. Finding that person in the universe - YOUR person - that completely understands you, and accepts who for you you are, and loves you for it. Like… the girl version of you. A reflection of your own self within that other person, and you just… connect without even trying, you know.''
Eleven did know. She looked into Mike's eyes and knew exactly what he was talking about.
''Well, I found my person.'' Mike smiled at El as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. ''And I think she's just jealous she hasn't found hers yet.''
Eleven smiled at him and rested her face against the palm of Mike's hand. ''I love you, Mike.''
''I love you more, El,'' Mike responded, and kissed her. She kissed him back passionately, wondering how it could be possible that she still felt the same butterflies in her stomach as she did the first time he ever kissed her, back in the cafeteria of Hawkins Middle School, the same fateful night their whole world fell apart.
Mike's hand moved to back of her head, gently grasping her hair as he turned on his side to face her directly. He kissed her neck, then moved to her collarbone, then, boldly, went to kiss the valley between her breasts. She moaned into Mike's ear, overcome with desire. Mike came back up to silence her with a kiss, placing one hand on the small of her back, then slowly moved it down to her butt, until he reached her leg and brought it over so their bodies would intertwine. Eleven thought her heart would burst. They kissed and kissed as she explored his naked back with her hands and grabbed his butt firmly, pressing his crotch area close to her own. She let out a small gasp when she felt his erection poke her gently through his boxers. It was the first time she had ever felt his penis.
She looked into Mike's eyes and they were a question, searching her own for validation that she was okay with it. How chivalrous of him, she thought.
''I can't help it, I'm sorry,'' he whispered.
El placed a hand on his face and gently stroked his cheek with her thumb. ''It's okay. I want to,'' she whispered back.
Mike's eyes went wide. He propped himself up on his elbow and looked down to face her. ''Seriously?''
''Yeah.'' They just stared at each other for a moment, smiling like crazy.
Mike rolled over in a flash and flicked on the lamp, rummaging through his nightstand drawer. El knew what he was looking for. She lay on her back, her heart racing, anticipating what was coming next. The great unknown.
''So we're really doing this?'' he asked again to be certain, condom in hand.
''We're doing this.''
Mike beamed. ''Okay.'' He studied the rubber briefly. ''Oh crap…''
El sat up, alarmed. ''What is it? What's wrong?''
Mike looked deflated. ''The expiry date says 03/86''
El was baffled. ''What? Don't these things last forever? How long have you had it for?''
Mike had a sheepish look on his face. ''Lucas gave it to me freshman year..."
El rolled her eyes. Why the hell did Lucas need condoms in the 7th grade to begin with? ''Of course he did,'' she replied flatly. They lay in silence for a minute.
''Hey, it's okay. I'll just get more,'' offered Mike gently. ''We'll do it soon. Not tonight, but soon, I promise.''
Eleven offered him a small smile. She couldn't hide her disappointment.
Mike pressed a hand to her cheek. ''El, trust me - I'm bummed too. There's nothing else in the world I want more than to finally make love to you.''
With this, El perked up. Mike always knew how to say the right things to make her feel better.
''Me, too," she whispered. He smiled and kissed her before turning around and shutting of the lamp.
''Dance with me…''
Eleven was pulled from her thoughts as Dirty Dancing continued in real time. Baby moves towards Johnny. Their bodies press together as they begin to sway. Eleven reached for another handful of popcorn, watching them, captivated by their sensuality. Johnny moves his hand under Baby's left hamstring, elevating her leg. They move, in sync. Johnny places his hand on Baby's lower back as he dips her down to the ground. Eleven was fascinated. She had never seen two people dance like this in real life. Baby walks around Johnny, slowly, softly pressing her lips against his back. Eventually, Baby returns to face Johnny and raises her arms. Johnny removes her shirt. Eleven continued to stare at the screen, mesmerized. It was so beautiful and romantic.
Her thoughts returned to Mike and how close they had come to actually doing it four days ago. Just thinking about it made her insides churn, a tingling warm sensation building at the bottom of her stomach. She was ready. She wanted to give herself to him, fully, just as she wanted all of him in return.
Tomorrow was her day off. She would go to the mall and buy some cute underwear, something sexy that Mike would go crazy for. Plus, her parents were away for the weekend to attend Jim's niece's wedding in Chicago. She would have the house to herself since her adoptive brothers, Will and Jonathan, had left for Indianapolis to spend the summer with their Dad, Lonnie. Lonnie had not always been a good father, but ever since Will had gone missing four years ago, he had genuinely stepped up and was now very present in his sons lives, despite living at a two-hour drive from Hawkins. The timing couldn't be more perfect.
She was going to have sex with Mike tomorrow night, and nothing was going to stop her.
