Eleven had started to feel insecure about her body and herself in general. She didn't understand why but she felt that she needed to change.
It was a cool summer day and Eleven decided that she wanted to change her hair color from her natural brownie colored hair to a lighter dirty blond. She went into the salon and told them what she wanted and was out in 40 minutes.
One day later Mike invited her to go to Lovers lake with him. She was really excited to go and get to show Mike her new hair color.
She drove to Lovers lake and arrived early as always. She waited at the dock for Mike anxious to see his reaction.
"Hey!" He shouted from the start of the dock. El waved.
"Is the light playing with my eyes or did you-" He stopped mid sentence.
" Di-did you dye your hair El?" He asked sitting down next to her and touched her hair.
"Do you like it?" Eleven wonders.
" I like it if you like it… But why?" He stood up taking his shirt off getting ready to go swimming.
" I don't know. I wanted to change it. Mike keep in mind that friends don't lie." She said the last part noticing his quiet tone of voice.
" El, I just don't understand why you would change it. El, your hair was perfect the way it was… El, you are perfect the way you are, and I will always love you no matter what...You know that right?" Eleven felt tears growing in her eyes hearing his response. Not because he wasn't a big fan of her hair… but because of the part when he told her that he would always love her no matter what.
El didnt know what to say because she had known that she was hiding something inside herself, and she didn't want to share it with anyone. But right now, in this moment she wanted to share it with Mike.
She burst into tears, and told him everything she had shoved way down inside herself. Like her insecurities about herself letting it (and her tears) flow out like the water rushing down the small waterfall at the edge of the lake.
After she was finished, Mike just grabbed Elevens hands and pulled her in close. Letting her cry on his chest while he stroked her back in small circles telling her that he was there and that she was gonna be ok.
She calmed down and eventually wanted to ask him, " Mike...do you... really love me?"
" El, what kind of question is that? Of course I love you! I love you more than the stars love the night sky, actually on larger note, more than anything in this world! Speaking of world, you are my world. My one and only! Nobody could ever love you as much I love you El. All those horrible things you said about yourself aren't true, and never will be true. And El, I can't believe you kept all those things bottled up inside you. Never feel like you have to change for me or anybody else, or keep secrets from me! I love you, I love you so much I-" He stopped feeling himself start to cry.
Mike and Eleven just heald each other for what seemed like forever, but it felt good…to just be there for each other. Once they did leave they went to Els house and went to her room on her bed and just laid there. Soon they fell asleep.
Mike woke up kissed El on the nose and left a note saying that he would see her tomorrow and probably talk to him before then. Mike and El really loved each other a lot, like Mike said more than the stars love the night sky.