The night of the Snow Ball dance was probably the best night of Michael Wheelers life. It was, after all, the night he got to kiss the coolest girl in the world.
He had kissed her before of course, but that night was also the night she disappeared. That night was the worst night of his life, he reckoned. Other than The Kiss.
Mike was pretty angry that night, when Hopper picked her up from Wills house, after the dance, and told them that she would have to go back into hiding at his house again. He screamed and hit Hopper like he had the night she came back. Eleven didn't say much – she never did – but she cried. They all did, though Lucas and Dustin tried to hide it. Will didn't, but Will got away with everything.
Hopper and Mrs Byers cried too, though Hoppers were those grown up manly tears that you wouldn't notice except he sniffed so loudly. Wills mom cried all the time, so it wasn't weird anymore. But her stern voice was kinda weird, when she ordered Hopper into the kitchen. The kids could hear the loud voices in the kitchen, but not what they were saying.
"Mike?" Mike loved hearing Eleven saying his name. Her voice was so quiet. Quiet and pretty, like her. She always sounded a little scared, like he wouldn't like what she said. That was dumb, because he liked everything she said, just because it was her who said it. But now she looked scared and sad, because she didn't want to be apart from them anymore. Mike was so angry. Eleven looked so pretty tonight, in her dress and her curly hair and her shy smile when she looked up at him. It wasn't fair that Hopper would take her away. It wasn't fair that another best night was becoming another worst night. So he grabbed her shoulders and stared into her huge, sad, brown eyes.
"I won't let him take you away again El. I won't."
She blinked those huge, sad, brown eyes with such earnest trusting mixed in with that sad fearfulness.
"Promise?"
How could one word be so loaded? Mike hesitated because he couldn't bear to break another promise to El. Could he promise something like this? Hopper was her dad now. He could do whatever he wanted. But El's eyes were so sad and so hopeful and he thinks that she really believes he can make anything happen if he just promises. Mike can't bear to be apart from her again so he'll do anything possible to keep the promise. He's still young enough that he believes if he tries hard enough, he can keep any promise. He finally took her to the Snow Ball, right?
"Promise."
El's watery smile makes him feel like a superhero. He smiles back, and then hugs her, as tightly as he can. She grasps his shoulders and digs her nails into his jacket, and he doesn't even care.
"Yeah El! We Promise!" Dustin yells, hugging them both like he did on the quarry. Will and Lucas make enthusiastic sounds of agreement and join in the group hug, but Mike only feels El's embrace.
He won't let her go, ever again.