First Blood
"Lucas, thats the stupidest thing to come out of your mouth in years!"
"It's not stupid Dill weed, they need our help and this is the best way, back me up Will!"
"Nah man leave me out of this one, she may be my sister but I don't know that she would let me survive if we go through with it."
Outside the AV room door Mike Wheeler stood listening to his three best friends shouting at each other. He knew he should intervene before Lucas stormed out and missed yet another meeting this week but Mike really did not want to mediate this argument again. He could hear the exhaustion in Lucas' voice when he said "Guys its destroying her and I really don't know if I can handle anymore of it"
Mike sighed and opened the door. All eyes turned to him and he could see that Lucas was desperate, there were numerous pages with plans written in his boxy scrawl littered on the table and Will and Dustin looked exasperated.
"Mike, thank god man, tell Lucas that we can not put ourselves between the girls. Its a suicide mission." Said Dustin as Will nodded in agreement.
Lucas didn't say anything, he just looked at the party's paladin with pleading eyes and Mike could see that the guy was one failed argument away from just going rouge. That course of action would definitely not end well so Mike did what he had to do.
"Lucas is right guys-"He watches as Wills shoulders slump and Dustin rests his elbows on the AV table and places his face in his hands. "The party has been at war for too long and its bull, the girls are not going to just get over this like we hoped." Lucas looked like he was having a hard time deciding if he should hug Mike, sit down or run out of the room. Mike moved closer to the table and peered at the plans laid on it.
Dustin spoke up, his voice still muffled by his hands "I'd like it to be noted that I hate this and I kind of hate you both right now."
"Seconded" said Will. Mike and Lucas shared a half smile
"Noted." Says Mike still shuffling through the pile of half baked ideas to get Max and El to begin speaking to each other.
Dustin finally lifted his head, "It's no use man, those plans all suck- you know its true Lucas" he said as the other boy opened his mouth to argue, "and if we are going to do this we need to do it right, El has the force and Max has rage, locking them in a room together will not cut it."
The three remaining boys let their silence signify their agreement. Dustin looked each of his friends in the eyes allowing them to think about just how screwed they would all be if they went in with some crappy plan that would crumble in front of them.
"Guys, I think we need to call Steve." Says Will noting the solemn nods of his friends upon hearing his request.
"Max and El do listen to him, basically without question." Added Dustin.
"Yeah.. yeah, okay, lets get Steve to meet us at the cabin tomorrow after school, I'll tell El the we are going to hang out there together, Lucas you figure out some way to get Max to agree. Dustin you bring Steve. Will, you cover us with the adults and meet us there by 4." Every one gave mock salutes and they began to work on their AV club activities, which really consisted to trying to boost the wave lengths of their walkie talkies.
The next day flew by and Dustin had managed to get Steve to agree to meet them at Hopper and El's old hiding place. Dustin, Will and Steve were waiting anxiously inside the house. They knew this could end terribly for everyone but Steve was determined to help the girls get over their differences and be friends, heaven knows they could each do with a female friend. They could hear Mike talking to El and entering through the back door. Seconds later they heard Lucas and Max walking though the front door. It seemed as if all the air had been sucked out of the room everyone looked around with the girls shooting daggers at each other and the guys all looking toward Steve with pleading eyes. The elder boy cleared his throat and put his arms out, "Aren't my two favorite girls going to give me a hug?"
Max continued glaring at Eleven but El was a sucker for hugs and she liked Steve so she stepped forward. Max followed not wanting El to get all the affection. As he hugged both girls tightly the rest of the boys split up and guarded the two entrances. Steve let go and ushered both girls towards the couch, they sat stiffly on opposite ends aware that something was wrong but neither wanting to be the first to speak.
"So ladies,"said Steve warily "I've been called in because it seems that the dipshit brigade is struggling, what with you two not getting along. They didn't want to be the ones to get in the middle so here I am getting in the literal middle" he finished glancing at both girls.
"It's not my fault, Steve, Eleven is the one with a stick up her ass! She won't even tell me why she hates me so much!" Argued Max
"Mouthbreather!" Hissed El
"God, get over that ! I just want to know what I ever did to you!" She said turning to face Eleven, hands turning to fists in her lap.
"Mike? Home." Called the brunette looking past Steve and ignoring Max altogether.
Will grabbed Mikes arm to keep him in place and Mike just shook his head in Els direction, he couldn't look at her or he would call the whole thing off and take her straight home. Steve held his hand up.
"Mike will take you home as soon as you tell us what is wrong here." Said Steve in what he hoped was a soothing voice. El gave Steve a hard look and she took note of how he seemed a bit scared of her nonetheless he did not back down.
"She's too normal. She can take things from me." Came a very quite response that the males in the room almost missed entirely, the redhead on the couch however, did not.
"Too normal? Take things? What the hell? Maybe by your fucked up sense of normalcy sure but by societal norms? Not even close!" Max was floored but angry unable to stop herself from yelling even when she noticed that the lights in the cabin were pulsing.
El did not look at the girl but mumbled something about taking the boys. Everyone began to understand. El was afraid that the guys would prefer Max because she had less baggage. For the time being they chose to ignore the waves of pure power rolling off of the angry/sad/embarrassed girl
"You're supposed to be smart El. I can not -nor do I want to- take them from you. I just want to join you all." Max scooted closer to the girl who stiffened but looked at the red head.
"Why?" Asked El
"Because…"The other girl paused thought it was only fair to air her own insecurities. "Because I hate my life when these guys aren't around. I don't want you to take them from me." Eleven still looked embarrassed so Max went on, attempting to ignore everyone else in the room. "My brother is abusive and my parents are off the deep-end. They never really care what I do. These guys are my friends and if I want them I get you. Wheeler, Byers and you are a package deal but loneliness aside, I think you're pretty cool… when your aren't being a bitch."
Max had scooted right next to the brunette and all the boys were holding their breath without realizing it. It took Eleven a long time to respond, she just stared intently at Max's face. She sighed and held out her hand.
"Shake? I drew first blood." Max looked confused but she could tell the younger boys were happy so she shook assuming it was a step in the right direction at least. El smiled at her and Max understood why Mike was so besotted, that damn smile could move mountains. Max grinned back and on an impulse pulled Eleven into a hug. It was short but El had been unnerved enough that she accidentally turned the lights off.
"…oops, sorry" came her soft abashed voice. Everyone was laughing good-naturedly as she flicked them back on.
"Well, Dustin, I guess my plan of locking them in a room together wasn't so stupid after all."
"Nah still dumb, we needed Steve and the rest of us to keep guard."
"Same premise." The two boys continued bickering but Max had tuned them out. She watched as Will and Mike came forward and hovered near by, talking to El. Steve was watching them all amusedly but Max was looking at El, a new friendship was possible now, and if it worked Max knew she would never want for a family or affection again. Max vowed silently to never allow the friendship to fail. She would not draw first blood.