December 31st, 1988.
It's been five years since the Demogorgon attacked, and life has never been better.
Eleven enrolls in school after she's caught up to the boys' level of education, thanks to Mr. Clarke. After a few weeks, she's accepted into the school's atmosphere, and her teachers love her – she's excited to learn, and always does her homework.
It's four months into the school year when she and the boys receive their first party invitations. A New Years' Party. At seventeen years old, the group had only held their own small parties, for their friends and families. It was never anything big, and alcohol was brought by adults for adults only. But this party they know will be different. It's hard to convince their families that they'll be fine at the party, but they go, and the night begins as soon as they walk through the door.
At first, they sit on the couch awkwardly, not quite knowing what to do. But, one by one, they involve themselves. Lucas meets some cute girls he's never talked to before, and spends the night with them. Will and Dustin battle each other in the living room, dancing to their hearts' content. As for Mike and Eleven, they listen to the music and hold hands. After five years of holding hands and the occasional kiss, they still haven't made it official.
Soon, Mike finds himself getting drinks for he and Eleven, if only just to fill the awkwardness. Eleven is excited to try the drink, always excited for new experiences, while Mike decides to merely hold the cup and pretend to drink from it so he wouldn't seem too out of place. Eleven takes her first sip of alcohol, and though the taste isn't magnificent, she likes the burn at the back of her throat. So, after a while, she finishes the cup.
Eleven is three drinks in when the countdown begins. She's hanging onto Mike's shoulder, giddy but quiet. Mike is amused, but doesn't say anything but the decreasing numbers everyone else is shouting.
"…3, 2, 1 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
Suddenly, everyone is kissing, even Lucas with some girl. Will even kisses Dustin, much to Dustin's surprise. Once Eleven sees this, she practically tackles Mike down to the couch and kisses him hard. Mike is surprised, but he goes with it, and eventually wraps his arms around her. Eleven leads the kiss into something more passionate (though Mike always thought he'd be the one to make that move), and the pair find themselves in a room upstairs. Mike desperately hopes it's not the parents' room.
One thing leads to another, and right before Eleven peels off Mike's shirt, she's whispering in his ear.
"I love you. I love you. I love you."
Mike just smiles and says "I love you too."
Mike decides he doesn't want to have his first time with Eleven being tipsy, so he stops them, and instead they cuddle for the rest of the night, and they whisper sweet nothings until dawn.