Welcome to my theory on Season 3, and my first Mileven story. This story is basically on what I think will happen in Season 3. I hope you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor endorse Stranger Things, nor any of the affiliates in this story.

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Chapter 1
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The final school bell of the year. Summer had officially begun and Mike was ecstatic. With the cheering and commotion in the hallways, Mike drowned out the sound, as he gathered his things. He had one thing on his mind, only one thing mattered to him.

El.

Mike couldn't wait to see her. He pictured her, sitting in the cabin, reading a book or watching TV. Maybe she was doing some schoolwork, to catch up for next year, when she would join them in high school. Mike was over the moon happy: school was out, he was a rising freshman, and he was in love with the most amazing girl in the world.

Mike exited the classroom and maneuvered his way to the front office, where Mr. Clark was checking his mail. "Mr. Clark?" Mike called to his now former science teacher.

"Mike," Mr. Clark responded, "I thought you'd be long gone by now."

"I'm on my way out," Mike said, "I just wanted to swing by and give this back to you." Mike reached in his book bag and pulled out his copy of the AV room key, that Mr. Clark had made for him.

"I almost forgot about it," Mr. Clark said, as he reached for the key, "thank you, Mike"

"No, Mr. Clark," Mike answered, "thank you! You know, for teaching me about audio visual devices. I can't wait to show what you taught me, to the high school AV club."

"And they will be lucky to have you," Mr. Clark smiled.

Suddenly, Dustin appeared out of nowhere, startling both Mike and Mr. Clark. Dustin appeared to be out of breath, like he ran a marathon.

"Mike," Dustin huffed, "we've been looking for you. It's time for the inaugural summer Dig Dug competition."

"And I'm gonna beat your ass!" Mike heard Max yell down the hall, causing Dustin to snort and Mike rolled his eyes.

"See ya, Mr. Clark," Mike waved, following Dustin to the front door.

"Have a great summer!" Mr. Clark waved back.

"Mike and Dustin met up with Max, who currently had her arms wrapped around Lucas' waist.

"Ugh! PDA PDA!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Shut up, Dustin," Max snapped back. Just then, Will appeared from around the corner.

"Why are we telling Dustin to shut up?" Will asked.

"Because he's calling out Lucas and I hugging," Max said, still attached to Lucas.

"You call that hugging?" Dustin said, waving his hand at the couple, "you're practically sewn to his side."

"She is not," Lucas argued.

"See?" Max interjected.

"Oh please, he's thoroughly enjoying it," Dustin said.

Max stared down Dustin, "Dig Dug…your ass is grass."

Mike had enough of their bickering, "Guys stop! We'll go to the arcade. I just need to call El."

A chorus of "Oooohs" filled the air, causing Mike's face to turn red. Mike and El had been slowly dating since the Snowball, and he was hoping the Party's teasing would stop by now.

"Guys, stop. It's getting old," Mike said.

"But, it's fun!" Dustin laughed.

"For once, Dustin and I agree on something," Max said.

"Ok everyone," Lucas smirked, "let's just chill and wait here, while Mike calls his wifey."

As the party laughed on, Mike walked to the outside payphone, to call El. Wife, he thought, it had a nice ring to it. Of course, deep down Mike wanted to marry El. But, they were still young and were adjusting to the hormonal rollercoaster of being teenagers. Mike had plans for him and El, this summer. He had saved up his allowance, since the Snowball, so he could take her out on dates, just the two of them. He mentally went through his list of ideas, as he dialed her number. His plan was simple: picnic for their first date. It was romantic, the weather was finally warm, and most important of all, it was a great start on his date budget.

The line rang a few times before a deep, male voice answered.

"Hopper." Mike swallowed. Of course Hopper would answer today, of all days.

"Hi, Hop? It's Mike," his voice trembled a bit. No matter how long he's known Hopper, he still makes Mike tremble in fear.

"Yeah kid," Hopper sighed, "I never would have guessed."

Mike brushed off Hopper's sarcasm. "Is El there?

"Yes."

Silence. Mike got more nervous.

"C-can I speak with her?"

Hopper decided to have a little fun, "I don't know, kid. Can you?"

"Hop…" Mike huffed.

"Wheeler.." Hopper said firmly, but was laughing on the inside.

Mike then heard the sound of a sweet voice in the background, whining "Daaaad!", which caused Mike's heart to flutter. Her voice, her smile, everything El, always made him melt like a popsicle left out in the sun. Mike knew he had to be respectful to Hopper, for he held the chances for El to see him. Much to El's protests, Mike did agree to always call the cabin first, before he planned to visit. El called it stalling, but Hopper called it manners.

Mike sighed, "May I please speak to El?"

Hopper laughed, "That was fun."

"No, it wasn't," Mike responded.

"EL?!" Hopper intentionally shouted in close proximity of the receiver, which felt like Mike's eardrum had exploded.

"Ow!" Mike exclaimed.

Hopper roared laughing, "Now THAT was fun!"

Mike sighed heavily in annoyance, until El picked up.

"Hi," El said happily.

"Hey," Mike responded, obviously no longer annoyed.

"I miss you," El said. Hopper groaned in the background and said "You just saw him yesterday!"

"Not enough," El responded.

Mike laughed, "I miss you, too. Do you want to come to the arcade with us?"

"El was quiet and then sighed. Mike noticed and was concerned, "El, what's wrong?"

"Hop says I can't go out today, until I finish this eggs ham thing"

"Eggs ham?" Mike was confused, "Did you have breakfast this morning?"

El giggled, "Yes, I did. But this thing consists of a ton of questions."

The lightbulb immediately went off in Mike's head, "Oh! You're taking an exam!"

"Yes, eggs ham!" El said.

Mike tried to hold in his laughter, "It's pronounced ex-am. E-X-A-M. It's a final test of what you have learned throughout the year. I had to take a few of those this past week."

'Oh," El said, "I'm sure you did well. I hate it!"

"I know. We all hate them, but we need them to proceed to the next grade."

"I'd much rather spend time with you."

Mike felt all tingly, as he always did when El asked for him. As much as he want to rush over there and finish the exam for her, he had to hold firm and let her do it herself.

"What are you doing tomorrow?" Mike asked.

"Ummmm," El said, "nothing, so far."

"Well," Mike continued, his voice shaky with nerves. This was it, he was gonna ask El on their first official date.

"Yes, Mike?"

"W-well, I was w-wondering if I could, you know, pick you up tomorrow. At around 11 AM? I, uh….I have a surprise for you."

"A surprise?!" El asked excitedly. Once again, Hopper groaned in the background.

"Yeah, a surprise. I wanted to take you somewhere. But, I'm not gonna tell you anything else, as it's a surprise."

El squealed in delight, "Like a date?!"

"Uh, yeah!" Mike squeaked.

"DATE?!" Mike heard Hopper boom in the background.

Uh oh. Mike swallowed hard again. Maybe he should have asked Hopper first.

"Dad?!" El exclaimed.

"Finish your test. Let me talk to Wheeler," Mike heard Hopper say.

"But Dad-"

"Now, young lady."

El sighed and gave the phone to Hopper and sulked back over to the table.

"Wheeler." Hopper said firmly.

"Y-yes sir?" Mike stuttered. Nearby, the Party members were eavesdropping on Mike's end of the conversation and they were doing a terrible job holding back their hysterical laughter. Again, Mike's face turned as red as a fire extinguisher. Boy, did he need one to hose him off right then.

"Let's be frank," Hopper said, "what are your intentions with my daughter?"

Mike almost choked on his own spit, "S-sir?!"

"Don't play dumb with me, kid," Hopper continued, "I wasn't born yesterday. I know what's on a young teenage boy's mind, when he asks a girl out."

"N-no sir! I like your daughter. I mean I r-really like her…a lot!"

"And?"

"And….?" Mike stuttered.

"And?" The other Party members said in unison, giggling. Mike wanted to die of embarrassment.

"Sir," Mike continued, "I really like El. And I promise you I would never hurt her. I just want to take her out on a picnic."

Hopper was quiet a moment, contemplating if he should let El go on her first date, at such a young age. On one hand, he wanted El to live a normal, teenage life. But, that would mean allowing her to go on dates with a boy who worshipped El like a wolf worships the moon.

Ok…not an appropriate reference. Still, Mike was a boy, a hormonal teenage boy. Hopper remembered how he was at Mike's age, trying to coax Pam White, the most popular girl in his class, into a game of 7 Minutes in Heaven. However, this was Mike Wheeler, king of the DD empire. If anything, Mike probably wouldn't know what to do with his hands, Hopper chuckled internally.

Hopper gave in, "Ok, kid. You can take her on a picnic."

Mike jumped around, pumping his arms in the air, "Thank you, sir!"

"Hang on, Wheeler. There are a few "Don't be Stupid on a Date" rules," Hopper said firmly.

Mike's nerves returned…what could Hopper possibly think they would be doing? Oh…that, Mike remembered.

"First," Hopper continued, "No powers. I know you two have been hanging out a lot, and she uses them here, but no powers outside this property. Got it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Second, keeps your hands to yourself. I don't need to remind you of Valentine's Day."

"Y-yes, sir," Mike stuttered. How could Mike forget…he almost died at the hands of Hopper that day. Mike and El were sitting on the couch, enjoying the little heart-shaped candies Mike brought for her. El said she wanted to listen to Mike's heartbeat. Before he could answer, El leaned down and placed her ear to Mike's chest. As much as having El close to him warmed his soul, Mike hormones had other ideas, especially since El rested her hands on his lap. While El listened on and Mike kept thinking of things to *ahem* lower his problem, Hopper walked in. Needless to say, Hopper wasn't thrilled.

"Lastly," Hopper said, "make sure she has fun. And if anything happens, you call me or bring her to the station. I have a shift tomorrow."

"Thank you, sir. Please don't give the surprise away to El. I'll be by to pick her up at 11:00."

"That's fine. Now let her get back to her test. She'll see you tomorrow."

Hopper ended the call, as Mike really wanted to hear El's voice again. Mike felt victorious, like the true Paladin had taken over his soul. For the first time, since Mike first laid eyes upon his beloved El, they were finally going on a date. The summer was off to a great start, and Mike couldn't wait to share it with El.

Mike joined his fellow Party, as they made their way to the bike rack. As they pedaled to the arcade, Mike felt like a king on his high horse. The summer breeze gently caressing his soft, black curls, and the permanent smile that had stuck to his face.

Mike couldn't think of anything that could ruin this perfect summer, to come.