Swimming Pool

Mike and El sat down in the basement. Mike held El in his lap as he proceeded to read one of Hollys fairy-tale books, this story being The Twelve Dancing Princesses. The book wasn't particularly entertaining to Mike but El seemed to like it so he didn't mind. He enjoyed reading to her. He liked how her eyes would carefully follow the words as he spoke them, how invested she would get into the story line. El would sit with Mike and have him read to her for hours if she could. It was hard for her, only being able to read at a second-grade level as the only books for her level, the ones Joyce would make her read out loud to her during her schooling sessions, she found incredibly boring. Mike would sometimes observe El's behaviour as he read to her. It was evident that she most likely has some learning difficulty's as well as showing several signs of ADHD. Not that he blamed her, from spending everyday at the lab in such a familiar and calm environment with not many people around, of-course being out in the real world would be distracting, she was far from used to this sort of activity, she's not used to it. The fact that she is so concentrated and relaxed as he reads to her makes him smile; he finds the way she tries to mouth the words and read them silently to herself simple adorable. He put down the book quickly and with both arms around El, kissed her temple lovingly.

"Mikeeee, the story" El whined.

"Our friends should be here any time now, we need to get ready." Mike told her.

"But the story" El gave him puppy eyes. Mike smiled at his adorable girl before simple saying

"No" while tapping her gently on the nose. El frowned but Mike just kissed her on the lips softly because he knew that would make her smile, and it did.

"Come on El, lets get our swim stuff together so we can be ready and leave as soon as they get here" Mike suggested.

"Do I have to?" El whined a little. Mike knew that she was scared to go swimming with him and their friends because being underwater reminded her of her time in the lab. But Mike wanted her to overcome these fears, he knew that once she would be in the pool, she'd have fun. Mike got his and El's things together while El sulked a little.

"El baby, I promise you'll have fun, trust me" Mike told her sweetly in the soft voice he only uses for her.

"Promise?" El needed reassuring.

"Promise" Mike smiled as he pulled El up from the sofa.

"Mike! Your friends are here!" Karen Wheeler yelled from the top of the stares.

"Coming!" Mike yelled up. Mike grabbed the bag with their stuff in with one hand and offered El the other, she gladly accepted.

"Hey guys" Mike greeted.

"Hey" They chorused.

The pool looked deserted. There was a new pool that opened this summer and that was pretty much the new hotspot which was perfect as they could have this pool to themselves. It also makes things a lot easier for El. Once at the pool Max exited the female changing room in her two-piece bikini and Lucas's jaw dropped a little.

"You look good, I mean you look really good, like amazing" Lucas rambled on but max cut him off as she kissed him passionately, wrapping her arms around his bare torso. The kiss went on for 3 seconds. Then 5, then 10, then-

"Gat a room!" Dustin yelled teasingly causing the two love birds to part.

"Max! Where's El I thought I told you to look after her" Mike panicked. After losing her for so long, he's grown very protective of her.

"Mike chill, she's fine" Max assured him before yelling "El, get out here you look great!"

El shyly exited the changing room wearing a one-piece baby blue swim costume with little white outlines of flowers decorating it.

"Wow, baby you look beautiful" Mike drew El close and gave her an innocent kiss on the lips. El blushed but smiled adorningly up at him. Mike loved that he was so tall, it just made his short little girlfriend that much cuter.

"What are we waiting for!" Will yelled as he jumped straight into the deep end of the pool, followed by Dustin who started playfully tackling Will in the water and dunking each other under.

"Aww Dustin leave him alone, he's only small" Max teased jokingly.

"Shut up Max" Will spat, still laughing as Dustin attacked him. Max faked gasped.

"That's it!" Max yelled as she jumped into the pool and joined in the play fight, followed by Lucas.

This left just Mike and El.

"Want to go in the water El?" Mike asked her softly. El shook her head. "Aww but it's fun, see" he pointed over at their friends.

"B-but I can't swim" El told him while looking at her feet, feeling embarrassed. She hated that she couldn't do things like most people her age. It made her feel less than. She wished she could be grown up like Mike and her friends but she still had so much to learn. Mike noticed her discomfort and instantly took her hand in his.

"I can teach you" He offered, "Don't feel bad about yourself, you have nothing to be ashamed of" He kissed her temple again then hugged her. El melted into his embrace, he always cheered her up.

"Ok" She said in a small voice. Mike's eyes lit up.

"Ok as in you'll go into the pool?" He asked her.

"Yes" she said in a small voice, smiling because of how happy she'd made Mike.

"Oh, Ok. Let's get in the pool then" Mike said excited. He led El over to the edge of the pool. He then climbed into the pool effortlessly.

"Come on then" Mike encouraged. El suddenly felt bad, she wanted to make Mike happy but she was terrified of water. Whenever she sees water the thoughts of being trapped in the tank come to mind. She instantly remembers crying and screaming while banging her fists against the glass of the tank. And unlike the tank, here's also the fear of drowning.

"Please" Mike was now the one giving her the puppy eyes.

"Ok" El whispered. She placed on foot into the pool and suddenly Mike pulled her right in. El panicked and instantly started freaking out are tearing up, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Hey, shhh El its ok, see? I got you baby girl, your safe" He kissed her forehead, trying to calm her. Mike had his arms firmly around her, holding her on his hip with one hand supporting her thigh and the other wrapped around her small waist. El looked up at him as he kissed her and started to relax a little. Suddenly their friends came over and stated splashing them, Mike of course laughed and splashed them back. At first El was startled but soon enough she was joining in the fun and laughing while splashing her friends. All the sudden a huge wave created by Ells powers, washed everyone besides Mike and El to the other end of the pool. Mike gave her a high five then kissed her once more, god he couldn't get enough of her sweet lips.

"We win!" El shouted excited while still giggling in Mikes arms. Mike loves her little giggle, its one of his favourite sounds. She's so cute Mike thought as he held her tight.

"No, you don't!" Dustin yelled, quickly swimming back over to splash them but once again el created a wave and she found it hilarious.

"Mike this is fun!" El admitted excitedly. Mike chuckled and kissed her cheek.

"I told you do" Mike said with a playful grin.

"El" no fair! Stop using your powers!" Shouted Lucas.

"Nope!" El yelled, still giggling.