CHAPTER 2

Mike's point of view

I was in a room full of people and of course, the only one I saw was Jane Elinor Hopper. Oh man, she was unreal, like a ghost; I hadn't seen her for years, but I hadn't forgotten her face; her complexion was still pale, white like the snow, and her eyes? Those eyes that could say everything and saying nothing at the same damn time were the end of the world. She was wearing a little dress - and it was strange because I could only associate her with overalls, flannel or sweaters -and I felt my throat dry and the urge of drinking. She was still skinny, her beautiful legs were exposed under the skirt of her dress. And can we talk about her hair? It was like pure gold. Shoulder length. I bet it was soft like silk. She was a vision, indeed. Beautiful.

But I still had to get married.

"Elinor!" I said, trying to be the most polite as possible, and trying not to show emotions. My friends looked at me as I was an alien or something. They knew something was happening inside of me, but they made the favor to shut up. She smiled to me - and my heart almost dropped on the floor. Wow. Amazing. Jesus fucking Christ Wheeler, you are not married yet and you are already thinking of another woman. Are you even serious?

She walked in and as I stretched my arm to hold her hand, she just greeted me with her head, waving it gently. I was hypnotized by the movement of her hair. I wanted to smell it. Mike... you are fucking weird.

"Hello Michael. Congratulations for your wedding!" she said, grinning again, and fixing a lock of her hair behind the ear. I remember she used to do it often when she was little; when I observed her reading she always did that. I wondered if she still liked reading.

"Oh, uhm, thank you. Thank you so much. How... how nice to see you again!"

"Yeah, it's been a while. Still obsessed with D&D?"

How did she know? I was surprised. We didn't even share a word and she knew about my obsession... Amazing. Evidently, she always thought I was a fucking nerd - and I was, of course, just... the thought of her laughing at my back hurt me. Maybe she thought I was a loser like everybody else in school. I did an embarrassed face and I shyly rubbed my hand against my neck. I was in tension. And that wasn't good.

"Not that much but I still love it. Hey, do you remember my friends? Dustin, Will and Lucas."

"Well, hello there. Did you hurt falling from the sky? Cause you're an angel." Dustin said, a smirk on his face, trying to kissing her hand. Everyone shook their heads. Typical Dustin. Steve had a really bad influences on him. Despite it, El simply smiled but she drew back her hand, not allowing him to kiss her it.

"Sorry, uhm, it is not necessary. Hello everyone, by the way. And Dustin you are so charming!"

"Yeah, he will be charming even with a bullet in his head." Hopper said, taking a big bite of a doughnut he stole from the buffet. Wow. Chief Hopper jealous of someone. Well, I would have been jealous of El too. She was pretty. Really pretty.

"Dad, please." she said, clearly pretending to be annoyed.

"Okay, okay... Pretend I don't exist."

"Hey El, remember me? I'm Will. We played together when we were little... in kindergarten."

Will was excited: even him remembered Jane and how special she was. I was jealous of him because I knew that Hopper and his mother, Joyce, got along well and they usually brought the children playing together at her house. I was envy.

"Yeah, I remember. Will the Wise. You are still the same. Still into art?"

"So do you. You are gorgeous though. And yes, I am a contemporary art professor. I paint sometimes."

"Wow, I'm impressed. You should definitely show me some of your works."

Man, she was so nice, so pure, so... real. She was genuinely interested in everything my friends were saying and her smile, her little dimples, were something I would have bitten right away.

"And I am Lucas, by the way. I remember you were the quiet one in class. Sorry if I called you "weirdo"."

"Apologized accepted. But I still am a weirdo and a little bit more talkative now, don't you worry!"

We all laughed together. She was indeed a ray of sunshine. Something about her, though, was off; the fact she didn't want to touch me or Dustin was... weird. Maybe did I stink? Did she find me horrible she couldn't even touch me?

"Michael! Who is this pretty lady?"

Jen cut off my thoughts. Finally I remembered I had a girlfriend. She embraced me and she was all smiling; man, my fiancée at my side and El ray of sunshine Hopper in front of me. I was the shittiest husband ever and I wasn't even married yet. I could feel the guilt raising inside of me.

"Oh, I believe you two never met. Jen this is Jane. Jane this is Jennifer..." I said, politely enough, keeping staring at El and at her beautiful smile, "...my future wife."

"Nice to meet you Jane! Thank you for coming." Jennifer said excitedly. Maybe too much. Something was clearly off. When she was happy she didn't act like this. I predicted I fight when everyone would have been gone...

"The pleasure is all mine." El said grinning, but just a little. It was not definitely the same smile she gave me one minute before when she saw me. And how could I have noticed it? Don't ask me. I still didn't know.

Jennifer squeezed my hand, hurting me a little. Oh yeah, she was definitely angry. And I didn't even know why. "Oh, women are strange..." I thought.

"Well, uhm, dad can we go eat something? Like... a burger or ice cream or waffles? I still haven't eat anything."

"Sorry Wheeler boy, but you heard her. When she's hungry nothing cares anymore." they both laughed and I glimpsed at her splendid and funny teeth. She still had those. Adorable. Fuck you Mike, fuck off.

"Yeah, the buffet is over there. Just eat as much as you want!" I said, grinning at her, and she smiled back. Man, could be a person be more prettier? She waved slowly into the crowd and the "red spot" disappeared. I took a long breath.

"Who the hell was she?" Jennifer whispered to me, her blue eyes clearly pissed. Well, of course she didn't know her... she moved in Hawking just when El went away.

"Just a girl who did middle school with us. Right guys?"

"Yeah." they say in chorus, trying to contain a laugh.

"Why are you three laughing? Mike? Am I missing something here?"

She was not amused. And I could feel she was a little bit pissed off. I could see it by the way she was breathing heavily or how she looked at me like I had killed someone. She was jealous.

"Not at all. They are just doing the idiots." I threw an annoyed glance to my best friends. "Are you jealous or something, Jen?" I said with a sassy smirk, caressing gently her hips.

"No. Because I am going to marry you anyway. I am happy." she said, with a smile appearing on her face, giving me a long kiss on my lips, causing a clap by the crowd and a long "aw" in all the diner. Could that night be more embarrassing? I was literally there for two hours and I wished to be dead like fifty times. I had still my eyes opened when Jennifer was kissing me in front of everybody and I could see with the corner of my eye that El was looking at me. Her eyes were like a wall: I could not see anything. She was just standing there, a dish filled with... eggos? Really? and with a perplex look on her face. The kiss finally stopped and everybody cheered at us. Man, embarassing.

"I can't wait to marry you." my fiancée said, whispering in my ear.

A took a quick glance towards El, and then I looked into Jennifer's blue marine eyes.

"Yeah, me too."

El's point of view.

It hadn't been a good idea coming to that party. Not at all. Michael Wheeler was a dream, the same usual dream dressed kind of dorky, but... he was pretty. His hair had become curly, darker than ever before; those freckles he had on his angelic face were like shining stars in the July sky, his cheekbones were literally driving me mad and he was... tall. Oh, so so so tall! I wondered how beautiful would have been if I had been kissing him while standing on my tiptoes. Oh my God, El. Get a hole of yourself, he's getting married!

Still, though, he was handsome. A pain in the stomach was there every time he met my eyes. I could feel a kind of univocal electricity - because he was clearly in love with the blondie - and I damned myself for not getting there in Hawkins before he asked her to marry him. It was too late. We were not meant to be. And, well, of course we were not... and, oh my God, we didn't even spoke in all of our lives, why would we be soul mates, anyway? I watched too many soap operas.

Anyway, it was fun seeing the residents of Hawkins again: Flo hugged me tightly, complimenting me in every way possible; even Mrs. Byers was crying happily too and she kept kissing me on the cheeks, still not believing that I was real, stading right in front of her. Joyce was a nice woman, extremely beautiful and kind; and I thought she would have been a nice woman and companion for my dad. But they never worked it out, unfortunately. They were dating in college but she married a douche who abandoned her for basically a waitress in a restaurant, leaving her, Will and Jonathan (the oldest) all alone. Dad helped her in every way possible, but I remembered how mum used to be jealous of how dad was so kind with Joyce.

"So, what do you think about the party? Do you like it? Karen wanted to make it perfect!" said Joyce, looking around, still with her Marlboro between her rosy lips.

"I think it's nice. And they are a good... couple."

I lied. I didn't like that Jennifer. She was too beautiful and, evidently, jealous. She was fake and I didn't like fake mouth breathers. If I had had super powers, I would have broken her neck with a snap of my fingers. But unfortunately... that was my boring life, not a tv show.

"Oh, yeah. They are. But I'm still not convinced about it. Neither my son, if I have to be sincere."

"Why not?" I said curious. Maybe too much curious.

Joyce take a long breath and shook her head, like she was disappointed.

"Because Mike is stubborn and impulsive. He had to think about it twice. He is still so young with all the world to see... and, between you and me honey, Jennifer is not one of my favorite."

I shrugged my shoulders, taking a bit of my eggo.

"She is gorgeous, though."

"Beauty doesn't matter. And she is definitely not Mike's type. I think she loves Mike's money more. But he is naive, El, and he still dated her anyway. I don't know..." she took a long puff of her cigarette, "Mike deserves something better. But I'm still happy for him. He is a true treasure."

"Something better?" I asked, perplexity all over my face. Of course he deserved the whole world. He was so nice and kind; the way he looked at me when he introduced himself was... so gentle. I wondered how cute would have been touching him. I shook my head. No El. He is basically married. And you hate touching or being touched by people.

"Yeah, someone who is simple, someone like..." she stared at me, smiling, and shaking her head. "You know what? It doesn't matter. I am just worried. Mike is like a second son for me, I have know him since he was little. Just like you. I am just being paranoid."

"Just relax, Mrs. Byers."

I said, keeping eating my toastin' waffle.

"And you have to relax, as well. How's momma?"

I really didn't want to think of her in that moment. She was clearly pissed off, but I couldn't care less. I wasn't her daughter anymore. She let me down and lost me in the moment she decided to not see the reality around her, leaving me dying and alone just for papa's money.

"She's good. But she is angry with me. And, quite frankly, I don't care."

And I meant it. She could have died and I wouldn't have shared a tear.

"Angry because you decided to go and stay with your dad?"

"Yeah."

"You're an adult now. She will move on, eventually. You're not a baby anymore. And Hopper will give you some freedom."

That was I hoped for. I lived my high school year as a recluse, trying to avoid any conflict ever with my step-dad and my mother. My life was just: getting straight A's, studying, eating, sleeping and repeat. I went to a female school - "good girls don't talk with boys - and I was basically nothing more than a trained monkey. But papa wanted me like that. Because good girl did what the parents said. But he was not my father, nor my step-dad, not anymore.

"Yes, I'm sure I will be fine with..."

"El!"

I was about to finish the sentence when I turned my back to see Mike, all shy, massaging his ebony locks, trying so hard to contain his excitement. He was eben trembling a bit.

"Yes, Mike?" I said, still chewing my eggo, but then I realized something. "How did you call me?"

"Uhm sorry, I... I always called you El. I mean, I knew you didn't like your names so... I always thought of you like "El", short for Elinor. I mean, if you want I will call you Jane or..."

"No, no. El it's fine. It's cute."

I smiled and I was sincerly impressed. He was too sweet... and kind. And Joyce was looking at us with that smile who didn't convince me at all.

"Sorry... uh, was I interrupting your conversation?" said Mike looking at me and Mrs. Byers.

"It's okay, Mike. I will go to Karen, now. Just talk with your friend." Joyce smirked at us and she walked away, leaving me and Mike alone, in front of the buffet, while I was eating like a girl who hadn't eaten for years.

"So... what do you want to talk about?"

"Uhm, well, how are you? How's your life in Hawkins? Do you still like it? For how long you will stay here?" he said quickly. His words dazed me.

"Mike!"

"Sorry, too... intrusive?"

I shook my head, laughing. He was adorable. Dork, and... hot, even? What the hell was wrong with me? He was just wearing a green button up and a pair of black skinny jeans. He was quite normal, but, for me, he was handsome. His eyes were so kind, so full of love, I wanted to drown in them.

"No, no. Just breathe. I know your excited about the wedding but you have to come to the altar alive and still able to breathe."

"Oh, you're right." he took a step in order to getting closer; he had his hands in his pockets, his posture erected; he was a giant compared to me. But I liked it. It made me feel protected.

"I will try again," he said, chuckling, "So, Miss Hopper? How's life?"

So charming.

"All good, thank you very much. I want to find a job here, y'know... dad said there is a vacancy for a job as a librarian here, so I think I will totally apply for it!"

"That's cool. You still love reading, don't you?" he said, with arms crossed, clearly pleased with himself for coming up with such a smart conclusion. And, to be totally honest, his deduction made me feel special. He remembered many things about me, even if we were not friends.

"And how do you know?"

"You were always reading in class. At the cafeteria. Even in P.E when you were exonerated for your nosebleed."

Yeah, my nosebleed. Something I inherited from mom.

"Oh, you were quite an observer, Mr. Wheeler."

"You were the prettiest, so... uhm yeah, of course I was attentive."

I couldn't believe he said that. And neither did him, apparently, cause his eyes were basically saying "you fucking idiot, why did you say that?". But I was flattered. He told me he found me pretty... and that compliment was everything, because it came from Mike himself.

"Oh, thank you so much. You are very kind. And what about you? Where do you guys will live?"

"Chicago, after the wedding. Jen want to open up a clothing shop... and well, I want to work in some famous enterprise as a mechanical engineer..."

"That's awesome!"

It was not. In a matter of three months he would have been gone. Again. And the thought of it made me inexplicably sad. I didn't even want to eat my eggos anymore. I put the dish on the table and I cleared my voice, because I was about to choke. Nice move, El. I was keeping coughing, until he did it.

"Hey, is everything okay?" he said, touching gently my shoulders and tapping my back.

And for the first ever, after eight years, a man touched me. And it was... strange. And definitely a sensation of warmness, something I didn't want to feel anymore because it came from a man who loved another woman. Mike Wheeler was the first person who had touched me after centuries and I felt my cheeks burning.

"Y-yeah, just, a piece of waffle stuck in my throat. Sorry, I'm dumb."

"You're not. But I don't want dead people tonight!" he said, heart warmly, smiling like he was in heaven or something like that. He left the hold and after I felt his hand no longer on my body, I felt incomplete. Again. Something about that little touch destroyed me and saved me at the same time.

And it was in that moment I realized I was screwed. And I decided to run away.

"Well, I think... I gotta go now. It's late and I'm still tired for the trip, sorry."

"Oh, sure, I guess. We can see each other, sometimes. Maybe I organize a dinner with Jen and the others. You know, we can talk about the good old times and stuff."

What times? We didn't even spoken. We hadn't memories to share. I laughed. A part of me was saying "Hey, Ellie, maybe Mike is into you", while the other was "Do you realize he is getting married? Mike would never ever cheat on her fiancée".

I simply nodded.

"Why not? It could be fun. But now, I will find dad and I'll go to sleep. Thanks for inviting me."

"Thank you for coming... Night, El."

I smiled and he did the same, staring at me with those beautiful and perceiving dark brown eyes.

"Night Mike."

And the moment I stepped out the diner, I realized... I had fallen for him.

Again.