Chapter 2: Shopping spree
The first week of high school went by in a blur, and El loved every second of it. She loved the mad rush in the hallways every morning and the sharp ring of the school bell. She especially liked reaching school the most because Mike would always be there waiting for her at the front gate, no matter the others would be there or not. She waited eagerly for the lunch period, because she got to sit with all her friends at a same table for a whole of forty uninterrupted minutes unlike any of her classes. She also loved the anonymity the came with being a regular high school kid, no one ogled at her unlike all those people back in the lab.
As she was already friends with the nerd group she was a designated nerd as well. She did not mind it at all, she was thankful that she was finally a part of something, somewhere she belonged. One week at school taught her that there were groups, as if everyone was divided by some unsaid norm and no two people of two different groups mingled, she did not understand why. When she asked about it to Lucas he just told her that is how it always has been and he has no idea why but everyone simply follows it. She was particularly attracted to the group of girls who were always together, wore beautiful dresses and had amazing long hair, shiny and straight. She wanted to be their friend but she realized that for some reason they were unapproachable.
"Those are the queen bees of the school." Max told her when she caught El staring at them during lunch one day, "they are bitches El, you tell me if they ever give you trouble I'll handle them."
"I think one of them is in my class, I was just checking." She replied, diverting quickly.
She turned back around to face everyone and realized Lucas and Dustin were again debating about some star wars theory, she really had no interest in but feigned interest for the benefit of her friends because she realized how much they liked it.
Everyone else was laughing at them arguing, when she reached over and toughed Mike's thigh, he stopped laughing so suddenly it was almost comical,
"Mike, can you come over today, I need help with one of the assignments in English."
"Sure, I'll be there." He said without hesitating.
That evening around five, Mike knocked at the Hopper residence.
"Hi El."
"Mike." She whispered his name back and gave him a short hug.
"So what were you having a problem in?"
They soon finished their assignments and were sitting on the couch watching TV, not really paying any attention to the show currently on.
"So you like the school life so far?"
"Yes, it's fun. And I like how much time we get to spend together."
"But we barely have any classes together."
"Yes, but the fact that I know you are around, just in a different class is good. I like it. You being that close." Mike was used to her being so candid about liking her, but he still couldn't help the blush that would cover his face every time she stated those sentiments.
"Mike? Do you like me?" she asked suddenly.
"What? Of – of course I like you, you know that already."
"No. No. I mean do you like how I look?"
"What do you mean?" Mike was genuinely confused.
"Everyone in school wear dresses and have long shiny hair. I don't. I have short hair and they are so curly. Do you like how I look?"
"Hey, where is this coming from? Did someone say something to you?"
"No, nobody said anything, everyone I met so far is nice, but I was looking at Ashley today and I like her hair and her dresses. But I look nothing like her."
"El, you don't have to look anything like her, I like you how you are, and if I liked the likes of her I would be with her instead of you. But I'm not, it's you I like and looks don't matter at all. If you like how she looks and want to be like that it's up to you. I will like you anyways I can get you. Long hair, short hair, dresses or a sweatshirt. I don't care and you shouldn't either." He was holding her face in his palms by the end of this.
"But I like long hair and those pretty dresses and all those bright colors. Even Max has long hair." She said with wide eyes.
"Okay, so you want long hair, we'll not cut them when these grow longer, just trim regularly to avoid the split – ends."
"Split-ends?"
"It's when the hair splits in two, it stunts the hair growth."
"Okay."
"And if you want to wear dresses instead of jeans then we'll go and buy you dresses, simple."
"But Max hates dresses, and she bought me these." She points to the t-shirt she was wearing.
"Yes, but this is what Max likes, not you. You don't have to worry about upsetting her, she bought those for you because that is all she knows. She was just helping when she bought these." Mike tried to make her understand. She was biting her lips and her eyebrows were drawn together.
"Look, if you are worried about upsetting her, why don't you talk to her? She told you to talk to her to avoid any misunderstandings in the future, didn't she?" El nodded.
"So, tomorrow at school why don't you tell her about it? Maybe even ask her to go shopping for these dresses with you."
"Yeah, I think I will do that."
The next day she walked to Max's locker with mike pushing her towards the other girl. 'So this is what anxiety feels like?' El thought to herself.
"Hey Carrot. Where is Lucas?" Mike started the conversation.
"Hey Mickey. Hey El. Umm… he went to the washroom."
"Okay, catch you guys later." With that Mike made his escape giving El an encouraging smile.
"Hi Max, I wanted to tell you something."
"Yeah, go ahead,"
"I wanted to tell you that I loved all the clothes that you bought for me," El had spent half her night practicing for this moment, "and I will wear them but I think I like dresses more than t-shirts. I will of course them from time to time but I want to start wearing other stuff too. I am sorry" El looked guilty as if she just told you that your puppy died under her car.
Max laughed.
El was confused, "Why are you laughing?"
"Why are you apologizing? I already know this is not your style. As a matter of fact, I was starting to wonder why you haven't stopped wearing those yet." She pointed at the long-sleeved t-shirt she was wearing. El heaved a sigh of relief.
"So you are not mad?"
"Why would I be mad El? Of course I am not mad."
"I thought you would feel bad that I did not want to wear only those clothes that you bought me."
"No El, I always knew you would get some other clothes when you could go shop for yourself. I just bought you the things I liked at first look."
"Then will you go shopping with me?"
"Yes, I'd love to."
That evening during dinner El told Hopper all about the dilemma she faced, and how Mike helped her through it all.
"Wheeler is a smart boy."
"I know."
"So when are you going to this shopping spree with Max?"
"Can you take us tomorrow?"
"Me? You want me to take you shopping?"
"Yes, who will drive us?"
"Umm… I am sorry kiddo I have to work late tomorrow, we are closing a case. So I am going to be late tomorrow. Why don't you ask Joyce to take you? I am sure she would be thrilled to go shopping with you girls."
Before he could complete the sentence she ran to the phone on the kitchen wall and was already dialing the byers' residence.
The next day Joyce picked up the girls after school and waved her son bye as he peddled back home with the rest of the boys as his mom took the girls shopping.
"Did Hop give you any money El?" she asked
"Yes" she replied fishing out a wad of cash from her jeans pocket.
This was El's first time going to a shopping mall, and she was stunned at the sheer size of it and the number of stores it held.
"Are all these places for clothes shopping? How will I pick any?" she sounded worried
"No darling, not all stores are for clothes. A mall has a variety of stores for all your needs under one roof. But today we only need clothes so we will go to clothing stores only." Replied Joyce smoothing her hair down as if to calm her.
They entered a store and went into the girls section.
"Why don't you pick whatever strikes your fancy? We will help you to narrow it down." Max suggested
"Can I pick anything?"
"Yes, whatever you like." Said Joyce
After almost half an hour El had one piece of almost every top she looked at and dresses. Joyce and Max were silently laughing in the corner at the look of concentration on El's face, knowing that she was genuinely confused between the two colors of a same top. She turned around with one in each hand and looked at Joyce, "Which one?"
"I think the blue looks prettier, why don't you get that one."
"Okay." And she discarded the yellow and added blue to her humungous pile.
"El would you like to try skirts? Or shorts?" Max came holding a few
"I have seen Nancy wear skirts, they are pretty."
"Yes, they are. Why don't we add it to the pile of things to try before you buy them?"
"Sure." Another hour and a half later and after trying on most of the clothes and discarding half of them, because they did not look as pretty on her as they looked on the hanger, she was ready to bolt out of the place and show all her haul to her dad. She was already imagining how excited he would be to see how many clothes she bought.
"Did you like shopping El?" Joyce asked as they moved towards the parking lot.
"Yes, it was fun, I like shopping."
"We can tell." Replied Max, already tired by spending so many hours in the store. "I don't think you need to shop for at least another year."
El laughed, "Do you think dad would like these?" she asked Joyce.
"Maybe not all the stuff you bought, but I am sure he'll like most of it." Joyce said smirking
"And Mike? Would he like them?"
"Oh trust me, he'll fall out of his seat when he sees you in those." Max chimed in, "we made sure of that at least."
That night after dinner El made sure to showcase every article of clothing she bought for her father. She got a different reaction than she was expecting but she was sure he liked it anyways.
"Those are all beautiful dresses sweetheart, but will you be wearing them to school?"
"Yes that's the reason I bought them."
"But they are all so pretty do you want to wear them to school every day, it might make them dull."
"Then I'll buy some more. Why? Don't you like them?"
"No. Yes, I mean I like them, it's just that I did not realize you were growing up so fast, seeing you in these dresses makes me feel you are growing up, and no parent wants to see their child grow up. Not that soon."
El smiled understanding exactly what he meant, "That's okay dad, I'll still be your kid when I grow up."
Hopper realized if they continued having this heart – to – heart he might start leaking tears. He needed to put a stop to this.
"Okay, time for bed, you have school tomorrow."
"Goodnight dad."
"Goodnight kid."
A/N: So, I hope you liked this chapter. I am going to give you intense Mileven, soon.
Thank you for all the followers, favorites and reviews. I would love to see what you thought about this chapter. So please leave a comment.