I DON'T OWN STRANGER THINGS.
Hawkins, Indiana. 1985.
(Mike Wheeler's POV)
"You're making your way through the cave." Mike Wheeler said as he looked at his party. "You've almost reached the treasure...suddenly, you hear footsteps. Loud footsteps.
"Is it the beholder? Please say it's not the beholder." Dustin Henderson said nervously. Mike waited for a minute and then looked up from the board.
"It's the beholder." Mike replied ominously.
"Son of a bitch!" Dustin shouted as the party scrambled.
"What do I do?" Will Byers asked frantically.
"Fireball him!" Dustin shouted.
"No, cast the protection spell." Lucas Sinclair argued.
"Fireball!"
"Protection spell!"
"FIREBALL!"
"PROTECTION SPELL!"
"The Beholder grows tired of your human bickering and attacks!" Mike shouted.
"I use protection spell." Will cries out as he rolls the dice.
"It has to be 18 or above." Lucas called out as it landed on 1.
"NOOO!" Will cried out.
"GOD DAMN IT!" Dustin swore.
"Your protection spell is pitiful and the Beholder tears right through and kills you where you stand." Mike replied. Everyone was disappointed as their campaign had been all for naught.
"Michael, it's 8:30!" Mrs. Wheeler shouted. "Say goodbye to your friends." The four friends sighed as they packed up their stuff. As Lucas and Dustin bid their friends good-bye, Will and Mike sat in the pillow fort.
"Man, we were so close to the treasure. 10 hours of questing man..." Will lamented.
"I know." Mike said as he looked at the calendar and grinned. Almost all of the days were x-ed out. Will smirked, he knew what Mike was smiling about.
"Tomorrow's the big day, right?" he asked as Mike nodded.
"Yep, Hopper's finally gonna let El out." He said excitedly. Because of all the trouble that everyone had gotten into with the now defunct Hawkins national lab, Hopper had forbade Eleven, now known as Jane Hopper, from leaving their home for the past year, the only exception being the Snow Ball. It had been a grueling time for Mike. he had been able to keep in touch with Eleven and Hopper and even allowed him to see her on the weekends, as long as they both behaved of course; although it still wasn't the same as being with her every day.
"It's gonna be so awesome." Will added. He had met Eleven since she returned, but Will and their friends contact with her had been even more minimal than Mike's. "Maybe you'll have more time for kissing, like you did at the Snow Ball." Will then proceeded to make kissing noises to the annoyance of his friend.
"Quit it man." Mike said as he playfully punched Will on the shoulder.
"Will, your mother's here." Karen Wheeler shouted from upstairs. "Say goodbye Michael." Will stood up and he and Mike embraced.
"Good night Will." Mike said.
"When you call Eleven, tell her that i'm looking forward to hanging out." Will replied.
"I didn't say I was going to call her." Mike retorted. Will gave Mike a smirk that told him that Will knew what was going on.
"Mike..."
"All right, all right. I'll tell her." Mike relented as Will headed up the stairs.
Meanwhile, halfway across town, Jane "Eleven" Hopper was at home, watching TV. Chief Hopper was out late on duty so Eleven was eating Eggos and watching cartoons. Suddenly, she heard the phone ring. Eleven walked over and picked the phone up slowly. Hawkins lab was gone, but you never know who was listening.
"Hello..." She said softly.
"El, it's me." Mike said on the other line. Eleven relaxed and was filled with joy. Mike could always be counted on to make her house arrest bearable.
"Mike, I miss you."
"I know, i've missed you too. Tomorrow's the day, Hopper said that you don't have to lay low anymore. You go to school with us, we can hang out whenever we want..."
"We can do kissing." El exclaimed in a soft manner. Just the thought of Eleven's lips on his made Mike feel as high as a kite. He and Eleven had not officially declared themselves to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but they didn't need to. All you had to do was watch them closely for a minute or so and you would be convinced that Mike was hers and she was his. They had only kissed twice: Once before the Demogorgon attacked at the school and the other time was at the Snow Ball. Although, neither Mike nor Eleven would really count the pre Demogorgon attack as their first kiss. Mike had been trying to explain his feelings and there had been no other way. The Snow Ball had been their genuine first kiss. It had been a perfect night and no one had deserved it more than them.
"Absolutely, we can do kissing any time you want." Mike replied. Hopper had been teaching Eleven new words, but there were still some phrases that she had trouble with. Honestly, it was cute, at least to Mike. "I wish I could see you, Hopper would kill me if he caught me trying to sneak in."
"I understand." Eleven replied in her sweet voice. Typical El, Mike thought, she always understood. Even though he had to explain things like school dances and the arcade to her, he never had to explain his feelings. It was as if she looked inside him.
"It's getting late, I'd better go." Mike said. "I can't wait to see you tomorrow El."
"Me too." Eleven said with delight.
"Good night El."
"Good night Mike." As he hung up, Mike wasn't sure how he was going to sleep that night. The universe was finally cutting him a much deserved break. The gate to the Upside Down was closed, Will was free of the Mind Flayer, Hawkins National Laboratory was gone for good, Joyce and Hopper were hanging out more and Eleven's house arrest was coming to an end. Tomorrow,Mike and Eleven could begin their love anew.
NEXT TIME, A NEW GATE IS OPENED AND HAWKINS RECEIVES A NEW VISITOR. REVIEWS NEEDED.