Mike POV
We're all sitting around the Byers living room, brainstorming for our science project. Everyone had really different ideas and everyone was sharing those ideas at crazy volumes, all talking over one another. By everyone, I mostly mean Dustin, Lucas and Max, though to be fair, Will and I played a significant part in the increase of the noise levels too
Sometimes I miss those days when it was just Will, Dustin, Lucas and I. We were always so in sync. The only arguments we had were about stupid mistakes made during D&D. But now with two new female members of the party, one of those being an incredibly loud and opinionated member, the dynamic has totally changed. Even when it is just the four of us boys hanging out, it's different. We've all changed so much over the past few years. It's sad to think about how different everything is, but then I look over at El and remember how truly grateful I am for all those changes. If nothing had changed, I wouldn't know El. The thought terrifies me.
El seems unusually quiet tonight though. She's always quiet, but she's not afraid to join in during these group arguments either. And as much as this fact damaged the egos of us boys when we were 13, El is ridiculously smart when it comes to science. Her brain is logical in a way I didn't think possible. Dustin used to be top of the class, with Will, Lucas and I following close behind, until El started school and left us all behind in the dirt. Dustin refused to talk to her for days, but then we all realised how smart she is and became in awe of her again.
Her passion for science makes this silent behaviour even more usual.
I couldn't take it anymore.
I caught El's eyes and nodded towards the kitchen. The others were shouting so loudly they didn't even notice we were gone.
Once we got to the kitchen and had some semblance of privacy, I ripped off the band aid.
"Are you okay?" I blurted.
Her poker face flickered for a second as worry begin to seep into her features, but a second later this breech in her armour was gone, and her smile was as deceiving as ever. "Yeah, of course. What do you mean?"
I took her hands in mine and stepped closer to her, bodies almost touching. I looked down into those big brown eyes and began to plead with her. "Please, El, I know something's wrong. I can tell you haven't been sleeping for days and it's killing me to see you like this. Please tell me what's wrong. I'll fix it. Just please tell me."
She inhaled and for a second I thought she was going to lie to me again and tell me everything's ok. But she seemed to realise how stubborn I was going to be about this.
"There's nothing you can do Mike, you can't fix this." she whispered, looking down at our shoes.
I lifted her head up to meet my eyes and stroked her cheeks with my thumbs. "If I can't fix it, then I'll stand with you and be with you every step of the way. Remember, you're basically stuck with me."
"I love being stuck with you."
"I love being stuck with you too." I smiled as she leaned in towards me for a kiss. I could feel her smile lining up against mine and the way her lips were soft and then her tongue started to-
"Are you trying to distract me?" I step back in mock horror.
"Well, is it working?"
"Not anymore. Seriously El, I want to help, but I can't until I know what's happening."
She looked over at the party still arguing in the living room and sighed.
"Well if I have to tell you, I might as well tell everyone else too. I really don't want to have to tell this story twice."
