A/N: This was a fun chapter to write. Do let me know whether you like it or not, reviews are highly welcomed and appreciated.

Chapter 4: Introducing the girlfriend

"So what are the plans for this weekend?" Dustin asked as everyone was ready to leave after the school day ended.

"Maybe D&D at your place Mike? It's been a while."

"Yeah I know that but if we get together at my place El won't be able to come over?"

"Why? What's the problem?" Max was confused.

"I have not told about her to mom and dad and unlike last time I can't really hide her in the basement."

"Why haven't you told them about her yet?" Caleb asked

"Because I can't go and tell them that the Chief's daughter who came into town a month and a half ago and whom I have known for barely a month is my girlfriend now. They won't buy it."

"What is not to buy? You met her at school, or better yet, tell them you met her before school at some random ass place and soon you became friends and now you are dating. It's not that difficult. They will be in shock after you tell them you have a girlfriend that they will not hear to the rest of your explanation." Dustin made the smart reply.

"Very funny."

"No, Dustin is right, you can tell them you met her before school and it was love at first site or something along the lines and that is why you are dating so soon." Will tried to reason

"It's alright if we can't go to his place, you can all come to mine instead." El jumped in, trying to remove the sudden spotlight from her boyfriend.

"Ugh – no we can't really. I have been there almost every day for the past month and Hopper is at the end of his 'Wheeler – limit', let us not push him, I want to see you at your place every now and then." Mike knew the consequences if he reached at her place on the weekend as well.

"Then I guess you can all come over to mine." Will supplemented.

"Or mine." Dustin said

"Mine works as well, my parents know all about my girlfriend." Lucas said

"No – you people are right, it's been too long since we had a campaign, and we play at mine for a reason. I will talk to my mom about a sleepover this weekend."

"Wait, what about the girls?" Lucas asked

"I will ask about them sleeping over as well. And if she allows them then amazing, otherwise… we'll see."

"Hey, if we can't stay for the sleepover, you will not be playing D&D the entire time we are there, you can do that after we leave. As much as I like the game, I am not gonna do that the entire night." Max said, pointing to herself and El.

"Deal. We'll watch a movie or two." Mike replied.

They all nodded in agreement and started moving towards their homes.

That evening at the Wheeler dinner table, Mike was a nervous wreck.

"Mom, can I have my friends over for a sleepover this Friday? We will play D&D and watch some movies."

"Sure, but you'll be free on the Sunday I need you to come with me to the market." His mom replied

"Yeah, okay." He was silent again, he did not know how to bring up the subject of the girl's sleeping over and more importantly his girlfriend.

But he was motivated in that moment, he was tired of making up excuses to go see his girlfriend at her place, or someplace in the town. He wanted to bring her over like Lucas did with Max for dinners and movies. He wanted to do homework together at his home instead of hers for a change, because he was tired of Hopper drilling holes in his back whenever he tried sitting close to her. He also wanted to listen how much his mom liked his girlfriend, like his best friend has been bragging since his mom told everyone how sweet Max was.

"Mom, dad, I have to tell you something."

"Yes Michael?" his mom replied but his father barely acknowledged his request. Even Nancy and Holly were staring at him.

"I wanted to introduce you both to someone."

"Yeah? Who is it?" his mom asked.

"My girlfriend." He announced, and the moment was followed by complete silence. As he looked up, everyone on the table was staring at him, even his baby sister had her spoon suspended mid – air looking at everybody's face sensing something big was happening.

"Your girlfriend?" his father asked, "YOU have a girlfriend?" ted was clearly stunned.

"Ted!" his wife admonished him

"Yes dad, I have a girlfriend and I was planning on inviting her over on Friday, well her and Max both." He then looked at his mom, "Can they stay for the night?"

"Are you asking me can your girlfriend and Lucas' girlfriend spend the night here? Of course not. They can obviously stay until dinner or maybe for an hour or two after that, but they are definitely not spending the night."

"How about if they sleep in my room?" Nancy offered and both her parents looked at her funny at her suggesting such a thing, not really sure when the siblings created a bond strong enough for her to offer her own room to two of Mike's friends.

"Or they can sleep in my room I will be downstairs in the basement with the guys anyways." Mike countered.

"We will discuss that later. How about you finally tell me what her name is."

His face went red, and he looked over at Nancy, she nodded her head in encouragement.

"Well, her name is Jane. I am sure you have heard about her." His mom was staring at him again

"Jane? As in Jane Hopper? Chief Hopper's daughter? The same?"

"Yes, Jane Hopper."

"Woah – ho, ho. You either go hard or go home, eh son? Landed the Chief's daughter on your first attempt." His father said, as if he was suddenly proud of him. Everyone gave him the look that told him how his joke was not at all appreciated.

"But didn't you just meet her?" his mom asked.

"No – I, we met before the school started. I met her at the ice – cream parlor one day during the summer. We became friends then and when we met at school.." he trailed off let his mom fill the gap.

"Well, glad that you told us, so she is coming this Friday with the rest?"

"Yes, I mean if you don't mind."

"No, no I don't mind at all. I'll be very happy to meet your girlfriend." The word girlfriend left a weird taste in Karen's mouth as she came to the realization that now her son was a grown boy, this hit her harder than the fact that he had started his high school for some reason.

"Have you met her Nancy?" Karen turned to her oldest.

"Yes I have, and she is a very sweet girl. Makes me wonder how this dummy managed to date her." She turned towards her brother and smiled as he glared at her.

"Nancy that's not a very nice thing to say."

"Oh but he knows its true mom." She snickered as she stood up and took her plate to the sink.

"Leave the plate dear, Mike and I will clean up. Won't you help me Michael?" The tone of the request clearly suggested that it was not a request and he nodded his in answer.

After everyone left the dinner table and Holly was put to bed, Mike came back to the kitchen from his room to help his mother with the dishes.

"Michael? Why didn't you tell me you had a girlfriend?"

"I am telling you now."

"Yes, but you didn't even tell me you knew her at school, I had all but forgotten about her arrival to the town."

"Yes, well. She is in two classes with me. But she has more with Will and Max."

"So.. Do you like her?"

"Mom, I am dating her. She is my girlfriend. Safe to say, I do like her. A lot."

"I just want you to be able to come and talk to me about all of this, now that you have a girlfriend I want you to be open with me about your relationship. I can help you know."

"Help? How?"

"Well, I can help you select a 'sorry gift' when you'll mess up."

"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence mom. I can assure if I do mess up I will get the sorry gift on my own, I am not taking your advice after this." His mother laughed.

"I've heard she is beautiful."

"Yes she is. She is very beautiful."

"Really? And what is she like?"

"She is amazing, actually she is shy. So if she doesn't really talk much don't read a lot into it. And yes, she is very smart, like book smart, she scored an 'A' on the chem test we had last week. I think that is her favorite subject."

"Is it?"

"I am sure it is, but she says she doesn't know what her favorite subject is yet."

"Then how come you know it if she doesn't?"

Mike felt trapped for a second, how was he supposed to tell his mom he knew his girlfriend inside out? That most of the he knew what she was thinking simply by looking at her face.

He shrugged his shoulder, turning away. "I just do."

"So, is that where your blue sweater went?"

Mike paused in the middle of wiping a glass. His face went red.

"Uh – I, that sweater.."

"What? Did you think I wouldn't notice? Have you forgotten that I do the laundry?" her face was lit with amusement.

"NO, I know that you do the laundry, actually I forgot about that sweater myself. She was cold and I offered her the sweater and she never returned and I didn't think to ask back for it."

His mom laughed, "So you are giving her your clothes already. I have to say even Nancy haven't reached that stage with Jonathan yet." She teased.

"Oh mom, if you only knew." He mumbled thinking about all those nights he had heard Jonathan's voice from Nancy's bedroom which was right across his room.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"So is there anything specific she likes that I can make for dinner that day or will you guys order pizza?"

"I think we will order pizza, knowing Dustin he wouldn't want to eat something else."

"Ok, I am looking forward to meeting your girlfriend." She smiled at him patting his head.

"Goodnight mom."

"Goodnight."

At five in the evening on Friday Mike Wheeler ran towards the door from the basement as soon as it rang, following him were rest of his friends as they were used to entering his house from the basement – back door. His mom smiled at his enthusiasm and followed him to the door, after all it was only proper to greet his son's first girlfriend at the door.

"Mike wait, this is my house, I'll open the door." He waited at the door for his mom to come and was almost bouncing on his feet.

"Mom hurry." They could hear the engine of Hopper's Blazer as it drove away.

Behind Mike were rest of his friends, when Karen reached she smiled at the huge smiles on everyone's face and pulled the door open. The moment she did that and saw the girl, her and everyone's smiles dropped; while her face was skeptical now all the kids were sporting a worried face and you could hear in the back ground Dustin saying, "Holy shit."

A/N: So a cliffhanger, any guesses for the next chapter?

Also if there is anything you guys would like to see, let me know.

Leave a review. Cyber XO