Intentions

The bell rang, Mike quickly put on his watch. The both got up, walked in silence toward the front doors of the school. Their hands found each other and their fingers interlaced.

They didn't say much to each other till the lunch period. They would often look at each other and smile.

The walked into the cafeteria, hand in hand, Max nudged Lucas to look as they walked in. Mike and El didn't notice because they were talking quietly to each other. They took their seats opposite them, sitting very close together.

Max looked back and forth between them, raising her eyebrows, "well?"

"For some reason El agreed to be my girlfriend." Mike said, "I didn't have to bribe her or anything, she just said 'yes' right away."

"All he had to do was ask to make it official," El said with sincere smile. "I was already his."

"I'm eating here," Max said rolling her eyes. Lucas looked at El, gave her a small acknowledging nod.

"Lucas," Mike said, "I don't think I'm going to do AV club this year."

"Why not?" Lucas said.

"Without the rest of the party I don't feel like it. Half the fun was working with you guys. And now that we both have...um...new interests," he gave a quick glance to Max, "maybe we can find something to do together. It can be school related or outside of school completely."

"Fair enough," Lucas said. "But you and I don't get to decide, Mike. All of us have to agree," He looked at Max and El in turn.

They split up to go to their lockers. Mike and El hand in hand, went to their own lockers, "it's very convenient for us to have lockers together," Mike said.

"Almost like it was meant to be, Mike," El gave him a smile.

"Can you come with me to Mr. Clarke's class after school? I want to tell him I won't be doing AV club. When he sees you I won't have to stumble through explaining."

"Ok."


Scott Clarke was preparing the next day's lesson plan when Mike walked in holding hands with a girl. Mike won't be doing AV club this year Scott thought with a sigh, that meant Lucas probably wouldn't either. He'd seen him holding hands with a red haired girl.

Mike was very polite in explaining that he was going to be busier this year than the previous year. His girlfriend...Eleanor if Scott recalled, was giving Mike sympathetic looks, she must have known how important the club was for Mike. Dustin and Will were no longer in Hawkins, Mike was probably feeling the loss of his friends. AV club wouldn't be near as much for he and Lucas if they tried to do it this year. Oh well, maybe next.

"It's ok, Mike, you guys organized and documented everything in the hamshack, I'm sure I can get...less qualified students to muddle their way through helping."


"I knew Mr. Clarke would understand."

"He's a very nice teacher, he really likes you Mike...I'm not surprised." El said proudly.

"El, I think I left one of my books in the cafeteria, let's check there before waiting for your dad outside."

Once in the cafeteria they went to the Party table and Mike saw his book there. He sat sideways on the bench, and El did the same across from him.

"I wanted to thank you for...Troy. I have to learn to defend myself, I don't want you getting caught…" Mike looked at her.

"I've learned to be careful Mike, I won't do anything to put us both in danger."

Mike nodded. "I was just thinking, this year Lucas and I have somebody to go to the Snowball with."

"Snowball"

"Yeah it's this cheesy school dance where you go the the gym and dance to music and stuff. I've never been…" Mike said, "but now I have someone to go with. Lucas does too."

"It will be fun to dance cheesy with you Mike."

Mike laughed, "oh, my dancing will be cheesy alright, maybe we can practise before so I don't look like such a wasteoid on the dance floor."

Mike looked into El's eyes, then leaned over suddenly kissed her softly. El kissed him back just as softly.

A single tear worked its way down her cheek. "You are my first kiss, Mike." El couldn't believe today had gone almost exactly how she'd day dreamed.


Mike and El sat on the bench outside waiting for Hopper. "Ok, I admit. I'm officially a nervous wreck. Meeting your girlfriend's dad is a first for me. The fact that he's the Chief of Police, is a first for me. My girlfriend, " Mike lowered his voice to just above a whisper, "has magical powers, is definitely a first...and a last for me."

"Now you know why I never thought I'd ever have a boyfriend," she ran her hand over her hair, "not to mention this."

Mike looked at her hair, "so you like to keep it short, no biggie...wait, um, tied in with the tattoo?" El nodded.

"I don't care El. I don't care if you ever grow it longer. I don't care if you even can. I don't care."

El just looked at Mike. Amazed.

They could see the truck making its way towards them. El pulled Mike off the bench. "I want to introduce you properly."

She l opened up the passenger door, Hopper shook his head. "Both of you in the back."

El and Mike were a little confused, but they climbed up into the back. Once settled in the back, their hands reconnected.

"See?" Hopper said, "it's much easier to hold hands with your boyfriend in the backseat… where I can keep my eyes on him."

"How did you know?"

"It wasn't an 'if' El, it was a 'when'. I didn't think the 'when' would be so soon, but I know my little girl, when she wants something," Hopper grinned at her.

"Sir, are you saying I was never in control?" Mike was feeling very relaxed the Chief seemed to be...ok with it.

"Wheeler, you are never going to be in control with El. Get used to it. You'll sleep better."

"Dad, you make me sound like a bit-" She stopped herself from swearing in front of her dad.

"So you guys up for some kind of take out tonight? It's Friday and I'm buying."

Mike looked at El and they both nodded.

"I'll drop El off at home, you give a quick call to your parents, and then we are going to ride to pick up the food. And talk. You knew it was coming right?"

"Been dreading it all day Sir."

"Can we drop the 'Sir', call me Hopper or Chief."

"I was trying to be respectful, S-Chief."

"I get it Wheeler, you're more polite than most kids your age." Mike cringed at being called a kid...but he liked that El's dad had actually paid him a compliment.


Here it comes Mike thought as Hopper put the truck in gear and spun out.

Today was turning out to be a day of firsts. First girlfriend, first kiss. First person who could do actual magic. First time he had to step over a tripwire.

"You know right?"

"Yeah, Chief, I know. How long have you known?"

"About a year. It was a rough year for both of us. I made lot of mistakes...a lot of mistakes. And that's why I'm giving her a break...it's why you get a break too."

"I can't believe you let us hold hands in the back seat."

"As long as that's all you do in a back seat." Mike turned red. "Ok, I know I'm going to regret asking this, but...have you kissed her yet?"

Mike turned redder still. "Yes."

"Kind of fast isn't it?"

"I don't know what to tell you, you know when it's right. Did you ever feel like this for a girl."

"Nah, Wheeler, I was a screw up. I'm gonna be honest with you kid. I'm gonna let this run it's course, two-three weeks, whatever. I'll try to explain it all to El when you've moved on."

Mike gave Hopper a big over exaggerated sigh. "Can I ask you a question? At what point when you are growing up, from my age, to whatever you're at...at what age do you decide that kids aren't people with feelings? Seriously I'd like to know. I get it, I'm young, I'm still in school so I know I have a lot to learn, both in school, and with life experience. I know that most guys my age go through girls faster than they change their socks. If it wasn't obvious, I'm not most guys. El is my first girlfriend. She will be my only girlfriend."

"I'll tell you what I told El this morning. My 'intention' with your daughter," he gave Hopper air quotes, "is to be the best friend I can be. Ask me in three weeks how I feel about her. Ask me in three years. Ask me in thirty years. My answer will be the same. I…" Mike couldn't believe he was about to say this to El's dad, "I love her, Chief."

And then with a much stronger voice. "I don't care what anybody else thinks...well I care about what you think, that's why I'm being totally honest with you and I'd ask you dump my body where my parents can find it." Hopper burst out with a laugh.

"I need to tell El tonight...I hope she feels the same way…" Mike looked down, he was exhausted pouring his emotions out. "I really hope she feels the same way."

Hopper was silent for a minute. It was like he was talking to someone a few years younger than himself. "Gonna make it easy for you kid and let you in on a little secret."

Mike looked up at him. "A secret?"

"Well you already know that secret. I already told you, El has had a really rough year with me. You have no idea what her past has been like. Give it time before you get those details, they are ugly."

"No, the secret is I think she feels the exact same way about you. I know her. I think you kids are too young for this, but there's no denying you have a strong connection. After two days, it's just weird, but maybe no weirder than what she can do, so I'm willing to cut you guys some slack about the whole thing. It's tough for a parent, Wheeler."

"I can't imagine, Chief, if you feel for her the way I do….I can't imagine."

A few minutes had passed and Mike said, "um, Chief, she's safe now, though, right?

"I think so, if you guys can keep it to yourself, it makes it easier. I have contingency plans in place, but she's as safe…she's safe."

"That's a relief, my Kung Fu skills are severely lacking." Hopper burst out laughing again. This kid was alright. El was going to be ok.


Hopper gave the secret knock. Mike could hear all the locks unlatching at once.

Hopper had bought a lot of pizza. When Mike had given him a questioning look at the pizza place Hopper shrugged and said, "I don't like to cook."

El took the pizzas from Mike, set them on the counter, came back to give Hopper a hug around his middle, then gave Mike a quick kiss.

Mike turned red, but El did not. Hopper knew he was going to have to get used to it. He had never seen her like this. There was no way he was going to do anything to jeopardize her happiness by trying to keep these two apart.

Hopper said, "we eat, and then you and Mike have shit to talk about."

"I'm not talking 'shit' to Mike dad."

"I said you have shit to talk about. And... language little lady."


In El's room, with the door closed Mike noticed, they could talk in private. He could hear the TV loud through the door. The Chief was making sure their conversation was private.

"What was dad getting at?" El said, only a slight concern in her voice. Mike related mostly everything to her except for the one thing.

"I have confession. I told your dad something that you don't know about me."

"Mike?"

"I know we're young, I know I've only known you for two days...but...I don't care"

El was holding her breath.

"I love you El, and I really don't care what anyone else thinks."

El gave him a heart piercing smile.

"I love you too, Mike."