T.J. slugged the tall teen in the arm. "Man where were you last night? You completely bailed on us."
"Yeah about that.." Mike trailed off while he thought of a quick cover up story. "Err.. my mom.. she busted me."
"Damn Wheeler, you're losing your touch." Stacks added, giving him a light slap on the shoulder.
"For real, you never used to get caught." T.J remarked cheekily. "Now here you are getting your chops busted by the principal and your mom all in the same year, sucks for you though because you missed one hell of a party." He widely grinned, reminiscing over last night's events.
Mike felt relieved that his friends bought into his lie. There was no way he could tell them the truth about why he really missed the party last night, that would be social suicide.
Amanda grew skeptical. "So how'd your mom find out again?" she turned to him.
Her question was interrupted as the first bell rang, signaling the start of classes for the day.
The four of them gathered their stuff and headed into the main building and down the halls.
T.J. nudged the others. "Seems like the new girl made some friends." he pointed down the hallway.
Mike's eyes widened. Elle was talking to Dustin, Lucas, and Will and he couldn't believe it.. She was friends with them? But wait, how..?
"Looks like she finally found where she belongs." Amanda jumped in, her bright red lips forming into a sly grin. "Hmm, I wonder which one of those nerds is her boyfriend.
"They probably all are." Stacks snorted. "I bet they're just happy that an actual living breathing female is showing them attention for once."
"Who knows? maybe now they'll quit having wet dreams over Wonder Woman." T.J. threw his head back and guffawed.
Mike gave a forced smile as the others continued rolling in laughter.
They were now passing his former friends by on the other side of the hall and he popped his collar up trying to avoid the glare Lucas's eyes were burning into him.
"Hey Wheels, didn't you used to be friends with them?" T.J. teased, jabbing him in the side.
"Chill." Mike stated, shoving his hands anxiously into his pockets.
"Aw lighten up man." T.J. said, trying to get his friend to smile. "Don't worry about your loser past, it's all good, you're one of us now."
1985-
He heard the sound of the basement door shut close and the small patter of footsteps descending down the stairs
"Go away Nancy, I'm not in the mood." Mike groaned, as he leaned back in the chair holding a plastic bag of ice to his bruised knuckles. He had rushed to finish up his homework and was now previewing the answers.
"It's me, Will." a gentle voice emerged from the bottom steps.
He sat up, suddenly alert. "Wait, how'd you get in?"
"Told your mom we had to study for our math quiz." Will answered, guiltily rubbing his arm up and down. He hated lying but he knew it would be the only way he'd be able to see his friend on a school night.
Mike was surprised at first of his friend's dishonesty until it clicked with him why he had done it. "So.. I'm guessing you heard?" He asked, laying the ice bag down as he slowly clenched and unclenched his hand.
Will sat down at the chair on the other side of the table. The table known for their extensive D&D campaigns now looked unusual because it was empty except for Mike's homework, no sight of the familiar board, pieces, or their battle strategy notepads anywhere.
"Yeah, Lucas kind of told me everything."
Mike exhaled sharply through his nose, crossing his arms. "Well I'm not gonna apologize, if that's what you're here for."
"That's not why I'm here."
So, what then? did you come to yell at me too?"
"No." Will truthfully replied. "I just wanted to see if you're okay."
He soon relaxed, knowing his friend meant no harm. He never did, and Mike knew that, but lately he was becoming so defensive over even the little things.
"I'm fine."
"But you're not Mike.. We all know you haven't been since your dad-"
"Don't," he cut off.
There was a tense silence that ensued, the very mention of his father always bothered him more than he cared to admit. It had to do with the fact that he felt trapped in a cloud of his own guilt and depression, sometimes blaming himself for Ted walking out on his family.
"I'm fine, alright. I'm just.." he finally released the deep breath he had been holding in "..done."
Will intently studied him, unsure of what he meant. "You're done?"
"You know with being people's floor mats, with being on the bottom," Mike shifted his gaze, unable to meet his friend's eyes. "With being a nobody.."
He had finally said it, the issue that had been playing tug of war with him for awhile. He felt an immediate sense of relief but at the same time also a pang of sadness.
Will frowned. "But you're not a nobody Mike."
"Not lately, I'm not." He said risking a glance at him. "Ever since I started hanging out with the others and slowly becoming part of their crowd you know something.. Troy never messes with me anymore like he used to when he thought I was just some pathetic nerd and the popular kids are starting to like me, can you believe it Will? They actually want me to be their friends."
Will fell silent as he tried his hardest to comprehend why the boy in front of him who had never once cared about anyone's opinions before was out of nowhere suddenly changing. "But the new clothes, the attitude, the secrets.." Will gestured up and down at Mike. "It.. well, It isn't you.." A knock on the basement window soon disrupted them both.
Mike went to the window and pushed it open where he was met by a few of his new friends who were all urging him to sneak out with them to go Jennifer Hayes spin the bottle party.
He then rushed over to the couch and grabbed his jacket.
Will got up and grabbed him by the arm. "You're seriously going with them?" he questioned, doing his best to mask the hurt in his voice.
Mike couldn't make himself look him in the eyes as he fought the immediate guilt and shame rising within him. "If my mom asks, just cover for me okay?"
"Yeah, sure." Will irritatedly replied, releasing his grip.
He watched as the dark haired boy headed towards the window but there was now a question stirring within him that he just had to know. "Wait, Mike." he called.
"Hmm?" Mike turned his head, his hands lingering on the bottom of the sill.
"Does this mean we can't hang out together anymore?"
Mike didn't know what it was, maybe it was the guilt he was feeling or the pained look on his friend's face but just couldn't bring himself to answer that question. He simply gave him a sympathetic smile as he opened up the window. "See you around, Will."
He stood outside, impatiently waiting on T.J who had promised to give him a ride.
The campus was practically empty and he had never heard it so quiet before. Then again, he used to never stay after school.
A slight cool breeze blew through the newly budding trees and the once rocky ground was now forming new life as green grass and plants began emerging.
Spring was slowly but surely coming forth and he took it in, knowing that meant graduation was just around the corner.
He constantly glanced to his left, hoping to see T.J.'s red corvette speed down the carpool lane at any moment but became more disappointed each time.
He looked down at his watch, thirty minutes had now passed and he knew his friend had definitely forgotten about him. "Damn it."
Mike slung his backpack over his shoulder, preparing himself for the long journey home.
He had walked a short way not even leaving the parking lot before something caught his eye.. well more like someone.
Elle had just finishing loading books and other supplies into the trunk of her beat up gray station wagon.
He hesitated for a moment wondering if it would be a good idea, but knowing he really didn't wanna walk an hour to his home he picked up his pace to a jog as he noticed her getting into the driver's seat.
He tapped on her window and waited as she rolled it down. "Heh.. feeling like a good samaritan?" He awkwardly half smiled.
"Seatbelt." She reminded him as she cranked on the car.
Mike rolled his eyes but regardless he listened to her.
They kept quiet for most of the trip, well aside from his occasional "Turn right. "Turn left." directions to guide her to his house or their passive aggressive fighting over the radio as Mike continually changed Elle's classical music station and she changed it back. She eventually gave up and let him play his loud and obnoxious MC Hammer.
Mike reached to grab some of his things from the back seat, accidentally pushing a stack of papers to the floorboard. "What's this?" He asked, picking up the sheets.
"Music notes." She answered, keeping her eyes on the road. "I'm playing piano at the Earth Day Gala event."
"Wow, an orchestra geek too.. You're just full of surprises aren't ya?"
"What about you? Are you going to the Gala?" she asked, ignoring his blatant sarcasm.
Mike huffed. "Well I don't really have a choice, now do I?"
She nodded, remembering his dilemma.
Mike looked over at her, desperate to ask the question that had been prodding him all day. "So.. uh.. you're friends with Dustin, Lucas, and Will?"
He nervously rubbed his neck thinking he might've been too forward. "Only asking because I saw you talking to them.. Not like I really care though, just happened to notice when I walked by earlier."
Elle brightly smiled. "Yeah, they're really great guys."
He grew silent while he looked out the car window, doing his best to fight off the bitter nostalgia that was now starting to overwhelm him.
"You know, they ask about you sometimes."
He perked up, his eyebrows lifting in surprise until he caught himself and settled back again. "Well I don't know why.. we don't talk anymore."
"How come?" Elle asked innocently while she put the car in park. She had heard the other boys side of the story many times but she was curious to know Mike's.
He stiffened, not at all prepared for that question, primarily because he truly didn't know an answer to that himself. "Things just change, I guess."
"Do you ever miss it?"
He desperately wanted to shoot her a smart ass remark or yell at her for prying, but instead he stared down at his fumbling hands, not wanting to face the hard truth that was tearing him up on the inside. Truth was he did miss it. Hell, he missed it a lot.
Elle was chipping away at the wall that he had built around himself for years and there she began tugging at the emotions that he almost forgot he had. How he wanted to hate her for doing this to him, yet he couldn't.
Strangely enough she made him feel safe, like he could tell her anything in the world and she wouldn't judge or demean him for it. He hadn't felt this safe in a while and even though it was risky, he gave into it. "Sometimes.."
She glanced over at him and for the first time since she had known him she saw a glimpse of his vulnerability. Something in her yearned to know the real Mike, the one sitting beside her right now, the one beyond the facade.
He grabbed his belongings and shut the door behind him. She then watched momentarily as he walked to his house before she drove off.
Sorry this chapter is a little slow, but I wanted you see how the other boys are still a big part of this story. The next chapter is the Gala and it's gonna definitely dive into some more Mike and Elle moments, a lot more spicier than the heart to heart in this chapter. Your comments have definitely been motivation though! I hate not updating frequently because of school and work but these comments really keep me going despite that. Thanks again for reading, hope to update soon!