On the run and go

Chapter 7 - Unwanted company

Eleven spent almost the rest of the day making sure Mike is recovering well. It was seemingly going well to Eleven's eyes. Sometimes, she perks from him shivering a bit - mostly during sleep - so she always re-tucked him. She put a hand softly onto his forehead and felt that he was still warm.

"Is he doing okay?" A voice breaks out, snapping Eleven back to reality and takes away her hand. Mike didn't get bothered by her touch though and just repositioned his sleeping posture a little.

"I think so" Eleven replied Will, who smiled cheekily at how she reacted to his sudden appearance. Will walked towards Eleven, then looked at Mike. Now standing next to her, crossing his arms.

"When will he be okay?" Eleven asked. William turned to her, then back to Mike and spoke

"You can count on maybe, three more days just to be sure"

Eleven sadly nodded. She wanted him to feel well sooner than three more days, but she couldn't help it. She also wanted him to be better, so he can take his time. Chang soon enters as well.

"Eleven? Dustin and Lucas want to talk to you" she speaks, kindly. But Eleven heard a small distress behind it. Eleven exchanges looks with Will, glances at Mike, and then nods towards Chang and walked out to find Dustin and Lucas. It wasn't so hard to find them, as they weren't far away from the infirmary.

"What is wrong?" Eleven asks them. Dustin perks and looks towards Eleven, forgetting what it was at first, but then quickly recovered his memory. He smiles, hiding an unknown emotion that seemed to be filling this whole place.

"We need your help" Dustin says. Lucas nods agreeingly as well, next to him. Eleven raised her left eyebrow, wondering what it was.

"With?"

"Oh, with finding Max again" Dustin said. Eleven's eyebrows were now both raised.

"But Mike wouldn't want her here" Eleven says, concerned about their idea. Dustin and Lucas both look at each other.

"That's the thing. He doesn't, but we need her.. he'll have to deal with that" Dustin explained. Eleven sighs gently, and thinks for a while. She wondered why they needed her, but Max was her friend.

"Okay"

They both smiled at her response, and waves at her to follow them out to the white van they drove when they were going to find Chang, Mike and Will. They got into it, and Eleven made sure to give them right directions. It took some time, since it was far away from where they are. But they reached their destination eventually, and parked outside their house.

"You sure this is Max's destination?" Dustin asks. But Lucas confirmed it, since he remembers how the house looked. The only thing he didn't remember was the way here. Eleven confirmed it as well.

"Alright then" Dustin says. He turns the car off, walks out as well as Eleven and Lucas did, and approached their front door. Eleven remembered her brother, but he had to deal with them if he spots them. Eleven knew who he was now. A douche.

Dustin inhales, and lands three knocks onto the door. It took some time, but eventually.. Billy opened.

"Who are you guys?" He says, sourly. Lucas looks at Dustin and Dustin looks at Lucas. Eleven swallowed nervously.

"We are Max's friends. She told us to come over" Lucas says, lying. But he was good at it.

"Oh really now? I don't think that's true" Billy says stubbornly. Dustin spoke up.

"No really, you can ask her yourself"

It sounded way too confident, since Max might not see them as friends at all. But Dustin knew she knew Eleven as a friend at least, and maybe Lucas.

"Max!" Billy shouts. It took some time there as well, but she came down and immediately saw Lucas. She thought they were going to do something bad, until she spots Dustin and Eleven as well. She collects herself, and walks up to the door.

"Are these three idiots your friends?" Billy asks simply. Max sourly looks up at Billy.

"Don't call them idiots you jerk" she defended.

"Well are they?" He asks again, more louder this time. Wanting answers. Max looks at them, smiles, and looks back up at Billy.

"Yes, now please let me talk to them" Max says. Billy sighs, and walks into the kitchen again to cook. He shot them glances on the way back though, since he was still unsure. But he let it go eventually. When he did, Max quickly stepped outside and softly closed the front door behind her.

"What do you guys want?" Max asks, worried. She smiled over at Eleven though and waved a little, as Eleven did the same back.

Lucas was envious of their bond, but happy they had Eleven.

"We got into trouble before" Dustin starts. Max raised an eyebrow.

"And? Why did you need to search me up for that?" Max asks. Dustin sighs.

"Because the people causing the trouble is .."

Max furrowed her brows confusingly. Eleven was now confused as well. What trouble? What people?

"Is?" Max asks.

"Your ex-best friend's gang"

Max's eyes widened. This was something Max never brings up, because she was embarrassed about it. Back in the day, Max was best friend with this girl called Angel. Literally.

She was very kind, but had a very wild and crazy side to herself. Max always wondered why, until she found out she had this huge gang she was starting. Max straight up told her to not contact her anymore after that, and walked away from her. Never heard from her before.

"Oh hell no. Did she ask for me?" Max asks. Dustin kinda nods.

"They aren't too far way from where we live. And now, they've somehow found out that our leader is sick and defenseless and that you've been there before. Any gang would love to bring down another gang when the possibility comes. It gives reputation" Dustin explains. Eleven listened closely as well. Max was still confused.

"I have nothing to do with your gang though" Max says. Lucas now speaks up.

"No you don't, but we need you for this one"

Max met with Lucas' eyes and sighs. Eleven pleaded her by stepping forward and grabbing her hands with hers.

"Ah, shit.. sure" Max says, giving in for Eleven's sake. Eleven smiles.

"You said Mike was sick?" Max quickly asks. Dustin, Lucas and Eleven nodded. Max sighs once again, remembering when she arrived there with Eleven. He did kinda save her ass with that knife as protection, in case some crazy person would've attacked her. And the fact he let Eleven stay.

"I'll come with" Max simply said. Dustin and Lucas smiles, and Eleven got excited so she jumped a little. Max laughs gently, and follows the three to the van. They then drive away, and unfortunately, Billy saw when it happened and ran to the front door, standing by it.

"What the hell" Billy says angrily.

But he couldn't do anything about it.

"So this gang.." Max starts. Dustin was driving but listening, and Lucas looked at her from the front. Eleven sat next to her, and looked at her.

"How did they trouble you? Through an attack?" Max asks. Dustin shook his head.

"They troubled us by threatening to kill if we didn't get out to hear what they had to tell us" Dustin says. Lucas nodded, confirming it. Eleven spoke up.

"Why didn't I know of this?" She asks. Dustin and Lucas smiled a little.

"You were too busy caring about Mike that you missed the whole thing" Lucas simply said.

"Which is precious" Dustin spoke up afterwards. Eleven blushed deeply again, and Max kinda wondered if Eleven had gotten feelings for him. It kinda seemed like it when she got shy, according to Max.

She smiles.

"You're interested in Mike?" Max asks Eleven. Eleven perks, stares at Max, and proceeds to lie by shaking her head no. Dustin, Lucas and Max all laughed gently. Eleven just put her hands in front of her face to hide herself.

"It's okay if you tell us Eleven" Lucas says, smiling. Eleven peaks from behind her hands, and was blushing hardly.

"We won't tell anyone else" Dustin added. Max even grabbed her hand that covered her face and held it comfortingly. Smiling.

She took away her other hand as well, and sighed. She blushed still, but eventually said

"Yes. I'm interested" after gathering much, much braveness. The three of them cheered gently, proud over Eleven for telling.

"Mike is a good guy" Lucas says. Then shows Eleven thumbs up. Eleven smiles, and shows thumbs up back. She was feeling better after letting it out more. Holding it in was getting kinda painful.

"Now, let's go take care of that bitch's gang" Max says. Lucas was surprised to hear Max say 'bitch'.

"Why did you just call her a bitch?" Lucas asks. Max sighs.

"I don't know. Honestly, I just felt like it" Max admitted. They all laughed

along.

Dustin soon pulls in towards their warehouse again, takes a route around those crazy people, and parked outside the warehouse. Only to find that this gang was attacking everyone inside in rage.

"What the heck!" Lucas shouts, basically jumping out the car and running inside. Max, Dustin and Eleven did the same after realizing what was going on as well.

"Now I have a reason to call them bitches" Max spoke. They all ran inside, rebels fighting other rebels. It was like a war zone. Eleven wanted to get to the infirmary, so she used her powers to push away anyone who came towards her and entered the infirmary. Only to find a girl stand in there gazing on Mike. She was definitely not part of our gang, so Eleven raised her hand to push her away from him. She looks towards Eleven in anger, and raised her hand as well. Eleven's eyes widened, as she flew back. Mike was hard to wake up, but soon woke up due to all the ruckus. He saw Eleven fly back the moment he opens his eyes and he sat up drastically. He didn't care if he was sick, cause he saw how his whole gang was being attacked. He looked behind him, spotting a girl from another gang. She smirked, wiping her nose the way Eleven does after using her powers. His shock turned into anger and he got out the bed.

"You shouldn't be out of bed right? You're sick" this unknown girl says tauntingly. Mike glares at her, then concern washed over his face as he looks at Eleven. He ran up to her, only to be stopped in his tracks by this unknown freak. The power brought him back to her, as she smirked.

"Listen here buddy. Leaders between.." she spoke. Eleven came back to reality again, enough to hear 'leaders between', and stared at her keeping Mike completely in lockdown. So she did the next best thing and shouts 'max!'. The girl keeping Mike was surprised, so much that she let him go. Mike stumbled down to the ground, and crawled back up to his feet. Running over to Eleven and helping her up. Eleven asked Mike if he was okay, and Mike only nodded. Putting Eleven into a relief.

Then she stared at this girl that seemed to have a similar power to hers.

"That's right, Max is here" Eleven spoke. Her face darkened.

"Get her here" she hissed. Mike coughed into his arm weakly, and shivered in Eleven's arms as he automatically fell into them. Eleven ended up wrapping her arms around him, both of them cuddling each other to stay safe. And Eleven did it to keep him warm.

"Max!" Eleven shouts again. Damn, this was getting wild. Max soon appeared by the infirmary door, while Lucas an Dustin fought together with the others in their same gang to try and overtake them.

"Bitch it's me" Max says the moment she spots Angel, and Angel's eyes widened to an extent. Mike was surprised to hear that Max was here, but he was too weak to react formally.

Soon, Dustin ran into the infirmary, asking where Will was. Angel smirks.

"Are you talking about the boy who was in here with Mikey?" She asks. Dustin made a disgusted face.

"Where is he?!" He shouts. She points to the door beside her, where towels were originally kept. She opened it, and an unconscious Will fell out.

"I had to make sure he stayed calm" Angel joked. Dustin grabbed him, and ran out of there quickly, scared Angel would do something else. But her main focus were literally Max and Mike. And now, Eleven as well.

"Now, this feels like a nostalgic trip to the past" Angel started, her eyes falling upon Max. Max scrunched her nose in distaste and stood in front of Mike and Eleven on the floor.

"Maybe. Tell me why you're out after these people!" Max shouts. Angel's smirk disappeared and became serious.

"Their leader is basically at a disadvantage. And if you didn't know, Maxine, gangs love to take over others gangs when they have the chance" Angel spoke. Mike managed to listen in on their conversation, despite it being comfortable in Eleven's arms and despite of his tiredness taking over.

"How do you take over another gang?" Eleven spoke up angrily. Max felt her stomach knot. Eleven were going to hate Angel's reply.

"You kill the leader, of course" She evilly spat. Eleven could feel every single nerve in her body tighten, and of course, so did Mike since she was holding him warmly. She became even more protective of the male she held.

"Enough, it's pointless to try Angel.. no, it's stupid even" Max said. Angel raises her left eyebrow.

"How is it pointless shawty?" Angel asks. Max bit her lower lip, not knowing what to say. Looking at their situation, she did have a small advantage of overtaking this whole thing.

"Exactly" Angel whispers darkly. She then raises her hand and pushed Max back, then approached Eleven who protected Mike. Eleven however, did not let her approach.

She used every nerve in her body to create a protection barrier around her and Mike. While she was, she uttered Mike's name with an ounce of struggle.

Mike looks up at Eleven, concerned, and then at Angel who was doing her best to break the barrier. She couldn't walk out the room either, to attack Max, because they were right by the entrance to it. Max was in a relatively safe environment even if there was like a war out there.

"I have a plan.." Mike whispers eventually. Eleven perks slightly, but manages to keep the barrier up. Nosebleed dropping from her nose onto Mike's cheek.

"Eleven, take away the barrier" he spoke. Eleven looked at him like he was crazy.

"I can't" Eleven says, distressed. She didn't want Mike dead. And she wanted to do anything in her might. Mike sat up and put his hands into her shoulders.

"Listen, Eleven. You need to trust me. I won't be killed by her, it's the last thing on a list of a million things" Mike tries. Eleven starts crying, imagining the worst if she let the barrier down.

"Think about yourself too, right? Don't be stubborn.." Mike says, taking advice from Eleven moments ago. He also said that while wiping away her nosebleed himself.

Eleven sighed.

"Please trust me" Mike says. Angel, from the outside, saw that Mike was discussing something with her. Curious, she tried to listen. But it was futile.

Eventually, Eleven had to trust Mike, so she let the barrier down. It caused a small wave of air, pushing anyone close to it back a little.

Mike then immediately stood up. Angel was confused, as he stood there. Gathering braveness.

Max stared at Mike, and so did Dustin. Lucas shot a quick glance, and then got interrupted by yet another one of Angel's gang. Cussing under his breath.

"If you want a fight of the title.." Mike started. Angel now smirked, and Eleven got scared. She stood up and stared at Mike, being close to him. Mike calmed her down, and Eleven just had to trust him.

"Let's do it fairly. No powers, only fists and body" Mike continued. Eleven was surprised to hear that from him, and so was Dustin and Max.

"Bro, you're supposed to be resting!" Dustin shouts. Yes, Mike was sick as heck, but he still knew how to fight if it came down to it. Eleven's worry only raised and turned into anxiety eventually.

"Oh?" Angel says.

"Yeah. If you win... if you either kill me, knock me unconscious or make me give up, this place is yours. If I win due to the same circumstances, you and your gang leave and never ever step your shitty feet in here again."

Eleven heard the 'kill' in it, and hugged him. Mike was caught off guard at the hug, and Max almost melted inside. She felt bad for Eleven. Eleven tightened it.

"Don't die" Eleven pleaded.

Mike felt surprised at the way she acted, and it caused him to blush. Angel took mental notes of what she saw.

"I won't, Eleven" Mike promised. Eleven looks into his eyes, and sniffled. There was a short pause, and Mike pats Eleven's head promisingly before turning to Angel.

"So?" He asks. Angel was mildly amused by his idea, and ended up agreeing to it.

"If you use powers, you're immediately disqualified and automatically make me win" Mike added. Angel licks her lips and then nods, agreeing to everything Mike had to say. She seemed to be confident, and excited about this sudden turn of events.

Mike hoarsely shouts out to his gang to stop, causing Angel's voice to come afterwards to stop her own. Everyone stopped and stared. Mike's gang immediately grew worried when he walked out into the open space, ready to fight Angel fairly. Angel walked out and followed Mike with the evilest face she could make. Eleven decided to keep guard and see if she would follow the rule involving the power usage.

"What the hell, you're supposed to be tucked in under blankets Mike!" One from the gang shouts. Nervous chit chatter erupted through the whole warehouse. Mike then stops and shouts.

"We've decided to do a leader off"

Now everyone were worried and confused. Even Angel's gang.

Mike rambled up the rules to everyone, Angel nodding to confirm it for her gang. Her gang smirks, putting full faith on Angel. While Mike's gang put full faith upon Mike.

He might not be a match against someone who uses powers, but he will be a match against someone who won't use them. Max rooted for Mike as well, and was keeping Eleven company by having her arms around her comfortingly. The air grew intense, and now..

All Eleven and the others could do was wait and hope for Mike to succeed.

And oh boy, was Eleven praying for him.