Part of Your World
AN: Hi all! I hope you enjoy this chapter because we won't be getting this much fluff for a while now!
Listen to Ella Henderson's Yours for the last section of this chapter, it really inspired me and is such a beautiful song
Chapter 10: Sisters and Mermaids
Friday 7th February 1992
Mike sat on his bed, a deep frown creasing his brow as he stared down at his college work trying to make sense of the algorithms he was working on for his group project. Mike and Dustin had opted for a computer-game construction module, but the formula and physics simulation was challenging even Mike's brain capacity.
What was not helping matters was that he couldn't stop thinking about El. Every time he read a line of code he wondered what she was doing. Was she okay? Was she trying to find Brenner in the void on her own? Did Kali have her out on a mission? Was she safe?
These same questions twisted through Mike's mind every single day, only being eased back when El would pull him into the void every night so they could attempt to break through her mental block before falling asleep together.
While he could talk to her every night, he missed her physical presence. Nothing could compare to really holding her, filling his lungs with her sweet scent, closing his eyes and pressing his lips to hers. It was a feeling he never wanted to go without, El was a lifelong addiction, one that made everything better, one that Mike would never be able to get enough of.
The dorm room phone which was situated on the side table next to Mike's bed because Dustin was too lazy to answer it started to ring. It's shrill and loud noise made Mike jump so that his pencil rolled off the bed and onto the floor, his textbook following it in quick succession.
He groaned in annoyance but made no move to collect the items as he reached for the phone instead. "Hello?" Mike asked trying to stifle a yawn as he sat back against his pillows making the cord of the phone stretch.
"Well if it isn't my long, lost brother," came a teasing female voice that made Mike roll his eyes in exasperation, but he couldn't help the small smile from spreading on his lips.
"Hey Nance."
"Hey stranger!" She replied with a soft chuckle. "I've been trying to contact you on and off for like two weeks now. Where the hell have you been?"
Mike immediately felt his cheeks blushing and he was thankful that Nancy wasn't here to witness it. His thoughts immediately went to El and how over the past few weeks his whole being had been all consumed by her. Yeah sure he went to his classes, but could he honestly say he had been concentrating on anything else that wasn't her?
"Sorry," Mike said instead, clearing his dry throat. "I've just been busy, you know what college is like…" He hoped she would understand and not press him any further on the matter.
"I sure do," Nancy sighed. "But it would be nice to hear off my brother now and again. And you need to ring mom, she called me to find out how you were getting on seeing as you've been so mysteriously out of contact!"
"Sorry," Mike repeated as he rubbed at his tired brow. "College has been kicking my ass. How are you? How is Jonathan?"
He listened patiently as his sister told him about life in New York City with her fiancé who just happened to be Will's older brother. Small world huh?!
Nancy worked for a large journalism corporation while Jonathan was a freelance photographer as well as having a part time job in a recording studio. They made ends meet and seemed settled in the large city. Mike knew their mom would much prefer all of her children to still be in Hawkins where she could keep an eye on them, but Mike couldn't imagine going back, especially when he knew El had been held prisoner there for 18 years.
Mike and Nancy were discussing their little sister Holly and how she was getting on at school when Dustin unlocked the dormitory room door and walked in, waving casually to Mike who raised his arm up in greeting whilst still talking to his sister.
"Is that Nancy?" Dustin whispered from the other side of the room where he was chucking his back pack onto his bed. Mike nodded but didn't say anything, trying to concentrate on what Nancy was saying about their parents still arguing.
"I mean I'm obviously grateful we're all alive and everything, but those two should never had got married." Mike said solemnly, his leg bouncing slightly from anxiety. "They obviously aren't made for each other."
"Have you told Nancy about your wife?" Dustin teased loudly, sniggering when Mike inhaled a sharp breath and glared at his supposed friend.
"What did Dustin say?" Nancy asked in amused confusion, cutting herself off in the middle of her own speech about their parents and their marriage.
Mike felt a heat rise up the back of his neck and he shook his head even though his sister couldn't see. "Um, nothing. He's just being Dustin," he tried to explain shuffling closer to the wall as his friend hurried over, making grabbing hands for the phone.
"Go away!" Mike hissed at Dustin, trying to fight him off for the phone.
"Okay now I have to talk to him!" He could hear Nancy laughing while the two boys wrestled for the phone. Dustin definitely had the advantage from having more muscles and weight then Mike. In a matter of seconds he was flat on his front, his body digging into the blanket while Dustin sat on his back preventing him from moving away.
Mike squirmed trying to wriggle free but it was no use. He let out a heavy dramatic sigh and closed his eyes, wishing he couldn't hear what Dustin was telling his sister.
"Nance your little brother has a girlfriend!" He said gleefully while Mike groaned and mumbled, "she's not my girlfriend mouth breather."
Mike could practically hear Nancy's gasp of excitement and then her voice became incoherent to him as she rambled off questions to Dustin who was more than happy to answer. "Yeah she's really pretty, hot in fact, way out of his league..." Mike huffed, his eyes narrowing as he decided that Dustin would pay for that comment.
"No, she doesn't go to college, she…well you could say she self-studies." Dustin smirked, looking down at a defeated Mike. "How did they meet? Now that is an interesting question. Michael would you like to tell Nancy?"
"Give me the phone Dustin," Mike warned through clenched teeth. His friend chuckled, jumping off his back and handing out the receiver for him. Mike sighed in relief as he felt the ache in his back dissipate and he carefully rolled himself over and shuffled back up to the headboard. "You are dead." Mike snapped at Dustin before grabbing the held out phone from his friend who was laughing with amusement.
Mike exhaled deeply, trying to mentally prepare himself for this conversation. "Nancy?" he cringed, putting the phone to his ear.
"You have a girlfriend?! Why the hell didn't you tell me?! This explains everything. You've not been busy with college you ass hole liar, you've been busy with her!" Nancy shouted in exasperation and excitement while Mike closed his eyes shut tightly and begged for the interrogation to be over.
"What's her name?" Nancy continued with added vigour. "How old is she? How did you meet her? Does mom know about her? Shit of course mom doesn't know otherwise she would have told me."
"Nanc – "
"When can I meet her? How long have you two been dating?"
"Nancy just lis – "
"What is she like? Have all the party met her? Have you two slept together Mike? Remember to use pro – "
"NANCY!" Mike shouted, his face blazing red at the mention of sex. He was not having that conversation with his sister of all people! "Just please STOP."
"Fine," Nancy chuckled, the sound of material shuffling rustled the phone for a moment as she readjusted her sitting position. "But you lied to me, so now you've got to spill."
Mike shook his head adamantly, "I didn't technically lie – "
"Michael Edward Wheeler!" Nancy exclaimed in a voice very similar to their mother's. "Spill. Now."
"Uh fine," Mike huffed as he turned away slightly from Dustin who was watching over and lounging on his own bed with a shit eating grin.
"Her name is El and she's 21." Mike began, his breathing becoming a little calmer as he pictured El's smiling and beautiful face in his mind. A bashful grin started to quirk up Mike's lips.
"When's her birthday?" Nancy asked curiously, and he winced realising he didn't know.
"Um, I don't know yet. It's really early days, we met on January 16th."
"Aw you remember the date that you met her? That's so cute!" Nancy cooed while the red blush on Mike's cheeks spread to the rest of his face. He ignored her comment and carried on. It was better to try and get it all out quickly, like ripping off a band aid.
"When we met, I…well um I got into a bit of trouble and she saved me," Mike admitted not wanting to go into the specifics both for El's sake but also for his own sake, he knew his sister wouldn't take kindly to the fact that he was almost mugged. And he definitely didn't want their mom to find out.
"We're not dating…yet," Mike mumbled as quietly as he could, wishing that Dustin wasn't happily overhearing this conversation.
"But you want to date her?" Nancy said, her grin so obvious even through the phone line. "Why don't you just ask her to be your girlfriend?"
Mike sighed and rolled his eyes, "it's a little more complicated than that. She…" He didn't want to tell Nancy about El's powers, he knew she would understand because she of course knew Will's secret. But if he told her about the life El led, he wasn't so sure his sister would be entirely happy about him being involved in it.
"She has a very overprotective family," Mike continued, knowing his words weren't exactly a lie. "I've never even been able to go to her house because she's worried about what her family will think." He explained, that dull sense of sadness filling his chest.
Nancy snorted in amusement, "and what is so scary about a nerd?!"
Mike exhaled heavily and closed his eyes. He had never met El's sister or the gang properly, but it had only taken a glance at them and stories from El to know that they wouldn't like him. More likely, they wouldn't like what he represented. A new life for El, a new world where she didn't have to be the person they were trying to shape her into. Mike gave her choices and he knew the gang would hate that about him.
"I don't know," Mike mumbled with a sigh. "They're just protective." He said non-invasively, hoping that Nancy would get the hint that he didn't want to discuss it any further.
"Okay," she said calmly, thankfully accepting his answer before asking him something much worse. "So, have you slept together yet?"
Mike spluttered and then coughed with embarrassment as the colour that had been leaving his face flooded immediately back with a passion. "T-That's none of your business!" he choked.
Nancy laughed, "I'm going to take that as a no then!" Mike huffed in frustration and waited for his sister to stop her damn giggling. "Just treat her good Mike." She added more softly.
Mike nodded and felt some of the tension leave his shoulders as he pressed his cheek into his pillow and closed his eyes. "I will. I…I really care about her Nance," he whispered, the vulnerability in his voice making not even Dustin tease him. In fact, his friend pretended to busy himself with his own college work and put on his head phones.
"Tell me about her then," Nancy said gently, her voice light as if she was smiling warmly.
And so he did. Mike spent the next 45 minutes talking in great detail about El, what she looked like, her laugh, her smile, how her eyes lit up. He told her about their movie marathon and their gentle bickering over Disney and 'Star Wars' (Nancy interrupted to insist Disney was better). He explained that she had stayed over at Joyce and Will's house and how they had built a snow man together. With a blush in his cheeks and a fluttering in his heart Mike told Nancy how they then shared their first kiss before he walked her back to campus.
It was like the flood gates had opened and Mike found himself telling his sister how he couldn't stop thinking about El, worrying about her, wondering what she was up to. That anytime they spent together made him feel complete and how amazing it was when the whole party including El hung out together. It was like she had always been a member, like there had always been a spot reserved just for her.
"Wow," Nancy explained after Mike took a deep breath following his shared feelings. "It sounds like you're in love her Mike." His sister said calmly, without teasing or hidden agenda. She sounded in awe of the feelings he had exclaimed.
Mike took a shaky breath, his hand quivering slightly as he clutched the phone tighter. His insides were filled with technicolour butterflies and his heart was pounding. He didn't scoff at her statement, didn't blush. He merely smiled shyly and whispered, "I know."
El was back from the laundrette, heaving a full bag of freshly washed and dried clothes into her bedroom, sighing when her arms were finally free of the weight. She reached for her black hoodie, tugging it off her body before pulling the blonde wig from her brunette locks.
She immediately felt more like herself, especially when taking off the hoodie revealed a soft pink shirt underneath, one of the many clothing items she had been gifted from Max and Joyce. El couldn't help but smile as she thought about the two women, any chance that she got she would visit Max, both girls then walking to Joyce's store to have a hot drink with her. It was a routine that El was enjoying, a piece of the puzzle in what she wanted her life to look like.
She dragged the bag of laundry towards her bed and then sat down, peacefully plucking out each item of clothing and folding it neatly on top of her mattress ready to be put away into the dresser.
El continued with this task for a while until there was a knock at her door which stood agar. She looked up to find Kali stood in the slither of space, her dark eyes flicking between the clothes and El. "Can we talk?" she asked in her mellow tone that gave nothing away about how she was feeling.
"Of course," El said with a small smile, absentmindedly tugging the blanket over the folded clothes, not wanting Kali to get a good look at them.
Her sister came over and joined her on the mattress, propping her small body up beside the wall that the bed was against and looking at El with a slight frown. "You would tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?" She asked quietly, her dark eyes boring into El's slightly nervous hazel orbs.
"Yes of course," El answered in a heartbeat, her chest squeezing uncomfortably at Kali's question. "Why…why do you ask?" She tried to make her tone casual, but the adrenaline whooshing through her veins was difficult to stop, as colour started to fill her cheeks and clammy sweat lifted inside of her palms.
Kali sighed heavily, "these last few weeks, you just seem…different."
El looked down at her lap where her hands were clenched nervously together as shame started to creep into her heart. "Is this because I was out all night? I am sorry about that." She mumbled, still looking down at her clammy hands.
Kali waved her off with a casual hand gesture and shook her head. "No, it's not that, although I won't be forgetting that anytime soon." She warned with a huff, as they both remembered the panic she had experienced. "It's more like you're becoming a different person."
El looked up at her sister, suddenly curious about whether the life she had been living the last few weeks had seeped into her personality. She wondered if Mike's attention, care and support; Joyce's love and motherly ways and Max's friendship had changed her. In a way El didn't even need to wonder, because she could sense the changes in her soul all by herself.
"What do you mean?" she couldn't help but ask Kali, too inquisitive about how she was resembling these changes.
"Well first of all your clothes," Kali said pointing towards where El had done a terrible job of hiding the garments. "I'm not going to even ask where you shoplifted from, but I have never seen you in anything frilly or colourful before." She added with a shudder as she picked up a dress that El adored.
"Well I like them," she blurted out, feeling oddly protective over the clothes as she snatched the dress back from Kali's hold. Her sister looked at her in surprise over her outburst.
"It doesn't look good for our image Eleven," Kali said darkly, her eyes lingering on the clothes for a moment before looking back at her sister. "It will make you stand out too much."
El frowned holding Kali's gaze, "but when we are out you always shield us anyway. People wouldn't even see what I wear."
Kali chuckled humourlessly and shook her head, "but that's the thing Eleven. You have been going out on your own, more times than I can count. Do you care to elaborate where you have been going?"
El knew this could have been the moment to confess everything to her sister. To tell Kali about Mike, her deep feelings for him and her new friends. But she knew her sister more than she thought she did. El could already tell that Kali was in a no-nonsense mood, she didn't have any sympathy today and would immediately tear down her sister's hope of being able to live both lives, perhaps even merge them into something more bearable.
"I've been working on finding Brenner," is what came out of El's mouth as she looked back up at Kali. She wasn't technically lying. Kali looked surprised by her statement, knowing how reluctant and fearful El was of finding the man who had stolen their lives.
"I've been looking for him in the void, I'm working on clearing the mental block and it's getting easier. Especially when I'm outside of this warehouse." El continued to explain, taking a deep breath to ease her anxiety.
"What's changed that you can now look for him? After years of feeling too terrified to even go into the void to see him?" Kali asked more curious then criticising.
A small smile perked up El's lips and her heart fluttered the moment she thought about Mike. How he always held her hand and stayed glued to her side when she tried to clear the fog in her mind, and how afterwards he would always cuddle her until the darkness was swept away.
El looked back at her sister and shrugged, allowing her deep feelings for Mike to harbour in her body and hoping they didn't glow out of her soul too much when she simply answered, "I've found strength."
The fog was thick but nowhere near as impenetrable as it had been over a week ago. This time round El and Mike walked further into it, the wisp of smoke dancing around their limbs, weightless but full of all the suppressed emotions that were hiding Brenner from El's gaze.
She clutched onto Mike's hand even tighter, just the sound of his breathing next to her and the touch of his arm resting against her own was more comforting than El could ever explain.
"I'm right here," Mike whispered, his voice echoing around her in the darkness, lighting her soul like an oil lamp, making her feel warm and safe. She turned her gaze onto him for a moment, he was already looking at her, causing their eyes to immediately lock on one another.
El didn't say anything, but she hoped her wide and searching eyes and soft smile explained to Mike just how grateful she was for him. And not just grateful for him being in the void with her, but what he represented, how his strength gave her strength.
She breathed deeply and turned her focus back onto the lurking fog, closing her eyes and telling her mind to clear the blockage, to no longer be afraid and push back the barriers that were hiding Brenner from her.
El opened her eyes after a while and exhaled in exasperation, "nothing is happening. This is pointless." She couldn't help the bitterness and frustration in her voice, feeling so aggravated with herself. "What is the point in having powers if they can't help me at a time like this?" El added as she turned to Mike, her eyes beseeching him, hoping he could give her answers although it seemed impossible.
Mike turned to face her, taking both of her hands now in his own. His face was filled with empathy and care as his dark amber eyes took in her features, noticing the exasperation written all over her face. "I don't think it's about your powers." He admitted in a gentle voice.
"What do you mean?" El asked with a frown, her eyes focusing on his. It was crazy how much his eyes made her feel safe, just one look and he could melt her into a puddle of such intense feelings that she would be happy to drown forever in that gaze.
Mike sighed and swallowed, "I mean, I think this is all emotional El. It's not something your powers are going to be able to help with."
El wanted to scream feeling even more frustrated with herself. "How am I meant to clear it if I don't even know how to deal with my emotions?"
"Hey, it's okay," Mike soothed, his thumbs drawing circles on the back of her hands, sending sparks of electricity up El's arms. "Let's just think about this logically," he added in a calming and realistic voice. "Why have you been afraid to search for him?"
El took a deep breath and continued to look into Mike's eyes, drawing strength from his gentle gaze. "Because I'm scared to see him, to hear his voice…"
"Why?" Mike prompted, his eyes widening ever so slightly as he tried to encourage her to break through the first barrier.
"B-Because," El gasped, her hands shaking in Mike's supportive grasp. She closed her eyes for a moment, calming her breathing before staring back into his eyes. "Because he was my papa."
A sob left El's chest as the words fell from her lips and she searched Mike's eyes where she could see understanding and support. "I'm not like Kali, I spent my w-whole life in that lab. P-Papa was all I knew, my only parent."
Mike sighed softly and nodded his head slowly, "I understand El. You loved him." He said simply, his thumbs still gently stroking the back of her hands, keeping her grounded and secure.
El sniffled and fell tears fall down her cheeks. "I didn't know for a long time that my life wasn't normal. I didn't realise he was…he was evil. That he was just using me for my powers." She dipped her head solemnly, closing her eyes as more tears dripped from her lower lashes.
"I'm scared I won't be able to destroy him Mike," El whispered feeling ashamed of her words. "I'm scared that when the moment comes I will look into his eyes and…and I won't be able to kill him."
There was silence for the moment, the quiet almost unbearable in the void as El waited for Mike to respond. She wondered if he thought she was a monster, for caring about Brenner and for needing to kill him.
El felt Mike's right hand leave her hold and suddenly he was lifting her chin up gently, making her open her watery eyes and look at his face. A sob broke from her throat as she realised he wasn't angry with her or disgusted. His eyes were soft, so soft.
"You are stronger then you give yourself credit for El," Mike said in a serious and yet gentle voice. His eyes searched hers for a moment before he spoke again. "And I know that when the time comes you will do the right thing. Whatever that might be. Trust your instincts."
El sighed heavily, her shoulders slumping with relief that Mike could still know all of this about her and still look at her like that. Like she was the most important thing in his world. It filled her heart with an unprecedented amount of love and for a moment she wondered whether she should admit her feelings to him.
But as El looked around at the fog she knew this would be the wrong time. She felt vulnerable and didn't want Mike to think she was forced to say the words she longed for him to hear. Instead she squeezed his hand and gave him an adoring smile, "how are you so perfect Michael Wheeler?"
Mike blinked in surprise at her words and then laughed, amazement and disbelief filling his handsome features. "I highly doubt I am perfect!"
El rolled her eyes in amusement at his reaction and grinned, the smile reaching her eyes and lighting them as she looked at the man she had fallen in love with. She reached out for him, her hand cupping his cheek, her fingertip stroking down his sharp cheekbone making them both shiver in anticipation.
"You're perfect for me." El whispered, not breaking her eye contact with Mike, wanting him to know just how much she meant those words. She felt his large bashful smile fill his cheeks and then he was leaning down towards her and she was pressing up on her tip toes, eager to reach his lips.
Their mouths crashed together with more passion than ever before as Mike wrapped his arms around El's waist pulling her closer as her fingers weaved into his hair, keeping his face close to hers. Their lips moved together in a routine that was created on pure instinct. In fact, every moment felt instinctual, like their bodies knew exactly what they were doing.
When Mike's lips parted slightly his heavy breath mixed with El's, the sensation causing a soft whimper to escape her throat before her fingers clutched more tightly to his dark locks as her tongue tentatively stroked gently against Mike's lower lip. He groaned in response and the next thing El knew their tongues were moving together and it felt incredible.
Goosebumps ran up and down her arms as their mouths moved together, moans escaping their lips as they shared heated breaths and pants. El could have stayed like that forever, completely consumed in Mike, in the way he was holding her, the way his tongue brushed against her own, the sound of his deep groans. Wow.
But after a few more minutes Mike pulled away, breathing harshly, his lips looking thoroughly kissed and his pupils dilated. He looked incredibly dazed and El just knew she would be the mirror imagine of him right now.
"That was…woah," Mike choked out while El tried to catch her breath, smiling bashfully as her cheeks flushed with pleasure.
"Should we go to bed?" Mike blurted out breathlessly before his eyes widened and he realised his wording. There was an awkward silence for a moment before El burst into giggles, endorphins from their passionate kissing making her feel alive and free.
"I didn't m-mean – "Mike gasped out, his face bright red as El chuckled and laced her fingers with his in amusement.
"I know you meant sleep Mike, it's okay," she told him while still grinning at how adorable he was. Mike exhaled in relief and an almost shy smile lit up his face as El tugged on his hand and pulled him along towards his bed in the void.
"I'm sorry we didn't get much done tonight," El sighed looking around at the dissipating fog as they moved further away from her mind block and closer to the silhouetted bed.
Mike scoffed in indignation and shook his head, "are you kidding?! El you had a major breakthrough of your emotions, if that's not progress I don't know what is." He told her with reproach as they finally reached the bed.
"I suppose," El sighed as she let go of his hand to pull back the duvet and lay on the mattress, Mike joining her a second later. They shuffled and moved so that they were both on their sides facing each other, the tip of their noses just touching.
They basked in the silence for a while, just taking the moment to stare at one another with adoration filling their eyes. El had her arm flung over Mike's torso while his hand was carefully moving loose curl strands behind her ear.
"I was thinking," Mike began in almost a whisper, his eyes still on her hair for a moment before he slowly moved his gaze to her curious eyes. "Do you know when your birthday is?"
El was surprised by the question and shook her head slightly, "no I was never told." She explained with a heavy sigh. "I was told my age when I asked, that's how I know how old I am. But I never even knew that you are meant to celebrate a birthday." She shrugged her shoulders casually, knowing that it wasn't something that had ever upset her. How could you be upset by something that you knew nothing about?
Mike looked upset though and El hated it. Hated seeing the sorrow in his beautiful eyes, or how his jaw clenched, and his face fell into a frown. "I'm sorry El," he said softly, continuing to stroke her hair.
El gave him a sad smile, "it's okay Mike. I didn't even know I was missing out." She answered honestly.
Mike heaved a sigh, his brow slowly clearing of worry as he looked into her eyes. It wasn't long before a beautiful smile crept onto his lips and his features lit back up. "Well, let me make it up to you then."
"What do you mean?" El chuckled, her eyes dancing over Mike's excited boyish features. He looked like he was suddenly beaming with enthusiasm and it warmed her heart.
"Do you think you can get out of your house tomorrow? For like most of the day?" Mike asked instead of answering El's question, a big grin now on his face.
She pursed her lips and shrugged the shoulder that wasn't pressed into the mattress. "I suppose so." She answered coolly before smirking slowly. "Why?"
"Nuh uh," Mike teased shaking his head for good measure and bopping El's nose with his finger making her grin. "It's a surprise. If you can get to my dorm for say 10am tomorrow, then I'll handle the rest."
El gave a frustrated and amused sigh, wishing that Mike would just tell her what he had suddenly planned. But the look of excitement and childish glee on his face was too cute for El to want to break. "10am tomorrow, your dorm. I'm sure I can manage that." She said with a grin which in turn made Mike beam, his eyes dancing with happiness as they snuggled closer and eventually fell asleep in each other's arms.
Saturday 8th February 1992
"Where are we going?!" El asked, unable to stop giggling from the buzz of excitement that was rushing through her veins as Mike held her hand and led her down street after street towards wherever their destination was.
Mike turned back to look at El with a big childlike grin on his face. "For the fifth time it's a surprise Miss Impatient!" he teased making them both laugh breathlessly as they carried on with their journey.
El looked around eagerly, a smile on her face as she tried to guess what this surprise was. The closer they got to downtown Chicago the more excitement filled her senses as she thought of the endless possibilities.
Eventually they turned a corner and the downtown truly opened up; busy, bustling, loud and bright. It was one of the things that El really loved about the city.
"Okay," Mike exhaled, his voice wavering with nerves slightly as they came to a stop. He looked down at El who was already gazing at him with an expectant and enthusiastic expression. He smiled shyly and then pointed ahead, "your surprise is over there."
El quickly followed his hand and then gasped, nerves and exhilaration at war in her stomach. Her eyes widened as she took in the large ice rink, already filled with people skating, laughing and falling over. Next to the rink was about four different street food vendors and a loud sound system playing music for those skating. There were large poles at the corners of the ice rink and glittering fairy lights strung from them making the location look romantic.
"So," Mike cleared his throat, his voice still anxious. "What do you think?"
El turned back to him and beamed with a rush of happiness as she wrapped her arms around Mike's neck and stretched up to give him a lingering kiss which he immediately responded to, his warm palms resting on her hips which were covered by a red skirt.
"I love it!" El grinned against Mike's lips making him smile widely as a small breath of relief escaped his lips and tickled her mouth. She pulled back slightly, so she could look into his eyes with amazement, "I didn't even know you could skate."
Mike coughed through an awkward laugh, "um, about that…I haven't been ice skating before either. I thought it would be cool to try it together, and it can't be that hard."
He was right, it wasn't that hard…well for El.
Mike was like a baby giraffe trying to find his feet for the first time. El couldn't stop smiling, her cheeks were aching, but she didn't care. This moment was truly perfect; the smells of sweet food in the air, music blasting through the speakers and her hand clutched tightly in Mike's while she watched him trying desperately to balance himself.
El grinned as she stared at Mike's determined face, how adorable he looked with his brow furrowed in concentration and his teeth nestled into his lower lip as he focused on staying up right. "Do you know how cute you are?" El couldn't help but ask him, a giggle escaping her chest at the look Mike gave her, like she was crazy for ever thinking that.
"Oh sure, really cute," he teased back, slightly breathless from the effort of standing up straight. El laughed, a full and happy laugh bubbling out of her that completely distracted Mike, making him grin at her lovingly before he wobbled, his free arm flailing before he fell on the ice, bringing El down with him.
In his attempt to break her fall, she ended up in his lap sideways, his arms instinctually wrapping around her waist. El and Mike gasped for a moment from the impact with the ice before turning to look at each other, all the other skaters moving around them completely fading away.
Their eyes locked, their cheeks flushed from a mixture of cold from the ice and exhilaration of being in love, and then they were kissing. El's gloved hand on Mike's cheek as he pulled her closer to his chest.
Their kiss broke slowly, and their foreheads rested on one another, they both had their eyes closed and El breathed in Mike's scent, a content smile playing on her lips. "You make me so happy," she whispered to him.
El sensed Mike opening his eyes and so she slowly opened hers too, staring straight back at him, her cheeks flushing with blissful colour as she saw the surprise filling his eyes.
"Do you really mean that?" he asked breathlessly, his dark amber eyes searching her gold hazel eyes.
She felt her heart pounding in her chest, the butterflies multiplying into millions, no longer contained in just her stomach but fluttering around her whole body. Every part of her on edge and in love with Michael Wheeler. "I promise." El replied.
Mike exhaled a shaky breath as if he had been holding it in after asking for her assurance. He grinned so widely that El could see the joy lighting up his beautiful eyes and in turn it made her feel like she could move mountains. "You make me so happy too El," he whispered back his grin now turning into a soft smile. "Happier than I've ever been in my whole life."
El's breath was catching in her chest as she continued to stare into his eyes, feeling like this moment might be that perfect moment to tell him she loved him.
"Mike I – "
"Are you kids going to get up?" barked the serious voice of the security guard who had stopped by the railings to watch Mike and El who both jumped away from each other in surprise. "You're going to cause a serious injury in a moment! Either to yourselves or to another skater." He reprimanded shaking his head.
"S-Sorry!" Mike squeaked as he tried to stumble to his feet, although it was El who got up first and helped pull him up into a standing position.
The moment Mike and El were off the ice they burst out laughing, feeling as foolish and silly as a child. They were still chuckling when they handed in the skate boots and immediately clutched hands, smiling adoringly at one another.
"Where are we going now?" El grinned as Mike playfully tugged her along.
He looked over his shoulder at her and his mischievous smirk made El want to swoon. "Back to my dorm room, I've got another surprise for you."
El knew he didn't mean anything sexual, but she would be lying if she said she hadn't been reading more and more about it recently in her magazines. The articles that she usually skimmed over she now read religiously. She knew her cheeks were blushing, and she didn't want to embarrass herself so merely smiled and nodded, eager to see what else Mike had planned.
The moment Mike and El got back to the dorm room they both exhaled in relief of being free of the freezing temperatures of Chicago. The closer they got to spring the easier it was to handle the cold, but there was still a chill in the air that lingered from the harsh winter.
Mike stripped off his jacket, scarf and green beanie hat, a pleased smile on his face as he watched El remove his winter coat and beanie that now belonged to her. He had to admit she looked a million times better in the clothing then he ever had.
"So, did you like ice skating?" Mike asked cheerfully as he kicked his shoes off and placed them next to where El had left hers by the door. He took a moment to look at her in her deep red skirt, white knitted tights and cream sweater and felt his breath catch in his throat at how she could look so adorable, sweet and sexy all at the same time.
"It was so much fun," El beamed running her hands through her curls which had flattened from the beanie hat, Mike's eyes were captivated by the movement. She looked at him and smirked, "seeing you on the ice was even better."
Mike had been so enthralled by El's hair that it took him a moment to realise what she was saying and the teasing grin on her beautiful face. He spluttered and laughed making her laugh too, "excuse me! It was my first time okay?!"
El bit her lip playfully keeping her eyes on Mike's, "it was my first time too…"
They stared at each other for a moment, both of them blushing as they took the meaning behind the words. Mike was the first to break, clearing his throat and moving his gaze away from El and towards the carpeted floor.
He definitely hadn't brought her back to do that, but now there was a building tension in the air emitting from their bodies and it was very difficult to ignore. Mike hoped that one day he would get to make love to El, to show her not just with his heart and soul how she was everything to him, but with his body as well.
It wasn't that he didn't think about it…a lot. He was a 21-year-old guy so of course he thought about sex. It was on his mind more then he cared to admit, but never before had the concept of making love sounded a million times better. The idea of giving your all to the person you loved the most sounded exhilarating and as Mike sheepishly looked back up at El, he knew he only ever wanted to experience that with her.
But that was not why she was currently here, and Mike blinked trying to remember his actual plans.
"Are you hungry?" he asked El who was sitting down on his bed and smiled up at him, nodding her head happily. Mike couldn't help but beam back at her, his eyes sparkling with light.
"Okay, I'll just be a minute," Mike responded, a knowing and excited grin battling to contain itself on his face as he hurried to the kitchen with his heart hammering in his chest.
Mike opened the cupboard that was assigned to him and pulled out a medium sized sheer white box that he had collected that morning, carefully placing it on the counter top and taking off the lid to inspect that the contents was still in a good condition. He sighed in relief.
Inside of the box were four cupcakes, two vanilla and two red velvet all with designs intricately added to the frosting by the cake shop owner that Mike had rushed to the second the store had opened that morning. He had barely even made it back to the dorm before El had arrived.
Very carefully Mike transferred the cupcakes onto a plate and then routed in one of the draws where he had placed a number 2 candle and a number 1. He placed them into the frosting of two of the cupcakes, careful not to spoil the design. He lit the candles with the lighter that he took out of the draw, almost catching the sleeve of his black sweater on fire because of his jittering hands.
"Calm down," Mike scolded himself, frowning at his own stupidity. He closed the draw and grasped onto the plate, praying that he didn't drop it before he could get the cupcakes highlighted by the glow of two candles to El.
Mike used his back to push open the door of the dorm room and briefly caught El nosily looking through his and Dustin's drawers before she turned to see him and what he held in his hands. She gasped in surprise and Mike couldn't help but grin, loving how wide and happy her gaze had turned.
"Are these for me?" El asked in awe as she looked down at the cupcakes. There were all 'The Little Mermaid' themed. One of them had Ariel iced onto the frosting, another was Prince Eric, Flounder and Sebastian.
"Of course," Mike chuckled feeling oddly proud of himself by the amount of happiness he had brought El. She was grinning widely, her eyes lit up by the candles as she turned her gaze onto his eyes making his heart race.
"Thank you," she whispered softly, her voice choked with emotion.
Mike smiled back tenderly, his eyes loving and gentle. "You're welcome El. I just wanted to celebrate your birthday. I know that you never were able to, but I want you to know that your birthday is a very special day. It's special to me."
He took a deep breath and tried not to feel too embarrassed, "so with that in mind. Happy birthday to you…" He started to sing the birthday song and El laughed softly, her eyes and smile happy as she looked between Mike and the candles, waiting patiently for him to finish the song before she made her wish and carefully blew out the two small flames.
Mike removed the candles out of the frosting and then handed the plate with a grin to El who had settled herself back onto his bed. "Want to watch a movie?" he asked her as innocently as he could, already knowing he had a video tape ready and waiting in the VCR.
"Sure," El answered happily, her finger dipping into a bit of vanilla frosting and humming contently at the taste. Mike tried to pretend that didn't turn him on and instead focused on pulling the television set closer and grabbing the remote control before pressing play.
As Mike suspected El gasped in giddy surprise, her eyes wide with adoration. "The Little Mermaid?!" she asked even though she clearly already knew the answer.
Mike grinned, shrugging nonchalantly like it was no big deal. "Well I know we didn't get to finish it and it is your birthday. You get what you want on your birthday." He explained feeling pleased with himself as he walked over to his bed and sat down next to El.
She beamed at him, her eyes bright and gentle. "Thank you, Mike, you're the best." She spoke softly, her words laced with care and gratitude.
Mike flushed with colour and grinned back at her, his eyes taking in her beauty for a moment. "You don't have to thank me. I really like doing these things for you," he explained before laughing, "well you're the only one I do these kinds of things for."
"Good," El said nodding her head, a teasing smile on her face. "I want to be the only one." Her tone was light and playful, but Mike couldn't help but take her statement seriously. He took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together and staring into the depths of her eyes.
"You are the only one."
El's smile disappeared and she inhaled deeply at Mike's words, her eyes vulnerable as she watched him closely, both of their racing heart beats audible in the moment. Acceptance started to fill her hazel eyes and then her smile was back, a little less teasing and a lot softer. No words needed to be said in the moment, their eyes saying it all.
They both grinned at each other before finally settling down to watch the movie. Five minutes in and El insisted they changed position. In the end they settled on readjusting the television set so that Mike could sit up against his pillows with El lying in between his legs, her head propped under his chin while his arms were around her stomach. Both of them grinning and giggling as they ate cupcakes and got into the Disney movie.
"I love Flounder," El mentioned after a while making Mike smile. "He's just so cute and a really good friend," she explained further before feeding a bit of cupcake to Mike who chewed and grinned.
He knew it was technically El's birthday and meant to be about her, but Mike would be lying if he said this wasn't the best day of his life. A whole day with El, kissing, having fun, cuddling and now watching her favourite movie. Mike felt giddy and light, like he could do anything as long as she was by his side. She made him feel invincible.
When Sebastian started to sing Kiss the Girl, Mike was reminded of how close him and El had got to kissing the first time they watched this scene together. And it was with a song in his heart and a grin on his face as Mike leaned forward and peppered kisses against El's cheek making her giggle in surprise. He could feel her smile underneath his lips and it made him want to sigh with happiness.
Once the movie was over Mike and El found themselves both lying down on his bed facing each other on a shared pillow. Everything felt very gentle and romantic as Mike cupped El's cheek and slowly stroked her smooth skin with his thumb.
"I wouldn't mind being a mermaid," El whispered, her eyes closed as she savoured Mike's touch.
"Huh?" he murmured, too caught up in touching her soft pink skin.
El opened her hazel eyes and smiled at Mike when he caught her gaze. "I wouldn't mind being a mermaid, living in a completely different world." She explained before her voice turned quieter, "but with you of course."
"Just you and me against the world," Mike said in a content sigh. The quietness of the moment was beautiful, just the two of them in the darkening room as the winter sun slowly disappeared below the horizon.
"No one to answer to," El whispered, her gaze moving to Mike's freckled cheeks. "No one chasing me. Just you and me…forever." Her eyes flickered back up to meet Mike's intense amber stare.
He shuffled closer so that their noses touched and playfully nuzzled hers. "Forever." He promised in a returned whisper.
El exhaled deeply, her chest moving with every breath as her focus went between Mike's dark eyes and his full lips. "Mike?" she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.
He gulped quietly as he watched her pupils slowly dilating. "Yeah?" he asked in a hushed voice, his eyes not leaving hers.
El moved her hand onto Mike's chest, her touch stirring a fire in him as her fingers brushed across his sweater until her palm pressed over his pounding heart. "You said that on your birthday you get what you want…"
Mike's stomach did a swoop as nerves built in his body and his heart desperately tried to jump into his throat. His own eyes darkened and widened at the same time as he looked at El's lips, so inviting, so perfect. "What…what do you want?" he whispered in a deep voice.
He could feel El's shaky breath against his lips as she moved even closer to him, her palm on his heart crushed between their joined chests. Mike very slowly and anxiously lifted his eyes from El's lips and onto her captivating eyes. She was already looking at him and she had a glint in her eyes that gave Mike his answer, but she still told him.
"I want you."
There was only time for a quivering breath to escape Mike's throat before their lips were joined in a passionate kiss, making him groan in relief and anticipation at their joining. His hand weaved into El's curly locks while her fingers grazed down his chest and then moved to his side, moving up and down his torso as their kisses became open mouthed and breathy.
Mike knew his body was responding to El, it was hard not to when she was so close and kissing him like that. Like he was the most important thing in her world and it was now or never. He gripped her hair slightly pulling her even closer, leaning back and bringing El along with him.
He was on his back now and El was half on top of him, both of them panting and moaning as their tongues met and stroked. Mike's heart was screaming with excitement as his hands moved up and down her back, his fingers playing with the hem of her sweater as she dominated his mouth, her kisses fiery and mind blowing.
I love you. I love you. I love you. Mike's whole body practically sang the words, never wanting to say it more.
His fingers slipped under the back of El's sweater and she whimpered into his mouth making all the blood rush from Mike's head to low in his pelvis as he groaned in response and tugged her even further on top of him.
This was everything Mike had wanted and more. It was so, so hot, it was beautiful, it was enticing, it was per –
"Mike! Why is the door locked?" came the booming voice of Dustin followed by the rattling of the door handle. "I forgot my key, come on let me in."
Mike closed his eyes and groaned not with sexual frustration or desire, but with pure anger. He was pissed.
El gasped at their interruption and then dropped her head to Mike's heaving chest giggling quietly to herself while he debated murdering Dustin Henderson. "Can you just break his arm or something?" Mike whined to El who was still grinning. "Will can fix it tomorrow."
El laughed shaking her head with mirth and making Mike grin too, he looked up at her, his eyes filled with love, both of them ignoring the calls from Dustin. El eventually sighed and moved off Mike, she smiled at him softly, "next time we won't be interrupted. I promise."
His cheeks filled with even more colour and as Mike hoisted himself off the bed and walked towards the dorm room door he couldn't help but grin foolishly. He had just had the best day of his life with the most beautiful girl in the world, they had made out with a whisper of something more, and now she was telling him there would be a next time. Mike could certainly live with that.
AN: I'm sorry but Dustin has to ruin precious moments lol It's CANON!
I'm also sorry for any spelling errors or grammar issues in the last section. I didn't have time to proof read tonight as I'm going out but I really wanted to get this chapter out to you. I will edit it later if needed.
Thank you so much for reading! And please let me know what you thought :-D
P.S. It's time for the drama to begin and I'm excited to start writing it as I've been waiting a while for this ;-)