Chapter 11: Forgiveness
By first bell the whole school knew about the scene that went on in the front hall, and the name of the girl who had to be dragged out by her hair was passed around rapidly. Soon the rumours began and people were running away with the story, and Mike, Eleven and Lucas were famous. The people they passed on their way to the bathroom stopped and stared and everyone asked for the details of the grisly tale that was Kat's outburst. But the worst was when Will, Dustin and Max arrived through the classroom door staring as Mike and Lucas talked freely by their seats, surrounded by nosy classmates.
"Lucas?" Max said and all of a sudden the whole class stopped. Everything went in slow motion until the moment Lucas jumped off his seat and stormed over to Max their faces so close she could smell his minty breath.
"Luc-" She said but Lucas' mouth had already crashed on hers, the whole class erupting into cheers and cat calls.
"Max I'm so sorry." He said pulling away from her.
"Tha- that's alright." She said breathless and speechless.
"And Amanda?" Lucas said turning around. "We're over. Just so you know."
Amanda left the room, faking her tears, desperate for some attention but no one paid any attention to her as she ran from the classroom. Lucas and Mike were friends again and Lucas had finally announced his feelings for Max to the whole class, what could be better?
Well maybe the fact that as people swarmed Lucas and Max, Mike was doing something very nerve wrecking by their seats.
"El?"
"Yes?" Eleven said spinning around to face him.
"I- I wanted to give you this." He said holding out a little silver band, big enough to fit around her finger.
"Thank you. It's very pretty." She said examining it closely.
"I went to the jewellers a week ago. After what Lucas had said to me I thought about it and realised I wasn't scared about it anymore. It's a promise ring." He said slipping it onto her finger.
"How could you pay for it? It must have been all your savings." Eleven said, worrying she had made Mike trade away all his money for her. In the past he had gifted her simple tokens, chocolates and picnics in the park but never had she received jewellery, and although this was a plain ring it must have been expensive as Eleven had walked past that store every time she cycled to Mike's house and she had noticed the multiple zero's after a number on the shelf.
"It's fine, I know the jeweller and he engraved the inside specially." Mike said taking the ring slightly off so Eleven could read the inside, which was engraved in tiny print. This word meant more to Eleven and Mike then the others could realise, it was their word and they way they could remember their time together those two years ago.
Promise...
"It's perfect Mike!" Eleven said kissing him quickly before everyone could turn and see them. The teasing would not affect Eleven as she rarely felt shame but it would mortify Mike and Eleven knew it was not her but the endless tormenting he would receive over having a girlfriend.
"I'm glad you like it. And maybe if I collect my savings again, I could, maybe buy you another ring?" Mike suggested his cheeks going red.
"But I already have a ring?" Eleven said smiling. She was oblivious to the hinting Mike was getting at, she had only briefly learned what a wedding was.
"I know, but maybe a ring for something else. Like an engagement ring?" Mike said. He was a little upset she had not understood the hinting as he was extremely self conscious about romance even if he didn't show it that often, but wedding talk would make any boy feel a little awkward and uncomfortable, understandably.
"Thank you Mike." She said kissing his cheek but this time she wasn't quick enough and most of their classmates had seen. Silence followed as everyone stared at them, Mike's cheek going redder then before and although everyone knew about their relationship they had not seen it in the flesh, actually they had never seen any romance in school, only at parties and dances and such.
"Good job Mike!" Someone shouted from the back and everyone started to giggle before Mr Farrell, the music teacher, walked in and ushered them out of the classroom, telling them form class was cancelled for their class and they could all have a free period to spare.
"Lucas! I see they've forgiven you?" Steve shouted as they emerged from the front doors of the school, the day over and all the events of the day feeling like forgotten memories.
"Yeah, and the plan worked perfectly!" Lucas said jumping up and high fiving him.
"Wait, what do you mean forgiven? Steve have you and Lucas been talking?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, I'm not getting involved in your childish squabbles and I made the grown up decision to not allow Lucas to be alone for these past few weeks." Steve said as they all climbed into his mini van. He had traded his old convertible in for it a while ago, saying it would be good for travelling but the kids knew it was so he could drive them places.
"So tell me exactly what happened." Steve asked.
"Well turns out she did try to stab her therapist back in Pennsylvania!" Lucas said and everyone chuckled.
"And she was a patient up in Curly County, before her release her mother moved down here with Alex and her husband so they could be close enough to doctors who could step in if anything happened." Dustin added.
"She had multiple personality disorder, like Jekyll and Hyde." Mike said putting one arm around Eleven as he comforted her in the back seat of the car. She had a had a long and tiring day, one she never wanted to replay in her mind as it only brought her sadness. It wasn't like her time at the lab, or her time in the woods, this was different. This time she had fallen into the trap and she had brought on the suffering of another. She never realised how easy it was for someone to rip your life away from you but Kat's desperation for popularity was over whelming and that was what drove her back in insanity. And although Eleven didn't have any part in Kat's previous medical history she still felt responsible for what had happened this time, even though she should not be the one feeling guilty.
"Poor Kat." Eleven said.
"It isn't your fault El, she's a nutjob who did this to herself." Dustin said, trying to comfort his friend but he was never one for words and his statement only left Eleven feeling worse, she did not like the use of the word 'nutjob'. It was insensitive and inhuman, making Kat's condition sound like it was her fault when it was not. Years of living in a troubled family with her mean spirited mother had brought this on her, not Kat's own mind. But Eleven appreciated Dustin's attempts to comfort her, his intentions were good ones.
