Mad Dogs And Pixies

PMM: So we've heard that this is first day Mike Wheeler is in the studio and it's not going so well?

EH: [curse words edited] When I find out who's f*****g leaking our private s*** they'll be s******g out of a new a*****e . F*****g a*****es. F**k, this is p*****g me off. Are we f*****g done here? I am. [El gets up to leave, she turns back to me] F**k off, interview over. Print that s**t why don't you. Make sure to spell my f*****g band's name right this time, a*****e.

PMM: [Mike is looking angry and doesn't seem to the least bit surprised at El's language]

- Pop Music Magazine (unpublished interviews)

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The first day Eleven was back in Hawkins, she saw a little girl fall off her bike, and she started to run towards her. As soon as she got down on her knees to help her she realized this was the same girl that had been clapping at Mike's guitar playing. Holly was her name. She had scraped her elbow, but it was what the doctors said on TV, 'superficial'.

Eleven didn't hesitate, she ripped off her lower sleeve and wrapped it around Holly's arm. Holly had stopped crying, which had been her goal, but now she was thinking she would re-introduce herself to Mike. He hair and grown rapidly as it always did after her time in the lab and she was anxious to see what Mike would think.

The first thing Mike did was get down on a knee and gave his sister a hug and asked if she was ok. The love that was evident on his face made Eleven's heart ache, just a pinch, but a sharp one.

And then Mike looked at her. Eleven thought she would die right on the spot. He was beautiful. His eyes were intense, they seemed to bore into her soul.

Eleven was a bit surprised when Holly wanted a hug, and she was more that glad to give her one.

Holly ran off up the basement stairs.

"Um, thanks El-" She cut Mike off.

"Mike, could you do me a favour and call me Eleven?"

"Um, ok… I guess El is short for Eleven? Thanks Eleven, that was a lot of kindness you showed to someone you didn't know. And you sacrificed your shirt. I'll replace it for you."

Her next question made her feel completely unsure, but she tapped her heart and said, "pretty inside?"

"Yes." Mike gave her a smile. She thought she would die all over again.

She was going to give him the band's first album now. It was the perfect time. She'd have to find some way of asking him to record with them.

"Um, wow... Uh, wow, you have really pretty eyes." And she died for a third time in as many minutes.

Her face felt flushed and she had to look down., "thank you Mike."

She found out that Mike honestly didn't know who the band was, and he sounded like he was picking his words carefully.

Eleven did the same. "You don't listen to the radio."

Mike gave his reasoning, and it made sense to her, he listed some bands she never heard of, and that made her feel a little stupid because she listened to the radio a lot waiting to see if one of her band's songs were going to be played. But then he asked her if she'd like him to listen to their album.

"If you wouldn't mind… and give me your honest opinion of it?"

"I will always be honest with you." And then he did something that made her die for the fourth time. She would remember this moment for the rest of her life. He leaned forward and her on the forehead.

She had to get back to her bedroom, so she could cry. She managed to get invited back the next morning, and turned and left.

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PMM: Last issue we promised to print an 11 interview on how the new album was going, but due to technical difficulties the interview on tape was garbled and we couldn't transcribe it properly. We hope to have something new from the band next issue.

- Pop Music Magazine

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Holly let her in the door and Eleven couldn't help but get down and give her a big hug. Holly kissed her on the cheek. "Mikey is in the basement, playing with his new guitar, go sneak up on him." She giggled.

Eleven had no intention of doing that but she walked a bit more lightly down the stairs then she might have otherwise.

Mike was staring at the album cover. He was staring at her, "you look lost in thought."

He jumped, and when he looked at her she thought she would die yet again. She didn't think she would ever be able to talk to him while staring into those eyes. Kiss him, sure, but talk...

He gestured to the end of the sofa for her to take a seat.

"You listened to it last night?"...what did you think?" She was scared to ask.

"You want my honest opinion right?" He looked into her eyes. She found it hard to hold his gaze. It was as intense a look as any her dad had given her, but there was something behind it. With her dad it was love. Could that be what was behind Mike's eyes? She may never know, but she suddenly felt vulnerable and totally unsure of herself. Again.

She looked down, her soft and low, "...please."

They talked about a few of the songs, and then Mike did something she wasn't expecting. He played the 45, slowed down and then added his guitar to it.

She was working up the nerve to ask him if he would like to record with them when he noticed she was wearing the torn piece of her shirt.

She almost cried when he told her shy. He waited till she had composed herself somewhat.

"What I was going to say is that what you are playing doesn't look particularly easy, and I don't think I could explain everything you just played to a session musician… would you… " she took a deep breath, "...would you consider sitting in the studio and recreating that part, and the same sound…"

"Um, I've never been to a recording studio before. That would be fun."

"It's in New York. You'll need to ask your parents."

He said something that was a little funny and sad at the same time. She got a few butterflies when she joked that she could live in his basement. If he asked, she would have agreed in a second.

"I can't wait to tell the rest of the band. We've been, looking for a bit of a change. You just might be key."

"Geez, Eleven, no pressure if your next albums sucks."

Yes, about that. She was going to have to tell him about their recording sessions, but maybe wait till they were on the tour bus.

"It'll be fine, " she got up, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She hadn't intended to but she was feeling adventurous.

Her heart heart hammered relentlessly the rest of the day.

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PMM: So there's nothing like any kind of romance going on between you two?

MW: With El Hopper? Uh, not a chance.

- Pop Music Magazine

Mike was sitting comfortably on the tour bus. It had been renovated to look like a comfy living room at one end behind the driver. And a mini soundproofed studio at the back.

Eleven had introduced him to the rest of the band. Dustin Henderson was quite a character. And Max Mayfield, there was a story with her but he didn't think an outsider like him would ever get to know it.

He had been reading, when he detected a subtle perfume and the sofa shifted slightly.

It was Eleven and she didn't look all that happy.

"I have to tell you something."

"Um, ok."

"There is no sugar coating this. I am difficult to work with in the recording studio."

"Genius at work, I get it Eleven. I didn't think it would be a walk in the park."

"No, Mike," She touched the wrist the the torn piece of shirt was tied to, "I can be an absolute bitch when we are making an album."

Mike looked at her, searching her eyes. "If you aren't having fun making your music, then…"

"We do when things are going ok, but there's usually one or two songs that brings out the worst in me." She looked at his wrist again.

"Will you promise me something?"

"If I can, Eleven." He was still searching her eyes.

"Whatever happens, will you still talk to me afterwards? You don't have to like me, just… talk to me?"

"I think I've seen you at your worst… and," he tapped her heart again "I've seen the pretty inside Eleven. I promise."

Mike did not expect the tears. But he used the shirt, still tied to his wrist to dab away at them.

"Eleven, you are being creative, I lost count the number of tapes I ruined by being mad at what I'd just recorded on them. It'll be ok."

"Cut!" The El Hopper yelled.

"Oh for, F-". El stopped herself. Mike couldn't think of her as Eleven right now. Right now she was royally pissing him off.

"Would you please play what I told you to play? Huh, do you think you could do that for the next take?"

"Take four," Lucas said from the control booth, He was their age, but he really knew how to work the sound board and he would probably get some kind of production credit.

"One, two, three…" Mike hit the first string at the same time Dustin started his drum riff.

"Cuuuuuuut!" El screeched.

"I only played one note!" Mike yelled back, "how did I managed to get one fu-" He wouldn't swear in front of her.

"I know don't Mr. Classical Guitar Player, but you managed to screw it up, so did Dustin, one of you is out of tune, and I'm guessing it's the guitar player who can't tune his guitar."

She pointed to her ears, "perfect pitch, remember?"

"Ok Lucas,"

"El, Pop Music Magazine is here, you guys have to do that interview now."

"Yeah, let's get this shit over with," El said, she turned to Mike, "you can stay here and figure out how to tune your guitar while the professionals do some PR. Sound good. Thought so."

"No." Max said.

Max looked at El. "Mike does in the interview with us. Your idea. Remember?"

"Shit. Fine. Mike, try not to sound too stupid in there ok. Thanks a bunch."

Mike was torn between two feelings. He was a little homesick, this was the first time he'd been in a big city and he was uncertain of everything he was doing. His other feeling was easy to pin down. He felt like a piece of shit. He couldn't seem to make El happy. He didn't really know her anymore, if he ever did. He just wanted to do what he signed up for and go home.

Later he was walking with Dustin back upstairs to the studio and Mike said sarcastically, "hmm, that went really well."

"You're kidding right?" Dustin said.

"That's the worst I've ever seen her. She must be really stressed."

"Stressed doesn't give you the right to treat people like human garbage. Geez, she's got a foul mouth on her. This day is going to last forever. I can't wait to go home after my legal obligation. I'm never going to fill my creative one, that's for sure."

When everyone was in place, El looked around. "Everyone all tuned up?"

She gave Mike what he would describe as an evil glare.

Screw you El.

"Ok Lucas, take five… one, two, thee..."

Mike got through the first note, but on the second. El cut again. And again. And Again. And again. Mike lost count, but then heard Lucas say.

"Take fourteen."

Five notes into it, Mike waited for it, and was relieved on the sixth note when he heard.

"Cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut!" Her screech was hysterical.

She leaned over and pounded her thighs, "Hey, asshole, shit for brains guitar player. Ever heard of tuning. That's where every goddamn string is tuned. All the time."

"I'm in tune Eleven."

"Don't you dare call me that." She gave him a menacing look. Mike suddenly had a headache and felt nauseated.

"Take fifteen Lucas, let's just get this stupid idea of Mike's recorded and move on."

"One, two, three."

This time the screech was different. "Lucaaaaaaaaas!"

She turned to Mike, the look of disdain evident on her face. It was ugly on her. "I can't hear Mr. Wheeler's guitar, I know he's not stupid enough to have it unplugged, are you stupid enough to have channel turned down too low?"

Lucas must have been used to this, "The reason you can't hear him El, is because he's not playing."

Mike pretended to be innocently counting the dots on his fretboard, and cleaning bits of dust on him.

"Mike," she said sweetly, a dangerous smile on her face. "If you don't want to play what I tell you to play, why not just let the musicians play, and you scoot on home?"

"I have been playing what you want. All day, and for the last fourteeen takes but you know what? That is a great idea. Best one today."

Mike unslung his guitar and settled it deliberately on the stand. He looked up to El.

"What do you think you're doing?" She said, her hands on her hips, the smile faltered a little.

"Um, I'm going home. If you could get me a ride home, I'd appreciate it. I miss my baby sister Holly and I just want a hug from her and to read her a bedtime story.

"Dustin, Max, was great playing with such talented musicians. El you already know you are a good singer. You are the El Hopper, but can't say I've enjoyed this. And...

Max and Dustin looked at each other and shrugged.

"And what Mike?" She still had her hands on her hips, her smile and faded a little more, and it seemed her attitude had shifted slightly,

"Um, screw you. Oh..."

He started to work at the tight knot he'd put in the shirt-bandage around his wrist.

And then Eleven showed up, she hurried over to him and clasped both hands around his wrist so he had to stop his effort to untie the strip.

"Oh no. Oh no no no no no no. I really did it this time didn't I?"

Mike raised his eyebrows to her. "Not gonna work this time. El."

"Please call me Eleven."

"Uh, no."

"Now if you'd remove your hands I will take this off."

Her face had changed, it was a Jekyll and Hyde moment that would have been fascinating if it wasn't so sad and painful to watch, "please keep it on Mike."

"Can't do it EL, it was a reminder for me that people can change, and," he snorted, "I missed that one by a mile. It was also a reminder for me not to make a girl cry, but for me, it was really a reminder to never make you cry. I'm never going to feel good about that. But… I don't know that girl anymore. So it's coming off… and… you know what? I've never broken a promise before. But I'm going to break the one I made to a girl called Eleven. She's lost and I can't seem to get her back."

"Eleven was the girl that is pretty on the inside and the outside. You are an ugly snarly bitch." he tapped her heart. "Not so pretty."

"It wasn't just a reminder for you," El said, Really she Eleven again. The tears were flowing rapidly down her cheeks, smearing her make up.

"It was a reminder that someone saw me as a real human being. That I wasn't just a numbered experiment in a lab."

What was she talking about?

"Just knowing that you were wearing it made me think that I was worth being rescued, worth saving… and worth loving."

The studio lights flickered, some of the amps complained by buzzing a little.

Her heavy sobs where breaking Mike's heart. But he knew that in a few minutes if he gave, in her 'creativity' would kick in and they'd be back to 'not so pretty'

Suddenly there was a flash. El turned to look at Lucas, and a camera flashed again. Then a few more times.

"Lucas," Mike said, "what the hell? Eleven is hurting here, that's just bad karma taking her picture like that."

"She wanted me to."

"Uh, no girl wants you to take a picture of them crying."

"I'll explain later."

"You don't need to explain to me. You need to explain to Eleven."

Eleven was crying harder than Mike thought was possible. Dustin pulled Max and Lucas out of the room. Mike heard a click, knowing the sound and been turned off and they couldn't be heard.

Mike was once again unsure of what to do, so he hugged her again. He didn't say anything this time, he just held her tightly and let her cry on his shoulder.

She cried a long time. It was impossible for Mike's eyes not to water, he thought of how kind she had been to Holly. How much fun it had been to talk about music with her. In short, he only thought of the good things. He'd have to forget this morning, the insults, name calling and screaming at him. That wasn't Eleven. He knew that. This industry was destroying her.

Mike lost track of time. He didn't mind holding her. She was soft and warm, and so vulnerable. He just wanted to protect her. He didn't know how.

Finally he heard, "what can I do to make you stay with me… us in the studio? I'll do anything Mike. Just ask."

"That's an easy one. Just be Eleven. That's all."

"I can do that... thank you Mike. You have no idea how much that means to me."

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PMM: What does it mean for 11 now that Mike has quit the group?

MW: I was never in the group.

EH: The recording session for this album was intense, we are going to be taking a break from each other for while. [she looks wistfully at Mike]. Who knows, we may collaborate on other projects, but for now Mike has fulfilled his contractual obligation to the band, and the band has fulfilled its contractual obligation to the record company. [El winks] Stay tuned.

- Pop Music Magazine

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"Eleven, um, why did Lucas take your picture? That was an awful thing for him to do when you were feeling like that."

She sighed. "It's for the album cover. The record company only wants headshots of me. So I wanted to give them something a little more honest. I guess I might as well be honest with you too. I'll always want to be honest with you Mike, you deserve that and so much more from me."

"I am just happy to see Eleven again."

"The last two album titles have personal meaning for me, and… not right now, but I might be able to tell you in the future what they mean. This album title is going to be called, 'Not So Pretty' "

Mike frowned. "You don't have to make me feel bad Eleven. I forgive you. I'd rather not have a constant reminder that I said those things to you.."

"Don't think of it like that Mike, think of it as you helping me escape my past. You'll understand later."

There it was a again, that hint that something bad had happened to her years ago."

Dustin and Max came back into the studio.

Once everyone was comfortable at their spots.

El leaned into the microphone.

"Change of plans."

"Lucas. Dustin, Max. Please listen to what Mike has to say."

Everyone looked at him, but it was Eleven's hopeful eyes that made him want to make her proud.

Not of him, but of herself.

He was hurting a little, sure. What hurt more was the realization that he was probably in love with her, but clearly her first love was music, and Mike would always be second in line.

She would never return his feelings.