First There is a Pixie

El Hopper insists there is no connection between, Mike Wheeler's stage fright and the temporary replacement for few shows he was absent. "It was the plan all along, Mike was perfectly ok with it."

She also insists that his replacement was not the reason that the band decided to take a bit of a hiatus from recording and touring.

RMM suspects they are working on a new project that they are keeping under wraps.

- Rock Music Magazine

XXXXX

Mike had surprised himself when he took over the recording session. It was what he had in mind when he'd first slowed down the 45.

Eleven had looked at him like he'd just saved her life, he thought that was a little overly dramatic, but then she kissed him again, and she kissed him like he actually had saved her life.

"I'm never going to be able to thank you enough for today Mike."

He was embarrassed to tell her it was his first kiss. He would have preferred it to to be a simple kiss on the lips with her but he was very ok with the way it happened..

Eleven never thought of herself as being a humble person. Max had told her enough times that humility was not her strong suit. She wasn't insulted, she knew she was a boisterous type A.

Mike had changed that for her. At first it was a slow process, but the last take on the song had been an eye opener for her. Someone else could have good ideas for her songs, and those ideas would work just fine, but she had to let them take control,

She was on the bus being very quiet. She was still feeling the sting of Mike's words in the studio. And she could still feel his protective arms around her. She knew she would go back to that moment for the rest of her life.

Lucas came up to her. "I hate to kick you when you're down, but you need to hear it."

Lucas played her the takes, not the music, just her shrieking at Mike. She started to cry, and Lucas said, "Ok, we can stop here."

"No, Lucas. I need to hear it all. I need to hear it all." She kept the headset on.

She cringed every time her voice came on. Every malicious insult she threw at MIke. His character, his playing, his personality. She didn't deserve MIke. She didn't have him… maybe never would, but listening to that side of her made her rethink everything. She wanted Mike so bad she could taste it. But he knew what lurked underneath, he would never be ok with that.

She made an unpleasant laugh, "Hi Mike, I'm really a nasty bitch sometimes but can we go out, like forever?" Yeah, that wasn't going to happen. As that knowledge settled in, she listened on.

Ok. So they would never be together, she'd settle for forgiveness. Mike's heart was capable of that. If she had to guess, she'd say that Mike had infinite amounts of of forgiveness and that gave her strength to go talk to him

"What's wrong Eleven?" His voice was low and the concern for her hit her hard.

She started talking and after a few seconds, he put his fingers across her lips.

With a simple gesture and few words he forgave her. The weight on her shoulders seemed to lift away and her eyes drooped, She leaned her head on his shoulder. She didn't remember falling asleep there.

XXXXX

Somebody managed to leak an outtake from a recording studio where it's been rumoured that 11 booked. RMM has heard the tape. If it's any indication of what they are doing, they are going to turn the rock music world Upside Down.

- Rock Music Magazine

XXXXX

El woke up. She was at peace.

She was lying on top of Mike and her face was pressed against Mike's cheek. Her mouth was parted and a serious amount of drool and dripped on to his face, into his hair.

It couldn't have been comfortable for him. She very carefully got up to get a warm cloth and cleaned him up. She managed to catch Lucas amongst the band's equipment and he gave her the news.

She figured it would wake him up, and she felt her face heat up when she explained. It didn't bother him a bit. She was going to make a comment about marking her territory, but thought that might be too personal and too fast for him.

She told him about early release of the song, and the contract stuff she'd had re-drawn up. She wanted to reward Mike's efforts, especially after what she had put him through.

When asked about being paid in kisses, she to stop herself from saying yes, and just smothering in non-stop kisses. She couldn't do that of course, he would feel her heart jack-hammering through her lips.

He signed. He was trusting her. Eleven felt good about it, Mike would get an equal share for his hard work.

The jam session had been a lot of fun, she couldn't remember having that much fun in a long time just playing music with just the intent to enjoy the playing.

Mike didn't know it, but when she sang a few of the love songs she'd written she was singing them to Mike. He wasn't aware, but the rest of the band was. Max kept giving her sly smiles through the whole jam.

Later when they were done, she and Max were sitting on one of the sofa's. Max rolled her eyes.

"Why don't you give him a sign? I already told you to do that."

"Max, don't you think those two kisses, um, with a very eager tongue I might add… don't you think those were a good sign?"

"Then just tell him, 'El, You really have nothing to lose at this point. You'll feel better knowing one way or another."

She screwed up the courage and later in the evening went over to sit with him.

"Are we good? I mean you and I?"

"Yeah Eleven, we are good."

"I like you." There she said it. Her heart let her know how she felt,

"I like you too Eleven, we had a bit of a rocky start, but I think of us as friends now."

Hmm, he just thinks I'm being friendly, so she upped her game a little, "no, I mean I really like you." It looked like it had an effect but Mike was being very cool about it.

"And I really like you. We are friends. Right? Am I missing something?"

She sighed. "Why haven't you asked me out?" She didn't want to sound like she was whining, but she hoped her eyes conveyed what she was feeling.

He drew in a deep breath and gave his own sigh. "I already told you I'd always be honest with you. Nothing has changed there. Do you want to know why?

She looked down, she could not keep the disappointment from her voice. He was going to give her the we can still be friends speech. Guys hated it, but if they ever knew how it felt for a girl, they wouldn't even try.

He gave her some bullshit about being a celebrity. I'm was just an ordinary girl, she thought sure I got lucky with my music, but I'm still me. She kept listening.

He said something that gave her a little hope. She had to agree with the fact that he would never see her if she was on the road. Unless he was in the band, but she didn't think he would ever agree to that.

"But. those are just excuses to make me feel better. They aren't the real reason."

"Mike, friends tell the truth."

"You won't like it."

"I already don't like it. Tell me the truth."

"I am ready to make a commitment to you."

She wasn't ready for those words, she was even a little confused when she spoke. She was feeling a lightheaded.

"Forever Eleven. I would stay with you forever."

Why would he say that? Unless… unless he loved her? She felt he was the kind of guy who would say that to the girl he loved.

Eleven didn't have time to cry, laugh, or even smile.

Instead, she fainted.

She felt something soft on her lips, she opened her eyes, Mike was looking intently at her

"I guess kissing sleeping beauty does wake her up."

"What happened?"

"Eleven," Mike looked around frustrated, "I wish there was some place a more private we could talk."

She smiled at him, and grabbed his hand, "follow me."

The both managed to fit into the tiny washroom on the tour bus. They were standing no more than a foot apart.

"You are not joining the mile high club today." She gave him her best smirk.

"Eleven." He reached for her hands and held them over his heart. It was pounding, she could feel the thump through his shirt. A tear made its way down his cheek. He wiped it away.

"You are rich and famous. This," he gave her hands a light squeeze over his heart. "...is all I have. Once I risk and lose that… I don't think I could lo- uh, be with anyone again."

She undid the top button of her plaid shirt, took one of his hands, and placed it over her heart under her shirt.

"You may be risking your heart Mike, but I'm giving you mine. All of it." She was looking into his deep brown eyes. "And Mike everything you can see and touch in front of you, is yours. Also, all of it.

His eyes widened.

She winked and gave him a nervous giggle, "but you don't get the sweet stuff right away Mike, that has to wait."

"I know you don't think I can commit because of my career, but I will remind you of this conversation in ten days, in ten months, and every ten years until you believe me."

"Just say the word, Mike I will give it all up right now, this second if we are together. I would never regret it… just say the word…" She had never felt so sure of anything in her life. She would give it all up for him.

"I'll never ask you to give up your music. I've seen the passion you put into it… ok Eleven. I'm scared to death, but ok..."

He had a worn through spot on the elbow of his shirt. She watched him put his finger through and ripped it, eventually removed the lower half of the sleeve.

"Your shirt has your tears on it, this has mine," He started to tie it around her wrist and saw the tattoo.

"You tattooed the band's, uh your name on your wrist? That's dedication."

She immediately covered it up. "No." She looked at the strip of ripped shirt. "Tie it around the tattoo… please."

When he finished she reach up and put her arms around his neck, gave him a simple but lingering kiss. "Thank you Mike. I will make you happy for the rest of your life. I promise"

There was a rap on the door, and she heard Dustin saying, "some of us need to actually use the facilities for something other than getting into a club."

Both her and Mike laughed and opened the door.

"It wasn't even locked, Dustin, you would have caught me kissing Mike, that's it."

"Uh huh," he winked at them as he passed.

"We should get some sleep, we'll be in Hawkins in the morning."

She followed Mike to the sofa he'd been using and sat down beside him on it.

Her face hot she asked, "Mike, can I sleep beside you?"

He nodded, he lay back and she settled in beside him her back to the sofa cushion. He put his arm around her waist.

She snuggled her face between his neck and shoulder. "I could have fifty bodyguards if I wanted to. None of them would make me feel as safe as I do right now with you."

His comforting squeeze sent her off to sleep.

El Hopper has never revealed where she went for those missing four weeks. On listening to the new album (fourth for those of you keeping score) we can guess what happened if not where she went.

- Rock Music Magazine

XXXXX

Mike sat up, and started rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Ok before we hit him with this." He felt soft lips kiss his cheek.

He looked across to the other sofa, Max, Dustin and Lucas were watching him. Eleven sat beside him.

"Hit me with what?"

"You and I play really well off each other," Max said.

"We are never going to find someone our age who can play those guitar bits before the record company wants us to tour." Dustin said.

Mike felt the knot in his stomach. He knew what was coming.

"I'm not a rock star." he said, already knowing he was going to lose his argument if he even peaked at Eleven's eyes.

"You could be. Just think of the girls you'd get."

Max was given and immediate dagger stare from Eleven.

Mike looked at the three of them across from him. "You'll notice I'm not looking sideways towards my girlfriend. Because if I take one look at those eyes, your band is going to have a new member."

And then he deliberately looked into Eleven's eyes. Her smile tore him apart.

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his face all over, repeatedly.

They heard the bus driver's voice over the bus speakers. "We're here kids."

Eleven rolled her eyes.

The bus had parked in front of Eleven's house. Mike stepped off after her, she whispered in his ear, "don't look now but blonde tornado coming your way."

"Mikey!"

Holly was running across the lawn, he picked her up and swung her around, when she saw Eleven over his shoulder, she shouted. "Eleven!"

Mike put her down and she ran to Eleven who was down on one knee,"hey sweetie!" They gave each other a tight hug and he watched Holly whisper something to her. Eleven scrunched up her nose smiling, nodded and said, "yes."

Holly started to head back to the house and called back to Mike, "I want to show you my new barbie… "

"What was the secret about?" he asked Eleven.

" A few days before the bandage incident, I was sitting on my front step crying… over you… and Holly asked why I was sad. I didn't want to tell her I was lonely, I thought she wouldn't understand, so I said I didn't have a boyfriend. And then she said…"

A tear trickled into view. "... I'll ask Mikey, he'd be your boyfriend and be really nice to you. I cried even harder, and she hugged me. Said you gave good hugs too. I cried more. She wouldn't stop hugging me until I was down to sniffles."

Mike smiled at her, "that's what I do for her. Hug her to sniffles. Works every time."

"For the record, you do give good hugs." She put his arms around his neck again. His arms automatically when around her waist.

"I'm coming to the realization that I'm a very very lucky girl."

"It's me that's lucky Eleven. Ok, now I have to go hug Holly again… you'll be over later?"

"No, you are coming over here to meet my dad."

Eleven walked back to his basement afterwards. They held hands but she was quiet on the walk over.

"Mike, I hate to do this to you."

He felt like it was going to be bad news. "Um, you're not kicking out of the band are you, you just coerced me into joining this morning." He tried to keep his voice light.

"No, and I'm not breaking up with you either. I have to go away for five or six days, maybe up to two weeks. When I get back we'll only be able to see each other in the evening for about a month or so. After that, we rehearse for the tour so you'll see me for fifteen hours a day. That will be a true test of our relationship." Eleven smiled at him.

"Um, ok." Mike felt a bit lost, this was more mysterious than he thought it was going to be. And unexpected.

"You didn't have to come here to tell me that, Eleven. You could have told me that in front of your dad."

"I know. There are no secrets between my dad and I. That's something you'll have to get used to. No compromises there. Ok? He also knows why I came here with you."

"Ok Eleven… um, why did you come back here."

Eleven gave Mike a full throated laugh. "I came here to neck with my boyfriend for a couple of hours. I mean, we could play some music together too, you know, if you get tired of kissing me."

"One thing Mike. Your hands don't wander unless mine do. Deal?" He nodded he had more respect for her than he knew most guys were capable of.

Before Eleven left for the night she said, "I want you to have something to remember until I come back."

Their final kiss of the night left them both breathless. Eleven looked into his eyes, "Ok that was more for me than for you, I'll be back to you Mike."

The first day without Eleven was a lot more difficult than Mike thought it would be.

The second day without Eleven was painful.

The third day without Eleven, he was resteless, at a loss, he wandered around the basement. He didn't feel like doing anything but crying he missed her so much.

The fourth day without Eleven, he didn't care.

His best friend Will and been pulled out of the quarry. He had lost his best friend. Forever.

All he wanted to do was hold Eleven and cry on her shoulder, but he had no idea where she was.