Chapter 3:
AN: I have no excuses for not uploading other than work, anyway on with the story!
Hop awoke to a sound he would never get used to, the sound of his daughter screaming. He sprinted from his bed down the hall to her room. When he opened the door he found her asleep but crying.
"Stop," El screamed with tears running down her face. "Your gone, you aren't real"
"El," Hop said as he gently shook her awake.
Her eyes flew open, and she looked like she had seen a ghost. She locked eyes with her father and her shoulders relaxed.
"You okay?" He asked.
She nodded her head as she caught her breath. He rubbed her arm in comfort for a moment.
"I'm sorry," She whispered after a moment. "You can go back to sleep."
"You sure your, okay?" Hop asked again, hoping she would tell him what was wrong.
"Yes," El replied with a small smile.
"Okay," He kissed her head and made his way into the hallway. He looked at his watch, it was 5 am, he knew he wouldn't get back to sleep so he made his way downstairs.
He watched TV, had breakfast, got ready for work and before he knew it it was time to leave.
Like clockwork he heard a knock on the door as he was grabbing his keys at 8:30. He opened the door for the all too familiar darkhaired boy.
"Morning," Mike said as Hop opened the door for him to come in.
"Hey kid," He grumbled. "El's upstairs,"
"Ok," Mike nodded heading for the stairs.
"Wait," Hop said and Mike stopped dead in his tracks on the second step.
Oh no, he thought to himself, what did he do wrong.
"Everything okay?" Mike asked raising his eyebrow.
"She had another nightmare last night," Hop explained in a low voice.
"Another?" Mike questioned.
"They've been happening more and more," Hop said furrowing his brow. "She used to have them a lot at the cabin when she first started living with me."
"What are they about?" Mike asked quietly.
"I don't know she won't say,"
Mike pondered then looked towards the direction on El's room.
"See if she will talk about it with you," Hop said slightly pleading. "I'm worried."
"Okay," Mike said seeing the worry in Hop's eyes. "I'll talk to her about it."
"Thanks kid," Hop sighed as he walked out the door.
Mike continued his way up the stairs and down the hall to El's room. He opened the door slowly, the curtains were half drawn, there was some light coming in. He could see El laying on her side. He tried to be as quiet as possible, he walked over to the other side of the bed and kicked off his sneakers. He slide quietly under the covers.
This had been the routine they had developed for the last few weeks since El moved. Mike would come over first thing, they would spend the morning together and usually meet up with their friends by noon if there were no other plans. Usually, El was awake when Mike arrived, but sometimes they would just lay together. Hop would probably be furious to find Mike in El's bed with her but Mike knew they weren't ready for anything like that yet.
He laid on his side, staring at the back of El's head for a moment before she turned to look at him.
"Good morning," She smiled sleepily.
"Good morning," Mike said wrapping his arm around her waist. "You slept in today,"
"Yeah," El said with a yawn. "I got up an hour ago to brush my teeth, but I laid back down for a second and must have fallen asleep again."
"Does that mean I can kiss you since you brushed your teeth already?" Mike teased.
The first time El had been asleep when Mike showed up she refused to kiss him until she got ready and brushed her teeth.
"Yes," El smirked. She lifted her head and kissed his lips lightly.
Mike looked down at her and noticed slight dark circles forming around her eyes. She hasn't been sleeping well, he thought to himself. He brushed her hair lightly off her face.
"Did you sleep okay?" Mike asked trying to sound casual.
It didn't work because as soon as he asked El gave him a suspicious look.
"Yeah…..why?" She answered slowly.
"Just wondering," Mike said too quickly.
There was a brief silence before El spoke again. "He told you didn't he?"
Mike was going to play dumb but it was no use. "Yeah,"
"Ugh Hop," El sighed she got up out of bed and opened the curtains, letting the daylight in.
"He's just worried," Mike reasoned as he watched her grab some clothes and head into her closet to change.
"He shouldn't have told you," El said loudly from inside the closet.
The door opened quickly an El stepped out, she had on high waisted denim shorts and a blue/white pattern sleeveless top that was tucked in. She went over to her desk and grabbed a hairbrush and began running it through her hair. She was looking out the window at the front lawn.
Mike got up and joined her, standing behind her and snaking his arms around her waist.
"Hey," He said resting his head on her shoulder. "Talk to me."
She sighed and put the brush down and leaned into him.
"It was about papa," She whispered.
Mike stayed quiet hoping she would keep going, when she didn't he took her hand and lead her back over to the bed and they sat down facing each other.
"Was it…" Mike started unsure. "about the lab?"
"Yes and no," El said shaking her head and looking at her hands. "Sometimes its like flashbacks…..to all the terrible things he made me do. But now its like he's….trying to reach me."
"What do you mean?" Mike asked his eyebrows furrowing.
"It's kind of like I'm in the void, but I'm not," El said struggling to explain.
"Maybe your powers are coming back?" Mike questioned.
"No it's not the same," She winced, Mike knew she was upset her powers had not returned. "It's like he's talking to me."
Mike stayed quiet as El worked through her thoughts.
"Last night he kept talking about my powers, how extraordinary I am," She explained. "He kept repeating himself over and over and I could see his face."
"What was he repeating?" Mike asked.
"Eleven are you there? Eleven are you listening?" She said quietly.
"This all sounds crazy I know," El said suddenly shaking her head. "But between these dreams and that man saying papa was alive I just…."
"No," Mike assured her my taking her hands in his. "After all we've been through nothings impossible."
"I've just been thinking about it a lot," El explained. "That's probably why I keep having nightmares."
"Thank you for telling me," Mike said kissing her cheek. "I know its hard to talk about."
Just then El's stomach made a growling noise and she cracked a smile.
"Eggos it is!" Mike jumped up and ran downstairs to the kitchen.
El laughed and made her bed quickly before heading downstairs. She wasn't sure what these dreams meant yet but she had a strange feeling about them.
Later on, Lucas, Will, Dustin and Max pulled up to El's house on their bikes. Will ran up first and knocked loudly on the door three times.
"You don't have to knock," Dustin scoffed. "Hop isn't home."
"Yeah," Will began. "But I need to give them a warning. Mike is already here and I don't want to walk in on anything."
They all laughed as El opened the door for them.
"What?" She asked as they all entered still laughing.
"Nothing," Max said wrapping her arm around her best friend. "Where's Wheeler?"
"Kitchen," El said tilting her head to the right.
They all shuffled in to find Mike sitting at the small breakfast table littered with textbooks and paper.
"Wow," Lucas said seeing all the books. "What are you doing?"
"Extra credit?" Will asked picking up one of their math textbooks.
"I'm helping El with math," Mike said beginning to put all the schoolwork away.
"He's been tutoring me in the morning before we see you guys," El explained.
"Sexy," Max teased.
"Shut up," El laughed bumping her friend's shoulder with her own. "It's so I can go to school with you in the fall."
"What?!" All 4 of them said in unison turning towards El.
"Yeah she got the go ahead from Owens," Mike smiled. "He thought it would look more suspicious if they moved to town and El didn't come to school."
"But now I actually have to be able to do the work," El sighed.
"You're doing great," Mike beamed from his chair.
"El you're working off of our math book from last year," Will said holding up the textbook. "Some of the kids going to school with us now can't even do this."
"Well, I've been working on catching up for a while," El explained. "I had to do something in the cabin for a year and a half besides watch movies."
"That's crazy though," Dustin said shaking his head as he looked through some of the papers on the table. "You went through over 5 years of schooling in a year and a half."
"Atta girl," Max smiled.
"Yeah I knew you were talented El I didn't know you were a genius," Lucas said from his spot next to Mike.
"Hardly," El said shifting nervously. "Much less talented now without my car flipping abilities."
"We love you even without them," Mike assured her taking her hand.
"Yeah plus you can't have it all El," Max teased. "You can't be hot, a genius and be telekinetic…..geez leave something for the rest of us."
El blushed at her friends kind words and looked out the window at the beautiful summer day.
"Okay okay what are we doing today now that studying is over?" Dustin asked.
"Arcade? Movies? Swimming?" Will mused leaning against the wall.
"Its so nice out," Max said. "Let's go swimming."
They all agreed and headed home to gather their things for the pool. El grabbed her backpack and put in some sunscreen, sunglasses, and her book she was reading. She was trying to get through some of the reading list Mike told her about. She locked the door to the house and got on her bike. Thankfully Mike taught her how to ride his bike when she was stuck in the cabin. One of the few things that kept them busy. El stopped at the corner of Mike's Street where they all planned to meet once they were ready.
"Your quick," Mike laughed walking his bike over to her. He was wearing dark blue swim trunks and this same grey t-shirt from earlier.
"I just threw a few things in my bag," El shrugged.
"Where's your swimsuit?" Max asked El as she pulled up on her bike.
"I don't have one," El replied simply.
"Why didn't you tell me," Max said confused. "I could have brought you one of mine."
El looked to the ground nervously. Mike and Max looked to each other for answers but both friends looked puzzled.
"El what's wrong," Mike asked gently putting his hand on her shoulder.
"I can't swim," El explained slowly.
"We can teach you," Max offered.
"Yeah why don't you and Max go get something for you to wear then meet us at the pool and we can teach you," Mike planned as Max nodded getting back on her bike.
"No," El said quickly grabbing Max's arm to stop her from biking back to her house.
They both stopped and looked at her silently. Something was definitely wrong.
"I…I don't want to learn," El said emphasizing "want" as she spoke.
"Why not?" Max wondered.
"It scares me," El said quietly. "It reminds me of the bath."
El saw the realization dawn on Mike's face as she explained. He could have kicked himself for being so stupid. Of course she was traumatized by water.
"The what?" Max asked.
"It was a sensory deprivation tank," Mike explained. "Brenner used to put her in it, and she would go to the upside down and all kinds of fucked up stuff."
"I'm sorry El," Max said honestly. "I wouldn't have suggested swimming if I had of known."
"Its okay," El smiled. "Really I want you guys to go. I brought my book, I'll watch."
"Are you sure?" Mike asked.
"Yes," El assured as the others rode up on their bikes.
"Let's go!" Dustin called loudly as he rode past them.
The three got onto their bikes and followed after their friends. Once they got to the pool they laid their stuff next to a few chairs. It wasn't too busy yet, but lots of kids of various ages all around. El sat down on one of the chairs and got out her book. The boys and Max leaped into the pool and El watched in amusement.
Once in the pool Max and Mike quickly explained to the others El's situation. They understood, but were sad she didn't want to join. Dustin then began a contest for who could hold their breath longer under water.
El enjoyed watching her friends play in the water. She also enjoyed people watching all the strangers around her. Until this summer she hadn't seen so many people in one spot. It was fascinating to watch. She watched little kids play in the water with their mothers, teen girls giggling with their friends…etc. She turned her attention back to her book, she was really getting into it. She got lost in the story and soon enough her friends were getting out of the pool for a break/to join her.
"Who won?" She smirked as they all dried off with their towels.
"Will!" Dustin said patting his friend on the back proudly.
"Yeah, he has a weirdly good lung capacity," Lucas said suspiciously.
They lazed around in the sun chatting for hours. All the teens felt at ease and normal for the first time in forever.
"When is the D&D campaign going to be ready?" Dustin asked Mike excitedly.
"I finished last night," Mike said as he laid in the sun with one arm wrapped around El's waist.
"Can we play this week?" Will asked trying not to be pushy but really wanting to play.
"Sure," Mike said smiling at his friend. "How about tomorrow after El's done studying?"
"Perfect," Lucas agreed as the rest of the group nodded.
"And we will have a girls day," Max smiled looking down at her friend.
El smiled back, she loved all her friends, but it was nice to have some just girl time with Max.
Suddenly Dustin stomach started growly loudly.
"Lunch?" Lucas offered to the group and they all nodded.
As they all began gathering their belongings Max called over to El from her spot behind the pool chair.
"El can you grab my t-shirt?" She said pointing. "Its just behind you next to the edge of the pool."
"Sure," El said as she turned and leaned over to pick it up.
As she turned around a pair of six-year-old children ran by and accidently knocked her off her balance. To El it all felt like it was happening in slow motion. She reached out as she fell backward, waiting for the impact of the water.
Mike happened to turn at the right moment and reacted quickly grabbing El's hand. Unfortunately, she was moving faster than he was and he ended up falling in with her.
El felt the familiar and eerie sensation of the water enveloping her. She thankfully thought quick enough to hold her breath, her eyes squeezed shut. Before she even had time to think of what she should do next she felt something wrap around her and pull. Quickly her head surfaced, and she coughed slightly. She used her hands to smooth her hair away from her face and she opened her eyes to find Mike looking back at her with panic in his eyes.
"You okay?" Mike asked.
It took El a moment to answer as she realized what was happening. Mike was holding her up out of the water. Her hands were on his shoulders and his arm was wrapped tightly around her waist. She could feel his legs moving as she tread water to keep them both afloat.
She nodded back at him and he pulled her over to the edge of the pool. Max and Lucas reached over and grabbed her arm as Mike helped her sit on the edge. Mike put his hands on her knees and looked her in the eyes again.
"Are you okay?" The lifeguard said as she ran over to the party.
"Yeah," El said taking a deep breath without coughing.
"Nice job Wheeler," The lifeguard said as Mike got out of the pool. It was Kelly one of the girls Nancy knew. "You could work here next year,"
Mike smiled and thanked her before turning his full attention back to El. She was completely soaked, her shorts and sleeves clinging to her. Will draped a towel over her shoulders.
"Sorry El but that was insane!" Dustin said with a slight laugh.
"Dustin," Mike said shooting him a glare.
"Really I'm okay," El said as she whipped her face with the towel.
"You sure?" Max said apprehensively.
"Yeah," El said with a light laugh. "I mean it surprised me but…."
"but…." Mike prompted as he waited for her to talk about a flashback of the bath or the upside down.
"I dunno," El shrugged kind of embarrassed. "Once I realized you were holding me, I didn't feel scared."
The way she said it made Mikes heart instantly melt. He loved how he was always the first person she called for or needed when something was wrong, the way he made her feel safe. The couple did not get to enjoy the sweet moment for long of course because their friends were there too.
"Oh god," Lucas said as Dustin made a fake vomiting noise.
"Shut up," Max said elbowing him in the side. "That's cute!"
"I'm no longer hungry," Dustin groaned. "But we should go anyway."
The party headed home on their bikes, they all changed, grabbed something to eat and spent the rest of the day in Mike's basement playing games. Once most of them had left to get home for dinner only Mike and El remained.
"I should go," El mused from her spot curled into Mike's side on the couch. "Your mom will be back soon."
"I know your right but I don't want you to go," Mike smirked.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning," El said trying to soften the blow.
"Ok," Mike said kissing her lightly on the lips.
El got up then turned back to her boyfriend. "Mike?"
"About what happened today…" She began as she played with her fingers nervously.
"Yeah?" He urged her to go on.
"I think I want you to teach me how to swim after all."
"Sure El," Mike smiled. "I'd be happy to."
