A huge shout out to everyone who has kept up with this story, but going to give some extra special shoutouts to DandelionMurmur, darthstormer , oldestj1, jullauk, disneyprincess315 and some guests as well, because you have all been diligent in leaving reviews for this story which is really amazing and each one leaves my heart full. Of course thank you to those who leave reviews in general because it's what we writers live for and we love them more than you know.
Also, I'm so sorry this chapter took forever and a day to get out! Being incredibly busy at work on top of having jury duty and going on a week vacation I have had zero time to work on this story. But, I'm hoping to pick back up! Sorry for any typos too!
Anyways, on with the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
June 19th, 1993
His mind is basically on autopilot as he shifts around his room uncomfortably, gathering up his night clothing and moving towards his bathroom to change.
He can't get El's suggestion out of his mind.
'What if we both slept in the bed?', her timid but gentle voice caresses his mind like a siren calls to unsuspecting seamen.
He shivers slightly as the words crash over him again and again. Mike shakes his head as he focuses on his task at hand. He quickly changes into his pajamas he wore last night, his old Star Wars t-shirt and a pair of loose boxers. But, he suddenly decides he will throw on a pair of flannel pants since last night's sleeping arrangements were necessarily planned, but it was somewhat awkward since they were both in their underwear.
And of course at the thought of underwear, all Mike's brain can picture is El's small frame in her Star Wars t-shirt in her boy-short panties. Mike groans as he leans against his bathroom counter steadying himself as his knees turn to jello as he thinks of El in that way.
Closing his eyes Mike takes deep steadying breaths allowing himself to calm down slightly and stopping the blood flow to his midsection.
He steadily raises his head to look at his reflection in the mirror. What greets him back is his own reflection, however, dark circles outline the bottom of his glassy eyes and his face is slightly pale. His unruly dark mop of hair is even more ruffled than usual.
Mike's not exactly sure what El sees in him, but with a huff he turns on the knob to the sink and splashes cold water into his face. The shock of the cold makes him take in a deep breath of air as he allows the water to drip slowly from his face and into the sink.
With one more steadying breath Mike reaches for his towel and wipes his face dry. Glancing at the mirror he sees his face has pinkened slightly and nods in satisfaction, knowing this is about as good as it's going to get. And with a quick brush of his teeth, Mike heads back out into his bedroom.
Dustin lets out a loud rumbling snore and Mike rolls his eyes once again as he moves towards his bedroom door and makes the short journey to El's bedroom.
He can feel his heart rate quicken as he approaches the room, he raises his shaking hand and raps softly against the wooden door.
Mike's about to take a step back when the door opens softly and El appears before him.
He's pretty sure he's forgotten how to breathe because in the soft glow of the light that comes from her room causes her to shine. She has her hair tied up into a gentle ponytail and he can see that she's washed her face of her make-up. A toothy smile greets him, "Hey, long time no see" she quips lightly to him.
Mike then remembers that he needs to speak and all he's doing right now is staring at the adorable girl before him. "Uh yeah, no time no see" he tries to joke back, but he realizes how stupid he probably sounded and cringes inwardly. But El's light giggle tells him otherwise.
She steps aside, "Come in" she whispers and Mike surges forward, his legs feeling like lead as he pads into El's room. The weirdness of the situation flits over him at the irony of the situation. He's being invited into a girl's room, that's technically his.
He snaps out of his thoughts when he hears El close the door behind him. He turns around quickly to see that yes, El is once again wearing her Star Wars t-shirt, but like him, this time she is wearing an old pair of shorts that are a light faded yellow.
Their eyes meet. El blushes and ducks her head as she gestures to the room, "Make yourself at home" she jokes and Mike laughs out loud. He turns towards the bed and sits on the edge.
"You know what's funny?" he turns to look at El as she comes and sits herself beside him.
"What?" she asks with a glowing smile.
"I've never stayed in this room before till last night and...well now" he shrugs his shoulders.
El nods at this, "Well, why would you, your bedroom is really nice" she smiles at him again.
She must note his peculiar look because her face flushes slightly as she speaks, "Oh uhm, I kind of checked it out while you were getting toothpaste" she says bashfully.
Mike throws her his own smile, "No worries, it's not much".
El shakes her head at him, "I thought it was really nice, simple but warm and inviting" her voice softens as she shifts on the bed to pull up both of her legs as she wraps her arms around them and rests her chin against her knees.
Mike watches as she settles, she looks upward slightly, a smirk dancing on her lips. "It actually reminded me a little bit of my old room. Your's is a lot neater than I kept mine" she chuckles.
"I noticed your Star Wars posters and other comic book hero posters as well. I wasn't lucky enough to have those, but I did manage to find a worn out A New Hope poster once, but that's not my favorite one" she explains.
Mike can't help but turn away, saddened by what he had and what she didn't. A soft hand finds his and he quickly turns to El.
She gives him a pointed look, "Don't you dare pity me, Mike" her voice is teasing but serious as well.
Mike opens his mouth in shock having been caught in his exact thoughts, but then he remembers El's words from earlier and softens. He shakes his head, "I'm sorry, I really didn't mean-" he starts but El cuts him off, "Don't worry Mike, I know it's not easy".
But Mike shakes his head, "No, I just need to be more empathetic, and not just assume things" he argues back.
El opens her mouth to speak, but then it slowly closes. Mike tightens his hand around hers more firmly "I promise I'm going to be more careful about my reactions and not just assume that you feel a certain way", he gives her a steely look.
At this El cracks a smile, "I believe you Mike, thank you" she whispers.
Mike nods at this, and decides to move past the subject, "So, if A New Hope isn't your favorite, which one is?" trying to contain the giddiness in his voice and as El softly giggles at him as she answers and their conversation continues on into the night.
She's not exactly sure where the sudden surge of confidence came from when she invites Mike to spend the night in her bed once again. Internally, she blames it on the alcohol, but the sober El in the back of her mind knows better; she wanted to be curled up into his side once again.
Granted, she would never have asked Mike to join her in her bed if she wasn't granted the opportunity that struck, do, to Dustin currently occupying Mike's bed. What was even luckier was the fact that she stumbled upon the opportunity having to revisit Mike due to the lack of toothpaste.
El mulls this over as she moves to the dresser in which she had begun storing her few personal belongings of clothing. As she pulls the drawer open she frowns slightly at her quickly dwindling assortment of clothing. For, she realizes that tomorrow she will have to wear the same shirt that she did the other day and ask Mike to use his washer. She flushes in embarrassment at the lack of clothing she owns.
Not that she had much time to think of what to grab in her moment of panic, but even if she had all the time in the world, she wouldn't have too much more than she has now.
Huffing in frustration El quickly grabs her Star Wars shirt from last night. Before she turns to the bathroom to get dressed she stops mid spin from the dresser and moves back to it. She ruffles through the other drawers, where, as Mike said his sisters had left clothing previously. She'd be lying if she hadn't looked through some of the clothes. However, she discovered that one of Mike's sisters is quite small, and the clothing did not fit her. And the other kept an array of frilly, laced clothing that was not El's style by any means. But, luckily she did discover a pair of soft, yellow shorts that would be perfect to sleep in.
Her mind drifts back to last night and both her and Mike's lack of pajama bottoms. She can feel her cheeks darkening even more as her mind traces back to Mike's reaction to her in just her underwear.
Yes, if she was being honest with herself, she was interested in what the boy's initial reaction to her walking around like that would be. And to say she wasn't trying to get some kind of response would be a lie. At first she thought Mike hadn't even noticed, but it didn't take long to see that he definitely had and it caused many stirrings within her to swirl.
El shakes the thoughts from her head as she wills herself to calm down and instead focus on the task at hand and get herself ready for bed. So, she hurries back to the bathroom, changes, brushes her teeth and wipes away the makeup she had applied earlier in the day. With one glance in the mirror she could see the smudged mascara and deep circles under her eyes from lack of sleep and drinking. A quick rub down with a warm washcloth erases this exhaustion.
Just as she finishes tying her hair up into a ponytail El hears a soft knock on her bedroom door and she can feel her heartbeat quicken in her chest. She swallows the giddiness that threatens to spill out as she approaches the door. With a quick deep breath she pulls the door open.
The breath in her throat catches as her eyes descend on Mike, who's standing, near straight as a pin in front of her, he gives her his sheepish smile and she inwardly sighs.
"Hey, long time no see" is out of her mouth before she can stop it and she wants to smack herself in the face for the poor joke. Mike doesn't respond immediately and she catches his dark eyes trailing up and down her body, it causes her to shiver in delight.
Eventually he's brought back to reality, "Uh yeah, no time no see", he jokes back as she invites him in.
There's a weird awkwardness that permeates the room and it causes a weird sensation to fill El. She's never done something like this before, inviting a boy into her room, not that she'd ever really had the chance. But, from the movies she's watched and tried to understand something like this usually leads or means something else.
El scratches that from her mind, however, knowing that what this is, isn't that. Her eyes follow Mike's long figure as he slowly walks into her room, seemingly just as nervous as she is. Finally, he sits down at the foot of the bed, and she decides to mimic him.
She can't help but smile in noticing he too is also wearing his Star Wars sweatshirt and it makes her smile.
Their conversation turns quickly from him talking about never staying in the room, to Mike feeling guilty for her, which she instantly quelches, not wanting him to feel sorry for her in any way possible, not after everything that has happened between them. She's relieved when he agrees to be more mindful of his reaction and instead turns the conversation to Star Wars.
"So, if A New Hope isn't your favorite, which one is?" he asks like a young child, and she can see he's trying to hold back his excitement, so she giggles at him before she answers, "Oh, definitely The Empire Strikes Back".
Mike's mouth drops open in shock and the look on his face causes El to laugh loudly, "No way! That's my favorite too!"
El shakes her head at him, "Why doesn't that surprise me?" she teases and Mike's face flushes slightly, he holds up a hand warily, "And I'm not just saying that it's mine because it's yours" he guards himself. El nods at this, "Mhm" she teases him and this causes Mike to raise an eyebrow in challenge.
It takes him all but two seconds to launch into how The Empire Strikes Back, is by far the greatest Star War film out there. He goes into explanation about the reveal of Darth Vader being Luke's father to the cinematography and storyline. It doesn't take long El to jump in and share her own ideas and likes and dislikes about the film.
At some point El finds herself and Mike now up near the top of the bed, both resting against the large headboard and pillows as they continue to talk.
"You tired?" Mike's low voice causes El to stir.
"What?" she asks, blinking her eyes, the exhaustion of the day wearing on her.
Mike smiles at this, "Go to sleep, you look exhausted".
El chuckles, "Nice thing to say to a lady" she jokes as she rearranges herself beneath the top layer of sheets and settles down onto her pillow.
Mike copies her and lays on his side, facing one another. Her eyes are heavy and she can see that his are doing the same. She reaches out and touches his face, "You're tired too, can barely keep your eyes open" she yawns heavily as she speaks.
Mike laughs as he catches her hand in his, "No, I'm pretty sure you're the tired one" he counters and he moves towards her only leaving an inch of space between them.
In the soft glow of the light from the windows El can still make out the freckles that smatter across Mike's face, he turns slightly onto his back yawning, her hand still in his, causing her to shift closer near him.
"You took my hand" she grumbles, but allows this opportunity to unabashedly raise her head up and rest it against his chest. She curls herself into his side as Mike immediately wraps his spare hand around her waist.
Her head is tucked gently under his chin and she sighs heavily into his embrace. Her eyes fight the tiredness just a bit longer, growing heavier with each blink.
"Goodnight El" Mike whispers just as her eyes close.
"Goodnight Mike" she whispers back. And just as she drifts off into slumber, she feels a soft kiss being placed on her head. A smile grows widely on her face.
"SHHHH you'll wake them!" a hushed whisper hits Mike's ear as his heavy eyes flicker open.
The exhaustion and alcohol from the night before hit him heavily, his bleary mind trying to focus on whatever pulled him from his slumber.
"You think they slept together?" a male voice asks, which is followed closely by a 'Thwack!', and then an "Owww, what the hell Max!?" and several more "Shhhh's" follow.
Mike attempts to not move, hoping that whatever the voices he's hearing will shut up at some point or another and then he can go back to sleep.
"Of course they slept together, they're in the same bed" another voice hisses.
"Mike's still has his shirt on though, don't you thi-" one voice starts but is immediately cut off by another.
"Ugh, don't even go there Dustin, we don't know what they get up to" another voice grumbles.
Just as Mike is beginning to doze once again the name 'Dustin' causes his eyes to open widely. He slowly glances down and sees a mess of brown hair against his chest and last night comes swimming back to him in a light daze.
'El asked me to sleep in her bed' his inner voice reminds him. He softens, knowing that even though they had been drinking, nothing had happened between them. But, he then realizes that the voices he's hearing are his obnoxious friends, who are still "whispering" about them.
As slowly and quietly as he can Mike turns his head towards the door, and there, he can see each of his friends heads peeking through the doorway, but instead of focusing on himself and El they are turned toward one another trying to quietly argue, which they are miserably failing.
"Didn't you see the way they were looking at each other? I'm sure something happened between them" Dustin points a finger at the party with a serious expression.
"Of course we saw that Dustin, how could you not?" Lucas states.
"Guys, this feels wrong, we should just let them be" Will's anxious voice cuts through.
"Well, they were pretty liquored up last night I mean, maybe something did happen?" Max says shrugging as she turns to look back into the room, however, her eyes widen when she sees Mike's dark eyes staring back at her.
Mike watches as Max's mouth drops open, as Dustin, Will and Lucas give her a curious look and then follow her gaze, each of their eyes also meeting Mike's.
Mike raises an eyebrow at his friends and then frowns. It doesn't take his friends long to get the message as they quickly fumble about, shut the door and disappear.
He sighs heavily as he turns his head back down to El who is still tucked snuggly into his side, her breathing gentle and even.
"Your friends are weird and annoying" El's voice is muffled by Mike's chest and he can't help but chuckle.
"I thought you were still asleep" Mike comments as he rests back into the bed.
"I was, but you're friends are very loud" El jokes as she begins to open her eyes.
Just as Mike's looking down he catches El's eyes with his, he can't help but smile at her.
"How did you sleep?" he asks gently.
El hums contently, "Really good, you're a miracle worker or something".
Mike chuckles at this causing El's head to rise and fall with each laugh.
"I'm not joking," she says as she begins to lift her head from his chest.
Mike takes her in, he's pretty sure they hadn't moved an inch throughout the entire night, which might explain his stiff shoulder. But El's hair is a wild mess and the right side of her face is red and splotchy from where she laid on his chest all night.
She must catch his unique expression because she 'harrumphs' and crashes back down onto his chest, causing him to let out a huff of air.
"Ugh, I must look like a mess" she mumbles into his chest. Mike can feel the vibration of her words and he can't say he hates the feeling.
Mike reaches out and attempts to pull her up to look at him, but she's surprisingly strong and holds herself firm, eventually he pulls at her chin and she looks up at him with big, brown, doe eyes and it takes everything in himself to not just sit there and stare at her.
"El, you look beautiful no matter what" he says gently, knowing that his cheeks are now stained red.
She gives him an incredulous look, but he stares back, making sure she understands that he's being truthful. She softens, "Thank you" she whispers and he nods back.
El slowly pushes herself off of him and Mike misses her warmth immediately she looks around the room and then her gaze falls on the closed door. "What do you think our friends are saying about us now?" she quips him a grin with teasing eyes.
It makes Mike laugh as he stretches out his stiff arm, "Oh, you know the usual sultry stuff they usually come up with" he smiles and both of them chuckle at his words.
Mike's stomach then makes a low rumbling noise and El raises an eyebrow at him, "Hungry?" she asks, and Mike nods, "Starving after nothing but empty calories and a lot of beer" he rolls his eyes.
"Ugh, I forget how bad this feels" El mumbles as she goes to push herself off of the bed and stand to her feet, Mike follows her movements, but out of the corner of his eye he sees El stumble slightly. On instinct he reaches out and catches her mid stumble as her arms are thrown up in the air and wrap themselves tightly around his neck.
She giggles into his chest, "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, this is why I don't drink".
Mike laughs with her as he attempts to straighten them, his arms around her waist and her arms still tightly wrapped around him. He can feel the pull of the alcohol still lingering in his system as he sways slightly due to both of their weight, his height not helping in the matter.
"You're lucky I even caught you" he teases as El looks up into his eyes.
"Why, not usually fast on your feet?" she jokes.
Mike shakes his head, scoffing along the way, "Me? Fast, that's a joke".
El giggles softly as she absentmindedly plays with the back of his hair, "Well, I guess I'm just lucky then".
Mike then realizes just how close they're standing to one another. Their chests are pressed tightly together and the way El toys with his hair causes his eyes to roll back slightly. He moves his gaze down to meet hers, she's giving him a gentle smile.
And like smoke, she lightly unravels herself from his embrace as they break away slowly, their eyes still lingering on one another. "I'm going to get ready" she moves towards the bathroom, Mike's gaze never leaving hers.
"Okay" he says dazedly, and with one last smile, El disappears behind the bathroom door as Mike pads slowly to the bedroom door, needing to get ready himself. However, as he leaves El's room, his heart rate quickens at their interaction and a smile never leaves his face. That is until he encounters his friends who wolf-whistle to him as he exits El's room.
He's not sure what he's expecting when he exits El's room, for it's not a usual occurrence for his friends to all be over and witness this unusual event. But when he hears Dustin's wolf-whistle and Lucas loud and over dramatic applauding, he's pretty sure he'd be happy if he just disappeared.
"Well, look who decided to stumble out of bed this morning, or should I say El's bed!" Dustin guaffs and points in Mike's direction.
"Yeah man, we didn't expect that you had it in you" Lucas teases, raising and lowering his eyebrows.
Mike rolls his eyes at his friends as he tries to make it across the living room to his room without too much taunting, "Nothing happened guys" he mutters along the way.
"Oh, suuure" Dustin draws out as Mike flips him off as he beelines it straight for his room for a quick shower and change for the day.
Just as Mike pulls on his shirt and ruffles his mass of curly black hair he hears his door creak open, he doesn't have to look to know it's Pitch.
Mike casts him a look, "You better not be here to tease me either".
Pitch chuckles low, "No, not here to tease, but just check in I guess".
Mike freezes as he stops messing with his unruly hair and turns towards his Anima, "Since when do you 'check in'" Mike air quotes.
Pitch sits and shrugs nonchalantly, "I guess it's because things have never been this serious before".
Mike narrows his eyes at his wolf, "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean...you've never been this serious before about a girl" Pitch stares at him with the same dark eyes that mirror his.
"What do you mean by serious anyways, it's not like anything has happened between us", Mike crosses his arms against his chest, a silent challenge to his Anima.
Pitch raises an eyebrow at him, "But it is serious, there's something different about you with El".
Mike rolls his eyes once again, "Look, I'm just trying to be a good friend is all" he says as he moves towards his closet and pulls out a loose zip-up sweatshirt.
And then he feels it, a deep stirring within him, he turns to look at Pitch who is only smiling broadly at him, "You're lying, and you can feel it that I know you are".
Mike stands pin straight as he looks at his Anima. He silently wishes that in their bizarre world that their souls would just linger inside them, why did they have to manifest themselves like they did? Mike found it more of a nuisance than anything.
"Look, just, let me deal with this okay. It's my life, I've got to figure it out for myself" he states flatly.
Pitch rolls his eyes, "You haven't learned yet, have you?" his voice is low.
Mike raises an eyebrow in challenge.
Sighing heavily Pitch speaks, "I am your soul. I know what you feel, everything!" he stresses. "Don't tell me you don't have deep feelings for this girl because lying isn't exactly your strong suit".
Mike glares at his Anima, "You don't know anything about me" he bites back, and at this Pitch laughs, "That's where you're wrong Mike, I know everything about you, and you refuse to acknowledge it, that's why we don't connect" he barks.
Slowly, Mike lets out a long breath. Pitch waits a moment before he speaks, "You know it's true. And it eats away at you everyday. You refuse to see that I'm right here, that I'm your living breathing soul, yet you don't know how to look within yourself because you're scared to".
Their eyes connect as they stare at one another for a moment. Mike sits on Pitch's words for a moment, but then he shakes his head, "No, you're wrong" he states, gritting his teeth together.
"We don't connect because all you do is talk a big game, you say what you think I feel, but you're wrong!" he seethes. "You think just because you're my soul you have all the answers, but you don't, and that's what kills me" Mike takes in a deep shaking breath.
Pitch lets out a puff of air from his nose, "Well then, I guess you'll have to figure it out the hard way then. Until you accept yourself, you'll never accept me" and with that, Pitch turns slowly and exits through the still slightly open door of Mike's bedroom.
Mike stares after his Anima as he tries to control his breathing. Pitch's words swim around his head like an angry storm, and instead of sitting with them, Mike huffs in anger, tosses on his hoodie and heads out his bedroom door.
Even though she's getting ready in the bathroom she can hear the wolf-whistling and applauding from the other side of her bedroom walls. El's face flushes at their friends' antics, wondering what's going to happen when it's her turn to exit the bedroom.
She was hoping that she and Mike would be up long before them to avoid this exact situation. Not that she was ashamed of letting Mike sleep next to her all night in her bedroom, but the fact that she was quickly learning that her new group of friends were merciless teasers and took any opportunity to pounce on any victim.
So, El quickly got herself ready believing that the sooner she got out there, the quicker the ridicule would be done and over with.
Running a quick brush through her wavy hair and washing her face and brushing her teeth, El moved towards the dresser. She huffed quietly as she realized that she was going to have to ask Mike to wash her clothes later because it was just getting a little embarrassing now. So, she threw on her cleanest pair of jeans and a shirt she hoped wasn't too rank and prepared herself as she exited her bedroom.
Just as she turned the corner where she knew her friends would be lying in wait, a voice caught her.
"Didn't you wear that the other day?"
El turned quickly towards the kitchen where Max stood pointing in her direction and was then turning back to the coffee maker which was beginning to percolate.
She tried her hardest not to blush and sighing inwardly at her bad luck that of course, Max would quickly point out her worries.
El pulls at the hem of her dark shirt and frowns, "Uhm" she begins as she raises her head to see Max staring at her.
"I'm assuming Wheeler hasn't taken you shopping?" the redhead asks.
"Uh" El starts, but is quickly cut off by Max who waves a hand in her direction, "No matter, I'll just have to take you this afternoon" she says as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
El can't help but let out a nervous laugh, "Wait, what do you mean?"
Max gives her a curious look as she moves around Mike's kitchen and fishes out two mugs and pours a generous amount of the dark liquid into each cup. She passes one to El across the island and El takes it into her cold hands, the mug warming them.
"Cream, sugar?" Max asks holding up each one but El shakes her head, "No, black's fine" she gives a wry smile.
"Ugh, you and Wheeler are more alike than you know" she casts El a teasing smirk and now El can't hide her blush.
"Anyways, yeah, I'll take you around the block and have you pick out some new clothing, sound good?" Max gives her a questioning look, waiting for El's answer as Max takes a long sip of her coffee.
El's not really sure what to, she's not used to someone like Max. Fierce, determined, but kind in her own way, her fast pace is like a blur El can't hope to catch up to.
"I'm...I'm not sure" she says shyly.
"Of course you're sure!" Max bellows causing El's face to rise in shock.
"What is she sure about?" a new voice enters their clique and El turns quickly to see Mike looking comfy, but slightly disheveled as he comes to stand beside El at the island.
"Oh, look who's come to join us Mr. Casanova" Max wiggles her eyebrows at Mike and then El, causing them both to flush brilliantly.
Mike buries his head in his face, "Oh my god you guys, just stop" he moans.
Max laughs wildly, "Dude, you did this to yourself! You can't give us fuel for the fire like that without having some kind of reaction".
Mike looks up, "Well, you don't have to embarrass El either" he nods in her direction and El can't help the warm feeling that envelops her at Mike's words.
El reaches out and gently touches Mike's shoulder, "It's okay, I guess it was kind of a weird situation" she shrugs, and Mike nods at this.
"Yeah, if it weren't for someone!" and at this Mike whips his head over his shoulder where Dustin, Lucas and Will have stopped their conversation and are all now staring at them with wide eyes.
"Didn't steal my bed last night, it would have been a different story" he huffs.
Dustin laughs at this, "Could have kicked me out" he suggests and at this Mike rolls his eyes, "Yeah, because that would have been so easy to do with your drunk ass".
Dustin opens his mouth to argue back, but this time El steps in, "Guys, I'm the one that suggested Mike sleep with me...in my bed" she finishes quickly.
"Dustin, you were dead to the world, and that couch was too small for Mike and he refused to take my bed when I offered it to him, so...we just slept together in it, not like we hadn't before" she shrugs nonchalantly, not thinking anything of it. She takes a sip of her coffee and is curious as to why it's suddenly quiet. The party is staring at her all with their eyes wide, and mouths open in shock.
El furrows her eyebrows, but then realizes her last words. "Oops" she says more to herself than anyone else and then all of their friends burst out laughing.
"Oh my god, so you guys did sleep together!" Dustin bends over with laughter as El can feel her face warming.
"No, no, that's not what I-" she waves out her hands, but Lucas cuts her off, "Oh my god Mike, twenty one years with never being with a girl, and you have one in your house for two days!" he pounds on the couch.
The laughter continues, and El peeks up over at Mike and she can see he's looking down at her, a sheepish and guilty look written across her face, for some reason, it breaks her heart. She has been able to tell that poor Mike seems to take the brunt of their friends teasing, and even though he puts on a brave face, she can tell it wears on him.
So, she decides to take a step forward for him, "Guys, come on enough!" she finally raises her voice enough for her friends to stop laughing, but not so harshly that she comes across as mad. With their attention on her she lets out a heavy sigh, "Look, we get that it's funny, and it looks weird, but honestly Mike has been there to support me through a lot, and I really appreciate it" she looks up at Mike and she smiles when she sees him looking at her with awe.
"Please don't harp on us too much, it really isn't that big of a deal" she pleads to them looking at each of them with her big brown doe eyes, and she sees her friends soften.
"We're sorry. We shouldn't rag on you guys too much, especially since you're so new to the group El" Will says gently.
The others nod in agreement. "Well, El, you've figured out that we like to tease, so be careful with what you say and do around us" Max says with a quick wink.
El releases her tight shoulders and smiles at the redheaded girl who finishes the last of her coffee and points to Mike. "Dude, I'm taking her out shopping, she needs more clothes" she states firmly.
Mike turns towards her with a surprised look, "Uh Max did you forget we're trying to keep El hidden?" he asks incredulously.
Max rolls her eyes, "Come on, it won't be long, besides I'm sure she won't mind getting out of the apartment for a few hours, right El?" she looks at her and El startles slightly.
And as much as she has enjoyed her time in the apartment, she is starting to feel a little stir crazy. Especially since she is used to spending the majority of her days walking around the city. She turns to look at Mike, "It would be kind of nice" she gives him a soft smile.
His eyes search her face and she gives him her big doe eyes, and she can see his reserves dropping quickly. He sighs, "Okay, but just for a few hours!" He directs this in Max's direction.
Max whoops, "Finally! Some girl time!" She dances a bit in the kitchen.
"Uh, no we'll be coming with you", Mike gestures to the rest of the males in the room and Max rolls her eyes, "Uhm, no, it'll just be me and El" Max crosses her arms against her chest in challenge.
"Max, there's no way I'm letting El go without me" and he freezes slightly at his words. El feels the warmth in her chest grow at his words, knowing how much he cares about her.
There's some 'Ohhhs' from the boys in the living room but Max continues forward, "Mike come on, give us some time to ourselves, let El and I connect a little bit" her voice is a lot gentler than it usually is and it surprises El slightly.
"I can go with them", El turns to see Will has spoken up.
"Yeah, let Will come with us" Max gestures to the smallest of the group.
Mike turns to look at Will and then back to Max and finally settling on El. He lets out a heavy sigh, "Okay fine, if Will goes with you".
"Yes! Thank you Mike!" Max cheers wildly as she moves to gather her stuff. "Come on boys, let's get cleaned up before we go, and El?" Max points to her.
"Be ready to go in an hour, Will and I will come to pick you up okay?"
El nods at this, "Okay".
And with that Max wrangles up the crew to shoo them out of Mike's apartment.
"Thanks for a great night you guys!" Lucas waves over his shoulder.
"See you in a bit!" Will calls out smiling.
"And don't have too much fun in the hour" Dustin teases as he heads out the door. Causing Mike to grumble after him.
Once the party leaves, Mike turns to look at El and he gives her a warm smile, "Sorry about them, they can definitely be a lot" he apologizes.
El moves closer to him, "It's fine Mike, they are just teasing" she shrugs.
Mike nods but then goes to speak, "El?" he starts, and she looks at him gently, "Yes?"
"Uhm, I just want you to know, it doesn't feel weird for me to sleep with you" and she watches as he cringes slightly at his words, "Uh, what I mean is, I just like to sleep next to you...ah I mean-" but El cuts him off with a giggle and a hand pressed to his chest. "Mike, it's okay, I get what you're trying to say and...I don't think it's weird either".
She can feel Mike relax under her hand as they stare into each other's eyes.
The moment is broken though when she hears his stomach growl loudly, his face flushes.
"Breakfast?" he asks.
"Sounds great" El smiles after him as they head to the kitchen to fill their empty stomachs.
An hour later, almost on the dot there's a rough knocking coming from Mike's apartment door. He shuffles over to the entrance and opens it just in time for Max to nearly knock Mike over, Will following slowly behind.
"El, you ready to go!?" Max says excitedly as El chews and swallows her last piece of bacon.
"Uh yeah, I think so" she says gingerly and Max all but rips her out of her seat.
"Then let's go!" the wild redhead says, but El stops her, "Wait, I need to get my bad" she says as she gestures towards her room.
"I need to get some money, I won't be able to get much" she shrugs sheepishly. She always carried some extra cash that she managed to save up over time and it was always with her in her bag. Yes, she was excited to be going out shopping, but the reality of the situation was that she wouldn't be able to buy much. She silently hoped that she'd be able to find a few new shirts and a pair of pants.
Max let's go of her hand as El treks into her room and grabs her bag. Veda is on her heels. El fishes into her bag and counts out barely fifty dollars, she sags slightly.
Veda nudges her, "It'll be okay El, just get a couple of things" the fox says gently.
El sighs in defeat, but nods, standing to her feet and moving back to the living room where she's surprised to see Mike whispering quickly to Max who's nodding furiously. She's guessing that he's telling Max to be extra careful and to watch her back.
But, she finds herself a little suspicious when they see her re-enter the room and they stop talking immediately. Max grins brightly pointing to El's bag that's cast over her shoulder, "Ready?" the redhead asks and El nods.
"I think so" El breathes and with that Max is reaching for her once again, "Alright let's go!", but before she can get tugged too far, Mike grabs a hold of her other hand and Max stares at him. "She'll be right there, hold on a minute" Mike gives her a look and Max sighs, "Fine, come on Will, we'll wait out here" and with that Max and Will disappear out of Mike's apartment.
Mike turns to El and gives her a sheepish grin, "Make sure you have a good time okay, but just be careful" he squeezes her hand at his last word.
El sighs at the contact and she flashes him a smile, "Don't worry, I will be, I don't think we'll be gone too long anyways" she tries to not let the disappointment in her lack of money show. But Mike squeezes her hand tighter causing her to look up into his eyes. "Like I said, have fun and don't worry, okay?"
There's something hanging beneath his words, but El isn't exactly sure what its is, but she ignores it and instead takes a step closer to him and wraps her arms around his chest and pulls him into a hug. The contact is electrifying as she melts into his embrace, especially when he wraps his arms around her squeezing her tightly.
"I'll see you in a few hours" she comments as she slowly breaks away, their eyes meeting once again.
She's pretty sure she could count the freckles on his face with how close they are, and with her last resolve she stands up on her tiptoes and kisses him on his cheek, causing his face to flame.
She breaks herself away smilingly wickedly, "Bye Mike!" she waves as she opens the door to leave and he can only give her a small "Bye" back as she's pretty sure she's left him in a daze. With one last flash of a smile she exits the apartment to find Max and Will waiting with both of their Anima's tucked against them, while Veda trails behind El.
"Needed to give him a good-bye kiss?" Max teases as El blushes shaking her head at her new friend.
"Let's get shopping" is all El comments as Max loops El's right arm through hers, as Will does the same to her left.
"Yes! Let's go!" Max cheers as she leads the three of them down the apartment hallway and towards the elevator, ready for their next little adventure.
Even though it's been less than a week since she's taken a step outside, she has to marvel at the feeling of being out in the sun, the wind against herself, she takes in a deep breath. And even though it's not the freshest of air, there's something about it that feels like home.
El has on a hoodie that she borrowed from Mike. It's three sizes too big, but the hood helps to hide her face in the busy streets that surround her and El sinks into the warmth that it holds, and every few moments she breathes in the scent that is Mike.
Will seems to have come out of his shell a bit pointing at different shops that he usually likes to visit and stores that they should check out. He's much more bubbly and joyous when it's just her and Max around and it makes El smile.
Max all but drags the three of them into a nearby shop. El's a bit surprised, having mentioned that checking out a thrift shop would be much more in her budget. She thought Max had heard her, but maybe not.
"Uh, Max, I'm not sure I can afford anything in here" El looks about the store and sees the name brands that circle her.
Max grins wickedly at her, "Oh, don't worry El, money's no object here".
El's mouth drops open, "Max, no I don't want you to pay for my clothes" she starts to argue, but she's surprised when Will steps in, "It's not on Max, it's all on Mike" he gives her a look that speaks volumes.
El shakes her head, "What do you mean?" she asks carefully.
And then both Will and Max grin widely when Max begins to dig into her pocket and pulls out a flat plastic card. She can see Michael Wheeler inscribed on it with silver lettering. She realizes instantly that it's a credit card, her eyes widen in alarm.
As she's shaking her head 'no', Will and Max are smiling widely and nodding 'yes'.
"No, no, I can't take Mike's credit card for a joy ride" she argues.
Max rolls her eyes, "El, he practically threw it at me and promised me that it would get used".
"That doesn't mean I have to use it" she stresses back.
Will huffs, "El, trust me, we tried to reason with Mike, but he flat out refused, he wants to do this for you".
El looks between her two new friends and can see the sincerity written on both of their faces. She sighs heavily in defeat, "Alright, fine, I'll do a little shopping" she mutters.
Will and Max both brighten at her words, "Yes, El, this will be so much!" a devilish smile grows on her face and before El knows it, she's being whisked away into a world of clothes.
Both Will and Max pull her in different directions as they begin to browse at the wide clothing selection.
"Okay, I noticed that you're main color in your clothing selection is black" Max states plainly and El rolls her eyes playfully at her, "Sorry, bright and cheery doesn't really speak to my soul".
"Oh, but El, you would look so cute in this!" Will says eagerly as he pulls a pink button down top from the racks of clothes and holds it up to El. Max nods in agreement, "So cute, you should definitely expand your colors a bit".
El sighs, "Fine, I want to try it on first", Will and Max squeal slightly and the search about the store begins.
After what feels like hours El finds herself in the midst of an old changing room with what looks like fifty different outfits that Will and Max want her to try on. Max had come in and helped her organize shirts, pants, and other staples of clothing and even though there was some organization, to El it still felt chaotic.
Her eyes move about the colors and she doesn't even know where to start. "El, you okay in there?" Max's voice calls into the room. El sighs heavily, "Yeah, I guess, I just don't know where to start" she shakes her head to herself.
"Just, start where you like, what speaks to you?" Max's voice rings out.
El looks back at her clothing selection, which is a rainbow of colors that she's not used to. So, she starts with a plain white v-neck shirt, a pair of dark jeans and the pink top Will had picked out first. She steps out of the stall and is greeted by a pair of gasps.
"Oh my gosh El, pink fits you so well!" Max gushes as she has her turn around.
"It does, you do look better in brighter colors" Veda nods approvingly.
El furrows her brow, "Really?" she asks uncertain.
"Yes, that coverup is adorable on you" Will remarks, "Yes, very nice" Elvie even comments from behind Will's shoulder.
For some reason, the compliments make El swell in pride. In the lab, it was basic hospital gowns, on the street, it was whatever you could find or swipe without being caught. El did tend to stick to dark colored clothing because she feared any shade darker than grey would make her stand out like a sore thumb. But, she had to admit, there was something to the pink that she secretly admired.
"All three of those need to go on the keep pile" Will stated as he ushered her back into the changing room.
It was then El didn't feel so overwhelmed and instead, she allowed herself to enjoy the shopping montage.
An hour later El's keep and leave pile grew as she finally finished her critique by Max and Will and she was down to her last outfit to try. It was a more formal blouse that was white and had a low sweeping neck with a simple flower design on the side. Max had insisted that El find a couple pairs of shorts as well since it would be warm in Indiana when they went. So, that's what she paired with the shirt.
She had only had one pair of shorts ever, and even in the heat of New York, El tended to keep to her pants. She felt a little self conscious as she exited the fitting room. "I'm not so sure about this," El mutters as she spins before her friends.
Max guaffs at her, "El, are you kidding me, you're rocking those shorts!" she compliments, causing El to flush again.
"And it's a good thing too because we totally forgot to have you try on, these!" she says, gesturing to Will who is holding with disdain what looks like a bunch of swimsuits, El's face falls. "Max no-" she starts to back away, but Max swipes the handful of swimsuits from Will and forces them into El's arms.
"El, we're going to be swimming when we get back to Hawkins, you need at least one" Max practically whines.
El huffs in impatience as she is once again thrown into the fitting room. She has never owned a bathing suit in her life, let alone she doesn't even know how to swim. But, she feels she will never win an argument with Max and decides to keep the fitting to herself.
After trying on two one pieces and one bikini, El finds that she feels super uncomfortable in a swimsuit, she feels revealed and awkward. She's just finishing putting on a simple black bikini when a loud pounding startles El. She holds a hand up to her chest, "What?" she whines slightly. "Let me see!" Max's voice is partially muffled by the door.
"No, Max, I don't-" and like always before she can even finish Max opens El's unlocked changing room door and El wants to cover herself, but Max's eyes go wide, "El, that looks perfect on you!"
El shakes her head, "I don't think so, it's so weird I feel like I'm wearing my underwear out in public" she confesses.
Max giggles at her, "Well, you definitely have the body to go with it, that's for sure, Mike will lose his shit when he sees you in this".
At Max's words El flicks her eyes up quickly to the girl, "What?!" she asks flabbergasted.
Max gives her a look while casting a hand in her direction, "El, come on, don't tell me you don't want Mike checking you out in this thing". Max then looks in Veda's direction and of course her lovely Anima nods in agreement.
El's pretty sure she's as red as a tomato at Max's words. And as if she was reading her mind, Max laughs out loud, "Oh my gosh you totally do, look at how red you are!" Max then promptly pokes her in the face. El swats her hand away, "Shut up" she mutters.
"You two are way too adorable how you get all flushed around one another. I can't believe you guys aren't together, I mean, don't you want to be?" Max's question hits El so fast, it leaves El breathless.
"I...I...uh" but she can't answer. El can't help but imagine them at a small lake on a warm day, and her in her new bikini and Mike in a pair of swim shorts. She can already imagine watching his dark, heavy eyes travelling up her body, but she doesn't let the thought go any further. And at El's hesitation, Max shakes her head, "Let me guess, it's Mike".
El meets the redheads piercing blue eyes, and Max gives a small half smile, "Yeah, that's what I thought" she huffs, placing her hands on her hips as she takes a look through El's 'keep' pile and hoists it into her arms and shutting the changing room door behind her.
El sighs, "He's just scared" is what she says softly through the changing room door as El moves to discard the bathing suit and change back into her regular clothing.
"I know, but one day-" and at this Max falters, "One day he's going to have to do something". El furrows her brow as she pulls on her pants and fumbles with the button. "What do you mean?" El asks as she places her shirt back on over her head, followed by Mike's hoodie, as she grabs the bathing suit and exits the dressing room.
Max gives her a look, "I just mean...if he waits too long, he's going to let something really good slip through his fingers".
El whips her head up to look at Max, who is trying to relay a lot through her look.
And El gets it, so she can't help but sputter, "I'm sure he won't".
"Or, do you mean you're willing to wait for Wheeler?" Max questions firmly.
El evaluates her words. She knows that what's going on between her and Mike is different, that there's a connection there. But, she knows there's hesitancy as well. However, she can't forget their almost kisses and his confession last night. She's never felt like this before and she won't be letting it go anytime soon.
So, with confidence she turns to Max, "Yes, I'll wait as long as he needs". And with that Max beams, "I'm happy to hear that then".
They snagged Will on their way to the register and when the total was rung up, El almost fainted. "I can't charge that to Mike's credit card!" she hisses through her teeth to Will and Max. But they wave her off, "El, if you haven't noticed yet, Mike has money, and he never spends it on anything" Will says as Max hands over the black credit card.
"Yeah, he was practically begging us to use it on you, so consider yourself lucky" Max says as she takes back the credit card, each of them grabbing a hold of two bags filled with clothes. El can't help but chuckle, "I don't think I'll ever need to buy anything again" as she looks between the bags.
The other two laugh as they head out of the store and Will guides them to a nearby bakery stating that Mike owes them all a smoothie and a small bakery delight for helping El out. And even though El protests, she gives in at the luxurious smell lofting from the bakery.
They are all sitting around talking like old friends when Max bumps into El's shoulder. "Will, wait until you see the bikini El bought" she teases. "Max!" El but whines as she looks at the girl incredulously.
But Will only laughs as he swallows his smoothie, "Oh, I'm sure Mike's draw will drop when he sees her in it".
El huffs, "What's up with everyone's fascination with what's going on between us?" El can't help but finally ask.
Will sighs, "Because our dear friend Mike has never been this openly affection with the opposite sex and it's really fun and sweet to see".
"I know Mike has never been with anyone, but why does that matter to you guys?" El questions as she takes a bite of her sweet pastry.
Max shrugs, "It's just like Will said, even in school Mike never showed interest in wanting to be in a relationship with a girl".
"Yeah, like you could tell he had crushes, and girls asked him out, but he never acted the way he does around you" Will shrugs.
"So, you guys think it's interesting that he's taking interest in me?" she asks and they both nod.
"There's something there between you two, it's kind of weird in a way how quickly you two connected, how we all connected actually" Max admits.
"Mhm, it's like we are all meant to meet, and you and Mike were just meant to be together" Will says as if it were the easiest thing to say in the world.
El, however, nearly chokes on her shake, "Excuse me, what?" she can't help but nervously grin.
Will huffs in annoyance, "Don't play stupid El, we know you want to be with him".
El shakes her head, "It's not like that" she says as she brushes a stray hair behind her ear.
"Then what is it?" Max leans in and Will copies her movements. El eyes them precariously and she finally breaks, "We almost kissed last night" she whispers and both Max and Will screech so loudly that now every head in the small bakery has their heads turned towards them.
"NO WAY! That's impossible, who initiated it!?" Max all but leans as close as she can towards El for more information.
"It was kind of mutual" El shrugs and Will sighs dramatically, "And let me guess, Mike stopped it?" El's eyes flick to his light hazel eyes, and it's all it takes to confirm it, he groans in protest.
"That boy is going to be the end of me" he growls rubbing his forehead in frustration.
El can only chuckle lightly, "It's like he said, he's scared and he doesn't want to mess anything up" she shrugs.
"That's so Mike he's so afraid of starting that he doesn't even give it a chance" Max growls.
"But, I understand too," El explains as the other two eye her warily. "He doesn't want to be like his parents, and I get that" she shrugs. And at this Max let's out another low groan, "It always comes back to his parents, he needs to let that go. Besides, I get that he's looking for 'the one' but what he forgets is that Anima's don't change immediately when you meet your soulmate" Max shrugs as she takes another sip of her drink.
"They don't?" the question slips past El's lips before she can stop it.
Max nods, "Oh yeah. I moved here at the end of middle school and became friends with the nerds here" she says gesturing to Will, "So, I've known Lucas for a long time".
"So, when did your Anima's change?" El can't help but ask.
Max shrugged, "Well, Lucas and I dated on and off for years and we even saw other people" she admits, "But, then one day, everything just seemed to click, and then Nam and Zelda both changed one day, and that's how we knew".
It all seemed so simple to El, and she had always wondered how soulmates finally found one another. Because it was always in the back of her mind how the wonders of their Anima's worked. But, there was a slight relief to El, for it was something she had always believed, that if you met your soulmate, you Anima's would change instantly, but Max's explanation disregarded that belief and now El couldn't help but continue to wonder; how do you know who your soulmate is?
The question lingers on El's mind for the entirety of the walk back to Mike's apartment where she half listens to the conversation between Max and Will. And before she knows it, they're walking up to his door.
Max knocks and a half a second later the door is yanked open a very worried Mike looking at all three of them, "That was more than a 'few hours', Max" Mike fixes the girl with a steely glare.
Max waves him off, "You're girl is fine, safe and sound and returns with a plethora of clothing may I add" she states as she holds up the bags in her hand.
Mike huffs as he allows Will and El to enter into his apartment, they all wander into El's room where they deposit the bags and head back out to the main entrance.
Max turns to Mike and hands him back his credit card, "This got some fun use today" she smirks and Mike only rolls his eyes as he takes it back, "I'm sure it did, as long as El is taken care of that's all that matters".
He says it so nonchalantly it takes El by surprise, that he really did want El to spoil herself today and he wanted to make sure she was taken care of. Her heart warms.
"Well El" Max says as she moves towards her and gives her a quick hug, "That was fun, we will have to do it again sometime" she says and Will follows and gives El a tight hug as well. "Thank you both for coming with me today, it was great" she gives them each a warm smile, in which they return.
"Keep us posted Wheeler, we'll have to start planning out our trip" Max points in his direction as she and Will head out the door. He salutes to her, "Thanks you guys, see you later".
"Night!" Both Will and Max wave them off and Mike shuts the door behind him, heaving a heavy sigh and turning to El.
"Did you have a nice time?" he asks curiously. And before she answers she rushes to him quickly and wraps him in the tightest hug she can manage.
"Woah, are you okay?" Mike asks worriedly as he returns the hug.
El pulls away slightly and looks up to Mike and his dark brown eyes, she can barely contain the tears that threaten to fall, "Thank you, so much for today, no one has ever done anything like that for me before. You have no idea how much it meant to me".
Mike gives her a warm smile, "El, you deserved that and, I really wanted to treat you, I'm glad you had a good time".
El then places her head against Mike's chest, not wanting to leave his embrace, "It was perfect" she whispered as Mike continued to hold her as she listened to the steady beat of his racing heart.
Phew! Can you believe I typed this up in a matter of 2 days because I finally had the time to do so!? Yeah, I can't either, but I got in a super long chapter, and I hope you all enjoyed it. Next chapter they will be heading off to Hawkins where it all starts! So keep tuned!
As always, thanks for your patience, and as always PLEASE REVIEW! I absolutely love them and your feedback/comments are much appreciated!
