Chapter 4 - Reconciliation
El sat on her bed at the cabin looking over old pictures. The photo was from the Snowball, the night her and Mike became a couple. She was very happy in that picture, standing with Mike. There was a spring dance that they would have gone to but both her and Mike both had gotten sick. She had a really bad stomach bug and Mike said he had the same thing but El wondered now if that was the start of his cancer. It was too late to wonder about that now.
She came home that night so she could stew on her thoughts. Tomorrow she was joining Max over at Mike's and she wanted to get her thoughts together. She remembered when she first met Mike. It was seventh grade. She moved in with her dad after her mother could no longer care for her. She was mentally deteriorating from something in her past she never told anyone. Her dad said she was part of a government experiment before she was born. Mike saw her eating alone and as he was going to invite her to have lunch, another boy tackled him to the ground and asked her instead. El was so furious she helped Mike up and sat with him and his friends.
That was the start of it and she was inseparable from the party. Max joined the next year before Halloween and things fell into a nice groove. The summer of 1984, all through June, Mike was over almost every day making out with her. He never tried to get her to do things she wasn't ready for but he did have a bad attitude with her dad. El took it in stride as a dad who hated her boyfriend. Then one day, Mike said he couldn't hang out because his Nana was sick. El was skeptical. She went to Max who told her to dump him to teach him a lesson. Sure enough, she ran into him at the mall, caught in a lie with Lucas backing him. Her last words to Mike were "I dump your ass!" And she left with Max.
A few days later, she never heard from him and realized he was a jerk so she went to Mayor Kline's fair and met the boy who once tackled Mike to the ground and found him charming and nice. Eric Kline was a better boyfriend than Lying Mike was. Her breakup with Mike also ended her friendship with the party, they saw her with Eric and they all stopped talking to her. Now she wondered if it was because she was with Eric, or because of Mike's sickness. Either way she wanted to correct a few things.
Hopper knocked on her door and entered. "Come get some dinner." Hopper said. El nodded and put the photos away. She sat with Hopper at their dinner table, he had cooked enchiladas, or cooked some premade ones he got at the store. Hopper and El pretty much only could cook breakfast food.
"So, your going to Mike's tomorrow?" Hopper asked. El nodded. "You know, you don't know how much you miss some people till you hang out with girls fascinated by fashion and some jerk who only talks football and how awesome his dad's connections are." El said. Hopper laughed. "Yea, besides, I prefer talking football with you and your dad's connections are better than his." Hopper said. "Oh, and what connections do you have?" El asked with a smile.
"Well, I can get you into Benny's late night for poker night." Hopper said. "Dad, don't embarrass yourself. I get you into that game." El said. Hopper burst out laughing. The pair ate with a few more jabs at each other.
"Dad?" El asked. Hopper looked up at her from his plate and gave her his attention. "Back when Mike and I were dating. Before he lied to me about his Nana being sick, you said his mother called about that. What happened?" She asked. Hopper took a deep breath and hoped his explanation didn't anger her.
"Well, I am saying this now, I am not proud of myself for how I handled this." Hopper began. "After Bob Newby left Joyce, I tried to make a move on her. It did not go well and she rejected me. I was angry and very stupid. Add to the fact Mike came over here all the damn time. He would skirt the rules and the way he spoke to me angered me further." Hopper said. He got up from his chair and grabbed an envelope from a shelf by the tv. "Before Joyce and I had our falling out, she suggested I talk to both of you. And even though I intended on doing that. Mike whispered something to you and he just had this look in his eyes that just drove me over the edge. I told him to put some distance and to not tell you why. That's why he lied to you. Its my fault." Hopper said.
El sat there, shocked. But at the same time, she remembered how Mike was a little bit of a jerk. She could see that. She just wished the adult handled things better. "I should be furious with you Dad." El said. Hopper nodded. "But you didn't do it to hurt me and honestly I can say Mike was a bit of a shit." El said with a laugh that Hopper chuckled with. "Max told me to wait for him to call and ask for forgiveness, and if he was truly sorry I should take him back. But then he never called and I just thought he didn't care. God I kind of feel guilty about not going to his house and learning about this shit sooner." El said, tears in her eyes.
"About a month after you two split and you were with Eric, I was going to try and reconcile you two. You know how I felt about him after a week." Hopper said. El nodded, remembering how often Hopper threw him out. "I was driving up to them and I slowed down and Mike flipped me off. I was so mad I drove off." Hopper finished. El laughed a little. "I am disappointed in you dad. But I am glad you were honest with me." El said. She grabbed her dad's hand and squeezed it. "I need some time. But we are still cool." El said. Hopper nodded and have a half smile. "Bitchin'" Hopper said, an old phrase they said to each other.
El walked into her room and sat on the bed. El was sure she should be more angry with Hopper. But even still, he made one big screw up and he was entitled to it. He did other things that were good. Like when Eric and her argued, he had a triple decker Eggo spectacular waiting for her, or when she didn't quite make the cheer squad he was there to talk to. She figured it was just all the news about Mike and his sickness that made her reminisce about their time together that brought all this back to the surface.
El pulled out an old stuffed t-rex. Mike had given it to her years ago. They were playing at Mike's when a storm hit. El was scared of it and so Mike grabbed Roary, the dinosaurs name, and said he would watch over her. It was pretty trite and stupid but he was trying. Eric wanted her to get rid of all the things Mike gave her, but she was hesitant to do any of that. So she hid it all away from him.
She never shared a true closeness with Eric, he just wanted a pretty girl to have on his arm. When El stole one of his sweatshirts he got mad and took it back. He thought that his clothes were going to be worth money some day when he made pro later in life. El rolled her eyes at the memory and then she pulled out an old blue sweater from her closet. It still fit her despite it being Mike's from years ago. She never wore it if Eric was around, seemingly he still had issues with Mike having dated her first, but it was comfy.
El remembered when she started actually missing Mike and his friends. It was halfway into freshman year and she was tired of talking fashion with girls who barely passed English. She only told this to Max, her confidant and friend. When she was about to approach Dustin to ask how he was doing, Eric saw her and gave her a warning. "You won't go near those losers. If you do, I will make their lives Hell." He had said. And to prove it, he destroyed their bikes and forced them to walk home. It was cold and snowing out. El wondered why she never told her dad about his cruel streak. But El guessed if she tried, he would do something bad to someone she cared about and his willingness to hurt people who just casually spoke to her or anyone who annoyed her. Frequently Eric threatened her if she spoke against him. If first time should have been it, she sometimes touched her cheek from the first time he slapped her.
Nobody knew that every once in a while, Eric would lose his temper on her. He slapped her a few times after a bad game, or if someone outshined him in the game. She hid it from her dad, but he might have suspected after she developed a limp sophomore year. After that, Hopper or one of his cops would be around watching them. Billy long suspected as well and made it a very good point to suddenly show up at places they hung out at. Max was also always on hand, and she tended to scare people with her temper.
She laid down and wanted to scream. Eric hurt her and she let him get away with it. She wasn't going to anymore and next time he raised a hand she was going to smack him down. She got up out of her room and found Hopper doing dishes, playing an old record from the 70's. She rolled her eyes as he danced. She then walked up and grabbed a plate, surprising Hopper. The two then did silly dances as the pair cleaned up the kitchen.
It was mid afternoon on Sunday when Lucas and Dustin arrived. "God I miss coming here." Dustin said. Lucas nodded, usually they never hung out at Mike's house that often due to school work and Mr. Wheeler being ornery about guests. "How are you feeling?" Lucas asked. Mike was sitting on the couch, blankets all over him. He was cold more often than not. "I'm okay. Just had a rough couple of days." Mike said.
Mike had music playing, something that usually relaxed him. It was Rush's 2112 album. Most of the family wasn't a fan of the band but Mike liked them. They gave him campaign ideas. "Where is Steve at?" Mike asked. On cue, Steve walked through the door, carrying a box full of snacks. "Thanks for the help guys." He said sarcastically. Mike got up to help but Steve shook his head. "Oh no you don't. You sit." Steve said. Mike then wrapped himself in the blankets.
Holly came down to the basement and when she saw Steve she smiled wide and yelled "STEVE" while lunging at him. Steve caught her as she hugged him and knocked him to the floor. "What are we? Chopped liver?" Dustin asked. Holly just stuck her tongue at them.
"Well, you know what that means?" Mike asked the other boys as they nodded at him. Steve then held her down as the three rushed to tickle Holly. Her laughing was infectious as soon everyone was laughing. They got worried though when Mike began coughing from laughing so hard.
Nancy ran down the stairs upon hearing the coughing. She rushed to Mike who held a hand up to keep her back. "I'm fine, just got carried away." Mike said as Lucas helped him back on the couch. "Jesus Mike, forgot you couldn't do much." Steve said. "Well, we can't stop him from laughing." Dustin said. Nancy nodded. "Yea, but you need to stop straining yourself you little shit." Nancy said pointing a finger at Mike. All Mike responded with was by sticking his tongue at her.
"So, how many are coming over, Mom wants to know how much food to cook." Nancy asked. "Well, I think we just wait for Will to show up." Mike said. Dustin chimed in. "Troy kind of invited himself. I mean, if you say he's cool then yea." Dustin said. Nancy gave her brother a look. "Troy Walsh? The guy who used to dunk your heads in toilets?" She asked. Mike nodded. "He's been helping me. Sometimes the pain gets to me." Mike said. Nancy looked confused still till Mike pulled out a bag of rolled up joints. "He supplies me." Mike said. Nancy then nodded in understanding.
Steve though was irritated. "Man, you could have come to me. I still have connections." He said. Mike shook his head. "You're an adult selling to a minor, no way that would fly. At least Troy would just be getting in trouble for selling on school grounds. That's how he rationalized it." Mike said. In truth, Mike tried to stop Troy from giving him weed but Troy was insistent that he could handle a little trouble.
"Oh I also invited Max, and she might bring El." Lucas said. Mike looked up from hearing the name. "Oh…so she's coming by?" Mike said, trying to sound uninterested and failing miserably. Nancy smirked as Mike tried to sound cool. "Just as long as Eric Kline doesn't show up, then it should be fine." Nancy said. "Well, I'll tell Mom what's going on. You guys play nice. And you." Nancy said pointing at Mike. "Be careful." She said as she poked his nose. Mike smiled as Nancy left to the kitchen.
Nancy left the basement and passed by the living room. Her dad was sitting in his chair, watching tv with an irritated look on his face. He hadn't spoken to anyone since Nancy came back. Although Jonathan did tell her about the incident after they left. She hated how he was making her brother feel guilty about his sickness. One of these days she was going to punch him in the face.
Nancy joined her mother in the kitchen, who was pulling out pots and pans. "So, how large of a feast are we having?" Karen asked. "Quite a few. And It looks like El might show up." Nancy said with a mischievous grin. "Nancy, do you think setting him up would be a good idea?" Karen asked. Nancy sat down at the table. "Not really set them up, but just maybe get things right with them. Also its funny watching him squirm." Nancy said. Karen laughed as she set up the pots on the stove. "Well, that works for me." Karen said.
El hated riding with Max. The woman just loved to freak her out when she rode with her on her motorcycle. She normally would have walked, or hell her dad would have driven her but he got called in to deal with the aftermath of a drunken brawl at a bar outside of town. And Billy had to work at the shop. So, Max showed up with her dirt bike and El held on for dear life. Max laughed as she rode faster, knowing it was freaking El out.
They then stopped on Maple Street with Max looking around. "I forgot where Wheeler lives." Max said. El looked up and saw the house. "There." She pointed. Max nodded and revved the engine and drove down the block in a slower manner than before. Once they parked, El quickly got off the bike and handed Max the spare helmet. "C'mon, it wasn't that bad." Max said with a grin. El just glared at her.
Walking up, El was apprehensive about the whole thing. She wondered if the others hated her. Max stood next tto her and gave her a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder. Both walked towards the door when a voice stopped them. "El? Max?" Came the voice of Will.
He was putting his bike on the lawn and he looked confused seeing the girls. "Didn't expect you two here." Will said. El was a little nervous. She wondered if he would send them away. "Lucas invited us. And we were worried about Mike, especially after Eric showed everyone Mike was sick." Max said. Will nodded and then as he approached the girls, he pulled them both into a hug. "I missed you guys. Even if things ended badly." Will said.
El was happy at least Will wasn't angry with her. "I do have a confession, freshman year when your bikes got destroyed. Eric did that because I was trying to talk to Dustin. I am so sorry that you guys had to walk." El said. Will shook his head. "Nah, we got a ride back. Mrs. Wheeler wasn't going to let us bike in the snow anyway." Will said. El breathed a sigh of relief. She hated the fact she may have caused some undue suffering because she was dating a sociopath. "C'mon, we take the basement entrance usually." Will said guiding the girls to the side of the house.
They made there way to the basement door and as they walked in, all eyes looked up and saw the girls. "I found them outside." Will said as he walked in. Holly waved from next to Mike, who was covered in blankets. Dustin and Steve were setting up the tv to be closer and Lucas was walking out of the bathroom.
"Stalker, you're here." Max said as she approached Lucas. The pair hugged as everyone watched. El took a few tentative steps inside. It had been a while since she had been in the basement. Holly walked up and hugged her, surprising El. "Mikey missed you El." She said. El looked over and saw Mike was blushing, despite being very pale. "Hi Mike." She said. Mike looked at her, and somehow it felt like they were the only two in the room, just staring at each other.
"Can you get out of the way." Came Troy's loud voice behind El. Reality caught up with her and she looked to see Troy behind her, trying to get in. El stepped out of the way to let the boy in. "By the way, nice right hook." Troy said to El. Mike looked at her confused. "When you passed out, I broke Joey Ford's nose. He laughed when you passed out." El said. Dustin was laughing the hardest. "Yea, he was embarrassed tiny El decked him that hard." He said.
"Well, that sounds impressive as all hell." Steve said. "You shitheads do get in more stuff than you let on." El just shrugged as she sat down. She just happened to sit next to Mike out of an odd habit that nobody in the room missed.
"Guess everyone is here." Mike said, shifting in his seat. "So, I might as well get this out of the way. After my chemo session on Friday, Dad was driving me home and well, he stopped at Holland Bridge. He told me I was a burden and I was hurting the family. He told me to do the right thing." Mike said. He looked and saw several people were looking shocked. Troy was looking upstairs, ready for a fight. Mike looked over at El, who was worried. "I got out and well, I jumped off the bridge." Mike said.
"Hopper apparently came across me and jumped after me. So that's why I'm still here." Mike said, answering Steve's question. "I just felt everything was my fault. And honestly I dunno how much longer I have. So, I just thought if I ended it everyone would be better off." Mike said. Will gave him a pointed look. "And you know better now right?" Will said. Mike laughed a little. "Yea, Will kind of gave me an earful yesterday." He said.
El was on the verge of tears and also incredible rage. How dare Mr. Wheeler say that about his own son. She pulled Mike into a hug, as gently as she could. Mike tried to hug her back but it was an awkward angle for him.
"I know I was wrong. I can't just do that to you all. I guess I am saying I am tired of waiting to die." Mike said. "I love you guys. I just don't want to sit around and just die. I want to not leave here without having fun or just not leaving things bad." Mike said.
Mike turned to face El, who had tears in her eyes. "El, I am so sorry I lied to you all those years ago. I was stupid." Mike said. El shook her head. "We were all stupid. I'm not mad at you. I just wish things were different." El said. She kissed him on his cheek. Mike looked out to his friends who were all wearing shit eating grins on their faces. "Screw you all." He said with bright red cheeks.
"Okay you all." Karen called from the top of the stairs. "I need help bringing dinner down there. Some of you come up here and help." She said. And sure enough several voices came up the stairs. El stayed with Mike and helped him set up at the couch with a tv tray as the others came down bringing plates, putchers of tea, and the stuff for tacos. Karen made chicken, pork and beef tacos. Karen went a little overboard, but remembered the kids could put away food.
It was very jovial down in the basement with everyone eating and laughing. Dustin and Will managed a good laugh out of Mike when they made a guacamole monster. The only time it wasn't a happy affair was when Ted stood at the top of the stairs and called down. "Where is my lunch?" He asked. Karen stood up and walked to the bottom of the stairs. "It's on the stove. I made you your own tacos. You can eat alone for all I care." She said. Ted merely nodded and walked off, slightly slamming the door.
After lunch, mostly everyone went outside to the backyard. Mike did not want to stay in the basement and so Troy and Steve helped Mike up the stairs and into the backyard. The rest joined in a few moments.
Steve, Lucas, Dustin, and Max began a game of tag while the person 'it' carried Holly on their shoulders. Mike smiled as he saw his little sister laugh as they carried her around. What made the game turn into a fight for survival was when Nancy got involved. Holly screamed with glee as Nancy ran with the small child on her shoulders, Holly directing Nancy to attack all the players.
Mike was laughing, but trying to keep it in control, but it was such a bizarre sight that he couldn't help himself, especially when Karen got involved and the entire backyard became a battleground, Karen charging around with a water hose with a gleeful Holly on her shoulders.
"MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON MY ENEMIES, BECAUSE I WON'T!" Holly declared. Karen looked up and gave her a funny look before turning to Mike. "Michael, I told you not to influence her." She deadpanned. Mike shrugged his shoulders. "Not my fault she is a little conqueror." Mike said. Holly looked down at her mother and motioned for her to continue. "ONWARD MY FAITHFUL STEED!" She declared. Karen rolled her eyes and ran after Will, despite him not really playing.
"I haven't seen her this happy in years." Mike said as El sat next to him. She was avoiding the hose by staying with Mike since Karen was not using the hose on her sick child. "She deserves to have some fun." El said, taking Mike's hand into hers.
"I'm sorry Mike. I should have tried to reach out to you." El said. Mike shook his head. "No, I was being a mouth breather. I think I just needed to grow in my own way." Mike said. El smiled at him. "We both had to grow up a bit. I missed you Mike." She said. Both began feeling things they had not felt in a long time.
Mike and El were slowly moving toward each other, both smiling the whole time. "You sure about this?" Mike asked. El rolled her eyes. "Shut up and kiss me nerd." She said and the pair's lips met each other. Her lips tasted sweet and Mike's were soft. They kissed lightly as they were oblivious to the rest of the world.
Unfortunately, the rest of the world wasn't oblivious and Karen hosed both down. The pair broke apart when the water hit them and both looked up to see Karen with a smug grin on her face. "Nice to see you back together, but I don't need to see my son making out." She said with a laugh. Both laughed as Karen moved on to turning the water off before she ruined the backyard.
Will was drying off when Troy walked up, dripping wet. He got the worst of it from Karen, probably from his former bullying of the boys. "Jeez, that woman is insane." Troy said. Will nodded and handed him the towel he just used. "I never knew she had it in her. She never used to play with us as kids." Will said.
Troy pulled off his soaking shirt and just had a white undershirt on. Will didn't mean to stare as Troy did that but he couldn't help himself. Troy saw Will was staring as he put his shirt on the fence to dry. "What?" He asked. Will shook his head and muttered "Nothing" before walking away.
"Byers, dude, what's wrong?" Troy asked as he caught up with Will. Will looked embarrassed, he felt uncomfortable being himself. "I…um…I never knew you worked out." Will said. Troy was oblivious. "Yea, I started lifting weights cause my mom has me move furniture all the time." He said. Will was now imagining shirtless Troy moving a couch and he had to shake the image from his head. Troy noticed how uncomfortable he was and he squeezed his shoulder then moved on to hang out with Steve.
Dustin walked up to Will, seeing the interaction. "Troy huh?" Dustin asked. Will smacked the laughing boy in the shoulder. "Don't tell anyone." Will said. Dustin smiled and nodded. "Your secret is safe with me. As it always has been." Dustin said.
Billy pulled up to the curb in his Camaro. He walked out and headed for the backyard, where he could hear everyone hanging out. He saw the ground was wet and various people were hanging around. Karen was drying off Holly when she noticed Billy by the fence. She got up and greeted him as she let him in the backyard.
"I didn't expect you to show up." She said. Billy smiled. "I got off work early and decided to check on Max. I heard she brought El here on her bike. I wish I could have seen that." Billy said. Karen gave him a funny look. "El hates riding on Max's bike. Girl is crazy." He explained. Karen laughed.
"How is he doing?" Billy asked, nodding to Mike, sitting next to El, both holding hands and cuddled next to each other. "He Is doing well. Seeing him happy makes things easier for me." She said. Billy gave her a quizzical look. "I am not ready for him to go." Karen said simply. Billy nodded. "I can't imagine how you are dealing with this." He said. "Easier now that I know he has support." Karen said.
"Well, I'll see what the plan is and I'll head out." Billy said, walking to his step sister. Karen nodded and looked to her son. He was carefree, happy and content. Karen hated that he won't have many days like this. She was also dreading the day he would leave her. She expected him to graduate from a good college, get a good job and give her grandkids for her to spoil. Sure she had two more kids, but this was her baby boy.
She realized she would deal with that soon enough, right now she was just going to let him have the fun he was having.
Hopper showed up later in the evening. Everyone was down in the basement, even Billy since he decided to stay to make Ted squirm. Hopper looked and saw his daughter cuddled up with Mike and he couldn't help but smile a little. "Okay, gotta break this gathering up. You kids have school tomorrow." Hopper said. Steve and Dustin threw paper towels at Hopper who swatted them away while Max and Lucas booed at him. Will laughed as everyone got ready to head home. Hopper walked up to Mike while everyone was gathering their things. "Everything good?" Hopper asked. Mike nodded. "Good, you know. If you do come over to the cabin. Please keep the door open three inches." Hopper said. Mike laughed. "I can do that." Mike said.
El and Mike took a few moments to say goodbye. It only ended when Karen pulled out a squirt bottle and reassurance, they will see each other tomorrow. Hopper seemed to imply it will be very soon. "Bye Mike." El said as they traded one last kiss.
Lucas walked to his house while Billy took Max home. Dustin rode off with Steve and so it left Troy and Will walking home.
It was silent and a little awkward. "Well, that was a fun day." Troy said. Will nodded. "Too bad the cops had to break up our fun." Will said making Troy laugh. The pair kept walking in silence as they made there way to Troy's house. "Listen Will. I was a shit head when we were kids. I'm sorry I treated you all like shit." He said. Will nodded. "You helped my friend out. I didn't even know he was in that much pain." Will said. Will looked to the ground not looking at him. Troy lifted his head with both of his hands and the two stared at each other. "You're a good guy Will Byers." He said. Will didn't stop himself and he kissed Troy. The action surprised both boys, and further surprising Will was Troy kissing him back. The pair broke off and Will panicked, he got on his bike and rode off with Troy trying to stop him, leaving Troy confused at what just happened.
AN: Took me a while to write this. I am glad with how it turned out. Leave me feedback on what you think. How did I do with the whole Will/Troy thing?
