Chapter 4

El

"Oh my gosh, you guys must be so excited." Joyce said as she drove El and Will the last few miles to the Airport. "Yeah," El said taking up her familiar position and gazing out the window. "Sure am," said Will giving an awkward glance in El's direction but deciding to brush if off, "she's probably nervous" he thought, it must strange, seeing someone after so long.

El did not know what to think. Tennis had been all consuming for the past two weeks, nearly every day she had got home from college, grabbed her equipment, and ran out the door. I need to make up for lost time she had told herself. Wearing herself out on court and the Gym El collapsed on her bed every evening in ecstasy, eagerly anticipating her next session. It was only after her match with Simon that everything seemed to slow down, seeing the corner of paper sticking out the draw, and then the calendar.

That date sent El on a downward spiral, for the past two days she had sat in her room, unable to think or feel. Will and Joyce had come to check on her, but she'd told them firmly that she was fine, just feeling a bit strange about seeing Mike again. "Mike" El thought, in a flow of sadness, "how could I have forgotten you?"

"Well, I'll park up" Joyce said as they arrived "and you two can head inside." "Sure," El said unbuckling her seat belt and getting out the car before Will even had time to think, "alright, he said and joined her."

They walked together in silence, "are you ok?" Will asked concerned, "yeah why wouldn't I be?" El said. "You just seem, apprehensive" Will ventured, "well I'm not ok," El said a little hotly, "just the thought of seeing my boyfriend after nearly a year is, you know, a bit striking." She took a shuddering breath, Will sighed, and gave her shoulder a squeeze, El placed her hand over his, "sorry" she said turning to him. Will gave her a look that said, 'don't worry about it.'

The two now stood at the gate where Mike would soon be arriving. El tried to quell the thoughts that raged inside her head. "What on earth do I say? He'll know I haven't written to him, ahh, I haven't even got him a gift." "Mike!" Will's voice brought her back to reality and her eyes searched eventually falling on him.

He was making his way awkwardly through the crowd, something white bobbing around disrupting his vision. "Hey!" Will shouted trying to guide Mike towards them. Mike spun round narrowly avoiding a passer-by before catching sight of them, "oh hey," he said making his way forward.

Mike thrust the strange object into Will's arms, "hey good to see you too" Will laughed, "what the heck is this it weighs a ton?" "I'll explain later" he said patting his shoulder, "El," he said suddenly looking right at her, "hi".

El's mouth went dry, "hi" she said nervously, they stood starting at each other. "Well, I'm sure this is not the only thing that you've bought with you" Will said placing his burden on the ground, "why don't I get your case Mike and you two can get re-acquainted?" "Oh yeah my case" Mike said putting a hand to his face. Will was already gone walking towards the conveyer belt.

Mike gave an awkward laugh, "sorry," he said, "I'm so forgetful". Hearing him say this casual line made El feel even worse. "Mike I" she began but before she knew it, he had stepped forward locking her into an embrace. Suddenly the sparks flew, the same ones El felt on the court, the thrill, the adrenaline, the comfort. "Oh Mike" she said throwing her arms around him, "I've missed you so much." "I've missed you too" he said looking into her eyes. El smiled a beaming smile, one that she had not managed for some time. Mike planted a light kiss on her forehead before moving his head into the crook of her shoulder. The two rocked together, she did not want this moment to end.

"Well, that did not take long!" A voice shouted, they looked up and saw Will walking towards them a bemused grin on his face.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mike said breaking away from El but taking her by the hand, "do you expect two people in a long-distance relationship not to hold each other?" "Maybe" Will said "but that kind of action just isn't for the public eye." Mike shot him a look while El giggled.

"And who is going to carry this?" Will indicated the shape on the floor, "oh I'll" Mike began, "allow me" El said feeling a new confidence, letting go of Mike's hand. "You're right Will it sure is heavy," she gave Mike a playful glance, "what is it?"

"Oh, it's a surprise" Mike said brightly, "yeah, it's erm, something for you, but it can wait. "Oh, I don't know if I can wait it's so intriguing" El remarked, "but I guess it can wait till we get home." She smiled and walked on ahead allowing the two boys to catch up. She could just about hear their voices as she walked away. 'Hey,' Mike said, placing an arm round Wills' shoulder, 'I've missed you man.' 'Yeah same' said Will happily placing his own arm on Mike.

Walking along, El felt a lightness, like she was walking on air; "everything would be fine" she told herself, almost squeeing, as excitement mixed with joy bubbled inside her.

She caught her senses just in time to see Joyce standing by her car. "Hey, where are the boys?" she asked, before her eyes fell quizzically on the strange package. "They're just catching up El said they'll be along shortly." Joyce nodded she was about to ask El if she was ok but there was no need. She gave her a wink instead and put an arm round her. El leaned into her embrace feeling immensely happy.

As Mike and Will arrived still deep in conversation Joyce remarked on how 'cute' they were together causing much blushing on their part. El smiled to herself and got in the car. She examined the strange object which seemed familiar, the profile and the shape of the legs. A flood of memories returned as El recalled that night when it took every ounce of her courage to. She snapped back to reality as Mike got in the car.

"Hey!" he said exasperatedly "no peaking it's a surprise". "I wasn't peaking" El said casually, "just examining." "Well, no examining either" Mike said a rush of angst in his voice. "Ok, sorry" El said. "No, I'm sorry" Mike continued, "it's just, it will take a lot of explaining". "No, worries" El said her smile returning, Mike was so cute when he was angsty.

The two tried to talk but the size of the object made it difficult for El to turn so they passed the journey in silence. El reached with her hand and found Mike's. She laced her fingers around his which he gripped in turn. They did not look at each other, there was no need, they both knew what the other was feeling. They were together at last.

Mike

It seemed to take ages to get back to El's house, the rush hour traffic slowing them on the highway. But Mike did not feel the time pass, he only felt the soft touch of El's hand entwined with his.

"Finally," remarked Joyce as they pulled into the drive bringing Mike back to his senses, "goodness I need coffee," "here here" said Will getting out the car. Mike released his hand from El's, it was a bit sweaty. He looked and saw El give him a wink as she got out the car awkwardly manoeuvring the Mindflayer. Finally making it out she burst out laughing. "What's so funny?" Mike asked. "It's this" El blustered, "I can't feel my legs." "Hey" Mike said rising to the challenge "try having it on your lap after an eight-hour flight and then you'll know."

"Oh, so it's a competition, is it?" El said slyly giving Mike a shove, "sure is" said Mike giving a shove back, "my burden was greater than yours." Joyce cast a look back to them as she went inside, shaking her head but smiling. Will strode over purposefully. "Now children." He said taking the object from El, "why don't I take this, put it in a safe place and we can all look at it when you've calmed down?"

"Alright dad!" Mike said, the three of them now laughing in unison, "ahh", Will said wiping his eyes. "Anyway" he said walking off, "I'm going to play some video games" he called back, "you can join me, when you're ready."

Mike and El turned to look at each other the remnants of laughter still on their faces. Mike had possibly the biggest smile he had even given, he had to keep pinching himself. There she was, El, more beautiful, more epic than he had ever remembered. El linked her arm round his, "shall we?" She said giving a contented look that was uniquely her own. Mike nodded, and they walked inside.

El led the way to her room and opened the door for Mike who entered, in all the months writing to her he had always wondered what her room looked like. He saw El's favourite colours, light blue walls and yellow cupboards, the softness, and the sunshine.

But his eyes were soon caught by the posters, there were Tennis posters everywhere, male & female players either serving or standing in readiness for a shot. In front of her wardrobe stood a Tennis racket in a handsome black leather case, the word 'Slazenger' inscribed in silver letters. Above her bed, a huge poster of who he recognised to be Martina Navratilova dominated, it was even signed. So much to take in. Mike found himself sitting on the bed in awe, almost forgetting El was there.

"Do you, do you like it?" Mike looked to his left and saw El who was sitting next to him, a worried look in her eyes as she searched him. "I, it's great Mike said," he continued to scan, "so, you've met Martina Navratilova?" He asked indicating the signature on the poster. "Oh no" El said shaking her head, "I bought that from an event at the leisure centre, though one day, I'd like to meet her in person."

"Yeah, cool," Mike said not sure how to continue the conversation, the two sat in silence for a while.

"I", they both started together, "you first" Mike said. "I suppose" El responded looking at her knees, "you'll want an explanation?" "Well," Mike said gazing at the posters, "I'd love to know how you got into this, it's really great." "Really?" El said turning to him. "Yes, truly," he said looking at her with sincerity. "I just," he wondered whether to bite back the words, but they tumbled out, "I just wonder why you never told me about it."

"Oh," El said looking down again. She let out a shudder, a sound that made his heart break. He moved closer and put his arm round her, "it's ok El," he said stroking her shoulder, "it's ok." "No, it's not" El said her voice shaking, as a year of pent-up tension came tumbling out. "I should have told you, you're my boyfriend, we're supposed to share things, and the last two weeks, I've not written to you at all and I." El stopped and held her head against him.

Lucas' words floated back to Mike, 'you'll know the time when it, comes.' Mike brought his arm back from El and turned so he was looking right at her, he touched her chin, which brought her face up to his. "Why don't you tell me about it, tell me from the beginning." He said reassuringly.

El managed a small smile. Well, it all started when I moved away. El opened her heart to Mike, told him how his absence had been like a black hole burrowing inside her. Losing him, her dad and her powers had been too much. She was unable to feel anything. Then at college there was an option for Tennis which she felt a strange pull towards. Mike noticed that as soon as Tennis came up there was a noticeable change in El, her voice had stopped shaking and had a confidence that he did not recognise.

He laughed as she told him about how she had improved and showed her snotty classmates whose boss. She skirted over the details after that, going to professional coaching and continuing to get better.

Mike listened in silence giving encouraging nods as El told him her story.

"And" she said finally, "that's why I didn't say anything to you." El, reached and held Mike's hand, "I'm sorry, but I felt it was something just for me, you know, I hope you're not mad."

"Of, course not" Mike said returning El's grip, "I'm glad you've found something you love so much." His voice trailed off. El sensed something, "Mike?" She enquired squeezing his hand. "Oh" he said, "it's nothing." "I know you better than that" she said with a hint of impatience, "tell me what's wrong?"

Now it was his turn to feel lost. Hearing El tell him about her love for Tennis was a special moment but it seemed to confirm something Mike had always feared. That she would find something or someone, and that she wouldn't need him anymore. "El" he said breathing heavily, casting his eyes away, "are we ok?"

She took a moment to reply, he could see the cogs of her mind working. "Why would you say that?" El asked, "is it because." "No" Mike interrupted, "I'm glad you didn't tell me about your Tennis, I'm happy you've found something so dear to you." "It's just," he struggled on, "in our letters, sometimes it felt like, we were just friends, you know, not a couple."

El listened patiently as Mike poured everything out. The simple conversations they'd had, which he always enjoyed but had begun to seem hollow. He had no idea how bad she had felt on leaving him, how blind he had been to her needs.

"And" he finished, "you're my girlfriend," his voice shook, just as El's had done a few moments before. "I should have been there for you, should have asked how you felt, should have come to see you sooner." Mike felt himself breaking down.

With a calm movement El brought her own hand to Mike's face, raising his head. She looked into his eyes with utmost seriousness. "Mike Wheeler," she said softly. "When I was in the lab, I had nothing, no one to talk to, I did not know who or what I was." "But you," she stroked his cheek with her fingers, "you made me whole, gave me a purpose." Mike remained silent. "And those 'simple conversations'" she continued, "you've no idea what they mean to me, the chance to live a normal life with the most wonderful person." Mike let out a sob. Wiping a tear from his eye El smiled, "I love you" she said and leaned forward kissing him on the lips.

Mike's head span as El's lips touched his. Time seemed to stand still. He met her kiss. As they parted, a flood of happiness, relief and sensation ran through Mike. He reached his hand and brushed the side of El's ear, lighting touching a curl that really was like the steam from his coffee that morning. "I love you too" he said. El grinned and leaned in again, their kiss was deeper this time, more passionate. But both of them felt tired, exhausted by the emotion.

Mike lay on the bed and El fell gracefully onto his chest. Her softness, her warmth, the smell of her hair was intoxicating. Mike had never felt such happiness. He folded his arms around her and closed his eyes, hoping the moment would last forever.