Hope we're all staying safe and staying clean. Here's chapter 13 and if you're out of school (which I'm pretty sure everyone is at this point), enjoy this one a little more since that's exactly where our characters have returned... though maybe not everyone.

Mike's POV

I don't know why, but today El asked to meet in the AV room. I almost couldn't believe it, because I don't even recall mentioning to her that I was in the AV club. I guess you can just tell by looking at me. She didn't clarify if it was for tutoring and I didn't ask, but I brought along my supplies just in case. I wasn't really sure what else it could be for.

Unsurprisingly, the door to the AV room wasn't locked. Hardly anyone went in here and no one thought it was worth vandalizing because of all the expensive school property so there was no point in locking it. But what did surprise me was that El was already inside. She was sitting on a desk with her legs swinging, holding one of the projector light bulbs, and looking at it like she was trying to figure out where this piece of equipment belonged.

Unlike her regular jeans though, she was wearing black tights and a short denim skirt. Her shirt reminded me of something that Madonna would wear. She looked like she had on more makeup than she normally did since the area around her eyes looked darker and her lips were brighter. All of a sudden, I felt it get really hot and became a lot more aware that we were the only two people in here.

"Hi," I gulped.

"Hey," she smiled, as she put the light bulb down into the box next to her on the table. "You made it."

"Yeah," I gave a small smile, trying not to let on as to how nervous I was. "You're on time." I observed as I slid my glasses up my nose.

"Oh, yeah," she... giggled? "Turns out this room is closer to my locker than the library is."

"Heh, cool," I answered as I put my backpack down on the table closest to me and started taking out the supplies we use.

"Mike?" She spoke softly.

"Uh, yeah?"

"I don't really want to do any schoolwork today," she said as she tilted her head and batted her eyes.

"Oh, uh..." I guess I was about to find out the other possible reason she wanted to meet here. "Wh-what did you want to do?"

"Well," and with a small hop, she was on her feet. "I was thinking..." Before I even knew what was happening, she stood on her tip-toes and pressed her soft, pink lips against mine...

"Honey... Mike... Sweetheart..." It was the slight nudge that woke me up. "There you are." I could hear the relief in my mom's voice. "Are you okay? I think you were having a bad dream."

"Uhh, umm," I blinked, trying to get used to the light of day. "Yeah, I'm fine," I spoke as I shook my head, still thinking about where my mind just was.

"Okay. You should get up. You don't want to be late for school. I can drop you off if you like."

"Uhh, no, that's okay," I spoke, now having put on my glasses. "I can ride my bike."

"Alright. Don't forget to eat some breakfast," she reminded me as she turned and left. I, rather uncomfortably, got up and pulled out a towel from my dresser, determined to take a shower that was no longer than average. But seeing as all I kept thinking about was El and the dream I just had, I knew that wouldn't be as easy as I wanted.

So I decided to focus on upcoming events.

It's the Monday back to school after Thanksgiving break. Projects due, assignments done, and one day closer to having to complete my college applications. All that was on the forefront of my mind as I made my way down to the kitchen where Holly was having breakfast and mom was drinking her coffee.

"Hey," mom spoke when she saw me. "Do you want me to whip something up for you?"

"Uh, no that's fine. Thanks," I answered as I noticed the syrup covered Eggo waffle on Holly's plate "I have to get to school." At that, I all but ran out of the kitchen and into the backyard to grab my bike, my thoughts once again drifting to El Hopper.

Riding down the familiar route, I shivered from the cold and wish I wore a thicker jacket. Since it was late November, I should have known to be better prepared. But at least this managed to take my mind off... whatever that dream was.

Arriving at the school's parking lot, I noticed there were some people heading inside and a few hanging out at the steps outside the building, not caring if they were going to be late. I continued to the bike rack near the foot of the stairs and locked my bike in, noticing Will's and Dustin's there as well.

I walked, faster than normal, into the building and was glad to see that there weren't many people in the hallway. Seeing as I really wasn't in the mood to speak to anyone, this was a good thing. I stopped at my locker before heading to my first class which, thankfully, wasn't too far away.

Shaking any and all remaining thoughts of El out of my mind, knowing I was about to see the guys, I entered the classroom.

"...wasn't as weird as I thought it would be." Will's voice was the first I heard as I walked to and sat in my usual seat.

"Hey, Mike!" Dustin exclaimed, sounding more excited than usual.

"Hey." I greeted them all as I started removing my books from my backpack. "What are you guys talking about?" I knew it'd be impossible not to speak to them so I gave in.

"You'll never guess who showed up to Will's house on Thanksgiving," Dustin again.

"Who?" I didn't bother to guess.

"El Hopper!" At that, the textbook I was holding slipped out of my hands and fell to the ground with a loud thump.

Nancy told me El and Chief Hopper were also there when she got back from the Byers' on Thanksgiving night. But I thought she was kidding. And since I didn't question it any further, she didn't bring it up again for the rest of the weekend.

"Oh, yeah?" I answered, trying to keep cool as Lucas picked up my book and handed it back to me.

"Yeah!" Dustin answered, obviously being the only one excited about this piece of news and turned back to Will, likely to interrogate him more.

"You okay, Mike?" Lucas asked, noticing my reaction and that I hadn't reached out to take my book back from him.

"Uhh, yeah. I'm okay." Having a somewhat private moment with Lucas right now, it reminded me of when we talked about El and the way she was looking at me after tutoring a couple of weeks ago. Even if I wasn't sure if I should do or say anything to anyone about the dream I had, I suddenly considered telling Lucas. And of course, it would be for the same reasons I told him about me going to the party with El in the first place. Deciding he's clearly the best choice and to think more about if I really wanted to tell him, I took the book from his hand and turned back around.

Our teacher walked in a few moments later and all thoughts of El Hopper, both her Thanksgiving dinner plans and clothing choices, managed to leave my mind for the time being.


A few hours later, the guys and I were seated for lunch at our usual table. Even though we have a few classes together, this was the first time we were able to properly catch up with each other. Apart from Will, who already shared the most exciting part of his holiday break.

Tuning out of whatever conversation they started to have, my eyes wandered around the cafeteria. Without intending to, they landed where El and her friends typically sit when they decide to eat indoors. Today, however, I noticed it was only her two friends. They already looked pretty engaged in conversation so it doesn't seem like they are waiting for El to show up. Based on the fact that her friends are turned towards each other and not leaving space for a third person, it doesn't appear as though she will be joining them. As far as I can tell, they don't seem at all fazed by it. This, I realized, must be common though I haven't known El, let alone her friends, long enough to say that with certainty.

There's also the chance that she's having lunch with someone or somewhere else.

This would be news since even though we talk, she's never mentioned having other friends at school. At least be friendly enough with anyone for her to have lunch with them. I don't think any of the people that were at the party go to school with us, especially since none of the ones I came across looked familiar.

If that's not what it is, there's really no other place I can think of her being on campus. I suppose then, that for one reason or another, she's not in school.

Not that I'm overly concerned about it or anything.

I didn't realize that I had been staring, or how long I had been thinking about where El is, until I saw her friend, the one with the red hair, glance over at me. With a gasp that I hoped none of the guys heard, I looked down at the mystery meat that was on my tray in front of me, cursing myself for being dumb enough to get caught.

But as I sat alone at El and mine's table in the library after school, my suspicion about her not being present at all grew. Minute after minute that she didn't appear, walking through the library doors like she owned the place, got me curious yet annoyed. Worried and even mad.

And it's not like I have any reason to be.

Deciding not to waste any more of my time, I started closing all the books and putting everything away in my backpack. As I was doing so, I noticed Lucas throw me a questioning look from his table. He and everyone else could clearly tell that El wasn't here. The shrug of my shoulders I used to answer him said that I didn't care.

On my way out of the library, I would have to pass Mrs. Chapman at the front desk and I knew she would ask why I was leaving. Since I have a legitimate excuse, I don't imagine it being a problem.

"Hi, Michael. Leaving so soon?"

"Mrs. Chapman, El uhh- Elizabeth isn't here. Do you know if anyone mentioned anything?"

"No. I'm not sure if I saw her name on the absentee list today. I would have let you know. I don't have it with me unfortunately. But it's fine. You can go. Thank you for waiting."

"Thanks. Yeah, see you Wednesday." I adjusted the straps of my backpack and left.

Walking through the school doors on the way to the bike rack I, for what seemed like the hundredth time today, started thinking about El.

Why am I getting upset about her not being in school? It's not like I think she owes it to me to let me know in advance. And in general, why am I thinking so much about her today? Even though I've been tutoring her since the beginning of the school year, she hasn't really been in my head as much as she has been since I woke up.

And that dream...

The more I thought about it, maybe it's not such a good idea to talk to Lucas about the dream. Maybe it's not a good idea to talk about it to anyone. Hopefully it'll go away as quick as it came and it won't happen again, though that doesn't answer why I had the dream in the first place.

I suppose that since she's the only girl I'm not related to that I talk to regularly, she was eventually bound to appear subconsciously. But I didn't think it would be like that. I haven't known her for very long and even though there have been times we talk about things that aren't schoolwork, it doesn't validate me thinking of her in that way.

But we don't really know each other. Which I guess is why the events of the dream turned out the way they did. If I knew her better, the dream could have gone very differently. We could have been somewhere else and with more people around. We would be doing something that doesn't involve staying after school and studying, the main activity we do together and of course, the grounds on which we even met.

I wouldn't say I ever thought of her in that way before. I mean, she's... attractive. There's no denying that. And she's nice. Much nicer than I thought she would be, if I'm being honest. El Hopper has a reputation that's no secret to the student body, and I'm sure the faculty too.

She was intimidating at first. On that first day of tutoring, my awkwardness wasn't the only reason I reacted how I did when she approached me. Luckily, despite the initial frustration of her lack of preparedness and focus, that quickly went away. Within a few short weeks, I got to see a side of her I'm sure few people have, something else I wasn't expecting.

If all that happened in a way I barely noticed, then I wonder what's next?

I've never met a girl like El Hopper.

And I don't think I ever will again.

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