El was sure about two things before she started reading the letter with the heading " Day 11" . One, she had cried reading every single letter, and she still had lots to go. And two…
She really liked Mike.
She took a deep breath and read the next letter to her.
El,
Writing these letters is harder than I thought it would be. I miss you every single day. I cried in front of a girl today. She came up to me and asked me where my girlfriend was, the one with the pretty blonde hair. She must have seen us together or something. I didn't know what to tell her anyway, but I remembered the trusting look you gave me when I put the makeup on you. I lost it and started crying. I'm glad Troy didn't see me, he would have punched me for sure.
I have a confession to make. You were the first girl I've ever kissed. I'll never forget that. They say you never forget your first kiss. It was nice.
"It was very sweet Mike, I'll never forget either." It wasn't fair, El could see Mike in the Void anytime she wanted to, but Mike… all he could do was write these letters.
This is a short letter El.
I really miss you,
Your friend Mike.
El was almost scared to pick up the next few letters, but she carried on.
29
El,
Apparently I'm "acting out" in school. I'd like to think of it as standing up for myself and what I believe. But that's not the way teachers or my parents are seeing it.
It's been almost a month since you… got trapped? In The Upside Down? If I could find a way to get there I'd rescue you myself, or die trying.
El had no doubt that Mike would, he'd stepped off a cliff because he thought it would save Dustin. That's a friend that would die for you. She hoped it wouldn't come to that, but it warmed her heart to read that Mike would die for her. That's something a whole lot more than just "like".
Sorry for another short letter El, I'm going to stop writing and call you on the Supercomm now.
Miss you…
Mike.
65
El,
I can't believe it's been three months. It feels like forever. I don't know how I'm doing it. "Time heals all wounds"? I call bull on that. It's not healing mine El. I miss you so much my heart hurts. I guess you already know that I like you. I just wish you were here. I wouldn't won't yell at you ever again. I promise.
74
El,
There was nothing written after that. Just a lot of tear stains on the page. El added her own without realizing it.
92
El,
I really don't have anybody to talk to. Sure Will is back, and he's my best friend and all, but… he seems different now. He has to go to regular checkups, and get this AT THE LAB. How crazy is that? I heard there's a new guy running the place now, I guess we'll see what happens. Lucas and Dustin mostly leave me alone. They have an idea what I'm going through.
Ever since Hopper found Will, he hasn't done anything to look for you. I stomped into his office one day and asked why he wasn't looking for you. He gave me the weirdest look. Told me some government bullshit, sounded rehearsed to me.
"He found me, Mike. I was safe."
I keep to myself these days. I haven't run a D&D campaign since you've been gone. My heart isn't in it, you know? …it's… somewhere else.
One thing is for sure, I've been going through batteries. My mom asked me who the heck I was calling every night that drained the batteries. My dad gave me some new gizmo that recharges special batteries. I don't no where he got it, but I think it's a technology that could really take off. Anyway, they see I'm happier if my Supercomm is working so they don't bug me as much now.
I really miss you. Have I said that already? (haha).
Um, I like you El. I can write that easily enough, I'm not sure I'll be able to say it when I call tonight.
Mike.
"I like you too." El felt sad. HIs letters were weighing down her heart and she still had a lot to read, but she was determined to finish them all before her dad brought Mike to her.
137
El,
You'd think it would be easier after all this time to write these letters. It's not. If anything it hurts a little more each day.
Um, El? I had a girl talk to me today. I got the feeling that she wanted me to ask her out on a date. And I, um, said that I already had a girlfriend. I hope that's ok? I mean if it's not, that's ok too, but I didn't really want to go out with her. I suppose I shouldn't be choosy, but I mean, I don't really like her the way that, um... I like you.
El smiled, "I'll be your girlfriend Mike. I don't like anybody else the way I like you. I hope you like my hair now."
We are almost halfway through summer and it's sucked so far. I'm not looking forward to school. I never have. I wish you could go with us. I would… I would hold your hand every day El. Every day.
Miss you El,
Mike.
164
El,
Ugh. School in less than a week. I can't wait for my first punch from Troy. What a mouthbreather. I was really hoping you'd be back by now, we could all go to school together. We could all help with your homework, The Party is good in all kinds of different subjects.
Will, is getting weirder by the day. I know he's not happy about his doctor visits. He has "episodes". We all know it's Upside Down related. Not sure Doc Owens gets it.
At least school will keep me a little bit occupied. I think about you all the time. I mean all the time . I think about how pretty your eyes are, the way you smile at me. I think about what it would be like to kiss you again. Uh, sorry El, but that's what I think about the most. Kissing you again.
If I see you again, I'm going to ask you to be my girlfriend, I really really like you El. I hope you're ok.
El's smile went very wide. "Oh, Mike. I really really like you too. I'm ok. I'm more than ok"
Even though Mike was sad when he wrote that letter, El felt good. Yes, there were more letters, but she already knew how the day would end.
MIss you El,
Mike.
"I'm going to kiss you like you've never been kissed before Mike. I'm just waiting for my dad to bring home… to me."
