El began humming to the music that was swiftly playing inside some small grocery store, a few minutes away from her regular one. She had never been there before, in fact, she distinctively came here to hide from Mike. It was sad really, she attempted new routes and found herself shopping in different places she least expected, so she didn't have to bump into him.
Today was different. She didn't feel tired and drained, she was over her usual routine that consisted of different flavoured egos and watching sappy movies all day long. Even Joyce had made a few attempts to get her off the bed and out the front door, El knew she looked pathetic at this point but she just couldn't help it. Not when she felt as though the walls were closing in on her and no one was around to stop it. To stop her from feeling scared and alone, but Mike did. He was her anchor, making sure she stayed grounded but most importantly he made her feel loved. But it wasn't fair on her to dwell on old memories and tire out her body even more by crying.
Something inside Eleven snapped this morning, she had surged off the bed and into her bedroom closest. She tore through each and every outfit until she found the perfect one, it was white and had consisted of patterned Daisy's splattering across it. She loved this dress, it made her feel all girly and pretty. Right now, this is exactly what she needed. With a nod of approval, she marched her way to the bathroom next, she bit back a gasp at the mirroring image of herself.
Her short locks were so matted that it was piled up against the top of her head, unbrushed and unkept. Her lifeless eyes were glassy and almost swollen shut, she hadn't not cried a single day since being a way from Mike. She was used to him being around, she never had felt so empty, so alone. Her gaze then landed on her skin, looking washed out and pale under the harsh lights. All together she was a complete and utter mess.
No wonder Mike cheated, she thought bitterly. Not everyone can wake up in the morning and still be able to glow the way Emily did.
But goddamn it, she was heartbroken, and she had every right to feel and look hopelessly miserable.
Not anymore though.
Enough was enough.
Her cheeks became flushed and her breathing uneven, suddenly her hands flew to her hair. She let out a strangled "Fuck" as she hissed through her teeth. She pulled and yanked at the knots, teasing it with the ends of her fingers.
Yes, she liked it.
In fact, she loved it.
It was different, her once perfectly placed curls were now replaced with a more wild and messy look. El started to feel something swell within herself, perhaps it was pride for dragging herself out of bed or maybe it was the fact that while everyday she cried, it had helped her forget a little about Mike each time.
A smile made its way across her pale complexion as she then grasped a pink gloss that was scattered across the sink of where she kept all her make up. Nancy had helped and taught El what she should buy over the last few years, but she never got the chance to wear most of it. Mike liked El for the way she was, he didn't want her to hide her natural beauty, so she did as she was told and kept herself a certain way for him. With a shake of her head, she pouted her lips and applied a generous amount on her forefinger before dabbing softly.
Not anymore. She wasn't going to be the same old El. She needed a change and she needed it now.
And that's how she ended up here. At some random grocery store, looking all glammed up for the first time in awhile. Yet, for the first time she seemed at peace. She wasn't dolling herself up for anyone except for herself only and she loved it. A lot of new firsts were happening today without Mike and she didn't seem to mind, not one little bit.
El was kind of getting over the Eggos at this point, don't get her wrong she loved them. In fact, usually she couldn't get enough but she was sick to death of everywhere she went she would be surrounded by him without even realising it. She didn't just need a fresh look, she needed a new life. One that didn't consist of him anymore.
A sigh escaped her lips as she wandered away from the eggos and ended up grabbing a few things Hopper asked off her instead for their dinner party tonight. It wasn't anything too fancy, but to El this was a huge step. For once she was acting completely normal and not some insane girl who couldn't keep herself together without bursting into a puddle of tears.
With her head held high and both her arms filled with groceries, she made her way out of the sliding doors and towards her parked car. El let out a frustrated sigh as her car was only across the road from her. That wasn't the issue though, it was the fact that it was so humid in Hawkins that El thought she could melt right then and there. As her eyes scanned the road, it seemed good to go for her to cross it. She quickly scurried by, almost at the end of the road until one of her heels got caught in a pothole.
"No, no, no." She ushered out worriedly, her eyes frantically watching if there was a sign of a car coming anytime soon. It was clear so far.
She tried yanking and pulling at the shoe, but it wouldn't bulge and El felt her heart beginning to surge out of her chest. This was bad. Really bad.
All El could do was pull even harder on the straps, dropping the groceries down in the process. Her breathing hitched as she could hear the cars coming closer.
"Get off the road, unless your wanting to get killed out there!"
She heard someone scream in the distant but El didn't seem to pay close enough attention. El squeezed her eyes shut, everything seemed to freeze within this moment and El remained still. She felt unfamiliar hands making their way under her legs and her head was now pressed against a stranger's chest. So warm and inviting.
El's vision suddenly became blurry, her head pounding and her body aching. Her ears picked up the sounds of someone screaming and the skidding of a car against the pavement. Thanks to her powers, El could use them from miles away but instead she's stopped herself from doing so. She rarely uses her powers anymore.
"Are you okay?" El felt a hand brush against her cheek, her eyelashes fluttering in the process. She fought herself awake, this stranger's touch surprisingly made her feel safer and secured than she had in a long time. El eyes started to lock on a pair of worried ones. His glossy blonde hair was dishevelled, but it was his baby blue eyes that made El bite back a gasp and instead lean further into him. Mike had always been beautiful to El. But my god, who was this guy?
Hell, Mike was the centre of El's world and she never noticed anyone that wasn't him.
Until now.
"You saved my shoe." Els words were slurred and unsteady but it was his deep chuckle that had her melt into his touch even further. What was she doing? Usually El would've never let a guy remotely touch her but she sensed no danger. For crying out loud, here she was complaining when he had just saved her life. Her eyes landed on one of her heels dangling on his unpreoccupied hand. She felt a hint of embarrassment but remained puddy under his touch.
"And you as well." He added, a small smile hinged its way onto his features before he swiftly pulled her off the side of the road and onto him. His eyes were scanning for any minor injuries that El shook the thought of her wedding day away from her mind. The act alone reminded her of Mike and for once she didn't want him to ruin this moment with this perfect stranger.
Without a second thought El blurted out, "Who should I be thanking?"
His hands remained on her, but she didn't do a single thing to stop him. Maybe she craved a little intimacy and to others the way they appear may seem as though there together, but she didn't care. After all, why couldn't she be in the arms of another guy. She was single after all.
"The names Ben." He released his hands off her suddenly, beginning to rub the back of his neck softly. El didn't like the cold feeling that was now replacing his warm touch.
"Ben." El repeated the word again, liking the way it clicked against her tongue and the warm feeling that emerged from her stomach as she repeated his name a few more times in her mind.
"And you are?"
She began to open her mouth, but she chocked on her words as her eyes gazed on his watch. Fuck, she was already so late. Joyce would kill her.
"Late. Really late actually. I've got to go but thank you for everything, really." El crouched down to collect her bags before she felt a hand press against the edge of her foot.
There he was, kneeling in front of her. She felt her eyebrows pull together in confusion before she saw her shoe still hanging in his grip. With a gentle tug, he slid the shoe against her foot and placed a soft kiss against the small graze of her big toe.
As he finally got back on his feet, El didn't seem to move. His smile was still plastered across his face, but his eyes held a playful glint in them that El quickly grabbed her things and headed towards her car finally.
"Wait!"
El's curls brushed against the sides of her neck as she hastily turned around. Both of his hands were inside his jean pockets but instead she was the one to offer a sweet smile as he muttered the next words, "Will I be seeing you around, Miss Late?"
Eleven giggled at his choice of words before she subconsciously agreed a thousand times in her head.
Yes! Yes! Yes!
"I guess we will just have to wait and see, shall we."
Not giving him a moment to reply, she got into her car and shut the door with a thud. Her head was thrown back against the leather car seat and her chest was frantically beating so fast that El was already pressing a hand to her chest. Beginning to count down from ten to handle her breathing.
Ben.
El repeated the name over and over without a second thought. He was a complete and utter stranger to her, but she hadn't felt so alive with anyone that hadn't been her husband. It was the sweetest thing and she knew it was all because of Ben.
Yes, she would certainly be seeing him again.
She'd make sure of it.
XXXXXXXXX
AND THAT'S IT.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, I think it's time to not let it be so depressing. The beginning of the story was going to be filled with angst no matter what but it's time for it to be more light felt and exciting. Do tell me what you guys think? I love the big and long reviews, it makes me feel super warm inside and appreciated. I used to always think my writing skills sucked but you guys make me think differently now!
So kudos to you beautiful people!
Was it too soon to bring a guy into this? Thoughts? Don't worry we will be seeing a lot of Mike in the other chapter!
L xo
