Chapter 2 Off Limits
Some hours later El was in her shared room with Will, attempting to do something with her wild wavy hair. Ultimately she settled for a half up and half down do with a pink scrunchie. The handsome mysterious stranger was still on her mind and it brought her back to Will's words earlier. You've never even kissed a boy. Whilst it was true, El couldn't help but wonder how she had reached the mature age of seventeen without so much as holding a boy's hand. Perhaps it was because she had never felt an attraction towards another man. Until today with the mysterious stranger.
"What are you thinking about so hard over there?"
It was Will's voice who was sat sprawled across his bed with his sketchpad and pencils. He noticed El's scrunched up face and serious expression..
"Nothing just thinking about stuff." El said with a long sigh.
Will threw down his sketch pad siting up straight. "Is this about what I said earlier El."
"Ding ding. You win." El said sarcastically as she turned away from the dressing table to face him.
"I was only joking El." He said as he got up and pulled his sister into a bear hug.
"I know." She mumbled from within his embrace.
"Then what is it?" He demanded to know releasing her from his hold.
"It's just why haven't I kissed anyone. It's so weird to be this age and not have reached many adolescent milestones."
"What about that Steve Harrington?" Will suggested. "He was very nice to you."
"Steve." El said her nose wrinkled up in disgust.
"Yeah what's wrong with him. He's a very successful and older guy." Will pointed out. "And as Mom said earlier a very attractive young man."
El giggled at his words as she thought long and hard. "Nah Steve's...too much of a pretty boy. I like guys that are…" Her words trailed off as her thoughts went back once again to the dark haired stranger and his infectious goofy smile. "More rugged and mysterious."
A playful smile crept across her face and she felt her cheeks turn a deep shade of red, which didn't go unnoticed by Will.
"Sounds like you already have someone in mind?" Will said rhetorically.
"Anyway." El said quickly changing the subject. "Are you seeing Jennifer tonight?"
"Yeah about that…" Will said with a grimace. "I need the room for a couple of hours tonight."
"So you want me to go wandering off somewhere so you and Jen can make sweet romantic love?"
Will nodded eagerly.
"Fine but you owe me big time!" El told him as she threw a pink jumper over her overalls.
At that moment their mother came plodding in dressed in a floral sundress and her hair clipped back in a bun.
"Are you too ready for dinner?" She inquired.
They both nodded as Joyce inspected their outfits in the manner of a drill sergeant.
She flung her arms on her hips in annoyance. "Can't you two even make a bit of effort. You're father's in a shirt and jacket for christ sakes!"
El and Will stared back and fourth at each other unsure of the problem in their attire whilst their mother rambled on.
"I mean Will I packed you some nice shirts and El dear you have so many pretty dresses and such a lovely figure. But you hide it under those horrible overalls and masculine jumpers and shirts."
"Mom!" Will argued. "I don't do shirts and El's not that girly. You know this so stop trying to change us!"
"Well Will this time I put my foot down. We're having dinner with Mr Harrington's family tonight so please change, we need to make a good impression."
Both the teenagers groaned and began to babble their protest, until Joyce cut them off.
"Listen do you really think I want to be in a fitted dress in this damn heat at six months pregnant! No I don't I would rather be sat on the couch with a bag of cheetos and a nice cool coke! But this is for your father. So if I have to make the effort then so do you! So be ready to leave in five minutes,ditch the denim and be dressed presentable so we can go to this meal so I can be in bed by 9:00pm! Got it?!"
Sometime later the family found themselves seated in the dining hall, El and Will's outfits now meeting Joyce's requirements. Will has donned a pair of black trousers and a blue paisley shirt whilst El had settled for a daisy printed dress, which she had insisted on covering with a pink wooly buttoned cardigan much to Joyce's annoyance. Finally after what felt like an age of awkward silence, Oscar and Steve finally joined the family. This time they were wearing suits of a similar style, but Steve's was a dark shade of red donned with a black and white striped shirt whilst Oscar wore a simple cream and white combination.
"How lovely to see you again." Joyce remarked as she looked around expectantly. "Will Nora not be joining us this evening?"
Oscar and Steve both shifted in their seats nervously, as Hopper leaned over Joyce's shoulder to tactfully whisper.
"Oscar and Nora are separated, Joyce."
Joyce threw a hand to her face mentally kicking herself, Will and El sniggered into their menu's during this embarrassing exchange.
"I'm so sorry Steve and Oscar. I didn't know."
"It's fine." Oscar insisted giving Joyce, who sat beside him a reassuring pat on the arm. "Nora and I weren't happy for years. The separation is not sad."
"Maybe not for you." Steve muttered under his breath loud enough for all to hear.
"Anyway." Hopper said swiftly moving the conversation away from awkward territory. "Steve are you attending college?"
Steve shook his head and was about to open his mouth to answer when Oscar cut him off.
"No Steve had a place at Brown, but he blew it big time. Now he just works under my watchful eye."
Steve forced a smile across his face. "Yes unfortunately I went through a bit of a rough patch. But I'm getting back on track. I'm even thinking of attending the Cornell School for Hotel Management."
Oscar let out a cruel chuckle. " Sure Steve. Like you have the motivation for that."
"Well I believe anyone is capable of anything if they put their mind to it!" El announced with a sickly sweet smile. She really didn't care for the way Oscar Harrington spoke to his son.
Everyone looked around at El in astonishment.
"Thanks El." Steve said with a gracious smile. "Where will you be going to college?"
"I won't be at college till next fall. This year is my senior year of High School. Will's going to college this year." El replied quickly trying to avoid the subject before…
"El's applying to Yale!" Hopper announced proudly. It was too late he had started the El's college debate once again. "She'll be studying business and then maybe on to Law School."
Will, who was sitting beside El, rolled his eyes at this.
"Wow that's very impressive El. You must be very smart!" Oscar said as he passed round menus left by their waiter.
"El is smart!" Joyce agreed. "She loves books!"
"And music,acting and singing." Will added. "She's very talented. Our music and drama teachers both said that she could easily be eligible for a Scholarship to Juilliard."
"Juilliard. That's a great opportunity." Steve said with an impressive look across his face.
"Yes!" Hopper said loudly and dismissively. "But El is going to Yale! She needs a practical and prospective career choice. Acting and music are a dead end career."
Joyce remained quiet during this subject, feeling awkward among their friends.
"I haven't decided yet." El added in an attempt to change the subject.
"Nothing to decide. She's going to Yale." Hopper insisted aggressively.
"Why don't we order?" Joyce suggested motioning to the menus. Everyone nodded in agreement and silence fell across the table.
The table managed to get through the rest of the meal without any further talk of colleges. By the time the main course was being served, El, Will and Steve were babbling their way through generic subjects such as favourite music, books, TV shows and when really stuck for conversation the weather. The adults meanwhile had engaged in a very animated discussion regarding Hawkins their hometown, Hopper being the Chief of Police discussed the crime rates in Hawkins and the big cities. Once everyone had finished their mains and the offer of desserts were being made, Steve, El and Will all set about finding excuses to exit early.
"Mom, Hopper. I told Jen I would meet her. Please may I be excused?"
"Will you may be excused but please ensure that Jennifer gets back to her room at a reasonable time." Joyce told him forcefully.
"Midnight curfew!" Hopper enforced pointing at both his children.
Will nodded before bidding his goodbyes and leaving in a rush.
"Dad I don't need a curfew, I plan to go back to the room." El lied instantly as she rose from her chair, Steve chose that moment to get up from his seat too.
"I must excuse myself as well I'm afraid. I have some business to attend to." Steve told them all apologetically.
"What business?" Oscar asked, eyeing his son suspiciously.
"Just a meeting with some of the waiters and waitresses." Steve replied.
"Very well. But walk El back to her cabin before you go." Oscar ordered.
"Oh that's ok I don't need Steve to…" El began to insist but once again her father found another opportunity to enforce conversation with Steve.
"Oh that would be so nice of you Steve. Making sure my daughter gets back safe and sound."
With no further arguments to make, El and Steve smiled at each other awkwardly before exiting the dining hall, hearing Joyce shouting for them to have fun as they went. El worried that the walk back to her cabin would be filled with long periods of silence, but Steve was making several attempts at conversation.
"So are you going to be spending the evening with your boyfriend?" He inquired.
El felt herself blush slightly, she wasn't remotely attracted to Steve but the question made her feel embarrassed all the same.
"I don't have one." She admitted.
"Oh why not? Pretty girls like you should have men lining up."
El blushed even more.
"Sorry El. Did I embarrass you?"
"No." She insisted. "I'm just not use to getting compliments."
Steve nodded politely before stopping in his tracks to stand facing her. "Look I think we should address the elephant in the room here?"
"Which elephant?" El asked with a puzzled expression on her face.
"Our Dads." Steve told her as he smirked. "I think they're trying to set us up and as lovely as you are…"
"Steve. I get it. You're not interested in me and I can assure you no offence but I'm not interested in you either."
Steve let out a huge sigh of relief. "Well that's great news. I mean you're really pretty and all and the age gap wouldn't bother me. It's like maybe four years. But I have a girl I like. My father just doesn't approve of her."
El nodded in understanding. "By the way you don't need to walk me back to my room. I'm not going there, it's currently occupied."
Steve and her shared a knowing look.
"Let me guess the brother and the girlfriend are using your shared bedroom?"
"Yeah. Unfortunately." El said with a grimace.
"Well you could come and sit with me and some friends if you like?" Steve offered.
El shook her head as she went walking off into the grass. "No thank you."
"Then where are you going?" He called after her.
"It's a lovely night." El yelled as she pointed up to the star filled sky and the luminous light coming from the full moon. "I'll take a walk."
Without a second glance at Steve, El went wandering off into the dark deciding to keep to the path. The last thing she needed was to be lost in the woods. As she walked she passed decorative cabin after cabin, they seemed never ending. Eventually she came to the end of the accommodation and to a clearing, El thought about heading back, however, she noticed past the clearing a small array of shabbier looking cabins and a main building with lights on. Sounds of blasted music could be heard in the distance, coming from the main building. Common sense told El to head home, after all a quick glance at her watch informed her that it was already close to 10:00pm. However, her curiosity won and El bounded forward towards the music. As she neared she could make out the song as Faith by George Michael, but she was temporarily paused by a man standing not far ahead of her. The young man was short and scrawny looking and he appeared to be struggling to balance three arm length watermelons all on top of each other. Sensing his need for help El came rushing over to help, carefully removing one of the watermelons from his grasp.
"Hey!" The boy yelled at her. "This area is staff only lady!"
On closer inspection of the boys face El realised that she recognised him. It was Dustin Henderson, a boy in her year at School.
"Dustin!" El shrieked. "What are you doing here?"
Recognition spread across his face. "El Hopper! How great to see you. I work here."
"Really?" She giggled. "What do you do?"
"I'm a waiter. My cousin works here so he set me up with a job."
"Good for you." El told him enthusiastically as she still held on to the watermelon. "What's going on over there?" She pointed to the main building where the music was still blasting out.
"It's an after hours party. Staff only, this area is staff quarters. Guests aren't allowed to be here mixing with staff. I'll be in trouble."
"Fine." El said throwing the watermelon down on top of the others. "Carry them yourself."
Dustin wavered slightly to the staff building and back to El a worried look on his face.
"You promise to keep this a secret?"
El nodded eagerly as she took the watermelon from him again and followed.
"So are you interested in Steve Harrington? I saw him walking you out of the dinner hall."
El let out a long groan of frustration. "No he's not my type."
"What a shame. He's super cute." Dustin remarked. El looked at him slightly puzzled.
"I'm bisexual." Dustin offered as he recognised the confusion on his face. "Girls and boys. Whoever I actually have a chance with the most."
They both laughed in unison as they finally reached the main building, trying to show an air of confidence Dustin backed up against the door and bopped it open with a push of his hip. His efforts to appear suave failed miserably as he very nearly dropped both watermelons on the floor. El was too mesmerised by the sight that fell upon her to notice his clumsiness. They stood in the doorway as they watched a swarm of couples, men and women grouped closely together, hips swaying to the music and the bodies glistening with sweat. This style of dancing was different to a simple waltz or a fox trot, people were grinding together and bopping in time to the music. It was like watching people have sex on the dance floor. El thought to herself as she found it alluring but the closeness of the bodies made her feel nervous.
"Where do they learn this?" El asked Dustin her eyes as wide as saucers.
Dustin shrugged. "I don't know. Clubs, friends, most people just dance to the music in their basements at home. Want to give it a go?"
El shook her head with a dreaded look across her face. Laughing to himself Dustin motioned for her to follow him. Slowly they made their way through the crowd, dodging past entwined bodies and fighting off evil glares from the people who knew she didn't belong. El felt herself warm, though it could be that she was covered in a woolly cardigan in 30 degree heat. Finally they stopped at a nearby table and El was relieved to place the watermelon down so that she could feel slightly less awkward. Turning to face the crowd El leant against the table whilst Dustin lingered close to her.
"Want a beer?" He gestured towards the nearby fridge. El shook her head in response as she glanced back to the crowd that were now cheering at the arrival of two people walking through the door. El felt her knees buckle in shock. One of them was the mysterious tall dark haired stranger from earlier. He came bopping into the music, hand in hand with a petite redhead. The girl was slim but her body held curves in all the places that El's didn't. She suddenly felt irrationally threatened by this woman she didn't know and fiercely protective of the man she also didn't know. Dustin must have caught her leering in their direction as he suddenly began to talk.
"That's my cousin." He told her pointing towards the tall haired stranger. "Mike Wheeler. He's the dance instructor here, that girl next to him that's Max Mayfield, she's the other dance instructor."
El felt her heart beat faster. Mike. Mike Wheeler. The tall handsome stranger had a name. But she felt her heart sink at the thought of Mike being in a relationship with this Max girl. The two of them were currently sashaying together to Heaven is a Place on Earth, when suddenly Mike's eyes caught a glimpse of El standing in the corner with Dustin. Quickly whispering something into Max's ear Mike began to wander over to where they stood.
"Well if it isn't the girl who believes Romeo was a pervert." Mike said as he placed himself very closely to El. She looked up at him in a daze taken aback by how tall he was.
"You two know each other?" Dustin asked suspiciously.
"No. Not really." El said cautiously as she remembered Dustin's warning about the staff mixing with the guests.
"I've seen her around." Mike said casually. "Though I don't recall your name?"
"This is El." Dustin informed him. "El this is Mike."
"El." Mike repeated to himself. "Nice name."
El simply smiled in response. It was at that moment that Dustin's was being shouted over by someone and he quickly excused himself.
Mike leaned on the table remaining uncomfortably close to El.
"So are you a member of staff?" He demanded to know. "Because if you're a guest that would make this situation very awkward."
"I am a guest and why is that awkward?" El said with a confused look.
"Because I won't be able to continue to discuss literary debates with you. Which is a shame. You really challenged me. Do you dance?"
"No, I'm too clumsy to dance. My teacher says it's my only downfall as a theatrical student." El said blushing slightly.
"Teacher?" Mike said, his tone sounding suddenly alarmed. "How old are you?"
"17." El told him flatly. "In my last year of high school. Why?"
"Nothing." Mike said his tone relaxing once again. "For a moment I thought you were like 15 and considering I'm 21 that would be pretty pervy."
"Just like Romeo and Juliet." El remarked with a giggle.
Mike laughed as he turned to hold out his hand to her. "Want to dance?"
"Ok." El said retracting back once he placed a hand on her waist.
"What's wrong El?"
El batted his hand away as she quickly babbled an excuse about having to leave and without so much as an explanation she went speeding off out of the hall. Mike just stood there slightly perplexed but a mischievous grin spread across his face as he had an inkling that his touch had made her feel quite nervous.
A/N: Chapter 2 done! Chapter 3 will be up soon I promise. Hope you liked it, thank you!