A/N:Chapter 3 is here! Thanks so far to everyone who has followed, reviewed and faved! :) There will be more Mileven moments coming up!
Chapter 3 Trying to Help
El hadn't slept all night. Every time she tried to settle down for the night her mind went back to her embarrassing encounter with Mike Wheeler. El wished she had stayed to enjoy a dance and close moment with Mike. However, the moment he had placed his hands around her waist El felt the nerves hit and her and her first initial instinct had been to run away like a moron. El wasn't even sure she had given him a reasonable excuse before running for the hills. To make matters worse she had forgotten that Will was spending the evening with Jen in their bedroom and had walked in on them during a rather private moment. The intrusion had resulted in Jen dressing quickly, abruptly leaving and shouting at Will cruelly as she left. Will was furious with El for interrupting them and they had both quickly gone to bed without another word to each other. The next day at the breakfast in the dining hall, they sat in awkward silence as their parents made minimal conversation. The tension between the two of them didn't go unnoticed and finally Hopper with his usual short fuse lost his temper.
"Ok!" He said flinging down his coffee cup. "What is wrong with you two?"
El and Will looked across at each other sharing a concerned look.
"Well. I'm waiting?"
"Will's mad at me...because...I…" El stumbled on her words as she tried to find an excuse that wouldn't get any of them in trouble.
"It's my problem." Will admitted as he put down his cutlery. "Me and Jen had an argument and El caught me on my way back from the argument last night and I took it out on her. But it's not her fault."
"Is that it?" Hopper asked, rolling his eyes in disbelief. "Will. When will you learn that Jennifer Hayes is nothing but trouble!"
"Jim sweetie. Drop it. Please." Joyce insisted as she leaned across the table to stroke his hand. "They're in love. But they're young. They're bound to argue."
"It's really not a big deal." Will told them before adding. "And El. I really am sorry."
Will gave her a genuine smile. It was all she needed to know her brother was sorry.
"Well thank you Will. Dad please don't be too hard on Will. Him and Jennifer really have been better recently this is the longest they've gone without breaking up. Besides last night I wasn't very understanding of the situation. So I am partly to blame."
Will gave El another bright smile as he went back to eating his scrambled eggs. They thought it was the end of that conversation, but Hopper carried on.
"Well I just think you can do better. She's never treated you well. I mean it's like you have no self respect and you just let her walk all over you."
"JIM!" Joyce shrieked at him clanging her cutlery down.
At this point Will threw down his napkin and abruptly left the table. El and Joyce looked at Hopper shaking their heads at him, whilst Hopper sat their nonchalantly sipping his coffee.
"What?" He asked with a shrug of his shoulders. "I didn't say anything that wasn't true."
El shook her head in disbelief as she grabbed her bag and silently left the table to follow out after Will. When she finally found him he was sat beside the lake, looking out at the view thoughtfully.
"Mind if I join you? She asked, sitting down beside him.
Will squinted in the sunlight as he let out a long withdrawn sigh.
"Is Hopper right? Do I really have no self respect?"
"No…" El began."I think he just cares about you. But Daddy's not good at showing it!"
"I suppose so. Look I know that Jen has treated me like crap in the past. But things are different now. Last night was just awkward." Will insisted.
El simply nodded. "OK. I trust your judgement!"
"Good because I was thinking of sending her flowers or something and maybe…"
El's attention was suddenly turned away to another person. Just a few yards away from them near the docs of the lake two young people were arguing. El recognized the tall fiery red head as Max, the dance instructor. The tall black male wasn't anyone El recognized from the staff quarters last night. El assumed that Max was with Mike, yet something about the way they stood closely together, yelled at each other passionately and the way he placed a hand protectively on her arm hinted that they shared a certain closeness.
"El! Are you listening to me?" Will said loudly, ripping her attention away from Max and the man.
"Sorry." She said apologetically. "What were you saying?"
"It's not important." He caught a glance at Max and the man who were still arguing. "Is that anyone you know?" He asked.
El shook her head. "Of course not. How about we spend the day together. Find a nice spot in the sun. I can write. You can draw."
Will got up from his spot on the floor and pulled El up by her arm as he swung his other arm around her shoulder.
"Lead the way sis!"
They spent the afternoon tucked under a tree, El finishing her book and Will sketching a beautiful landscape of the lake and the sun shining down. Before they knew it lunchtime turned into late afternoon and they decided to head back to their cabin. Once they walked through the steps Hopper was sitting on the veranda waiting for them, sat back on a sun lounger, his paper in his hand smoking a pack of camels. Once he realized they were walking back up the steps, he flew up from his chair stubbing out his cigarette nervously and abruptly.
"Everything OK Daddy?" El asked as they paused outside the door.
"Yes." Hopper said, straightening himself out. "I've been waiting for you to come home. First of all Will. I'm sorry. I was a bit harsh earlier, I was just a bit tired. I promise to give you the benefit of the doubt when it comes to Jen."
El and Will shared a knowing look. These words were clearly Joyce's, but the sentiment from Hopper made it genuine.
"It's ok, Hopper. We're good." Will insisted quickly changing the subject. "Where's Mom?"
"Ah she's in bed. She's feeling a bit tired." Hopper told them.
"Oh no. Hope she's OK. Does she need anything?" El asked with concern.
Hopper shrugged his shoulders. "No you guys go out and enjoy yourselves. We've had an early dinner and we're just going to stay in the cabin tonight."
"OK well thanks Dad. We best go and get ready." El said as they clambered back into the cabin leaving Hopper to his newspaper and cigarette. Once inside the safety of their room the two of them discussed the evening's plans.
"So early dinner and then out to see what the evening holds?" El suggested as she sashayed over to her wardrobe.
Will bit his lip nervously.
"You made plans?" El said, trying to hide her disappointment.
"Yeah. Me and Jen are having dinner with her parents tonight. Hopefully she's calmed down a little bit. But you could meet us on the band stand for the dancing entertainment."
"Don't worry. I'll find something to do." El said huffily.
A couple of hours later El found herself sat alone on the docs a book in her hand left unread. She had forgone the idea of dining alone. It seemed too depressing to eat alone with a million eyes staring across her. It was only the second day of her holiday and El found herself feeling disappointed already. Her parents insisted that it would be a fun month spent as a family, bonding together over golf and tennis, sitting in the sun all day drinking cool lemonade a dip in the lake to feel refreshed from the summer heat. A final family holiday before Will left for college in the fall and before the new baby arrived. Yet so far it was nothing like it. In fairness Joyce was pregnant, but Hopper was too busy schmoozing with Oscar Harrington or his newspaper and Will was off spending time with Jennifer leaving El left to her own devices. Feeling a sudden overwhelming desire to cry, El fought hard to fight her tears but before she knew it they came falling from her eyes. As a cruel twist of fate, Steve Harrington chose that moment to come wandering down to the end of the doc.
"Hey El." He shouted.
Suddenly gathering her things to get up and greet him, she desperately tried to compose herself so that he wouldn't see her cry.
"Hi Steve. How are you?" She smiled.
"I'm OK. El are you crying?" He asked with a concerned tone. "Is everything OK? What happened?" He placed a concerning hand on her shoulder.
El shook her head as she sobbed. "Not really. Everyone is doing their own thing and I felt too scared and embarrassed to eat alone. So I decided to just come sit here. That was about two hours ago. I can't go home and sit with Mom and Daddy because he'll know I'm upset and blame Will. It's not his fault he's with Jen enjoying himself."
Steve gave her a sympathetic understanding smile. "I get it. Sitting with my Dad listening to him criticizing me all night. I might as well be alone. "
"I'm just being silly. I'll leave you alone." El insisted as she made to leave. But she was stopped by Steve clamping his arms over her in an insistent but non creepy way.
"You're not going anywhere El. Come with me."
El allowed herself to be guided away. She pestered him continuously over where they were going. Eventually when they were back at the main house and walking through the back of the dining hall she ventured a guess. Steve showed her to the biggest most industrial looking kitchen she had ever seen. There was an army of stainless steel worktops pulled against shelves of pots and pans and in the corner a fridge the size of a small garage.
"Wow." El exclaimed. "Steve this kitchen is insane!"
"Yeah it's really impressive." Steve remarked. "So what do you fancy?" He retired over to the fridge and began to remove various items around. "We have some Turkey. Some assorted cheeses. Potato salad?"
"I'll just have some cheese and maybe some crackers?" El said with a small smile as she leant against the worktop.
Steve held up a block of cheddar. "It's done!"
They both laughed as he sliced and plated up some cheddar, doing an improvisational act of a French chef the whole time. Steve really was quite funny in a goofy way. El thought to herself. Perhaps she could be friends with him at the very least. After they had devoured some cheese and crackers, El set about offering to tidy up whilst Steve argued with her that it wasn't her job. Whilst this charade was continuing which Steve ultimately won, El noticed someone sat in the shadows of the kitchen corner. Hiding under the shelving space was Max, she was draped in a red sequined dress with her hair loosely beaded. Mascara streamed down her eyes, evidently she had been crying. El felt a sudden panic run through her as the flashback of Max and the unknown man arguing so heatedly came rushing back to her. What if something really bad had happened? Worried that Steve would find her and that Max would be in trouble for not being at work, El realized she would have to think fast. A sudden thought crossed her mind. Will had told her he was going to be dancing at the bandstand that night with Jen. Just maybe Mike would be there?
"Steve. Could you tell me where the band stand is? I need to speak with Will?"
Ten minutes later, El was running down from the dining hall and headed towards the edge of the lake where Steve had informed her of the band's location. Eventually she had managed to convince Steve to let her go alone and she was on her way, she just hoped he would be there and that no one found Max until they got back. When she finally saw the glowing lights in the distance and could hear the sound of soft jazz music, El felt a sense of relief fall over her. However, panic soon set in as she glanced her eyes around the bandstand and could spot neither Mike and to her relief Will. El began to clutch at her face, unsure of what to do. In fact she was contemplating heading back to the kitchen to confront Max, a girl she hadn't officially been introduced to, until a tap on her right shoulder caused her to turn around. Dustin stood behind her, his curly hair slicked back behind his ears, dressed smartly in a shirt and trousers. The usual cheery smile he wore began to fade as he registered the look of concern on El's face.
"El. Is everything OK?"
El shook her head fiercely."Where's your cousin? Mike. Where is he?"
Dustin motioned behind him towards some concealed bushes. "Why what's wrong?"
"I saw Max in the kitchen. She was crying and she looked so scared. I think she needs him. I would have asked her what was wrong but we don't know each other."
"It's OK El." Dustin told her as he grabbed her by the shoulder and urged her to follow him. "I know what's going on. I'll get Mike."
They carried on walking until they were out of sight and earshot of the bandstand and Dustin shifted into the bushes slightly as he started whispering to Mike. Initially there was no response so Dustin whispered slightly louder this time. This time the annoyed growl of Mike could be heard.
"Get out here man! It's Max she needs you!"
Hearing a frustrated sigh, a rustling of branches and some footsteps Mike eventually emerged from the bushes. His tall figure loomed out as he fixed his hair that was slightly disheveled and he tucked his black shirt into his trousers. Nobody had time to put two and two together, as quickly behind a small girl appeared buttoning up her cream blouse as she walked and blushing a deep shade of red. Mike smiled at her playfully as he removed a twig from her hair.
"I'll see you later Marie." She simply giggled as she wandered off.
El felt anger burning up inside her and also a hint of irrational and unexplained jealousy. It was out of order for her to feel jealousy towards someone she had no romantic connection with. But it was perfectly reasonable for her to be mad at a man who was disgusting enough to be canoodling with a woman whilst his girlfriend was off alone somewhere upset.
He caught her gaze as her hatred for him in that moment burnt into her eyes.
"What's your problem?" He asked her with a scowl.
"I think I speak for every woman when I say you make me sick!" El spat at him.
Mike looked at her perplexed.
"What is she talking about?" He asked Dustin. Who shook his head in response.
"Your girlfriend is crying her eyes out in the kitchen's upset. And you! You're out here doing god knows what with another woman. In a bush of all places!"
"Girlfriend? Who are you referring to?" Mike yelled in frustration.
"MAX!" El yelled so loudly that Dustin had to shush her. She couldn't help it. She was so frustrated with Mike's lack of remorse.
Mike rolled his eyes at El as he flounced his way over to her so they were standing faces inches apart.
"Max is not my girlfriend! We're friends. We work together. That's it. But I guess with me being the staff and a dancer you just assumed I was a womanizer and a dick!"
El looked down at her feet anywhere to avoid his gaze. She felt terrible for judging him. But given how flirty he had come across the other day her mind had just drawn its own conclusion.
"I'm sorry. I just assumed you were together. I didn't mean to…"
"Of course. Why wouldn't you?" Mike said coldly as he retreated back from her.
"Max is with Lucas anyway." Dustin added.
"DUSTIN STOP!" Mike chastised.
"Is Lucas the man I saw her arguing with today by the lake? The black man?" El asked as she looked at them both. "They were having what looked like a really bad argument!"
"Yeah well…"
"It's because she's pregnant and they've been arguing about what to do."
"What the hell Dustin!" Mike yelled his hands held to his head. "It's not her business!"
"Well she's seen them arguing. She's witnessed it and she's seen Max upset. She's indirectly involved." Dustin said rationally.
Mike looked to Dustin and then to El before he began to talk.
"Look El. It's one thing for staff to be sleeping together. But relationships that affect the running of the business and staff getting other staff members pregnant are reasons for firing people. Besides they have to keep it on the downlow because they're parents won't approve. Max's parents are super racist and Lucas's parents are posh upper class snobs. Recipe for disaster and I tried to tell Max this before she got involved with him but she listens to no one. So you have to keep your mouth shut!"
El simply nodded in response. This whole situation seemed so complicated. But she felt involved and she felt a strong desire to help.
"Anyway you best go before anyone sees you with us!" Dustin insisted.
"But what about Max? I want to help." El said with genuine concern.
"We've got it covered. This doesn't concern you anymore. Just forget this happened. Go back to your carefree pampered life. Where Mummy and Daddy will fix everything." Mike said cruelly.
With tears threatening to pour from her eyes, El quickly dashed off before either of them had a chance to see her cry. El had known that Mike was different from her. But these differences had never been as apparent to her as they were in that moment and his words haunted her all the way back to her room.
A/N: That's it Chapter 3! I hope you liked it and I will update as soon as I can! :)