"I'll distract Max and then talk to her." Lucas explained.
Mike turned to look at E. She looked so beautiful, perfect. He had to remind himself that she wasn't his girlfriend anymore. All because of a stupid lie. "I tried talking to her already, Lucas. At the Sauna. I told her that Hopper had made me lie and that she was the most important thing to me in the world." He explained.
"And?" Lucas asked.
"It didn't work. She was still mad at me. Telling me that she makes her own rules now."
"That's definitely Max talking." Lucas noted.
"El's not going to listen to me. She made that clear already, Lucas."
"Mike, I saw how you two were together in the Sauna Test. While the rest of us were standing around watching Billy choke El what did you do? You hit Billy with a lead pipe for god's sake! And the way El saved you from Billy. It shows she still cares about you man."
Mike was hesitate. "You think so?"
Lucas nodded his head. "I know so! Just now when she helped us get the M&Ms."
"Lucas she probably just did that to help us out. You know because we're friends."
"No way. I'm telling you that was the olive tree branch! El wants you to go talk to her."
"How the hell can you be so sure?" A disbelieving Mike asked.
"Trust me Mike I know girls. El deliberately helped us get those M&Ms as a way to get your attention so you would go over and talk to her." Lucas explained.
"Okay if that's true then what do I say to her?"
"I don't know. Just remember to be cool and calm. Okay? I'm gonna distract Max. Good luck."
Before Mike could ask anymore questions Lucas had moved over to chat with Lucas.
"Be calm and cool. Okay Mike you can do this. You can win El back. Shit what do I say? Damn it Lucas why didn't you tell me what to say?" Mike thought as he slowly approached where El was sitting still reading her magazine. Giving Will a nod that he wanted some privacy, he nervously sat down next to El. "Hey." He said.
"Hi." El replied unsure of how to respond herself.
"Okay Mike now's the time. What do I say?" He thought before glancing down at the M&M packrt in his hand. "Does your species like M&Ms?" Mike asked as he held the packet for El to see.
Holding out her hand, Mike emptied several of the packets multicoloured sweets into her outstretched palm. He couldn't help but smile softly at how she looked. "I like the new look by the way. It's cool."
El smiled shyly back at him as she ate a couple of the M&Ms. "Thanks."
"El. I know I've said it before already but I am sorry. I never wanted to lie to you."
El paused and looked at Mike. "Friends don't lie, Mike. You told me that when we first met."
"I know and I mean it. It's just... I was scared."
El's eyes fluttered confused. "What of?"
"Hopper threatened to stop me from seeing you. I couldn't bear that. You mean so much to me so I went along with what Hopper told me to do."
"I...understand." El said after a pause.
"You do?" Mike asked confused.
El nodded. "You mean a lot to me too Mike."
A smile broke over Mike's face. The olive branch seemed to have worked.