Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Stranger Things.

Hi Guys!! so yeah this is my first story so please go easy on me!!! I just thought about this story all of a sudden cause you know I got totally addicted with Stranger Things!!! waaahhhh!!! hahahahaha!! Hope you like it!

The Love at First Glance

It was the annual party held to support the people who suffers from cancer, the only party that El Hopper is ever willing to go to. Scanning the crowd she was looking for her date that night, which is her husband.

They have been married for almost a year now, but she still keeps her own surname to honor her father, Jim Hopper, who died serving the country. She only have her father as her family since her mother died due to cancer when she only 4 years old. Because of that, she and her dad made it their tradition to show support to those who also suffers due to cancer, may it be the person or their family.

She met her husband 3 years ago in a funeral dedicated to the people who died in a massive earthquake that shook the life of those who lives in Hawkins, Indiana. Her father was designated to serve as the new Chief of Police in the small town when the previous one retired. It was just a normal day, where she had her morning coffee and call with her father when the connection was suddenly interrupted. She tried to call again but it was unsuccessful. Then she felt a sudden dread creeping through her very being. With a shaky hand she run out of her house in Maine grabbing her coat and car keys not caring that she was still in her pajamas, she drove all the way to Hawkins praying that her father is safe. When she arrived only destruction, people panicking, shouting policemen, and wailing ambulance is what greeted her. According to the other survivors her father came back to save a lady after he assured that the ones who he was able to save is in a safe zone. After that everything happened next in a blur and before she knew it she is already in the funeral talking with her future husband, whom lost his only family in the same calamity.

Since then there was a certain connection that developed between them. Maybe its the fact that they are both left behind alone in a very big world, or the fact that they found comfort being with one another. Either way they found themselves unable to leave the other. Thus, their love story happened and they ended up marrying each other. It was a good fit, they both respect and love each other and does not meddle with the other's privacy.

They both love quiet and peaceful mornings, a cup of coffee full of creamer, books with the same genre, and nerdy stuffs. She sometimes ask him, what her life would have been if she did not met him that faithful day in the funeral. He was her anchor, the one who keeps her grounded. The one who respects her choices and let her handle things on her own. He knows her in a way she wants to be. He knows that she's strong and independent, and that she can have her way if she wants to. Most importantly, he loves her in the most gentle way possible.

And she loves him back.

Although...

She knows in the back of her mind, in the deepest part of her heart. That all the love he gives is greater than what she can send back. It's not because she doesn't love him in a romantic way, its just that she still feels like everything is not enough. That there is still a missing part in her that he will never be able to give. In spite of that, she thinks that it's enough after all where can she find a man greater than him?

As if on que, her eyes landed on a tall man standing beside her husband across the floor. He have a curly dark hair that almost covers his eyes. Those eyes... 'What's with those eyes?'... she is definitely hypnotized. It was the darkest shade of black eyes she have ever seen. His face is like an angel's. He is...

He is beautiful...

Probably the most beautiful man she ever laid her eyes on.

Her breathing hitched when their eyes met. And just like that, black meets brown. Everything around her seemed to stop all of a sudden. The music in the background drowning in the fast beating of her heart. She can't hear or feel anything aside from the crazy beating of her heart and warmth that envelops her whole being.

He is the epitome of perfection. She never thought she would ever be able to meet someone so perfect. Someone who will make her heart go crazy other than her husband. Somehow, even if she should not, she can see herself with him. Every blink of her eyes she sees a future where she is touching him, hugging him, and living with him all to herself. She can't shake the feeling that says that he was the missing part in her that her husband can never give.

She can feel the invisible connection that they have. As if all this time they are meant to see each other. Meet each other. Like there is a string attached to them pulling her towards him.

Yes, it's insane, but she finds herself falling in love with the black haired man in front of her. She can feel herself getting lost in the depth of his eyes. Until she was abruptly woken from her trance, feeling shame slowly building up in her body.

'My husband...'

"... she said she was going to be late. It was about her client, said their was a compli-..." the voice of his friend beside him drifted off in the sound of the chatters in the crowd.

'I shouldn't be here...'

The only thing that Mike Wheeler wants to do right now is to drown himself in his research paper that was due for a month. He is a researcher working in the Department of Energy, by which his specialty is researching for new weapon components. He shouldn't be in this party listening to his friend talk about his perfect wife. To think of it, the only reason he can't say no about meeting her today is the fact that he was MIA in his wedding day. He was the only one among their circle of friends that was not able to attend their friend's wedding.

Why wasn't he there in the first place?

...Oh yeah, he was busy replacing the flowers that was decorated on the tombstone of his family.

Family...

The very same family that he lost without knowing because of a trip that he is not even obligated to join. He can't still decide whether he was lucky or not that when the tragedy in Hawkins happened, he was busy digging up a hole in search of a rare element.

He wasn't even willing to attend that trip, it was only because his older sister, Nancy, insisted that he does so. She kept on bugging him about looking for his other half, that if he never make a move he will live alone and lonely for the rest of his life.

'And look at my life today...'

Gadgets that time is useless, they are located in a place that have a very low signal hindering them from reaching out to their family. It was the third day of the trip when the tragedy happened. Four days after that, when he finally returned, was when he learned about the tragic end of his family.

According to Mr. Clarke, the new Chief of Police tried to help his older sister shen they heard her scream. However, before the chief can even get to her another quake occured and a house fall down burying the two alive. That day those who survived organized a public funeral for the casualties.

Instead of attending and crying over the bodies of his family, Mike decided that alcohol and regret should come first. He still can't believe that in a week that he was away, everything in his life disappeared. That night he saw himself knocking on the front door of his friend's home in Indianapolis. He remembered the shock faces of Lucas and his wife Max when they opened the door wondering who would visit them in 12 midnight.

The very next day he woke up with make kicking his ass off the bed telling him to suck it all up and visit his family in the cemetery. He can still hear her stern voice lecturing him about the fact that it was not the end of his life yet, and that his mother and sisters will be very angry with him if they are there.

Since then he bury himself with his work. Living everyday based on his routine. Everything he does is just about surviving the day. He knew to himself that love is the least thing that he needs to survive. Because of that he never got the time to meet and hang out with his friends. Its just not worth it to be happy anymore.

That is why he is in this situation right now. Earlier he found his friend standing in front of his door, the next thing he knew he was being told to dress up and was dragged out of his house and into the car. His friend was saying something about a party dedicated to cancer patients and that his wife attends that every year and that he should go out for once to socialize with other people.

The moment they got there all he wanted to do is turn around, call a taxi and come back to the comfort of his home. But of course before he can even take a step his friend was already leading him inside.

Glancing on his watch, it reads 8:30 pm. According to what he heard the party ends at 10:00 pm. So, he just have to wait for another hour and half then he is free from this hell. Oh, and he just have to have a small conversation with his friend's wife then he can call it a day.

Sighing for the hundredth time that night he looked up and there he saw across the floor, the most beautiful girl he ever laid his eyes on.

She was wearing a one shoulder bronze cocktail dress that reach up to her knees. Her shoulder length straight hair is framing her diamond shaped face. Her eyes is what really captured his attention. She was looking at him with those alluring brown eyes of hers.

He can feel his heart hammering inside his chest, as if it wants to come out and personally witness the beauty that was held in front of him. Everything around him seems to stop and slow down, all he can only focused on is her beauty.

He never thought he would be able to feel this way anymore. After what happened to his life, he never tried to look for love anymore. Its like there is a silent voice that always follow him saying that loneliness is all he can afford. But now, that voice is nowhere to be found.

Seeing this woman across the floor, he can almost see himself waking up in the morning with her in his arms. Loving her and only her day by day, spending the rest of his life devoted to her. Fulfilling her wishes, making her happy, making her smile, and making her laugh.

Yep, he is definitely falling in love at first sight.

He can feel himself getting pulled towards her. He was about to held out his hand and introduce himself when he was interrupted by his friend, Will Byers.

Mike wasn't even aware that they met halfway on the floor. But what surprised him more is when Will hugged the mystery woman in front of him. He saw her hug him back but their eyes never left the other. He can see the sudden change on the demeanor of the woman, as if she was disappointed and disgusted.

"El! We were just talking about when you would show up!" Will had big smile on his face when he let go of her and kissed her right cheek. He faced Mike moving behind the woman placing his hands on both her shoulders.

"Mike, I would like you to meet my wife El. El this is my friend Mike, the one who was not able to attend our wedding."

'This is a cruel joke Mr. Universe!' they both thought with dread.

El felt like she committed an adultery with the friend of her husband even for only laying her eyes on him for minutes. She can feel shame creeping up inside her wrapping her heart and turning it black.

The same turmoil is happening with Mike. The least thing he imagined for a span of minutes is that the woman he was falling in love with is the wife of his best friend.

And as if the universe is really making fun of them. A music played in the background that hit them both really hard, especially El.

~Met you on a springtime day

You were mindin' you life

And I was mindin mine, too

Lady when you looked my way

I had a strange sensation

And, darlin' that's when I knew...

it's sad to belong to someone else

When the right one comes along,

Yes, it's sad to belong to someone else

When the right one comes along.

('It's Sad to Belong' by England Dan John Ford Coley)

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I hope you guys liked it!! Hope to see you guys again!

Lovelots,

AgentAinsworth