"Thanks Max, you're a good friend."

"I know not everybody likes me, but I'm loyal to my friends."

El nodded, she left Max to go find Mike.

She found him at the bike rack.

"Hey El. I thought it would be best if I waited."

"I'm sorry I took so long Mike."

"It's ok… um… uh… should we hold hands while walking back to my house?" Mike didn't quite look at up at her.

El's heart lifted. He's offered to hold hands first! I mean, I know he doesn't want to get beat up again, but still.

"That's a good idea Mike. We have to look like we are really…" she looked around to make sure nobody was listening, "...boyfriend and girlfriend. If I forget Mike, it's ok to remind me."

Mike nodded. "My shoulder reminds me." He held out his hand and she took it.

Poor Mike, his shoulder must be hurting all the time. I wish I could kiss him. Tell him I love him.

El thought of the two best nights of her life so far. The first was when she finally showed herself to her dad out in the woods and he had accepted her unconditionally. That night she had cried her heart out on his shoulder and he had just hugged her and told her everything would be ok. That was the first night, she had felt safe. Safer than she had in her entire life.

The second night was in the sleeping bag next to Mike, well, just outside the blanket fort she had built for him. She had taken a big risk when she heard his soft snores, she'd crawled out of the sleeping bag and watched him, unable to control herself she leaned over and kissed his forehead. She froze as he stirred, but he didn't wake up.

She had gone back to the sleeping back with the biggest smile on her face. It had lasted so long that her cheeks felt sore afterwards.

It wasn't a real kiss, El . .

No, it wasn't, but I may never get to kiss him... ever. It was worth the risk.

Just thinking about how she was only Mike's pretend girlfriend, was bringing her down. The elation she first felt when she'd offered, and when she spoon fed him was dwindling rapidly. It had felt like she was taking care of her boyfriend after an accident. Sleeping near him had been euph… euphoric, that was the word. It had been euphoric. She was missing her dad, that didn't help her mood at all.

She hung her head, and totally surprised herself by trying to sniff back a tear.

"You're missing your dad aren't you?"

She pressed her lips together nodding, and then started to cry.

To her total surprise, Mike let go of her hand, and turned to hug her with his free arm. It wasn't just a token hug, it was a real, warm hug, he put his chin on shoulder, "Don't worry, he'll be back soon."

He gave her a light squeeze and took her hand again. This time he interlaced his fingers with hers. "You ok with spoon feeding me tonight? I can barely move my right arm. I grit my teeth every step i have to take. I wish you had superpowers and could carry me home with your mind.

El's eyes widened, but she covered it with a knowing smile, "I would only use my powers for good. Carrying my boyfriend home with my mind counts as good."

"Well, if you ever get them, let me know, I'd keep your secret." When he smiled at her, El thought her knees would give out.

I love you Mike.

They didn't say anything more until they got to his house.

XXXXX

"Argh, it figures. It's soup. Now you really do have to spoon feed me."

El giggled, "It's ok MIke, it really is… but it's soup, you need a bib."

Mike rolled his eyes. "Could this be any more humiliating?"

"Is it bothering you that much?" El heard the phone ring upstairs.

"No… lying to my friends is bothering a lot more. I know why we have to, but I don't like it."

"I don't like it either Mike. How about a compromise… it's not much of one, but It's important to me."

"Compromise?"

"I will never lie to you Mike. As friends, especially in the situation we are in. So… I need to tell you something-" She was interrupted.

"El! It's your dad." Mike's mom called down. El was finished feeding Mike, she grabbed the tray and ran upstairs with it.

XXXXX

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that El was sad. She missed her dad. He thought she might be acting a little weird, but that could have been his perception because of the way he felt about her.

He was still coming to grips with the fact that even though she barely knew him, she was doing all this for him. It was almost like she liked him? Maybe. He couldn't tell. She didn't cringe when he hugged her or when they held hands so who knew?

He felt sorry for her when she started to cry. I love you El. But of course, she had no idea how he felt. The hug was the least he could do.

You could tell her you liked her Mike. Baby steps. Maybe he would just act like he was her real boyfriend and not a pretend boyfriend. But it was amazing that both their parents were ok with her staying over. He got to spend time with her.

His arm was killing him, but he tried not to complain too much when she spoon fed him.

Mike thought she'd be much happier when she came back down the stairs, but her head was hung low. "Everything ok?"

She nodded.

"If you want another hug El, I still have one good arm." He tried to make light of it, but she nodded and looked at him with tears streaming down her head. She raised her arms to go around his neck, and he put his left arm around her waist and hugged her tight.

"I promise to hug you with both arms, when my shoulder heals. Even though you won't be my pretend girlfriend anymore. I'll still hug you."

Her breath hitched and her crying became soul-wrenching to his ears. She pulled herself up to his neck. He felt her wet checks against him. "Thank you Mike."

"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I think I want to go to bed early. We can just get in our sleeping bags and talk with the lights out."

She looked at him with those beautiful eyes for a few seconds and then nodded.

"I need to take another Aspirin."

"I'll go get it for you."

El came back with a glass of water and she had two tablets in her hand. "Your mom said you were old enough to take these, and they will help with the inflammation. Take these, get in the sleeping bag, I'll turn out the lights."

Once settled in, Mike was the first to speak, "Thanks again El." He was feeling the affect of the pills he had taken. He didn't think they were Aspirin.

"I'll bet I'm the best pretend girlfriend you've ever had."

"The prettiest one for sure." Mike thought he was slurring his words.

"What was that?"

"The only one I've ever had. Pretend or not. I don't think Troy has seen us yet though."

"I will be very convincing if he sees us."

XXXXX

A stabbing pain ripped through Mike's shoulder. He shot up straight, bumping his dead on the desk that was the main foundation for the blanket fort.

"Ow!" He said a little too loudly.

His breathing was laboured the pain was so intense. He was gritting his teeth forcing his breath through them.

"Sweetie you ok?"

Did she just call me sweetie? He felt a warm glow spread through him that eased the pain in his shoulder more than he thought possible

El was beside him quickly.

"I think I tried to roll over onto my right shoulder. Big mistake. I'm scared to go to sleep, I could end up doing it again. That hurt." The pain in his voice was obvious.

"I will get in your sleeping bag and sleep behind you. You won't be able to roll over if I'm in the way."

"What if we get caught?"

"I will explain I was trying to keep you pain free. You're mom will understand. You just keep your hands yourself." She giggled quietly.

Mike was silent.

"I'm sorry Mike, I know you'd never take advantage."

She got into his sleeping bag with him. Mike turned on his left side, and El snuggled up close, spooning him so he wouldn't be able to roll over on to his bad shoulder.

As they were falling asleep, Mike could feel her arm come around his waist.

He felt at peace, his girlfriend was sleeping beside him. Taking care of him. He would be able to fall asleep again.

Wait... his pretend girlfriend.

Shit.