AN: This chapter is MadWheeler, but the next chapter and the story is not. This is a triple AU. You'll see why in a chapter or two.

Max didn't think she was the loneliest person at Hawkins Middle. The loneliest girl, maybe. But the loneliest person, that award would go to Mike Wheeler. She could see it in his face, it was always there, even when talking to his friends. It was always just underneath the look he put on for his friends.

She kind of felt sorry for him. She knew his nickname, she had one too, but she knew she could get a boyfriend if she wanted to. Mike on the other hand didn't seem to have much of a chance.

She'd heard about the fiasco he went through last year asking a few girls to the Snowball. There were no takers. A few insults, but no takers.

She didn't have that much interest in Mike. She was more interested in Lucas, but he wouldn't give her the time of day. She got the distinct impression that he didn't like her at all. Didn't like her looks, didn't like her attitude.

Didn't.

Like.

Her.

Period.

She was the Red Headed Bitch .

She shrugged it off. She knew that Dustin liked her but she just wasn't into him. He was smart and all, and she really liked smart. But… not Dustin. I mean, I kind of like Mike, but I don't think he's into bitchy red heads. And she wore that title proudly.

The second she sat down at the Party table, Lucas got up and said, "I'm going to shoot some hoops. You coming Dustin?"

Dustin and Lucas were best friends. Mike was best friends with all of them, but Lucas and Dustin seemed to have a bond that was a little closer.

Just as well, she didn't feel like ignoring Lucas's death stare anyway. He'd given her that the minute that Mike said she was the Zoomer of the party.

"Zoomer my ass, that's not even a real thing."

"It could be." Mike said.

Lucas left Mike's basement that night. Mike shrugged and looked at Max. "He'll come around. I'm the party leader, the Paladin. I say you are in the Party."

"It's it a democracy?" Max said, "That's what Dustin is always saying."

Mike had looked down. "Yeah, you can still hang out with us if you like. I'll work on Lucas. Dustin and Will would be fine with it I know."

"What's he got against me anyway?"

"I don't know." Mike said, then smiled at her, "Maybe he's got a crush on you?"

She had rolled her eyes. "He's got a funny way of showing it."

Mike had shrugged. "Guys are funny that way."

"Guys are funny in a lot of ways. Some of them not so funny."

Mike had laughed. "I don't really know why he acts that way when you are around. I mean, you're cool. You can skateboard and none of the rest of us can. And you are smart too. You use words we've never even heard of."

"Have you guys heard of a dictionary?"

"Duh, but it's not like we read it."

"You should try it sometime. I'm probably not the only girl you'll run into that reads a dictionary."

"Well, I'll let you know when that happens. With my luck, you'll be old and grey before I run into a girl that actually reads the dictionary on purpose."

Max had smiled at him. He turned red, "I mean it Max, I don't know about Lucas. It's not like you aren't pretty. Uh, I mean, um."

"Christ Mike try not to trip over yourself complimenting me."

"Sorry Max, I didn't want to get that personal."

Max remembered thinking. Mike thinks I'm pretty. She felt kind of funny inside. That was the first indication she'd had from anybody that they thought she was pretty. Sometimes the flaming red hair did not work in her favour.

Sometimes it did.

Mike and Max sat in silence for a few minutes. They heard a loud crash. A step ladder had fallen over, someone was trying to put up the Snowball '84 banner.

Mike snorted.

Max used that as her opportunity. "So who are you taking to the Snowball this year?" She knew full well that he hadn't gone last year.

"Yeah right. I'm avoiding total humiliation this year by not asking anybody. Last year nobody wanted to go to the Snowball with Frogface, and I'm going to take the giant leap and assume nobody wants to this year. What about you. I'm guessing Lucas didn't ask, and you turned down Dustin."

Max felt sorry for Mike at first, then realized she was in the same boat as he was. "Haven't you heard? Nobody even bothers asking the Red Headed Bitch to anything. "

"I don't think you are a red headed bitch."

"You and my mom are the only ones. Besides, I'm not putting on a dress for anybody."

Mike looked down. "Oh, right. I forgot."

Wait! Was Mike about to ask her to the Snowball? She didn't know what to say if he asked. Suddenly she felt a little panic. What would she say if he asked?

She didn't have to think about it very long.

If he asks, I'll say yes . I'm sure after last year he's not going to ask. Not me for sure.

Mike seemed to be struggling with something. He wouldn't look at her, and he was red faced. He started fidgeting with his hands.

"Would the red headed bitch like to go to the Snowball with Frogface?"

"Are you serious Mike?"

"Shit, sorry I asked," His face turned a deep crimson as if he had been shot down by a girl he was sure just might say yes.

" I'm serious Mike, are you. Because if you are, then the answer is yes."

"Really?" Mike looked incredulous that she'd actually been agreed. Max felt even more sorry for him.

"Two conditions Mike."

"Um, uh, ok."

"One. Slow dances only and I'm not wearing a dress."

"And two ?"

"You aren't feeling me up after the Snowball, so get that shit out of your head right now."

"Geez, Max, I wasn't even thinking of that."

Max felt bad that she'd had to say it, she knew Mike had no experience with girls, and that he was unlikely to get it with her. And that he was just too nice a guy to even try it.

Still, she felt bad giving him the warning.

XXXXX

"You didn't have to dress up for me." Max said, her arms around Mike's neck, his hands on her waist.

"I didn't, I dressed up for my mom." Max giggled.

"You made the mistake of saying you were taking a girl to the dance."

"I think the mistake I made was closer to you're going to a dance?"

Max outright laughed. "Mike, why is your hair all a mess?"

"Trying something different. I got tired of trying to keep my hair straight in that stupid hair cut. My mom really likes it now."

"It looks… sexy. All rockstarish or something."

They both turned red. Mike said, "Maybe, but you are my only groupie."

"In your dreams Mike."

Mike nodded, falling silent.

"Mike, I said you couldn't feel me up after the Snowball. I didn't say you couldn't kiss me."

Mike didn't even hesitate, he leaned in and gave her a soft kiss. Her butterflies exploded, she grabbed his hand and took him to the bleachers behind the curtains where nobody could see them.

They kissed. Deeply at times, but Mike never let his hands wander.

Finally Max was getting a little too excited and stopped. She pulled back from his mouth and said breathless, "Oh my God. You are a really good kisser. I mean, I haven't kissed a lot of boys, but you are by far the best kiss I've ever had."

"You are my first kiss. Max. So I have nothing to compare it to. But it was a lot of fun. Um, thanks for going with me."

"Well I'm sorry the Red Headed Bitch had to be your first kiss, but let me tell you right now. The girls in Hawkins do not know what they are missing. I hate to let anyone else kiss you."

"You don't have to."

"What?"

"If he Red Headed Bitch went out with the Frogface, she could kiss him all she wanted. We'll be the talk of Hawkins Middle, but neither one of us would be lonely anymore."

Max's face softened, she almost let a tear spill out. He's asking me to be his girlfriend.

"Ok Mike."

"I won't hurt you Max. I promise."

She smiled at him and gave him a soft kiss.

She was Mike Wheeler's girlfriend and she couldn't be happier.