Returning The Favour

Mike didn't remember walking home. All he could think of was holding El's hand from the tool shed to her house.

And the kiss.

Sure, it was only on the cheek, but if he thought about it a little he could still feel the kiss. What would it be like to actually kiss her? Mike could only dream. He wouldn't be doing that tonight because he knew he would never get to sleep.

Mike thought he was in awfully deep for a girl he didn't know, and who didn't know him. He was a nerd, he didn't know about the rest of the Party, but if they played D&D chances were good they were nerds too. Max did not seem like nerd at all. He didn't think El was either.

She seemed to like him though and that was a better start than he'd had with any girl he'd ever known. A few years ago he wasn't interested in girls anyway, he was too busy playing the game. It was just as well because they weren't interested in him either.

In the morning Mike found he was right. He didn't sleep. All he could think about was El, how he'd walked her home holding hands the entire time, how he promised her dad he would respect her. How she kissed him. The cheek yeah, but still, that was an actual kiss from an actual girl.

He got out of bed early in the morning and went to the basement, to maybe work on a D&D campaign. He would even create a Zoomer class for the Max, the redhead. The guys would find it funny, he knew. Maybe Max would even appreciate the fact that he gone to some effort to include her in a game that nerds played.

He was buried in papers and charts for a few hours, when he heard the doorbell ring… and soon after his mother calling out, "Michael, you have a visitor, I'm sending her down."

Her?

Mike turned to give El the biggest smile he could make. He saw the red hair first, and she had a scowl on her face until she saw Mike's smile. Her entire face softened.

"That smile tells me you were expecting El. That's what I'm here about."

"Is she ok?"

"She's fine Mike, I think she's a little sad. She's quieter today than usual. I've only known her a month, but we're getting to be best friends. I wanted to talk to you before the next time you guys got together."

"Ok…" Mike had no idea what this was about.

"Mike… don't hurt her."

"I would never do that…. Never!"

Max looked him in the eyes.

"Hmm, she's right."

"What?"

"You have beautiful eyes." Max cheeks burned red.

Mike rolled his eyes, "ugh, cut that out, I don't want Lucas beating me up."

"I already know that you're like Lucas, you two have a gentle souls. He would never beat you up. I'll kick the shit out of you if you tell anybody I said that."

Mike laughed, "that's the Max I was led to believe existed."

"So are we clear?"

"That's what her dad asked me last night too. Everyone is protective of El. Well, uh, I will be too. Um, why do you think she's sad?"

"She doesn't think she's pretty. More specifically, she doesn't think she's pretty enough for you. Not with her hair."

"...for me…" Mike looked down. "Well… she is... I think her hair cut is cute... besides, I'm the one the bullies call frogface. I've never had any expectations of girls actually liking the way I looked."

"You've never had a girlfriend?"

"No." Mike's blushed. "I don't know why I'm even telling you this."

"It's because I'm easy to talk to." Max smirked. "Don't worry I won't let your secret out."

Mike laughed, "...and I won't let your's out."

"Mike," Max was suddenly serious again. "El is the sweetest girl I know… just… just don't hurt her."

"I won't Max, I promise." This was the second promise Mike had made when it came to El. He would promise El anything. Anything at all.

"I have to go, Lucas and I are going to Benny's… that's a burger place, maybe we'll double date next time." She smiled over her shoulder at Mike and left the basement.

Mike smiled to himself, he thought that El had a really good friend in Max, she'd wouldn't get bullied at school about her hair if Max had anything to say about it. Mike was sure about that.

He went back to his campaign notes. Trying to decide if he should go easy on the Party, or test their roleplaying skills by being tough on them.

He'd only been back at it for a few minutes when he heard the doorbell ring. Once again he heard his mom at the top of the stairs, this time she said, "it's ok sweetie, he's down there, he won't mind."

Mike looked up to find El watching him.

Oh… her eyes. Mike's heart hammered in his chest. Then it triple-hammered. And then it did backflips. Then it stopped.

He wanted to say "Hi" but he had no voice. The way she looked at him also meant he wasn't going to be able to stand up. Because you need knee caps made out of bone for that, and right now Mike's were pure jelly.

"Mike?"

Mike was positive that if he ever got to hear the voice of a real angel, it would sound just like that. He was absolutely positive.

"El?" He found his voice. She came over and sat on the sofa, half turned to him.

"We have a problem."

"Um, ok, El, I'll fix it if I can." She looked at him as if she wasn't sure any problem she had could be fixed.

"My dad, misun… misunderstood something we said last night."

"What was it El?"

"He thinks I'm your girlfriend… and…" She looked away, "...I'm not…" Her voice had the end note of "we're done here" on it.

Mike's spirit died a little then. Oh. She was going to give him the "we can still be friends speech". Most guys would rather be kicked in the nuts then hear that.

She turned back to look at him, shit, here it comes MIke braced himself for the crushed feeling his heart was about to endure.

"...but I want to be…"

The tear he'd seen in her eye last night, now had a twin, and both were making their way down her cheeks.

His mind was blank. Did she just say…? Mike did the only thing he could think of. He put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her in just enough... and kissed away her tears.

He thought he'd caught the scent of a vanilla and lavender combination, but he couldn't be sure. He was looking into her big eyes and he was completely lost in time. Her eyes were pleading with his. They had a question in them.

"Um, I never want to hurt you El… and… uh, if you will be my girlfriend… I promise I'll try my hardest not to. I really will."

Her eyes had totally trashed his resolve. His heart was beating like a hummingbird.

She nodded her head, a small smile turned up at the corners of her mouth.

"That means I get to hold your hand anytime I want to." Mike said.

Her smile got bigger. "...and it means I get to kiss you anytime I want to… " she looked at him, "...even in front of our friends… even on the lips."

Mike felt like his face had caught fire. She was blushing too but she had a look like she'd meant everything she'd just said.

And then to prove it she leaned in and gave Mike his first kiss. Mike couldn't help himself and both of his eyes watered up, but only one let go of it's treasure.

El moved her face up to kiss away Mike's tear. "I'm returning the favour." She said.

"Let's go for a walk."