I left it behind without sinking, they all said I wasn't thinking

I found comfort, I fell in love with avoiding problems

"You can sit next to El", Dustin said when Mike didn't make any move to join them on the living room.

"Actually, you have to, it's the only free seat," Max said, smiling like the Cheshire cat.

Unbeknownst to him, the seat had only just been vacated, as she had moved from her place next to El to sit on the floor next to her boyfriend.

El had to blink a couple of times to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. But no, Mike got closer and closer and plopped down next to her on the love seat. His weight on the couch felt real, as did the warmth of his body.

"Hi," he said.

She wanted to hug him and run away from him. She hated him. Why did she always have so many conflicting feelings whenever she was close to him? Why was she so weak and insecure whenever he was around? What was it about him?

"Hey."

El noticed that he was making an effort not to look at her. She didn't blame him, she had been terrible to him. To her credit though, she didn't expect to ever see him again.

"You look tired Mike," Max said.

"Yeah, I just got back from a trip home."

"In the middle of the semester?" Max asked, her head tilting as she looked at him.

Lucas gave her a look. "He had an important family thing."

"Oh, I didn't know! But, still, if you feel too tired you can rest your head, I'm sure El wouldn't mind," Max said, winking at their general direction.

El decided she was going to kill her as soon as everyone left. It would be no big deal. She would turn herself in to the police and try to live the rest of her days peacefully in jail.

"Since Mike got here for the very last part of it, I have to redo my song. It's only fair," Dustin said, already playing the video for Never Ending Story once again.

After Dustin, Max insisted on doing a duet with El. She only agreed because she needed an excuse to take her mind off the boy sitting next to her. To her surprise, everyone, including Mike, clapped at them when their song ended.

Max, who had stood up mid-song, bowed exaggeratedly.

A few hours and several refills of their plastic cups later, even shy Will had decided to join in and sing. Everyone except Mike, who really did look destroyed and tired.

The drunker she got, the harder Max tried to engage with him, which made Mike tense uncomfortably next to El. She could feel it coming off in waves next to her.

"I want to sing something!" Lucas exclaimed. "I want to dedicate it to the most amazing girl I've ever met."

The first notes of the song started playing and Max blushed for the first time in years. For some unknown reason, El glanced at Mike, who was absently glancing at some random point in the distance.

"Um, are you okay?" she blurted. "Maybe I can get you an energy drink? Or something else?"

He startled, turning to look at her in surprise. "Uh, an energy drink?"

"Do you want me to get you one? I have a few from my mid-term stash, I think."

"Oh, ok, sure."

El got up from the couch and went to her room. As soon as she was in the dark, on her own, she could feel the wight of the guilt crushing her. How could she have been so mean? Act with so tactless? She didn't need to be so mean to him. But it was no use regretting it now, she'd already done it.

She took a couple of deep breaths, grabbed the energy drink and, before she could do something stupid, like cry or scream, El left her room.

When she returned to the living room, she noticed that Mike had moved next to Will and was now sitting on the arm of the biggest couch, leaving El alone on the love seat.

"Here you go," she said, handing him the drink.

"Thanks," he said and continued talking to Will.

The night passed quickly and, suddenly, the guys were standing up and saying their goodbyes. Max got up too, to walk everyone to the door and El followed. She caught Mike's sleeve in the hallway and tugged lightly.

"Hey, um, can I talk to you?" she asked.

He followed her wordlessly into the kitchen.

"I'm sorry about Max, she's the antithesis of subtle," she blurted. "She's trying to play match-maker, that's why she's been so annoying all night."

"Matchmaker?"

"Yeah. O-of course she doesn't know about... I haven't told-" She cut herself off, a furious blush coloring her cheeks.

"I'm sorry I was such a bitch," El said quietly. "For personal reasons I, um, decided I never wanted to have any serious relationship and-"

For the first time since he'd arrived, he looked at her in the eye. He looked tired, only tired. And El felt naked under his non-judgemental stare, under this newfound indifference in him. How was it possible he could be there and look at her and not show anything other than a tired sort of deject? How could he when she felt like throwing up from the guilt eating her from the inside?

"You were honest," he said, "and I understand."

Then, he turned around and exited the kitchen.

-…-…-

But I want this, you know I want this

So come on, mess me up

It wasn't as terrible as he'd initially expected.

Once Mike realized Lucas' new girlfriend was none other than El's best friend, he knew he wouldn't be able to escape seeing her somewhat often. He hadn't been wrong. For the past three months, most of their activities had included hanging out with Max and El. And contrary to his worst fears, it really hadn't been as bad as he'd thought.

Sure, El seemed to still walk on eggshells around him, but, ever since the night where she had apologized, Mike felt a weird sort of indifference towards the whole thing. It did hurt, he was still hurt, but his feelings were directed inwards and not outwards toward El. And it was good, he pondered, because it allowed him to have a somewhat peaceful social life.

Mike kept in regular touch with Holly. He had even delayed his plans to get a job to travel back to Hawkins for a couple of weeks to spend time with her in Hawkins. It was a welcome respite to focus and care for someone else, it helped him heal his own wounds in ways he didn't expect. Truth was Mike saw himself in Holly and, being able to observe it like that, made him understand so much about the things that had marked him as a child.

So, all things considered, Mike thought the new semester was beginning on a good enough note.

"Max and I want to go camping this weekend. We don't want to go far, we'll rent a car and drive up to Pinnacles National Park."

Mike glanced at his friend, who was currently washing the bowl he'd eaten breakfast on. His own cereal lay untouched in front of him. He moved it around his bowl slowly.

"Are you inviting us or asking for permission to be alone with your girlfriend for a weekend?" Dustin asked, wiggling his eyebrows and smiling a wide smile.

Lucas threw the dish towel at Dustin. "As always, I'm saving you, yet again, from getting bored off your nerdy asses. So you're welcome."

Will laughed at how pretentious Lucas had sounded and Dustin joined.

"Oh, I can just stop inviting you guys if you want that!"

"Please no! I am thankful beyond words that we have you to save us from our boring, joyless lives!" Will exclaimed, laughing harder.

"We leave Saturday at 6 am," Lucas said, with an air of finality.

Mike sighed before eating a spoonful of cereal. He hoped Pinnacles National Park had a good WiFi signal, he would hate to miss his daily talks with his sister.

It tasted like nothing.

"Is everything okay Mike?" Will asked, turning to him with concern.

"Huh? Yeah."

"He's just thinking about how to spend more time alone with El," Lucas smirked.

"What? Of course not!"

"Oh come on, we all see how you guys act around each other," Dustin added.

"How do we act around each other?"

"Like deer caught in the headlights," Will explained. "But I don't know if that means what they're implying."

Dustin laughed. "Oh Byers, if you only knew what I know..."

Mike turned to Dustin. Did he remember that day at all? He thought he hadn't made the connection, since he'd never mentioned anything about it.

That morning seemed like a lifetime ago, and yet it hadn't been that long.

He couldn't deny that he had fond feelings towards El that he couldn't squash. But he also felt very self-conscious and awkward anytime she was around. It was not as bad as he'd expected, true, but it wasn't comfortable either.

Mike tried not to linger on these thoughts any longer, they were pointless anyway.

-…-…-

And you can break me, if you'll still take me

Ruin me, if you'll let me be one of the ones you say you won't forget

El laughed so hard she almost dropped her s'more into the bonfire.

"WOAH! Careful there El, I don't want anyone else to perish because of my humor," Dustin said.

"Anyoneelse?" Max asked.

"Oh no, here he goes aga-"

"-haven't I told you the story about my pet lizard?"

El couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so at ease anywhere else than home (the home she had with Max, that is). She guessed this was what a breath of fresh air could do to you.

Everyone was smiling and sharing silly stories. There was a warm feeling enveloping them, and it could maybe be the fire or the fact that she was stuffed with candy, but she felt happy. Even Mike seemed more alive tonight, El had noticed, and it added to her happiness. Because, although she would never admit it even to herself, she worried about him.

She'd seen him grow more and more distant as the months passed, quieter, as if lost in another dimension. She knew his friends were worried about him too, Max had told her as much. Max had also told her about how he had to leave everything and go back home last semester before midterms because his little sister had disappeared for a couple of days. El had been meaning to ask about it, but there never seemed to be a right time for that and she was so afraid to further screw things up between them.

"So is it time for truth or dare yet?" Lucas asked after Dustin finished his story. "Dustin. Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to go ask those campers if they'd want to join us," Lucas said, motioning to a group of young people a few meters away from them.

Dustin walked towards them and El could hear laugh from that side of the camping ground. A few seconds later, Dustin came back with two guys and a girl.

"Meet my new friends Robin, Steve and Eddie. Guys, these are Lucas, Max, Will, El and Mike."

"Hey! Thanks for inviting us over, we've brought some beer."

"You guys are the best! We're gonna need those 'cause we're literally in the middle of a drinking game," Will said.

They newcomers sat down near the bonfire and passed the drinks around.

After a few rounds, the questions and dares got more and more personal.

"If you had to save someone from dying, would you choose Lucas or me?" Dustin asked Will, who looked like he was regretting choosing truth.

"Lucas," he finally said. "He's too happily in love and I wouldn't want him to miss out on it."

"Aww you're so sweet!" Robin exclaimed, giving Will a friendly pat on the arm.

"It's your turn now, Lucas."

"Mike. Truth or dare?"

"Dare."

"I dare you to kiss El."

Nobody made a single move.

"If she wants, of course," Lucas added, looking at El.

She nodded. "It's okay."

El wouldn't admit it to anyone. Ever. But she had never really stopped replaying old memories and fantasizing about kissing Mike.

Mike pushed himself towards El, something that was easy since he was sitting almost directly in front of her. Suddenly, they were directly across one another, closer than they'd been in about half a year.

And El had missed this. She'd missed his freckles, which she could only study and commit to memory when they were this close. She'd missed that nervous stare. She'd missed him. Sure, he'd been there, hanging out with them almost weekly, but, at the same time, he hadn't been there at all.

But he's here now, El thought and her heart skipped a beat.

Mike placed a hand on her cheek and touched his lips on hers. Barely in contact, El knew it was intended to be a quick peck on the lips. But she leaned into him and kissed him back. And she felt him freeze, but then he placed his free hand on her other cheek and returned the kiss.

The kiss lasted between one second and one hour. El couldn't say. All she knew was that her heart was singing with relief. A part of her had been convinced he'd shove her away, but he hadn't.

Mike returned to his seat looking slightly dazed and El was sure she looked the same way. She didn't notice Max squishing Lucas' hand with glee, a huge smile in her face. In fact, El didn't notice or pay attention to whatever followed in the game.

She was surprised when Eddie, Robin and Steve stood up to leave.

"I'm sorry guys, we have to leave early tomorrow," Robin said.

Steve fist bumped Dustin. "It was great meeting you, man. You're hilarious."

"See ya weirdos!" Eddie said, saluting them all before turning around.

Max yawned. "I guess this is our cue to go sleep now."

The redhead grabbed Lucas' hand and pulled him towards the nearest tent.

Will looked around, noticing everyone's unspoken agreement. "I guess I'll be going too. Dustin? We're sharing a tent right?"

Dustin followed him, smirking back at El and Mike.

El lifted her gaze towards Mike and found him staring at the fire, a slight blush on his face.

"I'm sorry about Lucas' dare. He likes teasing me," Mike finally said.

"It's okay," El smiled. "I-I liked it, actually."

Mike looked at her then. "I did... I did too."

She could no longer hear anything else, as if all the sounds of the forest around them had been turned off.

"You did?"

Mike nodded.

El pushed herself closer to him.

"I've been thinking about everything for a long time and I regret everything," she said. "I really, really wished there was a way for us to start over."

His dark eyes, alive and reflecting the sparkling flames from the bonfire, caught her gaze. "Maybe we could. I-I don't have a problem with that."

El felt so happy she could sing, a huge smile spread across her face. "Really?"

Mike extended a hand towards her. "Friends?"

She had intended to take his hand and shake it. She did.

But today her body seemed to have ideas of its own. So, when El took his hand, she used it to pull herself closer to him and press her lips against his once more.

He was caught by surprise, once again frozen by her boldness.

It was over soon.

It had just been a small peck, it was all she had dared to do.

"Maybe... more?" El asked.