"You got everything?" El asked the brother and sister an hour later.
"I think so." Both cart's were just about filled.
"Okay, it looks like you do, plus a few other things." She gave them a knowing look and they giggled. They went to Bev's register and talked to her as she rung their stuff up, and then left the store whilst Holly complained about her feet hurting. Once they got back home, Holly went upstairs to take a shower while Mike and El put the grocery's up.
"You know what Bev told me?" El said as she put ice cream in the freezer.
"What?"
"That she's convinced Bill to come out here for the summer. And that he's going to try and convince all of her friends from Derry to come too."
"Really? That's nice. I need to meet this guy who looks like me." He said. She laughed. "What was his name again?"
"I don't remember. I know it starts with an R." She replied.
"Hm."
"What's up with you?" She said as she turned around, seeing as he'd been pretty quiet for a couple of minutes. "You've been quiet-Oh." He was down on one knee behind her. "Mike?"
"I planned this in my head completely different, I didn't think I'd be doing this in the kitchen putting groceries up, but I am. El," She covered her mouth with her hands, tears already forming, "I love you so much, and I'll never love another woman. Loving you is the best thing that's ever happened to me. We've been together, officially, for seven and a half years now, and I hope to be together for even longer." He pulled the box out of his pocket and held it up to her. "Will you marry me?"
"God I love you. Yes!" She exclaimed doing a little happy dance. He grinned widely and put the ring on her finger. It's just a simple diamond on a golden band, nothing fancy, and she loves it. He stood up and hugged her tightly. He pulled back a little bit and kissed her. They would have kissed longer if a disgusted voice hadn't said,
"Ew! Ya nasty people!" Holly made a face at them and the two rolled their eyes. They let each other go and El wiped under her eyes. "Wait, why are you crying?" She asked, looking at them confused. El looked at Mike, who grinned and nodded. El held her hand up for her to see the ring. Holly gasped and rushed over to her to look at it. "Oh my gosh! Yay!" She squealed and almost knocked El over to hug her. El laughed and hugged her back.
"Hey, what about me?" Mike asked, pretending to cry. The girls giggled and Holly hugged him just as tight as she did El.
"I get another sister!" She exclaimed excitedly. Mike grinned at that.
"Do you think it'd be too much to invite your parents and mine over too?" El asked. He raised an eyebrow at her as he cut up some onions. "So we can tell them we're engaged. Unless you'd rather wait, that's fine."
"No, no, I want to tell them that I'm going to be marrying the most beautiful girl in the world." He said, walking over to her and wrapping his arms around her from behind. She grinned at him and kissed his cheek. "I'll go call them while you do this."
"Thank you baby." She smiled at him and he smiled back as he went to go call his mom and then Hopper. Holly walked passed him, the two giving each other a weird look.
"Can I help?" Holly asked.
"That depends, are you scared of getting your hands dirty?" Holly giggled and shook her head. "Can you put all the hamburger meat in that frying pan please?" Holly nodded. She washed her hands and then put the whole pack in the huge frying pan. She washed her hands again and looked at El for more directions. "Here," She handed her a spatula, "Just stab at it until it's broken apart and not all stuck together like a big burger." Holly nodded and did as she was told.
"Mike!" El yelled.
"What?" He yelled back.
"What time is it?" A couple seconds later he responded.
"5:30!"
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome!"
"You two yell too much." Holly said. El laughed.
"It's a normal thing here, you outta know that."
"True."
At exactly 6:30, there was a knock on the door. Mike grinned at El, who was still in the kitchen cooking, and went to open the door.
"My dude!" Mike had hardly opened the door before he was tackled in a hug by Dustin, followed by Lucas, who almost knocked the two men to the floor. Mike laughed and hugged the two of them. "How are you doing man?" Dustin asked, as Lucas asked,
"Where's El?"
"I'm right here, Lukey!" She said, walking in the living room. He rolled his eyes at the name and hugged her, and was then pushed aside by Dustin, who picked her up off the floor in a huge bear hug. She laughed and hugged him back. When he finally let go, he looked around.
"Nice place you got here." He said, nodding as if agreeing with himself. She shook her head at him, a smile on her face. "Hey! Little Wheeler's here too!" He said, noticing Holly on the couch. She squeaked as he hugged her, but giggled when he tickled her. Lucas hugged her too, rustling her hair like Mike does.
"Where's ole Will the Wise?" Lucas asked, sitting on the couch.
"He, Hopper, and Joyce will probably be here in a few minutes." Mike answered. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door, and it was them, plus Karen and Ted.
"Willy!" Dustin exclaimed, pulling the shorter boy in for a hug. Will laughed but hugged him back. Lucas hugged him next as Dustin went on to hug the parents, Lucas following him after hugging Will.
"What's up man? How ya doing?" Mike asked as he hugged Will.
"I'm good! Tired, but good. I'll be glad to get home and sleep for the rest of the weekend." Mike chuckled and nodded. After Mike and El greeted everyone, El went back in the kitchen, followed by Karen and Joyce, while they boys stayed in the living room with Holly.
"Where's Max?" Mike asked. "I figured she'd have come with you two." He said, gesturing to Dustin and Lucas.
"She's coming with Elizabeth and Bev." Lucas said. "They'll probably be here any minute now."