63- Meeting El
Summary: After the Snowball, Karen gets a chance to meet El.
Requested by: the Mandalorian terminator
"So, Mike," Karen started as her son sat down at the dining table after school. "When am I going to meet your girlfriend?"
"Mom!" Mike shouted.
"What? I was just asking when I could meet your girlfriend!"
Mike groaned into his hands.
Ever since Thanksgiving break, when Karen got Nancy to spill about Mike's girlfriend, Karen had been itching to meet her.
Which ended in her asking Mike when she could meet her.
"Do you think she could come over?" Karen asked.
Mike's face screwed up into something unpleasant. "Hopper's super strict." he muttered into his apple slices.
Karen wondered why for a moment, then realized that it was probably because he'd lost his first daughter.
"And what's her name again?" Karen asked, even though she knew exactly what it was.
"El. Short for Eleanor. I've told you this 100 times mom." Mike said, annoyed.
"I know, I just like when you talk about her." Karen sat across from him and leaned in close. "So, is she cute?"
"Mom!" Mike yelled and stormed out of the room.
"What?" Karen asked, taking a bit of one of Mike's apple slices. "I was just asking if she was cute."
Luckily for Karen, (unlucky for Mike though), she got her wish.
After the Snowball, Karen would be able to meet El.
Karen parked in the school parking lot and entered the very decorated school.
She walked down the hallway and headed towards Mr. Clarke's room, which was the decided meeting place.
Karen turned the last corner and stopped in her tracks.
Mike and his girlfriend were hugging softly, swaying to the fainted music in the background.
Well, at least she didn't walk in on them kissing.
Even though it was very tempting to embarrass her son, she knew that he would hate her forever if she did. So, she walked back silently around the corner and backed up a few steps. She then walked back down the hallway, making her steps louder than before.
When she got to Mr. Clarke's room, the couple were across the hall from each other, leaning against the walls acting like they were having a casual conversation.
Karen knew better.
Karen studied El for a moment.
She was in a cute blue polka dotted dress with a pink belt. Her short hair was curl and placed in a way that some strands hung in her face.
Karen could tell that it wasn't Hopper's work.
"Hello. I'm Karen Wheeler, Mike's mom." she introduced herself.
"I'm El. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Wheeler." El responded.
"Oh, you can call me Karen, honey." Karen told her. "So, how long have you known Mike."
"Uh, for about a year." El answered quietly.
Mike nodded in agreement.
"A year? Huh well Mike never mentioned you." Karen stated, turning to Mike with questioning eyes.
"We didn't start dating until, like, two months ago." Mike defended.
Karen ignored her son's outburst and turned back to El.
"You look beautiful, El." she told the young girl.
"Thank you." El smiled shyly.
"I hope my son has been a gentleman." Karen said.
"Mom!" Mike exclaimed.
"Don't worry, he has." El assured Karen.
El smiled at Mike, who smiled back.
Karen watched Mike. He looked like he genuinely cared for El. Ted hasn't looked at her like that for years.
She was snapped out of her thinking when Mike cleared his throat.
"So, we're going to go back in." he told his mom, grabbing El's hand.
"Uh no mister, why do you think I came here. To just meet your girlfriend?" Karen asked.
Mike squinted at her. "Uh, yeah."
Karen let out a sigh. "I came here to pick you up and meet your girlfriend. It's time to go home."
"But there's like another hour of the dance!" Mike protested.
"I'm not driving home to just drive back here to pick you up." Karen told him.
"Nancy can drive me home." Mike suggested.
"She has plans, apparently." Karen reminded him.
"How about Steve? He's driving Dustin home!" Mike tried desperately.
"Steve? Steve Harrington? I thought you hated him." Karen said.
Mike faltered. "He's a nice enough guy." he muttered.
Karen looked up at the ceiling.
"Fine, you can drive home with Steve." Karen caved, then turned to El with a smile. "It was nice to meet you El."
"You too, Mrs. Wheel- Karen." El said with a smile. Then she was led away by Mike, who looked like if he didn't get back in the gym he would explode.
Karen smiled to herself.
She couldn't believe that she caved to that.
Eh, it was worth it to meet El.
She was a nice girl.
She looked familiar, though.
Like that girl from the-
Karen shook her head.
There was no way it could be the same girl.
Right?
AN: I hope you like it, the Mandalorian terminator! Requests are open everyone!