This chapter goes to Mike, who is very sweet but can be a giant jerk. Steve sees this on the coldest night of the year.

It was freezing outside.

Like toe numbing, breath seeing, shivering cold.

So why was Mike Wheeler trekking through the snow?

In only jeans and a winter coat?

Steve slows down, coming to a crawl besides the boy. "Mike?" he calls through the window. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to see El."

Steve tries really hard not to roll his eyes as he says, "Do you want to get in?"

"No!" Mike huffs.

Steve rolls his eyes this time. "I'll drive you to El's, dork."

Mike stops briefly, muttering an 'oh', before climbing into the warm car. He rubs his hands together, putting them near the heater.

"Want to tell me why you made the idiotic decision of walking through the snow in 25 degree weather?" Steve asks, not taking his eyes off the slippery road.

"I wanted to see El."

"Today's a Tuesday." Steve points out.

Mike crosses his arms. "So?"

"So, El can't have visitors on Tuesdays, can she? Today is not a visitor day." Steve stops the car.

"Wait what are you doing? Take me to see El!" Mike demands.

Steve puts the car in park. "Not until you tell me what you were doing getting potential frostbite."

Mikes sighs. "I wanted to see El."

"You just saw her yesterday."

"You don't get it!" Mike explodes suddenly. "Just two days a week isn't enough! I want to see her at school, with all of my friends, where she belongs! Not holed up in a small cabin where nobody can visit her."

Steve doesn't know what to say right then, so he doesn't say anything.

"And it's not like anyone would drive me anyway! Mom and Dad can't know, and even if they did, they're not around! Nobodies around, not even Nancy, she's always off with the newspaper or Johnathan! Holly's too young to understand, and this whole thing sucks! It just," Mike deflates. "Sucks."

Steve takes a deep breath. "So, you were going to see El no matter what. That's- that's sweet, Mike."

Mike groans.

"No, no it is. You act like a complete jerk sometimes," Steve ignores Mike's protests. "But you are a really good friend."

Mike picks at a hangnail.

"But losing your fingers and toes for them? Is not smart. You're such a nerd, you really need to use that mind sometimes." Steve continues.

"What else was I supposed to do?"

"Uh, call Hopper? Ask for a ride?" Steve suggests.

"Hopper does not like me." Mike tells him. "Trust me."

Steve runs his hands through his hair. "Johnathan?"

"He's always with Nancy."

Steve tries to hide his flinch of the thought of the two of them together. "Okay, then me."

"You?" Mike narrows his eyes.

"Yes, me. I'll talk with Hopper, we can set some after school time. It might not be everyday but it'll be more than two days." Steve responds.

"Yes! Thank you!" Mike actually side hugs Steve, before quickly pulling away, realizing what he did.

Steve chuckles. "Yeah, yeah. Just no more walking in the cold and dark."

Steve turns in his seat, reaching back and grabbing an extra pair of gloves and a hat. "Here," he gives them to Mike. "Put 'em on."

Mike looks down at them and smiles a bit. "Thank you. I'm so cold. And yes, I know that's why you don't go walking out in the cold and dark." Mike cuts Steve off before he could even begin.

Steve rolls his eyes and is about to start driving again when Mike speaks up. "You know the next time you ever get a girlfriend, remember your lucky if you can see her every day."

Steve looks at the teenager. He can tell that he wants to move on from this subject but has to say that one sentence. So, he changes the subject, "Ever? Please I can get a girlfriend in like a month!"

Mike smirks. "Your game is about as good as the rest of us. And me and Lucas have girlfriends!"

"Oh hardy har har." Steve pulls the car out of park and turns it around.

"Wait we're not seeing El tonight?"

"Don't push it kid."

AN: Hope you liked it! I feel like if Steve and Mike actually ever had screen time, they'd be a great duo.