48- So, Siblings?
Summary: Max gets adopted by the Wheelers. Mike and Max grow close.
Requested by: Valeriiia_RG
Max glanced around the old dump she's been living in for 7 months.
She had 4 boxes, two backpacks (including her school bag), and a duffel bag that she was taking.
Max trotted down the steps and met Mike Wheeler at the bottom.
"You ready?" Mike asked.
Over the past months since spring break, Mike and Max have been growing closer. When Max's mom was dubbed "not suitable for raising a child" Mike stepped in and told her that his mom was willing to take her in for the few months that her mom was in rehab.
All the other Party's family offered as well, but she looked at all the possibilities. Lucas's family was out, he was her boyfriend. The Byers are still trying to settle in after spring break and they were short on money. Same with Dustin's family. El and Hopper were an option, but they were planning on moving in with the Byers once they got El's name cleared. Steve offered to look after her, but Max knew he was trying to get into college and all that, and she didn't want to be a burden.
So, that left the Wheelers.
It wasn't the best option, the family had three kids. But Karen Wheeler was very welcoming.
Since Nancy would be moving out in the fall, Max would take her room while she was away. But since there was still summer left, Max would be crashing in the basement.
At least, that's what Mike told her.
But when she was led into the Wheelers house by Mike, he started leading her upstairs.
"Where are we going?" Max asked. "I thought I would be sleeping in the basement."
"Yeah, I just told you that." Mike said, not looking back as he climbed the stairs.
"So where am I supposed to stay?" Max asked, annoyed that Mike didn't share the correct information with her.
"Just come on!" Mike complained, finally turning to wave his arms in an upward motion.
Max rolled her eyes but followed Mike up the stairs.
When they reached the top Mike took her wrist and walked her to his bedroom.
Max couldn't help but let out a little gasp.
Mike's double bed was gone, and in place of it, was the bunk bed.
Max only saw the bunk bed two or three times, Mike got rid of it not too long after she met the boys.
Max walked up to the bunk bed and lightly touched the wood frame.
"You really got this back?" she asked, turning to Mike.
"It was in storage, and I didn't want to make you sleep in that giant basement alone."
Max and Mike exchanged small smiles.
Max broke off the exchange by turning toward the ladder.
"I call top bunk!" she called and hurried up the ladder.
Mike chuckled. "All yours."
Max flopped back into the bed, breathing a sigh of relief she didn't realize she had been holding.
She had a feeling it would be a good couple of months.
Who knew that Max and Mike would get along so well?
Literally everyone besides them.
But it was true. They had a lot in common.
The summer flew by fast, with the two of them doing all sorts of things.
They went to the video store, arcade, the movie theater, everywhere they could.
The Party joined them, quietly being amused at the new turn of events.
One big thing that happened over the summer was Max getting officially adopted by the Wheelers since her mom's program kept extending.
Soon, it was 4 days until Nancy moved away and the duo was sitting in their room.
"So," Max said, climbing down from her bed to sit on Mike's. "How you feeling?"
"About what?" Mike asked, not looking up from his history homework.
"About Nancy moving away, idiot!" Max exclaimed.
Mike put down his pencil and thought for a moment.
"It's... weird." Mike concluded. "I mean, she's been here for all of my life and now she's just going away?"
Max nodded.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Hey guys." Karen popped her head in. "Dinner will be ready in 5."
"Okay, thanks mom." Mike said at the same time Max said, "Thanks Karen."
Karen knew that Max would never call her mom, and she was fine with that. Though she insisted that Max called her Karen instead of Mrs. Wheeler.
Karen looked around the room.
"Well, Max in 4 days you'll have your own bedroom." she realized. "How do you feel?"
Max just shrugged.
Karen nodded, turning and closing the door.
Max and Mike sat in silence for a few moments, registering what Mike's mom just said.
"I haven't really thought about it." Max finally said.
"Me neither." Mike admitted. "It's kind of became... normal. Sharing a room with you."
Max nodded.
"You know," Max said carefully. "I don't actually mind sharing a room with you."
"Me too." Mike agreed. "I mean, Nancy always was planning on keeping her room the same when she moved to college."
"Yeah, I mean, I don't want to have to change her room." Max said, fiddling with her bracelet. "And I actually like how my stuff blends in with yours."
Mike nodded.
"And" Max continued. "If I get annoyed by you, I can just go into her room."
They both fell silent, thinking.
"So." Mike stated.
"So." Max repeated.
"You're staying?" Mike asked, hopefully.
"I'm staying." Max told him with a smile.
Mike did a small cheer, making Max laugh.
"You know, sharing a room is something siblings do." Mike told her after they were done with their celebration.
They never really talked about her adoption, since it didn't change anything besides it being official.
But Mike had been thinking about how Max and he had been getting closer over the months.
"Yeah." Max acknowledged. "Yeah, it's something they do, don't they?"
Mike nodded, deciding to just bite the bullet.
"So, siblings?"
Max smiled.
"Siblings."
AN: I hope you liked it, Valeriiia_RG! Requests are open!