98- Older Siblings
Summary: Before the events of Season 4, El talks to Johnathan about Mike. And Mike talks about El to Nancy.
Requested by: friendsdontlie83
El frowned as she read another letter from Mike. It was sweet, but it was from Mike. From Mike. Not, love Mike or with any other sweet sign off. Just a plain, boring from.
El was new to all of this. She'd never loved anyone before. She'd thought she loved Papa, but turns out that was a twisted way of loving someone. Toxic, Max had told her.
She'd hoped this wasn't a toxic relationship, she did really love Mike. And he loved her... right? El had heard it in the cabin last summer. He'd said it, just not to her. Why? El had no idea why and no idea how to find out. It didn't seem to be a conversation for a letter. But she couldn't travel across the country to talk to her boyfriend, now could she?
Maybe she could ask for advice.
Joyce was always telling her that if she needed help, ask for it. El needed help.
But who should she ask?
Probably someone older, with more experience, so Will was out of the question. She'd ask Joyce but she didn't have a great history of boyfriends staying alive, and El didn't want to drag up any bad memories.
That left only one option.
Johnathan.
Since coming to California, Johnathan has been different. When he met his new friend Argyle, he started smelling different, looking different, and even acting different. Like his head was in his clouds. El had heard Will angrily mutter that he was 'high' one time, she never really found out what that meant. Whenever she asked Johnathan though, he told her to keep it a secret. El had no idea what the secret actually was so she never said anything.
But El knew that even with the changes, Johnathan was still Johnathan.
So, after getting another letter from Mike, El went up to Johnathan's room. She knocked and heard a small confirmation that it was okay to enter. Pushing open the door, El found the room to be... empty. It looked basically the same to when they moved in. She hadn't been in it for a while, but there was nothing to see. There was a small collage of pictures Johnathan had taken, and his stereo hooked up, but nothing more. Underneath the unclean bed, El saw rows of boxes crammed into the small closet. And after peeking into the open closet, El confirmed there was a couple more boxes under the clothes hanging from old hangers. At least he unpacked some clothes.
"Need something El?"
El startled at the sudden voice, realizing her observation was taking longer than she had thought. A slight blush crept onto her face and she fiddled with the letter in her hands. "Uh, yes. I wanted to ask you something."
Johnathan quietly nodded and moved his homework off the bed, making room for his sister. "Come, sit."
El smiled. Johnathan had been so nice to her, accepting her into their small family. He treated her like her treated Will, like an actual sibling. She was grateful that she had someone to turn to.
After sitting criss cross applesauce on the soft bed, El slightly held the letter out to Johnathan. He raised his eyebrows and looked for confirmation that he could take it. El simply looked at him. Having gotten used to El's looks and small words, Johnathan took and carefully opened it. He skimmed it, not wanting to invade the young couple's privacy. He reached the sign off and looked up. He was confused, there was nothing wrong with the letter. But El sometimes had trouble with new things, so maybe Mike had said something that El hadn't understood. "Is there something wrong with it?"
"The ending."
Johnathan glanced down and read the last couple sentences. "I- I don't see anything wrong here, El. He just goes on about how he misses you. He even signed off, most kids I know wouldn't have even done that."
El pursed her lips, getting frustrated. She hated when this happened. She didn't know how to explain something clearly, and then it was turned into a guessing game. So, she grabbed the letter from his hands and pointed. "From Mike. I say love El, and he says from Mike."
Johnathan felt realization flash across his face as he was handed the letter again. It did say from Mike. Usually, that was a fine send off, but for a young couple? Yeah, that wouldn't do it. "You want to know if he loves you back."
"But I do know! I heard it in the cabin, before the mind flayer. He- he said he couldn't lose me again."
Johnathan had sympathy for the girl, guys could be jerks, he knew cause he was a guy and a jerk sometimes. But he didn't understand why Mike didn't say he loves El anymore than she did. He felt bad, El had come to him for advice and he wouldn't be able to give it to her. Maybe he could give her a couple suggestions on why Mike was doing why he was doing.
"- so, why?"
Johnathan shook himself out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry?"
"Why do you think he won't say it?"
Okay, this was out of his ballpark. He'd like to think he'd always had the answers when his younger siblings came to him, apparently not. But El was looking at him with those darn puppy eyes of hers, so he had to try. "Look, El. Relationships can be... complicated at some parts. The main thing you can do is talk with one another, make sure you're on the same page."
He had no idea where he'd gotten that from, but it sounded alright. That is, until El scrunched her eyebrows. "But, he's so far away. And this seems like something to talk about in person. Not on the phone or through letters."
"You have a point there." Johnathan ran a hand through his hair, thinking. "Okay, so here's what I'm thinking. There must be some reason Mike hasn't said it to you. Whether because he thinks he doesn't have to, or that he's scared, or something there has to be a reason. And yes, you guys do live far away from each other. But he's coming for spring break, right? So, if he hasn't said it yet, that's when you talk with him."
Johnathan briefly held his breath for the younger girl's response. It wasn't a firm solution, but it was something. Fortunately, it seemed to be enough for El, because she gives him a small smile. "Thank you, Johnathan." And with that, she gives hims a quick hug, takes her letter, and skips out of the room. Johnathan blows out a breath and leans against his headboard.
Man, being an older sibling was tough sometimes.
Nancy poured over the new copy of the school's newspaper, making sure it was perfect before going off to press. She was on the last page, circling a typo when there was a soft knock at the door.
"I'm busy, Holly. Go bother your brother."
"It's me." Mike popped his head into the room. "You know, I always wondered why I was Holly's favorite and not you." Nancy rolled her eyes and gestured for him to come in.
"What do you need?"
Mike began fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Oh boy. This was going to be one of those talks. Nancy got up from her desk and went to lean against her pillows. "Sit." Mike quietly sat at the edge her bed, hands still wrapped around the hem of his shirt. "What's the matter?"
"Uh, I just have a question."
"Yeah, I got that. Now spill."
"How do you tell someone you love them?" Mike blurted out. At Nancy's face, Mike clarified. "I don't know how to tell El."
Nancy furrowed her eyebrows. "But you said it in the cabin. And I thought El ended up saying it back to you?"
Mike rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, well, I didn't exactly ever... say it to her?"
Nancy's eyes went wide and her mouth formed an o. "MICHEAL WHEELER! You haven't said it to her? Not even in the letters?" Mike said nothing, only fueling Nancy's anger. "That is not acceptable. Do you love her or not, because you can't keep stringing her along!"
"I love her!" Mike shouted into her face. "Yes, I love her! Of course I do!"
Silence.
It hung heavy, and neither sibling knew what to say. "Mike.."
"I- I just don't know how to say it or when. At first I thought it was okay that I didn't say it, I know, I know, it was stupid. But I just don't know what to say."
Nancy silently looked at her brother, not knowing what to say. Finally, she came up with something. "You have to tell her Mike."
"But-"
"It doesn't have to be special, a huge moment, nothing romantic. Just say it, Mike. Spit it out, like you did in the cabin That's all El will care about. Or just start writing it in your letters, either way, tell her."
Mike stared at a spot on Nancy's bed, thinking. "Okay."
"Okay?"
"I'll- I'll tell her."
Nancy didn't mention that he never said how, or when, but she took it was a win. "Good, now get out of here. Don't you have some nerd game?"
Mike smirked at her and left the bed. "Nancy? Thanks."
"Anytime."
Mike left and Nancy quietly shook her head.
Being the older sibling could be tough sometimes.
AN: Hope you liked it, friendsdontlie83! Please R&R everyone, helps motivate me!