The morning sun shone through the cabin windows onto a jar of Smucker's Strawberry Jam perched on the countertop, mocking Eleven with its determination not to be opened.
Eleven spoke in a low voice, "You will open…" She pressed her lips together in a thin line. Leaning forward in concentration and furrowing her brow, she thrust out her chest and stared at the jam jar like her eyes would burn holes in it. Her pink beaded necklace seemed to float weightlessly in the air.
Two Eggos sat in the toaster, waiting for her.
She felt her muscles tightening and jaw clenching as she tried to remove the lid. The jar trembled, and even began spinning slowly. It began moving too much, shaking and bouncing…then stopped.
"Crap," she breathed, relaxing. "Mike!"
Mike came out of the bathroom in his Calvin Klein blue jeans with the ends rolled up and a white T-shirt. He walked over quickly.
"What is it? El? Is everything okay?"
El looked at him, pleading. "Can you open the jam jar?"
Will, who sat in the living area, looked over.
"I thought you had your powers back, El," Mike said.
"Twisting is hard for me," she pouted.
"Last time she tried she blew three jars apart," said Will. "Took us an hour to clean it up."
"Okay, El," Mike said and smiled. He grasped the jam jar and twisted and with a pop it opened. He set it down.
"Thanks, Mike," she said and grabbed his middle, and Mike took her in his arms, and wrapped up his hands in some of the Benny's Burgers t-shirt she wore today. She gazed up at him with hazel-brown eyes.
"Keep practicing," Mike said.
"I will, Mike."
Mike's chest lightened whenever she said his name. They walked together to the Eggo assembly area of the countertop. Different jars of toppings and butterknives, small plates, fresh fruit, and canned whipped cream were arranged carefully across the back edge.
She prepared her two Eggos for breakfast. Mike watched.
"Why do you like Eggos so much, El?" Will asked.
"I don't know," she said as she worked on the toppings.
Mike held his chin high and shoulders back and laughed. "I'm so proud of you, El. I mean, wow. You could open an Eggo restaurant with the different kinds you make."
Then he somehow shifted his consciousness to notice everything about her. She was small, thin, and physically weak. Her delicate hands often moved in distinctly feminine ways, like a ballerina. Any man, or even taller woman, would imagine her to be delicate and easily dominated in a physical match. She seemed wide open and undefended to a stranger's eyes. Right there—he noted—a kind of bounce in her step as she finished her preparation: graceful, poised, and balanced. Mike's smile spread to his eyes which gleamed brightly.
"Here you are, my love," she said.
"For me?" He said.
"Why not, you started this."
"Mmm." Mike sighed. "I did, didn't I?" He walked over to the red table to eat.
"Will?" El asked.
"No, thank you," he said.
"Cool. More for me," she said and started another round. "With a name like Smuckers…"
"You know I think Bradley still wants his Eggos back," Mike jabbed.
"I paid him back with my first paycheck," she said. "You know that."
Mike nodded. "He still angry you called him a 'mouth-breather'?"
"Still is," she said. "But I restock his shelves at night twice as fast as anyone else."
"El? What am I looking at now?" Will asked as he read his magazine but kept the pages inside out of view.
"Um…a picture of Jon Bon Jovi," she said.
"Correct. He's a good-looking guy," Will said.
The cabin cat jumped up on the counter, a sleek black one with yellow eyes.
"Hey Ashy-Slashy," she said and petted his soft sleek fur. It meowed a response and began purring. Abruptly she pulled her hand back, flinching.
"Something wrong?" Mike asked.
"Just an old memory."
She tasted the Eggo in her other hand while petting the cat. She floated over and sat down next to Mike, who gave her a side hug.
"November 6th," said Hopper, stretching his back at the bedroom door. His 6'3" frame swathed in a maroon velour bathrobe. "Good to see you this morning, Will Byers,"
"Thanks to you and mom, Mr. Hopper."
"Good morning, daddy," El said. She turned her head and revealed a glazed look in her eyes. She recalled shouting at him…
"You…are…Papa!"
Her eyes watered and she pulled on the collar of her shirt, but she returned to her Eggo. What's going on? Why am I thinking about this?
"Back at you, Jane."
She stopped eating, putting her hand on her stomach. *Anyone else would have been a better daughter to Jim.*
The cat, now at Jim's feet, turned to look at the green front door. It hissed white fangs on black fur.
"Ash? What is it, boy? Jimmy fall in a well?" Joyce asked the cat as she entered the room.
There was a knock on the door.
The cat sprinted away. Jim walked casually to the door and unlocked it. He pulled it open.
A young blonde woman in a spring dress smiled at him. He pulled his robe over his chest.
"Yes?" He said.
"I'm here to see Jane, Mr. Hopper."
"Come on in."
El's eyes widened as she took in the woman in the doorway: Angela. She stood up. Her hands clenched.
Angela saw her by the table, and pulled her hands to her chest, saying "Jane? Jane…I'm…"
El spread apart her feet, frowning.
Will jumped up saying "…oh no!"
Mike rose to his feet.
"…s-s-sorry," Angela sputtered.
El lifted her hand and Angela floated above the floor. Then she flew across the cabin to within an inch of El's outstretched hand, with her feet swaying, unable to touch the floor. El's eyes transfixed, forehead down, and a murderous rage on her flushed face, she shook with fury.
"It's okay…Jane…" she said as water came to her eyes. "You go ahead, you kill me. I deserve it."
"No!" Jim shouted. "No one kills anyone here."
El glanced at him, then back to Angela's eyes. El panted, her hand trembling. Energy filled the air, like electricity.
"I don't deserve your mercy," Angela said. "I just wanted to say…I'm sorry…"
"Don't do it El," Mike said. "I know you'll regret it."
"Put her down," Jim ordered.
Angela limply raised one arm to touch El's hand and their fingers brushed. El's concentration broke. Angela fell hard to the floor and stayed there.
"I'm sorry Jane, or Eleven, or El. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
"You—you b..." El stuttered. "You…want to apologize?" Eleven spun away and moved to Mike, and Will joined then looking down on Angela. She rolled to her knees, her arms up. Will and Mike hugged her
"Please, Jane. Please forgive me…eventually…maybe…"
El began speaking words with difficulty "…you made fun of my father! …you…threw a shake on my dress! …you broke my dia… diorama!"
Angela froze. She nodded slightly. "I did. I did all those things…"
Hopper gently looked at Jane.
El bent over slowly and gave Angela her hand. She pulled her to her feet. "I'm sorry…I just lost control."
"I understand why," Angela said. "I was a real piece of sh*t then. I felt threatened by you. You showed up with a loyal friend…" she glanced at Will "and cute as can be, and the story about your father was a threat to my control."
"My daughter really missed me," Jim said.
"I can see why," Angela said. "You don't need to forgive me. Just accept my apologies and I'll go away." She walked toward the door.
"Wait a moment," Mike said. "Join us for breakfast? We're having Eggos."
"Uh, okay…"
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