Dove stood in a field that stretched endlessly in all directions. At first glance, it might have been beautiful, but the longer she looked, the more wrong it seemed. The grass beneath her feet wasn't green but a sickly gray, brittle and crumbling under the faintest touch. Flowers dotted the landscape, but they weren't alive—petals blackened, stems coiled in decay, their once-bright colors faded into shadow.
Black vines crept along the ground, writhing faintly as if they were alive, pulsing with faint streaks of red light. They reached out in every direction, weaving intricate patterns across the desolation, leading her gaze toward a single, solitary tree in the middle of the field.
The tree stood tall, its bark dark and gnarled, with no leaves to speak of. Its branches stretched up into the colorless sky like skeletal fingers clawing at the air. Something about it drew her in. She didn't want to move toward it, and yet her feet carried her forward, each step slow and deliberate. The silence was overwhelming, broken only by the faint rustle of the wind—or was it the vines?
When Dove reached the tree, she hesitated, her eyes scanning the rough bark. Deep cracks ran along its surface, and inside those cracks, faintly glowing veins of red pulsed rhythmically. It was subtle, but the longer she stared, the more it felt like a heartbeat, slow and steady, reverberating through the stillness of the field.
Tentatively, she reached out, her fingertips brushing against the bark. A sharp chill ran through her hand, climbing up her arm and spreading through her chest. Her breath caught as the pulse of the tree seemed to sync with her own heartbeat, a steady thrum that filled her ears.
The vines at her feet twitched, their movements sharp and sudden, almost agitated. The air seemed to shift, heavy and oppressive, pressing down on her like an unseen force. She looked up at the tree's branches, and for the first time, she noticed something hanging from them. Dark shapes swung gently in the breeze, their forms obscured by the dim light. She squinted, trying to make them out, but the closer she looked, the more her chest tightened.
It was people.
Steve. Dustin. Eddie. Max. Each one hanging lifelessly from the branches, their bodies entwined with the black vines, their faces eerily calm despite the horror of their position.
Dove stumbled back, her hand flying to her mouth as bile rose in her throat. She tried to look away, but her eyes wouldn't leave the haunting scene.
The wind picked up, swirling around her in soft, eerie gusts that carried a faint whisper. It was faint, almost indistinguishable, like a voice just out of earshot. Goosebumps rose along Dove's arms as the sound wrapped around her, threading through the empty field like a ghostly presence.
She stumbled again, her breath hitching as she forced herself to look away from the bodies hanging in the tree. But even as her gaze fell to the ground, the creeping black vines seemed alive, twitching and writhing as if reaching for her. The whisper came again, louder this time—a fragmented murmur that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
"Who's there?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she scanned the desolate horizon. There was no answer, just the wind, carrying those indistinct sounds. The whispers seemed to blend with the heartbeat of the tree, each pulse of the gnarled branches syncing with the low hum of the voice.
Her knees threatened to give out as she took another shaky step back, desperate to put distance between herself and the tree. But the vines followed, inching closer, faster now, their dark, thorny tendrils stretching out like claws.
A sudden gust of wind rushed past her, cold and biting, and with it came a single, unmistakable word—clear as day, cutting through the chaos.
"Run."
Turning on her heel, Dove ran. Her feet pounded against the brittle ground, the crackle of dead grass deafening in her ears. The whispers didn't fade but followed her, louder now, almost mocking.
The field stretched endlessly before her, no landmarks in sight, no direction that felt safe. The ground seemed to shift beneath her feet, the horizon warping and bending like a mirage. Panic clawed at her chest as the vines closed in, snaking faster than she could run.
Dove's breath came in ragged gasps as she pushed herself harder, her muscles screaming in protest. The whispers rose into a cacophony, the word "Run" echoing louder and louder until it was all she could hear. The ground suddenly gave way beneath her, and she was falling, the world spinning around her in a blur of shadows and whispers.
She hit the ground with a jolt, her chest heaving as she shot upright in bed. Dove pressed a trembling hand to her chest, her heart still racing as the remnants of the nightmare clung to her like a shadow. She glanced toward the window, where the first faint rays of dawn were breaking through the blinds. But even in the light of morning, the eerie whispers seemed to linger, like a warning she couldn't quite escape.
Sunlight streamed through the windows as Dove tied her sneakers by the door. The events of her nightmare replayed in her mind, vivid and haunting, but she forced herself to push them aside. Dustin was buzzing with excitement, double-checking his backpack for whatever he planned to show Steve.
"You ready yet?" he asked, bouncing on his heels. "I've got somuch to catch Steve up on."
"Yeah, yeah," Dove replied, standing and brushing a stray curl out of her face. She grabbed her bag from the counter and slung it over her shoulder. "I still don't get why we're going to see him while he's working. Doesn't he, like, get enough of you already?"
Dustin shot her an incredulous look, clutching his backpack dramatically. "Uh, no. Steve loves seeing me. I'm the best part of his day. Besides you, of course."
Dove froze for half a second, her smile faltering as the comment landed. She quickly looked away, busying herself with adjusting the strap on her bag. Dustin still didn't know about the breakup, and Dove hadn't been able to bring herself to tell him—not yet. Not when he was so happy. Her heart tightened at the reminder, but before she had to fumble through a response, the shrill ring of the phone broke the silence.
"I'll get it," Dove said quickly, making Dustin groan as he mumbled something about being late. She picked up the receiver, clearing her throat. "Hello?"
"Dove!" Max's voice came through loud and clear, brimming with urgency.
Dove furrowed her brow, her tone skeptical. "Max? What's up? Are you okay?"
"What? Yeah, of course, I'm fine," Max replied, her tone making it clear she thought the question was unnecessary. "El and I are having a bit of a.. boy emergency. Anyway, we're heading to the mall and figured you could use an excuse to get out of hanging out with Dustin and Steve all day."
Dove glanced over at Dustin, making sure he hadn't heard Max's comment. He was watching her expectantly, tapping his wrist as if to say, time's ticking. She rolled her eyes at him before turning her attention back to the phone.
"Alright, I'm in," Dove said with a sigh. "But if this boy emergency involves me refereeing a fight between you and Lucas again, I'm leaving."
Max snorted. "Don't worry, nothing that dramatic. At least not yet."
"Good to know," Dove replied dryly. "Do you want me to pick you up?"
"Thanks, but we're gonna take the bus. Can you believe El's never been on one? We'll meet you there."
Hanging up, Dove grabbed her bag and called out to Dustin. "That was Max. I'm gonna tag along with her and El today."
"Seriously?" Dustin groaned, looking frustrated. "Whatever, let's just go. We're gonna be late!"
"We can't be late if he doesn't know we're coming." Dove rolled her eyes, pulling him toward the door.
The drive to Starcourt Mall wasn't long, but the excitement bubbling from Dustin made it feel like an eternity. The parking lot was already packed, and as they approached the entrance, Dove spotted Max and El waiting near the doors. Max waved casually, her other arm resting on El's shoulder as they exchanged a few words.
"Hey, you two," Dove greeted, walking toward them with a smile.
Max stepped forward to close the distance between them and El offered a shy smile from behind her. Dove couldn't help but notice how different El seemed outside of their usual chaos—more reserved, still adjusting to the rhythm of 'normal' life.
Before Dove could say anything more, Dustin bolted past them, his backpack bouncing as he walked briskly inside.
"I've got to talk to Steve quick," Dove said, gesturing toward Scoops Ahoy. "Mind waiting a minute?"
Max crossed her arms, a sly grin spreading across her face. "Oh, sure, take your time."
Dove sighed, already anticipating the teasing. "I'll be right back," she said, not waiting for Max to answer as she turned and walked toward the ice cream shop.
Ahead of her, Dustin was already halfway there, his backpack bouncing as he weaved through the crowded mall with laser focus. By the time Dove reached the parlor, he and Steve had launched into their signature handshake, their movements precise and exaggerated as they reanacted a lightsaber battle. Dove crossed her arms, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth as she watched them.
Robin, who Dove recognized from school, stood behind the counter and glanced up just as Dove walked in. Recognition flickered across her face, and a small smirk spread, as if she were in on a joke that Dove didn't know about. She leaned casually on the counter, watching Steve with a kind of amused curiosity.
As Dustin and Steve finished their handshake, Steve's eyes landed on Dove. For a split second, a flicker of something—panic, hesitation—crossed his face. Robin's grin widened as her eyes darted between the two of them, but she didn't say anything, letting the moment play out.
"Hey, Dove," Steve said, straightening his sailor hat like he was trying to regain his usual composure.
"Hey," Dove replied, her tone even. She paused for a moment, glancing at Dustin, who was already ogling the tubs of ice cream behind the counter. Then she looked back at Steve. "Can we to talk?"
Steve nodded, his eyes shifting to Dustin. "You good, dude? Gonna get some ice cream?"
Dustin waved him off, not taking his eyes off the display case. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just trying to decide between chocolate and mint chip."
Steve smirked faintly, then turned to Robin. "Can you get him something? Whatever he wants. It's on me."
Robin raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth twitching into a smirk. "Oh, sure. Anything for you, King Steve," she said, her tone dripping with mock reverence.
Steve sighed, shaking his head but not engaging. He gestured toward the door. "Let's step outside," he said to Dove, his voice low.
Dove nodded, following him out of the parlor and into the mall hallway just outside the shop. The bustling sounds of the food court surrounded them, but the sounds seemed to muffle into the background as they stood together.
Steve leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked ridiculous in his sailor uniform, but his expression was serious, the faint humor he'd shown inside now fading.
"So," he said, his tone careful, "what's up?"
Dove glanced back at the parlor, where Dustin was enthusiastically talking Robin's ear off about something she couldn't hear. She took a breath and turned back to Steve, her hands stuffed into her pockets.
"I haven't told Dustin yet," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the hum of the mall.
Steve's eyes snapped back to hers. "Told him what?"
"About us," Dove clarified, feeling a knot tighten in her chest. "About the breakup."
Steve leaned back slightly, his arms uncrossing as he processed her words. "Oh," he said, his voice quieter now.
Dove couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt. The breakup had been mutual, but standing here now, seeing Steve's slightly disheveled appearance and the lingering sadness in his eyes, made her heart beat unevenly.
She shook her head, letting out a small sigh. "I didn't want to ruin camp for him. I mean, he loves you, Steve, and I just.. I didn't want him to come back to bad news."
"Sure, yeah that makes sense." Steve rubbed the back of his neck, clearly taken aback by the revelation. "Well, I can tell him today, if you want."
Dove glanced over at Dustin again, who was still chatting animatedly with Robin at the counter, his carefree laugh filling the air. The sight tugged at her heart, making the moment even harder. She looked back at Steve and shook her head, pushing down her emotions for the sake of her brother.
"No, we should tell him together," she said, her voice steady despite the tension she felt. "Maybe after you get off work. Just.. sit him down and explain. He should hear it from both of us."
Steve sighed, his eyes dropping to the floor for a second before meeting hers again. "Yeah, okay, we can do that."
Dove gave him a grateful smile, the tension between them loosening just a little. "Thanks, Steve. I just.. I don't want him to think anything bad happened between us."
Steve's expression softened, and he stepped a little closer, his voice low and sincere as he placed a hand on Dove's arm. "Nothing bad did happen, Dove. Sometimes things just.. don't work out the way we want them to."
Dove nodded, the movement small and reserved, and subtly stepped back. Steve's hand dropped from her arm, the warmth of his touch fading as quickly as it had come. "I, uh.. I promised El and Max a shopping trip," she said, her voice steady but distant. "I should go meet up with them."
Steve hesitated, his expression unreadable for a moment before he nodded. "Yeah, of course. I'll, uh.. catch you later."
"Yeah," Dove replied, offering a polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "See you."
She turned and started walking away, her footsteps quick but not rushed, her mind buzzing with unspoken thoughts. The fluorescent lights of the mall cast long shadows across the floor, and as she rounded the corner, she allowed herself a brief moment to exhale deeply, releasing the tension she'd been holding onto.
Ahead, at the edge of the bustling food court, Max and El were waiting. Max spotted her first, her grin widening as Dove approached. Before Dove could dwell on the conversation with Steve any further, Max reached out and grabbed her arm, tugging her forward with excitement.
"Finally! Come on, we're heading to the GAP," Max said, dragging Dove along before she could protest. El trailed behind, wide-eyed and curious as she took in the bustling mall.
As they entered the store, Max turned to El with an excited grin, gesturing toward the racks of clothes. "Alright, El, pick out something that feels like you."
El looked around at the displays, her gaze drifting over the colorful racks of clothing. Her brows furrowed slightly, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity. "Like me?" she repeated, tilting her head.
Max nodded, steering her gently toward a section filled with bold patterns and bright colors. "Yep. Not what anyone else wants you to wear, but what you want. This is your chance to figure out what you like. Try something different."
Dove smiled, stepping up beside them. "Max is right. Don't think about what Mike would like or what Hopper expects. Pick something that makes you feel good."
El hesitated, glancing nervously at the array of clothes, but after a moment, she seemed to gather her courage. Slowly, she began browsing the racks, her fingers brushing over the fabrics.
El tossed a variety of items over her arm, gaining more confidence with each new piece she selected. With her options in hand, El disappeared into the dressing room, and Dove leaned against the wall, folding her arms as she watched Max shuffle through a nearby rack.
Max turned to Dove with a knowing look, a smirk playing on her lips. "So.. Mike lied to her. Typical, right?"
Dove raised an eyebrow, curious. "Lied about what?"
"Something about his grandma dying," Max said, waving her hand dismissively. "But that's not the point. The point is, he lied. And now, El's upset about it."
Dove frowned slightly, leaning forward. "Wait, his grandma? Like, he made up a whole story?"
"Yep," Max replied with a shrug, clearly unbothered. "Which is why I told her to ignore him. If he's gonna act like that, he needs to know she's not just gonna sit there and take it."
Dove couldn't help but laugh, though a part of her agreed more than she'd like to admit. "You really think that's the best way to handle it?"
Max gave her a look, grabbing a shirt from the rack and holding it up for inspection. "Works on Lucas, doesn't it?"
"Fair," Dove said with a smirk, crossing her arms. "But.. it's not always that simple. I mean, sometimes people mess up, but they don't mean to. What matters is whether or not he tries to fix it."
Max paused, her grin softening just slightly, but she quickly bounced back, smiling slyly at Dove. "Sure. Treat him like trash and see if he shapes up. If not, dump his ass." She grinned triumphantly, clearly proud of her philosophy.
Just then, El emerged from the dressing room, wearing a teal button-down and maroon suspenders. She looked nervous, fidgeting with the straps as she glanced at herself in the mirror.
Max immediately grabbed a mustard-colored beret from a nearby display and placed it on El's head with a flourish. "There," Max said, stepping back and grinning triumphantly. "You look awesome."
El smiled, her face lighting up as she turned to look at herself in the mirror again. "Awesome?" she repeated, her voice filled with a mix of wonder and excitement.
"Absolutely," Max said, nodding emphatically. "Like, totally magazine-cover material."
El's smile grew even wider, and she adjusted the beret slightly, her confidence visibly growing. "Thank you," she said softly, looking at both of them.
"Alright," Dove said, gesturing toward the dressing room. "Now, go try on the next one. Let's see what else you've got."
El nodded eagerly, turning back toward the dressing room with the faintest bounce in her step. As soon as she was gone, Max turned back to Dove. "I'm serious, though. If Mike doesn't shape up, I'll help her dump him. She deserves better."
Dove let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "You're relentless, Max. But you also have a point. The two of you have your whole lives to deal with boys. You shouldn't settle on the first one that looks your direction, no matter how charming he may be."
Max raised an eyebrow, folding her arms. "Speaking from experience?"
Dove hesitated for a beat, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Something like that," she admitted, her tone lighter than the weight of her words.
Despite her light tone, Dove felt that familiar twinge of something darker underneath. As Max started flipping through a nearby rack, Dove's thoughts drifted, unbidden, to her own relationships.
Steve, with his steady kindness and good intentions, but also his insecurities—the way he sometimes doubted himself more than he should. And Billy—complicated, volatile Billy—who used charm and bravado to mask something deeper. Something darker.
Her chest tightened at the memories, but before she could linger too long, the creak of the dressing room door pulled her back to the present.
El stepped out hesitantly, this time in a white shirt and skirt combo, paired with a bright yellow belt. She fiddled with the buckle nervously, her gaze darting to the floor.
Both Dove and Max gasped simultaneously.
"El, you look amazing," Max said, beaming with approval.
Dove smiled, clapping her hands together. "Agreed. You're definitely turning heads."
El blushed slightly but seemed to gain more confidence. She twirled in front of the mirror, watching the skirt swish around.
The final outfit El tried on was a black romper covered in colorful neon geometric shapes.
"Now this is the one," Max declared, standing up and clapping her hands. "El, you look like a rockstar."
Dove nodded. "You look incredible."
El smiled at them, her confidence shining through as she twirled in front of the mirror one last time. It was clear that this shopping trip wasn't just about clothes—it was about finding herself, and Max and Dove couldn't have been prouder to be part of that moment.
Next, the trio made their way into Flash Studio, trying on a variety of ridiculous outfits for their impromptu photo shoot. Feather boas, oversized sunglasses, cowboy hats, and even a few tiaras—the girls were unstoppable, laughing uncontrollably with each new pose.
From Flash Studio, they strolled into JC Penny, where Max convinced El to try on a pair of high heels. El teetered on the shoes, her arms flailing for balance as she stumbled around the shoe section. She let out a squeal of laughter before inevitably falling into Max's arms, sending them both into a fit of giggles.
As they steadied themselves, Dove caught sight of a group of girls standing near the handbags, their gazes darting toward them with barely concealed annoyance. One of the girls, wearing an oversized denim jacket and too much lip gloss, leaned in to whisper something to her friends, prompting a ripple of quiet snickers.
The trio exchanged knowing glances, their shared eye-roll almost perfectly in sync. Then, as if on cue, they all burst into laughter, their carefree energy quickly washing away the tension.
After recovering from their laughing fit, they headed toward another store, when Dove suddenly spotted a familiar trio on the other side of the mall—Mike, Lucas, and Will. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized that Max and El might spot them too.
Without thinking, she grabbed both girls by the arms, pulling them toward the nearest store entrance.
"Hey, what's—" Max started, but Dove cut her off.
"Just—trust me," she said quickly, steering them through the door before anyone could notice.
It wasn't until they were inside that Dove realized where they were.
Scoops Ahoy.
"Oh, no," Dove whispered under her breath, realizing the situation she'd just walked herself into.
Max raised an eyebrow as she took in the nautical-themed decor, then turned to Dove, her expression suspicious. "Okay, what was that about?"
Dove hesitated, glancing over her shoulder toward the mall entrance. Thankfully, the boys were nowhere in sight. "I just.. thought it'd be fun to take a break. We've been running around all day."
Steve stood behind the counter, his ridiculous sailor outfit on full display, adjusting his hat while wiping down a tray. Behind him, Robin's head poked out of the window to the back room, mid-sentence in what seemed to be an animated conversation with Steve.
Her words trailed off when her eyes landed on Dove. A mischievous grin spread across Robin's face as her eyebrows shot up. She glanced between Dove and Steve with a knowing look, her smirk growing wider by the second, before retreating into the back, shutting the window with an audible click.
Steve, noticing the movement, turned to see what had distracted her, and his gaze landed on Dove. For a brief moment, his expression faltered—an almost imperceptible flicker of surprise, maybe even nervousness—but he recovered quickly, flashing his trademark lopsided grin. "Ahoy, ladies. What can I get for you?"
Max walked up to the counter. "I'll take a strawberry cake cone," she said, with the casual confidence of someone who knew exactly what she wanted.
El stepped forward eagerly. "Vanilla waffle cone.. with rainbow sprinkles.. and extra whipped cream." She beamed as she spoke, the excitement practically radiating off her.
Steve, focused on preparing the girls' orders, glanced at Dove over the glass. "Cookies and cream on a waffle cone, right?" he asked with a hint of a smile.
Dove gave him a small nod, trying to act nonchalant, but there was a brief flicker of tension between them as she stepped forward to accept her ice cream. As Steve handed her the cone, he looked down at El, raising an eyebrow. "Wait a second. Are you even allowed to be here?"
Max, El, and Dove exchanged glances before bursting into giggles, their laughter echoing through the shop. Without a word, they darted out of Scoops Ahoy, leaving Steve bewildered but amused as he watched them disappear into the bustling mall.
Back in the food court, the trio's mood was still light as they strolled through, savoring their ice creams. But then Dove spotted the group of girls from JC Penney standing outside Orange Julius. The girls were holding drinks, chatting and laughing—one of them, the denim-jacketed ringleader, was leaning flirtatiously against a guy, her voice loud and exaggerated.
"Look who it is," Max muttered, nudging Dove.
"Just ignore them," Dove said with a sigh, licking her cone.
But El's eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the group. A mischievous smile spread across her face, and she leaned in closer to Max and Dove. "Watch this," she whispered, pulling them behind a nearby pillar.
Max and Dove exchanged curious glances but followed her lead, peeking around the corner to see what she was up to. El focused her gaze on the denim-jacketed girl's drink, her expression tightening with concentration. A moment later, the cup suddenly exploded in the girl's hand, soda spraying everywhere.
The girl shrieked, stumbling back as the sticky liquid soaked her outfit. Her friends stood frozen, their jaws dropping in confusion as they looked around, unsure of what had just happened.
Max and Dove clamped their hands over their mouths to muffle their laughter, but when El turned back to them with a proud grin, they couldn't hold it in any longer. The three of them burst into hysterical laughter, stumbling away from the scene as they tried to contain their giggles.
"See, what did I tell you?" Max said between breaths, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. "There's more to life than stupid boys."
El smiled, looking more at ease than she had all day.
As they walked off, still laughing, Dove couldn't help but feel like this day had been exactly what she needed.
The girls stepped outside, their ice creams still in hand, as the warm summer air wrapped around them. Dove licked her cone absentmindedly, smiling at Max and El. The mall behind them buzzed with activity, but for once, Dove felt completely present, her earlier worries fading away.
Just as they were about to part ways, Max's face suddenly shifted, her expression turning from carefree to frustrated. "Oh, you've got to be shitting me," she mumbled under her breath, her tone laced with irritation.
Dove and El both turned, following Max's gaze. A few yards away, Mike, Lucas, and Will were at the bike rack, pulling their bikes free. The boys were completely unaware of the approaching storm.
Max let out an exasperated sigh, taking one last bite of her ice cream before handing the cone to Dove. "Hold this," she said, her tone firm.
Dove blinked in surprise, barely managing to grab the cone before Max started sauntering toward the boys. Her confident stride was enough to draw the attention of Lucas and Will, who elbowed each other and whispered as they spotted her approach. Mike, however, remained completely oblivious, still fiddling with his bike.
Max closed the distance quickly, her steps purposeful. She stopped in front of Mike, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her shadow falling over him like a warning.
"Isn't this a nice surprise," Max said, her voice thick with sarcasm.
Mike, caught off guard, dropped his bike and looked up, startled. Panic flashed across his face as his gaze darted between Max, Dove, and El. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice sharper than he'd intended.
"Shopping," El replied simply, standing tall, her tone confident.
"This is her new style," Max added, nodding towards El with a smirk. "What do you think?"
Dove leaned against a nearby pillar, watching with quiet amusement. Max was a force of nature, and Mike looked like a deer caught in the headlights. He might have been bracing for an argument, but Max? Max was ready for war. Dove couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of her lips as she watched it unfold.
Mike glanced nervously between the girls, his expression a mix of frustration and fear. "What's wrong with you?" he asked, his gaze flicking over to Dove as if she might somehow defuse the situation. "You know she's not allowed to be here."
"What is she, your little pet?" Max shot back, her voice sharp and cutting through the summer air.
"Yeah," El added, her ice cream now forgotten in her hand. "Am I your pet?"
Mike's eyes widened in horror. "What? No!" he exclaimed, clearly caught off guard.
"Then why do you treat me like garbage?" El asked, her voice low but firm, obviously just repeating something Max had said.
"What?" Mike blinked, completely at a loss.
"You said Nana was sick," El continued, her expression unwavering.
"She is. She is sick," Mike insisted, desperation creeping into his voice. He turned to Lucas, his eyes silently begging for backup.
Lucas, equally flustered, nodded quickly, though his expression looked more like panic than support. "Yeah, sick. She's super sick. That's why we're here, actually."
"Yeah," Mike added hastily, grabbing onto the lie like a lifeline. "We're shopping. Not for us, but for her. For Nana."
Dove raised an eyebrow, quietly enjoying the pathetic spectacle in front of her. She licked her ice cream casually, her gaze flicking between the boys. "He's lying," she said, the words slipping out with ease.
Mike shot her a look of pure frustration, as if she had just made things infinitely worse—which, of course, she had.
"Dove," Lucas hissed under his breath, clearly panicking as Mike tried to scramble for an explanation.
"Also," Mike said, his voice rising in desperation, "we're here to get a gift for you. Just.. we couldn't find anything that suited you, and I only have, like, $3.50, so it's hard."
"Super hard," Lucas added, nodding enthusiastically. "It's expensive."
"You lie," El said flatly, her dark eyes locking onto Mike's. "Why do you lie?"
Mike froze, his face draining of color as he struggled to come up with a response. "I—"
Before he could stammer out another excuse, the screech of bus brakes pulled everyone's attention. The bus had arrived, but El wasn't ready to walk away just yet.
She stepped closer to Mike, her voice clear and cold. "I dump your ass."
The words landed like a thunderclap.
Dove's jaw dropped, her ice cream momentarily forgotten in her hand. Max's eyes widened in shock, but a flicker of pride crossed her face as she watched El turn on her heel and storm away toward the bus.
Max shot Dove a quick glance, their expressions a shared mix of surprise and approval, before she grabbed her ice cream and hurried after El, catching up to her just as she stepped onto the bus.
As the bus doors squeaked shut and the vehicle pulled away from the curb, Dove watched the boys—Mike in particular—standing there, dumbfounded. The satisfaction Dove felt was immediate, a surge of pride for El and her decisive confidence. But there was something else, too—a small, nagging part of her that sympathized with Mike.
The look on his face was painfully familiar, mirroring the same confusion and hurt Steve had worn the night they broke up. They had both agreed it was time, but seeing Mike now, looking so lost and overwhelmed, made her second-guess herself.
She shook the thought away, crossing her arms as she shifted her focus back to the boys. Mike was staring after the bus, his shoulders slumped, while Lucas and Will exchanged nervous glances, unsure whether to comfort him or stay quiet.
Dove took a slow breath, then stepped forward. "Maybe next time, just try telling the truth," she said, her voice clear and steady. Her gaze locked on Mike's for a moment, her words hanging in the air.
Mike looked at her, his mouth opening slightly as if to respond, but nothing came out.
With a final glance at the retreating bus, Dove shook her head and turned away, the faint click of her sneakers against the pavement the only sound breaking the silence as she left the boys in their mess.