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"Hey." Bradley looked into the room. After the soccer field, they two of them came back to his house while the group went to talk to Eddie at the lake house. Peter seemed like he didn't want to talk much, locking himself in Bradley's personal home gym. His back was to a set of weights, hidden out in the dark. He let him have his time before not being able to take it anymore. "Feel like a tea?"
Peter looked up as he held the mug out to him, taking it in his hands. The warmth was painfully comforting, apart of him was tempted to pour the entire thing over his body to get a sense of safety. Bradley sat across from him, his back to the bench as they both had their knees pulled up. "You wanna tell me what's on your mind?"
Peters eyes casted down as he took a little breath. "I just wish El were here."
"I know." Bradley wanted to understand what he felt but couldn't. "She will be, you just have to give her a little time before she saves us."
"It's not just that." when Peter looked up, Bradley started into a watery shade of brown now. "I need her. After....all that, I just really need her."
Bradley nodded. "Can I tell you something?"
Peter hurried to wipe his face, not wanting to cry infront of him. He nodded his head as Bradley was quiet a moment, Peter thought he needed to say it out loud. "You can tell me."
"There are people in your life that you need, no matter what. You say you don't, that you can handle it on your own, but they manage to comfort you in ways that nothing you ever do for yourself will." he stared at him as Peter let it soak in. "It's hard when you can't be with them when you feel that way, but the only way you can help that feeling is by reminding yourself that you have memories of them. It's not the same, but it's something. Remember your time with them, it can give you a little form of comfort until you get to see her again."
Peter stared at the tea, he shut his eyes as he thought about her. Their more recent memories playing a bigger role in his head. The Byers house, the skating rink before things went bad, the diner before she was gone. He opened his eyes. "I just wish I could have a way of knowing, you know? I know she's strong, the strongest person i've ever known, but I just want to know for sure that she's okay."
"You'd know if she wasn't." Bradley said to him. "If El truly does mean that much to you, if she is the only person that brings you comfort and who you think about the most, you'll know. I can't explain it, and maybe i'm superstitious, but there's something that'll tell you if she wasn't okay."
Peter had to stare at him. "Do you have someone like that?"
"I do." he nodded. "I think everyone does, or they will at least, before they leave this world."
Peter sniffled a moment as he breathed heavy. "I sometimes thinking about getting really old, or like, if El and I don't work out and we break up. And apart of me feels like i'd still love her. Like, even if I had another girlfriend, or boyfriend, or whatever. Or if I was really old with wrinkles...i'd still always think about her."
