PLAY THE PART | mileven

twenty three

celebrating christmas in the hopper-byers residence hasn't been this lively and cheerful for years. the entire house was full with people and gifts, the fresh scent of baked cookies was hanging around the air while traditional christmas songs were softly playing in the background.

they were starting to exchange their presents with each other — and it was nice to observe that even though lucas and dustin hadn't met will prior to the hawkins trip, they had a small present for him too.

and so did will for them.

their little group of friends seemed to have bonded even closer over the past few days. el grew to love listening to dustin and lucas tell some of their middle-school and college memories or watching them bicker over the smallest things.

it made her heart feel so.. full knowing that all of them effortlessly accepted will into their circle and were so open to make him feel welcomed.

it was even better to see that there seemed to be no more resentment between will and mike. she could finally let go of the distance she created between her and her brother.

her parents loved the company of her friends — it's been a while since there was this much noise and laughter resounding in their home.

joyce especially made it her mission to get to know mike better. whenever she needed a hand with something, she would directly ask for his help and mike would never refuse.

that's why he left the kitchen with two trays of joyce's handmade cookies in his hands to carry them into the living room. she patted his arm softly to show her gratitude and thanked him for helping her.

"he's a very, very lovely young man." joyce said when she walked next to el, standing at a bit of distance towards everyone else.

she took one of her hands into her own, giving them a comforting motherly squeeze. el turned her head to meet her eyes directly, squeezing her hand right back. "i wasn't sure how to feel about you dating again right after you got out of a long-term relationship. i know you're an adult and capable of making your own decisions but.. you know, being a mother always makes you worry."

"i was worried that you rushed into a new relationship because of your heartbreak, i was worried that you would get your heart broken again." she slightly nudged her head towards mike's direction, pointing at him while he was exchanging presents with dustin. he tackled mike in a big hug after it seemed like he opened his present. "but he's such a nice guy."

joyce took a step closer, lowering her voice until it was merely a whisper. "i also like him far more than your ex — that guy was always incapable of any help. do you remember when he almost burned my kitchen down because he didn't know how to turn the stove off?"

el almost laughed at the reminder of that. just like mike, joyce had also asked kai to help her with the cookies during christmas — but if that was some sort of test for joyce, he had definitely failed it back then.

"uh.." mike's voice interrupted the flow of her thoughts, she turned her head to see him standing next to them with his arms behind his back. "could i steal el for a second?"

joyce smiled instantly, patting his arm as she was about to walk away. "of course, honey."

when she went away far enough, el tipped her chin up with a grin on her face. "and what have you stolen me for?"

he smiled, shrugging. "i mean, if you don't want your present i could just leave again."

she playfully rolled her eyes at him.

both of them reached their presents for each other out at the same time. el had held it in her hands for a while and just waited for the right moment to give it to him, it was good that he approached her like that.