Uptown Girl (An Elmax AU)

Eleven's New Life

It was October now, three months since the events at Starcourt Mall that had changed my life. Unusually, they changed my life for the better. I had never been happier!

Dad and I had to move into his old trailer since our cabin had been destroyed. When we first got there, I did not know how to feel. I missed our cabin, but I did like being closer to my friends and Max. Even better, the trailer was right along the shore of a pretty lake! I loved swimming in the lake, and Billy and Steve both taught me how when my leg healed. All that remained of the injury was a bitchin' scar, much like Max, Billy, and Mike now had.

Speaking of my friends, I had finally been able to start going to school with them! My teachers were really nice, and I loved seeing my girlfriend and friends every day. We always met up after school and helped each other with our work. I was really good at math, but the Party always helped me with my vocabulary or the parts of school that I did not understand. Dad always told me that it was okay if I did not like school or could not keep up with the other students, but my teachers always told him that I was flo-rish-ing. I think that's the word? I do not know.

Dad and Joyce, who I now knew as Mama since the night they visited me at the hospital, were dating now too. They had gotten together at the same time as me and Max. It felt nice to have a Mama, even though she did not live with Dad and me yet. She always gave me advice and invited me over for dinner when she found out Dad could only make Eggos and microwave dinners. When we went over for dinner, I also got to know Will and Jonathan more, since Dad told me not to tell Mama- but they were going to be my brother's someday if she said yes when he 'proposes'. He has not planned anything yet, but he already bought her a big shiny ring that he keeps hidden in his room.

Will and Jonathan had turned out to be the best brothers I could have asked for. They always explained things to me when I did not understand, gave me advice, and taught me new things. I had never had brothers before and they had never had a sister either, so we had decided to work things out together.

Max and Billy had been getting along better too. He had changed a lot over the past three months and always said hello when he brought her to Max to my house in his Camaro. He also helped to drive us all home from school when Steve, Mama, and Jonathan were all busy. Well, not all of us really. He only allowed me, Max, Erica, and Will to drive with him; calling us the only tolerable ones in the group. He did not admit it, but he was starting to tolerate Lucas too. He even helped to get him on the school basketball team! I was really excited for us all to go to their first game next week.

I was also really excited for Max to visit tonight. She was bringing over a movie called Back to The Future. It was a tape that she borrowed from our new friend Robin at the video store in town. I had wanted to see it in theaters, but I could not go out much when it came to the theater at the mall. But then the mall was destroyed. And then it no longer was at the theater downtown. It was finally on VHS at the video store though, so I was really happy when she told me she reserved it for our date night.

Max was supposed to get here soon for our movie date, so I was in my bedroom reading a comic book as I waited to hear the rumble of Billy's Camaro outside.

Suddenly, I heard a knock at my bedroom door.

"Come in!" I called out from my place on the bed.

Dad entered the room and sat down as I put my Wonder Woman comic down on the sheets.

He paused before speaking, "So... uh... I have something that we should talk about..."

"Okay?" I replied. Why was he acting so weird?

Unfolding a piece of paper in his hands, Dad began to read from it: "There's something that I've been wanting to talk to you about. I know that this is a difficult conversation, but I care about you very much. And I know that you care about Max very much. And that's why it's important that we set these boundaries moving forward, so we can build an environment..." He took a breath as He paused, "Where we both feel comfortable, trusted, and open to sharing our feelings. Jesus. The truth is, for so long, I'd forgotten what those even were. I've been stuck in one place, in a cave, you might say. A deep, dark cave. And then, I left some Eggos out in the woods, and you came into my life; and for the first time, in a long time, I started to feel things again. I started to feel happy. But recently, I guess I've been feeling distant from you. I miss playing board games every night, making triple-decker Eggo extravaganzas at sunrise, and watching westerns together before we doze off. But I know you're getting older. Growing. Changing. And I guess, if I'm being really honest, that's what scares me. I don't want things to change. So, I think maybe that's why I came in here, to try to maybe stop that change. To turn back the clock. To make things go back to how they were." Another deep breath, "But I know that's naive. It's just... not how life works. It's moving. Always moving, whether you like it or not. And, yeah, sometimes it's painful. Sometimes it's sad. And sometimes... it's surprising. Happy. So, you know what? Keep on growing up, kid. Don't let me stop you. Make mistakes, learn from 'em; and when life hurts you, because it will, remember the hurt. The hurt is good. It means you're out of that cave. But, please, if you don't mind, for the sake of your poor old dad: keep the door open three inches."

Why did he sound so nervous?! That speech was beautiful! But if he was giving one to me and Max, did I need to give one to him and Mama?

I will keep it open. I promise." I told him with a smile as I brushed tears off my face. "As long as you do too."

"Huh?"

"With Mama." I smirked as I took the paper from his hands and began to read from it, "There is... something that I have been wanting... to talk to you about."

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A while after Dad left for his night out with Mama, I heard the familiar rumble of the Camaro outside. Max was here!

Rushing over to the door, I threw it open and stepped outside onto the small front porch.

"Thanks for the ride, Billy!" Max called as she left the car, a grocery bag in hand.

"No trouble, shitheel!" He waved at me, "Hey, Curly!"

"Hi!" I waved back excitedly, laughing at the nickname. He had a lot of those for me. There was Kiddo, Byers Junior, Chief Junior, Twelve, Ten, and Ms. Byers-Hopper.

"Don't have too much fun ladies." He wiggled his eyebrows weirdly.

"Ugh! Don't be gross, asshole!" Max flipped him off.

"See you in a few hours, shitbirds!" He called as he drove off.

"Again, I'm sorry about the nicknames." Max apologized as we entered the trailer.

"And again, I like them." I laughed.

"I have two surprises tonight!" my girlfriend grinned as she placed the grocery bag on the counter.

"First off, Eggos and candy!" She smiled, pulling out the contents of the bag. Which also included some craft supplies? "Secondly, this date is not going to end with a movie."

"Why?"

"Because Billy finally convinced the team to let Lucas start! He's been kicking ass at practice and I figured you would want to make signs for him and for the guys' Hellfire campaign next week." She smiled.

"Yay!" I pulled her in for a hug, Max usually hated doing crafty things like that so I knew then how much this meant for us.

Pulling away after a minute, I began to set up the VHS for the movie while Max got the snacks ready, pausing on my way to the TV I stood admiring Max for a moment, as she stood nearby making the Eggos.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," I said as I leaned forward to plant a kiss on her cheek, before heading off to the living area to start off one of our many magical evenings together.