LOVE

El

El's POV:
It's Monday now, I haven't spoken to the party since Friday. I know they don't need me anymore, I hope they're having fun though.

I miss them a lot. Mike's my boyfriend, he always cheers me up, I don't deserve him. Max is my best friend, she's always there for me even when I screw up like I always do, like I did.
The Byers have come over almost everyday, like normal. Will tries to talk to me but I just stay in my room when they're over. I can't see him, I really want to, but I know it's better if I'm not there. It'll give them the chance to have fun like they used to, before I arrived.

I'm also aware I crossed the line. My job was to solely save Will, and after I did that I stayed. I stayed for Mike at first, but then Max. I miss her the most, which is weird considering Mike's my boyfriend. But Lucas wasn't wrong, he just reminded me.

Normally, I stand up for myself when people are mean, but with Lucas I just can't. When he called me a monster it hurt, it still does. I know I'm being sensitive, but I've always thought of myself as a monster, and him saying it just intensified that feeling.

I'm about to go to school now, I normally sit with the party. But for today I think I'll just eat somewhere else, I don't want to ruin their fun like I always do. I'll be fine with no friends, I'm 16 already, I need to understand they don't need me. Even if I need them.

Max's POV:
In school
We've fucked up. El didn't speak to us for the whole day, she basically avoided us. She always looked down when walking past us, not even looking at us. I've tried talking to her all day, but she kept repeating the same thing. "I'm not important, you guys are. Go have fun like you used to, I'll be fine." She never looked at me when speaking, but I could see her eyes watering, and the emotion in her voice.

I tried hugging her, and surprisingly she hugged back. I think she needed it as she started sobbing on my shoulder. I rubbed her back soothingly but within a few seconds I was getting dragged away by Lucas. "Stay away you monster." He said, his angry eyes burning through El. She looked down at her lap and nodded, I could tell she was trying not to break down right there and then.

But that wasn't all, even in the lessons she was silent. Not the happy and extroverted El we all knew and love, it was a silent and pained El. She didn't joke around, she didn't ask us questions about the work, she just sat in the far corner, distancing herself as much as she could.

Everyone tried to talk to her, to apologise. But every time it seemed like we were getting through to her, Lucas would come and tell her to stay away and that she was a monster. Monster. That was the word that broke El, no matter how many times she heard it. She had told me that she thinks of herself as a monster, especially after hurting Lucas with her powers years ago. I personally think he deserved it from what I heard, but no matter what I said, El didn't change her mind. We could only help her with it, making her think of herself as less of a monster. But Lucas has brought that all down, he constantly reminds her, and I can see the pain on her pretty face every time.

It hurts me too. So, I'm gonna break up with Lucas, today. In our last lesson. He's crossed the line, it's like we're seeing his true colours towards El. I walked into the lesson and sat down beside him like I always do. I'll see when the right time comes.

A few minutes past, and El was sitting in the corner again, silently writing in her book. Suddenly, Lucas shouted. "Oi, El!" He said.
El quickly looked up, I even saw some hope in her eyes, shit he's gonna hurt her even more.
"Lucas." I warned quietly, "Don't you dare hurt her again." I said.
He scoffed, "Hurt her? Why the hell would I wanna touch a lab rat like that?! She's probably gotten touched by that old man. I feel bad for the man, not her. Imagine having to deal with Eleven for 11 years. It was hard enough dealing with her for 5!" He laughed and I looked over at El again. Tears threatened to flood her face. The hope vanished from her eyes, now replaced with pain. That is it.