even weirder stuff || stranger things x female reader (season two)

sixteen - elizabeth

Monday, November 5, 1984

"Eleven," Mike finally speaks and takes another few steps towards her.

"Mike," she answers as they both meet in the middle to share a hug.

You are still quite stunned, watching silently as they both cry in each other's embrace. At some point, you wipe your tears with your sleeve, stumbling backwards a little bit. A hand is felt on your shoulder, holding you in place. It's Steve's.

"Is that..." Max starts, but doesn't need to go further; her, Steve and Kazuo, who had never met Eleven, had understood what was going on.

"Yeah," Lucas whispers softly.

"I never gave up on you," Mike breaks away from the hug with a grin. "I called you every night. Every night for-"

"353 days," she completes. "I heard."

"Why didn't you tell me you were there?" Mike asks, a flash of hurt and incomprehension clouding his gaze. "That you were okay?"

"Because I wouldn't let her," Hopper speaks up. You turn to him, shocked and disappointed, as he advances towards Eleven angrily. "What the hell is this? Where have you been?"

"Where have you been?" Eleven snaps back. They stare at each other for a few seconds before Hopper pulls her in a hug. You look around the room in confusion, finding comfort in the fact everyone seemed just as lost as you.

"You've been hiding her," Mike accuses Hopper. "You've been hiding her this whole time!" He pushes the older man, who stumbles a bit before grabbing him.

"Hey!" He yells at first, but soften slightly seeing Mike's pained expression. "Let's talk. Alone."

Your eyes follow them as Hopper almost drags him to Joyce's room, mumbling something about how he was protecting Eleven this whole time. The door slams behind them, and the living room falls silent, except for Mike yelling at Hopper and Hopper yelling back.

You look back at Eleven, not really knowing what to do or say. She seems extremely awkward, fumbling with the hem of her black jacket. Her new style is unexpected, a bit rock and roll, and you wonder what happened to her over the last year. You have so many questions. But there is one thing you want to do before asking for an explanation.

You open your arms, seeing her eyes widen with hesitation as you welcome her in a hug.

"Come on," you whisper with a smile, and that's all it takes for her to run into your arms. You don't know if she threw herself at you or if you picked her up, but her feet leave the ground for a few seconds as you hold her tightly. And she returns it. "I thought you were gone." You let out, voice breaking a little. "I'm glad you're here."

Two other pairs of arm wraps around the both of you, and you know it's Dustin and Lucas, and you also know they're crying too.

This is all very emotional.

"I love the new look, hun," you say, making the three of them giggle.

"Badass," she answers with a smile, wiping her tears off.

"Badass," you nod.

"Bitchin'," she continues, making you gasp.

"Eleven!" You say dramatically. "That is absolutely scandalous. Say it again."

"Bitchin'," she smiles wider, and the four of you burst into laughter, the others watching you as if you were a group of maniacs. Maybe you were.

"We missed you," Lucas says.

"I missed you too."

"We talked about you pretty much every day," Dustin adds.