Stranger Things || One Shots

Elmax // Feels Like Home

|Elmax|

3th POV || June 25th, 1989

The twins –as Argyle referred to them– were in Hawkins for summer
Will was pretty much glued to Mike's side while El hung out with everyone but especially with Max

She wondered if her and Mike were as annoying as Will and Mike were.. probably..

Currently El was laying on Max's bedroom floor with a comic book in hand reading it mostly looking at the colorful pictures trying not to look over at Max who was wearing shorts and a tank top as she dried her hair having just walked back in from taking a shower

This feeling was new El had never felt it around anyone before
Her heartbeat got faster and her nerves weaker whenever she looked at Max
The firey hair and ocean eyes
Light freckles covering her face, arms and legs from the hours spent outside in the California sun and Indiana heat

This thing, this feeling, was like the one people in movies talked about
She looked up at Max seeing her standing there putting a flannel on over her tank top
And El felt her cheeks turn red looking back down at the book

That night El was sitting on Nancy's old bed pulling her hair up into a short ponytail as Will got comfortable on the air mattress beside the bed

"Will?"

"Yeah?" Will replied pushing his notebook off to the side looking up at her
El looked sad, almost Melancholic

"What does love feel like?" El asked resting her head in her hand "cause, I think I love someone.. but I never really loved Mike, not like that.. I loved him like, like I love Dustin, or Lucas.." Will was kinda shocked

"Well.. when you love someone, you wanna spend time with them.. your heart speeds up and you get all nervous talking to them.. you also recognize when they're being annoying, but you just kinda love them anyways, even if they're being stupid.." Will explained El nodded slightly

"Okay.. thanks Will.."

"Can I ask, why you're asking..?"

"I think I love Max.." El explains laying down Will gave her a sad smile knowing what being gay in a small town could do to hurt her

"Are you sure?"

"Yes.. why?"

"Because loving a girl, could get you hurt.. just like me loving a boy could hurt me.." Will explained "people think love like that is wrong, they think it's gross." El tilted her head softly

"How can love be bad..?" El asked softly Will simply shrugged

"People don't like different things.." Will replied "I'm sorry for that.. I wish it was different too El.."

"Mouth breathers.." El muttered flopping back Will chuckled slightly at her words laying back too "goodnight Will.."

"Goodnight El.." Will whispered watching her slightly in sorry

The next day El was back at Max's place laying on the bed watching Max jump around singing along to some pop song on the radio

Life is a mystery
Everyone must stand alone
I hear you call my name
And it feels like home

El was smiling watching her red hair flop around her shoulders and the brush she was using as a microphone getting tossed around in her hands

"Come on El, you have to dance!" Max said pulling her up by her hands
El laughed softly holding her hand as they sung along together to the song Max moving the brush back and forth between them as they both –tried– to sing along though El didn't know the words well

They fell backwards laughing at each other on the bed the brush falling onto the floor beside them

"Hey Max..?" El asked as the laughter calmed down Max looked over with a smile

"Yeah?"

"I love you Max.. like, how my parents love each other.." El explained Max's smile fell out of shock

"Really?" Max asked carefully El smiled softly and nodded

"Yeah.. I love you.."

"I love you too El.." Max said softly leaning forward "can I um.."

"Please.." El whispered Max kissed her softly and El kissed back putting her hand on Max's shoulder

December 18th, 1992

El was wrapped in a blanket like a burrito on the couch with a movie playing on the TV when Max finally walked in

"Shut the door! It's cold!"

"Oh it's cold?" Max asked kicking the door shut before taking off her hat and shaking the snow off "I wasn't aware." El chuckled slightly as Max took her jacket off letting it fall to the ground as she flopped down beside her
El threw the blanket over her

Moving to New York for college wasn't either of their smartest moves
New York got so cold even in just autumn snow was already falling

They cuddled up together El resting her head against Max's shoulder as the couple on the TV kissed
Max leaned slightly kissing her head

"I love you.."

"I love you too Max.." El whispered holding onto her arm tightly like it was a floaty bobbing in the ocean

Max truly was her rock
Just like El was her's