It's Not Three Inches With You

Chapter 12

El

I bought the dress and the silver belt, Max a red strappy singlet she liked, and a pair of white-framed sunglasses that were apparently 'totally rad'.

We walked around the mall some more, buying ice cream and getting our photos taken at the studio. (A/N: Think season 3 ep 2 elmax shopping trip aka the hour that changed my life lol 🏳️‍🌈😘)

I walked out of the mall in my new dress and Max in her new shirt and sunglasses, laughing.

We had spent most of the day there, the sun drifting behind the clouds with a yellow-pink haze that fell daintily over the sky.

"Where are we going?" I asked as she pulled me in the opposite direction to her house.

"Let's go to the boardwalk," she murmured smiling and I stared at her.

"Boardwalk?"

"You'll see." She said and took my hand, causing my heart to flutter.

"Okay," I whispered back, as we walked along the dusky boulevard.

People shot looks at our entwined hands, disgusted almost, but Max shrugged them off, laughing as we began to run.

"Max!" I cried as she pulled me down toward the boardwalk, running through the crowds of people and the clumps of neon colours.

She turned to me, not slowing.

"Yeah?" she called.

"Slow down!" I gasped and she cackled with evil laughter.

"No way!" she replied, running faster.

I was stumbling along, hardly keeping myself upright, doubling over in laughter and fear that I would fall in the midst of all the people.

Finally, she stopped and I panted to catch my breath, still laughing without control.

"Max," I murmured and she smiled at me.

"Yeah?" she replied, laughing.

"What are we doing here?" I asked and she grinned.

"You've never been to a boardwalk before have you? See, this is why you cant just stay in boring old Hawkins your whole life like Joyce." She joked and I grinned.

We walked through the rows of colourful lights and loud noises, pointing at things and laughing until we reached a quiet bench on the outside on the edge of the promenade.

The seat overlooked the stunning view of the water and the dusty ground that led up to it.

"What...is that?" I asked her tentatively, gesturing with my head to the view in front of us.

"The beach," Max replied, with a smile. She looked away, her eyes brimming with tears.

"What's wrong?" I asked and she shook her head, turning to look at me again, an apologetic smile on her face.

"It's nothing. Just...I haven't seen the beach in so long. I used to sit on this bench with my parents all the time."

I took her hand gently in mine, wondering in fear whether she would feel the same butterflies as I did every time I touched her.

Of course she didn't, I was being stupid.

"Do you miss it here?" I asked.

She nodded, tightening her grip on my hand.

"But I'll never, ever, wish I hadn't moved to Hawkins." She murmured through tears.

"Because of Lucas?" I asked, quietly.

Max turned to look my dead in the eye.

"No." she said. "Because of you."

She moved closer toward me, taking both of my hands in hers.

I smiled softly, tears in my own eyes.

"But I didn't talk to you for so long. I acted like you didn't exist." I muttered confused.

"El. You are the most amazing person I've ever met. You're brave and strong and beautiful and...and I really like you." She stuttered.

"Beautiful?"

Tears fell down her own beautiful face that was dotted with cream coloured freckles.

"Yes. Beautiful."

That was when it hit me.

I was in love with her.

And in that moment, nothing else mattered. 

(A/N: Its official, its official omgggg! They are in loveeeee hahahaha- I hope you enjoyed this chapter and we're getting towards the elmax I promise hehe- tbh I might post update again later cos I have time on my hands and there's only so much Kate Bush and Lana Del Rey you can listen to in a day lol. Stay safe and totally tubular and I'll see you in the next one xx)