𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 - 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

16. the gate

CONTINUING FROM LAST CHAPTER

Mike stepped foward, "Eleven."

"Mike." she said shakily and they embraced. A long overdue embrace.

"Is that?" Max looked at Lucas.

"I never gave up on you." Mike pulled away, "I called you every night. Every night for—"

"353 days." Eleven finished his sentence, smiling tearfully, "I heard."

"Why didn't you tell me you were there?" He asked, "That you were okay?"

"Because I wouldn't let her." Hopper confessed, Aubrey looked up at him in shock. She knew he was going to tell the truth, she just didn't think he'd do it so bluntly.

Mike turned around and stared at him.

"The hell is this? Where you been?" Hopper stepped forward towards her.

"Where have you been?" She retorted, then they embraced as well.

Aubrey practically pushed Hopper out of the way, hugging Eleven next, "I was so worried about you."

Everyone around them stared in confusion, trying to piece the situation together.

"You've been hiding her." Mike said, "You guys have been hiding her this whole time!" He yelled, pushing Hopper.

"Hey!" Hopper grabbed him, "Let's talk." he told him, "Alone." The two of them walked back to Will's room, shutting the door.

Aubrey wrapped an arm around El as she looked nervous about their conversation, "It's okay." she comforted her, El looked up at her and nodded, smiling.

Aubrey kissed the top of her head, "I missed you so much, I'm so sorry I left you—"

"Aubrey." El stopped her.

"What?"

"It is okay." she told her. Aubrey took a breath of relief, smiling.

Dustin and Lucas stepped forward, Eleven pulled them into a group hug.

"We missed you." Lucas told her.

"I miss you too." she said.

"We talked about you pretty much every day." Dustin added as they pulled apart.

El looked at him, then poked in his mouth, "Teeth." she said.

"What?" Dustin replied.

"You have teeth."

Dustin smiled, snickering, "Oh. You like these pearls?" he purred then.

Aubrey covered her mouth, turning away to conceal her laugh.

"Eleven?" Max stepped forward next, "Hey. Um, I'm Max." she stuck out her hand for El to shake, "I've heard a lot about you."

Eleven ignored her, for reasons unbeknownst to Aubrey, shouldering her as she walked by to hug Joyce.

"Hey. Hey, sweetheart." Joyce cried, holding El. "Hey." she held her face.

"Can I see him?" Eleven asked her, Joyce nodded, taking her down too Jonathan's room where Will laid.

Aubrey took a deep breath, "Just to... be clear, you have been keeping her a secret this entire year?" Rue asked Aubrey.

Aubrey turned to her and Bea, "Like I had a choice."

"No, no, you didn't. I just... I can't believe you could lie for that long." Beatrice said to her.

Aubrey chuckled, "That's the last lie I'm keeping from you guys, I swear."