Stranger Things One-shots (Requests Closed)

Friends

Strangerthingsfan321

Mike

It's been a couple months since El has disappeared, and I'm still devastated. There has been no sign of her being alive, I've tried everything! From the light trick, to the walls, to going out at night, into the woods. No sign of her even existing anymore, it's like she just vanished. I've tried to move on, but it's hard to lose a friend- well, maybe even more. I don't know, I'll never know. She's dead, and I have to except that... it's just hard. Very hard.

There was one person who is getting my mind off of her, though. Her name's Maddie, and she joined out school about a week before Will disappeared. And after El left, almost coincidently, Maddie decided to join our Dungeons and Dragons group, she's actually an experienced gamer and Dungeon Master! She's also super smart, very nice... and kind of cute!

What am I saying? What on Earth am I saying? No, I can't like Maddie! I like El, right? I mean, I like her a lot, but she's dead. She died all of those months ago, she's not alive. I have to get that through my head, she's gone. Why is it so hard to think that?

At school, I saw Maddie. Her eyes sparkled in the sunlight, with beautiful hair and a lovely face, I couldn't help but smile. We hung out together, with Lucas, Dustin, and Will, but I tried not to look at her, but I couldn't help but glance at her. Man, she's pretty!

Stop that! I mentally slap myself. You're allowed to, El is dead. She's gone. I have to accept that. My conversation goes on, long in my head, but then I hear a voice. "Mike?" Maddie asks softly. "Are you alright?" I nod. "Yeah, I'm alright." I assure her. I then see the three of the boys looking at Maddie, as if they have something to say. She mouths back something, something that I can't read, so I shoot her a confused look. She laughs nervously. "Mike, I wanted to ask you something, I just didn't know what to say." Maddie starts. I cock my head in confusion, waiting for her to continue. "... Mike, I wanted to see if you wanted to go out with me? Maybe?" she asks, not looking at me. I feel a rush of both sadness and happiness. I decide to follow the happiness. I nod, and say, "yes," as enthusiasticly as I can. I want to say yes, I'm happy! I just... I don't know. It's hard.

That night, I ride home, and sit at my table, struggling internally. I really like Maddie, I really do! But I like El more... but she's dead, and I have to accept that. I'm happy that Maddie is going out with me, I really am. It's just... actually real. El isn't coming home, El isn't coming home, she's dead, she's dead-

My thoughts are interrupted by a knock on my basement door. I stand up, and walk over to it, not bothering to see who it is. I open it, and a figure is standing there.

This person walks inside, into the light, and mutters, "Mike. I found you." It's El. I stand there, shocked, and confused. I feel true happiness swelling, but anger, too. "You left," I say, in a shaky voice. "You left me, and didn't come back. I looked for months, everyone assumed I was crazy, my best friends even told me you were dead! I tried so hard, to forget. I thought you were dead, you left me." I tell her, about to yell. But, I can't. "I'm sorry. I was taken. I don't know where, I got out. I had to find you," El says, saying much more then she normally says. "I'm sorry," she says, and pulled me into a hug, and I don't want to let go. I hold her, but then I remember.

Maddie.

Maddie is still my friend, I'm going out with her! This Saturday... but I can't hurt them. At all. I couldn't hurt them, never. I really couldn't. Maddie is now my date, I guess. But El was my first kiss. Maddie and I can correlate better, but El and I have something stronger, older. I don't know what to do. "I'm sorry, Mike. I really am." She repeats, and I just smile. "It's alright, you're safe now. You're home." I assure her. "You're okay, now."

The next day, I see Maddie walk up to me, with a smile on her face. It kind of hurts me to see it, but I'm relieved to see her. "Hey, Maddie," I say politely, and she replies, "hey, Mike! Are you excited for Saturday?" she asks, looking genuinely excited. Wow, she must really like me, I think, and that breaks my heart more. I like her, too! But... I don't want to hurt her, and I don't want to hurt El. I just sigh, and I say to her solemnly, "I was. But, I can't date you. I'm sorry." she gives me a confused face. "Is it someone else?" she asks politely, not looking too upset. She has a somewhat disappointed look. "Yes, and no. I do like you... it's just, someone from my past came back, and I can't choose between you two. And, I'm a little young. We are only twelve, and I want to kind of... wait, I guess. We will always be friends, right?" I ask hopefully, pleading that she will understand. She shrugs, and smiles. "I get it. You'll always be a good friend, I understand. And, you're right. We are young." I smile gratefully, and I hug her. "Thanks." I say softly. She laughs lightly. "No problem."

That night, I decide to tell El what I told Maddie. "Hey, El?" she turns to me and smiles. "Hi, Mike. School?" she asks, I'm assuming she's asking about my day. I nod. "Alright. Nothing too eventful." I shrug, and El just copies my nod. "El? We're always going to be friends, right?" I ask hopefully, having no idea how to explain this to her. She nods and smiles. "Friends," she repeats. I send her a grin.

"Friends," I mutter. It's resolved. El is my friend. So is Maddie. And That's all that we'll ever be.