Tell Me Something Good

03

Mikes POV

Elevens arm is across my neck and she's sprawled out like a starfish while she sleeps. I didn't move my position the whole night. I'm scared to wake her so I carefully slide out from under her arm. She shifts in response. I groggily make my way downstairs running my hand over my face in an attempt to rub the sleep off of it. Jonathan and Nancy are seated at the kitchen table, and they look at me for a second before standing up. I don't say anything, I just shrug.

"Where is she?" Nancy asks, gesturing to the living room. I point to the stairs and open the freezer. Nancy and Jonathan both look at each other. I'm guessing my mom had told Nancy Eleven was here last night. I popped 2 Eggos in the toaster and jumped up on the counter.

"Is she ok?" Jonathan finally speaks up.

"Yea, just tired." I say. I'm not a morning person and this staggering conversation is frustrating for some reason. The Eggos pop out of the toaster and I grab them as I slide of the counter. As Im walking up the stairs I signal Jonathan and Nancy to follow me.

In my room, Eleven was sitting up in the bed running her hands through the sheets. Her head snapped up when we entered the room.

"Hey El, I brought some visitors" I gesture to Jon and Nancy and they wave at her. She gives them a tiny smile.

"I was thinking, maybe me and Mike could take you shopping today?" Nancy tells Eleven while sitting on the bed. She takes an Eggo out of my hand and nods. She rubs her eye with one hand, and takes a bite of the waffle in another.

"And later, we can hang out with the boys. Do you want to do that?" I look at Jonathan and he gives me a nod. Eleven swallows the piece of waffle she bit off.

"Yes" she says this a bit louder. I can tell she's excited for the day.

_________

Mike, El, and Nancy visit a few stores that Eleven has an interest in. Nancy mostly helps El pick out clothes, and Mike just agrees with her. He didn't care what she wore. To him she would look beautiful in anything. She would try on the skirts and shirts and a few pairs of pants. She would twirl in all of them in front of the mirror. Mike didn't feel numb anymore. Eleven would open the changing room door and would turn her arms out to him like she was presenting the clothes. Mike would sit up and nod his head quickly with big eyes. He watched her look at herself in the mirror and thought to himself

What would I have done if she didn't come back?

El just smiled and touched the fabric. Nancy would occasionally come over with more things in her hands, and she would hand them to Eleven over the dressing room door. Mike hated shopping with his mom or Nancy, but he could watch Eleven try on clothes all day.

When they got home, the boys already made their way over to mikes house. When they saw Eleven they screamed and hugged her. El was shocked but soon hugged the boys back. Over their shoulders she saw Will standing far behind the boys. She escaped their grasp and she made her way over to him. She stood in front of him and he smiled at her.

"Will" she says. He nods and abruptly pulls her in for a hug.

"Thank you," he whispers to her "thank you for helping me."

They boys play Dungeons and Dragons and Eleven watches in awe. She seems to be interested in these new words they're using. Lucas glares up at Mike with a smirk.

"If my roll is higher than a 10," Lucas looks at Dustin and whispers to him "then you have to kiss Eleven." Dustin finishes Lucas' dare. Mike crinkles his nose.

"What? No way. Not doing it." El is hurt but she figures he's probably embarrassed. She knows this because he's blushing.

"C'mon man don't be a pussy." Lucas states. Dustin and Will giggle to themselves.

"Fine, Fine. Roll." Mike secretly wanted to kiss Eleven, but not in front of the boys. El tried to make her self smaller. Her hands between her knees and her legs crossed. Lucas shook the dice between his hands

"Cmon baby! Give Mike some action!" Lucas shouts before throwing the dice on the table. All 5 kids leaned in to look at the numbers. 12. Dustin Lucas and Will cheered and Mike ran his hand through his hair. He quickly turned to El and she raised her eyebrows. Both of their heartbeats quickened. Mike grabbed her face and leaned in forcefully. Their lips collided and he let the kiss linger a little longer this time. The boys whooped and yelled and Mike let go of Eleven. She blushed hard and hid her face in her hands and Mike grabbed his forearm.

"I'm impressed Mike. I didn't think you would do it." Dustin patted Mikes arm and he swatted him.

"Well it's not like I hadn't kissed her before" the boys grew silent. Mike was now wallowing in his own embarrassment. Lucas looked at Will, then Dustin, then Mike. The boys erupted in laughter and Mike slammed his head on the table, shaking the game pieces. Eleven put her lips between her teeth and looked at the hyenas in the room.

"Oh my god Mike," Lucas says between breaths "I never thought it would be you buddy."

Mikes POV

Eleven crosses her long legs over each other. Her red striped socks are cut just below the knee. Her gray shorts are mid thigh, and she's wearing my t-shirt that says "WHEELER" across the back. I think it's cute. I like talking to her about the universe and space. Her entire face lights up and her eyes become wide as saucers. She asks some questions, but I mostly explain everything. She thinks for a second before she stands up. She grabs my hand and we run to the basement. She pulls me out the door and she looks up at the sky. Her breathing is heavy but inhales deeply, taking in the crisp night air. She looks at me and she has never look so gorgeous. Her pale face glowed under the moon light and I couldn't help but stare. She gave me a teethy smile.

"Tell me about the starts."

I point to constellations in the sky and name them for her. She likes when I tell the stories behind them. Her favorite is the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. She folds her arms across her chest and begins to hum a tune. I don't know the tune, but it didn't matter. Her voice was mouse like — small and soft. It could put me to sleep again.

She sits up and plays with the grass between her fingers. I sit up too, also picking at he dirt.

"Can we try that again" she has a handful of large grass blades in her hand. She looks nervous and I'm not quite sure what that means.

"Try what?....kissing?" She nods her head.

"I've seen movies...it's different" she looks at me and she's careful with her words. She thinks she's hurting my feelings. I place my hand under her chin so I can look at her. My eyes dart from hers to her lips as I lean in. Her eyes close first and then mine. Our lips touch and in that moment it was the most amazing thing I've ever felt in my whole life. I let this kiss linger a lot longer. Her cheeks were rosy from blushing and the cold combined. I could feel her smile on my lips right before I pulled away. She opens her eyes with a smile, but it quickly turns into a mixture of confusion and panic.

"I feel funny" she sounds concerned.

"Are you going to be sick?" I rub her shoulder.

"No...I feel warm...and my stomach...its tickly" she looks at the ground like it will give her an answer. Mike smiles to himself and bites his lip.

"El, that's called love." She looks up at me and tilts her head with a soft face

"Do you feel warm too?" She inches closer eggar for an answer.

"Do you love me?" My mouth hangs open a bit and I stutter.

"I-i think so. Yea, I love you."

"Well," she's picking at the grass again. "Me too. I love you too."

_________

That night, El laid on the couch, wide awake. She should have been sleeping but she was thinking about the stars and Mike and love. She had seen a couple on the Tv kiss very passionately, and she wondered why Mike hadn't kissed her like that. Nonetheless, she still enjoyed the kiss, she just wanted to kiss him more. As she watched the couple on the Tv, she touched her own soft lips, thinking of her own kiss.