Mileven One-Shots

She knows

Karen Wheeler knew that there was something.
Something there between Mike and the little girl who'd come back.

It had been a long sit down conversation with her son, lots of tears and lots of hugs, but then she'd finally met the infamous shy girl who'd everyone knew about except her.

"Mom this is Eleven but we all call her El." He'd said and his eyes lit up, and right then she knew that there was this thing between them; a special bond of some sort. It was made even more evident when nervously, El automatically reached for Mike's hand out of support, a flush set upon his cheeks as he laughed a bit before gripping her hand back.

She didn't know how to feel about that just yet, her little boy was no longer little, he was growing up and fast at that.

But she pushed all her thoughts aside as her motherly instinct took over towards the scared child, "Hello El it's nice to meet you. I hope to see you around some more around here, don't be shy to ever drop by here."

El looked towards Mike making sure she was doing everything correctly, he squeezes her hand in response, while looking at her nodding proudly. A wave of warmth gushed over her at his proud look.

"Thank you Mrs Wheeler" her voice soft and light as she kept her hand glued to his.

"Oh sweetie call me Karen."
El nodded and sighed in somewhat relief as she ushered the two off somewhere else as she got started on dinner.

-

She didn't expect to find them like this. All tangled together on the couch asleep in the basement, squished from head to toe as El laid flat out on top of him.

With Mike clutching on to her as if it was the last time he'd ever see her again while his arm was draped over her back protectively.

Karen didn't mean to stumble upon them like this; (she just wanted to alert them dinner was ready for christ sakes) she was still hidden from view up at the top of the stairs but she could hear and see perfectly.

So when just as she was turning to leave she heard a whimper escape the little girl awaking Mike immediately.
"El? El? Hey it's okay. Just wake up. Wake up El." He shook her awake, jolting she clutched onto him and started to sob immediately.

"I'm sorry Mike! I'm sorry please don't be mad!"

Mrs Wheelers heart clenched as she heard Elevens voice cracking and pleading towards her son, holding him so tightly that the tips of her fingers turned white.

"Sorry? El why are you sorry?" He sat up holding her as she pulled back to look at him.

Her eyes were brown and beautiful but broken so broken. She doesn't deserve this pain, Mike thought.

"I broke a promise. The snowball I missed it."

Suddenly the pieces clicked into place for Mikes mother. That's why he didn't go and stayed in his room...

"No El it-its fine really!" Mike assured her grabbing her hand. "I didn't even go this year. I didn't wanna go... not without you."

"Not mad at me?"

"No! Never!" How could she even that he'd be mad at her.