| eleven x mike | *~found again

Unexpected Change

      ;; Hey guys! I'm so sorry I never updated my fanfic since November. I'll try to update this as often as I can, but some things have been happening. I asked my crush out to a dance, he said yes, and me and my friend have to go to the mall to get dresses. And now I have a HUGE test on Monday, which is a lot to study for. So here you go! The next chapter you've all longed for!

 Mike stood in the doorway, stunned for a second. Almost like he was paralyzed. Eleven scrammed down the stairs, accompanied by Max and Mike. She turned to see his unrecognizable expression.

"Mike, are you okay?" Eleven's voice trembled. Was this the part he would freak out? Yell at her? Scream this was all Eleven's fault? Well, that was a different him, right?

"El, I don't — know. I just feel like that we're always the target. Everything bad happens to us." Mike avoided eye contact with the group. Dustin and Lucas watched, their eyes darting in sync between Eleven, Mike, and Max. Max fiddled with her fingers.

"What should we do?.." Max's voice was more soft. She might have felt unsafe. Who knows what happens in her mind.

"Kill it." Lucas crossed his arms. Dustin pulled out his regular snack, chips. He inserted them slowly in his mouth, as if he was a human sloth.

Mike scoffed. Eleven watched as he stomped up the stairs. Max's eyes were glued to her feet.

"I'll just – go." She made her getaway, disappearing from the flight of stairs, and the slam of a door heard. Eleven glanced at Lucas and Dustin.

"I think he is just in a bad mood or whatever. El, maybe you don't want to mess with h—" Too late. Eleven closed the basement door, and Lucas's voice was silenced.

"Mike?" Eleven muttered, waiting for a call back. None. She had located Mike's plain white door. Sniffling could be heard. Oh no.

Eleven curiously placed her head against the door, to hear Mike, in pain. Not in physical pain. Emotional pain.

She turned the knob, to find Mike facing the wall, back hunched. Eleven carefully approached him. She faced his way, and could see tears streaming down his face.