The Side Ways [mileven]

chapter 12 - the love

Nancy's point of view...

Mike and I had just returned home from our meeting. We had to explain a few more things before we left, though. We had to discuss whether we would tell Hopper, and if we did, who would tell him. Jonathan also had to tell us about Eleven's mom. Her name is Terry Ives. Jonathan said that his mom told him about her and Hopper going to see her once. Apparently, she doesn't speak. She's in a wheelchair, too. In fact, she can't do anything for herself. Jonathan told us that she's completely incapable of taking care of someone, especially being she can't take care of herself.

Going back to Hopper, though, Jonathan said he would take care of it. That concerns me a little, but we should trust him. I should trust him. I should always trust him.

"Nancy?"

I snapped out of my thoughts. "Hmm, what?" I responded to whoever was talking to me. "Mom asked you how your day with Steve was," Mike said, walking towards the stairs. Oh, yeah, shit. That's what I had told mom I was doing today. "It was fun," I simply said. My mom nodded. "He came by here looking for you at first, but that was after you had left. Then he said he remembered you two were supposed to meet at the park, instead," my mom explained. I should have known that Steve would come by here, too. He probably searched the whole town for Jonathan and I. Oh my God, Jonathan. Steve is going to give him so much hell tomorrow.

"Oh, yeah," I started saying to my mom. "Well, I'll be in my room..." I said, trailing off. "Okay! Tell Michael that dinner will be ready in about twenty minutes," she called after me. I only nodded as I wandered up the stairs.

I went through the hallway to Mike's door and knocked. I didn't get a response. "Mike?" I asked, knocking again. My eyebrows furrowed as I opened the door. Mike laying on his bed facing the opposite wall. "Mike? Are you asleep?" I asked. I saw him faintly move his head and mumble "no". I walked closer to him. "Are you okay, Mike?" I asked. He slowly nodded. "Go away," he then mumbled again. I sighed and sat on the edge if his bed, ignoring him. "I thought we said there wasn't going to be anymore secrets," I said.

I heard him sigh as he turned around to face me. His nose was red and his eyes were watery. His hair was flopped over his face and his arms were crossed. "Oh, Mike," i exclaimed, opening my arms out for him. He immediately sat up and obliged to my hug. He started to quietly cry into my shoulder, probably hoping I didn't hear, but I did. I started to rub his back. "I know, Mike...I'm sorry," I whispered to him as he continued to cry.  I never truly knew how much this girl meant to Mike. Sure, he's told me how much he likes her, and I know he wouldn't be this adamant with just anyone, but right now, I'm getting an almost perfect visual of how much he cares about her.

And it isn't like I've never dealt with loss with someone I care deeply about, either...

And thinking about that made me start to cry with him.

There we sat for a solid five minutes. All we did was cry, letting all of our built up emotions out. I have to admit that this was the closest I've ever felt to Mike, and for once, I didn't hate it.

"N-Nancy?" Mike finally said. "Yes?" I replied, still hugging him. "What if we can't bring her back?" He asked in a hushed tone. I gripped my little brother's shoulders and pulled him off of me so he could look me in the eyes. "Mike, I promise, we will do everything in our power to try and get Eleven back. On Saturday, we're going to go to the Byers' and Jonathan is going to help us set up that tank. We will pull her out. We will do our best..." I said, growing quieter and quieter as I continued to speak. Mike looked down. "I know," he whispered. I bit my lip, not really knowing what to say now. "Hey, Mike?" I then said, thinking of something. He looked up at me again, not saying anything. "Would you want to be the one to pull Eleven out?" I asked.