No one was expecting the storm, especially not Jim Hopper, who had allowed his adopted daughter to stay over at a boys house for the day. It's not that he didn't trust the kid. He wouldn't trust her with anyone else, except maybe Joyce. But he still couldn't shake that fatherly instinct of protectiveness.
"Don't worry, Jim, we'll keep her safe from the storm, and she and Mike can just watch some movies," said Mrs. Wheeler into the breaking-up telephone. In fact all Hopper could really hear on the other line was "Don't worry...keep her safe...Mike....movies." But hey, that was at least okay enough for him.
Down in the basement of the wheelers house, Mike and Eleven sat close together on the couch, her head resting against his shoulder, their hands intertwined. Ever since she came back, whenever they were together, they would always find some way to be touching. It could be something small, like simply holding hands, or otherwise cuddling close together. It had been almost a year since she'd come back, but Mike still couldn't get enough of her.
They sat and watched Star Wars, which was favored by both of them. Seeing as it was Mikes favorite movie, and she enjoyed watching Yoda teach Luke how to lift things with his mind, Eleven loved watching the movie immensely. Mike loved that she loved it too. He didn't know many girls who would even admit to liking Star Wars. Eleven was special, and not just because she had super powers. She was a badass, and she didn't care what others thought of her.
They were about to get to the part where Darth Vader tells Luke he's his father when the power went out. Eleven gasped and clutched to mike even tighter.
"It's okay, it was just the power, the storm must have messed up the power lines," he said to her, rubbing the sides of her arms to calm her down. "I just wish it could have gone out a little later," he said bitterly. She chuckled at this.
"You've seen the movie a thousand times," she said to him.
"I know, but that was a good part!" He replied.
"Poor Mike," she said mockingly. He stuck his tongue out at her, but she couldn't see it because of the dark.
He got up and looked for a flash light. He stumbled and tripped over the coffee table. Before he got back up again he saw that Eleven was holding a lit flashlight.
"How did you already get one?" He asked.
"Um...magic?" She said in what appeared to be a sarcastic tone.
"I mean how did you know where one was?"
"You always have one in your backpack, I knew it was by the door." She replied simply.
"Well aren't you special," he said.
"Yes, I am."
He smiled at her. "Well what are we going to do now that the powers out?"
His question was answered by the sound of static, and switching of a dial until a faint song could be heard on the small radio in the corner of the room.
"We could listen to music?" Suggested eleven.
"How is that radio even getting a signal?" Mike asked, though he did admittedly know the answer.
"Magic," She said in response.
The only chanel that appeared to be working was the 60s greatest hits. Mike was internally cringing, but Eleven didn't appear to mind.
Eleven was particularly fond of the Beatles and the Monkees. In fact when Twist and Shout started playing, she got up and started dancing. She knew how to twist at least. Mike just sat there and stared at her movements, smiling at the fact that she had learned to add fun to a difficult situation. Plus she looked cute.
By the time the song was halfway over, she grabbed Mike up off the sofa and made him start dancing too. He, unfortunately, was not any good at dancing. He even managed to mess up twisting. But she thought it was funny how he awkwardly moved his hips side to side. And he appeared to be having fun, which she cared about most.
When I'm a believer started playing, they both had no idea how to dance to it, so it was just a variety of awkward moving limbs and jumps, especially from Mike, who's lanky arms and legs didn't know how to move. Eleven at least looked pretty when she did so, at least in Mikes opinion, but then again he always thought she looked pretty.
It wasn't until I Want You Back by J5 started playing that Mike took Eleven by the hand and started swinging her around the room. He even started singing the lyrics to the song, which is what really took Eleven aback.
"When I had you to myself, I didn't want you around! Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd, but when he picked you from the bunch, one glance was all it took, now it's much too late for me to take a second look!"
He may not have been good at dancing, but he had a remarkable singing voice. She sort of turned to jelly when he took her by the waist and the hand and started two stepping with her.
"Oh darling give me one more chance, to show you that I love you! Won't you please let me back in your heart! On darling I was blind to let you go, but now since I see you in his arms, I want you back!"
When the song ended, Eleven just stared at Mike.
"How did you know that song?" She said to him.
"My mom kept an old casset tape full of classics. That was one of the songs she'd let me listen to when I was little. I kinda forgot we used to do that," he replied, looking a bit embarrassed. She just smiled and kissed his cheek. "I liked it," she said. Even in the dim light of the flashlight, you could see his face turn the brightest red. She laughed at him, and he laughed too.
"Wise men say," could be heard coming from the radio as the song changed. "Only fools rush in,"
Mike took Eleven by the waist and pulled her close. He knew this song really well too. He knew it was one of his mom's favorites. He started swaying with Eleven in his arms. He started singing along with the King.
"But I can't help, falling in love with you."
If she had been turned to jelly before, it was nothing compared to the melting feeling she felt all over now.
"Shall I stay, would it be a sin? For I can't help falling in love with you."
He touched his forehead to hers, swaying and holding her close, just like at the Snowball almost a year previously. He stared into her large brown eyes, looked at her smile and laugh. He was happy, and so was she.
