Summer 1985 - Mileven/Jopper/Lumax

Chapter 14: (Second) Worst Couple

El found Max sitting on a bench overlooking the campsite, her back towards the colorful tents and fire pits. She quietly sat down next to her only girlfriend, putting her arm around her shoulder. Max tensed at first from the affectionate touch, but eventually leaned into her and wiped the frustrated tears from the other side of her face. They sat in silence before Eleven hears Max's strained voice.

"I fucked up again El," Max says, "I can't believe I called him my boyfriend! What is wrong with me!" The brown haired girl shoots her a sympathetic smile before shaking her head, "But he likes you, Max. You went on a date and you kissed."

Eyes wide, she feels the blood rush to her cheeks. "I...didn't think anyone saw that," she says, slightly embarrassed, "but that doesn't mean I can call him my boyfriend!" Throwing her face into her hands, she groans and El looks at her, confused by her uncharacteristic dramatic behavior before she sees Lucas walking towards them.

Poking Max's side gently, she whispers "turn around." Doing so with a heavy heart, Max feels her eyes grow wide and she's sent into another panic.

She shoots around and grabs El's hand, "stop him! It's gonna be so embarrassing!" she whisper-yells in her face. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, El shakes her head. "Be quiet and talk to him, you're being...crazy," she says with a smirk and her red-head friend narrows her eyes at her.

"I'll be right over there," El says, pointing a few feet away from the main entrance.

Squeezing her hand and scurrying off, she passes Lucas and shoots him a knowing smile, met with a sheepish look from Lucas. He slowly walks up to Max, who still looks slightly flustered but is sitting more confidently than a minute ago.

"Hi," he says with a small smile. Biting her lip, she nods at him. "Hi."

He sits down next to her and notices her hand tightly gripping the red wooden bench. "Are you okay?" he asks.

Groaning, she shakes her head. "I feel so stupid...she was just making me so angry from before and then I just..." she pauses and lets out a deep sigh, "didn't like her stupid dare." Not being able to help the big grin that appears on his face, he lets out a chuckle. Her head snaps to the side he's sitting on and she can't believe he's laughing at her.

"Are you laughing at me?" she says, sounding outraged.

"I just...didn't peg you as the jealous type," he says smugly.

Rolling her eyes, she gets up to walk away before he pulls her hand back down. "Oh calm down, Max, it was a joke."

She looks into his eyes, trying to decipher how on Earth he's feeling. She's pleasantly surprised when his dark eyes reflect humor and a certain kind of softness opposed to confusion and distaste.

"I was gonna ask you eventually, on our second date back in Hawkins," he shrugs, "but if you're just dying to claim me as yours...." he says playfully, nudging her arm.

There's a few moments of silence before she throws her arms up, "well, I don't hear you saying anything either!" Letting out another cackle, he quickly leans in and his lips meet hers. She doesn't automatically respond, shocked by the move before she slightly puckers her lips. This kiss is longer and less awkward, the right amount of pressure causing him to place his hand on her neck and deepen it before pulling away.

"So what do you say Madmax, will you be my girlfriend?" Biting her bottom lip to hide her smile, she nods. "I guess so, stalker. He slides his hand down to hers, the two intertwining their cold hands. She leans her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes contently, her feelings of embarrassment quickly replaced with a warm feeling in her chest.