5 Lies and a truth | Madwheeler

2. "I guess we could be friends."

Once the pounding in his head had started to finally fade, Mike surveyed the room. There was a stillness. It was an odd view. But then again being chased by demo-dogs was more than just an odd situation in itself. Mike sighed his whole body was aching. He had a gash on his left knee that stung every time his trouser leg would brush against it. He cocked his head to the left, his eyes resting on his sister. Nancy was leaning uncomfortably on the kitchen counter, removed from everyone. Her eyes shifting nervously between the door of the room where Jonathan was, with his mom and Will, and the couch, where Steve was sprawled across clutching an ice-pack against his face. Something told Mike that Steve has purposely placed the ice-pack in such a position so that he wouldn't have to face Nancy. Mike didn't know what had gone down between the two but he had grown fond of Steve, especially since he had saved their asses from Max's brother even if that meant getting his own ass beat in the process.

Mike sat up sharply as his mind shifted from Steve and Max's brother to Max herself. He slowly turned his head to glance at her. Unfortunately the minute he did he found himself staring right back into her crisp blue eyes. She may look worn out and tired but Max's eyes had still not lost their fire. She lifted an eyebrow at him in confusion causing Mike to speedily shift his whole body away from her direction. The swiftness with which he did so resulted in his trouser scraping against his gash, shooting up a sharp sting. Mike doubled over grimacing in pain. He heaved a sigh. He needed sleep. And so, he settled his head against the Byers' table and closed his eyes waiting for sleep to consume him.

He had only shut his eyes for what had seemed like a few moments when he felt a hand softly touch his wrist. He startled, swatting the hand away as he shot up. "Ow!" he heard Max hiss. "What are you doing?" He whispered harshly. Max scowled at him mirroring his expression. She waved a plaster in his face. "For your... injury" she said simply, gesturing to his leg. Mike relaxed slightly and snatched the plaster from her hands. "Thanks" he mumbled, facing downwards. He began to unravel his trouser leg upwards, Max watching him intently. "Could I get some privacy?" Mike spat. Max flustered, her head ducking down. "Oh yeah.. yeah sure" she muttered feeling embarrassed.

She turned her head to face where she was perched before. She looked at Lucas and Dustin sleeping at the foot of the couch where Steve was resting. Despite herself she found the energy to smile. They had been through a lot and they all deserved to sleep, to rest, to... feel safe. She let her eyes wander over towards the hallway near the kitchen where the chief was snoring quietly. Sleeping next to him was the girl, El. She looked small in comparison to the chief and... weak, Max felt a pang of sympathy for her. A painful memory however, crept back into Max's mind. The girl sadly had ignored Max's call to friendship and had brushed past her outstretched hand. Guess there was another person to the join Mike's 'hate club' for Max Mayfield. She laughed bitterly to herself.

"Are you finding my pain funny, Mayfield?" Max whirled around and saw Mike still squirming with the plaster. "No" she replied, squinting her eyes. "You, may be an asshole but not everyone else is." She added. Mike rolled his eyes at her choosing instead to burrow himself in trying to position the plaster in a way that it would cover his whole gash. He heard Max sigh in feigned frustration and shift closer to him. "Here, let me help." On any other day Mike would have protested, fearing the proximity of Max, but he didn't have the energy to argue back and so he let Max's smooth fingers position the plaster down on his gash. He jerked, gripping her elbow, when she flattened the plaster down on his wound. "There" she said a triumphant grin spread across her face. And like always Mike couldn't help but smile in response. "How did you get that?" She asked. She was clearly trying to make small talk since they were the only two people awake. "I want to sleep." Mike replied curtly. He saw Max's face drop and felt a wave of guilt rush over him. "Oh... right... sure" she replied feeling embarrassed - a second time due to Michael Wheeler.

"You should sleep too." Mike said gently, succumbing to the guilt. Max stared at him unsure and shook her head sadly. "I can't." She whispered, looking at the ground. Their feet were close, almost touching. "Why not?" Mike asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Max drummed her fingers as she always did and bit her lip nervously. Mike felt a something sting in him as he stared at her lips. He quickly turned away and decided turn his concentration on the room, since it was clear Max wasn't going to give him an answer. And it bothered him.

His eyes stopped and rested on El who was wedged underneath the chief's large arm. She was back. His El. She had always been back, Mike felt anger spreading through him as remembered how the chief had kept her away from him. All this time she had been right near him, close to him! He had missed her but with her return he still felt like something was incomplete. Perhaps he was still dealing with the suddenness of her return, he hoped it would all blow over soon. He didn't want her to leave him, not again.

"She seems cool." A voice scattered his thoughts. Damnit Max was still awake. "She is." Mike snapped back drawing his attention away from El, to the other girl. "So..." Max drawled out trying to act causal. "Does this mean we're you know... fine?" Mike stared at her. Why did she need his approval so much? She had already manoeuvred her way into the party anyways. But there was a hope in her eyes that couldn't bring Mike to be a total asshole. And so he begrudgingly said "I guess we could be friends." And with that Max's smile grew but she stopped herself short, collecting herself. "Nice to know you do have a heart in there, Wheeler!" She gasped dramatically placing a hand over his chest. "Whatever" he replied slapping her hand away. "But if you want to remain.... friends" he winced, "you have to let me sleep." She nodded in reply and scurried back over to where Dustin and Lucas were sleeping, stretching her legs and resting her head on Lucas' shoulder. The boy stirred but was not awakened.

For someone who didn't want to sleep, Max sure fell asleep fast. Leaving Mike alone as the only person awake, alone with his thoughts. He looked at Max, her curls dancing up and down as she slept, and knew that once again he had lied. He never could be friends with Max Mayfield. He couldn't let himself be friends with her. And with that realisation, Mike sighed lying down. He turned away to face El, praying that sleep would consume him too like it had did all the others.

Note: Thank you guys! All the love and the comments mean so much to me! So as a treat I decided to write this long chapter :)