the real world | mileven

Promise

El's eyes flicked open gently. She couldn't tell where she was. She felt warm, which she didn't normally feel in the morning.

Breath stirred her hair and she glanced up and realized that she was wrapped inside Mike's arms. She smiled as she remembered last night.

She was so happy that they had made up. Her party had been great, but Mike was all she really wanted.

Her party! She remembered where she was. Glancing over, she noticed the sun was rising.

How long had she been here? All night! Why hadn't Maddie woken her up?

She realized with a small sigh that she was with Mike, and Maddie probably hadn't wanted to disturb them.

She needed to find her and explain.

El began to wiggle out of Mike's embrace, but he whined and pulled her tight to his chest.

She giggled lightly as he buried his face in her hair.

"Mike," she whispered. "We have to get up! We're still at Maddie's house."

His eyes flickered open. "I don't really care."

He kissed her head gently. "I could stay here all day."

El snorted and unwrapped him from around her, feeling empty as his strong arms left her.

She kissed his nose gently, then slid out of bed and opened the door, walking downstairs.

There was trash everywhere, and presents were still stacked high on the table.

El sighed. What was she going to do with all of them?

She was about to walk past when a certain present caught her eye. The one Mike left.

She opened the silver box slowly.

Inside was a beautiful handheld mirror, with the word, 'pretty,' engraved in it.

A tear ran down El's face.

Mike hadn't signed the card, it just said 'I'm sorry.'

He probably didn't know if they would talk last night or not.

"Did Mike give that to you? It's really beautiful."

El jumped at Maddie's voice from behind her.

She set it down and turned around.

"Yeah," she said. "Maddie, I'm so so sorry..."

She hugged Maddie tightly.

"It's fine," she whispered. "Besides, you have other things to worry about."

El raised her eyebrows. "Like what? Mike? Because I think we're on good terms now-,"

Maddie held up the mirror and pointed to El's neck.

El gasped. A light purple mark was on her neck.

Maddie smirked at her.

El blushed deeply. "I didn't - we didn't- I mean,"

Maddie giggled. "It's fine, you don't have to explain yourself. Let's get you some clothes. You can borrow some of mine."

El nodded and they went up to her room.

"Why didn't you wake me up last night?" El asked as Maddie braided her hair.

"I didn't want to - interrupt." Maddie giggled. "Besides, my parents won't care. They're not even here."

Maddie did El's Makeup, and then her own while El picked out an outfit.

She picked some light jeans, and a black sweater, and put on her shoes from yesterday.

Maddie grinned. "Super cute. But you might wanna,"

She added a gray scarf around El's neck, and both girls giggled a little.

"There," Maddie declared. "Perfect."

A soft knock sounded on the door.

Maddie nodded and El opened it to reveal Mike. He had cleaned himself up, but he just had his clothes from yesterday. He glared at Maddie over El's shoulder, but he didn't talk to her.

"I should probably go home. My parents will be wondering-,"

He was cut off by El wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him.

His eyes widened at the fact that Maddie was right there, but she busied herself doing her hair in the mirror while they kissed.

El pulled back breathlessly.

"Come visit me. Tonight." She insisted.

Mike nodded. "I'll try."

El smirked at him. "No. Not try. You'll come."

She kissed his cheek softly. "And I love your present. Thank you so much."

Mike blushed a little. "Um, I'm glad you like it. I'll see you later."

El nodded and kissed him once more before letting him go.

She waited until she heard the front door close before turning back to Maddie.

She was smirking at her.

"Shut up," El grinned, punching her in the arm.

The rest of the day, the girls cleaned Maddie's house, pulling down decorations and throwing trash out.

They piled up all of El's presents and called Joyce.

They put all the presents in the car as Joyce hugged El.

"How was it?" She asked.

El smiled. "It was great. I'm sorry I fell asleep last night, I-,"

Joyce cut her off. "Don't worry, Maddie called me."

El flashed a grateful smile at Maddie before hugging her again.

"It was really fun to get to know you," Maddie smiled. "I liked having you as a friend."

El cocked her head in confusion.

"Liked? As in past tense?"

Maddie smiled sadly.

"I know with you and Mike being back together and everything, you won't really have a lot of time for me anymore, and-,"

El hugged her tightly. "We will always be friends. Come sit at our table at lunch."

Maddie smiled. "You mean it?"

El nodded. "Of course."

* later that night

El played with her hair nervously as she sat on her bed.

She had already said goodnight to everyone and turned off her light, but she was waiting.

She grinned as she heard tapping on her window.

She opened it and immediately her lips were touching Mike's.

He crawled in and shut the window behind him, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissing her at the same time as they walked over to the bed.

He pressed her down into the bed, kissing her passionately. He smiled into the kiss. This was all he ever wanted. To love El, and for her to love him.

He grinned as she whispered into his ear, "you can sleep here if you want. Just don't get too close, I get hot."

He snorted. "Yeah right."

He wrapped his arms around her and they giggled together as they kissed.

hey guys! merry Christmas! this chapter was pre-written as was the next one, because I like to write a lot at a time. I hope you have a great holidays! :)