Friends Don't Lie - {a Mike x Eleven fanfic}

CHAPTER 1 ▪ Stay Calm

"Shit, shit, shit! Shit!" The basement of the Wheeler's residence filled with the voice of Dustin.

"Guys, we have a serious problem," The lisped boy added when there was no response to his mini freakout only seconds ago.

Noises of the other Party members made trying to bring themselves to awaken gave him a dash of hope at least one of his friends heard him.

"Yeah, what's up?" Lucas' voice, heavy with sleep answered.

"I just came back from upstairs and...," He paused and chuckled with dismay. "Seems we are deep in the white wonderland."

Just those words woke and sent Will into panic.
"My mom is probably worried sick, I'm going to use the phone upstairs to tell her I'm okay!" He said, rushing his way up the stairs.

"Uh," Mike started, he pondered for a moment on what to do. Should he crawl out a window and shovel the snow away from the door? No, that wouldn't even be useful, their bikes would only slip and slide all over the road anyway. "Okay, everyone just stay calm. We can each take turns using the phone to check in with our parents." Mike reinsures.

Lucas looked over at Mike, "Yeah, but what are we supposed to do until the snow melts enough where we can go out? Sit on our asses, play D&D, and have staring contests with each other?" He says.

"Got anything better in mind? Its not our fault we're snowed in!" Dustin argued in response to Lucas. His point was valid, though. What were they supposed to do to keep their entertainment? Usually during their hangouts, they would eventually go out and bike together, but that's definitely out of the question in this case.
The sound of quiet footsteps grew louder as Will returned downstairs, giving everyone in the room a thumbs up. "All right, I talked to my mom and she said that its alright if I'm here. As long as I stay inside, she knows I'm safe, and she'd pick me up as soon as the snow clears up enough" He announced, allowing a brief smile to appear on his face.

"I'm next!" Shouts Lucas, running towards the stairs, too quick to not even allow anyone time to respond, and disappears out of the basement.

Dustin scoffs. "It's not even that big of a deal. We practically live in this damn basement."
No one acknowledged that. Dustin sighs, then lets out a little chuckle. "Dude, if Eleven were here, she could literally use her powers to just- pfSHHHHHK! Push the snow away" He joked. But judging by the way Mike's head jerked to his direction after saying Eleven's name, he didn't find that joke funny, not even in the slightest.

"Do not joke like that!" Mike shot Dustin a particular glare, basically telling him to fuck off the subject of El and not bring her name up. At least not in that way.

It's been over a year now since he has seen her. He still remembers to try to contact her through the radio at least everyday, always asking if she's there, but never got a response. Precisely 407 days and he still hasn't given up on her. He has high hopes she'll one day come back here. Come back home.

"Right, uh.. Sorry...," Dustin apologized, giving his clearly upset friend a brotherly pat on his shoulder. "I shouldn't have said that."

Mike just gave a nod, and just in time for the pity party, Lucas comes downstairs. Dustin taking the silence as an opportunity to be the last to contact his mom.

"Hey, Mike," Will spoke up, waiting for Mike's attention to be on him.
Mike turned to look to Will, who was sitting cross-legged on his sleeping bag.
"It's okay. To miss her, I mean. I miss her too." Will told him, trying to help Mike cheer up. Mike nodded, and forced a lousy attempt of a smile, but of course only made the other boy frown.
"Have you tried the radio today?" He asked. Mike shook his head.

Will stood to his feet and walked over to Eleven's fort that Mike refuses to take down and grabbed the little black device in it and walks back to sit by Mike.

"Let's try then" He said, handing the walkie to Mike. He flipped the little nob on it to turn it on, but only got the sound of static, as usual. He listened carefully for a few moments but then just gave a frustrated sigh.

"It's not going to work. There is never a response." He shook his head, and stood up. As Mike was beginning to walk towards the fort, the sounds of static were interrupted by only a short moment of a different sound. He ran back over to his previous spot, leaning his ear closer to possibly try to make out it is a voice or not.

"Ight, so we're all in the clear with our parents?" Dustin asked while returning down the stairs. Everyone turned around to violently hush Dustin, and Dustin put his arms up as if he was surrendering. He walked over to the others where they have all surrounded around the walkie. He was going to ask what was going on but he already knew he would only be hushed again and receive no helpful answer.

"M......m..k.."

Mike's eyes widened, and he snatched the device from the middle of the group.

"El?! El... is that you?!!"

Static.

"El, please! ...Eleven??!"

More static.

".........M....i..ke....."

Mike definitely heard his name. It had to have been El.
The others were shocked too but they couldn't have been as shocked as Mike was.

"El?!!... Is that really you??.."
Mike just wanted to hear her say it was her. To confirm he was really talking to El.

More static was heard before you could hear a clear "Yes" from over the walkie.

"Holy shit, El, where have you been!?" Asked Dustin.

Static.

"Wow," Dustin scoffs. "guess she doesn't like me anymore."

"Shh!" Lucas hushes. "Do you guys hear that?"

Everyone remains quiet and listens. Whatever Lucas heard, everyone else didn't over the talking and the noise of static, but now they definitely hear noises coming from upstairs.

Creaking and squeaking.

"The hell is that..?" Lucas quietly asked.

"Oh shit, Mike, I think someone just broke in your house!" Dustin whispered.
Mike put his index finger to the middle of his lips to shut him up, then slowly began to walk closer to the stairs.

"Yes, because going to the stairs when you hear creepy noises is logical."
Will and Lucas turned to Dustin and gave him a look as to tell him he really needs to stop talking.

Mike made his way up the stairs, step by step. Keeping his weight on his toes to make sure he doesn't make much sound.
He makes it to the doorway and peeks out, seeing the front door is wide open.
He was about to walk more when he heard footsteps approaching.

They were getting closer...

and closer..

And then.....

"..Mike...?"

A sweet, familiar voice.

It was El.