white rose & apple blossom - A Mileven Story

seventeen

Mike's POV

I woke up and it was the first day of school. After a great summer, being back to waking up at 6AM everyday is not fun. Of course I didn't actually wake up at 6AM, ending up being late already in the first day.

I got out of my bed when I opened my eyes and saw the red alarm numbers 06:37. Shit! I was so late that I didn't even thought of looking out the window to see if El was awake.
I got in the shower, the water didn't even turn hot and I had to take a cold 5 minute-shower. This day was already going so great.

I got downstairs, picked up a piece of fruit, eating it while I came back to my bedroom and started to dress my outfit. I washed my teeth and picked my backpack, leaving the front door a minute after. I got on my bike and rode it to El's front porch. I rang the bell, waiting for her for 5 minutes to give her a ride to school. She told me the day before if she didn't come to the door in 3 minutes, she would have gone to school with her dad already. She must have had gone already so I decided to hit the road and get to school.

I got there, chained my bike to the bike parking bars and went straight to my locker, leaving there all the stuff I didn't need.
I went to my first period class, which was Calculus, and I remembered that I only had 2 classes in common with El, which sucked.

It was lunch time and I hadn't seen El all day, and I was starting to get worried. I hurried to Max, who was talkin with Lucas and Dustin by their lockers.

- Hey, it's Mike! - Dustin said, while everyone said hey.
- Hi guys. Max, have you seen El today?
- No, I haven't. The last time I saw her was yesterday, when we all went to the quarry.
- I haven't seen her today aswell. - Lucas said, and Dustin saying the same right after.
- I'm worried about her, guys. I didn't check her bedroom in the morning because I was too late for that and I didn't come to school with her. I also have English Literature with her and she didn't show up to class. - I said, fiddling my hands.
- Don't be so worried! I bet she's okay! - Dustin said, patting me on the shoulder.
- Why don't you call her home or the sheriff's office? - Lucas suggested.
- Good idea! I'll be back for lunch. - I said, running to the back of the school building, where there were payphones.

I took some quarters out and I put them on the first payphone that was hanging on the wall. I called her house and no one picked up.
Well, she must be with her dad, I thought. I reached my pocket for some more quarters to call the sheriff's office but I had none. Fortunately, I saw Will pass by, holding hands with James.

- Will! - I shouted and he came up to me.
- Hey Mike, how's the first day going?
- Not so good. Look, I need some coins to call sheriff Hopper.
- Why?
- Because I haven't seen El all day and she didn't come to class and no one answers her house phone and I'm worried sick!
- That's weird. But here, take these. - Will gave me about a dollar worth in pennies and quarters. - But look, I woke up in the middle of the night with police car noises and the noise of speeding cars on the road. Hopper may not pick up.

I immediately dialed the police office while Will and James walked away.

Hello?

Hello, I'm Mike Wheeler and I need to talk to Sheriff Hopper, who is this?

I'm Flo, I'm the sheriff's assistant. He's not here right now, would you like to leave a message?