Look After You ➳ Mileven

It Wasn't Supposed To Be Them

*based on a Tumblr dialogue prompt of "they weren't supposed to die, I was." And I was just like okay gotta write this
•
It had been a few months after the gate was closed. Everyone was recovered- physically that is. Both Will and Joyce would wake up screaming from nightmares at least once a week and it was a daily thing for El.

El knew what it looked like when someone died. She knew what it looked like- what it felt like -to nearly die. She had seen people die right before her eyes. And she had heard of friends of her friends dying. Barb. Bob. She had heard Nancy crying in her room once at the Wheeler's; looking through photos of her and Barb.

Well, crying was exactly what El Hopper was doing now. Something that would look heartbreaking to anyone; especially a boy in particular that Max was currently speaking to over El's super-com.

Hopper had asked Max over to stay with El while he had a long case at the station. The two girls had become close friends now after long talks together over everything. And she was the only other girl in the party so Hopper chose her over the boys; not that he didn't trust the four of them. He figured she could also help El with the kind of bad day her mind had plagued on her.

"Listen Wheeler," Max said, hand jammed against the super-com button, "I don't give a shit what you're doing at the moment okay? She's been in her room all day since before Hopper even left. She won't let me in let alone talk to me. Every person in this town knows that if there's one person she'll talk to no matter what it's you. So haul your ass over here asap."

Mike didn't have time to answer before the sharp sound of static hit his end of the line. He quickly ran to the garage- yelling to his mom that he was going out -and jumped on his bike, halfway down the driveway in a matter of seconds. Mike Wheeler was one of the kids who dreaded P.E. class. But when it came to El, he could have been the next Olympian.

He turned into the woods, the leaves crunching underneath the wheels of his bike, and went up and down hills until he reached the cabin; leaping off his bike before he'd even stopped. He ran up the steps and did the secret knock faster than he could when the door flung open; almost causing him to hit the redhead currently staring at her watch in amazement.

"New record." Max said, pointing to the place she had stopped her watch, "Maybe I won't be kicking your ass in P.E. all the time after all."

Mike rolled his eyes, "Yeah, sure. Can I come in?"

Max let him in before turning to leave, "I'm going to Lucas's house. Beware of Hop's shotgun.  Oh and for both you and your girlfriend, no funny business." She imitated the cop's voice as best as she could before slamming the door behind her.

girlfriend His heart still did flip flops at that word.

Mike waited until the door was fully closed before flipping her off and putting the locks back in place.

He went over to El's door and knocked on it softly.

"G-Go away M-Max." He heard a trembling voice say.

"It's Mike." The boy said, feeling his heart drop at how her voice had sounded, "El, can I come in?"

A few seconds that felt like forever to Mike passed before he heard the lock on her door click to unlock. He slowly opened the door and walked in, seeing just a small human shape under the bed covers. He closed the door behind him (praying Hopper maybe still didn't own said shot gun) and walked over to her bed.

El felt the covers dip slightly next to her and clutched the blankets harder to hide herself from having to look Mike in the eyes.

"El?"