𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞~𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Chapter 21: I Could Feel Her

Max's POV

I walked slowly into the school parking lot, glancing around quickly.

No Mike.

I sighed, knowing I would have to confront Lucas before he got here.

Spotting the party, I strolled over to them. Lucas looked up and Dustin and Will started their own conversation.

"Hi."

"Hi."

I breathed out, waiting for what I knew was coming next. Oh god, Mike where are you?

Mike's POV

I scrambled out the door quickly, knowing that both Max and Lucas got to school before me.

I hopped on my bike, pedaling fast. Max couldn't confront him alone. She had called me last night, asking me to be there to support her. And here I was letting her down.

My bike peeled into the schoolyard, screeching as it braked. Max and Lucas stood, not two yards away, talking in hushed tones.

Lucas spotted me and we made eye contact.

"Hey."

Lucas's POV

Mike approached, "Hey."

"Hi," I took a deep breath, "So um. You guys are a thing now?"

Mike and Max looked at each other, "No no no. You've got it all wrong," Mike shook his head.

Max nodded in agreement, "Yea. We just hung out because we were tired of fighting," her voice trailed off, a hopeful look in her eyes.

"But you've been spending a lot of time together."

"Max needed to talk to someone so she called me," Mike replied.

"I thought he could help, since he and El are together. I couldn't talk to you..."

"Cause it was about me," I said as she nodded.

I shook my head at my own stupidity, "Mike, I'm sorry. I totally flipped out for no reason. I shouldn't have done that. I'm really sorry."

Mike shook his head, "Man, I get why you were freaking out. But there is nothing going on between Max and me. We're just friends."

I turned to Max, "Max, I am so sorry. I was jealous and I overreacted. I hurt you and that's not okay."

Max looked down, "Lucas. I was mad. And I'm sorry too. I made it look like Mike and I were together, but that wasn't my intention at all."

"I know."

Mike looked at me, "We're good man?"

I high fived him, "We're good."

Mike walked past me and towards Will and Dustin.

I looked back at the red haired girl, "So."

"So."

"So what did Mike say about me?" I asked, genuinely curious.

Max looked up, a glowing in her eyes, "He said that you never get mad. And he told me the only other time you got truly angry was when El tried to divert you from finding Will."

"Oh that. I was jealous that El got all the attention from Mike. We had been friends for so long that it was weird he wasn't really there all the time."

She nodded, "He told me everything," she smiled.

"Why're you so smiley now?"

She gave me a look, "It's just something Mike said."

"What'd he say?"

She smiled even wider, looking down to hide it, "He said that you only get angry about people you care about."

I got closer to her, "I do get jealous about the people I care about. That's why I was really jealous of Mike."

Max smiled, and I leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

She grabbed my hand and led me into the school, "Come on Stalker."

Two Weeks Later

Mike's POV

I sat in my basement, waiting for the party to show up. I looked around the room, glancing at the radio that sat on the blankets across the room.

I moved towards the fort, smiling sadly to myself. El wasn't coming tonight.

I sat down in her fort, ducking under the hanging sheet that made up the structure.

I sat there, remembering the moments I spent with El. Finding her tattoo, giving her eggos, talking about the upside down.

She was always so strong, never needing anyone's help.

I remembered how she collapsed, the night the demogorgon escaped. I shuddered, remembering the white haired man that called himself Eleven's papa. How he held her face, like she was a doll. She was smart. She may not have know many words or math, but she knew that he was evil. She knew that she needed to get away from him.

I looked down at my watch. There was about a half hour until the gang showed up.

I sighed, wishing El was here, lying beside me.

El's POV

I had stopped crying one and a half weeks ago. Mike had stopped hanging out with Max. Was I overreacting?

The curiosity was making my insides itch. I squirmed, trying to ignore it.

I couldn't take it anymore. I had to check.

The blindfold was on my bedside table, almost beckoning me to tie it in the oh-so-familiar knot.

I reached for it quickly, wrapping the fabric around my curls.

I closed my eyes, the darkness descending upon me.

Mike sat alone, his hair curling up at the ends. I smiled in the darkness. He looked so good.

He lay in what looked like a pile of blankets, his radio by his head.

What was going on? Was he asleep?

I leaned closer to him, his chest going up and down.

He was okay. His mouth was peeled in a content smile. I smiled to myself, remembering kissing those lips. I liked kissing Mike. It made my stomach churn and my palms get all sweaty.

He moved, startling me a little bit. I remembered that he wouldn't actually see me.

He sat up, looking around then checking his watch. It read 5-1-5. He turned his head and looked directly at me.

He let out a short breathe. It wasn't a question but a confirmation that he knew I was there.

"El."

Mike's POV

I woke up from my rest and I looked around. I had a weird feeling that I wasn't alone.

I felt a strange happiness in the little fort. She was here. I knew it.

I felt a weird feeling near my right shoulder. I looked around directly at the air near there.

Maybe she'd answer.

"El."

I felt a warmth touch my face, like a hand caressing my cheekbone. It was her. I knew it was her.

I could feel her.