mileven oneshots [completed]

talking in your sleep

a future mileven oneshot

i hear the secrets that you keep

when you're talking in your sleep

November 14th, 1998

hey el, sorry i missed your call. i'm out with max right now at the mall, we're doing......things. i just- i mean. i miss you. i can't wait to see you at home. i'll be home late though. i won't need dinner. i promise i'll take you out tomorrow though. can't wait.

love you.

el sighed and placed the phone back in its place, her head hanging. it had been like that for a week. a whole week. el barely saw mike that week. he was either at work or out with max or both.

just to catch you up, el and mike graduated college. el went to hawkins community college and mike went to indiana state university. max went there as well. almost everyone reunited in hawkins (except for dustin and lucas- they're engineers and always on the move).

even though max and el were close friends, el never stopped being suspicious of max. ever since she saw them together in the gym, riding on her skateboard, she always had a fear that she would take mike. and with each passing day that they spent together, el grew more worried.

now that they've been dating for fourteen years, el was scared. scared that she wasn't enough for him. scared he was getting bored of her. and she was trying. she tried to spice things up and surprise him with food or a gift. she tried new flirting tactics and different ways of kissing.

he claimed to have loved it all, but that didn't stop him talking and hanging around max.

and el was worried.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"so, how was your day?" mike asked, picking at his salad. he was fidgeting in his chair, smiling softly, looking into her eyes.

el smiled back. the two were celebrating their 14 year anniversary at a new fancy restaurant. mike knew el liked being fancy.

the only thing lighting the two's seat on he patio was moonlight and dim candles.

el answered genuinely, giggling at his nervousness, "it was really good. i saw troy at the grocery store and i could've sworn he looked at me with fear in his eyes. fourteen years and he's still scared of me,"

mike wasn't looking at her. he was looking down into his lap, biting his lip.

el frowned, placing her palm open towards him to take, "hey, is everything okay? you've been kind of distant lately,"

mike sucked in a breath, "el, i just have.....no idea how i'm going to say this,"

el felt a pang in her stomach.

he's breaking up with you.
he's breaking up with you.

no he's not, just listen to what he has to say.

"just tell me. i'm here for you," el said, chewing on her lip. even though he hadn't said anything, el felt her eyes get glossy.

stop crying

"well, el. we've been together fourteen years. fourteen years is a really long time," he gulped, looking up, "you've been my girlfriend for fourteen years. and i don't want that anymore,"

el felt her heart drop down to her stomach. she knew it. she grabbed her napkin, and slammed it on the table, clenching the napkin in her hand, saying, "i knew it! you're cheating on me with max!"

mike suddenly leaned back in fear, his eyes wide, "what!? no, el i-"

"you know i've been scared and jealous of her my whole life! how could you?!" el said, an abundance of tears rolling down her cheeks. she grabbed her jacket from the chair and wrapped it around herself as her clicking heels followed her outside the restaurant towards her car.

the only thing lighting the parking lot were dim streetlights. 

el heard mike's footsteps following her, and he reached and arm out to touch her shoulder, "el, honey, i-"

el pulled away from his touch, "and in there? in front of all these people?"

"el, just listen-"

"no! i don't want to hear it!" she yelled turning around. she looked though her purse, "you said you didn't want me to be your girlfriend anymore,"

mike bit his lip, the blurted out, "i said that because it's true. i don't want you to be my girlfriend i want you to be my wife!"

el froze.

she carefully turned around to face mike who's face was also stained with a hint of tears.

mike looked searched her eyes before he reached into his pockets his hands shaking, pulling out a black box.

el gasped.

he opened it and inside was a small silver ring.

el placed her hands over her mouth, showing the hint of a smile. 

mike let out a nervous giggle, clearing his throat before seriously saying, "max helped me pick out a ring. she helped me with the speech-which, i'll reprimand her for later- and the gifts and food i made for you at home. i.....didn't notice how my being gone with her affected you and i'm sorry. i should've been around more. to check on you. and i promise that i will. i will. i get now if you need time to think. i understand how my actions this past week might affect your decision-"

"yes,"

mike's eyes popped wide open, as he said in disbelief, "what?"

" i said yes," el smiled, wiping away remaining tears as she ran towards him, and threw her arms over his shoulders, pressing her tear-stained face into his blazer. mike pulled her closer. 

el smiled and pulled away, her eyes trained on the ring, before her eyes flicked up to mike's. 

"can i rephrase my speech?"

el nodded. 

"okay. i love you. so much. i want to build a life with you. every night before i went to bed, for almost fourteen years, i imagined a life with you. i imagined cooking dinner together, dropping off a little wheeler at preschool, and having many moments together. i never ever doubted my yearning for a life with you and my love for you. and you shouldn't either. because there's no one i'd rather spend the rest of my life with than you. so..." he got down on one knee, "officially. el hopper. will you marry me?"

mike giggled and took her soft hand in his fingers, his shaky hand pulling out the ring and sliding it on her finger.

"mrs. el wheeler. i like it," 

whoop sorry it's been a month. let me know if you liked it tho.