Pop Culture

Part Two

Mike hurried around his basement on Saturday, even getting out the vacuum cleaner and the polish, wanting everything to looking perfect for his sleepover. Wanting everything to look perfect for El.

He grinned to himself wildly, still beyond amazed that she had agreed to be his girlfriend. Guys like him weren't meant to be with girls like her. She was beautiful, smart, powerful and brave and deserved someone who could look after her. All Mike could offer was his heart and he just hoped that it was enough.

Mike was making sure the blanket fort was neat and tidy when he heard the sound of feet on the steps. He looked up to see Nancy walking down into the basement giving him a small smile of acknowledgement.

"What's up?" he asked her, getting up off his knees now that the blanket fort was ready for El. He hadn't laid out his sleeping bag yet, but he was positive he would be putting it right next to the fort.

"Have you got everything you need for tonight?" Nancy asked her brother, sitting down on the arm of the old worn couch.

"Yeah mom left money for us to order in and we've got enough snacks. Plus, Dustin said he'd bring some stuff too." Mike said, his eyes already darting around the room wondering what he could clean up next.

Nancy was fidgeting with her skirt and Mike couldn't help but roll his eyes, he could tell she was stalling. "What is it Nance?"

She looked up at him, her cheeks blushing slightly. "Well I know Hopper and mom think I'm chaperoning your sleepover," she began before coughing awkwardly. "But I was thinking...well Jonathan wants to take me out on a date and then I was going to invite him over." She explained, her face turning red whilst Mike cringed at what the teenagers were planning on doing when they got back to the house.

He immediately averted his dark amber eyes to the floor feeling uncomfortable. "Okay," he mumbled trying to grasp onto what she was saying.

"I won't tell Hopper or mom that I wasn't here," Nancy quickly explained. "But would that be okay? Will you be okay here on your own with your friends?"

Mike looked up at Nancy, suddenly her date night sounded like the best plan in the world. It meant he would have the house to himself for most of the night to host his friends and girlfriend. "Yeah we'll be fine here," he told her quickly with a small smile.

Nancy sighed and looked up at him, "are you sure? I mean we'll probably be back at like 11, but um, we'll probably go upsta – "

"That's fine!" Mike interrupted her quickly, not needing to know anything more about her date night.

Nancy smiled in relief, "thanks Mike, I'll tell Jonathan I can go." She said happily, jumping up from the couch before halting to look at him and the basement. "It's very clean down here," she stated, a smirk starting to form on her lips. "Any reason why you've put in so much effort?"

"Good bye Nancy!" Mike said in response staring at her with a flat look whilst she chuckled and gave him a little wave before ascending the stairs.

Three hours later and Lucas and Dustin were the first to arrive, both of them squabbling over which 'Star Wars' moment El was going to like best.

"She's a girl, she's gonna like Leia and Han Solo," Lucas said in a bored tone, his footsteps on the basement stairs mixing with the loud thuds that Dustin was making. Mike looked up from the couch, his knee jiggling nervously as he waited for El to arrive.

Dustin scoffed, "just because she's a girl doesn't mean that she is going to automatically like Leia and Han! Oh man, I can't wait for her to discover that Luke and Leia are twins! And for Darth Vader to tell Luke he's his father!" His enthusiasm was evident, and Mike couldn't help but smile, equally excited for his girlfriend to discover all of the secrets that 'Star Wars' had to offer.