𝐦𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐞~𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Chapter 43: I Have My Ways, Dear William

Mike's POV

I squirmed slightly, hearing the door of my basement open and the sound of snorts and laughter.

"No! Shhhh. Stop! STOP IT WILL! STOP!" Max's voice disappeared in a fit of giggles. I lifted my head to look towards the door.

Will had his arms around Max, giving her tasers in the sides. She was laughing joyfully, snorting multiple times in between each laugh. Will was beaming, seeming to be enjoying the small moment of bonding between him and Max. They never really had the chance to last year because of the whole situation with the shadow monster.

El moved slightly in my arms. I felt her shiver slightly so I rubbed her shoulder and pulled her closer to me, putting my feet on top of hers.

"Shhhhh, she's still asleep," I whispered, running my hand across El's ruffled hair lovingly.

Max practically jumped onto Will when she heard my voice, "Holy shit Mike!"

"Shhhh!"

It was no use. El had opened her eyes and was looking at me curiously, "Hi."

Her sweet smile made my heart beat faster, "Hi," I leaned down and kissed her forehead softly, breathing in the scent of her skin.

"Aweeeeeeee!" Will and Max were all goo goo eyed at us and I rolled my eyes, noticing El's cheeks reddening.

I slid out of the sleeping back on the floor, grabbing El's hand as soon as I got out. She also sat up, her hair messy, with the sleeping bag now around her shoulders.

The two noisy party members skipped over to where we were sitting and looked at each other with a mischievous glance, "One."

Max added the next with sassy flair, "Two."

The both seemed to screech out the word simultaneously, "THREE!"

And in that moment, in a flurry of red hair and a bowl cut, Max and WIll were jumping around the two sleeping, unsuspecting boys.

Lucas looked playfully irritated as Max shook him awake. Dustin woke up with a little scream as Will sat on him.

El squeezed my hand as she giggled at the two boys. I smiled to myself, watching the beautiful chaos around me. My friends. My best friends.

Max was leaning practically on top of Will as they both laughed, "We-are-so-good," Max breathed out, trying to speak in between the giggles.

Will only nodded, his eyes watering from the laughter.

Dustin frowned, "It wasn't that funny guys."

Lucas nodded, smiling widely, "Dude, you shrieked."

He put his hands up in surrender, pulling a Baby Ruth out of his pocket. Will saw it and completely lost it again, "How the hell did you get that? It's like you have bottomless pockets."

Dustin purred, "I have my ways, dear William."

This time Lucas was holding his stomach, trying to not give into the craziness of the group.

We were practically in a heap of laughter on the floor of my basement. Good thing my mom didn't come downstairs. She would've been really confused.

"I love how we're talking about Dustin's screaming when Max and Will were outside for some unknown reason in the middle of the morning," I stated curiously, eyeing both the ginger and Will.

"We were both awake. So we decided to go for a walk and we met up with Lauren and invited her to the pool. That pretty much sums it up," Max shrugged, Will's expression relaxing when she added only scarce details about Lauren. I'd have to ask him about it later.

"Oh yea! The pool," Lucas exclaimed, high fiving Dustin.

El tugged my hand, "Pool?"

"Yea, It's like this big bowl of water where you can swim and stuff. It's super cool," Max chimed in.

El's eyes got wide and I could sense her fear immediately, "No. Bad. I-I can't. The-the b-bath. I-Mike," she started to breathe heavily and her eyes darted around the room, almost like she was looking for an escape. Her eyes pierced mine and I knew she didn't want to cry in front of the others.

I wrapped my arm around her protectively and lifted her by the hand so that we were both standing. She clung onto my arm as I lead her swiftly to the bathroom. I didn't bother with an explanation. They knew. They knew exactly what was going on.

I closed the door behind me and I hugged El as tightly as I could, hoping that just my arms would make her feel safe. She sobbed into my shirt, her small body heaving against me. It took all my strength for my heart not to break.

"Shhh. It's okay. You're safe. I promise. I won't let anything hurt you. Shhh," I stroked her hair as she calmed down, her face still on my shoulder.

She lifted her head, looking at herself in the mirror. She wiped her face aggressively, like she was disgusted by her own reflection. She stared at herself, frowning. I knew what she was thinking.

I turned her face with my hand, "Don't. Don't you ever think that you're not pretty. Because you are. You are the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on."

She smiled slightly and leaned her head on my hand, tears still gushing out of her red eyes.

"Don't cry. You don't have to go to the pool with us. I'll stay here if you like," I slid my thumb under each eyes, clearing the tears from her flushed cheeks.

She gazed at me through her glossy eyes, "You will?"

I nodded immediately, willing to do whatever she wanted if it made her happy.

"I'm-I'm scared Mike," she looked ashamed.

I cupped her face in my hands, "It's okay to be scared. I'll be with you the whole time."

She looked terrified, "It's just...Papa and the bad men..." she trailed off, fresh tears streaming down her face.

I moved her chin up and placed a soft kiss on her lips. She seemed to lean into it, needing it more than I did. After we parted, she placed her head on my shoulder, my hand cradling her.

"You okay now?" I asked her, hoping she would stop crying because it put me in physical pain to see her hurting.

She nodded, still trying to steady her breathing, "Yea. I'm fine now," She looked down suddenly, picking at a thread in her shorts, "Mike?"

"Mmhm."

"I'm going to try...to go in the pool," I glanced up at her quickly. She looked scared.

"You don't have to, really, El if you don't want to-"

She cut me off, "Mike. I want to."

Now I looked scared, "El. I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you to relive something that shouldn't have happened in the first place."

"I'll be okay. You'll...help me?"

I grabbed her hands, "Of course I'll help you El. Whatever you need."

She smiled again, standing.

"You ready to go back now?"

She nodded, a look of confidence masking the once sad expression on her perfect face.

I opened the door, emerging with the girl I loved grasping my hand.