𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒔 ( discontinued )

(6) Merry Fucking Chrysler

Christmas was always a fun time in Hawkins, with cheesy school dances, and surprisingly aesthetic decorations strewn about the town.

Christmas of 91' was an especially great one though.

Everyone was gathering at the Wheeler's place, which was new considering the group usually spent the holidays with their families, but it was going to be enjoyable nonetheless.

It was a short break from college for the boys, Max, and Eleven. Who were attending different colleges all over the country.

Max and Lucas were at Berkeley University if California. Lucas was offered a football scholarship and Max just wanted to be with him. She was interested in health and medical science, which Berkeley offered, so the pair decided it was a perfect fit.

Dustin decided to stay closer to home, attending Purdue University in Indiana, and studying engineering, he had always enjoyed doing things along the lines of the course in high school.

Will and Mike were at Stanford University in California. Will was studying earth, energy, and environmental sciences. Ever since his upside down incident, Will wanted to know anything and everything about energy and the environment, to the extremes that most people didn't care to much about.

Mike was studying finance. (To everyone's surprise) he figured he could get himself a job in which he mad decent money, and got plenty of days off with paid vacations, and with his mathematic skills Mike was easily accepted to the prestigious school.

And El was attending the New York Film Academy. She was taking courses in acting for film and musical theatre. She had talent that she didn't know was there until she joined drama club with Will in sophomore year and played a leading role, which led her on to be in all the plays and musicals.

El and Mike had the hardest time adjusting to college life. They were on opposite sides of the country, which was torture for the two deeply in love young adults. And with the distance there wasn't much leeway on getting to see each other, so all they could do was call.

Every night they had long conversations about their days, and anything interesting taking place in their new environments.

And they were finally going to be able to see each other in person.

Mike helped his mother, Joyce, and Hopper with the cooking, while Holly and Ted set up the table and tidied up the house. Steve,Jonathan, and Nancy took various jobs and socialized with whoever they happened to be around.

Mike was disappointed that Eleven's plane got in that afternoon. He knew she would be jet lagged, and wanting a nice shower and nap. El never really enjoyed flying, it always made her somewhat nervous and she liked a good hour and a half to recoup.

Karen had soft classical Christmas songs playing in the background as she and Joyce laughed about some silly joke Hopper had told, Mike chuckled along with them and continued preparing sugar cookies.

And then the door bell rang.

Mike was out of the kitchen and to the door before the three adults could blink, Karen and Joyce giggled at his reaction and Hopper scowled, still somewhat irritated by the boy's long term infatuation with his daughter.

"El-"

"Mike hey! It's great to see you again bud." Lucas greeted, his arms containing a few wrapped gifts and a plate of cookies. Mike frowned for a moment then quickly grinned, excited to see his best friends again. The sun was just beginning to set, and heavy snow had begun to fall.

Max trotted up the stairs carrying a dish of some food that smelled delicious.

"Hey Mike!" She greeted and gave him a side hug to avoid dropping the food.