Mileven Stories

Cold Little Heart (1993)

It was just a week until Mike and El's wedding and the couple found bad luck attempting to burst their positive bubble. Recently their floral arrangements had fallen through, which normally would have driven any other pair of lovers into panic mode. However, Mike had addressed the issue head-on, volunteering to arrange all of the flowers himself.

Quite honestly, all they cared for was the fact that they would soon hold the titles of being husband and wife. It did not matter if the event took place in a local parking lot beside the world's finest dumpster; as long as they were together to exchange their vows, that was all that mattered.

To celebrate the upcoming event, the party had agreed it was mandatory for them all to enjoy a night out. And that's exactly how Mike and Eleven found themselves seated amongst their friends at a local bar.

Dustin; who had willingly made the reservation, thought it would be warm enough to reserve outdoor seating, but he could not have been more wrong.

It was just forty five degrees that evening and the party were all without their heavy winter gear. Although the bitter cold tried its hardest to spoil the fun, the friends found joy in cozying up close to one another.

They were just recounting the time that Mike had tried to physically fight a tree branch after it had scratched El's cheek when an unfamiliar individual approached them.

"Dusty, what are you doing here?" the voice came from an elegant girl whose long black hair laid beautifully straight against her deep red jacket.

"Allison!" Dustin exclaimed, hugging her quickly as he turned to the group, "everyone, this is my friend Allison. She volunteers at the museum with me on weekends. Allison, this is the party!"

The curly headed boy then went around the circle, identifying each party member. It seemed Allison's friends had left the establishment early and she was just on her way out, but had heard her coworkers uniquely noticeable voice.

"Feel free to join us," invited Will, kindly as ever.

Just a few handful of minutes had passed before conversation was back into full swing, now including their newfound friend. Lucas and Max were retelling the tale of their first date when Mike's hand had stealthily found his fiancées.

"Jesus, babe, your hands are freezing. Here," he said while frantically ripping his gloves off of his hands.

El attempted to protest, but found herself silenced as he swiftly slipped the material onto her hands. She was gazing happily at how his large gloves essentially swallowed her hands whole when a warm breath against her ear created a distraction.

"I can think of other ways to keep you warm, baby. We just need to keep up with the chit-chat a bit longer, then we can head home," he promised while leaving a few subtle pecks along the vanilla scented skin of her neck.

El had slyly grinned at him, loving that she could feel the heat beginning to rise between them. She knew where this was going and had planned a mischievous response to his proposition, but found their building tension interrupted by a shrill voice.

"Mike! Dusty tells me you like to write stories. Got any romance suggestions for a helpless soul like myself?" Allison batted her mascara coated eyelashes at him.

"Uh, I'm not much of a romantic writer," Mike uncomfortably stated.

Lucas cut into the conversation, immediately contradicting what his friend had just said, "that's a bunch of bull! What about the proud princess? The one who was destine to marry her childhood lover after she saved the land? That's a good romance story, isn't it Mikey? Maybe a bit familiar?"