this one is a bit different but hopefully you like it...
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"El, please come with me! It's New Year's eve; it'll be fun! Plus, Lucas is bringing someone for you!" I rolled my eyes and sat up, staring at the girl.
"Max, I don't want to go. And what made you think that just because he's bringing a date for me, makes me want to go? Have you met me?" She sighs in defeat and stands beside me.
"I didn't want to have to do this, but you leave me no choice." Before I can respond, I'm being picked up and thrown in the shower against my will. She is surprisingly strong, I say to myself.
"Max, what the he-" I can't even finish my sentence as the water is turned on. And here I am, sitting in the tub, clothes and all.
"Max!" She grabs the soap bottle and threatens to pour it, but I stop her before she does any further damage. "Fine! You win! You win! I'll go!" Max shows a big smile and I roll my eyes.
"Great! Get a shower real quick! Oh wait, seems like you're good there." She laughs as if it was the funniest thing anyone has ever said.
"Hilarious. That was so funny, I forgot about to laugh." She continues her laughing fit, so I gently push her out of the room. "Let's just get this night over with."
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"Nope. Not happening. I'm going back home and putting my sweat pants on, and I'm eating ice cream." I say as I turn for the door.
"No you're not. Come on, we're already here. You can do this. Just two hours, promise." I look at her with pleading eyes, but she just mirrors my actions. I sigh and nod. Max squeals, and the next thing I know, I'm being pulled into the party.
"Okay, I think I see them. Come on."
"Do I have a choice?" She giggles and continues to drag me to her boyfriend, Lucas. He was actually a really nice guy, I just really hate parties.
"Hi baby!" He pulls her in close and gives her in for a deep kiss, and I, bring the awkward person I am, stand there and look at the ground.
They finally pull away and just stare at each other, then finally, FINALLY, someone behind them clears their throat and they jump apart. The guy was tall and lanky, but cute.
"Um...sorry to interrupt, but Lucas I'm just going to go." He starts to walk off, but Lucas grabs him by the collar.
"Oh no you don't." The boy sighs.
"Lucas I don't even want to be here. You forced me into the car." He takes a glance at me, then back at Lucas, then his eyes find me again. "Oh hi, I'm Mike, and you are?"
I stick my hand out for him to shake. "El." He smiles and me and shakes my hand, then turns back to Lucas and Max, but they were already at the bar.
"Some friends we've got." He gives a breathy laugh and I give a half-hearted smile, to the floor.
"Yeah." I say and look back up to meet his eyes.
"Do you want to get out of here? I didn't want to come anyway." I look to the bar for Max, but she's nowhere to be seen. Screw it, I think.
"Sure."
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We were sat at a table inside Benny's Burgers, one of my personal favorites. Mike was one of the easiest people to talk to; funny, sweet, and kind of awkward, so I feel no pressure when talking to him.
" Alright, El. Tell me about yourself," he takes a long sip of his milkshake and stares at me, waiting for my answer.
"Well, I'm an only child and my mother died giving birth, so it's just me and my dad," I look up to see his reaction; usually people get awkward when I mention my mom, but Mike just stared with an unreadable expression, so I carried on. "I went to Hawkins High and graduated in '82. Um, what else? Oh! I can tie a cherry stem with my tongue."
"Wait, really?"
"Yeah. It's a hidden talent of mine I guess."
"I need to see this." He stands up from the table and walks over to our waitress. She hands him a cup of cherries and he walks back to the table. "Alright, I bet you can't tie this in thirty seconds."
"I bet you I can."
"How about if I win, I get to surprise you with something?"
"And if I win?"
"You get whatever you want, on me." I pretend to think about it and tap my finger to my chin.
"Deal." We shake and I pick up a cherry, plucking the actual cherry off the stem and eating it.
"Ready?"
"Ready." He starts the timer and I begin to tie it. We make eye contact and I forget about the stem momentarily. I take in his whole face: I see the dust of freckles across the bridge of his nose and cheeks, how his curly brown almost black hair falls in his sparkling brown eyes, his high cheek bones, and his sharp jawline. He must've felt my stare and looked up, catching my eyes and pulling me back into reality.
"Time. Who wins?" I pulled the untied stem out of my mouth and he smirked when he looked at it.
"You win. So, what's the surprise?"
"Well, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if I told you now, would it?" He smiled at me, laid money down on the table, and stood up, an arm outstretched. I took his hand and stood up. We made our way out the door to his car and he opened the door, letting me settle into my seat, as he climbed into the drivers seat.
We sat in silence until he cleared his throat, "I'm sorry about your mom." I looked down at my feet, not sure what to say. I'd heard it several times before, and never knew how to answer. After I didn't say anything for a minute, he spoke again. "My parents passed away a few years ago in a car crash. So, it's been my sisters and I. My sister, Nancy, was nineteen at the time, so we were able to stay together. She takes care of my little sister Holly, while I'm away at college. I miss them everyday..." he trailed off. I didn't know what to do, so I reached over and grabbed his hand. He looked over at me and gave a light smile, squeezing my hand.
We sat in silence, hands connected, for a few minutes before he said "We're here."
I looked out the window and saw a small cliff, overlooking a small lake. It was beautiful; the black night sky with small twinkling stars scattered throughout. They reminded me of Mike's freckles; that thought made me smile.
We stepped out of the car and Mike joined me on the passenger side. He grabbed my hand and dragged me to the edge of the cliff, sitting down on the edge, while i followed suit.
"It's beautiful."
"Yeah, it is. This is kinda like my secret hide out. This is where I come to think." I looked at him as he stared down at the calm lake. I squeezed his hand and he looked down at our linked hands, then lifted his gaze to meet my eyes.
He leaned in and his eyes settled on my lips. I leaned in the rest of the way and connected our lips. As soon as our lips connected, a loud boom sounded. Startled, we jumped apart and looked at the sky. A large firework had lit up the black sky.
"Impeccable timing," Mike whispered, and I giggled.
I put my arms around his neck and whispered, "Happy New Year." He smiled and leaned in again, for the second time our lips met...
And that's when I woke up.
~
I sat up with a sudden jolt and saw Max sitting on her bed. She gave me a weird look.
"What's wrong, El?" I could hear the girl, but she sounded distant to me. Could that be it? Could that have been the dream? It seemed so real. Max told me about hers. She told me it felt like it really happened.
"El! Earth to El!" Max's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "What is wrong with you? Are you hurt?" She had a concerned look as her eyes wondered my body, looking for any sign of something wrong.
"Nothings wrong. Everything's actually great. I'm perfect!" A smile took over my face, and I jumped out of bed rushing to the bathroom. I jumped into the shower and hurried as fast as I could. After my shower, I did my usual morning routine as fast as possible.
I ran out of the bathroom and Max came over to me. She grabbed my shoulders and looked straight into my eyes, then smiled. "You had the dream didn't you?" I nodded and she squeezed me into a hug.
"Tell me everything!" I played through the dream and told her every detail. By the end, I think about twenty-thousand 'awes' came from her mouth.
"Wait, did you say Mike?" I nodded and she sat in thought for a second before her face lit up. "I'll be right back. I have to talk to Lucas. Stay here!" I wanted to protest, but she was already out the door before I could.
~
It was five by the time Max walked through the door. I stood and walked over to her. "What was that about?"
"Do you trust me?" I stared at her.
"Of course. You're my best friend."
"Okay. Then, go get ready. Put something nice on. Like a dress." I was beyond confused, but did as she said.
I came back out of the room thirty minutes later, fully dressed in makeup, jewelry, heels, and the nicest dress I own. Max looked up from whatever she was reading and gasped when she saw me. "You look gorgeous!" She gushed and I smiled giving her a small "thank you". Max grabbed my wrist and dragged me out the door, our coats in her hand.
"Can I please know what this is all about now?"
"Nope." I sighed, but didn't protest. I knew I'd never win, so why try?
She put me into the car, and drove in silence. Max pulled to the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. She handed me a blindfold and said "Here, put his on." I raised an eyebrow and she just sat expectantly. I rolled my eyes, but a small smile cam across my face.
I heard the car door open and close, then mine opened and hand grabbed mine, helping me out of the car. We walked for a few minutes and finally came to a stop. "Okay, stay here, count to ten, and take the blindfold off." I heard my best friend say and then foot steps, walking away from me.
"Ten, nine, eight, seven...why am I doing this?" I say to myself. I take the blindfold off and gasp at the sight I see.
It was him. He was here. That beautiful smile took over his face as he stepped forward leaving about five feet between us; I stayed still in shock. His voice took me out my trance. "Hi El."
"Hi Mike."
He stepped forward and closed the last bit of distance between us. He whispered in my ear, "Happy New Year" and kissed my lips. It was soft and light, but meant so much.
"I love you." he whispered.
"I love you too."
And I really did. We'd never even met besides in a dream, but he was my dream,
my love,
my soulmate.
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wow. that was forever long. it took me a week to write because i had no idea where i was going with this, so i'm very sorry if there are plot holes. comment if there are any mistakes. vote and comment :) i love reading comments!
(p.s. the au was something i think i made up. i didn't find it anywhere. basically, you dream one night and whoever is in that dream is your soulmate)
