ELMAX - [girls just wanna have fun]

Chapter one: The apology

The year was 1985, spring had sprung late in Hawkins but finally the grey skies had cleared and flower picking and brightly coloured clothing were back in fashion. Spring had sprung so late, in fact, that you could almost call it summer; Dustin certainly could as he spent his last day with the party before camp started.

Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, Max and El sat around a picnic blanket, picking at tiny sandwiches and sipping lemonade on top of the tallest hill in Hawkins with a view of the whole town in front of them.

The sky was pink now and as the sun set and the air grew colder around the them Mike suggested that they walk back to Hawkins, "we don't want to be out here in the dark" he said looking over at Will protectively "come on let's get out of here"

The four boys began walking down the hill, leaving Max and El to gather up the picnic blanket and basket. Max looked over at Eleven struggling to fold the blanket herself.

"Here, let me help"

El looked up at her with a sort of defeated look in her eyes and offered Max a corner of the blanket, she folded one side while Max folded the other, meeting in the middle. 

"easy-peasy! see?"

"easy-peasy?"

"It's something people say when they find something really easy" Max explained and started walking down the hill.

Eleven nodded and ran to catch up with Max. Breathlessly she offered to carry the basket, Max gave her it and giggled as El swayed from side to side with the weight.

"easy-peasy!"

"Now you're getting it El!"

Eleven laughed and started running down the hill.

"Eleven, you can't run with that basket, you'll fall!"

Max started running to catch up with her and just as she got close, El tripped over, Max held out her hand to catch her but the weight of the picnic blanket pulled them both over.

They landed looking up at the sky, hands and legs spread out like starfish laughing away the pain. Eleven turned to Max,

"Max, I have to tell you something"

Max turned over to look at her

"What is it?"

"I- I was the one who made you fall off your skateboard last year"

Silence.

"I'm s- sorry Max, I was angry and I shouldn't have been and I know you wanted to be friends so I was thinking, I might want to be your friend too"

Max looked up and the fading pink sky grinning to herself.

"It's okay El, I forgive you and I would like to be your friend too if that's okay?"

They both sat up and looked at each other, smiling.

Max held out her arms with a small smile, El leaned in and hugged her tightly.

"Why did you forgive me Max? I was so horrible to you"

"Because, like you've always said, friends don't lie so I know you mean it, anyways I've always wanted a girl best friend"

They broke apart, stood up and started walking down the hill, hand in hand.