𝑴𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑶𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒔 ( discontinued )

(13) We intellectual

With his father never home, and his mother checking out high school boys, Mike knew the moment would come where something happened between his parents. Something bad.

Ted had always been the parent Mike was less fond of. Of course he loved both his parents. But he didn't particularly like his father. The feeling only grew stronger as Mike grew up.

He always seemed disappointed with Mike, whether it be his hobbies, lack of ambition towards sports, or his unusual devotion to his friends, especially his his girlfriend Jane.

Mike just never seemed to satisfy Ted's expectations for him as a son. And Mike was always anxious about doing better, to impress his father, but he never could. No matter how hard he tried.

His father had this irritating way about him, where he would be so nonchalant about his negligence towards Mike. Just passively showing his disappointment in the worst possible situations for Mike. At the dinner table, family gatherings, even in front of his friends and their parents.

Mike always found it the worst when Ted would voice his opinions about his son to Hopper though. Whenever he came to pick up El, Ted could always find a way to make Mike's cheeks burn in embarrassment, tears pricking his dark brown eyes because he felt so unworthy of the police chiefs daughter.

Hopper knew about Mike's relationship with his father, it was so obvious and undeniable. So the man tried not to give Mike to hard of a time.

Mike's relationship with his mother was quite different though. She always seemed to be looking out for him, along with all of her children. Standing up for only son when her husband was picking him apart.

Karen tried so hard to be the best mother she could for her kids, trying to be someone they could talk to and confide in, maybe even look up to. But her son was tough. She and Mike had drifted apart when El came into his life. He immediately took a strong liking to the brunette girl, and he made his mother so proud whenever she saw the young couple.

Yet El unintentionally took away some of the responsibilities that Karen used to have for Mike, he always went to El first, if he had a problem at school or just needed to talk to someone. And Mike reached out to El first if he felt scared or nervous. Karen knew that Mike didn't realize how she felt. Like she was becoming less important in his life. And she knew El didn't realize either.

Karen hated to admit that she wasn't as strong a role to Mike anymore, and her relationship with Ted was worsening as she lost her son further.

Their arguing could be heard from down the street. Mike sat in his room, trying to focus on his schoolwork instead of the viscous words he heard from downstairs.

Nancy had taken Holly out to the mall, or a friends house as soon as a potential argument formed. She got the innocent blonde out before it erupted. Nancy knew Mike could handle himself in that situation so she didn't bother bring him with. But Mike wished she had at least offered to get him out of the house, after all she was his older sister too.

Mike was fairly used to their arguing by now, it always ended with his father sleeping in the living room and mother sleeping in their room. He would always hear the soft crying of his broken hearted mother before he drifted off in slumber himself.

"That's it Ted, I'm done! I'm done dealing with your shit while you treat me, and our family like garbage! I want a divorce." Karen shouted, staring fiercely at her husband.

"Well that makes two of us!" Ted yelled back.

Mike already felt that all too familiar lump at the back of his throat, threatening to send him into hysterics, but as soon as his mother demanded a divorce Mike couldn't be in his home anymore.

Tears littered his freckled cheeks as Mike gathered a jacket and rushed to the basement, not uttering a word to his parents who had seemingly ceased their violent bickering as soon as he descended the stairs.

"Mike wait-" Karen attempted to keep him from running away. It didn't work.

Mike ignored his mother completely, grabbing the handlebars of his bike, and running it down the driveway, jumping on at the road, to take off in the direction of a small cabin in the woods.

Mike arrived at the small cabin within a few minutes of leaving his house, his dark brown eyes puffy and red. He took long strides to reach the door and proceed to knock the sequence of knocks that he and El had made up, separate from the one Hopper assigned so El would know it was him on the other side of the door.

He noticed that Hopper wasn't home, because his truck wasn't parked by the road and the blinds were up. He never let El leave the blinds up, it was something she did only when he wasn't around.

Mike took in a shaky breath, and waited a moment before the door opened, and he was met with the familiar scent of eggos and cedar, and the face of his angelic girlfriend.

"Oh my gosh Mike! What's wrong? What happened?" She quickly asked, pulling him inside. Mike couldn't bring himself to tell her in that moment, thinking; 'she wouldn't understand' or something stupid like that. He just pulled her into a tight hug. Letting out ugly sobs as he thought about his future.

To say El was surprised was an understatement. She didn't question him further because of the state he was in, simply holding him in a hug while he got her shirt wet with tears.

"Here, come sit down Mike." She uttered softly, guiding him to the couch. She pulled away from his tight embrace to look him in the eyes.

"Did something happened with your family? or- or at school?" She queried. "You don't have to tell me if you aren't comfortable though, and you can stay as long as you need, Hop's not going to be ba-"

"They're getting a divorce." Mike stated, cutting off her rambling. Looking down at her with something different behind his dark brown eyes, a sort of anger El had never seen before.

"I- I don't know what that is." El muttered meekly, avoiding Mike's eyes. He scowled.

"Of course you don't." Mike hissed under his breath, turning away from her slightly. El frowned.

"I'm sorry." She whispered submissively, all the sudden feeling quite nervous, and not the kind when he was about to kiss her.

Mike didn't reply, only scowling at her remark.

"What can I do to help?" She asked quietly. Gently touching his arm. Mike slapped her hand away and faced her.

"Nothing! There's nothing you can do to help me Eleven!" He barked at her, his hands clenched into fists.

This was the first time that El had ever been truly scared of Mike. She didn't think it was possible, but here she was, quivering in her own house, out of the fear that Mike could, might, do something bad to her. Whether it be intentional or not.

Her expression was what caused Mike to soften, that look in her beautiful face that he had seen a handful of times whenever Martin Brenner was present, when she was at her most vulnerable state.

Tears pricked her eyes as she stood up.

"I think you should go Mike." She cautioned, staying a safe distance from him.

"Wait El, I'm sor-" Mike started, when she cut him off

"Just go!" She raised her voice. Tipping her head to open the door from her standpoint. A small drop of blood leaving her nostril.

"El please." He pleaded in a whisper.

"Go." She said sternly, avoiding his eyes. Mike knew he couldn't change her mind right now, so he stood up slowly and approached the open door.

"I'm sorry El." He tried one last time, but El wasn't budging, so he turned and closed the door, holding back his tears as he padded down the creaky wooden steps.

Mike looked back at the cabin, the blinds were shut.

"Shit." He muttered and started walking his bike out of the woods. His next best bet would be to go to Will's. So that's exactly what he did.

This was so long omg
Tell me what you think pls!
I haven't started the part two but hopefully that will be out soon.