imagine | mileven au

chapter 3

"you're kidding! why on earth would you just take coins out of your sister's piggy bank?"

"because that was the day my friends and i go to the arcade, eleanor! i have priorities!"

eleanor burst out laughing as michael threw his hands up in the air with mock frustration. they had been talking for most of the night. what started off as mike's effort to just have a little talk with his dream girl had turned into them actually hanging out and having good conversations. at first they were just standing in the corner of the hall, where he first approached her, but then as time went on, they started walking around and eventually settled on a sofa in another corner of the hall. his cheeky friends had showed up an hour later, and given him teasing glances from a distance. but apart from that, their time together had been perfect. he didn't think that it was possible to be more infatuated with the girl in front of him but it was. she was so sweet and warm that he couldn't help the fact that his feelings had intensified in the few hours.

"speaking of, where are your friends? i for sure thought that you'd be hanging out with them today." she enquired, looking around the hall.

"uh.." he tried to think of what to say. he couldn't possibly tell her 'well, they left us alone because i love you and they thought that we could bond like this'.

her eyes widened. "oh my God, am i keeping you from hanging out with them? please, if that's the case, then you are more than free to go, you don't have to be worried about me being alone. i am good, trust me."

"no, God no, eleanor! don't worry, you aren't keeping me from anything!" mike hastily tried to tell her. he really did want to spend more time with her.

"are you sure?" she asked cautiously.

"yes!"

"okay."

she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. spending most of the night with michael wheeler definitely wasn't something that she anticipated but she wasn't complaining at all. she knew that he was a nice guy, but she didn't know that he was so gentle and fun. she really wasn't one who liked talking to a lot of people, and she kept her interaction with people limited. but she couldn't help herself that night. they had really bonded and for once she actually felt like she had a friend. like, a real friend who she could talk to, share her thoughts with and be there for. she glanced at her father, who was with joyce byers. she smiled. joyce was a lovely woman, who worked at a local departmental store. whenever el had spoken to her, she had been very kind. and jim always looked very mesmerised by her. she giggled. her father wasn't one who was very open to sharing his feelings but she knew he definitely felt something for joyce.

"eleanor, what are you looking at?" michael jolted her out of her thoughts.

"nothing, really. by the way, you can call me el." she smiled at him.

"is that your nickname?"

"yes."

she wanted him to call her by her nickname. that made his heart soar. their relationship had definitely made some headway.

"well, then you can call me mike."

"i am honoured." she giggled.

'again', he thought as he felt his heart race. every time she laughed, he felt that. maybe this feeling is what pushed him to tell her as many funny stories he could. he was so eager to make her laugh that he had ended up telling her some embarrassing stories as well. did they make him look like a fool? yes. did he regret? no. she had laughed and that was enough for him.

"can i ask you something?" he said hesitantly.

"of course."

"why.. nevermind." he stopped. no, the question felt invasive.

"hey, ask me! i wont mind." el insisted.

"no, i think it's intrusive."

"and i don't mind. we're friends now, mike. you can ask me whatever you like."

she said they're friends. and she called him mike. a feeling of pure ecstasy coursed through him and if he could die of happiness, this moment would've been it.

"we're friends." he said it out loud.

"aren't we?" el chuckled.

"yeah! yeah, we are." he said eagerly. "i was just wondering.. you know, you're so nice. why don't you hang out with people more?"

she looked down, embarrassed. "it's just.. i don't know. i feel awkward and weird. like, i feel like if i say something, i'll.. i'll be judged. and that'll just make me... anxious. but if i keep to myself, then i have nothing to worry about, y'know? and to be honest, i do like being alone."

"oh." was his response before his eyes widened. "God, did you want to be alone tonight? am i bothering you?"

"no! no, mike. i'm actually happy that you're with me tonight. i guess, having good company feels nice too." she smiled warmly at him.

a sense of pride swelled him. she usually preferred being alone but today, she wanted to hang out with him. damn, if that didn't make him feel elated.

"i like your company too." he murmured shyly, looking into her eyes, giving her a timid grin. his heart could not stop racing. he wondered if she could actually hear it beating because he sure as hell could.

hearing him say that made her blush. she always thought of herself as rather boring. but if he liked being with her, then maybe she wasn't after all.

looking at her blush made his cheeks crimson too. both of them giggled like giddy kids because honestly, that's what being with each other made them feel like. just... happy.

"it's almost time!" someone shouted, jolting them out of their bubble.

"oh my God, really? i.. didn't even realise." el exclaimed.

"time flies when you're having fun." mike replied teasingly.

"sure does."

"10!" people started doing the countdown as both of them stood up from the couch. they quickly went to stand in the nearest balcony and looked up as it was finally time.

"4.. 3.. 2.. 1! happy new year!" with that, the fireworks were on cue. el and mike gazed wistfully at the sky. it really was a sight to behold.

"happy new year, mike." she said, softly, looking at him.

"happy new year, el." he beamed at her.

the moment felt so intimate that it took el aback. she could felt something warm wrap around her heart and that made her feel strange. she shook her head to snap out of it.

"i.. should probably go find my dad." she said hurriedly.

"yeah and i'll... go find my family."

before parting, she waved at him, giving him a small smile. he waved back, his heart pounding in his chest. he couldn't believe that this evening was real.. that all of this actually happened. there were so many times in school when he just wanted to go and talk to her but... he just didn't have the courage to. nervousness would just flood his brain. what if he said something wrong? or weird? what if she thinks strangely of him? all these thoughts would just continuously bother him, and stop him from approaching her. he didn't know what it was about today, but he was able to push himself to finally do what he wanted to do for years. and he was just so glad that he did.