imagine | mileven au

chapter 4

( A/N- the part which is italicized is a flashback to new year's eve) 

mike squashed his face in the pillow, practically grinning like a lunatic. it was new year's day, and he was still in a state of euphoria after last night. he really didn't dream any of it. it was all real. all of that really happened.

talking to el was comforting. even though they had just spent one evening together, he felt like he could tell her.. anything about his life. he wasn't a social person. he had always been more of an introvert. opening up to people wasn't something that came to him easily. he had a small but close group of friends, and he had known them for years. they were like his family. as long as he had the four of them, he was content.

el, though, was a different story. what started out as small talk turned into a night of endless conversations. they talked about everything. from books and comics to films and music. they also shared stuff about their lives. it was weird how easy it was to be with her. it almost felt natural. he had liked her for so many years and obviously had been very eager to talk to her. but what was unexpected was how the conversations turned out the way the way they did. meaningful and fun and effortless.

she was so beautiful and sweet. her eyes were this unique brown and he swore they stirred with emotions. like whenever she talked about her father, she would speak with such affection, he could see how her eyes would soften. her eyes were also a giveaway whenever she tried to lie, though. she'd have this hesitance in her orbs and then she'd blink repeatedly. he figured that out when they were discussing movies.

"i mean, i absolutely love watching films!" he announced with a wide smile.

"i do too! but i especially love watching films in the hall. i mean, i am alright with the television as well but damn, i just love movie halls! i don't feel like i am just watching a film then.. it feels.. it feels like an experience, you know? like i always get goosebumps when the film starts playing." she gushed.

"oh my God, i agree! movies on television are enjoyable but its honestly not the same. i always try to catch the movies i'm really excited for, in the hall."

"same, though a few of the films i look forward to turn out to be r rated." el sighed.

"so? you can always just sneak in." he said nonchalantly.

"um.."

mike gave her a surprised look. "wait, haven't you ever done that before?"

"uh.. i.." she stammered and her eyes fluttered furiously. "of course, i-i have!"

"el..." he raised his eyebrows, not convinced in the least.

"oh Jesus Christ, i haven't, okay? i just.. abide by the rules." she sputtered.

he snickered. "sure."

"also, my father is a cop. which is kind of why i have always been a pretty disciplined person too." el huffed.

"i just.. cannot get over your expressions when you tried to lie." he laughed. "Christ, el, i could tell right away!"

"i know! ugh, even when i contemplate about lying, i get so anxious that i just blurt out the truth. or in this case, i get so weird that the person opposite just understands right away. i don't think i can lie to save my life."

"michael!" his mom's voice broke him out of his thoughts. "be down in 10 minutes! breakfast is almost ready."

"okay!" he yelled. it was time to come out of his dream world.

~*~

"i made eggos!" el declared as her father sat down at the dining table.

"oh my God, again!" jim groaned in frustration. his daughter was obsessed with this snack and it was okay, he could have them once in a while. but they had them so frequently, he was beginning to get sick of them.

"hey, we haven't had them in like a week, okay? i missed them." she pouted.

"okay then, kid. let's have 'em." he playfully rolled his eyes and set the plates, as she put the stack of waffles on the table and sat down in front of him.

they lived in a cabin a little away from the rest of the houses. it was not huge, but they were comfortable and happy. it was home.

"so.." jim started as he poured some maple syrup on the waffles.

"what?"

"i saw that you were with michael wheeler for most of the night."

"yeah.. i was. what about it?"

"so.. are you friends?"

she smiled. "we are now. he's so nice."

"i.." he shut his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. when he opened them, she was looking at him with concern. he shook his head. "kid. i am happy you made a friend. but.. just.. don't let him.. or anyone for that matter.. disrespect you, okay?"

"i won't, dad. trust me. i can take care of myself."

he softened. "you can, el. i know you can. you are so strong."

"i learnt it from you, dad. you are the strongest person i've ever known." el spoke, gazing at him with admiration. he truly was. "and i hope you know that. you've taken care of me through everything. and sometimes.. i feel like you forget to take care of yourself. or think about yourself. i just.. don't want you to hold back, dad. please choose things that make you happy."

his heart warmed. little did she know, but she was a major reason behind his strength.

"thank you, kid. but i hope you know that you make me happy."

she grinned. "you make me happy too, dad."

~*~

"oh my God!" karen slapped her forehead as she remembered something.

"what's wrong?" nancy asked, as she placed her spoon in the bowl, done with her breakfast.

"holly wanted eggos for breakfast and i forgot we're out. michael, can you go get them for me, please? she's asleep for now and should be for a while. she went to bed really last night, so i didn't wake her up."

"why cant nancy go?" mike gruffed.

"i have to go somewhere, just do what's asked of you for once." nancy rolled her eyes.

"fine, i didn't know, just be nice for once." he shot back.

"both of you can carry on later. mike, can you please hurry?" karen pressed her lips in irritation.

"fine." with that he got up from the table, and got out of the house.

~*~

"eggos.. christ." mike groaned as he entered the departmental store. he really didn't want to come out in the cold but damn it. thankfully it was warm inside.

he was walking around to the rack which would have the item he was looking for when he spotted someone else near one of the larders. his eyes widened as she turned.

"el?"