elaine is always awake early. her body can't bring itself to sleep in without an ache of her legs and a trickle of blood coming down her nose. so here she was, at seven in the morning, napkins shoved in her nose, medication already in her system and she was eyeing the cartoons. el didn't have a reason to go to school since her parents were absolutely worried about her condition and pushed her to graduate early. her stepbrother on the other hand, was shoving toast in his mouth and trying his best to hurry.
"steve, you're late again." she mumbles and steve knows. he's trying his best to have everything in check before leaving the house. she can see the biology books and his laptop crammed in between those. "i don't know why you don't dorm at college. your scholarship covers it."
he's munching on the piece of bread and chugging milk from the carton. she scrunches her nose in disgust. her dad does the same. he's finally grabbing his keys and on his way out, he plants a kiss on her hair. "i wouldn't be able to see you whenever i wanted if i stayed at that dumb dorm. don't you think?"
before el can retaliate with anything, he's blowing a dramatic kiss at her and exclaiming. "steve harrington is out the building. i'll see you later. are we still up for that disney marathon?"
she nods and he's clicking his tongue.
"sweet. i'll see you later, el."
the front door is shut and now, she's all alone in her home. el tries to ignore the bitter feeling that sets on her chest. she hates being alone. she hates it every single time more with a growing passion. her dad was chief of the police, her stepmom worked at a bakery, her brother was always studying and el was sick in her house.
she knows that she can't be selfish. there's bills to bed paid and she needs to understand that her condition isn't going to change the pace of things. but when she's alone, she thinks. she thinks about her medication. she thinks about her therapy. she thinks about everything and she wonders if any of this working. she lets out a small breath and she's tired. she pulls the napkins out of her nose and she's throwing it to the bin beside her. she's turning off the television and soon, she's dragging her feet on the steps. her hands are tightly holding the support bar.
"what do you mean? what's wrong with my kid?" are the words jim hopper asks the doctor. they think she can't hear them but she can. they're outside her hospital bed and her stepmom is holding onto her hand tightly. she's praying. she can hear her prayers loud and clear.
"she has a rare disease."
el makes it safely to her bedroom and a sigh of relief leaves her mouth. she's closing the door behind her and she's slowly throwing herself on her bed. she should be gentle with herself but she's so tired of everybody being gentle with her. she's focusing her eyes on the ceiling and her phone buzzes.
from: michael
why does school exist?
michael wheeler.
el doesn't know why she stopped him. she didn't know why she bothered him while he was smoking. her dad smoked. her stepmom would sometimes too. maybe it was because he was young like her. or maybe it was because he was healthy.
to michael:
to teach us about our society and ancestors. i don't know. i graduated last year and don't remember anything except the fact that english was my favorite class.
from michael:
you graduated? how old are you?
to michael:
wow, good morning to you too.
to: michael
i'm seventeen.
from: michael
jesus, you're smart.
from: michael
good morning btw.
from: michael
i'm thankfully a senior and graduating soon.
soon enough, i'll be able to leave hawkins and
forget all about this shitty town.
she's really not that smart. but it was hard to write an essay when both of your hands were aching in pain. when your entire body was deemed useless and she couldn't help but cry into steve's chest. it hurt. it hurt. it hu-
from: michael
shit. i'm not bothering you right?
to: michael
no, no. i was just drinking water. relax.
to: michael
where would you go?
from: michael
california. music festivals and hot girls. do i have to explain anymore?
she laughs. she guesses not.
to: michael
solid plan. i can actually see you at coachella with ugly bandanas and singing songs a little too high.
from: michael
why did that make me laugh.
she doesn't know. but it made her laugh too.
from: michael
what are your plans?
her plans before being diagnosed were clear. she was going to travel the world and write in paris. she was going to live off wine and cheap bread. it was a silly idea but it had filled her with content. but now?
to: michael
just live my life to my fullest.
to: michael
i want to... go to the highest water tower in hawkins and draw graffiti there.
from: michael
oh ho. and i thought i was the delinquent.
to: michael
just cause you smoke, doesn't make you a delinquent. stupid.
from: michael
ouch, stupid? that shit hurted.
that earns a whole hearted laugh from her and she doesn't know that he's smiling brightly at his screen.
to: michael
go focus.
to: michael
if you need me, call me.
to: michael
i'm a deep sleeper.
from: michael
alright miss elaine, i shall.
she cringes.
to: michael
please call me el. elaine makes me feel like i'm old.
from: michael
alright... miss...?
to: michael
hopper.
from: michael
elaine hopper. you sound like a doctor.
to: michael
maybe one day.
YOU ARE READING
she's like the wind ✔ mileven
Fanfiction( 𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚞 / 𝚖𝚘𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗 𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚊𝚞. ) in which going to that dumb youth club happens to be the best thing to ever happen to michael wheeler. or, the fic in which elaine hopper changes his life.
