she's like the wind ✔ mileven

five ❅

"why are you going to the club so early?" steve questions when el is finally in the car. he's her designated driver. "do you want to talk to heather again? are your meds working out fine?"

she's in her pink coat and she's shaking her head. she doesn't want to talk to heather. and her meds make her a little too sleepy. but that's not why.

"i'm meeting up with a friend." she says and steve is instantly raising an eyebrow. elaine had friends but she wouldn't meet them this early. "you can't tell dad about him."

"him?!"

to: michael
hello, i'm waiting for you~

to: michael
it's cold.

to: michael
did you ditch me? -___-

"i didn't." he says, bringing her attention to the tall boy and he, in his fashion, was stomping on the cigarette. he's shoving his hands in his pockets.

"mike!" she says enthusiastically and if she wasn't so fragile, maybe she had stood up. her enthusiasm slowly dies down when he's chewing his bottom lip and he looks like he's close to tears. "hey... mike. are you okay?"

"yeah, yeah. i'm fine." he says, kicking the cigarette and she catches how the stick is instantly destroyed to ashes. "my dad just makes me really angry."

she reaches for his hand and she's tugging for him to sit right beside her. the youth meeting wasn't starting anytime soon so they had enough time to talk about everything that bothered them. at least she hoped that he talked about what was bothering him.

"you always mention your dad... is that why...?" she trails off and he's instantly nodding at her question. he's the reason that he's coming to this youth club.

"yeah. that's really the reason why i visit this very shitty youth club. my mom sent me here because i have mayor attitude problems. but i really don't. i'm just so fucking angry at my dad."

"what'd he do?"

"he hasn't have a solid job in ten years. my mom has been holding our family together all this time. all he does is watch television and eat all of our food. i swear. holly does more and she's a fucking kid."

"holly?"

"my sister. my youngest one." el nods at his words and she watches how he's reaching into his jacket. she's instantly grabbing his wrist and stopping him. she knows what he's going to grab. her dad does the same thing when he's stressed.

"stop."

"i need it."

"you don't." el says and she watches how he's unwinding his anger.

"i don't know what to do, i feel fucking useless!" he curses and he's throwing the carton to the floor. he has tears down his eyes and she knows that feeling. she knows that feeling better than anything.

"hey, hey." she reaches out, boldly holding his face and she's trying her best to calm him down. she shouldn't be outside this long because she's starting to feel the pain deep in her bones, but he needs her here. and she wants to be here for her friend. "i got you. i'm here with you, mike. you're not alone in this."

the words make him crumble and soon, he's being held by her. they're hugging infront of the church and he swears that he's never been this open with anybody in his life. especially with a stranger. but el had a comforting vibe to her. she was like a calming song and he wanted to replay this feeling over and over again. mike cries for a few minutes and soon, he's pulling away from her.

she's wiping his face from tears and giving him a smile. "do you feel better?"

"a little bit, yeah. sorry for crying into your coat." he apologizes and she's looking down at her pink coat. there's tear stains and she shakes her head.

"it's okay, mike. i promise."

while he composes himself, she's reaching for his cigarette carton and she hands it to him without a second thought. "this belongs to you."

he laughs, sniffling. "are you condoning my actions, elaine?"

her eyes widen and she's shaking her head. "never! but... i assume these cost a lot."

mike laughs, "yeah. they really do."

"elaine, the meeting is starting. mike, yours too." the youth leader calls for them and the duo are snapped into reality. they didn't even realize how much time has passed between them.

el throws her a smile, "thank you heather, i'll be up there in a second."

"we should probably go." he says, standing up and he feels extremely vulnerable. he feels his face go red and he wishes it was because it was because of the cold breeze.

"you can head inside, i'll go inside in a sec. i have to call my brother first." she says, a smile on plastered on her face. her nose is red and she's cold.

"okay." he nods but before he goes, she reaches for his wrist.

"you can count with me, okay? you're not alone in this, mike."

"thank you, el." he smiles sweetly and she's returning it once again.

"no problem, mike."

he heads inside and when he's gone, it doesn't take heather much to come back to her. this time she's not smiling and she's reaching out for her worriedly.

"come on, i'll help you. do you need the wheelchair?"

she shakes her head. "no. just hold me really tight, okay?"