she's like the wind ✔ mileven

twelve ❅

the two weeks that came after the party's official meeting and mike calling her pretty, were probably the best days of her life. steve would constantly drive her to mike's house, where the party would be waiting outside for her. some days she'd rush out of the car and other days, she was struggling with the cane on her hand. still, every single day was filled with laughter. 

she grew close to every single one of them. she'd make them brownies and they'd munch on it like kids. they'd watch the dumbest movies and play the dumbest games. her brown eyes would watch in awe as dustin & lucas beat the hell out of will & max in charades with mike's hand on her thigh. he'd draw figures lazily and she caught how it was a habit of him. she also noticed how much he'd cut off cigarettes in these two weeks. so she was bound to be happier. 

"el! come on. i'm sure that we can beat max and lucas!" dustin encouraged, grinning widely as will threw himself on one of the sofas in defeat. nobody in this world could beat dustin and lucas when it came to charades. mike was absolutely sure of it. el smiles widely at the offer and she's nodding. she's like a little kid rushing to the ice cream truck. michael's hand leaves her thigh and she's standing up a little too quickly. 

"el, you have to be careful. remember, you're delicate." the doctors would say and she'd fill with so much anger when they'd say those words. she was far from delicate. she was strong. 

but was she?

her hands are pressed to the floor and she doesn't know how she fell so quick. she can feel her legs. she can feel her hands. she can feel the softness of the carpet on the floor and she can hear her pattering heart. she can also feel her friends crowding her but she can't help but laugh. she can't help but because in her seventeen years of life, this is the most alive she has ever felt. 

"el, are you okay?" mike asks and his eyes are full of worry. she looks over at him and she's nodding at him with tears in her eyes. she's happy. she's really happy. 

"i'm great. thank you." she says, wiping the tears in her face and soon, she's being hugged. her eyes go wide and she doesn't even realize that the party is hugging her as tight as they are. she looks over at mike, who's equally as surprised as her. 

"come on, wheeler. we don't bite." she says with a smile, stretching a hand and he'd be a sucker if he said no to elaine hopper. they don't catch karen walking down to peek at the teenagers and when she sees them hugging and laughing too hard, she only smiles. 

mike's happier these days too. 

he can't help but stare at elaine with bright eyes. she's sick but she still dances. she dances with max to whatever song is on the radio and she runs harder than all of them when she can. the girl makes stories out of thin air and he's sure that the stars were replicas of her eyes. she talks. but she talks about things that heal him. things he likes. she talks about music, she talks about art, she's even mentioned his dad at times. and he doesn't feel that burn in his throat. 

"some things... you just can't change." she'd say. their deepest thoughts would be close to midnight and she'd whisper. her dad always made rounds at night and while she thought she was being slick whispering, he could always hear her whispering and giggling. "your mom made her choice, mike. you can't be angry at her for that... you forget that you're a teenager and that you won't live there forever. if your mom wants to settle for him, then so be it. but you don't settle for less. ever. don't be your mom and marry somebody whose going to be your partner in crime forever. who'll eat noodles when there's nothing else in the cupboards and won't hesitate to call you out on your bullshit. a friend. a best friend."

those words echo in his head and he feels like he's realized so many things. he forgets that he's graduating and that he's leaving soon. that living under that household won't be forever and that it won't be like this forever. and that makes him break out in a sob. the line's quiet and he's crying into his phone. he feels pathetic, like a child. 

"i got your back, mike. i won't leave." she'd comfort him and he'd appreciate it. 

she was his best friend. 

she was the one who he wanted to eat noodles with.

the line is quiet and he sniffles. wiping his tears away. 

"el, you're still there?"

"mhm." she says, but she sounds distant. almost like she's falling asleep. he lets out a chuckle. 

"shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"i should. but i'm having fun with you." she says in a whine and he feels his heart thump. 

he likes her. 

he likes her so much. 

"hey el?" 

"yeah, mike?"

"..."

"nothing." 

"i hate when you do that!" she giggles and he smiles smally. 

one day he'll tell her.