she's like the wind ✔ mileven

eighteen ❅

michael wasn't excited for his birthday. at all. he had gone to bed with elaine on the phone and he had zero intention of getting out of his bed. he was grumbling, his head under his pillow, but his mom was still knocking on his door. it was early and he really didn't want to wake up.

"michael, happy birthday!" his mom says. she's knocking on his door and he's clinging to his bed. he doesn't want to move. at all. he wants to sleep in until he's no longer drowsy. but karen is opening his door and he's curling in a ball. "come on, mike! we have to sing happy birthday... i want to sing happy birthday to my boy. i have to go to work..." she says with a sigh and she's sitting on the edge of the bed. she reaches for the curls that peak out and he forgets how much he misses his mom sometimes. "you're nineteen now. i have to enjoy these moments with you."

mike peaks out of his cave and rests his head on the mattress, where his mom can actually see his face. "you're acting like i'm going to run away and leave you tomorrow. but let's go." he sits up and she's planting a kiss on his head. "happy birthday mike. now come on. breakfast is getting cold." karen says and this time, he's not grumbling. he's rushing to grab a shirt and he's dragging his feet downstairs.

he can hear his mother laughing and he's scratching his head in confusion. once he's in downstairs, he catches how there's multiple pancakes around the table and there's a shower of gifts. there's streamers and banners and he's so confused.

"surprise, wheeler!" max yells and she's popping a streamer towards him. there's confetti falling on her feet and he's just blinking. the party is slowly surrounding him, holly's on lucas shoulders and they all have smiles on their faces."we decided to do something different this year. your dad had this idea.. and we might not be able to hang out together, but i wanted to make sure that your friends are here for you." karen says with a small smile and he's smiling softly at her words.

"holy shit, thank you." he says and before she can chew him out, she's pulling her into his arms. he's giving her a tight squeeze.

"thank you, mom."

"don't thank me, it was your dad's idea." karen says through the hug and he's looking over at his dad. whose shaking his head.

"this wasn't my surprise. my surprise is supposed to be---" there's a knock on the door and ted is smiling. he's opening the door and he really hoped that it wasn't a clown. his dad wasn't good at surprises. but damn, this one was the best one yet. when the door is fully open, el is standing there. she's wearing a pretty dress and this time, she's using crutches to motor herself.

"el, oh my god." he says, passing by everyone and he's pulling her into the tightest hug he could muster. "i thought you were in the hospital. you told me that--"

"i was discharged this morning and i wanted to spend it with you." she says into his chest and he's cheesing a little too hard. he can hear the click of cameras and he wants to kiss her so bad. but he can hear the mumbling in the background and he knows that they'd throw everybody in a roller-coaster.

"steve says happy birthday, by the way." she says, pulling away from his lanky body and he's looking at the car that dropped her off. steve smiles and he's throwing a wave his way.

and god, this was the start of everything.

everybody was eating breakfast and they were all talking, aching for his attention. he was thrown between conversations and he couldn't help but feel content. his family was here, his friends were here and his girl was here. he couldn't help but feel the luckiest.

he was opening dustin's present but he could still hear karen, el & holly hitting it off.

"oh wow, these are really good." el glows.

"really? i tried this recipe today! i saw it on facebook." karen says almost in surprised and el nods in absolute content. it's some type of strawberry pancake with excessive whipped cream. she's sitting beside holly, whose eating too. "you can taste the softest in these. they're great! do you think so, holly?" el says stretching out and holly's smiling widely. she's shy but she likes her a lot. he can tell.

"wheeler, open your presents!" dustin says. the presents are all surprises to him. dustin gives him colored shirts, claiming how he needs to dress in color and he laughs really hard. all of them do. max gives him a hoodie that's actually of his interest and she rolls her eyes, claiming that she doesn't care about what he says. his mom hands over the extra car, earning loud howls and he's spinning her around.

his dad pulls him apart when they're all distracted. he watches how karen's grabbing her own apron. "hey, mike. i have to take karen to work. i'm going to be home late tonight, so order some pizza for holly and you okay? no funny business with elaine, okay?" ted says and he's in confusion. where would he even go?

"where are you going?" he smiles,

"i got a job down at the repair shop. i'm going to see how it goes today."

"holy shit." he says and mike feels like he's dreaming. this has to be a dream.

"you got a job? and you brought el here? are you even my dad?"

"shut up, mike." he says, but he's tagging him in a hug. it's heartfelt and mike feels like crying. he's really happy.

the day eventually progresses and the party slowly parts from each other. maybe it's because they noticed how antsy mike was getting and how he wanted to spend time with el by himself. which they couldn't blame him. none at all. holly was talking on the phone on the phone with her friends while the duo were in his basement.

this time, the basement wasn't a mess and the two of them were on the sofa. there was music in the background and they were peppering kisses on their lips. el would giggle with every single kiss and he'd even kiss her nose at times. it was nice.

it was nice to be an actual couple.

she reaches for his face, planting more kisses on his lips and he's smiling against her lips.

"i missed you."

"and i missed you."