she's like the wind ✔ mileven

twenty ❅

elaine hated the thought of not being able to spend new years eve with mike.

it was new years eve and after much begging, her dad told her that she couldn't go out. they were getting ready for the new years and what it was going to bring. the good news he had found a new physician who could help her with her current issues. the physician had mentioned wanting to see el when she was relaxed and would evaluate her from there. the brunette was slumped in her couch, arms crossed over her hands and she hated it. she really did. her eyes were glued on the television but her expression didn't change at all.

"hey, stop pouting. you're going to greet the new year frowning." her stepmom says and steve laughs at his mom's joke.

"she's whining cause she won't be able to see her boyfriend." her brother teases and she hates how she even told him about mike asking her out. she slaps his shoulder harshly but like her best friend, she teases him back.

"you saw nancy and jonathan earlier, so shut up." she snaps back and he's instantly arguing with her.

"i hate you." he says, throwing his arm around her and she's laughing loudly. they're play wrestling and her crutches are by her side. they're laughing like the idiots they are and hopper's quick to shut the two of them down.

"hey, hey. steve be careful with her. also, we have guests." hopper says and el doesn't even bother to look over. it's probably one of his dad's friends. so she only fixes her outfit. 

"el, aren't you going to great your boyfriend?" her stepmom says teasingly and she's looking over. and there, in the flesh, is mike. he has a smile on his face and his hands are shoved in his jacket.

"mike!" she yelps, reaching for her crutches and she's careful with her walking. she doesn't want to go back to the hospital. especially today. behind mike, max peaks and el's smiling wider.

"you brought the whole party?"

"not only them."

"jonathan?" steve calls out and he notices the lanky teenager in the back. he also notices nancy.

"my house is full of teenagers." hopper comments to his wife, but he can't help the smile on his face when he sees how happy el is. they eat and hopper swears that he's never seen his daughter so happy. throughout the whole day, she's been smiling. the day goes great. it's almost like a dream.

the teenagers are outside when it's 11:55 and the couples are all huddled together. her stepmom has to tell hopper that they're teenagers and that they'll be okay by themselves. that el is going to be okay by herself.

the party are turning on sparklers and el has thrown her crutches to her side. she's holding hands with max as they do. they're jittery and they're running around the street. they're like kids and el can't help the lightness in her chest.

"so you're saying that i won't have a new years kiss?" dustin says in the background and lucas answers instantly.

"yes."

"hey will, can i kiss your boyfriend?" dustin questions and will's reaction makes everybody around them laugh.

"what?!" he says.

"no kissing, please. we're trying to talk." nancy says, with a laugh and she's laughing. nancy was slowly coming around and she was spending more time at the wheeler house. which mike couldn't help but love.

"shut up, nancy!"

"come on, guys! it's almost time."

"i'll race you?" el questions. they're at a comfortable distance and this would make a fun run. at least she thought.

"can you?" max asks worriedly and el furrows her eyebrows together.

"i can! why don't you believe me?""alright... one! two! three!" max yelps and soon, max is running.

she's in first place and she doesn't catch how el starts, only to stop. her head feels extremely dizzy and she's heaving midway through the run. her nose is oozing blood and her eyes are furrowing. she feels hazy. the girl falls on her knees. she knows that's going to leave a scab.

she takes a second to take a breath before anybody realizes. usually, it take thirty second for anybody to realize she's on the floor. she shakes her head and she's wiping her nose with the back of her hand. she forces a laugh and she's standing up.

"max, you won!" she yells and she's almost dragging her feet. she can tell how worried steve is by the way his head peeks and how mike stares, but she's trying her best to play it cool. she makes her way to her boyfriend and she's clutching his wrist harshly.

"i saw that." he whispers and she's breathing deeply.

"it's not big deal. just hold onto me, yeah?"

"always."

"el, are you okay?" max questions and el nods.

"don't worry, max. i promise i'm okay." she lies and max can't help but frown.

"max. i liked running with you. i'm okay. i promise." she says and max nods with a smile.

"okay."

"five!" dustin yells and max is scattering to lucas.

"four!"

"three!"

"two!"

"one."

the fireworks are all over hawkins and there's kisses being shared everywhere. mike looks down at his girl, who's giving him a small smile. her chest is slowly slowing down and she's reassuring him with the brush of her thumb.

"how about we kiss and i'll get you a band-aid for your knee?"

"you're really the man after my heart, mike wheeler."

"that's the plan, miss hopper." she's smiling and their kiss is small.

but soon, he's helping her clean her busted knee and she's holding herself tall with the crutches. nobody notices that her heart won't stop racing and how dizzy she feels, but elaine only blames the adrenaline of the night.

because that would make sense.

except it's not the adrenaline of the night.

it's something much more serious than that.