ENDGAME | STEVE HARRINGTON

( CHAPTER TWELVE )

( CHAPTER TWELVE )

Everyone stared at the girl in pure shock; Eleven had her now curly hair slicked back, she wore jeans that were rolled up slightly and dirty white converse, to complete the outfit she wore a black t-shirt and jacket.

She looked so far from innocent, her nose was bleeding, which Hailey had quickly figured that El had saved them from the Demogorgon.

Hailey's eyes moved over to Mike. She knew that Mike had a thing for El, heck; everyone knew. Mike steps forward, his mouth slightly opened from shock. Eleven had moved forward as well, the two meet halfway.

"Eleven," Mike greets, still in the state of shock.

"Mike," Eleven had gasped and Mike wraps his arms around her, they pulled each other in for a hug and Hailey subconsciously leans on Steve, a small smile appearing on Hailey's face.

"Is that..." Max asked in front of Hailey, looking between the two boys that stood either side of her, Dustin and Lucas. Dustin and Lucas both nod.

Mike and Eleven end their emotional embrace, pulling away from each other but still looking at each other. "I never gave up on you," Mike had his hands on her shoulders, smiling at her tearfully. "I called you every night. Every night for-"

"353 days," Eleven cuts him off softly, shaking her head. Her shoulders drop. "I heard."

"Why didn't you tell me you were there?" Mike questioned, feeling rather hurt that she didn't tell him. "That you were okay?"

"Because I wouldn't let her," Hopper had stepped in, Hailey's eyes widen in realisation. Holy shit, she thought. Hopper had kept her the entire time. Mike turned back and Hopper steps forward. "The hell is this? Where have you been?"

"Where have you been?" Eleven fires back, her glare hardening but then softened when Hopper wrapped an arm around her, giving her a hug.

"You've been hiding her," Mike shoots a glare towards Hopper and Hailey winced, knowing this would end badly. "You've been hiding her this whole time!"

Mike shoves Hopper. "Hey," Hopper had snapped, grabbing him by the shirt, pulling him closer. "Let's talk. Alone."

Hopper and Mike soon go into Will's room, leaving the others to reunite with Eleven. Hailey had stepped forward first, smiling widely. "Eleven," Eleven's gaze moved towards Hailey and she smiled.

Eleven and Hailey hugged. "Hailey," she mumbled out. Eleven always liked Dustin's older sister. She was always soft and gentle around her, something she didn't get very often. Hailey removed herself, feeling happy. Eleven remembered her name.

Dustin and Lucas moved forward happily, giving her a big group hug. "We missed you," Lucas tells her softly.

"I missed you, too," Eleven admits.

"We talked about you pretty much every day," Dustin chuckled as they pulled back.

Eleven studies Dustin, noticing something different about them. She reaches out and touched his front teeth. "Teeth," she notices, making Hailey smile.

"What?" Dustin asks as Eleven pulled back her hand to her side again.

"You have teeth," she continues. Dustin chuckled, giving Lucas a big grin and he looked back at Eleven.

"Oh. You like these pearls?" Dustin then purrs something that Hailey absolutely hated. Dustin sent Hailey a cheeky grin, knowing that pissed off his sister.

"Eleven?" Max hesitated from behind, she steps forward. "Hey, um, I'm Max." Max holds out a hand. "I've heard a lot about you."

Eleven shoots Max a glare, Hailey frowned. Eleven then ignored Max and moved forward. What was that about? Hailey thought.