Neighbors - Strangerthingsau

Chapter 24

Happy with You

It's been two weeks since Joyce and Jonathan found out about El and her past. The snowball came and went without El and Mike going together. El has been allowed to leave the house only to go to Mike's, she didn't hate that. During these past two weeks she got closer with the Wheeler's, mostly Holly and Nancy. There like her sisters now.

Mike had gotten really close to her. She had spent a lot of time at his place, he didn't mind at all, and they had a lot of time alone. Mike knew he started to like her. Like, really like her.

He was on his couch in the basement, working on his homework when a light knock came through. He knew immediately it was El. Everyday at 3:15 she would come over so they could hang out together, just the two of them.

Mike got and answer the door smiling when he met her eyes. "Hey!" He said letting her in.

"Hey!" She replied making her way to the couch.

Mike sat down beside her. "Any updates?"

"Same as always. They're still there and we have no idea what there planning." El said playing with her hands.

Mike sighed. He was annoyed with Brenner. He hoped he would just give up and leave El alone. He doesn't want El to be in danger and isolate herself from the world. The world she barely got to see.

"El." He said in a low voice. "We are going to figure this out. You are going to be able to roam around again. It's just going to be a while."

El smiled shyly at him. "Thank you."

Mike took a deep breath. "El?"

"Yeah?"

"I am really happy you get to come over to my place now." He said breaking out into a smile.

"Me too."

"Maybe." Mike thought aloud. "Maybe after this whole Brenner thing is done and your allowed outside again, we could go out together."

"Yeah, with the party?" El asked hopefully.

"No, just us." Mike said starting to get nervous.

"Why not the party?" She furrowed her brow.

"It's just-it's just that I want to spend time with you outside of the basement, just us."

El got more confused as the conversation went on.

Mike sighed. "It would be more... like a... date."

"A date?" El knew what it was. She saw it in a tv show, but she never saw it in real life.

Mike sighed and looked down at his feet, contemplating. He looked back at her and did something he knew would change everything.

Before El knew what was going on she felt a pair of lips on hers. It took her by surprise. She had only seen this stuff on tv. But she enjoyed it and before she knew what she was doing she kissed him back.

They pulled way from one another and looked at each other, smiling slightly.

"I'm happy when I'm with you." Mike said softly.

"I'm happy with you too." El's smile grew wider.

They stayed silent just looking at each other for a few seconds, before the basement door opened making them jump. The rest of the party made their way down the stairs, saying 'Hi' as they entered.

"So I was thinking," Max said grabbing their attention. "Since El can't go to the movies with us, we can just move the movie night here."

"Yeah!" El said. "We should definitely do that."

Staying inside wasn't as bad as it was anymore.

The party had just finished their second movie of the night out of three. While Mike got the last movie ready, everyone went their separate ways to get all their supplies together so none of them had to get up during the movie.

El's job was to refill the snacks. She made her way to the kitchen to see Nancy there grabbing a snack. When El got closer she saw tears stains on her cheeks.

El's felt heart heart drop at the sight. "Why are you crying?" She asked slightly startling her.

Nancy looked at El and then looked away out of embarrassment. "Nothing, i-it's nothing."

"Nance." El tilted her head pleading. Nancy gave in sighing and sitting down at the table, quickly joined by El sitting across from her.

Tears started to fill in Nancy's eyes as she searched for something to say. "You remember me telling you about Steve, right?"

"The one you said was your boyfriend and-"

"Completely in love with, yes." Nancy cut her off. A tear ran down her face as she brought her hands to her head to support it. "He just broke up with me."

"Nance." El said moving to Nancy's side and giving her a hug. "I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I'll get over it, you know?" Nancy said wiping her eyes.

"Yeah, you will." El said with a small smile. She may not have known much about this stuff, but she does know what it feels like to be hurt by someone you thought cared about you. "And, when you get over it, you'll find someone better. Someone that will make him seem like he was a person getting in the way of the new guy. Maybe, the better guy is right in front of your face and now—without him in the way—you'll be able to see him."

Nancy smiled. "Your right. God, I wish you were my sister instead of Will's."

El chuckled softly.

"El! There you are!" Mike appeared in the doorway.

Nancy took this as her cue to leave. "Thank you, El. I'll talk to you later." Nancy left the room with her head down to Mike wouldn't see her tears.

"Movie's about start." Mike spoke up, reminding El what she came up to do in the first place.

"Sorry, I got sidetracked." She said as she quickly grabbed the snacks.

"It's alright. We were just wondering what was taking so long."

"It's nothing." She gathered the snacks in her arms as she made her way to the basement with Mike. She tried to change the subject with something else. "You ready for the movie?"

"Yeah, if you are." He said grabbing her hand leading her to the basement.

Some might say that was the happiest she had ever felt.

Authors note

Mileven has entered the chat. Your welcome. I love this chapter because not only do you see a relationship with El and Mike, you see a sister relationship with Nancy and El.

Unedited. Let me know if I need to fix anything.