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Eleven watched as the snow drizzled down the car window as the snow flew by like shooting stars, going along the car so fast she could never keep up with its speed if she tried. The forecast had warned of the harsh weather, but no one thought it’d actually be a full on Blizzard.
She felt relieved when realizing they had entered the Wheeler's Neighborhood. Even though practically all she could see was snow, she was able to recognize the directions the car was turning.
The vehicle came to a stop as Hopper turned off the Truck, “Kid you're gonna want to hang on to that hat, the wind’s killer. You go ahead, I'll get the beers and pies in the back” she nodded as both doors opened, the Freezing air hitting against her skin. She did not remember it being this cold when she left. The temperature had certainly dropped a lot more from when they left the cabin.
They- (Thanks to Mike) Were invited to the annual Wheeler’s Christmas Party With a few white lies and some slipping around, Jim Hopper had found a way to convince his tiny town that he had been thinking of adopting for a while, and that the blond girl in the pink dress some of them had met a little while back had been his now ‘Daughter’ when she was visiting- Fostering with Hopper. Of course it took a lot of convincing, especially when it came to convincing his colleagues from his Police station, but it all worked out. And before you know it The beautiful, kind, Mrs. Wheeler was inviting Hopper and her to their Christmas Party!
I think Mrs. Wheeler began to notice how much time her son had been spending with the girl and decided to invite the tiny family over, knowing it would probably bring some joy to her son and his friends.
She Turned back around and grabbed a poorly wrapped present that she had gotten for a very special someone. She soon slammed her car door and began trotting to the front door, cutting across their lawn (Which if Ted had seen would’ve sighed, rolled his eyes, and given his wife a snarky remark on how disobedient children are these days)
Hopper followed up behind her with his arms full as she rang their doorbell. She soon noticed her eyelashes were holding small snowflakes up over her eyes, which made them a bit heavy and wet. There was some pitter patter going on and loud talking, and soon enough the door swung open and there stood a smiling Mike.
He was wearing a cheesy Christmas Sweater his mother had made him and some jeans, his hair was nicely combed and his smile was nicely bright. He stepped aside so they could come out of the snow storm, Hopper already regretting coming but keeping his regrets to himself, followed Eleven inside the house.
“El- “ Mike got a look from Hopper as The boys Mom came around the corner to greet them. “uh..J-jane! So nice you can make it!” while speaking he motioned for her to take her jacket off and hand it to him so he could hang it.
She obliged and took off her hat and coat, feeling almost embarrassed in a way..but not a shameful embarrassment..a good embarrassment?
Mike had to keep his mouth from falling agape. She was wearing a knee high red long sleeved dress with a small green belt attached to the silky fabric, along with a small black headband with a bland- but pretty, little black bow that sat at the top of the headpiece. And the white tights pulled it all together. Her cheeks were pink but he couldn't quite tell if it was due to his rude staring or the cold that was still lingering on her face. “Uh, common, have you.. uhh ever played Uno..Jane?” The name felt unhinged and distant, not as good as El sounded.
“I've never played” she stated quietly as she was led into the living room where other adults lounged and talked. “Elev-” Dustin was violently Pushed off his knees by none other than Mad Max, she stared him down before looking at the telekinetic girl “Hey, ‘Jane’ how was your drive?” she empathized on the name, making sure no one would forget what to call her.
“Cold” she responded, Max smiled. Her and eleven hadn't become all that close but it was nice she had cleared up a misunderstanding With Eleven that she had a thing for Mike. Which was total Bull, Her and Mike? Hah! Never.
“Wanna join Uno?” Will said as he held up his last four remaining cards, Almost tasting the victory. “She doesn't know how to play, So..she could just watch this round? Get the hang of it?” Mike suggested, which everyone agreed too. They all sat down in a circle and toned out all the chatter that was happening in the background caused by the adults. “Mike” She tapped on his shoulder as Lucas put down his card, “My present” she said holding out her gift she had been holding “Oh! Yeah, just put it under the tree” he pointed to their beautifully decorated Christmas tree that seemed to take up half of the room. She looked in amazement as she walked towards it, basking in its glory, before quickly putting it down, taking a few glances at it before stepping back to the Uno game
She kept on watching, and still didn't realize all the pointers to the game, all she knew was that the person who had the last card had to yell ‘Uno!’ and the person who had no cards; instead of losing, Wins. But other than that they didn't bother to explain much, so she just kept observing.
“Hey” Will said just as Dustin was drawing 4+ “Maybe we could Have a DnD campaign soon..? And include the girls too..I’d be fun, right?” Everyone had been a bit distracted as it had now been Mike's turn, “Oh uh, ya i guess, I mean that's cool but i don't really think Its Max’s thing to play Dnd, trust me we've already asked” Lucas said as his eyes shuffled through his last few remaining cards
“Yeah well, We haven't made a campaign since..well November, and that's fine, Maybe El would-” “Uno!!!” Dustin screeched as he thru his last remaining card up, laughing in everyone's face
“Ah shit, It's probably a color wheel too, he always ends up with the special cards when he gets Uno!” Complained mike
And he was right, when it came to Dustin's turn again, he put down a +2 yellow card that had everyone groan as he rubbed it in everyone's face, his winning victory.
Eleven smiled as she watched her friends complain that he somehow cheated, but her smile faded when she saw Will get up from the circle, leave, and not say a word. And no one even noticed. To be fair they were all throwing couch pillows at Dustin “Son, Don't do that” Ted mumbled from his rocking chair which made Mikes Eyes roll.
Eleven quickly got up, getting Mike's attention “hey, something wrong?” “I’ll be right back” she walked over to the glorious tree and snatched her gift before walking out of the living room.
“Did we do something wrong?” Mike questioned “Nah, She probably just got Will for secret Santa” Max said as she shuffled the cards “Give her some space Mike, she already follows you everywhere you go, what more could you want?” he gave her an agitated face “Just hand me my 7” she separated the deck and handed him his seven cards without looking.
The voices of adults and chatting faded as she entered near the kitchen in which she saw Karen and Lucas’s mom Talking “Oh, hey sweetie, care for some chips?” Eleven gently shook her head ‘no’ as she steered her way to the basement door, opening it then giving it a close.
“Will?” she called out sofly taking careful steps down the wooden stairs. Will then came into view the farther she went down. He was bent down next to a box, close to her fort that Mike made.
“Will?” she said a bit louder, enough for the small boy to snap his head up at her. “Oh, Eleven it's just you..” he stopped rummaging through the box to look at her “or..do you prefer..Jane?” she shook her head no, and pointed to herself “El.” He gave a small smile before sighing, moving to the couch and taking a seat.
Eleven joined him on the comfy basement couch, sitting in silence for a moment before speaking
“Is something bothering you..?” she spoke, sharing eye contact with him as he started twiddling with his fingers, her face hardened…”Mindflayer...” she asked with seriousness, to which he quickly shook his head to “No! I-...I don't know, I’m..a bit disappointed I guess..” she furrowed her brows, not quite remembering the word, “Dis-a-pointed?” she questioned
Will gave a small chuckle and smiled, “Yeah, I'm a bit bummed, or Disappointed that we can’t do what I want to do…” his smile now fading “we never do what I want…”
She watched as the boys smile faded and a sad little look overcame his face,
“what do you want to do?” she asked intriguingly, his face lit up immediately.
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“Yeah, so you get to pick this character right? And we all start out at a certain level, For example right now im level 13 but I use to be level 1, i've been playing for a while, and I'm a wizard, hence why my names ‘Will the Wise’ ” He sat with her at Mikes gaming table as he took out a few old game plays, old Campaigns Mike had written and stashed away after they finished them.
“Mikes usually Dungeon Master, meaning he's not really technically in the game, he just like- narrates, like reading a story out loud” she nods her head “You can be Our mage, at least that's what Mike always calls you” he said as he rummaged thru the bin full of game pieces trying to see if he'd be able to find a character for El
“Corn?” he looked up “What?”
“Mike thinks I’m…corn?” she asked curiously. “What! No, no! Not Maize, Sorry I forget you don't know half this stuff… a mage is like a super powerful female that can cast spells and brew potions, their pretty awesome” He found a decent character for her to be, and laid it out infront of her
She stared at the little statue girl in Awe. It was a girl with a long cloak-like dress,with a hood reaching over her head who held a book in one hand and used her other to pose.
“Pretty..” “Yeah, she's cool isn't she? She can represent you if you'd like” Eleven nodded intensely, wanting very much to be the pretty statue lady with the book.
“Yeah well, you might have to wait a bit till your character can use like cool gifts and stuff your still a beginner”
It then clicked in Eleven's mind that she still had her gift. She quickly got up and walked over to the couch where they had been earlier, grabbing the poorly wrapped present and presented it to Will
“For me?” he questioned as he took it with a smile “sec-ret san-ta “ she spelled out, he gave a soft giggle “I got Lucas, but I never would've thought you had me. Can I open it?” she nodded, and soon enough he was tearing the gift open, throwing the wrapping paper to the ground
“Whoa! Clay?! How’d you get clay in Hawkins!” Wills eyes shined brightly, In Hawkins the town isn't big enough to have big art supplies imported, so owning clay was like owning Gold.
“Hopper Has a friend that makes it in the city, He said people who like art use Clay, and you like art” Will clashed Eleven into a hug holding his new gift as he hugged her neck “Thanks so much eleven! You don't know how much this means to me!”
Suddenly the basement door opened and footsteps could be heard “El? Will? You guys down here?” Will pulled away from the embrace and quickly responded “yeah we're here!”
“What are you guys doing..?” Mike asked a bit suspiciously as Will seemed a little too close than regularly, but then he noted the clay in his hand and put together that it was probably El’s Secret Santa to him.
“Eleven just gave-” Will started, But eleven spoke up “Mike, we Want to play D and D” the room went silent for a bit, and soon Mike also noticed that the D&D display was all set up on the table, meaning Will had been showing Eleven how to play. “Oh, i didn't know you'd want to”
“which is probably why you should ask her what SHE wants to do more often” Max said as she trotted down the stairs, “if El wants to play, i'm down” the redhead said crossing her arms “Wait were playing DnD?” Dustin peeked from the door upstairs “Count me in!” he rejoiced as he plopped his way down every step,
“Well if that's what everyone wants to do, then ya sure, I bet i have an unused campaign somewhere down here” Mike walked over and began rummaging through his bins, While Dustin grabbed more chairs from the side of the room, Eleven Looked at Will, and noticed the bright smile he had on as his friends gathered around at the table, His eyes soon met hers which he then quietly, oh so quietly, said Thank You,
something only a quiet girl with telepathic powers would hear; and was meant to hear.