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Mike and Max were in their 3rd period math class. It was the last 25 minutes, when the kids could just do whatever they wanted since the teacher finished his lesson early. Max was about to put on her headphones and listen to ‘Running Up That Hill’ but she heard this group of girls talking.
“I can’t believe it’s gonna be a year since Starcourt Mall was burnt down soon,” one girl said.
“Yeah, and how we lost Chief Hopper,” another girl said.
“And, Billy Hargrove,” another girl said
“Isn’t that Billy’s sister?” asked one of the girls.
The group of girls turned to look at the back of Max’s head. Max got flashbacks of Billy dying from the Mindflyer and trying to not let the tears fall. Max kept thinking about that night and how she could have stepped in instead of just standing frozen. Max’s tears started coming down and she couldn’t be in that classroom anymore so she ran out of the open door, not caring if she got in trouble. Mike watched Max run out the class with their teacher calling out for her. He picked up his backpack that was sitting on his desk and ran after her.
Max ran to the football field and tried to wipe her tears. Then she heard from behind her, “Max!” Mike was able to catch up to her with his long legs. Max slowed down and but started speed walking.
“Max! Max, wait! Hey, hey, hey,” he said. He was able to catch her and stand in front of her so she couldn’t get away. Max looked up at Mike and he was able to see the tears in her eyes. Then Max tackled Mike into a tight hug, Mike hugged her back equally as tight.
The two continued hugging each other, Mike noticed his shirt starting to get a little damp. He started to rub soothing circles on her back. After 2 minutes of them hugging, Max pulled back a little bit and mumbled, “Thanks.”
“Of course,” he said.
Max looked at his shirt and saw a damp spot where her face was. “Sorry,” she said.
“It’s ok, don’t worry about it. Do you want to talk about it?” Mike asked.
Max took a minute to think about the suggestion. It would be better to talk about it with Mike than Ms Kelly since he did witness the same thing as her plus he actually knows about the Upside Down and all that shit but they don’t exactly get along as well. Max nodded and the two walked to the big oak tree. They sat down and it was silent for a good minute or so until Max took a big deep breath.
“I,” Max started before she unzipped her backpack to grab a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. She lit a cigarette and put it in her mouth and blew out the smoke.
She looked at Mike and said, “You are probably disappointed in me.”
Mike looked at the pack of cigarettes that were still in Max’s hand. He reached out and grabbed a cigarette and the lighter in her hand. He lit the cigarette and blew. Max was shocked to see him smoking since she always thought he would be against it.
“I didn’t think you would join me since you come from this perfect family,” Max admitted.
Mike snorted at that thought and said, “My family is hardly perfect, trust me. Plus I’m not disappointed in you,”
Max smiled and said, “Thanks.” Then her smile dropped and put the cigarette back in her mouth and blew out the smoke.
“I just don’t get it. Billy was an asshole, I mean he was kinda abusive towards me and he was racist to Lucas. Like this one time, he grabbed my arm tightly because I was talking to Lucas. I just don’t understand why I’m so upset about his death. He never once cared about me. I mean it could also be guilt that he got involved with the Upside Down shit. I just don’t understand why I’m so upset,” she said.
Mike took a second to respond then he said, “I think it could be the way he died. It is messed up that he was a host in the Mind Flyer’s plan even though he was an asshole. Plus he was actually himself when he sacrificed for El.”
“That’s true, I guess,” she said. The two were quiet and smoking their cigarettes.
“I’m sorry, by the way,” Mike said.
Max looked at Mike and raised her eyebrow in question. She asked, “For what?”
“For treating you like shit when you first came to Hawkins,” he said.
“I forgive you,” she said and smiled at him. Mike returned the smile.
“I know it was because El was gone but why did you like take it out on me?” she asked. Mike took a moment to respond like she did earlier.
“I didn’t mean to, it was just I was mad and upset. When El left, it felt like a piece of myself was taken with her. At first, it was ok because we talked about her to Will but as time went by we didn’t and I thought maybe I could get into contact with her. So I called her every night, hoping she would somehow give me a sign that she was at least ok. Then when you came here, Dustin and Lucas were so obsessed with you and it’s like they forgot about El. I thought they were trying to replace El with you and I got mad at you so I was mean to you. Another part of me, I was worried about you. I didn’t want you to know about the Upside Down, in case it came back and I didn’t want you to get taken away like El,” Mike said.
Max processed Mike’s words and said, “Even though you were a complete asshole about it, I understand that you were worried and wanted to keep everyone safe.”
Mike smiled and said, “Thanks.” The two sat in a comfortable silence and smoked their cigarettes.
“I have a question for you,” Max said.
“What is it?” Mike asked.
“During those days that El was gone, is that when you realized you were in love with her?” Max questioned.
Mike took a minute to think about his response. Then he said, “I think I always knew before then. I always denied my feelings for her that year because I was just 12. But that year she was missing, I guess I realized my feelings were much bigger. I mean I thought it was just a little crush since she didn't know that we were such nerds and got bullied for it. But she’s special and like no girl I have ever met, I mean she isn’t since she had powers but still that even without them she’s still special. I never really cared about her powers, I mean they’re really cool and she’s our mage but I feel more protective of her like when she uses them for little things or when she drains herself. When looking back at it, I do think during that time in the blanket fort made me come to the conclusion that I was very much deeply in love with her.”
“Wow, you are so in love with her,” Max said.
Mike snorted and said, “Yeah, no shit Sherlock. I just said that.” Then his smile was suddenly gone and a sad look took over.
“What?” Max asked, confused of how quickly his expression changed.
“I’ve been a shitty boyfriend recently. El and I have been writing letters to one another to keep in touch and she always puts ‘Love, El’ and I’ve been putting ‘From, Mike’ and I feel so bad about it. It’s not about her, it’s me being stupid and insecure. I’m scared that one day she is going to realize that I’m just a plain old nerd and she can have someone way better than me. Then when I say it, it’s gonna hurt so fucking bad once she leaves me and I can’t deal with my heart getting broken. I mean you saw how terrible I was during those 353 days and I can’t imagine what I would be like if she left me forever. I’m myself when I’m with her and when she leaves me, she has a piece of heart that will never be fixed without her. I’m also scared that if I do tell her that I love her then in the future we are going to be like my parents, who are the worst and absolute shit. All they do is argue with each other and pretend that we are this perfect family when in reality, we are the furthest thing away from that. And they stay together, so they can keep that reputation here which is complete bullshit,” Mike rambled.
“Mike, you are a dumbass. El is not going to want someone else other than you. You are her nerd and forever will be. Now thinking about your relationship becoming like your parent’s relationship is completely stupid. I might not have been there when you guys first fell in love but when you guys reunited and at the Snowball, I could tell you guys have this chemistry with each other that’s different from any other couple I’ve seen. Then last year when you guys broke up, you didn’t even act like it. I don’t know how your parents got together but I know for a fact that you guys will never turn into your parents. You guys love each other no matter what happens,” Max said.
Mike’s insecurities eased at Max’s words. He said, thankfully, “Thanks, Max. I’m sorry that I put so much of my problems onto you even though we were supposed to talk about you.”
“Mike, it’s fine,” she said.
“Anything else you want to talk about?” he asked. Max thought for a second of what else to get off her chest.
“I just can’t believe Lucas joined the basketball team. I am happy for him that he’s finding new things but he chose popularity over friends. I fear behind his back, they’re going to make fun of him because he’s black. I mean he’s been on the bench the whole season but that could be from actual basketball but still he’s the only one or it could be he's the only freshman. I just stop thinking that maybe they are just using Lucas and the other black guy to show they aren’t racist and being equal. Or I could be overthinking about it and it’s nothing really,” she said.
“I can see where you’re coming from. I mean he was bullied for being black when we were in middle school. Yeah, I still can’t believe it that he joined the team. I think it’s ok to be thinking about this because it shows you still care about him even though you guys broke up for the millionth time,” he said.
“Yeah, I feel bad breaking up with him, it’s just Billy died and I guess I was grieving and I couldn’t control my emotions. I feel horrible since I still have feelings for him but I think it was for the best because he doesn’t deserve someone who is going to pull him down,” Max said.
“You love him, don’t you?” Mike asked.
Max thought back to her memories with Lucas and how happy she was with him. Then she said, “Yeah, yeah I do.”
Mike smiled and said, “Love does make you do crazy shit for one another.”
“Wasn’t that how you tried to tell El that you love her in that convenience store?” Max snickered.
“Shut up,” Mike rolled his eyes and nudged her shoulder with his shoulder.
Max thought about their conversation and said, “We really need therapy.”
“Hell yeah, we do,” he said. They looked at each other and started laughing.
Just then they heard someone clear their throat. The two looked up and saw a teacher.
“Mr Wheeler and Miss Mayfield, detention for leaving class 20 minutes before the bell!” she ordered. She wrote detention slips for each of them and walked away.
The two looked at the detention slips then looked at each other and started laughing again.
“Totally, worth it,” Max said.
Mike smirked and said, “Oh yeah, for sure.”