Chapter Text
2 months. 61 days. 1465 hours. That's how long it had been since El and Will had been shipped off with Jonathan to Lenora Hills after after the insistence from Hopper and Joyce about a 'fresh start'.
When Hopper had managed to get away from the Russians in time the family had come together and Joyce and Hopper refused to be separated so the Hopper-Byers family was made. At first the idea of moving was immediately shut down by the protests of the kids, but at seeing El still locked away with no freedom the adults made up their minds.
During the move tears had been shed and letters promised wholeheartedly. El had clung tightly to Max as Will and Mike sobbed into each other the rest of their family were heartbroken at having to separate them. Despite having never really gotten along until Max had moved in, Mike and Max clutched each other desperately as guttural sobs tore from their throats as they watched the Hopper-Byers drive away to start there new lives.
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Max wrote to El every single week, updating her on life, asking her how she was, gossiping as they once had during sleepovers, and El always replied every single time. Sometimes the brunette would include small Polaroids showcasing her room, what she had been up to, Will of course and even Joyce and Hopper.
The redhead despite spiralling into a deep depression during the first month without them in Hawkins, never missed letter day (always the same day no matter what) and made sure to call El whenever she could which was less then she'd like,as Joyce used the phone line for work. Mike had noticed her grief and sat with her through the dark times, helping her write letters to El as she helped him with Will.
Mike had cleared the guest room with the help of Nancy and his mother almost immediately after hearing how Max's mother refused to buy her necessities and blamed her for Billy while drowning her sorrows with alcohol and that is how they found themselves side by side and packing their bags to go to Lenora.
El and Will had sent them a joint letter asking if they would come visit for a week before Christmas and even staying Christmas day if Karen and Ted would allow it -after everything, they secretly knew they would- and the two had immediately asked, grabbing stuff to pack before even having an answer.
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Max and Mike both bouncing on the ball of their feet, boarded the plane ready to be reunited with the people who had left a hole in their absence.
Mike chatted to Max animatedly explaining all the things Will had told him about Cali as max nodded eagerly, adding in any extra points El had said.
As the plane took off, both of the siblings had massive grins plastered on their faces- something so uncharacteristic for the pair- but almost undoubtable when their best friends (neither had fully realised the truth) were involved.