(🏹) ✔️ 𝓼𝓾𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮-ONE SHOTS!

0.12

"What?" Max asked, feeling her own eyes begin to water. "Who?"

"It doesn't matter, Max. Let's keep going. Thanks for trying, though."

"Sure, it's whatever."

Be strong for someone who is too weak to be strong for themselves. That was a rule Max had learned to live by. But this was different. How could she stay strong for the girl she had hopeless feelings for knowing they will never be returned? It seemed impossible. No, it was impossible, she decided as she let a singular tear cascade down her cheek.

Finally after a few silent minutes the girls arrived to the abandoned pool that was all the rage just a couple of months ago. The gate had only a small lock, surprisingly. And lucky for them, the redhead was an expert at picking locks. She pulled a bobby-pin out of her hair, letting a strand of hair fall from beside her ponytail— but close enough to her face you could tuck it behind her ear. El adored the way she looked, taking on a concentrated face as she worked. After a few seconds of this cute look, the lock fell into her hand. "Boom," she smirked. The girls walked in, leaving the gate only slightly open. Rule one of a break-in: never leave evidence.

"Max, did... did you bring a bathing suit?" El asked suddenly.

Max looked at her with a slight smile. "No, we swim in our underclothes. Is that okay?"

A blush creeped onto her face and she only nodded. Max turned around, removing her shirt. El couldn't help but stare at her back, even if there was nothing to see but the lines that traced her back, her cute freckles, and her bra strap. She removed her shorts, turning around to see a still-dressed El. "Well what are you doing? Are you going to get changed?" El nodded, spinning around. "No need to turn away, baby."

Air stopped flowing through El's mouth. "I'm sorry?"

"I was joking, jeez!" the girl laughed. "Who do you think I am? Some kind of perv?" The girl looked apologetically at Max, turning around again. Of course she looked away now, too embarrassed to stare.

"Alright," she smiled, turning back to face the girl who brought her here. "Ready?"

"Does this answer your question?" Max asked. She ran passed El, jumping into the pool. Waves ricocheted off of each other as she fought to reach the surface. She reached the fresh air, smiling and wiping her eyes. "Coming in?"

"No, she isn't, and you shouldn't be either," said a restrictive voice.

But before the voice was heard, El was already underwater. She popped up to be met with a worried Max. "What is it?" she asked. She looked forward to be met with the one and only Chief of Hawkins Police, El Hopper's father himself, Jim Hopper. "Hey, Dad."

"Hello. What do you two girls think you are doing? You're lucky I found you and a different officer didn't. This is a felony."

The two girls got out of the water, drying off with towels Hopper had brought and dressing back up. They received a very exciting lecture while all of this happened.

"Dad," El sweetly spoke after he finished his lecture. "We were wrong to do this. That I will not sugarcoat. But please, please don't make me stop hanging out with Max. We'll go home or to the arcade or something, and we won't do this ever again. But please, please don't take her away from me. She's my best friend. I love her."

Hopper sighed. Ever since he had adopted El he had started to feel things again— hope. And this girl gave his daughter just that. How could he take her away? "Okay. You two go to the arcade or to the mall or whatever it is you kids do these days. But you never break into a place again. If you do, I won't be so kind. Got it?"

"Yes," Max said politely. "Thank you so much, Chief Hopper."

"Thank you, Dad!" El smiled. She and Max walked away after she gave her dear, old father a hug.

As the two walked, Max rambled on and on about how sorry she was and how she was such a bad influence, the girl beside her constantly reassuring her. "El?" Max asked finally.

"What's up?" the girl responded, smiling.

Her smile was not returned. "Do you ever wish you hadn't met me?"

El was bewildered by the question, but if course she knew the answer. "Both more and less than that. What I truly wish is that I hadn't fallen in love with you, especially with Mike always around." Max nodded, shocked. "Now I know you're going to act shocked and then run away—"

"What if I don't want to?" the girl interrupted.

"Don't want to do what?" asked the short brunette.

"What if I don't want to act shocked and run away? What if I just want to take your hand and kiss you because I'm in love with you, too?" Max asked, staring intensely at the girl.

She stared back. "But what about the people around us?"

"Screw them," the redhead said, her eyes a soft blue. "What happens if I want to do what I said?"

"I suggest doing it," El said shyly.

So that's what Max did. She took the girl whom she loved's left hand in her own, her empty hand cupping her cheek. El's spare hand found it's way to her neck. And finally their lips connected. What she could only describe as fireworks were shooting through Max's body, her heart racing. This is what love felt like. She was sure of it.

As for El, she felt over the moon. Her heart was also racing, so much it seemed to be beating too fast. This was more than what she had felt with Mike. Much more. And when the kiss was over she couldn't help but want another. "What happens when your dad finds out about this?" Max asked as she pulled away, her eyes still opening.

El only laughed, kissing her again. "The door will have to remain open three inches."