HOPELESS • • • • •Mileven au

Part 4

Mike got to school the next day with a fully planned out tactic to avoid El at all cost.

He would go straight to his locker early in the morning and wait in his period 1 class until the bell rung, ensuring he wouldn't run into her in the hallways.

The day was running smoothly until he had gone to his favourite spot under a big oak tree in a secluded section of their school field. He was just finishing his ham sandwich while reading his book when he heard a group of girls and chatting loudly. He looked up to see the popular girl group and the were headed to walk straight by him. He went in to full panic mode when he saw Els face amongst the group. He would try his very best to completely avoid any interaction between them. Not that he had expected El to even acknowledge him.

As they got closer to Mikes spot he did his most spectacular acting work in his life. Looking intently at his book, trying his best to seem unaware of his surrounding. As they slowly passed him Mike was pretty sure he was in the clear. He lifted his book down slightly to check how far away they were from him.

As soon as he looked at the clump of girls he met Els eyes. She had a soft smile on her face and her eyes brightened when he saw him look. She subtlety waves saying 'hi' to him. Mike was taken aback by the gesture. He thought that when he had told El to not bother him that she would be relieved and just leave him alone. Instead she seemed to be actively trying to be nice to Mike.

He didn't know how to respond. He didn't want to seem rude and ungrateful for his gesture but also didn't want to to seem to keen and show El how much he truly liked her. So with this puzzling Selina he decided to give a very slight smile then hide his face with his book immediately. He shook his head and face planed I'm himself at his stupid awkward behaviour.

At the end of lunch he only had 2 more classes to endure. He felt he could manage this without drawing too much attention to himself.

He went to his locker and filed through his books finding the correct ones: AP English and Physics. He sighed at the thought of his next period.

Seeing El.

He was always one to over analyse everything. So the more he thought about Els kind nature towards him, the kind smiles and waves she gave him, the more he tried to convince himself to forget her. That her behaviour was probably because her parents told he to be nice because of his dad. That a girl like El would never bother to get to know someone like Mike.

And with that, he walked into ap English with his head held low and his books tightly pressed to his chest. He weaved through the clumps of students eager to fit in one last conversation. Through the corner of his eye he saw El sitting at her desks.

She seemed rather disinterested from her friends conversation. Mike slowed down his pace jsut so he could fit in a few more moments of looking at El. He regretted this immediately as She looked up at Mike and her eyes made contact with mikes eyes. Wide as saucers.

Mike meekly sucked his head back shuffling about to get to the back corner of the room. Where he thought he belonged. Safe and out of the way.

He quickly unpacked his books, made sure everything was in check and looked up at the clock. Realising he had come early and still had 5 minutes he decided to get out his book and finish his chapter quickly.

Two pages in he was only 5 away from finishing when a shadow covered his vision indicating someone was near him. He slowly looked up to see El standing in front.

Mike racked his brain for reasons why El was here.

-  She's angry that he was starring
-  She wanted to get his homework of him
-  Maybe she wanted to talk to him . God no! Not possible
-  This is her usual seat and he needs to move

Yup that seems plausible, this wasn't his usual spot so he probably had chosen the wrong one.

"Uh hi" he stutters out. "Sorry, did I take your spot? I don't usually sit here and I guess I just assumed no one wanted it." He continued to ramble as Els eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

Mike was far to stressed out to notice this and continued to create word vomit. "Yeah um I'm sorry I'll just..." Mike started to pack his books up and planted his hands on the desk ready to push up and walk swiftly away.

But before he could do that he felt Els warm hand cover his own. It felt amazing to Mike. Her skin was soft and this was by far the most contact her ever had with a girl, a pretty girl at that.

He froze, shocked by the gesture and slightly confused. His gaze travelled upwards to look at El in a confused manner.

"No! Stay. I've already got my seat" she said pointing over to her desk. "I jsut came over here to tell you that I'm coming over yours tonight. My mother told me this morning and said that you didn't know". She looked slightly nervous all of a sudden. "I could see you were kinda.....shocked by us coming over the other day so I thought I'd give you a heads up so.."

While El was talking Mike was only half listening waiting for the moment he was waiting for. The more he thought about that night he came to the decision that she was utterly pissed off and grossed out by the fact that she had to spend the night at Mike Wheeler's house.

So with this thought he realised that she was probably about to tell him to stay away from her and leave her alone. He didn't think he could take any more rejection especially hearing El verbally say it. So instead he chimedilled n.

"Oh-uh.... yeah I get." He nodded.  "I'll just stay out of your way, Nancy's home so you could hang out with her or Holly if you wanted" He moved just hand away, away from her touch.

"I am really sorry, I promise I didn't ask them for you to come back or anything. I could maybe convince my mom that I'm sick or something so I could just stay in my room and-"

El quickly cut him off, a look of confusion and sympathy  in theme "that's not what I meant at all! I promise. I just wanted to come and say... about what you said in Hollys room it's not what I think at all." Mike was utterly shocked by her kindness and he was too speechless to even make a squeak. He just continued to look up at her with a shocked expression.

" I know that you don't really like to hang out with anyone else, but it doesn't mean I hate you or anything... I think it's kinda cool that you just do whatever you want, sometimes I wish I could to be honest" El trailed off looking back at her group of friends.

Mike felt like this was the time someone normal would say something, but nothing came to mind. So he just awkwardly darted his eyes back and forth to corners of the room.

El sighed as she saw the teacher walk I. And knew she would have to walk back to her seat in the next few moments. "Anyway" she perked up. " uh I'll see you later tonight I guess and uhm.. maybe we can hang out a bit more" she smiled sweetly. " I wanna get to know you Mike Wheeler" she quickly winked at him, then walked away.

Mike for a second thought that maybe she was flirting. He shook his head at the stupid ideas 'that is never ever happening Mike' he said to himself.

And with that thought he started the beginning of his class thinking about what tonight would be like.