𝐏𝐔𝐏𝐏𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, mileven✔️

no one else

First before you read, I'd like to thank @strangest_mel11 for sending me some wonderful ideas for this book, this one here isn't great but i'm low on creativity. Thanks again Mel and I hope I don't disappoint with this chapter 😳

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The trio decided they would just ignore Chloe, and not let her ruin their fun. But El couldn't help but pay even more attention to her, even if she wasn't showing up at the diner. Chloe and Mike had more history than she did with him, that meant Chloe could snatch him away from her with the snap of her manicured fingers.

That bothered El, she just got Mike and she didn't want to risk anything with him. What if Mike wanted Chloe back just as much as Chloe wanted him? He may have been angry that she was back, but it could just be him covering up his true feelings for the blond. El knew she was probably being irrational but it was something to think about, and she thought about it a lot.

Dustin noticed something was up with her, and so did Mike but they didn't say anything just yet. She could just be in a mood, or maybe she was just having a bad week but there was definitely something wrong.

When El was stressed she cleaned even more than usual. She was checking on tables more than usual and taking their empty plates to the sink and cleaning them manually instead of putting them in the dishwasher. Dustin and Mike knew how much she hated doing dishes so this is what made Dustin go and talk to her.

After she cleared a few tables and took the plates into the kitchen Dustin stopped what he was doing when she went over to the sink and started scrubbing the dishes violently. Her curly-haired friend walked over to her and leaned on the sink. "What's up with you?" He questioned. El looked up, "Huh? Oh, nothing." 

Dustin snorted, "C'mon I know you're stressed, you're manually doing dishes. You hate doing that."

"It's a slow day, I want something to do." She stalled, Dustin looked through the kitchen window to see that the diner was relatively busy. "No, it's not. Just tell me what's wrong."

"There is nothing wrong, I'm just bored and I don't feel like making milkshakes for 24 hours." She sighed as she dried off the dish with a clean rag. "I know how much you hate doing dishes, I'm your best friend and you think you can lie to me right now?" 

El put the dish down and wiped her hands before crossing her arms. "I'm just nervous is all."

"Why?" 

"Because," She sighed, "Chloe has more history with Mike than I do. She probably knows all of his tricks and she could take him away from me with the snap of her fingers! I just don't want to lose him after all i've done just to get him in the first place. Maybe he still loves her and wants to leave me, maybe he was just pitying me and-"

"El do you know how stupid you sound right now?" 

"What?" She asked, "Mike wouldn't leave your ass if it meant dying. He loves you more than he ever did Chloe, you have to trust him. Have you talked to him about this?" El shook her head, "I suggest you do. I already know what he's going to say, but it has to come from his mouth for you to believe it. How about you two take off early today and talk about it, okay?"

She nodded, "Okay... thanks." Dustin grinned at her, "You put these in the dishwasher and go help Mike up there, he looks like he's struggling," Dustin pointed at the raven-head who was taking orders quickly while running back and forth to fill up drinks. El giggled and quickly put the plates and silverware into the dishwasher and walked back up front.

"Need some help?" She asked sweetly, "Yeah, can you make some milkshakes? I was going to do it but I always screw it up, and you always make them better anyways so I figured I'd just wait until-" She quickly kissed him on the cheek, "I got it." Mike turned bright red before turning back to the register and continued taking orders.

The rest of the day went by slowly, due to El's constant worrying she wasn't able to focus as much as she wanted to. Mike noticed her messing up simple orders, scribbling on her notepad like her life depended on it. He'd never seen her do that, she practically knew everyone's orders, so why was she messing up now?

When El was off doing something Mike went to the kitchen to ask Dustin if he knew anything about it. "Hey Dustin, what's up with El? She seems really stressed out." Mike asked. "She hasn't talked to you yet?" Dustin questioned, and Mike shook his head no.

"No, what does she have to talk to me about? Is she okay?" Dustin sighed, "She's fine. She was supposed to ask you if you wanted to leave early today because she needs to talk to you." 

"Talk to me, about what?" 

Dustin shrugged, "You should ask her." Mike nodded and went back up to the front and stopped her as she was walking over to the counter. "You okay?" He asked, El nodded and rubbed her eyes. "Yeah, do you want to go to the coffee place again?"

"Yeah sure, do you want to leave early?" Mike asked, like he had not just spoken with Dustin. "Mhm, I just need to talk to you about something- It's nothing bad!" She added when she saw his expression change, "I just need to reassure myself."

"About what?"

"We'll talk about it later." She said before blowing him a kiss and getting back to work.

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Finally their work day came to an end and Dustin was pushing the couple out of the door. "Have fun, lovebirds!" He called to them as he shut the door right in their faces. Mike shook his head and turned to El, "Ready to go?" She nodded and Mike held his hand out for her to grab and she immediately intertwined their fingers.

"So, what's going on?" Mike asked as they were walking down the street. El shrugged, "I don't know... I guess I'm just nervous... now that Chloe is back."

"Nervous? Why? Chloe is the last thing you have to worry about, she's harmless."  

"I guess I just don't want to lose you to her.. she has so much more history with you and she probably knows more about you than I do. I mean, are you sure you'd rather be with me than with her? She's prettier than me, for sure, and you guys looked good together- well, kind of and-"

"El," Mike interrupted, "What?"

"She may have known me longer but you know me way better than she does. You actually spent time getting to know me, and I wouldn't want to be with anyone but you. You are way sweeter than her, you are so gorgeous, and on so many levels you are better than her. I wouldn't trade you in for a million dollars if I had the choice, okay?" Mike said with all of the honesty in him.  

El bit her lip, there was still so much uncertainty inside her. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Do you trust me?" He asked, El nodded hesitantly. "Then you would know that you are the only one for me, okay? No one else, just you." Mike said, as he stopped on the sidewalk to face her. "Chloe is nothing compared to you, what do I have to do to make you believe that?" 

Just when El thought she couldn't love him more he has to go and say things like that. 

"Nothing," El said shaking her head, "I don't know why I even thought that.. Gosh I'm sorry, I don't know what was going on in my head." El stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, and Mike hugged her back without any hesitation. 

I seriously don't deserve him, she thought, but there was no one else out there for her but him, and Mike was right when he said that she was the only one for him

Author's Note:

ugh i'm so sorry this is so short! I wanted it to be long but after the week up updates i did last week, i have no creativity left. I'm also sorry it took so long to come out. I was trying to think of something else to put in here but, uh, no. and re-reading this i know it sounds so repetitive ughhhh

hopefully there will be a better update next time! Hope you enjoyed <3