-november 12th 1983-
-reader's pov-
us 5 kids had been left in the dimly lit gymnasium for too long. my hands fumbled again, in anxiety and in search of warmth whilst el still rested peacefully upon my side. mike took what must have been the 8th glance at his watch in the past minute before leaping up and sprinting towards the doors.
"nancy? jonathan?" I heard him call out at the top of his lungs.
he then returned into the large sports hall a moment later with some discomforting news, "they're gone."
"what?" lucas exclaimed.
"nancy and jonathan, his car's gone." mike informed.
"they're probably just sucking face somewhere," dustin resolved.
"no way! they wouldn't!" I replied as mike and lucas kept on repeating 'ew!'
"did they go with the chief?" dustin then asked.
"I don't know!" mike snapped back.
"no," el spoke quietly as per usual.
"what? did you see them? do you know where they went?" mike bombarded her with questions.
"yes," she simply replied.
"where? where did they go?" mike asked.
"demogorgon." answered el plainly.
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"guys! guys! this is crazy!" mike announced, "we can't just wait around!"
"mike, in case you forgot, we're still fugitives. the bad men are still looking for us." lucas reminded him.
"yeah, we don't even know where nancy is," dustin added.
"el can find them." mike replied.
"mike, look at her!" dustin exclaimed before pointing over to el who was curled up in a ball with a towel wrapped around her, "I still think we should stick to the chief's plan."
"exactly. we stay here, keep el and
y/n out of sight so they're safe. that's the most important thing, remember?" lucas spoke.
"yeah, nancy's with jonathan anyways so they'll be keeping eachother safe." I assured mike.
"plus nancy's kind of a badass now so.." dustin grinned before making his way towards the doors.
"where are you going?!" mike questioned, "you just said stick to the plan!"
"I am!" dustin responded, "I'm just gonna go get some chocolate pudding! I'm telling you, lunch lady phyllis hoards that shit."
"are you serious?" mike yelled before him and lucas ran after dustin.
I then trailed over to the bleachers which el sat on, she peeked her head up from the towel.
"you alright?" I asked her softly and she nodded in response, "wanna go get some chocolate pudding? if y'know you-"
"yes." she answered with a light smile.
"sweet," I grinned before holding my hand out to her, she took it and I lifted her from the seat and together we walked to the cafeteria.
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"Y/N! I FOUND THE CHOCOLATE PUDDING!!" dustin's loud voice was heard echoing throughout the cafeteria.
"OKAY!" I shouted back before typically sighing and turning back to el, "honestly, sometimes I don't know how I cope with these idiot boys."
el giggled at my snarky comment before asking a question, "what's 'putting'?" she pronounced wrong.
"oh! pudding.." I corrected her, "it's.. this chocolate goo you eat with a spoon."
el pulled a grimaced expression which caused me to chuckle, "don't worry when all this is over, you won't have to keep eating all this junk food and leftovers like a dog anymore. my mum is a pretty awesome cook, she can make you whatever you like."
"eggos?" el inquired.
"sure," I smiled brightly, "and um.. I was also thinking when this is all over and will is back and when you're not a secret anymore my parents can get you an actual bed for the basement or you can have my room if you want, since the basement is basically my natural habitat anyways.. my point is they'll take care of you, they'll be like your new parents and mike and nancy will be your new siblings."
"will you be like my sister?" el then asked.
"oh! um no!" I quickly answered.
"is it because you're adopted?" el then unknowingly asked.
ouch, that hurt more than expected.
"um, it's because.. I dunno it's just really stupid and people won't like it..." I struggled to let the words exit my mouth.
"n/n?" el used my nickname, for a change.
"yeah?" I pulled my eyes from my fumbling hands to glance up at her.
"friends don't lie." she said.
"well.. I was thinking.." my fumbling hands began to get all sweaty from nerves, "I don't know.. maybe we could go to the snowball together?.. like in secret because.. people don't really like it when it's.. different."
"snowball?" el repeated with a quizzical expression.
"-yeah, it's some cheesy school dance.. I've never been before but I know you're not supposed to go with your sister." I answered her.
"no?" el questioned.
"I mean.. you could but'd be really weird 'cause you're meant to go to the snowball with someone you like." I told her.
"a friend?" she asked, still unsure of what I was hinting at.
"no, no, no.. someone that you love." I finally spat out.
"love?" el repeated the unfamiliar word, "what is.. love?"
"I-I.." my cheeks started to turn a deep shade of crimson, but I couldn't resist the urge to wash the feelings away this time, I knew that I loved eleven. so I leant forward and cupped her cheeks before planting a soft peck on her lips. I noted how her lips tasted of eggos before pulling away and letting my lips curl up into a wide smile. el seemed a little shocked at first but very shortly after she too began to smile and a strong natural colour of pink blush washed her cheeks.
unfortunately, the sweet moment was destroyed not even a second later by the sound of multiple cars braking and their headlights shining through the windows.
I stood up from my seat to get a good look at whoever just arrived at the school but my heart dropped once I saw army trucks and the bad men's cars hoarded outside the building. the soldiers and guards piled out of the vehicles with their large guns which were all fully loaded.
"shit." I breathed before turning to el, "it's the bad men. they're here." el then immediately shot up from her seat and then hand in hand, we darted over to wherever the boys were.