Chapter Text
Hawkins, 1985.
The Byers house was unusually quiet, the smell of eggs and bacon still lingering on the air.
Eleven was sitting on her bed with little plastic boxes full of clay beads for bracelets around her, her fingers threading the string as she inserted the little beads with patience. She was making a bracelet for Max, It was red and white, just like Max’s shirt the last time they hung out. Now that she thought of it, it fit her really nicely. She looked really nice.
El took her phone in her hand, opening her favorite chat:
— Hi!! Are you free today? ☺️
Three dots quickly appeared on the screen.
— Yeahh!! Why?
— Can we go to Starcourt? 😁
— OFCC! I’ll pick you up in 10 😛😛
El smiled, and then looked at the time.
1:45 pm.
Max would arrive in what? 15 mins? There was way more traffic than usual, given it was summer and it was Saturday.
El stood up quickly, looking at herself in the big mirror in her closet.
She was wearing the jumper her and Max bought at the Gap, and the white Converse Joyce bought her for her 13th birthday.
El stared at the bracelet on her wrist for a second too long, looking at the details on it. Max had made it for her.
El suddenly felt a warm rush of blood on her chest and chuckled.
The sound of her phone vibrating startled her, she answered and Max’s voice echoed on her head for a second.
- El? Can you hear me?
Eleven smiled and took her purse.
- Yeah, are you outside?
She could hear Max breathing loudly on the other end.
- Yes, IM MELTING! Hurry uo before i pass out!
El giggled and ran to the front door.
And there she was, Max was wearing a white t-shirt with red borders and white shorts. Max noticed El’s eyes lingering on her and inevitably blushed slightly.
- Are we going to the mall or are you going to stare at me?
Max said playfully.
- Oh, uhm yeah sorry.
El smiled akwardly and closed the door, then followed Max who was already walking.
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As they arrived to the bus stop, El noticed their hands still interwined even though they were already seated on a bench.
- Max?
Max looked at El, then looked down to see their hands clasped together. She inmediatly let go of El’s hand.
- I have something for you, i made it myself.
El smiled softly and reached for the bracelet in her purse, she took it out and held it in her hand.
- It’s so pretty! Thank you so much El!
Just as Max was about to take it from El’s hand, El took her hand and slid the bracelet in her wrist. Max blushed slightly as she felt El’s grip on her wrist, it was soft but firm, and Max’s brain went static.
El looked up at Max, still holding her wrist firmly. El noticed how Max’s eyes were a gorgeous shade of blue, and how her freckles sat so pretty all over her face. Max snapped back to reality as El let go of her wrist.
- Thank you so much. I love it.
Max said in a voice barely above a whisper.
The sound of the bus made both girls stop staring at each other and stand up, as they climbed on it, Max noticed how El’s arm brushed atleast 5 times against hers in the span of 2 minutes. They sat on the front, El on the window seat and Max beside her.