The New Girl

chapter seven

chapter seven - november, 1983

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Lucas and Dustin had brought Eleven back to Mike's basement, sneaking her in the house. Currently, Mike was looking through old drawings, Alex was sitting next to him with her head on his shoulder while Eleven was playing with the radio. As she was fiddling with it, static began crackling on it and feedback was making an awful noise as Alex winched.

"Can you please stop that?" Mike asked. Eleven ignored him as she kept fiddling with the radio as more static was heard. "Are you deaf? I thought we were friends, you know? But friends tell each other the truth. And they definitely don't lie to each other. You made me think Will was okay, that he was still out there, but he wasn't. He wasn't! Maybe you thought you were helping, but you weren't. You hurt me. Do you understand? What you did sucks. Lucas was right about you. All along."

"Mike," Alex said softly as she held his hand. The radio began crackling until they heard something.

"So come on and let me know, should I stay or should I go?" Alex and Mike's head snapped up and they ran to the walkie talkie. Will was singing his favourite song. "Should I stay or should I go now? Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble, if I stay it will be double."

"Will, is that you?" Mike asked, talking into the walkie-talkie, "it's Mike! Do you copy? Over." They waited for a reply but all they got was static. Alex grabbed the walkie-talkie, hoping she would get an answer.

"Will, are you there?" Alex asked, speaking into the walkie-talkie. They waited and only heard static. "Will! Will if you're there, please answer!" They heard interference on the walkie-talkie before Mike turned it off. They both looked at Eleven with hopeful eyes.

"Was that. . . . Was it. . . .?"

"Will," Eleven said as Alex let out a chuckle.

"Oh my god!" she said, looking up at Mike who hugged Alex tightly and spun her around. Alex laughed as she held onto him while Eleven watched them with a smile. She let go of Mike then turned to Eleven. "Thank you," she said, hurrying over to the girl and hugging her. Eleven looked surprised, but wrapped her arms around Alex, smiling into her blonde hair.

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The next morning, Mike was lying in his bed, wide wake while Alex was sleeping peacefully beside him. Her blonde hair was tied into a messy ponytail as she was facing Mike, her lips parted slightly.

"Michael?" Mrs. Wheeler asked, knocking on the door and walking in. "Hi, honey. How are you feeling?" Mrs. Wheeler looked at Alex and smiled lightly.

"I, uh, I don't think I can go to school today," Mike said, "or Alex."

"Oh, that's fine, sweetie," Mrs. Wheeler said smiling, "I need to drop off Nance, then I'm gonna check in on Barb's parents. Why don't you wake up Alex, grab a book or something and come with me? We can stop by the video store on the way back, you two can pick out whatever you want. Even R-rated."

"I think we just want to stay home today," Mike said as Alex began waking up, "I mean, if that's okay?"

"Well, are you sure you're gonna be all right here by yourself?" Mrs. Wheeler asked as Alex opened her eyes and let out a small yawn.

"I think so," Mike said, glancing down at Alex.

"Okay," Mrs. Wheeler said smiling, "but if you or Alex need anything, call Dad or Jesse at work. I'll call Jesse and let him know that Alex is staying home. Okay."