lost love

chapter 47

-june 30th 1985-

-reader's pov-

my hands gripped tightly onto the handlebars of my bike, just like how el's arms tightly wrapped around my waist. we took many twists and turns as we bolted through the small neighbourhoods of hawkins until we finally reached max's house.

I pedalled down her neighbourhood, immersed in conversation with el until she suddenly shouted, "watch out!"

I spun my head from over my shoulder to look forward, a skateboard was hurtling right towards us. with quick-instinct, I swerved the bike to the right before sending the skateboard off left with the jerk of my head.

"you good?" I asked el before climbing off the bike.

"y-yeah." she breathed with a warm grin as I gave her a hand at getting off the bike.

"y/n? el? jeez, you two alright?" max asked with a concerned tone as she rushed over.

"we're good." el answered before summoning the skateboard with her powers, "here." she kindly handed the board to max, who gratefully accepted it.

"so, we going to the mall?" max then inquired.

"mhm, and I was also thinking that we could have a sleepover after?" I said, max enthusiastically nodded, "great! girls day out without those stupid boys!" max and el both chuckled before we made our way to the bus-stop.

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one-by-one, we walked down the steps of the bus. once we were all off, we paused to look up at the huge, colourful building.

"so, what do you think?" max questioned, but el didn't reply. she was too starstruck by this extremely crowded place that she'd never been to before. it was as if it was straight out of one of those movies she watches, she couldn't believe her eyes.

"hey, what's wrong?" I asked el.

"too many people.." she fretted, "against the rules."

"seriously?" max said with raised eyebrows.

"I come here all the time, el. there's no need to worry." I assured.

"exactly, you two both have superpowers. what's the worst that could happen?" max grinned excitedly.

el nodded as a confident smile began to grow upon her face.

"plus, we make our own rules anyways." max added confidently.

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indistinct chatter filled the large building as we stood in the centre, gazing around with our hands intertwined.

"so, what should we do first?" max asked, el gave her a quizzical look. "you've never been shopping before, have you?" el just meekly shook her head.

"suppose we'll just have to try everything then." I said with a smile.

"ooh! come on!" max exclaimed as she pulled at my hand, causing me to pull at el's. she was leading us to the gap.

el pondered through the store, stopping to look at and inspect every item of clothing she came across. she then stared up at a certain item with wide eyes.

"you like that?" max asked.

"how do I know.. what I like?" el questioned.

"you just try things on," I explained, "until you find something that feels like you."

"like me?" el repeated.

"yeah," max added, "not hopper, not me, not even y/n."

"you." I finished for her happily as el began to beam widely at the clothing item.