lost love

chapter 72

-march 22nd 1986-

-reader's pov-

mike and I were leaving the airplane after our 5 hour flight to california. we were both practically skipping down the jet tube, tugging our loaded suitcases along with us. I could hear the distant chatter from the people in the airport lobby as mike and I grew closer and closer.

"you look ridiculous." I stated, gesturing to mike's over the top, stereotypical californian outfit.

"I don't look ridiculous," he replied smugly, "I'm just dressed appropriately for the occasion. unlike some people." he then pointed down to my loose jeans and shirt.

"ugh, whatever." I playfully sighed.

"will digs it anyways." he shrugged.

I snorted out in laughter at this before replying, "yeah, sure he does."

"you wouldn't know, y/n." mike said as we finally entered the lobby along with the crowd of talking people.

I excitedly searched around the room, looking for el, until my eyes were attracted to a feminine figure that was exaggeratedly waving her arm.

it didn't take long to recognise this person as el and oh my god. my heart jumped up into my throat and it was as if I was at the snowball all over again. she was.. breathtaking.

we immediately raced into eachother's embrace, and oh how good it felt to be back in her arms again. during the warm hug, she cupped my cheeks and we shared a gentle kiss. I noticed how the consistency of her lips hadn't changed at all and I didn't give a single crap about all of the disgusted looks from almost everyone in the room, I was way to immersed in greeting her again after all this time. we both squealed and giggled as we both went into another hug, both squeezing eachother so tight that we were struggling to breathe.

"you look stunning!" I complimented as my soft eyes admired her facial features, for the first time in what felt like forever.

"thank you!" she beamed as I shot her a delighted smile back before pulling her gift out of my backpack.

she watched as I carefully pulled the object out. this object being a small plush bear, the bear held a felt heart in it's tiny paws. her smile somehow grew even wider as I held the teddy out to her.

"okay, so, I know that's it's pretty small and all, but I remembered that you loved teddy bears so I thought that I'd get you something little." I grinned as she gratefully accepted the small gift.

"it's perfect! thank you so much!!" she exclaimed, her happy reaction only boosted my emotions up even more. I was so happy that I literally felt like screaming.

now a peaceful silence remained between the two of us, we were both way to distracted by eachother's dazzling eyes. I felt my breathing hitch as I gazed longingly into her wide, chocolate eyes. she was experiencing the exact same emotion as me and we began to grow closer again and our lips parted until will attacked me with a great, big hug.

"Y/N!" he happily bellowed, his voice a lot deeper than the last time I heard it.

"hey, will!" I replied with a large smile as we pulled out of the hug, "how've you been?"

"alright, thanks." he grinned as I pulled another item from my bag.

"happy birthday!" I smiled whilst holding out a card and a small present that was wrapped up.

"oh my god! thank you!" he politely praised me before stepping backwards, where mike wrapped an arm around his shoulder and pecked his cheek softly. will gushed as he dug his head into the crook of mike's neck. will held two presents in his hands now and mike held some sort of cardboard tube, it looked as if a painting or poster was inside of it.

"hey, y/n, mike." jonathan greeted with a light grin, "how are you?"

"good, yeah good, man." mike and I replied as el slipped her hand into mine and I tightly held it.

"that's a rad shirt, man." some dude that I didn't know spoke up, referring to mike's yellow shirt, "ocean pacific?"

"oh, um. mike, y/n, this is my friend argyle." jonathan introduced us.

"oh cool, hey!" mike and I smiled. mike offered his hand for argyle to shake but argyle took a different approach and instead gave mike a hug. will awkwardly pulled away a little as argyle checked the label on mike's shirt.

"oh, no, no, no." argyle said whilst pulling out of the hug and will took his place again, "it's a shitty knockoff, yeah. but don't sweat it, man. I'll get you the good threads out here."

mike looked around awkwardly at this until argyle spoke up again.

"I heard a lot about you guys' sister." he announced and we all cringed slightly.

"uhh- okay, um. should we go?" jonathan asked.

"yeah, this is kinda awkward, man." argyle concurred as we all mumbled in agreement before heading to the airport exit.

—————

"I have our whole day planned!" el began as we walked through the airport, we were still hand in hand as I pulled my suitcase along, "first, el rodeo for burritos."

"burritos for breakfast? that's something you don't hear everyday!" I exclaimed, a little surprised.

"mhm, trust me!" she joyfully replied before continuing, "then after burritos, we're gonna go to rink-o-mania."

"rink-o-mania?" I repeated, curious, "what's that?"

"it's the most fun place in lenora!" she explained, "they have skating and games."

"woah, skating? they have nothing like that back in hawkins, it sounds so cool!" I merrily replied, "are we gonna meet some of your friends?"

"friends? el, you don't mean stacy and angela, do you?" will fretted from his walking position, holding hands with mike.

"of course I do, they are my friends, will." el told him whilst gently nudging him with the hand that she held the teddy in.

"-angela.." will repeated, nervous for his sister.

"you'll meet them, I promise." el assured, "but I want today to just be about you and me." I smiled down at her but with will's uneasy reaction, I too began to worry if el had mistaken the wrong people for her friends. alas, I shoved the worries aside for now as we all clambered into the surfer boy pizza van and I planted a loving kiss on the side of el's forehead.