Cruise - Elmax

Chapter 1 : First time on a boat

The school organized a trip for the teens at the end of the year. Even if El wasn't at school yet, she was allowed to go with her friends, especially because Hopper insisted, and nobody could say no to the chief of the police. The young girl was excited and scared at the same time, she had never been on a boat before, she didn't even know how it looked like. Hopper drove her at the port, where all her friends were waiting for her. She kissed her father's cheek and got out of the car with her luggage, going to her friends. She took all of them in her arms and kissed her boyfriend, Mike.

- "I don't know what I'm supposed to do," said El.

- "Nothing special, just enjoying," smiled Dustin.

El nodded.

- "We'll sleep on the boat?"

- "Yep, and you'll sleep with me," answered Max. "We're in the same cabin."

- "Cabin?"

- "Yeah, it's rooms on a boat. It's gonna be fun!"

- "Yes, it's gonna be fun," repeated El with a smile.

Mike wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple, seeing she was stressing. The two lovebirds joined the rest of the class, while the three other boys and the redhead stayed behind. Max was burning inside, feeling sick. Every time she was seeing them together it was like if someone was punching her again and again in her stomach. The three boys knew she had a crush on El, but Max didn't know they knew.

They joined the teacher who explained them how the trip would happen. Two days on the boat, a day visiting an island, and two more days on the boat. It was quite clear, and easy to remember. Mr. Clarke called them one by one and let them go on the ship, to be sure they were all here. El began to stress because all her friends were called before her, and she wondered if she was really allowed to come. All the teens were disappearing on the boat, letting only her with the teacher.

- "So, it's you Jane Hopper?" smiled Mr. Clarke.

El looked around and shyly nodded.

- "Welcome then, you can join your friends."

- "Thank you."

El felt better. She followed the same path as the others and saw her friends waiting for her. When she approached, Mike instantly grabbed her hand to keep her close to him. Max lightly rolled her eyes, not believing him. El wasn't even allowed to stand where she wanted! Disgusting.

- "You think there is an arcade!?" asked excitedly Lucas.

- "It would be so cool!" answered Will.

- "Let's see!" told Dustin. "Max, you come with us?"

- "Sure, and you?"

- "No, we're going to hang around," replied Mike.

El had a disappointed face that Max noticed.

- "But maybe El wanna come with us?" said Max.

- "We're good Max, go with the others!" told Mike.

- "I'm not talking to you!"

- "I wanna spend time with my girlfriend! Go away now!"

- "Maybe she doesn't want to spend time with you! You didn't even ask her!"

- "It's fine!" cut El. "We'll catch you later, okay?"

- "Fine!" grumbled the redhead.

Max walked angrily away, joining the three boys.

- "What's her fucking problem!?" told Mike with an upset tone.

- "She wanted to spend time with me, that's all," answered El.