CHAPTER SEVEN;
FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS.

eleanor was nervous.

she'd allowed max to talk her into going to this party at kimberly lawson's house, and she was anything but excited. she'd only been to a handful of parties in the time she was with troy, much to his dismay. she just found no interest in drinking cheap alcohol and flopping around in someone's living room like fish to overplayed songs.

yet here she is, getting ready to enter the chaotic atmosphere she despised so much. she wanted max to come help her decide what to wear, but she had to help her step-dad with inventory at his pharmaceutical shop this afternoon, so they'd planned to just meet up at the party.

this meant mike would be picking her up.

el already applied a fresh coat of mascara and dusted her cheeks with a soft blush. now, all she had to do was decide on an outfit.

she huffed, hating absolutely everything she tried on. so, after many, many failed attempts, she finally found a flowy black dress that reached her mid-thigh. she covered the thin straps of the dress with her favorite bulky jean jacket she'd received two christmases ago.

el slipped her sock-covered feet into a pair of short black boots with a block heel. she stared at her reflection in her vanity mirror with a frown. biting her lip, she reached for a bright cherry tinted lip gloss.

"will, mike's here!" the muffled words from downstairs filled her ears just as she finished applying the gloss, making her eyes widen. of course they would tell will, who else would mike be at his best friend's house for?

she muttered a quiet, "shit," beneath her breath before hurrying out of her bedroom, with no idea how she was going to explain this to her parents.

she made it down the stairs just in time for will to come out the kitchen, his eyes already locked on his sister.

her father was standing beside the window, holding the curtain back to look out, "huh, that's weird. he's just sitting in his car."

"actually, i don't think mike's here to see me," will informs with a sly tone. el's already wide eyes grow.

joyce walked up behind her husband to find that he was correct, the teenager was waiting in his car. "who else would he be here for?" she quipped with a laugh.

the girl shook her head at her brother, her eyes begging. he shrugged with a smirk, "i don't know. hey, el, do you know why mike would be here?"

her begging eyes narrowed into an icy glare before looking to her awaiting parents. she inhaled deeply, "he's here to pick me up."

the chief of police was quick to jerk his head in the direction of his daughter. "why?"

"well, i'm going to a party tonight. max was busy, so he offered to pick me up," she replied with a shrug, hoping her nonchalance made him lose the strict stare.

"and who exactly gave you permission to go to a party, young lady?" he questions.

she was so thankful she'd previously asked joyce about going to a party tonight and staying over at max's. she smiles, "daddy, calm down. joyce said it was fine for me to go and stay at max's house."

his eyes moved to his wife. she clarified, "i had no idea she was going with mike."

"i don't see the big deal. he's only giving me a ride because max can't. if you guys would let me get my license then perhaps i wouldn't need to be driven around," she reminds.

her father sighs. "el, we've been over his. you nearly killed us the last time you drove." he wasn't wrong. el is an awful driver. with her mother's accident in mind, hopper keeps her from getting behind the wheel at all costs.

"we'll talk about this later. i'm going to be late," she reminds, heading towards the door.

"el, call us when you get to the mayfield's. i want to know you got back safely," her dad pleads, being ever the concerned parent. "no drinking."

she rolls her eyes. not only was he overprotective, but he was also a cop. it was a bad combination for a teenager. "wouldn't dream of it," she taunts as she walks out of her house. she heard him reply, but couldn't quite make at the words through the barrier of her front door.

she strides to the car. "you had to park in front of my house?" she asks as she opens the passenger door with a laugh.

"hey, i could've showed up at the door asking for you," he remarks, rolling his own dark brown eyes.

her brows furrow, picking up on his sharp tone which most certainly wasn't teasing. "what's wrong?"

he pinches the bridge of his nose before shaking his head, "nothing." going against her nature, she decides not to pry it out of him. he flips on the radio and drives to the party, barely uttering a word the whole ride.

she was thankful when his car finally pulled to a stop behind some old, red cruiser. surprisingly enough, she'd rather be at the chaotic party than in this unbearably tense car.

el got out of the car to gaze at the large house in the distance. it was obviously the location of the wild high school party. she could already smell the cigarette smoke and hear some muffled duran duran song seeping to the exterior of the home.

the brunette took a deep breath before glancing back to the car where mike was now exiting. her chocolate orbs widened when they caught sight of a cigarette between his own lips. "you smoke?" the words escaped her before she could even think.

his annoyed gaze landed on her and he simply replied, "occasionally." he then lit the cigarette and leaned against his car.

"are you sure everything's alright? i mean, i suppose i don't know you all that well, but you're definitely acting different," she muses, walking around to his side. she wasn't surprised to find him adorning his usual black jean jacket with a dark tee-shirt beneath it. "you can tell me," she spoke with a soft smile.

he exhaled a cloud of smoke, and the scent of burning tobacco filled her nostrils. she found it somewhat comforting seeing as she'd been around the smell her whole life due to her father. he always told her to never smoke, saying he didn't want her to deal with the addiction.

"i heard brooke's bringing her boyfriend, tonight," he admits, shrugging his shoulders like it wasn't affecting him thought it was obvious that it was.

el frowned. "the one from georgeburg?"

he nods solemnly. "it shouldn't mess with me this much, but i don't know. i guess it just does."

"well, you love her, don't you?" quizzed the chief's daughter, in a rhetorical fashion because it seemed obvious — after all, they were dating for over a year. it was only natural that they'd fallen in love.

he exhaled deeply before dropping the half-smoked cigarette on the ground. "i don't know, i guess."

before el could question his uncertainty, a familiar voice cheered, "what's up, losers?!" the pair looked behind them to find max and lucas with their hands linked. "who's ready to fucking party?!" lucas yelled, once again, causing his girlfriend to giggle.

/ / /

it was already an hour into the party, and mike was already on his fourth cup of beer (yes, el was keeping count). to her surprise, he was only tipsy, but he didn't seem like he was ready to slow down.

so far, there'd be no sign of brooke and her new boyfriend which she was kind of thankful for. she felt bad for mike. unlike him, her breakup ended with a burning hatred for both shelly and troy. however, mike still seemed very much infatuated with his ex girlfriend.

el was certainly not enjoying herself, though. as previously mentioned, she wasn't one to go to parties. that's how she ended up sitting on the couch, watching her friends live it up. max was also pretty tipsy, and it was now obvious that the sober and licensed lucas would be driving the entire group home.

she envied her ginger friend. she was happy in her very much real relationship, not lying to her friends and family. she also hadn't been betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend recently, but that was a minor detail.

she didn't even notice when max slipped from the bronze-skinned boy's fingers and approached her. "hey, debbie downer. what's the matter?"

she shook her head with a forced smile. "nothing, i'm just watching."

the blue-eyed friend arched a brow. "watching?" el nodded. "let me get you a drink. lucas is already set to drive so, go ahead, let loose. papa sheriff won't check your breath if you aren't home."

the sober of the two laughed. "to be completely honest, i'm pretty sure he has cop senses, so i don't think —" but when he eyes focused behind the teenager standing in front of her, her lips ceased. the sight was unsettling, to say the very least.

brooke.

but she wasn't alone, nor was she with her new boyfriend.

she was with mike, and they were walking up the grand staircase of the lawson's house, for anyone and everyone to see.

this had been something el was a afraid of. she didn't want to be known as the girl who was cheated on, and if any of her classmates happened to just simply look up, they would see just that of her boyfriend and his ex girlfriend. her nostrils flared, an anger bubbling inside her.

she had told him about this. they discussed it. she could only imagine what shelly and troy would think if they were here to witness the sight.

this was a mutually beneficial relationship, and she was well aware he wanted to get his previous girlfriend back; however, she wasn't going to let him embarrass her in the process. this whole thing was supposed to aid the both of them.

"yooo, what is it?" maxine chirped, allowing her intoxication to shine through her words.

el was quick to hide her discomfort, "nothing. hey, do you know where he bathroom is?"

"hm, i think there's one through the kitchen and s'more upstairs. need a potty pal?" she joked with heavy eyelids. oh yes, she was more than tipsy. that was now obvious to the brown-eyed girl.

she giggled, "i'll be fine. you should find lucas. i'll be back in a few." max only shrugged before spinning on her heels, and shuffling through the swarm of bodies in the spacious living room.

sighing to herself, eleanor moved from her position on the leather couch and made her way to the stairs.

she flinched when a hand grasped her shoulder, and tossed her gaze back to find that lexor benson lingered with a crooked smile. she couldn't help but roll her eyes at troy's best friend as his dark green eyes peeked out from underneath his slick blonde hair.

"what do you want, lexor?" she seethed, her voice revealing nothing but her annoyance.

he chuckled. "always so sour, el hopper. no wonder troy shacked up with shelly." she wasn't going to let his comment faze her even slightly as she crossed her arms. "hey, i was just coming to be a noble and honest friend. i always thought we got along when you sat at our table."

she released a sarcastic laugh, "yeah, right. we've spoken a total of five words to each other, we're practically best friends."

the meathead juts his jaw to the side, a shit-eating grin forming. "see, this is your problem. i get why troy and mike have to go elsewhere to get some. it's because you're just a bitch."

her eyes widen before they set on a passing by peer with a cup full of something rank. she didn't think twice before she grabbed the cup and dowsed the contents atop his platinum hair.

"oh, you little fucking slut!" he slurred, wiping the liquor from his eyes. she ignored his creative insult along with the kids who'd gathered to watch the scene unfold.

she dropped the now empty cup and progressed to the stairs, ready for this horrid party to be over. she could only hope that lexor was the only one to witness mike with brooke, but she knew it was unlikely. the huge house was practically bustling with students from hawkins and the surrounding counties.

she wandered down the hall, passing the line of teens leaned against the wall beside the bathroom. she viewed the selection of closed doors, knowing the majority of them held kids making the most of their friday night, but suddenly, one was pulled wide open.

a set of familiar orbs landed on her, and she couldn't help but shrink. his eyes were cold and his posture was tense.

she wasn't shocked when a disheveled brooke appeared behind him, her eyes slightly puffy. she could only assume they'd been arguing.

she was going to ask what happened, but before she can even form the words under his harsh stare, he steps towards her. his red tinted lips swiftly meet her own. she's fast to close her caramel-eyes and return his gesture, knowing he was doing this to send brooke some sort of message.

yeah, brooke and mike are a pretty fucked up relationship. el figured he must really love her to go through these lengths just to get her back.

their kiss broke and he rested his forehead to hers, saying loud enough for his ex lover to hear, "let's get out of this shitty party."

she nodded before sneaking a glimpse at the blonde. she almost felt bad for her, but the feeling dissipates when she burned into her with a wicked glare before shoving herself past the pair.

once she was out of sight, the two retreated. "what happened?" el curiously asked, forgetting about her previous anger.

he looked to the floor as he shrugged. "she wanted me to break up with you, so i told her to dump her tool from georgeburg. we fought, and then she started trying to take my clothes off." she wanted to ask why he didn't let her, but he answers her question before she can even vocalize it, "i'm not going to do that to you. even if no one saw us, i have no doubt she'd tell her friends."

el couldn't even fight the warmth that crept into her cheeks, feeling bad for doubting him in the first place. he wasn't like troy — and that relationship was actually real.

she smiled. "well, you missed me pouring a drink on lexor benson's head," she replied, hoping to shift the conversation.

he allowed a soft laugh to seep past his plump lips. "i must really be rubbing off on you, sweetheart," he wrapped his arm around her, and began ushering her towards the stairs.

she nods, "oh, certainly." they make their way down the stairs and to the front door when el stops. "wait, shouldn't we find max and lucas?" he shakes his head with a smirk. her brows grow together, "then how do you plan on leaving?" the raven-haired boy reaches into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his keys to dangle in front of her. "no way, you had like five cups of beer — that i know of!"

he opens the door for her, having yet to remove his arm that was casually draped around her. "exactly. that's why you're driving."

she gulped, vehemently shaking her head. "i don't have my license!"

"i told you, it's only illegal if we get caught." his arrogant mentality was really contrasting with the one her father had nailed into her brain. laws were set in place for a reason. "i'll tell you where to go, just get in," they were now close to the car he's was gifted for his sixteenth birthday last december. he tossed the keys to her and opened the passenger door for himself.

"i'm not sure, mike," she said, fumbling his keys in her hands.

before he got into his car, he looked at her and insisted, "just trust me, el."

and as if he had hypnotized her with his dark eyes, she responds, "okay."

...

a/n: hi, was this ok??? it was pretty lengthy, lol. the next chapter will be what happens this night. idk when that'll be up bc i think i have strep so boo ;( ALSO PLEASE COMMENT!! no one has commented and i'm like highkey sad but oh well. thanks for reading !! x

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