Her family sounded like a mess. It really did. The way she talked about her step-dad made it sound like he had forced them all to pack their bags and move away to the furthest town.

And when she was walking down the street without her skateboard acting like her wings beneath her feet? She looked dull, like a broken lightbulb. She no longer glowed internally like the knight in shining armour she had been. He kind of hated Neil now, for taking away her skateboard.

Max without a skateboard is like a mermaid without her tail, or a storyteller without his tongue. The red piece of board was essential to who Max Mayfield was. It was part of her being just as much as Elle and D&D were to him. And he, oddly enough, understood every single one of her emotions. He was never emphatic. But with Max, it was like a new superpower had just come to him. He felt like superman knowing that Max had trusted him with the knowledge of her step-dad.

Later that day, when the sun was slowly going down and the group were headed towards the diner, Elle had brought up interesting news.

"So i invited someone to our Halloween trick-or-treat gathering!" she had started off, her small mouth covered in chocolate ice-cream. Mike wiped away the sweet goodness from the corners and raised a eyebrow. "Well, don't keep us all waiting, Elle!"

She took a deep breath dramatically, before tapping the side of her sundae cup with her slim metal spoon, "I have decided that as fun as Halloween is with just the five of us, i decided to add in a sixth person." Dustin and Luca gasped loudly, drawing the attention from some people around them. Will watched wide-eyed, his bacon and eggs forgotten.

"I invited Max to our gathering tomorrow for the eve of Halloween." Elle made a spooky boo sound, wiggling her fingers in the air and sticking out her pink tongue. Will clapped his hands and Elle took a bow before sinking back into her cushioned seat.

Dustin and Lucas high-fived, "A new party member!" But Mike was in shock, not at all celebrating or laughing with the others. "Max? you invited her to our Halloween gathering? Elle!" Mike cried out. Elle flinched at the volume of his voice and her face transformed into a downcast one.

"You don't want her there? But i thought you would like to have someone new join our party."

"I do. But don't you think this is too soon?" Mike tried to reason, but it seemed like everybody was aboard on Elle's idea. "Come on guys, it's too soon. Maybe we can invite her to the next saturday gathering next week or Lucas birthday party next month." But nobody budged.

"Mike, do you hate her?" Elle asked, her brown open eyes drawn to Mike's. The boy sputtered, looking for words before settling on a shake of his head. "Then i don't see what's the problem. Besides, Will told me that all of you welcomed Max in your classes, so i don't see why she can't be in the party."

"That was different!"

"It isn't, Mike! She's nice and she's new, what's there to hate about her? I know you can be protective of us, but we're your friends. We're the party. And we aren't going to leave you, if that's what you're thinking." Elle spoke before grabbing Mike's limp hand. "I love you, but you have to accept that we're all a team and if she does try to tear apart this group, we won't let her."

"Yeah, come on, Mike! We've battled Demogorgans and a Mindflayer. Steve led us down to the upside down where we nearly caught on fire and died, and we happened to save the world from the russian spies hidden beneath Starcourt mall!" Dustin exclaimed, his eyes shining.

"Give her one chance." Lucas said, his eyes fixed on Mike's.

The whole party seemed to be pleading with the Paladin to let the redhead into their fold. The pairs of hopeful eyes all waiting for Mikes final say.

Why not, Mike? Scared of what she's making you feel? Of how your feelings for Max might sabotage your relationship with Elle?

His doubts and worries nibbled at the edges of his mind, until all that was left was surrender. "Fine, she can come." he mumbled. Immediately, the party erupted into chaos. Will clapping enthusiastically and cheering while Dustin and Lucas let out a "whoop! whoop!". Elle beamed and swooped down from her standing position to hug her boyfriend.

"Thank you Mike, for believing us and in Max." She whispered against his ear, her warm breath caught in his collar. Sighing, Mike pulled her closer to him, her warm soft body pressed against his like a pillow he would cuddle as a kid.

They never fit. Even when they were twelve, her body was always too small for him and he was too tall and thin. Her eyes were too expressive where else his were much too observant and calculative. He wasn't as trusting, where Elle was willing to give others a chance, though a wary chance, it was still a olive branch.

She loved him, but did he love her like before?

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