It’s Thanksgiving, and Jane was especially excited because Mike was coming to spend it with her. It’ll also be a plus to get Becky to shut up about Mike’s existence. It reminded her of when she didn’t believe Dustin’s girlfriend existed.
Joyce and Jonathan have been busy getting the house ready for the big day. Joyce washed and cut potatoes, and she prepared the pies. Jonathan hung up paper cutouts of turkeys from the ceiling.
Jane spent the day preparing a bed for Mike in the guest bedroom. She even put a rolled-up sleeping bag in the closet so that she could sneak in at night.
Will continued to be distant. He was in his room most of the day. Jane was a little concerned that Will was avoiding the family for some reason.
There was a knock at the front door. Jane jumped out and sprinted towards the door. She pulled it open and was in mid-hug when she realized it was Becky.
Jane froze. Her smile dropped.
Fortunately, Becky laughed, “I’m not your dashing boyfriend, I apologize. But I’ll take that hug.”
That put the smile back on Jane’s face. They embraced.
“For what it’s worth,” Becky said, “I’m excited for Mike, too. I can’t wait to meet him.”
“Meet who?” a third voice said behind them.
Becky whirled around. A young boy with slightly long black hair stood behind them.
“Mike!” Jane shouted.
Both girls squealed, and Jane threw her arms around Mike.
“Hello, El,” Mike whispered in Jane’s ear.
Jane sighed with satisfaction. Mike had been briefed to call her Jane in public, but she didn’t mind being called Eleven by Mike.
“Hey, save some for me.” Jane looked up over Mike’s shoulder to see Max coming up the sidewalk.
“Max!” Jane let go of Mike to embrace Max.
“Max’s family left Hawkins for the weekend,” Mike explained, “Max didn’t want to go with them.”
“Plus, I’ve missed you so much,” Max said, “and I wanted to see who you replaced me with.”
“I promise I’m teaching her everything I know,” Becky said to Max.
Max walked up to Becky. “All of it bad, I bet,” she fired back. Both girls giggled.
“I’m Becky,” Becky extended her hand. “You must be Max.”
“Guilty,” Max took Becky’s hand.
“You don’t have to worry about Jane,” Becky said, “she spends much of our time keeping me out of trouble.”
“Well, that’s not the Jane I used to know,” Max looked at Jane with an evil smile.
“Not everyone here is as cool as Hopper,” Jane defended herself.
Everyone laughed, and they filed into the living room.
***
Dinner was delicious. Jane felt at home with Mike by her side. Several times, she reached for his hand to give it a squeeze. The fourth time, however, Mike put a roll smothered in jelly in his hand so Jane would squeeze it instead. Jane was horrified that Mike would do such a thing, and he found it funny. His prank caught Joyce’s attention though. She was mad that Mike would put jelly near her new tablecloth. With his eyes down, Jane gave a triumphant smirk. That’ll show him.
After three rounds of dessert, pies, ice cream, and cookies, everyone gathered for the Cowboys/Patriots game. Joyce and Jonathan rooted for their dear Pats, and Mike, Max, Jane, Will, and Becky were bored out of minds.
On one commercial break, Becky piped up and said, “I know the arcade’s open for a few hours today.”
“You just spoke my language,” Max lit up like a fresh bulb, “I like this girl a lot more.”
“Can we go, Mom?” Will asked.
“Just be back by six,” Joyce said, “I don’t want you guys out after dark.”
Twenty minutes later, three bikes patrolled towards town. Max hitched a ride with Becky, and Mike sat behind Jane.
Level Up is the arcade located near the center of town. Kids of all ages flock to try out the newest games and defend their point positions on old classics.
The five kids pulled up and parked their bikes in the rack.
“You guys ever played laser tag?” Becky asked aloud.
“We had it out in California,” Max answered. “But I never really played.”
Becky led the group inside and up to the counter. She got everyone a chest plate and gun.
“Think Cowboys and Indians,” Becky said as she was putting on her gear. Then she darted into the laser room.
Lasers flashed and swirled from the ceiling. Stage fog rolled about the room. The internals walls were decorated with full-size mirrors.
Once everyone was ready, it was chaos. Max, Jane, and Becky were in one team, and Mike and Will were in a small group of two.
Jane found it exciting. It was perhaps the most fun she’s had in a long time. She darted in and out of the reflected walls, nearly tagged by Will. Will hit Becky instead.
Suddenly, Jane stopped. She was trapped in a corner, but she wasn’t scared. Her captor was Mike.
Mike stepped towards Jane and looked at her face like a stoic cowboy. He stroked her hair.
There was a zap. Mike grunted.
“Well, gosh darn it, Miss Jane,” he said with a southern twang, “ya dadgum shot me.”
Jane giggled. She said with an equal twang, “Do what you want to me, Michael. I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
Another zap rang out. Jane grunted and pretended to collapse. Mike caught her.
“At least we’ll go together,” he said.
They both laughed. Jane reached up to Mike’s face.
“Hello, retard!” Jane about collapsed for real. She and Mike looked up.
Michelle was dressed for laser battle. She looked at Mike.
“You must be her newest action,” Michelle said with a massive smile.
Jane’s heart raced. She knew what Michelle was about to do.
“Michelle, please don’t,” Jane said urgently.
“Don’t what?” Mike asked, “And why did she call you a retard?”
Jane was panicking now. “ It’s nothing,” she said to him.
Becky and Max approached them.
Becky saw Michelle, “Oh, damn, I forgot to count my blessings.”
“Who’s this?” Max asked.
“Michelle,” Jane tried to handle the situation, “Will’s girlfriend.”
Max erupted with laughter, “WHAT?”
Becky laughed, “Yep. it’s true. This hag’s got her claws in him.”
Good, Becky was going along with this.
Mike, however, wasn’t.
“Jane, what is she talking about your latest action?”
“Oh, Jane’s been getting around,” Michelle’s Cheshire smile appeared to grow wider.
“Stop it, Michelle,” Becky fired, “you know that’s not true.”
“Would someone tell me what’s going on?” Mike yelled.
Jane knew she was cornered.”A coupled months ago, Becky and I were at a party.”
“Jane made out with another boy,” Michelle blurted out. She was enjoying herself.
Mike looked at Jane. His eyes narrowed, “Is this true?”
“Mike, you need to hear the circumstances,” Becky tried to calm him down.
“Shut up!” he said to Becky. He looked at Jane again, “Is...this...true?”
Jane was silent. She finally squeaked, “Yes.” A tear began to roll down her cheek.
Mike stared speechlessly.
Becky gave it one last shot. “Mike, she was forced. She tricked into a game of Seven Minutes in Heaven.”
“I need to get out of here,” Mike finally said. He stormed out of the room, throwing his gear on the floor.
Max trotted after him, calling his name.
Jane slid down the mirrored wall. Tears ran in streams down her face.
Becky raised her laser gun at Michelle. She fired.
Michelle grunted.
“Your free to go if you’re done destroying lives,” she said.
Michelle scoffed and left.
Becky sat down next to Jane and put her arm around her.
“I’m sorry, Jane,” Becky said.
Jane lowered her head and wept. Becky stroked her back.
***
Mike marched through the arcade. Max was hot on his tail.
“Mike,” she called out, “do you honestly think that Jane would tell you she loves you and then kiss a boy behind your back?”
“Leave me alone!” Mike barked.
“Sluts cheat on their boyfriends,” Max continued.
“I’m not her boyfriend,” Mike yelled, “so she’s free to do what she wants.”
“Now stop that! You’re being irrational!”
Mike stopped and looked at Max. “We haven’t been a couple for a while.”
“What? You can’t handle a long-distance relationship?” Max snapped.
“No, we never got back together,” Mike replied. “Now leave me alone!”
Mike turned and entered the boys' bathroom. Max remained stunned.
Mike entered the first sitting stall and sat down. He put his head into his hands, and he heaved in a series of sighs.
The door opened. There was a shuffle of feet. Kisses were being exchanged. Mike peaked through the crack of the door. They were both boys.
Mike shuffled, causing the porcelain to squeak. The boys stopped. They were silent. Then there was different shuffle.
Mike exited the stall. The two boys had stood at two urinals.
Mike turned on the faucet on one of the sinks. As he was lathering soap, he looked with a side-eye at the boys.
One looked familiar. He had long hair in a bowl cut; it went to his shoulders, like Will’s hair. It’s probably nothing, though. Mike’s own hair goes to his shoulders. He could make out part of Yoda on the boy’s t-shirt. Will left the house with a Yoda shirt on.
Mike finished washing his hand and reached for the paper towel. The Yoda kid finished and walked to the sinks. Mike looked at the kid’s reflection. It was Will. Mike’s eyes widened.
Will looked at Mike’s reflection. He had the same look Mike did.
Mike didn’t say anything. He left the bathroom.
Max was still outside the bathroom, playing Dig Dug.
Mike walked out of the bathroom and grabbed Max’s hand. He pulled her to the counter at the dining area.
“What are you doing?” Max snapped.
Mike caught the associate’s attention. “A pitcher of Coke and two glasses.”
The red-haired, freckled boy brought them the pitcher and glasses.
“Thanks,” Mike looked at Max, “I just saw Will making out in the bathroom...with another boy.”
Max’s eyes widened. “What?”
“I wish I was making it up,” Mike took a long swig of Coke. “But it’s true.”
“Does he know you saw him?” Max asked.
“He looked right at me,” Mike answered. “I didn’t say anything. I probably won’t say anything. You shouldn’t either.”
Max made the motion like she zipped her lips and threw away the key.
“Let’s talk about Jane,” Mike sighed, “I’m calm now.”
“Mike,” Max started, “I spent days with Jane after you guys broke up. She was happy to feel independent.”
“Where are you going with this?” Mike blurted out.
“Let me finish!” Max said angrily.
Mike looked down into his glass.
“Despite her new freedom,” Max continued, “she missed you. She didn’t stop thinking about you. I’ve talked to her, after she left Hawkins, on the phone. She loves you unconditionally.”
Mike looked at Max.
“Are you going to judge her because of one incident?” Max asked him. “Why don’t you just hear what she has to say. Get her story. That bitch was clearly a bully with a bone to pick with Jane.”
“She’s right,” Becky walked up to them and sat next to Max.
Jane followed suit, sitting next to Mike.
“Mike,” Jane said quietly, “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Mike interrupted, “I wasn’t fair. I should have waited to listen to you.”
“It was just this boy, he pulled me aside at the party,” Jane said, “He claimed he protecting me from a group of boys.”
“But it was a ploy to get make out with a freshman,” Becky backed Jane up.
“We got him back though,” Jane smiled.
“How?” Max asked.
“Jane kissed him in front of his friends,” Becky started to laugh.
“Then I slapped his face,” Jane laughed.
Mike and Max started laughing with them.
“Wow,” Mike commented.
“Knocked him on his ass,” Becky threw out.
“Oh,” Max guffawed.
“Then she kicked his friends in the balls.”
Max and Mike cheered and gave Jane a high five.
“All right.” Mike called out to the boy behind the counter, “Two more glasses, please.”
The boy brought the glasses.
Jane and Becky both gasped. The boy was Andrew.
Mike and Max looked at Andrew, connecting the dots.
Andrew looked at Mike, looking terrified.
Then Mike smiled. He looked at Jane, “This guy?”
Jane’s face remained unfixed. She nodded.
Mike turned to Andrew. “How does it feel to be bested by this woman?”
Andrew began stammering, “Sir, I am very sorry. I had no boundaries, and I should have known better.”
“Damn right you should have known better,” Becky interjected, “She was traumatized by the gorgeous smooch you gave her.”
“Oh, you did not just say that.” Max moved like she was about to climb over the counter.
Mike and Becky grabbed Max and pulled her back down.
“Max, it’s not worth it,” Mike assured her, “there’s nothing worse we can do him than what Jane has already done.”
“How about this,” Andrew said, “your tab’s on me.”
“Well, that’s very kind of you,” Mike said to him with a smile. “Thank you…” he held out the last syllable.
Andrew gave him his name.
“Andrew,” Mike finished his thought.
Mike put his arm around Jane. “ I can’t be mad at you now that I see you’ve become a badass down here.”
Mike kissed Jane’s cheek. Jane’s heart nearly exploded. Mike was back, baby. She leaned against Mike.
Everyone enjoyed a round of Coke and pizza, talking and laughing.
***
Mike was walking to the bathroom from the guest bedroom. Will came out of the bathroom. He stopped when he saw Mike.
Mike saw Will. “Hey.”
“Mike, about earlier,” Will began.
“What’s his name?” Mike interrupted.
“Jacob.”
“Is he nice to you?” Mike asked.
“Yes,” Will answered quietly.
“That’s all I need to hear,” Mike said.
“You’re not going to tell anyone?” Will looked scared.
“No,” Mike put his hand on Will’s shoulder. “Not until you’re ready.”
“Thank you, Mike.”
The two parted ways. Will went to his room, and Mike went to the bathroom.
***
Mike and Max sat quietly in the back of Wheeler’s car.
“You do know you screwed it up with Jane,” Max said to Mike.
“What?” Mike looked at Max.
“Saying you’re sorry is one thing. Now you got make it up to her,” Max looked back at Mike.”
“What should I do?” Mike asked.
“Not to sound stereotypical with women, but Christmas is coming,” Max answered, “You need to get her something nice. Something she will cherish forever.”
Mike leaned against the car window. He wasn’t sure of what to get Jane.
