eggos | (no subject)

Talking to Ellie about how and why El had been hurt by her actions at the train crash had helped a lot. Ellie had been cagey — a word that El has found she both hates and likes — about her reasons, but she'd had reasons, and Eleven can't fault her for them. It's made it a little easier to understand her, and that had made it easier to be her friend.

And they are friends, she realizes. Like the others, she checks in on Ellie often, making sure she isn't getting hurt or into trouble, using The Void and, more and more, her phone to text her or call her. Sometimes, it's a short and simple conversation to coordinate a meet-up, but sometimes Eleven can coax Ellie into longer talks, and that's nice, too, although Ellie has proved that she's even worse about using her phone to text than Eleven ever has been.

On Saturday, Eleven texts her to ask if she wants some cotton candy and a prize from one of the boardwalk games. She's gotten very good at using her powers to win, and Beverly has told her that it isn't cheating when the games are already rigged anyway. If she can bring a little silly delight to her friend's day, then why not do it?

It takes Ellie three days to answer, which might offend some of the more modern teenagers, but El understands completely. The novelty of phones isn't something either of them particularly grew up with. It's easy to forget that they're there.

Besides, she knows Ellie hasn't gone from Darrow because she can see her in The Void.

When they agree to meet, El heads out of the townhouse and to the boardwalk. It's easy enough to find Ellie, at least, and she smiles once she sees her.

“Ellie!” she calls, waving to get her attention. Her hair is up in a ponytail to keep it off her neck in the summer warmth, and she's wearing high waisted shorts with her bright graphic tee shirt tucked into them, and crew socks shoved down against the tops of her sneakers. Her bracelets jangle together over her left wrist as she waves, with only her blue hair tie keeping them all together.

Threaded | Flat

This world of lighted screens is easy to fall into. The phone I could take or leave. Movies, video games and comic pages are what fills my time. Soon it'll be school. My idea -- somehow I'm still not sold on it. I want the education. The people -- like my phone -- don't interest me as much. I can't imagine I have anything in common with these kids.

Being friends with El gives me some hope. Talking to her, she sticks out like she's different, but she fits in well. Maybe it's her social appetite, her clear fashion sense. Despite all of her hardship, El manages to be something of a normal kid. Maybe I will be, too.

Is that even what I want? I don't fucking know.

"Hey, El," I reply, a muted smile back. The boardwalk is the kind of place I always imagined -- all chaos and laughter and an impressive range of smells. Popcorn, sugar, barf and the beach. And me, in my newest pair of pink sneakers. Jeans that actually fit. Still long sleeves, despite the heat. I'm still hiding the bite on my arm.

Did she dress up? Should I have? What would that even look like?