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El was everything Max ever needed. El knew that Max liked girls, she just apparently didn’t know who ‘girls’ was.
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When El met Max at the mall, El had been walking with her borrowed walkman (from Max, of course.) listening to Madonna; Angel. Max smiled and waved. El smiled back and paused the tape, hanging the headphones around her neck before waving to Max.
“Hi.” El said.
“Hey! Where you wanna go first?”
El looked around and shrugged. “Maybe food. I’m hungry.”
“We could go to Taco Bell. It’s new.” Max asked.
”Taco… bell?” El squinted. “I’ve never had a taco before.”
“Hop never made one for you?” Max scoffed. “You’re missing out. Like, majorly missing out.”
El smiled with her gleaming teeth. Max loved when El smiled with her teeth. Max smiled too.
-
After the girls got Taco Bell, (El loved it) They decided to do some gift shopping and then try on some Christmas outfits for fun. El was in the dressing room, Max sitting on a bench waiting by the door for El. She was sipping her Coca Cola from Taco Bell when El called for her.
As Max walked into the dressing compartment El was in, she felt her cheeks heat up. El was wearing black tights with a red and green skirt that went to her knees, (Should be Hopper approved) plus a black sweater with red and green trim. Around the waistline, cuffs, and neckline. The sweater was an ugly Christmas sweater, displaying a ruffled Christmas tree with dangling ornaments and what not.
El smiled and looked at Max.
“What do you think?”
“I love it. I-I mean, if you like it I like it. You know, it’s cute in you. Really cute. I- uh. I love it. It’s great.” Max stuttered, embarrassed.
El’s smile just widened.
“Bitchin’ right?” El said, looking at Max before examining herself in the full body mirror.
“Yeah, Bitchin’.” Max laughed, El following with a giggle.
Max turned to leave, her arms crossed and face down so El would see her blush.
“Max?” El murmured.
“Yeah?” Max said, turning back around to face El.
“I… I don’t like Mike.” El’s face was stern; serious. Max was confused.
“That’s a good thing.” Max smiled lightly.
“I like… someone else.” She said slowly, tripping over her words.
“Okay, I know I don’t like talking about boys that much but I need details. Who, what, and where?” Max chuckled, and El smiled faintly.
“Hop would kill me if I told him I like a… a girl…” El’s voice trailed off, and she sniffled. She looked into Max’s eyes for a moment before turning to the mirror again.
“Don’t worry. I like… girls too.” Max beamed and rested a hand on El’s shoulder. “You don’t need to feel alone or different. We can be different together.”
El wiped a stray tear and nodded. “Thank you, Max.” She smiled and hugged Max. Max hugged back.
“Soooo, who’s the lucky girl?” Max inquired.
“Oh, uh.” El swallowed and pulled away from the hug. El was still in Max’s arms, but they weren’t exactly hugging. They were holding each other. Holding each other in place in that moment. Like it could just slip away and dissipate. “Am I allowed to… kiss you?”
Max’s face burned a bright red.
Can El kiss her? Of course. Hell yes. Fuck yes. Holy shit, yes! Is what Max’s mind screamed.
“Me?” Max tilted her head.
“Y-yeah. You’re the… girl crush.” El’s voice trailed off once more.
“In that case, yes. You may.” Max beamed.
El looked a bit confused. “You like me back?”
“I have since the day you came to me for boy help. You know, you took my skateboard, blah blah blah-“ Max began, but she was cut short when El lightly pressed her lips to Max’s.
Max leaned into it, of course, but El pulled away slightly.
“Is that, okay?” She whispered.
“I don’t care, as long as you’re kissing me.” Max whispered back, using her index finger to point to them.
El leaned back in and so did Max.