Even while cycling to school, Mike still felt his cheek burning.

She kissed him.

On the cheek.

He kept playing the moment over and over in his head, with a blissful smile on his face. Lucas and Dustin were confused as to why he was so happy but guessed it had something to do with Grace. Maybe she didn't like Will in that way.

Maybe she liked him in that way.

                                                                                          ~

Back at the Wheeler house, Grace was explaining the plan to El.

"Alrighty, so basically, we're meeting the guys at the power lines behind Mike's house."

"Power-lines?" "Yeah, they run through the neighbourhood, they give electricity to all the houses." El nodded but she was confused. She was fascinated with Grace. She'd properly met a girl her age before, she was always locked away with the bad people and Papa.

"We'll meet them there at three one five-" "Three - one - five?" Grace remembered the watch. "Yeah, oh hold on, Mike told me to give you this." She pulled it out of her pocket and tightened it around Eleven's wrist. "When those numbers turn to three one five, Mike will meet us at the power-lines, ok?"

"Ok." El smiled at her. Grace seemed to be truly showing her compassion. Of course, Mike was too, but it seemed as if Grace truly had her back.
"Ya know, it's funny. I had my first kiss with wormy little Freddy Banks at those powerlines. Punched him there too." "Kiss?"

"Yeah, a kiss. It's something you give someone you like. Or love. Not in a friendship way, like us. Like, in a romantical way." Grace scrunched up her face knowing that word wasn't real but smiled afterwards. "Like you and Mike?" Grace froze.

"Uh,"

"Uh, maybe I uh-" Grace thought about how she kissed him on the cheek. Why did she do that? He looked so cute and couldn't help it. What if he hated her? What if now he was disgusted that she'd even do such a thing that he would ditch her? She calmed down.

"Yeah, just like Mike and I."

Eleven just nodded and went back to playing with the Super Comm. They played around in the basement for a while and talked - well, not so much El, more like Grace talked and El listened - and Grace eventually got some paper from upstairs and started drawing.

It was very peaceful. Grace felt like she could connect with Eleven. Like she had found someone other than Will she could confide in. "Hey El-" Eleven turned to the girl. "You won't tell Mike I like him in that way, right?" El looked confused. "He doesn't know?"

"No, it's weird. Just- don't tell him we talked about him, 'kay?" El shrugged and replied, "okay."

Grace felt a wave of relief wash over her and went back to drawing. Not that she thought El would tell on her, she just had to make sure. "Anyways, have you ever seen Star Wars?" Eleven shook her head. 'Of course she hasn't seen Star Wars you idiot' Grace thought to herself. "It's amazing! It's my favourite movie!" El tilted her head. "Movie?" "Uh yeah, it's something you watch on a TV or you see it at the theater." She paused from colouring in her picture when she remembered when Joyce took her and Will to see Poltergeist a year ago. She'd also taken the kids to see Return of the Jedi, Empire Strikes back, The Dark Crystal, E.T. and many others.

Grace loved scary movies but her mom was concerned they'd give her nightmares. Her dad showed her The Exorcist once on VHS and she couldn't sleep for a week, but after that she was never scared of them. Joyce usually took Will and Grace to the cinema on Wednesdays if she was babysitting Grace and could afford it. Jonathan tagged along occasionally but was more interested in photography, he had a similar taste in horror films as Grace, Jon even once showed her what would become her favourite horror movie - The Evil Dead. She remembered Will being terrified even though it wasn't that scary. She smiled remembering her best friend.

Grace missed him so much.

Grace was interrupted from her memory by Karen who was shouting down for her to come upstairs and get lunch. She turned to El. "I'll be right back, I'll get you something to eat."

She ran up the stairs but slowed down to a normal speed when she felt pain in her stomach, different from a hunger pain. When she arrived downstairs, Holly was sitting at the table playing with her juice box. Grace giggled at the toddler and took a seat beside her. Karen entered with a ham sandwich on a plate and Grace's face lit up."Thanks Karen!" The woman smiled at the little girl. "No problem sweetie, how've you been feeling? Do you need any medicine?" "Yes please, I had a really sore stomach and I felt quite sick." Karen frowned. "Awh no, I'll get some Emetrol."

Karen came back with the medicine and gave it to Grace, whom had finished her ham sandwich. "I might need to make a run to the grocery shop and you might need to come with me, is that ok?" Grace didn't know what to say. Should she stay with El? Or should she go with Karen. "What ever is easiest for you!" Mike's mom smiled and went to check if she had everything she needed. "Shoot! I'll definitely need to go get some extra stuff for tonight's dinner. Why don't you come with me then? The fresh air might help." Grace couldn't help but nod. "Sure, let me get my stuff." She nonchalantly made some waffles and then walked out of the kitchen to make it seem like she wasn't in a hurry but picked up the pace when she got to the basement.

"El! I have to go to the shops with Mike's mom and leave you alone but I'll be back before 3:15. Here, I made these for you." Grace handed her the waffles and smiled. Eleven hesitantly took the waffles and looked up at her. "Alone?" "Yeah, I'll have to leave you alone, but don't worry I'll be back before you know it! El seemed relieved and started munching on the eggos.

She grabbed her coat and met with Karen who was getting Holly ready.

"You ready to go?" Grace nodded and smiled as Karen started putting on her jacket. They loaded themselves into the car and drove to the grocery shop in town. Joyce usually worked there, but Grace knew she'd be off work due to what was happening.

She mindlessly followed Karen around the shop as she picked up the groceries she needed for that nights dinner. After realising she was zoning out, Karen stopped and turned to Grace. "Hey, how about you get a little treat for yourself? It might make you feel better." The girl smiled at her and skipped off to the candy aisle. As she was skipping, she noticed a familiar person in the lights aisle.

"JOYCE!"

She ran up to the woman and hugged her harder than she had ever hugged anyone before. "Oh my-! Grace! How are you here? Why aren't you at school?" The woman questioned as she hugged her back. "I didn't feel well, Karen's babysitting me because-" "Because your mom's outta town, I know. You don't know how glad I am to see you kiddo." Grace smiled, her heart ached. She had really missed Joyce.

"God, Joyce I'm so sorry for everything. I miss him so much." Joyce looked as if she was going to break out in tears. Grace felt as if she was going to do just that. "I do too. But stay strong. We'll find him I know it."

Grace realised they were standing in the lights aisle. "Um, Joyce wat'cha doing here? Why are you holding so many Christmas lights?" "It doesn't right matter now, Gracey. Are you ok?" Grace wanted desperately to say no. To scream it out and cry that she felt like sleeping and never waking up. But Grace did what she always did.

"I'm fine, really. Just sad."

Joyce felt so bad. She could tell she wasn't just fine. She could tell she was deeply upset. Grace had been with Will through thick and thin. They always supported each other and had each others backs and now when she could clearly tell Grace was falling apart just like her, he wasn't there.

"I wish he'd come back. I feel so lost without him." Grace admitted. Joyce sighed. She knew the feeling.

"We'll get him back. I know we will." They gave each other sympathetic smiles. Grace heard Karen shouting for her. "I have to go now," Grace gave Joyce a giant hug again, who hugged back while juggling the Christmas lights. "Thank you for being like a second mom to me for all these years, you don't know how grateful I am." Grace whispered in her ear as she felt a tear falling down her cheek. Once again, Joyce genuinely looked like she was about to break down in tears and crumble to the ground right at this very moment, but held it together for the small girl in front of her. "No problem, kid." "Tell Jonathan I miss him!" She smiled at Grace as she left the aisle with tears starting to brim her eyes.

Grace felt a weight had been lifted off of her chest. She really needed to see Joyce. She didn't realise how much better it would make her feel. She quickly picked up a random candy bar and ran back to Karen. "What took you so long? I almost thought you got lost in here." She gigged at the small girl who seemed overly happy. "There was a big selection, I guess. It was hard to just choose one." She petted the girl's head. "Well I'm glad you did, otherwise we'd be here all day!" They smiled at one another and prepared to leave the store.

Grace looked back and saw Joyce at the checkout who looked up at her. She gave one last wave and smile to her as she exited the store.

                                                                                           ~

Back at Hawkins Middle School, it was lunch time.

The three boys were picking up rocks to use to fight the Demogorgon with Lucas's wrist rocket.

"How about this one?" Mike found a rock and showed it to Dustin. "Too big for the sling." He shrugged, Mike threw it away."

"So, do you think Eleven was born with her powers, like the X-Men, or do you think she acquired them, like-like Green Lantern?" Dustin questioned. Lucas rolled his eyes. "She's not a superhero, she's a weirdo."

"What does that matter? The X-Men are weirdos. And plus she's not a weirdo, she's just different. Like what Grace said. Grace loves people that are different."

"If you love Grace so much, why don't you marry her?" Mike froze. They knew.

"What are you talking about?" He tried to play it cool. "Mike, seriously? You literally fawn over her everyday. When she walks into a room, you constantly stare at her. When she speaks to you, you practically faint." Lucas joked. "What? I look at her like she's my friend, that's all."

"No. You look at her all, like "Hi, Grace! Oh Gracey! My sweet gentle Gracey! You're so precious! I love you so much! - Would you marry me?" Lucas mocked as he got on one knee. Dustin was trying hard to no burst into laughter. "Honestly, I'm surprised you guys haven't kissed or something yet." Dustin admitted. "Well she did kiss my cheek this morning..."

"WAIT WHAT SHE KISSED YOUR CHEEK?" Lucas sprung up from the floor as Mike shoved him off of him. "Mike and Grace sittin up a tree-" "Ugh, shut up Lucas!"

"Yeah, shut up Lucas!" Troy nastily said as he approached the guys. "What are you losers doing back here?" Troy questioned. "Probably looking for their missing friend." James joked. "That's not funny. It's serious. He's in danger." Dustin wasn't having it. How dare they 'joke' about something so horrible?

"I hate to break it to you, Toothless, but he's not in danger. He's dead." Troy snarled. How could someone be so cruel?
'If Grace were here she'd bash his face into the ground', Lucas thought while giving him daggers. "That's what my dad says. He said he was probably killed by some other queer." The bullies laughed at Troy's horrible statement. "C'mon, let's just ignore them." Mike tried to move away. "Hey frogface! Where's your little girlfriend?" Mike stopped and turned around. "What?"

"Your girlfriend. Grace. I'm surprised she hasn't realised how obsessed with her you are. It's creepy."

"Yeah. She probably turned James down because you forced her too."

Mike rolled his eyes. "Ugh shut up, she's not my girlfriend." He started trying to move past them but Troy tripped him up causing him to fall and bash his chin on a rock. Lucas and Dustin rushed over to make sure he was ok. "Watch where you're going, Frogface." The boys highfived and walked away from their targets.

Lucas and Dustin helped him up. "You alright?" "Yeah." Mike mumbled while wiping away blood from his chin. Lucas and Mike gave Troy and James daggers as they walked away, but Dustin was more interested in the rock Mike had just hit his face on.

                                                                                                ~

As soon as Grace arrived back at Karen's home she went down to the basement. El looked slightly traumatized. "Are you ok?" She asked, concerned for the girl. Eleven nodded back at her. She had eaten some of the snacks that Dustin had left.

"GRACE! Can you come up here for a second?" Karen shouted from the kitchen. "I'll be right back." Grace hurried up the stairs. "Everything ok?" Karen smiled at her. "Oh yeah sweetie, I'm just making a casserole right now for Joyce. I'm gonna drop it off to her and I know how close you are, do you want to come?" Grace really wanted to go, but she knew if she went she might not make it back in time to help with Operation: Mirkwood.

"I'd love to go but I feel really down. I don't think it's time for me to see her right now." Grace hated lying but she needed a good excuse to stay. "Oh of course sweetie." Karen gave a sympathetic look and hugged the little girl. "You know you and Delancey are always welcome here, right Grace?" Grace kindly broke from the woman's hug and nodded at her. "Good. I'll get the casserole ready, I might have to leave you in the house by yourself for a little bit. Is that ok?" Grace nodded again and started exiting the kitchen while Karen went back to making the casserole. 

A/N:

I was so set on updating the story omg, I couldn't just leave you guys at that cheek kiss.

Mike and Grace will continue to develop their crushes next chapter so keep your eyes peeled for that.

I tried to use dividers for this chapter because it goes back and forth alot, so bare with me.

The reason Grace didn't tell Karen she met Joyce is because she wanted her and Joyce's meeting to be special. It's the first time she has seen the woman since Will's disappearance so she's overwhelmed with ~ the feels ~.

I loved writing the El and Grace scenes sm omg I love their friendship. El is like the only person that knows for definite that Grace likes Mike, so maybe she might find out that Mike likes Grace and unknowingly play match maker for a lil bit ;)

Please vote if you liked the story! Add to library if you would like updates (I'll try to update atleast once a week) and comment feedback/suggestions, it really helps me out!

Ps. I love reading all of your comments like it makes me feel so happy so please keep em coming! <3

P.p.s. This is the longest chapter I've written yikes