Mike woke up to his alarm clock going off at 6:30 a.m. sharp. He groaned as he kicked away his blankets and stood, walking over to his closet to peer inside at his outfit choices. Colorful shirts he hasn't touched in forever, striped shirts he doesn't wear anymore, then there was his black shirt section. He took a black T-shirt and a black leather jacket out of his closet and laid them down on his messy bed before opening up one of his dresser drawers and taking out a pair of dark blue jeans. He tugged his blue plaid pajama pants off and pulled on his jeans. He pulled the T-shirt over his head and shrugged on the jacket, rolling up the sleeves a little.

He grabbed his pack of bubble gum off his nightstand and stuffed it inside his jacket pocket, then ran down the stairs. "Morning, Mom." He greeted, grabbing a piece of toast out of the toaster, and munching on it as he tied the laces to his black converse.

Karen placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. "Michael? Really?" She sighed exasperated. "When will you stop wearing those ridiculous outfits?" She gestured to his emo style as he just shrugged. Karen frowned. "Is it that Punk girlfriend of yours? Is she a bad influence on you? Should I talk to Hopper?"

"No!" Mike defended. "El is not the reason for this! Leave her out of it, Mom." He stood and twisted the door knob, opening the door.

"Wait. Where are you going?" Karen asked, looking at her son sternly.

Mike rolled his eyes. "To pick up El." He told her in a 'duh' tone. "There is no way in hell that I'm going to make her go to that big school by herself."

"Michael, language!" His dad yelled from the living room.

"Is that the only word you know?" Mike shot back.

"Okay, okay, enough. Go to school, lover boy." Karen teased, pushing Mike out the door and closing it behind him. Mike got on his bike, popping a piece of gum into his mouth.

After taking a small detour to get his backpack he had forgotten at home, he pulled up into The Hopper's driveway. He got off his bike and ran up to the door, knocking quietly, stepping back as the door swung open. His girlfriend was revealed wearing her jeans, black T-shirt, black jacket, and white converse. "Hey." He smiled.

"Hi, Mike." Her big brown eyes surrounded by black eye shadow shone brightly. She threw her arms around his neck and his went to her waist, pressing their lips together shortly.

"Okay, okay, break it up you two." A gruff voice stated from the doorway and the young couple broke away smiling. "Now, El, I love the outfit and have a great day at school." Hopper's eyes flickered to Mike. "Take care of her." He ruffled the boy's black hair. Mike nodded, took El's hand, and led her to his bike. He hopped on and El got on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist, and laying her head on his shoulder.

"You excited?" Mike asked her as they started off to school. He felt her bury her face in his shoulder and take a deep breath. "Hey, what's wrong?"

She lifted her head up. "What if no one likes me? I am different and what if people see that?"

Mike sighed and shook his head, lifting one hand off the metal bar to pat hers that were clasped around him. "Who cares if no one likes you? I love you, Max loves you, Lucas likes you, Will likes you, and don't even get me started on Dustin." He laughed and he heard her breath out a giggle. "All I'm saying is, it doesn't matter who likes you as long as you have a couple friends who do."

El lifted her head to kiss his cheek. "Thanks, Mike." She reached into his pocket and took out his pack of gum, placing a piece in her mouth before putting the pack back in his pocket.

"Don't mention it." He smiled and glanced behind him and noticed something different about his girlfriend. "You didn't gel your hair back today?"

She shook her head, sending her curly hair into a fury. "Wanted to keep it down for the first day." Her cheeks reddened slightly. "And I kind of woke up late and I know you like it like this." Mike nodded and hopped off his bike, holding out his hand for El so she could get off. He put his bike in the bike rack and looked around for their friends. "Over there." El pointed to the school doors where their group of friends were hanging around.

As they neared Dustin looked at them and smiled. "I was wondering when our favorite Emo and Punk were going to get here!" He exclaimed and enveloped Mike and El in a hug. "We were about to go inside because the presentation for us freshman is starting up. Only freshman today."

"Okay, then let's go inside." El suggested.

"Eager are we?" Max teased and Mike rolled his eyes then kissed El's cheek. The Party made their way inside and made their way to the gym where an upperclassmen, who was helping out freshman today, told them to go. They sat down in an empty spot in the bleachers and immediately people around them looked back at Mike and El, their eyes widening. These were the type of kids parents warned them about and to stay clear of.

"Welcome students to your first year at Hawkins High School!" The principal exclaimed. "So, really the only thing I have to say is that your homeroom teacher has all your information and schedules." He looked at a piece of paper. "And you were told who your homeroom teacher was over the summer. So, you may go to your homeroom."

The students stood from their seats and started filing out of the gym, staying clear of Mike and Eleven. Speaking of them, El noticed this and tugged on his jacket sleeve. "Mike?"

He looked down at El. "Yeah? You okay?" He brushed the curls away from his face. "Are you overwhelmed? Do you need to step outside?" He looked down at her worriedly.

She shook her head and laughed a little. "No, but these kids keep looking at us." She gestured around them then laced his fingers through her shaking ones.

"Just remember what I said on our way here." He whispered in her ear and she nodded. They said goodbye to their friends as they parted ways to go to their homeroom. Yes, Mike and El had the same homeroom. They found room 229 with a little help from an upperclassmen who volunteered to help out freshman and walked inside.

"Hey, kids!" A young woman with a pencil skirt and a white blouse said. She looked up and her smile turned into a grimace. "Welcome to my classroom. You two can sit right there." She pointed to two seats right in the front row. El rolled her eyes once the teacher wasn't looking and sat down next to Mike.

She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "She thinks we're these trouble makers already." She crossed her arms and slouched down into her chair while Mike just chuckled beside her. She kicked his leg with her foot. "It's not funny."

"Hello, students, I'm going to take attendance then we'll get started." She picked up a clipboard and started reading off a list of names. "James Larkson...."

"Here."

"Maya Rue."

"Here."

"Stephanie Philips..."

-----

"Jane El Hopper...."

El raised her hand and popped a bubble in her bubble gum, making a loud crackling noise. "Here."

The teacher gave her a weary glance and nodded. "Mike Wheeler..."

"Here." Mike raised her hand and the teacher threw him a glance before checking him off. Mike looked over to see El biting her lip, keeping back some biting comments and he shook his head and laced their fingers together.

"Well, welcome to high school. I'm Mrs. Daveson, your homeroom teacher and I also teach Algebra." She introduced herself. "We'll go around and say our name and three facts about yourselves. Stephanie, we'll start with you."

Stephanie stood beside her desk and smiled a sweet innocent style. "Hello, I'm Stephanie Phillips. I have two siblings; one sister and one brother. I traveled to New York this summer. And lastly, I am very excited to be here today." She sat down.

"Thank you, Miss Phillips." Mrs. Daveson smiled. "We'll just go around in rows then. Jermey?"

El turned and looked at Mike. "That Stephanie girl is a teachers pet and she doesn't want to be here. I can feel it." She told him, talking about her telepathy.

"Well don't make your nose bleed." He whispered back, turning his head back to the class.

"Thank you, Jermey." Mrs. Daveson said, marking something down on a piece of paper. "Next..."

------

"Jane?" Ms. Daveson looked over at ger. "Your turn."

El pushed herself away from the desk and stood turning to the class. "HI, I'm Jane Hopper but please, I prefer El. Yes, before any of you ask I am Punk. I am adopted. And lastly, my boyfriend is Mike so back off." El sat down and crossed her arms over her chest, glancing at the clock, impatiently.

"Um, thank you, Ja- I mean El." Ms. Daveson said, marking something on paper. "Mike?"

Mike stood and much calmer than El said, "Hi, I'm Mike Wheeler. I'm Emo. I have two sisters. And I've been through quite a lot, so I'm sorry if I'm short with people."

Mrs. Daveson nodded. "Thank you, everyone." She clapped her hands together. "Any questions for anyone?" A girl in the back wearing a pink blouse and a jean skirt raised her hand. "Yes, Charlotte?"

"You said you were adopted, right, El?" Charlotte wondered and El nodded. "Why? Were you too Punk for your mom that she gave you up?" She asked innocently. El glared.

"Hey!" Mike boomed, placing a comforting hand on El's shoulder. "Keep your shit like that to yourself!"

"Language!" Mrs. Daveson raised her voice slightly. "Charlotte, that was not a very nice thing to say, now was it? El, would you like to explain?"

El squeezed her eyes shut and Mike squeezed her shoulder. "You don't have to explain, El." She waved him off.

"My mom didn't give me up, Charlotte." She glared. "She is unable to take care of me because she is brain dead because of some past events that are none of your concern."

"We are very sorry, El." Mrs. Daveson smiled sadly. "I will hand out your schedules and then you guys can go to your six minutes classes then you come back here." She passed them all their schedules and Mike and El immediately compared schedules.

"We have Algebra, Biology, History, English, and gym together." Mike told El who frowned. "What's up?"

"What don't we have together?" She asked him, looking down at the schedule. "I'm still a little rusty at reading."

"You have art while I have another science elective." Mike informed, standing up and taking El's hand in his. "Everything will be okay." He tilted her chin up with his finger. "Trust me."

"Promise?" She looked up at him.

"Promise." He confirmed and he kissed her forehead. "Now, let's go to our first class, Science."  

-------

The dark couple made their way through the halls of the maze that is known as Hawkins High School and finally found their Biology class. MIke opened the door and walked inside, all eyes turned to them. He smiled sheepishly and explained to the teacher why they were late and they got lost looking for the right classroom. The teacher gave them both a one over because of their outfits and readjusted his glasses. "Uh-huh. Sure." He wrote something down on a piece of paper before pointing to two desks in the front row. "Sit." They went to sit down next to each other but the teacher stopped them. "Oh, no. Michelle? Come sit between these kids please."

"Of course, Mr. Light." A blonde girl wearing mom jeans and a light pink T-shirt sat down in the desk between them and El rolled her eyes, sitting down. Michelle brushed her curly blonde hair over her shoulder and kept glancing at Mike, much to El's annoyance. "I'm Michelle. You are?" She whispered to Mike.

"Mike." He told her with no expression, chewing his gum. He drummed his fingers on his desk like he does when he's nervous or uncomfortable which in this case, he's uncomfortable. To distract himself from the girl staring intently at him, he absentmindedly unfolded and refolded his sleeves of his black jacket.

"You know," Michelle trailed her finger up his arm. "I like bad boys."

Mike pushed her hand away. "Yeah, well, I may be emo but I'm not a bad boy." He explained. "Plus, I'm dating El."

"El?" Michelle asked.

"Yeah." Mike nodded. "She's sitting next to you."

Michelle looked over and saw El give her a little wave with a sickly sweet smile. Michelle turned back to Mike. "The Punk?"

Mike rolled his eyes. "Yes, the Punk."

She shrugged and leaned back in her seat. "Kind of cute, I guess." She smiled. "But I'll back off your man." She punched El's arm lightly.

"Thanks." El smiled and turned to the front of the classroom once the teacher started talking.

------

Mike and El left the classroom hand in hand to their next six minute class of the day, English. El squeezed his hand once they neared the English classroom. "I'm nervous for this class. I'm a freshman and I can barely read." El took in a shaky breath.

Mike turned her towards him and placed his hands on her shoulders and shook her slightly. "You'll be okay. Just try your hardest." He placed his forehead against hers and tangled his fingers in her hair. "Take a deep breath."

She breathed in and out. "Okay, I'm ready." She nodded and opened the door, stepping inside, Mike right behind her. This was the only teacher that didn't say anything when they walked inside so they took a seat next to each other in the middle of the rows of desks.

"Hey, guys!" A peppy middle aged teacher said cheerfully. "I'm Ms. Promosa and I'll be teaching you guys English this year." She smiled brightly and passed out one piece of paper to each student in the room. "I'll put on some music and for the next six minutes you can draw or color or do whatever." She moved towards a radio that she had in her room and "Can't fight this feeling anymore" started playing and Mike just smirked at El who giggled and started coloring.

-----

They made their way to their next class which was Algebra. Mike noticed that El's face was contorted in a mask of confusion and he tapped her head. "What's going on in there?" He asked her teasingly.

"Since when does math have letters in it?" She wrapped an arm around his waist. Mike thought about it for a minute and shrugged when they opened the door to the classroom they were going to.

"Are you two going to pay attention in my class or do I need you two put in another class?" The teacher immediately questioned them once they walked in the door.

El's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me?"

"Are you and this man going to cause trouble in my class?" The old grumpy woman nagged.

Mike rolled his eyes. "Yes, we're going to pay attention and behave."

"Are you sure?" The old teacher narrowed her eyes.

"Yes. We may be Punk and Emo but we're good kids." El informed their new algebra teacher.

The teacher raised her eyebrows. "How do I know you guys don't do illegal things?"

"My dad is Jim Hopper." El told the teacher and walked away to sit down, Mike following her and sitting behind her since the other seats were taken. He twirled a curl around his finger while the teacher talked about the strict rules in the class.

------

El stood from her seat and intertwined their fingers together'as they walked to the lunch room to meet up with their friends. Mike spotted them waiting by a circle shaped table already eating. Mike pulled El over to them and they sat down next to their friends.

"How's your guy's days going so far?" El asked, biting into her jelly sandwich hungrily.

Max shrugged. "I mean, how good could it get?" She said. "It's school."

Lucas nodded. "I second that."

"Well, my day is going pretty well." Dustin said. "I'm Mr. Popular right now."

"Yeah, right." Will laughed, shaking his head, eating some applesauce. "What about you guys?" He pointed at Mike and El with his spoon.

El shrugged. "Besides teachers judging us? Good, I guess."

"Teachers? Judging Mike and Eleven?" Lucas's eyes widened. "The sweetest kids on earth?" Mike shrugged and nodded. "The kids who would harm no one unless....you know?" El nodded. "Wow. They should get their heads out of their asses and get to know you guys."

"Yeah. The first thing our algebra teacher asked was if we were going to cause trouble in her class." El told her friends.

"Really? You guys? Cause trouble?" Max asked with widened blue eyes. El nodded. "It's me they should be worried about." She smirked.

"Oh come one." El scoffed. "You're not that bad." Max raised her eyebrow. "Okay, maybe a little bit."

--------

After lunch and Art class, El met up with Mike again by the bathrooms. "Hey." Mike said and wrapped his arms around El then pecked the top of her head. "How was art?" He wrapped an arm around her shoulders as they started to walk up the stairs to get to their next class.

"It was okay. A little awkward without you there though." El told him, resting her head on his shoulder. "But good news, we have one more class left then we go back to homeroom then we can go home!"

"Then we have to come back tomorrow." Mike pointed out.

El groaned. "Ugh. Don't remind me." She buried her face in his shoulder but lifted her head as they entered their history room and sat down at two empty desks... on opposite sides of the room. El shrugged and plopped down while Mike walked across the classroom to sit. El laughed at his pout and blew him a kiss.

"Good afternoon class, I am your history teacher and tomorrow we will start discussing what was happening in Africa in the past...." A middle aged man said.

------

El and Mike found their homeroom again and plopped down in their former seats and waited for the teacher to begin explaining why they were still here. El put her head on the desk and groaned. "Why are we still here? I want to go home." She moved her head so she could look at Mike. "Do we have homework?" He shook his head. "You want to come over after school and watch a movie or something?"

"Yeah." He said and became quiet once the teacher walked into the room.

-----

After school, Mike and El walked outside to see a group of boys bullying a more scrawny boy. They seemed to be asking him for money and the young couple was going to ignore it and just go home until one of the boys punched the kid when he shook his head. El shook her head and they started towards the group of boys, all eyes on them.

"There goes the punks to make it worse." Mike heard a girl from afar say and he rolled his eyes.

"Hey, knock it off." El glared at the bullies.

"Why?" The main guy crossed his arms. "You want to finish him off? Be my guest as long as we get the money." El rolled her eyes and reached her hand down to the boy and he took it. She pulled him up and pushed him gently behind her and Mike.

"No, I want you to leave him alone. It's his money, not yours." El pointed at the group. "So leave before I do something stupid." She glared.

"What you gonna do?" A boy said, she recognized as Troy.

She smiled slyly. "Well, I could break your arm again, Troy. Seems like you didn't learn your lesson the first time when you used to bully my boyfriend."

Troy's eyes widened. "There's no way Frog Face scored a girl like you." He rolled up his sleeves and glared. "There's no way in hell."

Mike stepped forward. "How much you wanna bet?" Mike glared. "She'll break your arm again. I suggest you guys scram and don't bother anyone again. If you do, I won't stop her from doing something worse than breaking a damn bone."

The bullies gulped and ran away towards their bikes before biking away as fast as they could to get away from El. The couple turned towards their fellow classmate and he smiled at them. "Thanks, guys."

El smiled and shrugged. "Anytime." Then, hand in hand, Mike and El walked away towards their bike while everyone who was watching was thinking:

Maybe some Punks and Emos aren't so bad.

The End.