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better treat me like a star "el it's crooked", maxines red curls bounced."shut the fuck up before i hurt you", el was standing on a ladder while lucas held it steady so she can put the star on the tree."so violent today", she tsked."i do what i want""can you guys stop bickering for once", mike rolled his eyes. he's been a bit salty towards el and max after el rejected him at their new years party last year."i for one think it's sweet", dustin chimed in."nobody asked for your input", el bit back, hiding the smile on her face."ouch, i thought max was supposed to be the mean one", dustin rubbed his arm as if he took a physical blow.they were spending the holidays in the hopper-byer house this year. everyone was going to be there, besides will who decided to spend the holidays with his foreign exchange family in denmark. even steve and robin were going to come over, but will insisted on staying with his new family.max spent about 89% of her time at el's house anyways since her and el got together over summer break. the group of teens had started their senior year of high school only a few months ago, but now they're already halfway through the year.none of the kids talked about the different colleges they were all going to, didn't talk about the fact that one member of their group was already gone. they just tried to enjoy their holiday."stop eating all the damn cookies?", max yelled at the ugly sweater clad dustin who had just picked up his fifth christmas cookie."mrs. wheeler is an amazing baker though. mike, can your dad fight?", he licked his fingers."ew, bro what?", mike's face of disgust came out full swing and he threw his arms up. he too wore an ugly christmas sweater, one his nana made for him, one he was too nice to not wear."is it better now?", el angles her head and stared at the shining, gold star that sat as the final puzzle piece of the home."nah, it's leaning forward", lucas spoke quieter than any of their yelling friends."jesus christ!""don't invoke the lords name on his birthday eve!", dustin fanned exasperation from across the room."dustin", she was tempted to throw an ornament at him.the front door opened suddenly, letting in a string gust of chilled air, "we're back", joyce yelled, "and we brought presents!"hopper followed in behind her, both of them carrying armfuls of presents for everyone. johnathon came in with containers of food, clearly they had been by the wheelers house."hell yeah!", dustin yelled, wiping the evidence of the cookie off of his bright green sweater. it had buddy the elf stitched into and everytime el looked at it, she laughed. it's a packed holiday joyce placed the presents under the tree like they're decorations of their own, hopper followed suit. johnathon went to the dining room and set down all the tupperware of food mrs wheeler stress-cooked. all the kids, except el and lucas, huddled into the kitchen to try and take first pick of the food."they're animals", lucas said, directing el to the right direction."if you tell me this star isn't perfect, i'm going to shove it up your-""eleanor!", joyce yelled from the floor.she looked down at her mother who was wearing a santa hat, "sorry mommy"hopper scuffed, "you're not sorry"el gasped, "i love that song!", lucas proceeded to groan and cover his face while el gave a full performance of taylor swift."ok el, the star looks great, now get down and shut up.""where's the holiday spirit?", el mumbled."that's not even a christmas song!", he argued, helping her down."in my heart is a christmas tree farm", el sang, jabbing lucas with her finger."you're so annoying, go find your girlfriend."she beamed and skipped into the kitchen, "lord help us all", hopper sighed.somebody who will"hello, love of my life, how is your christmas eve?", el came up behind max and wrapped her arms around her."don't act all cute", max turned her head to look at el's face."i was just torturing lucas with taylor swift.""without me?", max pouted, "that's my favorite hobby.""oh? i thought it was", el leaned in to whisper in max's ear, mike fake gagged, clearly knowing what el was telling her.max blushed, "ok maybe torturing lucas is my second favorite hobby.""what's the first?", dustin, who was not paying attention, said."doing my girlfriend", max smiled and turned around to kiss el."oh.... oh, ew.""can you not talk about my sisters sex life in front of me", johnaton sighed, grabbing a drink from the fridge."your sisters what!?", they heard hopper yell from the living room."nothing!", they all yelled.clearly joyce must've been holding him back since he's not in here prying max away from el. the teens broke out into laughs. from a city that's colder the group of kids sat around a fire, watching 'the santa clause'. el bought them all matching christmas pajamas (well she forced her dad to buy them but she picked them out). max and el sat on the corner of the couch underneath a blanket. el was twirling max's hair around her finger, paying attention only to her redhead."you should watch the movie before we get kicked out for pda", max whispered."i don't mind getting extra cuddle time", el wrapped her arms around the other girls neck and pulled her closer.max just laughed and laid in el's chest, "my second favorite spot.""what's your first favorite?"max looked up to her and smiled, "between your thighs.""ok, that's enough", dustin got up and paused the movie, "seperate, max you stay there, el, sit by me.""no", el whined."you two are disgusting, we're trying to watch a family friendly, holiday movie, and you two are talking about sex.""we were not", max said.dustin gave her a look, "seperate.""you'll have to pry her from my cold, dead, hands", el squeezed max tighter."ugh, fine, you two are impossible", dustin plopped on the couch, defeated, and played the movie. he knows when im sleeping once the movie was over and dustin was done cursing about "stupid girls and their stupid feelings" max dragged a half asleep el to her room. the boys decided to fight over will's room (even though hopper specially said not to leave el and max alone together)."come on, love, let's get you into bed.""mm, i'm not tired.""if you don't sleep santa can't come", max giggled while she led el into her bed."whatever", el rolled her eyes with a smile on her face.she plopped on the bed followed by max and quickly snuggled into her neck, "i love you", max sighed."i love you too", el kissed her girlfriends' neck, "merry christmas.""merry christmas."