5:09 PM, HAWKINS LOCAL PARK, SUNDAY, HAWKINS, INDIANA

Eleven sat on the local park bench, an orange cat sitting in her lap as she caressed its soft fur. You noticed your bestest friend of all time sitting there, so you decided to say hi.

"Hey," You started, sitting down next to her with a smile.

"Hello, Max." She greeted. She always did that stupid greeting thing, but you loved it.

"Who's this guy?" You questioned, glancing down at the feline nestled comfortably in her lap.

"Her name is Maxine. I named her after you," She said with a small, proud smile. "Is she pretty?"

That made your face go red. Pretty? Maxine? After you? This was too much to handle. All you could do was smile and nod in embarrassment.

"She’s… adorable," you managed to say, gently brushing your fingers against the cat’s silky ears. Little Maxine blinked slowly at you, her tail flicking with approval.

"Like you," Eleven added, still watching the cat, but you knew she meant it. The way she said it so casually, like it was just a fact, made your stomach flutter.

You turned your face away a bit, pretending to focus on the trees across the path. "You’re such a weirdo," You mumbled, but the grin tugging at your lips betrayed you.

"You like weirdos," She replied simply.

There was a long pause, the kind that would’ve been awkward with anyone else, but not with her. With her, silence felt full. Safe. You both sat there, sharing the bench, sharing the moment, while Little Maxine purred in the background.