My heart is finally starting to heal

Whatever's up with you

4 days had gone by since Joyce had shown any affection towards Jim. He just wanted to help her but it seemed as though that would just piss her off more.

Joyce and El were in the kitchen making dinner when hopper walked in the kitchen. "Doing okay?" He asked patting El on the shoulder. "Yep!" She smiled. "We're fine." Joyce replied, not making any eye contact with him. He stopped talking and left the two of them alone again.

Later that night hopper got his bed ready on the couch for the 3rd night in a row. Though she never kicked him out of the bed, he just thought he should play it safe. She walked past the living room into the kitchen to get a glass of water.
"Need another pillow?" He turned around, surprised at her voice. "Yes please." He responded. She walked back up to the bedroom, grabbing a pillow off the bed and walking back down to the couch.

"Why don't you stay down here? We could watch a movie...?" He said genuinely. "I have plans." She handed him the pillows. "Plans huh? Doing what exactly?" He lifted an eyebrow. "Going to bed early and waking up late." She started to walk away.
"And besides don't you have somebody else to keep you company." She added. "Excuse me!?" He sat up on the couch. "Don't even." She said sternly. He got up and followed her up to the bedroom.

"You can't just say something like that and then walk away." He stood in the doorway while she got her bed ready. "Why? You did." Joyce mumbled under her breath. "What's up with you Joyce? Like seriously you've been quite bitchy towards me lately and I have no idea why!" He didn't mean to yell especially since El was home but he was too frustrated to care. "You lied to me, hop." She said getting into bed. "What are talking about?" Hopper asked moving closer to the bed. "Your phone call the other night." She sat on the bed bringing her knees to her chest. He had no clue what she was talking about. The only phone calls he'd been making was with El who had just returned home only yesterday. "What other night?" He shifted his weight onto his other foot. "After we got home from enzos." She hugged her knees to her chest tighter. He thought for a second. "The only phone call I made that whole day was to say goodnight-" Then he remembered how the conversation must've sounded to someone who couldn't hear the other speaker. "El... I was on the phone with El to tell her goodnight."

He walked over to the side of the bed and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I would never choose anybody else over you. I love you too much to hurt you. I swear I wasn't trying to get with another woman." He tilted her chin up so she could look at him. "Promise?" She asked. He bent down to kiss her forehead. "Promise. Im going to wait for you no matter what." She didn't hesitate to lean up and press her lips against his. He was caught off guard but quickly melted into the kiss, cupping her face in his hands. "I think I'm ready." She whispered once they pulled away. "Well then ill be done waiting and start doing." He smiled widely and kissed her again.