Heatwaves

Well that was fun, right?

"she was fire 

enough to light way 

and burn anything attempting to stop her."

-R.H Sin

The rest of the day blurred into a series of disjointed images and feelings. As soon as we arrived back at the Byers' house, Jonathan helped me out of the car. I felt utterly drained, like every ounce of energy had been sapped from my body. Joyce, with her characteristic calm, immediately dialed the station to update Hopper on the situation while Jonathan guided me to the couch. Exhaustion overtook me swiftly, and I slumped onto the cushions, clutching the crumpled article to my chest. My face was streaked with dried tears, and as sleep claimed me, I barely noticed Hopper's arrival.

I vaguely registered being lifted into the air, the steady warmth of Hopper's arms a stark contrast to the chaos swirling around me. His concerned face hovered above mine as I closed my eyes and clung to him. He carried me to the car and gently placed me in the passenger seat. I must have drifted off again because the rest of the ride was a blur, punctuated only by the rhythmic hum of the engine.

Beep, beep, beep.

The insistent sound of the alarm jolted me awake. I groaned and fumbled to turn it off, the events of the previous day still weighing heavily on me. Hopper had been kind enough to settle me into bed last night, and I silently expressed my gratitude for his consideration. Today was the first day of school—an unsettling mix of anticipation and dread swirled in my stomach. New faces, unfamiliar halls, and the shadow of yesterday's turmoil loomed over me. I shook off the creeping doubts and forced myself to get ready.

After pulling on my clothes and hastily pinning my hair into a messy bun, I shuffled into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I grabbed my leather crossbody bag, checked the time, and made my way to the kitchen for a quick breakfast. The familiar clatter of dishes and the smell of coffee grounded me momentarily. Hopper appeared, his hair tousled and eyes still bleary from sleep, but a smile softened his face when he saw me.

"Ready to go?" he asked, his voice warm but laced with concern.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, forcing a semblance of cheerfulness into my voice.

"Great. Let's get a move on."

The drive to school was a tense silence punctuated by the occasional attempt at small talk. As we arrived, the pit of anxiety in my stomach seemed to deepen. Jonathan would be there, which was some comfort, but the fragility of our relationship and the tension of starting anew left me uneasy. I hesitated before opening the car door, and Hopper noticed.

"Hey, everything's going to be okay. If you don't feel ready just yet, you can ride along with me for the day."

I offered a shaky laugh. "As appealing as that sounds, I think I need to do this. I'll be fine."

"If you're sure. But remember, it's no problem for me to take you with me."

"Hopper, I'll be fine. You're worrying more than me."

He nodded, though his worry didn't entirely fade. "Okay, kiddo. I'll be here to pick you up after school."

I gave him a small, grateful smile before stepping out of the car. As Hopper drove away, leaving me alone in front of the school, I felt the weight of countless curious stares and hushed whispers. With my head down, I made my way to the front office, where the principal awaited.