Casey Hopper has lived an interesting life, yet she never had any real complaints. Growing up without a mother and being raised by her single father until he meets someone new. Casey is forced to leave her home of Hawkins and her best friend Steve H...
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BUCKLE UP.
THEY MADE IT TO HAWKINS MIDDLE SCHOOL in record time. Casey is pretty sure they broke almost every road law to get there as fast as they did. She was surprised Jonathan was able to keep up with her dad, seeing park right next to them. He still hadn't said a word to her since they had all been together. Did that disappoint her? A little bit. Did it make her more upset? Hell yeah.
Hopper had them circle around him and he divvied out jobs to everyone. Him and Jonathan would take out the sacks of de-icing salt. Casey's eyes squinted with suspicion the idea of them being alone together didn't bode well with her. Nancy and Mike would transfer the sacks to the gym. Dustin, Lucas, and Joyce were in charge of setting up the pool. He turned to Casey last, "Help her find a blindfold or something, alright?" He gestured to Eleven, who hadn't left Casey's side since their interaction at the Byers.
She tilted her head down to the young girl with a smile and offered her hand, "Come on, kiddo. It's you and me." El was reluctant at first but slipped her hand into the teens. Casey gave her a reassuring squeeze and led her toward the double doors into the school.
A wave of nostalgia washed over her. It had been almost four years since the last time she stepped foot into these halls. Good memories—a few bad memories. Like when she fell from the jungle gym and broke her wrist. After that, she refused to back on it. Steve tried to convince her once or twice, but she was set in her ways. But the good made up for all the bad.
"So..." Casey met El's gaze, "how dark are we talkin'?"
"Very...dark."
She nodded, "Very dark, huh? Let's see what we can do." At first, Casey wasn't sure where her dad expected her to find her a blindfold in a middle school. But as they passed by the science lab an idea popped into her head.
A whispered "thank you" brushed past her lips when she found the door unlocked and they walked into the pitch-black classroom. Casey flipped on the light switch, and they flickered on. She instructed El to go sit on one of the many seats while she raided the cupboards in search of safety goggles and duct tape. She celebrated to herself when she found them in the same place. She took both and met the girl in the middle of the room.
Casey pulled a stool over and sat in front of her, "Alright..." She passed her the goggles, "Hold those for me." She peeled up the end of the duct tape and tore off a long piece. She took the googles from Eleven and wrapped it over them. After doing that a couple times, she held it up and was pleased with the results so far, "Not bad."
She continued that process until not even a sliver of light could get through, "Okay, this should keep it nice and dark for you. Just like in your bathtub." Her hand smoothed over the tape and she looked up at the girl who looked beyond nervous. Something in her eye gave the teen flashbacks to her sister. Fear, uncertainty. It broke her heart.
