[COMPLETED UNTIL SEASON 5]
Ana Thompson always seems to wind up in the strangest predicaments...
A perpetual victim of Murphy's Law, Ana finds herself arriving in Hawkins, Indiana just prior to the events of November 6th, 1983.
And, just prior to f...
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WHEN THE PLANE'S FRONT WHEELS finally landed on the tarmac, Ana couldn't help but release a sigh of relief. Mike's incessant squirming in the middle seat had grown irksome after the first hour, to say the least, and not even her book, Stephen King's It, couldn't distract from his endlessly bouncing leg that repeatedly jostled her own. She wanted to smack the teenager but knew corporal punishment was now considered too uncouth and downright frowned upon. However, El didn't seem to notice the palpable tension between her mother and boyfriend, too busy staring blissfully out the tiny window as the scenery flew past.
Thankfully, they were able to grab their carry-ons quickly and deboard without much fuss, making their way to the pickup location through the throngs of other travelers. Another thing Ana was truly thankful for was that Jonathan and Will would be picking them up from the airport—not Joyce. It was only a momentary reprieve but one she found herself relishing.
The week promised to be riddled with pratfalls and strained encounters, both awkward and antagonistic, and she knew that. Yet, she'd agreed to come along regardless, namely for the sole intention of keeping Eleven close and safe. Ana could rely on her brother to watch over Robby, so no harm came to him, but the same couldn't be said for Joyce, not if history continued to be so telling.
No one had seen the Byers since they'd moved to California one hundred and eighty-five days prior, and she assumed the reunion would be a joyous one—but it wasn't.
Will spotted them first, waving the threesome over enthusiastically as the crowd parted to let them past. Everyone stood in a circle for a moment before El lunged at the youngest boy, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
Mike's welcome wasn't as equally warm, though. Actually, it was downright embarrassing. For some unknown reason, he decided to go in for a hug, then shifted at the last minute to press a weak nudge to his former best friend's shoulder. But the rejection was clear, and Will's face immediately fell into one of sadness as the welcomes and introductions continued on around him.
In the commotion, the one named Argyle, an exceptionally tall boy with equally impressive long, straight black hair, turned his eyes on Ana. "You're the hot teach, right?" He asked while extending a hand, peering at her with a goofy grin that portrayed no knowledge of his inappropriate comment.
"Wha—what? No! Argyle," Jonathan sputtered, pulling attention from his unfiltered friend. "This is El's mom," he clarified, scratching the back of his neck, ruffling the hair that had once hung limply there, averting his eyes in discomfort. "Good to see you, Ms. T."
Ana couldn't help but smile at the eldest Byers' characteristic bumbling. "It's good to see you too, Jonathan," she said, offering a nod in acknowledgment. "You know you and your friend smell like weed, right?"
It was on their hasty retreat towards the exit, while the others discussed the day's plans, something about breakfast burritos and roller skating, that she pulled Will to hang back from the rest. Digging around in her bag as he watched on expectantly, Ana pulled out a long rectangular box and presented it to the boy. "Excuse the lack of wrapping. I didn't get the chance, but, anyway, Happy Birthday."
