Love in Hawkins high?

Under the stairs

Under the stairs next to the janitors closet was there spot where they would meet every day to gossip to drink to smoke and on bad days even just sit but the main thing was they where still there together always and nothing could change that . Hopper showed up to their spot Joyce was there waiting for him. She ran up to hopper hugging him like no one was watching it was sweet , really sweet but this just got everyone's attention except they where not aware of that this was what the did every day they would exchange a hug and go sit in the tucked away corner where no one could see.
They went and sat in the corner and Joyce started rummaging through her bag for a lighter.
"Hop what is that ?" Joyce asked trying to fight off her laugh as Jim got a bottle of Luke warm beer from his bag
"It's a bottle you said bring a bottle?" Jim said confused and smirking at her laugh "this isn't supposed to be humorous Joyce" he said giggling
"I'm sorry I just thought when I said bring a bottle you would brink a vodka or whiskey not a warm beer for the both of us,"
"Well only the best for my girl" he said sarcastically and then it hit him he just called her my girl that's what her boyfriend calls her he has no right to. But whilst he was stressing she was thinking about how much she loved that about how much that made her feel safe and that Lonnie says that all the time yet it never makes her feel that way maybe it's because hop has never put a cigarette out on her collar bone and wrist or the fact that he doesn't have random girls getting out of his car with hickeys even when she's there in the flesh watching . She loved being treated like a princess by hop even though after being with Lonnie for a year she didn't feel like she deserved it.
"Hey about before.. yk in class" Joyce said not knowing what his reaction would be like
"I know I was stupid and I had no rights to do the things I did or say the things I said-"
"No I was actually going to say thank you .. you know for sticking up for me when he was well you know .. sexualising me," she said looking down to the floor fiddling with her fingers
"None of that would have happened if I wasn't staring it's my fault I'm sorry just know even when I do stupid things like that I have your best interest at heart and I know it's a flaw I really do and I won't forgive myself but I want you safe and I want you happy and having people talk about you like that isn't you being safe I love you Joyce your all I have ... your all I want and if I can do anything that will make you understand that I will" he responded without even thinking about it he knew he wanted her happy and that was what he was gonna get if it took the rest of his life time . She just hugged him she hugged him the tightest she ever had before and cried into his chest leaving a wet patch of tears on his shirt
"Are you ok Joyce?" He said with real concern he had never seen her cry like that before
"I'm great hop... and I love you I hope you know how much I really love you ... you know as a friend," hopper was disappointed to hear as a friend but he knew he couldn't get anything more so he made the most of what he had and she knew she knew in this moment that she didn't love him as a friend she loved him as so much more . The bell rang again ready for them to leave and go home so hop neatened up Joyce's mascara before she went out to see Lonnie and they parted there ways
"BYE HOP" she shouted down the corridors
"CYA ROUND HOROWITZ!" He said smiling and walking the other way.