The Mutants (Stranger Things Fanfic)

7

Joyce had just finished rearranging the shelves when the door opened. She turned her head around as her eyes narrowed. It was a young girl, who seemed a bit confused like she didn't exactly know what to do. She was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans with bright red converse. She walked like she was half-expecting someone to pop out of nowhere and attack her. 

"Excuse me?" Joyce called out. The girl shrieked as she jumped almost high enough to hit the ceiling. 

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you. Are you okay, sweetie?" Joyce said, standing up from the floor as she walked over to the girl. The girl clung her hands over her chest, trying to collect her breathing. 

"Yeah-- I'm okay." the girl said. 

"Can I help you? Was there something specific you were looking for?" Joyce asked her. 

"Um-- yeah, I am looking for the manager. There was a help wanted sign out front." The girl said to her. 

"Oh! Well you're in luck, I'm Joyce Hopper." Joyce said to her, reaching out her hand to shake with. The girl took Joyce's hand. She quickly noticed how the girl's hand was freezing and shaking either from the cold or from nerves. 

"Robin.... Buckley." Robin mumbled like she was making the last part up. Joyce just smiled and shook her head. 

"Well, have a seat in the office. Um-- did you bring a resume?" Joyce asked while they walked down the shelves.

"Um-- a what?" Robin asked, sounding confused. 

"That's okay," Joyce said, starting to put the pieces together, "Why don't you have a seat while I get the papers ready?" 

"Thank you." Robin said as she sat in the seat across from the desk. Once Robin had seated, Joyce quickly (but calmly) rushed over to the storage room, pulling out her walkie Hopper gave her if ever there was an emergency and the phone wasn't working. 

"Jim! Jim, do you copy? I have a Code red! I repeat I have a Code Red." Joyce spoke through the speaker. 

"What's wrong?" Hopper asked in quick response. 

"I think I have one of the 12 kids you're looking for. I know she's not from around here, and she's acting like she's in a life-or-death situation, plus she didn't know what I was talking about when I said 'resume'. Which is basic High School information." Joyce stated to him. 

"Resume?" 

"Oh! Yeah, she came in, and is looking for a job here." Joyce explained to him. 

"Just try to hold her there till I get there. I'm only about twenty minutes away. Go through the usual steps you would for when you're hiring someone. Don't let her suspect something else is going on... because she might go rogue and do something that endangers both her and you." Hopper advised her. 

"Okay, got it." Joyce said before hanging up. Joyce took a deep breath before heading back to the office. 

"Step right up! Ladies and gentlemen! Come and see the Marvelous, Eddie the Bat!" Dustin continued with his speech as he stood at the end of the square trying to draw people's attention. Jonathan watched from his bench in the midst of the square, darting his eyes between each group the kids had broken up to. 

Jonathan watched for a couple of minutes of Eddie and Dustin, who had a couple of people leave a few coins in Dustin's hat, as they watched Eddie doing flips in his Bat form. His eyes shot over towards El and Max were were playing around at the skateboarding area. Max was riding one of the skateboards to try it out while El stood at the side and watched with curiousness. Lucas, Will and Mike were trying to throw around a ball on the basketball court. 

It was going alright... until a group of jocks and cheerleaders came walking into the park. Jonathan sat upright, his eyes watched the group as they started breaking apart into small groups. A few went for the basketball court where some began to interact with Will, Mike and Lucas. Jonathan shot to his feet, his eyes glued on the sight. However, suddenly he watched as the kids were beginning to teach Will, Mike and Lucas how to play the game. 

"Hey!" He jumped as he turned to see a young girl had walked up behind him. 

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." She asked him. He nervously shook his head. 

"I'm Carol. Carol Perkins." She said raising her hand out towards him. 

"Jonathan." He answered her, taking her hand in his. 

"So you're new in town. Where did you guys come from?" 

"Up.... north." Jonathan said. 

"Where up north?" she asked him. Before he could say another word, a loud scream echoed in their ears. He turned as his eyes landed right at the sight of the rest of the jocks and a few of the cheerleaders surrounding Dustin. One was shaking his hand rapidly. 

"Shit," He mumbled as he rushed over towards Dustin and Eddie, followed by Carol Perkins. 

"Dustin, are you alright?" Jonathan asked, standing between him and the group of jocks. 

"That thing hit me with that stick!" the obvious leader of the group shouted. Jonathan looked towards a shrieking Eddie, who was clinging a small wooden stick in his hand and was swinging it around while Dustin was holding the back of Eddie's shirt. 

"You called him a flying rodent! What did you expect?" Dustin shot at the guy. The man made a move to come towards Dustin when  one of the cheerleaders walked in front of him. 

"He's right, Jason. You did insult the bat." she told him. 

"You're defending this wild animal, Chrissy?" Jason asked her. 

"Well there have been studies where animals are capable of feeling emotions like people do and are smarter than people think. So it wouldn't be surprising if it understood what you called it." Chrissy defended. Jonathan had to bite his lip from laughing. 

"Lets just get out of here," Chrissy told Jason, who was still glaring at Eddie. Jason gave the three of them a glare before turning around and taking hold of Chrissy's hand and headed off. Once they were gone, Jonathan turned towards Eddie and Dustin. 

"Seriously? What happen?" Jonathan asked them.

"That jerk was poking fun at me and Eddie." Dustin explained. 

"You don't attack back! Guys we're trying to hide in plain sight, but we can't do that if you-- HEY!" Jonathan shouted as Eddie threw his stick at Jonathan. He made a reach for Eddie only for Dustin to grab Eddie and shove him in his front jacket pocket. Eddie poked his head out before stick his tongue out then going back in the pocket. Jonathan rolled his eyes. 

"That's it! We're going home." Jonathan groaned as he motioned for Dustin to pack up his entire stage. 

"What! Come on! We've made about ten bucks already!" Dustin complained, but proceeded to pack the stage up while Jonathan began to round up the other kids.