𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, stranger things

Matilda

Soon, the Byers announced that they were moving. That was bad enough, but it turned out they were moving all the way to California. Even though Sam was dreading they day Will and El would have to leave, she made sure to spend all of her time with them, no matter how hard things got.

•••

"Turn around. Look at what you see. In her face. The mirror of your dreams. Rhymes that keep their secrets! Will unfold behind the clouds," Sam and Max sang together, sitting in the Byers' living room with Dustin.

They'd been packing all day, and decided to take a break to mess with Dustin. He sat across the room from the two, an annoyed and unamused look on his face.

"Wait, did we get that verse right? It's 'unfold behind the clouds'?" Max mocked, earning a laugh from her girlfriend.

"Yeah, but your butchering it, so could you please stop?" Dustin said bitterly.

"So then join in, Dusty-bun," Sam joked, using Suzie's nickname for him.

"Yeah, come on, Dusty-bun, why don't you join us?"

"You guys are so funny, you should be on Carson," Dustin said.

"Can't we just hear your rendition?" Max asked.

"No."

"Please? Just one verse?" Sam begged.

"No! No way. It's reserved for Suzie's ears and Suzie's ears alone."

Sam and Max shared a look, a grin on Sam's face. "Turn around. Look at what you see! In their face. The mirror of your dreams!" they continued singing, Dustin waving his middle finger around in the air.

"Shut up, you guys. Stop! You guys, please, shut up."

The couple eventually gave in and stopped singing. During the few minutes of silence, Sam was once again hit with the reality that two of her best friends were moving away. Tears began forming in Sam's eyes as she finished taping up another box.

"Everything okay?" Max asked, slightly lifting her girlfriend's chin with her hand.

"Yeah. I'll be right back," Sam responded, wiping her nose on her sleeve as she stood up.

She started to make her way outside for some fresh air, but stopped when she walked past Joyce. She was sat on the floor in an almost empty room, reading something off of a sheet of paper. As Sam leaned on the door frame, she accidentally hit her foot against the wall, drawing Joyce's attention to her.

"Oh! Hey, sweetie," Joyce spoke.

"Hi. Sorry, uhm, did you need any help?" Sam asked, trying to cover up the real reason she was stood there.

"No, I'm alright, thank you. I'm just finishing up in here."

Sam nodded with a small grin on her face before turning to walk away.

"Hold on, Sam," Joyce called, Sam walking back over to her. "Here, this is for you," she handed her the now folded up piece of paper.

"What is it?"

"Just read it," Joyce said with a smile. "Oh, and, take this," she held out one of Hopper's folded up police shirts.

"No, no. I can't.."

"Please. He'd want you to have it."

"Th—Thank you. Really." Sam leaned down and gave Joyce a hug, a sad smile on her face. After getting up, she walked to the backyard and sat on the first step outside. She laid Hopper's shirt on her lap before unfolding the paper Joyce had given her. It was a letter that seemed to be addressed to her.