Unfinished Business: Book 2

A New Year

One Year Later

Hawkins, Indiana

Monday, October 29, 1984

The drizzling morning rain softly hits the town of Hawkins, Indiana, as everyone starts their day. Keys jingle from unlocking the locks, the bells ring, and cars honk as they pass. Store lights slowly come on in the town square as the autumn leaves crunch under the footsteps of people opening the doors to their stores. As the shops begin to open up for the day, a familiar red Chevrolet Camaro drives around the square before pulling into the back parking lot of the Hawkins' Record Store. The light raindrops hit the windshield as the driver puts the car in park before looking at the black Ford Mustang next to it. They notice a card under the wiper blades in a plastic bag; so the rain doesn't ruin it and sigh. How many letters has it been this year? It has gotten to the point they've lost count of the countless mornings seeing a note in the same spot every day. The letters are always from the same people, with only one objective: to remain in contact with Nora.

Johnny grips the steering wheel tightly as he stares at the letter on top of Nora's car. He already knows who it's from, and so does Nora. Nathaniel and Jessica Peters, Nora's birth parents, were responsible for putting Nora's life in danger last year. Johnny bites his lip as he wonders why they keep doing this to Nora after everything they did a year ago. He remembers Hopper telling him when Nathaniel and Jessica had left town without a word, and the lab blamed Nora for it. Even after a year, it still angered him. They would, of course, point fingers at Nora, yet they wouldn't care about the pain she endured from them. Johnny shakes his head as he stares at the envelope, waiting for the person it's destined to be read. He puts the hood of his jacket on his head before stepping out of his car and walks over to Nora's to grab it. Johnny shoves it inside his pocket as the raindrops hit his hood before walking to the back door of the store. He looks around as he unlocks the back door to see if there is anything suspicious and wonders if Jessica and Nathaniel ever did leave town. Who else would be putting letters on Nora's car for the past year? Come to think of it, Nora has never read them, but she does know their handwriting. After finding nothing, Johnny walks into the record store to be another in the day ahead of sales, but he also has to wake up his honorary little sister. After walking into the darkened store, dimly lit by the gray lighting outside, Johnny turns on the lights one by one until everything is on. He shucks off his jacket and puts it on the hook. He takes the sealed envelope out of his pocket before heading upstairs to Nora's loft.

Over the past year, Nora still lives at the record store though she is now Hopper's official daughter. It's always been her home instead of the one she raised herself. Johnny didn't mind Nora staying there because he knew she felt safe surrounded by all of the music, plus she always kept the store clean and organized. He shivers as he remembers all the times Nora has yelled at him and Eddie if one thing is out of place. As Johnny walks over to Nora's door, he takes a deep breath and knocks on it, "Time to wake up, Sleeping Beauty." He says in a singing voice, only to hear Nora grumbling on the other side. Johnny shakes his head as he puts his hand on the doorknob to enter Nora's room. Of course, the room is pitched black, with the record player quietly playing the vinyl in the corner. He smiles at the difference between the room a year ago to now. At first, there were small lights, a hammock chair, and dressers. Now, pictures of everyone in Nora's life: past and present, books stacked neatly on the mini bookshelf beside the record player, but the favorite piece in the room is the guitar beside the chair. A birthday present from Johnny.

Johnny crosses his arms as he leans against the doorframe and looks at Nora's sleeping form. He smirks when he sees she is wearing one of Eddie's shirts. He wonders if Hopper knows about this; then again, his head would've probably exploded, and Eddie would be dead. Johnny sighs while checking his watch, "Nora, you need to get up. It's six," He says in time to see a pillow thrown at him, "Come on, GrouchPuss. It's time to be human." He says in a more defiant tone while dodging the cushion. Nora flips him off as her eyes remain closed, "Fuck off, asshole. You know I don't get up until seven." She grumbles before turning her head to the other side. Johnny rolls his eyes, "Well, too bad, shithead. If you didn't stay up late on the phone with your boyfriend, you would wake up with a better attitude." He teases, knowing he's getting under Nora's skin. Nora growls and grabs the next closest thing to her, her black bra, and throws it at Johnny, "Again, fuck off." She says in a more bitter tone. Johnny ducks but catches her bra, "How would Eddie feel if he found out you were throwing your clothes at me like this, Princess?" He teases as he puts it on the dresser.