Just friends?

Chapter 10 : Gift

"Vines. He's drawing vines." Hopper put on his hat and left. 

"Where are you going?!" Mom shouted as Hopper slammed the door. 

We both looked at each other and sighed in defeat. 

"I guess we're on our own." I whispered. 

We spent so many hours connecting Will's drawings. At this point they had completely taken over the house. Mom took a break and sat with Will. I was still trying to connect all the drawings together but I was also getting tired. I was staring at two drawings and trying to figure out where they went in the entire mess I had created all over the walls of the house when there was a knock on the door. 

"I'll get it." I said tiredly and started dragging myself to the door. 

I pulled it open and saw Mike.

"Mike, what are you doing here?" I smiled softly. 

"Is Will awake? I really need to talk to him Sofie."

"Mike, I told you he wasn't feeling well today. I promise you can come over tomorrow. Sorry." I opened the door and stepped in. 

"It's about the shadow monster!" Mike shouted frantically before I closed the door. 

I stepped back out and looked at him. I took a step back and opened the door wider. He stepped in and set his backpack down. He made his way to Will's room. I decided to stay back and let them talk. 

I went and sat with Mom in the kitchen. It was getting late, so we started making dinner. Jonathan still wasn't home. 

"Sof, call the station and see if they know anything about Hopper please." Mom said as she started setting the table. 

I hummed in response and walked over to the phone. 

"This is Flo from the Hawkins Police Station."

"Hey Flo. It's Sofia...again." 

I heard her sigh from the other side of the line. "What can I help you with now, Sofia?"

"I just...I wanted to ask if you've heard from Hopper? He came by earlier and just left out of the blue." 

"I will try and get in contact with him. Maybe you should stop calling for a bit and wait for him to turn up."

"Thanks." I put the phone down and walked back into the kitchen. 

Mom had the boys sitting and they were serving their plates. I sat down across from Mom. 

"What did they say?"

"Flo told me they would try to get in contact with me and to stop calling the station." 

Mom's eyes widened and then she sighed. 

"I just don't understand where he went." She muttered as she put food on her plate. 

"I guess we'll figure it out once he comes back or maybe in the morning I can try calling again." 

We ate the rest of dinner in silence. After we were done I went back to my room and got ready to take a shower. I went into my closet to get my pj's, but when I pulled them out I knocked down one of my sweaters. 

"Jesus Christ, I just can't get a break today." 

I leaned down and picked it up. I hung it back in my closet and tried to close the door. Something was stopping it from closing. 

I looked down and saw a silver gift box. 

"I just...I was too embarrassed to give it to you earlier but, Merry Christmas."