Mysteries Unraveled: Rules Broken, Hearts Awoken

The Hideout - Sam

Sam's POV

"Hey!" You greet Mark and Candy happily when they come into The Hideout.

It's been weeks since you found everything out. Since your powers were revealed. You had gone to Hopper's cabin with Eddie. Eleven and Hopper were waiting there when you arrived.
Dad had called Hopper from a supposedly secure line and apparently he told him to keep you safe. It hurt that he couldn't be bothered to talk to you himself. That he hadn't come out to Hawkins to talk to you, check on you. Hopper had made Eleven and Eddie wait outside while he talked to you about your dad.

No, you're not from Hawkins lab. You came before some Dr. Brenner found success at the lab at the level he had achieved with Eleven. You were found at a makeshift lab/hospital as Hopper had said before. An offshoot created by a former employee of Brenner's. No info on your actual parents, but when your dad took you from there it left you a target by those that escaped the raid at the lab.

Eleven had tried to help discern if you had any other powers by trying to get in your head. She said you kept blocking her but you swear you weren't doing anything. You weren't even sure what was actually happening.

Eddie told Hopper about your outburst after your dad hung up on you, but nothing came of trying to figure out what power you were exhibiting during it. You were essentially left with no new information.

Being friends with Eddie is weird but you're trying. He seems to believe everything is reaching a normal friends point with the two of you but deep down, your feelings haven't changed. You still love him. You keep it bottled up though.

Mark had reached out and offered to help you get a job. Which, leads you back to now, standing behind the bar at The Hideout. John, the owner and operator, had been skeptical at first but you proved your worth.

"I don't know, Mark." He had said as he sat with the two of you.

"You owe me." Mark had told him. "Besides, she knows how to handle a rowdy crowd and you've needed help since Jax left."

"Yeah, left to work for you." John replied with a laugh before looking at you. "She's no Jax."

"I can handle it. I used to help with security all the time at the club. I can do this. I don't really drink but I know how to make a lot and I'm a quick learner." You'd told him.

"I'm holding you responsible if this doesn't work out." He'd said to Mark.

"I can't work Tuesdays." You risked stating.

"Really?" He asked. "Why not?"

"It's one day, and a weekday. Don't be an ass." Mark had said to him.

"Fine. You can start tomorrow." John said and shook your hand.

You had thanked Mark profusely. The threats at the club had stopped shortly after you quit and he and Candy were both worried about you.

"That's awesome!" Eddie said excitedly when you'd told him about the job. "You can get paid to watch the band!"

"Oh, uh. Tuesdays will be my nights off. Sorry."

"What? That's lame. You can still come watch." He said.

"I'm not spending my night off where I work." You said with forced levity.

"Maybe just every now and then? It'd be nice to see ya in the crowd."

Why does he do this? He makes it so hard to stay away from him.

Fuck, we're supposed to be friends. Friends support each other.