COMPLETE UNTIL SEASON FIVE
In 1980s Indiana, Judy Hopper and her group of young friends witness supernatural forces and secret government exploits. As they search for answers, they unravel a series of extraordinary mysteries. In the midst, love and...
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The woods had always been the coldest place in Hawkins. Even in the middle of summer it would have a distinct chill in the wind. Tonight seemed especially chilly and unsettling. The goosebumps across Judy's skin rose and fell the deeper she got into the woods.
With her bike in her hands, Judy looked at the ground to ensure she wouldn't trip. Looking for branches and the security wire, Judy was focused. As Judy looked at the ground, even in the dark of the night she could see the contrast between leaves and glass. Broken glass, covering the ground. She looked up and around her in fear before calling out to the cabin in front of her, "Dad?"
No response came. One step at a time she moved closer to the front porch, the glass building beneath her shoe more and more. Every window was shattered and the front door hung open and loose on its hinges. "Dad?"
There he was, in the middle of the mess, smoking a cigarette and not answering her calls. He looked like angry ol' Hop'. It frightened Judy as she watched him look the same way he had looked years ago. It had been a while since she saw the old Hopper. "What happened?" Judy questioned, looking around the inside of the cabin.
Hopper didn't look at Judy, but he took his cigarette from his lips after a long drag, letting out the smoke as he spoke, pointing to El's bedroom door. "She happened."
He spoke in a low growl, looking through his eyebrows at the door. "She broke the rules, and has to suffer the consequences."
Judy didn't take another second before planting herself against El's door. "El! Open up." She insisted, wanting to make sure the kid was okay. Judy had no idea what happened or who was in the wrong but she knew Hop wasn't hurt, now she needed to know about El. "Open the door, okay? Once I'm inside, you can lock it again."
With her hand on the door, which was notably kept from being turned by El's mind powers, Judy still tried to shake it. "El? You promised me you wouldn't lock me out."
A heavy silence fell back over the cabin, but the slightest ting of metal could be heard and Judy looked at the doorknob beneath her hand. Slowly turning it, Judy opened the door just enough so that she could slip inside the room. El was sitting in the furthest corner from the door wrapped in her own arms, scared. Judy immediately knelt down to hold her.
With El now wrapped into her lap, Judy slowly rocked as she held the girl. "Hey, I know. He can be scary sometimes. He can be scary, but he wanted to keep you safe, okay?" She whispered.
El only sobbed harder and curled deeper into herself. Judy's heart felt like it had been ripped out her chest. She didn't know what to say or feel. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Judy ended up sleeping next to El that night, only falling asleep for a few seconds at a time to make sure that El was okay. The shattered windows let in the cold air of the night, and the girls kept close to keep warm. When the sun came in Judy knew it would be time to leave soon, but she made sure to kiss El's fluffy hair before leaving to get ready for school.
Hopper hadn't moved from his spot on the couch and the tired and pale look on his face showed that he hadn't slept much either, if at all. Judy didn't bother to make breakfast either, she knew no one would want to eat anyways. After getting dressed she went back to Els door, but before she could open it, the handle was stuck again.
"El? Can I say bye to you?" Judy could practically hear the contemplation in El's mind, but it wasn't very long until she heard the lock on the door turn. Stepping inside the room she sees El sitting on the edge of her bed. "I'm headed to school. I have to babysit Dustin so I'll be home pretty late, okay?"
"Okay." The guilt in Judy's heart began to swell at the sound of El's small voice. Kneeling in front of El's knees, she searched the girl's face that held only sorrow. El finally made eye contact with Judy, raising her hand up to Judy's nearly disheveled hair. "Pretty." She said, with her little smile.
With El's one word, a smile crept up on Judy's lips as well. "Thanks, kid. I'll see you later tonight, okay?" El simply nodded her head, only stopping to let Judy kiss her hair.
With Judy now out of the room, she heard the light click of metal from Els' door. She looked at her father, ashamed at his petty attitude. "You're gonna have to be the adult on this one. If you apologize, she will too."
"Don't tell me how to be a parent." He said, looking at Judy in loathing.
"Whatever, dad." Judy said, annoyed and in the tone that she knew he hated. She walked away before he could yell, which she saw him try to do. She'd never gotten to school faster trying to get away from the monstrosity that was her home.
Of course the school day had to be the most uneventful yet, meaning Judy had all the time in the world to think about all the shit in her life that wasn't going the right way. And Steve had all the time in the world too, especially in the shower after gym class with Billy Hargrove. He had grown exceptionally pesty towards Steve since Halloween, given he now considered himself the new King of Hawkins High.
"Don't sweat it, Harrington." Billy said, beside Steve who was only trying to rid his hair of sweat under the shower. "Today's just not your day, man."
"Yeah. Not your week." Tommy butted in. "You and the princess break up for one day, and she's running off with the freak's brother."
Steve could only stare at him blankly, not knowing what he was talking about but not wanting to show defeat to a guy that didn't deserve it. "Oh, shit. You don't know. Jonathan and the princess skipped yesterday. Still haven't shown. But that must just be a coincidence, right?"
"Don't take it too hard, man." Billy patted Steve on the back, but he smirked as he did so. "A pretty boy like you has got nothing to worry about. Plenty of bitches in the sea. Just leave Judy to me, alright?"
Steve watched in disgust at the mention of his friend's name. Seeing Billy act how he did with Judy on Halloween was something he wished he could erase from his mind. But he never would as long as it meant he'd have a reason to beat up Billy. Especially in order to protect Judy.
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