"SHIT, SHIT, shit!" Bailey whisper-yelled, as she heard the front door slam. She jumped out of bed, rummaging through her wardrobe to find her pyjamas. She threw on the clothes quickly, trying to step into the trouser legs but her foot kept missing the holes in panic.
Steve did the same, as he panicked, "I thought you said he was on a date!"
"He was!" Bailey stressed, "Something must've happened. He should've been gone for another hour!"
Bailey rushed towards the window, opening it quickly and practically shoving Steve out. She frantically tried to waft the smell of cigarette smoke out of the window, before putting out the cigarette buds on her bedside table.
"Bee?" Hopper's voice slurred, "Hey. Hey! What did I say about this door?!"
Bailey called out to him, "Dad, I'm—"
Suddenly, the door slammed open, giving no time for Bailey to move. She stood awkwardly next to her bedside table with an old cigarette in her hands, which she gave up trying to put out.
Bailey sighed, "Dad, listen—"
"We've been over this thousands of times!" Hopper lectured angrily.
He was drunk, again. It was a regular occurrence when someone had hurt his feelings— he'd turn to drinks to hide it away. Seeing her father drunk reminded Bailey of, a few years ago, when she lived with her mom; every night, she'd receive a drunk phone call from Hopper, as he exclaimed how much he 'screwed up'.
Bailey moved in with Hopper after a big fight with her mom, who didn't want anything to do with her after catching her having sex— cigarettes, drink bottles, and drugs were also scattered around in the room, too. Bailey was apparently 'just like her father', according to her mom.
Bailey was glad about the move to Hawkins: she had no friends, no relationship, bad grades, and a horrible stepfather.
"How many times..." Hopper repeated, storming towards her which made Bailey afraid he might hit her. Hopper wouldn't do that, Bailey reassured herself— her mind trailing to her stepdad. However, to her surprise, Hopper didn't notice the cigarette in her hand. Instead, he closed the window that was left wide open. He continued, "Close your goddam window! You'll freeze the place."
Bailey sighed with relief, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She nodded, "Sorry, I, uh, I forgot." She paused, guiding her dad out of her room, "How was the date?"
Hopper slouched down on the couch with a groan, he slurred, "I got set up."
"Shit." Bailey sighed, "Well, I'm sure that woman didn't deserve—"
"It was Joyce." Hopper interrupted, "Stood me up. I was left alone for hours. Didn't give me a reason."
"I'm sure it was a good reason." Bailey reassured, "She likes you, dad. She didn't mean to hurt your feelings. Maybe something happened with Will again?"
"Mm." Hopper slurred, as he attempted to take another chug of his wine bottle.
"No, no, no." Bailey gently took the bottle away, replacing it was a glass of water, "Drink it. All of it. When I get back I want to see an empty glass."
Hopper chuckled, placing a hand on the side of her face. He slurred, "You're a good kid, Bee."
Bailey hesitated, her big dark eyes swelling with tears. She blinked them away, before smiling slightly, "Thanks, dad."
✩
'Gone to Max's. Sleeping over- El' was messily written on a piece of paper that stuck on the fridge. Bailey made herself some cereal, before getting dressed into her Scoops Ahoy uniform.
