Before

Chapter 22

Chapter 22.

The door was knocked in again which alerted the small girl who was currently coloring with the small pink crayon. Joyce picked up at the startled behavior.

“Don't worry, it's just the boys.”

Joyce opened the door to reveal two brown haired boys. One incredibly tall, Eleven thought, and one slightly taller than her. The older child was wearing a black T-shirt and some blue jeans and the younger child was wearing a blue long sleeve shirt with a red puffy vest over it.

“Mom, why are we here? Why aren't we hope. I got an A on my project. Oh, Mike wants us to come play D&D la-who’s this”

Eleven couldn't keep up with how fast the younger boy was talking as she watched him throw his red bag on the ground. The older child was silent, viewing the small girl with curiously.

“Well, if you let me talk and breathe, you'd know.”

Joyce chastised the boys with her hands on her hips. She looked stern but the smile in her face showed Eleven she was only joking with her son. The small boy sighed impatiently. He was tired of his mom's jokes. He wanted to know already.

“This is Eleven. Chief Hopper's new ward”, Joyce turned and looked at Eleven, “Eleven, this is my sons; Will and Jonathan.”

Eleven gulped watching the two boys as they said her hellos. They looked put off when they didn't get a hi back.

“Eleven has had a hard life. She doesn't talk much. I'm sure you boys will take care of her and help her?”

Both boys nodded saying, “yes mom.”

The three kids sat on the couch and Eleven knelt down to finish her art work. Joyce brought in snacks but the meal at lunch made her small stomach full. That didn't stop the boys. They ate noisily,  picking at each other.

After eating they watched TV, but after noticing that Eleven was still doodling away, Will tried to make conversation.

“You're a good artist. I like to draw too.”

Eleven’s doe eyes looked at Will as he talked. What was art? And how was she any good? All she was good for was finding people, but even then she disappointed her Papa.

“A-art?”

Eleven's voice was small but she was curious to know what she could possibly be good at. Will was stunned that she didn't know what it meant.

“You know, drawing. What you're doing now. Is that you and Hop?”

Eleven gasped and looked her drawing. She didn't think it was that good, but Will did. She smiled at Will and nodded. It was her and Hopper. She drew them outside the small trailer house. He was the first person to care about her.

“It's very good. You should show Hopper when he get home. I bet he'll hang it up on the wall. My mom always hangs up my art on the fridge. It will make Hopper's day.”

Will gave her the advice and Eleven was grateful for it. Would Hopper truly like it? Eleven was going to find out when he got home because she was giving it to him.

The house fell into place and they all chatted, well, Joyce, Jonathan, and Will. Eleven stayed silent in the background. She loved the family dynamic. Jonathan helped Will with his paper that he told Eleven was “Homework”, and Joyce helped Jonathan. Oh how the small girl wished she had a family like that. She didn't want her Papa, she knew the real world and she craved for the family she was neglected to have.

A/N: kind of a filler, but Will, Jonathan, and Eleven meet! Maybe some Mike soon?! I'm also sorry it's sort of short, but I work all day Monday-Friday. So short is better than none! Love y'all, be safe and stay Strange!