[Jopper] Hard times

An exhausting day

Hawkins, Indiana
March 7th, 1985

Joyce woke up from a long nap. It was Friday afternoon and she had such a busy morning working in the supermarket. She rubbed her eyes, feeling like she could sleep for much longer and looked around with her vision still blurry.

"Mom, you're gonna be late if you don't hurry up." Will said with a smile. He was drawing. Joyce could hear the sound of the pencil sliding on his new sketchbook.

"Huh?" Joyce asked confused as she got up from the sofa. Just as she streched herself she realised what she just forgot. "Dammit!" She mumbled. Will looked up at her and chuckled, watching how she left the room so fast. She dialed his number quickly, Joyce used to dialed so often that she still remembers. 

"Come on, pick up the phone!" She thought, bitting her lower lip nervously but got an answer eventually.

"Hello?"

"Hopper, it's me. I might be late... I had to...sort out a problem...but I'll try to be on time, okay?"

Joyce heard him laughing. "A problem, huh? I can imagine what it is." He replied with a pause while he rubbed his beard. "Don't worry, you don't have to go. I'll go directly to your house and leave Jane there with Will. She's bored at home and can'ts stop complaining all the time. I guess that will give you more time"

Joyce sighed relieved. "Yeah, thank you. See you"

He grinned. "See you, Joyce"  He replied before hanging up.

Joyce came in the kitchen like a lightning "Will, sweetie... Umm... Do you mind if Jane comes here?"

He raised an eyebrow quite surprised. "Not at all. Actually, I was about to call the rest...Can we have a party?"

Joyce disliked the idea at first, she never leaves him home alone with friends but she was not in the situation to complain. "Yeah... but I want everything clean once I come back, okay?" She said pointing at him.
"Sure, Mom" He nodded.

His mother caressed his hair playfully before going to her room. Will laughed after she left. "You just told me you had to go out today, but not that you were going to meet him"

Joyce stopped walking for a while, thinking what she should say. "Well... I haven't seen Hopper in months, that's why" She replied continuing her way.

Just after inspecting her wardrobe she sighed. "When was the last time I went out? There's nothing here I can wear" She thought. Joyce suddenly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Thinking about Bob was always such a painful feeling. She felt how it was hard for her to breathe for a few seconds and shook her head in denial. Joyce was already over the phase where she couldn't stop crying, just when their memories came up in her mind. These months were like a torture in so many ways. All the tragedy she has been through for the past two years and his loss was so hard to handle, more than she could ever imagine. One thing was for sure, she was really good at acting in front of everyone, isolating herself in her job, but deep inside she was feeling empty and broken. That man changed her life and she knew she would never forget him after what he did for her and the rest. "Come on, Joyce. He's your best friend, just try to have fun for once" She said to herself.

Joyce just picked up the newest dress she had without thinking much and dressed herself up quickly. She added some make up, covering the big bags under her eyes.

Suddenly the felt the door knocking. The sound of her high heels hitting the floor as she walked fast could be heard everywhere in the house. She opened the door and looked down at El. She hadn't seen her much because work didn't let her be the one who picks Will up in his car after meeting his friends. Jonathan was the one did it now. "Hey! How much you've grown! But you're pretty as usual." She said with a broad smile. Jane blushed and hugged her. Somehow Joyce loved that girl so much. She couldn't tell exactly why but it felt like they had so many things in common. She looked up and spotted Hopper leaving the car while they where still hugging.