Happenstance ⌱ Jim Hopper

[ 7 ] COMPLETE CONTROL

[ 7 ]

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. Jodie shifted in the passenger seat, feeling uncomfortable as her blood sung. Her body was excited, happy in Jim's presence. It simply wouldn't do. Jodie needed to put a cork in it, fast, or her obsessive nature would take over. She needed to be focused on Will right now.

     Jim pulled the cruiser into the first parking space across from the Hawkins Public Library. It was a nice day, considering the terrible nature of it. The sun was shining and it was warmer than it had been in a while. "You looking for a good book? Didn't know you read." 

     Smirking, Jim yanked the keys from the ignition and grabbed his hat, opening his door. "Got any suggestions?"

      "Oh, I don't read." Jodie sprung from the car, moving fast to keep up with the man's steady pace. Her blonde hair bounced on her shoulders as she caught up to his side, brown eyes squinted against the glaring afternoon sun. "But, I hear Highland romance is really in right now."

       Jim tapped his hat onto his head and pulled open the front door to the library. Just inside the foyer, Callahan and Powell were waiting for their chief to arrive. "Highland? What's that?"

      Callahan fell in line beside Jim. "Hell if I know, Chief."

      The library was fairly empty as the cops strode into the place, while Jodie Whittier, in her cinema uniform and her father's giant sweater, trailed behind, eyeing the place. The Librarian glanced up from her desk, the sweet expression on her face souring as Jim approached. 

      "Hey, Marissa," his tone was careful and light, "how you doin'?"

      "You've got a lot of nerve showing up here."

        Falling in line beside Jim, Jodie's eyebrows shot up her brow, as a quirky, curious smile spread. Jim took his hat off his head and pat down his hair, combing down the dark golden mess. "What?"

      "You could have at least called, said," the librarian snapped at him, ignoring the three other people in front of her as she adjusted her wide frames, " 'Marissa! Hey, it's not gonna work out. Sorry, I wasted your time, I'm a dick'." 

      The awkward air was heavy, but Jodie breathed it in like the freshest mountain breeze. Ah, refreshing. Jim's face scrunched up in an uncomfortable, thinking way. It was a face, Jodie was learning, that Jim Hopper pulled when he wanted to say something else, but was holding back for a good reason. This reason was probably the fact that he needed something from Marissa, the sassy librarian. "Yep," he tightly replied. He grappled for the right words, a hand on his hip. "Uh, I'm sorry.. err, maybe we could go out again next week?"

      Yikes. Jodie turned away from the sight, cringing as Powell and Marissa exchanged knowing glances, the librarian mouthing 'no'. Biting back a snort, Jodie leaned into Jim's side and hoisted herself onto her tip-toes, loudly whispering in his ear. "You know, I really like her. Was she the one on the phone last night?"