A Girl From Hawkins (Jim Hopper x OC)

001

Oct 28th, 1983

I took a long breath in as I turned the corner from Archibald onto Main Street. I hadn't been back in so long, I didn't want it to be any different, I wanted the same, slightly old fashioned town I'd grown up in, the place that would always be my home at heart.

My old Volkswagen shuddered around the corner, the tires squealing a little. I thanked my stars that her rusted engine had delivered us both here in one piece, she'd done well, the drive from Chicago to Hawkins was a tiresome journey. One I never thought she'd make successfully.

"Good job, Rustbox." I grinned to myself, patting the dashboard, an odd behaviour I'd picked up from my Mother.

Looking up I felt a smile pull at my lips. I couldn't help it, the sight before me was so familiar, like a favourite family member you hadn't seen in a while. And in Hawkins' case I hadn't seen it in a while. Nine years, I hadn't been closer than the Pennsylvania borderline.

I drove slowly past Hawk cinema, lights flashing bright, couples and clearly underaged kids queuing in line for 'All The Right Moves'. The Big Buys supermarket hadn't changed a bit since Mom use to work there in the early 70's. The town hall, lit bright and beautiful for the evening. The police station, the church, the high school, everything was the same, a town seeming to be stuck in time. It was never going to be voted number 1 town in America but it was the greatest place in the world to me, and nothing would ever beat it.

I turned onto Maple Street and grinned at the sight of my house, the same now as it was all that time ago, Uncle Benny had kept it looking as beautiful and grand as it had the day we left. I shut off the engine, probably much to the relief of my overheated car. I sat, staring up at the house I'd never wanted to leave in the first place.

I was home.

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I had expected Benny to greet me when I got in. A big, cosy bear hug from Uncle Benny, he'd always been my favourite. The kindest giant of a man with a smile as broad as his shoulders. I was as excited to see him as I was to eat his family/town famous mac and cheese toasted sandwich. A concoction he used me as a guinea pig for testing on. Boy did I miss dinner at Benny's.

But after finding the spare key under a very fake looking rock in the flower bed out front, I let myself in to an empty house. Or so I thought, until a bounding black mass of fur sped around the corner towards me. I squashed myself against the door, hiding my face with my hands and let out a scared squeal. I'm a big baby, and I knew it.

The creature came to an unsteady stop at my feet, panting heavily with an occasional playful bark. I slowly uncurled from my cowering position and glanced down into the darkness. Knowing the house like the back of my hand I flicked the light switch to my left. A bright shot of light illuminated, not only the room, but also a tall, lean dog that looked a lot like a scrawny wolf. It sat, staring at me, tongue flopped out the side of its mouth as it watched me.

"Oh, you're a dog." I spoke, reaching out so it could sniff my hand. Much more relaxed knowing it probably wouldn't try to eat me. "Good old Benny, forgetting to tell me about the 90 pound beast living in his house." I laughed as it licked the palm of my hand.

"Excellent." I grinned, wiping it on my jacket and looking for a tag on its collar. "...Ripley?" I looked at its face. A girl. "Weird name..." She then proceeded to collapse to the ground a roll around, as if itching. "...Weird dog."

Leaving my bags and the strange dog by the front door I walked through the house, the doorway leading straight into a big open living room, the rounded arch at the back of the room took you through to the kitchen, still the dark mahogany and daisy yellow it had been when I was a kid. On the table sat a note:

'Hey Kiddo!

Welcome Home! I'm sorry I'm not there, but Rip will no doubt have given you a dog worthy welcome by the time you're reading this. Make yourself at home, after all its yours as much as mine. I'll be at the diner til late, don't wait up cause I'm giving you the grand tour of the place in the morning, can't wait for you to see it!

Benny.'

I was kind of glad he wasn't home, the 6 hour drive from Pittsburgh was exhausting and I really just wanted to curl up in bed for a year.

"Ripley." I called, not seconds later the huge thing lumbered into the kitchen, almost grinning. "Girl I'm going to bed, if you want to join me you're more than welcome, but I starfish." I told the dog as she followed me back through the living room, waiting for me to collect my bags and then continued to follow me up the stairs.

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you." I followed the hallway, still lined with all of our family photos, Benny had added a few, but not taken any away.

I opened a door I'd entered a million times before to the sweet relief of my childhood bedroom. Untouched, completely as I remembered it, aside from a bigger bed and a few boxes of what I'd assumed were the things I'd sent before me.

The dog pranced past me, straight onto the bed without the need of jumping, her legs curling underneath her, she plonked down and stared up at me.

"Oh Ripley, by all means come on in."

Dropping my bags I flopped down beside her. The new bed was comfy, I'd have to convince Benny to let me pay him back, he wouldn't but I could at least try.

I kicked my shoes off, now I'd lay down there was no getting up again. I turned around, pulling my legs up. The dog wiggled slightly to get closer to my face.

"I hope you don't get morning breath." I heard myself mutter as my eyes fluttered shut for the rest of the night.