Status

Status - Chapter One

Chapter One:

The easiest house to reach, with the least amount of danger for El was the Byers. If he were honest with himself, he was relieved on more than one level. Not only did it mean he didn't have to worry about El sneaking off to hook up with her boyfriend Mike – but it also meant he got to visit Joyce.

This Saturday evening was no different than the last three, except that for once he had arrived at the Byer's house before Joyce herself. Will opened the door with a flourish before Jim had even removed his boots, and El rushed in giving Will a hug.

"Will!" She exclaimed, so excited you wouldn't know they had only visited three days before, to help Jonathan fix a leaky pipe in the roof.

"El!" Will responded, equally excited. "Guess what? Mum got me a new video this week. Want to go watch it? She said we could!" Jonathan was in the lounge fiddling with the television set and Jim gave him a quick hello before heading into the kitchen to start dinner. He was pleased that for once he could do the cooking, Joyce could come home and just kick up her feet after a long shift at Melvald's.

..

Joyce felt a small smile grace her face as she arrived home. She could certainly get used to seeing Jim Hopper's dirty work boots set tidily by her front door mat, amongst the children's hastily removed trainers. She slipped off her own shoes and reminded herself that despite the domesticity of the past few months, it didn't mean she should allow herself to get used to it. Eventually Hopper would find himself a lady, and he was pretty sure any girlfriend of his would not approve of him spending so much time with Joyce. Plus, they had a bit of an odd friendship, she certainly wouldn't think a girlfriend of Jim's would approve of the amount of physical contact she currently required from him. She blamed the need for his lovely all-encompassing hugs, the gentle hand on her lower back, or the soft kiss on the top of her head... on her anxiety. If she were honest with herself, there has always been a spark between the two of them. This spark as a teenager either left them fighting like cats and dogs, hooking up under the school bleachers, or in later years – frantically removing one another's clothes in the backseat of his dad's ford.

She felt a blush rise to her face at the memories. She could usually push them aside, but she had to admit they were rising to the surface of her mind more and more of late. She wasn't sure if it was due to the last years ordeal, or whether it was because she and Hopper were spending so much more time together – because of their children being such great friends, of course.

"Hello," she called as she stepped through her front door. She heard a chorus of Hello's from Jonathan, Will and Eleven in the lounge. They must have already started the film she had bought the boys earlier in the week, she couldn't even remember what it was called... something about aliens? She didn't think she could watch sci-fi after learning of The Upsidedown.

"Evening," she ignored the little flip her heart did at Hopper's voice coming from the kitchen. She could smell dinner cooking, and for the second time that night she couldn't help but smile. It had been a long time since she had smiled this much.

"I see you are cooking the mince I left out," she entered the kitchen to Hopper with a beer in front of him and a cigarette in his hand, a fresh ash tray set in the middle of the table.

"Spaghetti Bolognaise alright?" He inhaled deeply and she watched his concerned eyes look her up and down. He had already made it clear he thought she was working too much. He never said she looked tired – but she knew. She only had to look at her pale face in the mirror every morning, the dark half circles beneath her eyes... she didn't have a choice though. Will and Jonathan needed her, and she needed every cent she could get just to keep them afloat.

"I'm fine, Hopper." She pulled herself out a beer and sat across from him. She took the time to look over his face, he was looking tired too. She supposed he was still adjusting to being the chief of police and a father. "How is El?"

"Oh, you know. Going stir crazy, as usual."

"Did she enjoy the books Nancy gave her? And the textbooks the boys lent her?"

"Oh, she's powered through them already, kid is bright. I'll give her that." She took a sip of beer and briefly let herself wonder what it would be like to come home to a man like Jim Hopper every evening. She knew they were both fiery, and nothing would be easy... But going back to her earlier thoughts, she didn't like the idea of him caring for another woman like he cared for her and her boys, it just didn't feel right.

Joyce knew she was crazy. She didn't think she was unattractive physically, maybe starting to look a little old... but considering she was nearing 40 that was no surprise. She knew her brain, her crazy anxiety riddled mind was the problem. She could blame Lonnie for most of her mental health problems. "A penny for your thoughts..." She startled, almost forgetting he was there, she had been so lost in her own head.

"Oh," she felt a blush as she realised she couldn't tell him what she had been thinking. "Oh, nothing." She couldn't meet his eyes.

"Uh-huh," he stubbed out his cigarette and held the packet out to her. "Want one? I think dinner is almost ready." He gestured behind him to the mince simmering on the stove. It smelled delicious, and she felt her stomach grumble in anticipation. She shook her head and gently pushed the packet back towards him.

"I'll set the table."