A Girl From Hawkins (Jim Hopper x OC)

005

Nov 8th, 1983

A loud bark startled me awake, I jumped and sat bolt up right, disoriented for a moment before realising I'd fallen asleep in front of the TV, the screen was fuzzy grey, my back aches from the awkward position.

"What's wrong Rip?" I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes and stretched out, trying to rid the back pain.

She was lowered at the front door, crying and grumbling pathetically. I frowned at her before remembering last night, the worry formed in the pit of my stomach again as I stood quickly, hurrying up the stairs.

"Benny? You up?" I had to know what happened, it sounded like the start of a movie.

No reply.

"Benny? If you wake up I'll make you coffee?" Ripley stayed at the bottom of the stairs, still moaning at the door. "I mean, I was gonna makes some anyway, but you can have first cup."

I rapped my knuckles on his bedroom door, it swung gently open to reveal a messy yet totally empty bed.

"Benny?" I peaked around the corner to the bathroom, but that too was completely empty.

My mind started running through scenarios, ranging from trivial to serious and everything in between.

"Benny?!" I called louder, he may have snuck down past me to the kitchen but there was still no reply. I opened the net curtain in the living room, his car wasn't here. My stomach dropped with worry even further.

"Maybe he went in early." I was not convincing myself at all. He might have stayed at the diner overnight to look after the kid, but he surely would have called?

I called. It rang out. I called three more times and it rang out every time.

My heart thudded, something felt wrong, I couldn't put my finger on it but sense of dread washed over me like an ice cold wave, the kind you get when you're embarrassed, only much worse.

I grabbed my keys, trying to ignore the whining dog behind me as I yanked on my boots, my gut churning the entire time, I wouldn't relax until I saw him, safe, well and alright.

The car ride was a bit of a blur, the town flew past as I drove. My gut told me something was wrong and I wasn't going to make the mistake of ignoring it again.

I was halfway past the high school when the sirens sounded up behind me, I barely registered them as I went. Something was gravely wrong, I just knew it, the dog even seemed to know.

I ignored the police SUV behind me as I pushed my old car to its limits. I felt so cold, so weightless in the moment, the hours it seemed to take before I pulled up outside the diner, cop still in tow.

I glanced up as I hurried out the car, the neon sign was still brightly shining overhead. He hadn't come home at all.

"Hey!" A deep, booming voice yelled from behind me, followed by a door slamming. Whoever it was kept shouting as I noticed the front door half open. My stomach dropped.

"Benny?!" I called, my shaky voice quieter than intended.

"Hey! Don't ignore me!" The voice angrier now, closer too.

I took a step forward but a strong hand clapped over my shoulder, spinning me around, my sneakers crunches on the gravel as I was pushed with a little force up against the wall.

A familiar face glared down at me, his beard half covered his scowl but his eyes showed just how mad he was. He seemed to recognise me too and loosened his grip on my shoulder, instead pinning me against the wall with a hand either side of my head.