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CHAPTER TWENTY TWO | HOPPER'S SECRET
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i heard her navigate the thick soil of who we are. her boundless black self rising, honeying.
-no language is neutral // dionne brand
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"Eleven."
The sigh of relief Mike let out was softer than anything Jackie had ever heard from the boy. His face told her everything she needed to know about him. This little girl, without doubt, meant everything to Mike Wheeler. And if the unshed tears in her eyes were any indication, he meant everything to her too.
"Mike."
The two kids collided in a hug, clutching each other desperately. Now, they were both crying into the other's shoulder.
"I never gave up on you," Mike said, pulling away from the hug. His hands stayed on her arms, though. "I called you every night. Every night for—"
"Three-hundred and fifty-three days," Eleven (Or was itEl? Jackie was unsure how to refer to her as because, up until this moment, she'd only ever heard her be called El) answered easily. "I heard."
This was getting to be all too much for Jackie's soft heart. Blinking back her rom-com tears, she placed her hand in Steve's and squeezed his palm, hanging on for dear life. He looked away from the crying eighth graders and down at her. He squeezed her hand back, and somehow Jackie just knew it to mean 'I love you.'
"Why didn't you tell me you were there?" Mike asked, sounding far more heartbroken than any thirteen, nearly fourteen, year old boy should. "That you were okay?"
"Because I wouldn't let her," Hopper said, cutting in. He walked towards Eleven, a soft yet firm look on his face — the look of a saddened father. "The hell is this? Where you been?"
"Where have you been?" Eleven hissed back.
But Eleven hugged Hopper nonetheless.
"You've been hiding her!" Mike said accusingly, anger rising in the flush of his cheeks. "You've been hiding her this whole time!"
He slammed his palms into Hopper's back, shoving the policeman forward. If it were any other situation, any other cop, Jackie might have laughed at the sight.
"Hey," Hopper said, grabbing Mike by the shoulder and forcing him to settle down. "Let's talk. Alone."
He pulled Mike after him down the hall and into one of the rooms. Despite the closed door, they could all still hear Mike yelling. It was a bit awkward. However, the awkwardness of hearing Mike screaming swears at Hopper dissipated as soon as Lucas and Dustin rushed forward and engulfed Eleven in a giant hug.
