PANDEMONIUM [ 2 ] ↠ STRANGER THINGS

3. A CRY FOR HELP

PANDEMONIUM
CHAPTER THREE

➝ A CRY FOR HELP

COLLEEN WAS BEING DRAGGED THROUGH THE DOORS OF HAWKINS POLICE STATION, AND CALLAGHAN BROUGHT HER STRAIGHT INTO HOPPER'S OFFICE. She stumbled to find her balance once he let go of her arm, smacking against the door frame. Hopper let out a sigh and rubbed his hand over his face once he saw the drunken teenager scowling from within the doorway. The two officers exchanged looks before quickly exiting the office room, leaving the two alone.

"Should I even ask?" Hopper waved a hand.

Colleen rolled her eyes as she walked into the room and the door slammed behind her, her eyes fully scanned around the room. She picked up a book from his desk and he pulled it out of her hands and she pouted, "Sit down."

Colleen exhaled as she sunk into his armchair and stared down at the ground, her head felt like it was spinning. She rubbed her eyes and clenched her jaw, "I was having a bad day."

"You've been having a lot of bad days recently, huh?" He sat down behind his desk from across from her and she relentlessly made eye contact with him. She knew he was disappointed in her. He let out a deep breath and tried to be supportive, "Can we talk about more progressive outlets for your grief? Like... hobbies or?"

She chuckled darkly, "Not drinking."

He shrugged his shoulders and blew out a stressed breath, "Yes, not drinking. Look Col, I know this is hard for you. And you have every reason to grieve, and to be angry. But we need to talk about this. I need you to talk to me about this."

"There's nothing to talk about. I was just sitting in class and I got bored. And the lunch bell rang so I went outside for a smoke... When I saw some other kids sneaking off to the woods out back," She gave a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders as she explained what happened and led her here.

Hopper rubbed his temples, "So you just thought to follow and get drunk at 10am."

She rolled her eyes at his response, "You know, you can sit here and patronize me all you want. But I know damn well how many times you've drank at 10am. And I know about that flask that you have hidden in your bottom drawer."

"I'm not patronizing you, Colleen. I'd be a hypocrite if I tried. But I am your guardian until the papers are signed by your mother," But before he could continue, she groaned and shot out of her seat. "Colleen. Colleen!"

She stared out the window of his office and watched as a light blue Camaro sped by, music blasting from the speakers. She folded her arms across her chest before turning back around to Hopper, "I don't want the papers to be signed. She- she can't just pop back into my life when she thinks it's convenient for her and then act like everything is gonna be okay. She left me, a long time ago. And I came to terms with it, then she just comes and moves back to town. Moves back into my house. And she's making me call her mom," She scoffed, "Like— like she's isn't a complete stranger."