Home (Jim Hopper)

Chapter 3

It didn't take long for Amelia to get to Joyce's house. It was down a familiar trail that she used to run down. The sun was starting to set but it stayed warm. The wind was soft and whistled through the trees that surrounded her. She walked down a side trail that led away from Joyce's house, but she recognized it. Amelia remembered walking down it before with her father.

"You ready Amelia?" The Cheif of police asked the young girl who stood in front of him. Her hair was long and wavy but was tied up as she held the gun in front of her. "Try hit that can," he pointed further down the trail where an old empty can of beans sat on a fallen tree.

Young Amelia nodded and brought the handgun up, both her hands gripping it tightly, her eyes staring at the can.

"Remember it jolts back. Hold it firmly. Now take a deep breath." She did as her father told, taking a deep breath before slowly placing her finger on the trigger. With one last breath she squeezed the trigger, she held the gun in place despite the jolt. The bullet left the gun with a bang and travelled down the trail, not a second later the bullet hit the can making a sound ring out through the trees.

Amelia sighed and walked back up the trail rejoining the correct one which would lead to her friends' house. She called it a trail when in fact it was more of a road, she was wondering if she should have taken Jim's lift home so she could have grabbed her car to come to Joyce's. It would have been quicker.

She finally saw a house up the road, it was far bigger than she expected. It was all one level but was long and wide. It was similar to her fathers as it sat in a large field surrounded by trees but this house was far more modern. On the outside clothes and bedsheets hung from a washing line, a car sat not too far from it. She hoped that meant Joyce was actually home.

Slowly she approached the door, with each step she became more nervous, the same questions going through her mind like when she was with Jim. Though looking at the washing line it did seem she'd have at least one kid. Amelia doubted that Joyce would be wearing superhero boxers.

Amelia raised her hand to the door with a gulp and gave three strong knocks. She waited, hearing noises inside, after a few seconds a teenage boy opened the door.

"Eh, hello," Amelia said with a smile.

"Who is it?!" A female voice called from inside.

"I don't know!" The teenager called back, he looked back to Amelia, "Who are you?"

"I'm Amelia Collins. Does Joyce Byers live here?"

"Yes, she does." He was sceptical.

"Me and her used to be close friends in high school. I'm back in town and thought I'd come to say hi."

The teenager looked her up and down unsure but after a moment he called into the house, "IT'S FOR YOU!"

Amelia waited patiently as she heard more ruckus inside the house, a second later the door opened to reveal a petite woman with shoulder-length hair.

"Amelia..." she softly spoke as she opened the door.

"That's me," Amelia smirked causing Joyce to hug her tightly.

"Its been so long. How come you're back?"

"Decided it was time to come home."

The two sat together in the kitchen, doing exactly what Amelia was doing with Jim not too long ago, catching each other up in the last 25 years. Joyce's life seemed a little bit more hectic than Jims, she had two boys which she was raising alone.

Jonathan, the older of the two boys, was the one who opened the door for her, he was very polite but quite closed off when introduced. He had a camera around his neck which she found intriguing but did not comment on it yet.

Will was the younger one and came into the house later in the day with three of his friends.

"Will, honey!" Joyce called when she heard the door open and close.

"Yes?" He replied back entering the kitchen with his friends. Amelia stood with Joyce as she introduced her to them.

"She's going to be your new science teacher!"

A young boy with curly hair and hat stepped forward.

"Oh, really," he started, "then what's the strongest metal in the world?"

Amelia raised an eyebrow to Joyce who shrugged her shoulders, Amelia looked back to the confident child.

"Well it depends what universe we are talking about," she sat down, "in the Marvel universe it would be Vibranium which is in Wakanda and makes Captain America's sheild and Black Panthers suit, while in the world of middle-earth I'd say its Mithril. It's used as armour and is given to Bilbo by Thorin who gives it to Frodo and it saves his life against a troll who tried to spear him. Phrik is know for being indestructible in the Star Wars universe and one of the few substances that can withstand a lightsabre strike.
Now our own universe, well, that's a trick question as there are multiple different possibilities depending on the situation. Does that answer the question for you?"

None of the boys said anything, all staring at her in shock; that was not what they were expecting her to say.

"Will you marry me?" The curly boy suddenly burst out, Joyce and Amelia laughed at this as the rest of the boys try dragging him away, multiple 'sorrys' being said as they left.

"See you around Miss!" One of them quickly added before running off after their friends.

"So you still like that stuff?" Joyce asked as she rummaged through some old boxes.

Amelia nodded, "once a nerd, always a nerd."

Joyce chuckled, "Well I'm sure the kids will love you then."