Extraordinary B.H

Better off

Lauren sat next to Hopper on her front porch stairs. He looked drained and exhausted as his eyes met Lauren's, the file still in his hands.

"I might have doubted you kid" he said and Lauren immediately felt relief, she knew exactly what he was talking about.

He opened the file and took out a drawing of the monster from the Upside Down and as soon as Lauren saw it her heart dropped.

"H-How?" she asked, slightly out of breath. "Will" Hopper said and Lauren nodded.

 "What do you know about this...creature?" Hopper asked and Lauren gulped. "I've seen it in the upside down...when I get the episodes. I saw it attack Will last time and I-I tried to stop him, I tried to tell will to run but he-" Lauren stopped to take a breath.

"Its okay Lauren. Take your time" Hopper said, putting his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

 "All I know is that it's dangerous and every time I get an episode it feels like its trying to get closer to me, in some weird twisted way...I always run away from it" Lauren said, and Hopper squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

"You keep fighting it alright? It got to Will and its not looking good" Hopper said and Lauren nodded. "Is he ok? Will?" Lauren asked as she hugged herself. 

 "He'll be ok" Hopper said. "Is it related to what's happening in the lab?" she asked him and he frowned. "I'm not sure. The people at the lab aren't being upfront with me" he admitted.

"Alright. Call the station if you need anything ok?" he asked as they both stood up. 

"Wait" Lauren said when Hopper stood up. "Where is he?" she asked.

"Who?" Hopper asked as he took in her expression.

"My dad, where is he? Did he not hear that i got kidnapped last year?", "Lauren"

"I mean, he was your best friend...there's no way you don't know anything about him so where the hell is he? Where the hell has he been all this time?! Did he just completely forget about us?" she blurted and Hopper sighed.

He took the girl's hand as her lips trembled and her eyes filled with unshed tears.

"Wherever the hell he is, he doesn't deserve you Lauren. Hold your mom and brother close, just trust me you're better off" he said, looking her in the eye, emphasizing every word.

She breathed out. "Okay" she said. 

"Why now?" Where's this coming from?" he asked and she exhaled. "I've been dying to ask but it came up today so..." she said honestly and he nodded before squeezing her hand before letting it go.

"Say hi to your mom for me" he said and she nodded with a small smile, then she watched him leave.

...

"We're invited for dinner at the Hargroves" Mrs. Henderson told her kids, who sat in the living room watching a show about dragons and zombies.

"Today?" Lauren asked and her mom nodded. "Shit what do i wear?" she whispered and Dustin smirked.

"You mean, what do i wear for Bill-OWW" he yelled when Lauren threw a pillow so hard he almost fell off the couch.

"Oh my! Laury are you seeing Susan's stepson?" Her mom asked and Lauren glared at Dustin, who was holding back a laugh. "No noo i'm not seeing anybody...officially" she whispered the last part to herself.

"Oh but be careful Laury, Susan said he was a player back in California" she said as she walked towards her bedroom. "Wow thanks mom" she replied sarcastically.

...

Lauren sat across from Billy at the dinner, Dustin facing Max in the middle, Susan facing Claudia and Neil Hargrove sat at the head of the table.

Lauren didn't realize how close her mom and Susan had gotten until she heard them talk to each other as if Susan's been part of their lives for years.

"So Lauren, you and Billy in any classes together?" Neil asked as they ate. "Yeah we have a class in common" she said nicely. "He's not giving you a hard time is he?" he asked and Lauren didn't miss the way Billy's jaw clenched.

"Not at all" she hid her annoyance with a smile. "The teacher actually loves him" she stated and Neil frowned. "We're learning about Frankenstein, the novel. Billy's read it in California so he's been the one answering all the questions correctly" Lauren shrugged and Neil smiled.

"Well well...looks like you're adjusting better than you're letting on William" Neil said before he continued eating and Billy managed the fakest smile known to man.

"Hawkins is nothing compared to California, but it has its moments" Claudia said.

"Why did you choose Hawkins though?" Lauren asked, genuinely curious. "A friend recommended it, I also got a job here and it has better benefits" Neil said and Lauren nodded.

"What friend?" Susan asked casually. "Walter" Neil answered.

Lauren, Dustin, and Claudia froze.

"I'm sorry who?" Claudia asked. "Walter Henderson, used to work with me in California, you guys related by any chance? I've been meaning to ask Susan to ask you" Neil asked them, but the three stayed silent...

"He's um my height, short beard, green eyes. He has these adorable baby twins...what was his wife's name, was it Ella? Hmm i'm not sure he was always keeping things private. But he recommended Hawkins, said its where he grew up" Neil asked, totally oblivious that the three Hendersons stopped eating.

Billy, Max and Susan's concern grew at the sight. "You okay?" Billy asked when he saw Lauren's expression.

"Our dad" Lauren blurted out, and Neil paused.

"Walter Henderson is our dad...we haven't seen him in 10 years" she said before reaching for the water to take a sip.

"Oh, i'm sorry" Neil said before looking at Susan who just offered a small awkward smile. 

Lauren felt Billy's leg touch hers from under the table. "Well he sucks" Max said.

"Max" Susan whispered. "What? It's true" she said and Lauren and Dustin smiled.

"She's right that son of a bitch sucks" Dustin said and Lauren laughed. "Dustin no swearing" Claudia said and gave her son a 'not here' look.

"The food is really good!" Lauren exclaimed as she stuffed her mouth with more food, and they all chuckled as the awkwardness melted away.