After the party had ended, Jim stayed behind, helping Joyce clear the table. When they were done, Jim swiped sweat off his brow and said: "I guess we'll call it a night. Good night, Joyce."
He turned away from her, leaving the living room.
"Hop, wait." she called after him.
He stopped.
"What is it, Joyce?"
"You forgot this." she said, handing him a flat, rectangular item wrapped in blue paper.
"Is this for me?" he asked, glancing dumbfoundedly at Joyce.
"Of course." she said, smiling up at him.
"Oh, you didn't have to. Look at all you've already done for me." he said humbly.
His eyes glinted, and for a moment, Joyce almost thought he was going to cry.
"Go on. Open it!" Joyce demanded, clasping her hands together excitedly.
"Alright." he agreed, as he opened his present.
It was a picture of him, Joyce, El and Will in a beautiful gold frame. He smiled. He remembered the day Jonathan had taken this picture of them.
He looked at Joyce, his eyes shining with gratitude.
"Thank you."
Joyce stepped a little closer.
"Hop, you know before when I was going to give a toast... I mean, how could you know that I..."
Jim sighed.
"It was just a hunch, Joyce. Sometimes it feels like I know you better than you know yourself."
"Oh... Okay." Joyce said, feeling confused.
She decided not to press the matter more.
"Good night, Joyce." Jim said again, turning to get his coat off the rack.
"Hop, wait."
"Yeah?"
"I wanted to ask you something." Joyce said.
She could feel her cheeks getting warm. This was it, she told herself. The moment she'd been waiting for.
"Hop, do you remember when you asked me out for dinner?"
"Of course." Jim said, frowning his brow.
"Well, I was hoping that maybe..."
"I'd love to." Jim said, a smile on his lips.
"Enzo's?" Joyce suggested, her face flushed, her palms sweaty.
"I pick you up at 7."
Joyce walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek.
"Happy birthday, Hop."
YOU ARE READING
Jopper // Light at the End of the Tunnel - A Love Story (Completed)
FanficSPOILERS FOR SEASON 3 OF STRANGER THINGS. This is a story about what happens when two people who have been through hell come together and try to overcome their pain through love and friendship and move on from the darkness that has taken a toll on...
