0 0 1 ━ [ 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘰𝘯 ]

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟹𝟾: 𝚃𝚛𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝙽𝚘 𝙾𝚗𝚎

After that night the sleeping arrangements in the Hopper household had changed. Hopper graciously offered James his room in exchange for the couch, but One quickly realized Hopper's ulterior motives that night. When the last light had extinguished in the cabin and Hopper's snores were cutting through the silence, One slowly creaked open her door and peeked out into the dark living room.

Across the living room One could make out the partial shadowy outline of James standing in his own doorway, peering back at her. His eyes glanced down at a sleeping Hopper before quietly waving her over. One carefully tiptoed across the floorboards, intent on making it to her destination without waking the sleeping dragon on the couch.

One tried to time her footfalls with Hopper's snores and was doing remarkably well until she unknowingly stepped on a string that ran across the floor and tied to a book on the shelf to her right. One flinched as the book clattered to the floor, its booming echo cascading through the cabin.

"Nice try. Back to bed," Hopper grumbled as he turned over on the couch.

"Did you set up a trip wire?" One asked incredulously before huffing and turning back towards her room. She caught James' sad glance before she shut her door and retreated to her own bed.

They weren't going to do anything. One had just wanted a chance to talk to James in private. During the daytime with Hopper and Eleven at her every turn, it was hard to catch a moment alone with her newfound old friend. And especially now, with the recent awkwardness that had arisen between the two regarding Steve, it was imperative that she sort things out and get back on good footing.

Laying in bed and staring up at the ceiling, One considered another attempt to see James with a portal but ultimately determined that the whirring would be too loud and that the light might leak under her door. And who knew what other tricks Hopper might have up his sleeve. She'd just have to try again the next night, and be weary of any other traps that Hopper might set.