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MACIEWOKEUPTHENEXTMORNING, the mark had faded, but was still there. She put some concealer on it before waking up Max to take her to school.
She stood behind her desk, listening to the deputies talk about what they saw at the other farms when Hopper walking through the door,
"So... why'd you rush off last night?" Macie asked, leaning against the counter, "You have a girlfriend we don't know about?"
"No." He answered, putting his jacket on the hook,
"A wife?"
"No."
"Macie, maybe you should-" Powell started,
"A kid?" Macie asked,
Everyone paused and Macie knew she made a mistake. Jim turned to look at her, anger in his eyes. He stalked up to her and Macie squeezed her eyes shut,
"I ain't gonna hit you, kid." Hopper growled,
Macie opened her eyes and looked up at him, "I know-"
"What, you think I'm your dad, or somethin'?!" Hopper yelled, "I don't hit people just because they piss me off!"
Macie felt the tears burning her eyes. Her chest was tight. She needed to get out of there, she didn't want to break down in front of these people.
The blonde grabbed her keys, "I'm taking the day." She muttered as she squeezed past Hopper and left the building.
She was quick to get into her car and speed off.
Macie sat in her car, which was parked on the side of the road near the woods. Suddenly there was a knock on her window and she flinched.
She looked over and spotted Jim Hopper standing there, looking down at her. Macie wiped her tears away and rolled down the window, "Can I help you, officer?"
"Do you know why I pulled you over, ma'am?"
Macie rolled her eyes and sat back in her seat. Hopper walked to the other side of the car and sat in the passenger's seat and stared at the bruise that was now revealed on her cheek.
"God dammit-" He went to get out of the car but Macie spoke,
"He hits me cause I look like her."
"Like who?" Jim asked, looking back at her,
"Like my mother." Hopper stopped and sat back down in the passenger seat, "That's why he hits me. I know I could leave and start somewhere new, but... I don't want to leave Billy to take the heat."
"Why won't you let me arrest him?" Jim asked,
Macie looked over at the older man, "Billy shouldn't have to lose both parents."
He nodded and leaned back, "My wife... left me after our daughter died."
The blonde covered her mouth in horror, "Oh my god, Hop. And what I said earlier... I'm sorry, I didn't-"
"You didn't know. I shouldn't have yelled at you for it."
The two sat in silence for a moment before Hop got out of the car, "Stay here." He was gone for a few moments before bringing back a shotgun. He handed it to her,
"I don't like guns." Macie sighed, lightly holding the shotgun in her hands,
"It's for protection," Hopper replied,
"I'm not going to use it on my dad, Hop."
"Just to scare him." He took it back from her, "Let me show you how to use it."
