By My Side : Steve Harrington

Before : Chapter One

1971

Hazel eyes scanned the classroom with hesitancy. This was not what Casey Hopper had in mind when she pictured kindergarten. The room was bigger than she thought it would be. Too big. Nothing like the police station which was small and confined. Casey spent a majority of her time at the police station where her father worked as a deputy. If she wasn't at the station, she was at home, which was also small and confined. She liked things small. Small meant simple. 

The brunette clutched onto her fathers leg at her side, too scared to take another step forward into the room.

"Dad, I don't want to go." 

Jim Hopper sighed heavily as he kneeled beside his daughter. He knew this was going to be difficult, but he didn't expect it to be this difficult. 

"Casey, I told you...You're gonna be fine." 

The five-year old knew for a fact, she was not going to be fine. The more and more she thought about it, the more she found wrong with the entire situation. For starters, Casey never spent more than a couple hours away from her father. Now, he wanted her to go practically the whole day without him? Yeah, right. Secondly, she didn't know any of these other kids running around like psychos screaming and yelling at one another. She did recognize a few faces, but didn't know their names and didn't care to really learn them. Thirdly, the old lady at the front of the room with the cold beady eyes, who she was guessing was going to be her teacher, looked awfully mean. Casey Hopper was far from fine.  

Glazed doe eyes met his, and her bottom lip pouted out, "Can't I go back to the station with you? Please?" 

The father's heart ached in his chest listening to her plead with her sweet little voice. In all honesty, Hopper didn't want her to go either. He would miss his little partner in crime during the day. He hasn't missed a moment of her life, and the thought of her being away from him for six hours terrified the shit out of him. But, this was necessary. She had to go. 

"No, baby. You gotta go." Instantaneously, her lip trembled and tears spilled from her eyes. The father didn't waste a second bringing her into his chest to soothe her, "Hey, hey, no crying, alright? You're gonna be amazing, Casey. I know it. I need you to be brave for your dad, okay? Can you do that?" 

The young girl sniffled, and wiped her hand under nose, collecting snot. Could she brave? She didn't know. She never done anything quite this scary before.

Jim could still sense his daughters reluctance, and the corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as an idea popped into his head, "How about this..." Her eyes snapped upwards to his, her knuckle hiding most of her face, "After I pick you up today, I'll take you out for dinner and ice cream." He felt her body stiffen at the words, and slowly she removed her knuckle from in front of her mouth.  

Casey knew what her dad was doing—bribing her. And, it was working. She took another look at the big open room, with its many desks, bright colored letters, shapes, and numbers all over the walls. She could do this. She could be brave for her dad, and her reward—ice cream. 

"Okay," she finally agreed, and Hopper smiled. 

"That's my girl," he whisper, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She retreated from her hiding spot in his arms and Jim helped smooth out her floral pink dress, then wiped her face with his hands. "I'll be back at two-thirty, alright?"

She nodded, "Alright." 

"Alright...Have fun, be good, and make some friends. You'll be good." 

Casey repeated the words in her head—have fun, be good, make some friends. She could do it. 

Hopper pressed one more kiss to the top of head, "Love you, munchkin."

"Love you, daddy." 

He smiled proudly, then straightened his tall stature and watched as his daughter cautiously walked further into the room. He chuckled softly before checking his watch and he realized he was late for work. Wishing he could stay just a few minutes longer, he backed out of the room and prayed the day went by fast. 

When Casey turned around she found the spot where he dad was standing empty, and her heart beat a little bit faster. Maybe she couldn't do this. She needed her dad. 

The brunette spun around on her feet, and dashed for the door, but she was stopped by a hand on her wrist, "And just where do you think you're going, young lady?" 

The scratchy old voice could have only come from one person in the room. Her teacher glared at her sternly, her face twisted in a scowl. 

"I was going to find my dad," Casey told her honestly. 

"I'm afraid it's time for you to find your seat," the old lady said, releasing her arm and gesturing to any of the desks set up in rows in front of the chalkboard. 

Casey gulped, but listened to instruction. Ignoring the nosy gazes of her peers, she found a seat in the back of the room and slid into the seat after putting her backpack on the back of her chair.

A few minutes later, Teacher began to talk, but Casey paid no attention. She kept her gaze downwards at her desk hoping to herself the day went by fast.  

"Psst." 

The young girls face contorted in confusion at the strange noise meeting her ear, and turned her head in the direction of its source. In the desk next her was a boy, with fluffy brown hair and chocolate brown eyes.

"What?" She whispered back. 

"What's your name?" The boy asked. 

"Casey," she answered simply, her brows furrowed at the boys boldness. "What's yours?" 

"Steve." 

Casey nodded, and brought her attention forward. Teacher was writing letters onto the board but the words they created were foreign to the five year old. 

"Do you wanna be friends?" Steve blurted out. 

Friends, Casey wondered to herself. That was something her dad had told her to do, was make friends. And this brown haired boy—Steve, he seemed nice enough. 

Hazel eyes met brown ones, and Casey smiled, "Sure." 

The rest of the day flew by. Casey learned that Teachers name was actually, Mrs.Hillard, which she supposed was good information to know. She didn't learn much, but her and Steve had a lot of fun at recess. They ran around the playground together until they were out of breath and during lunch time, Steve made Casey laugh so hard, she spit her milk out of her mouth. 

When the final bell rang and Mrs.Hillard released the class. Casey waved good-bye to Steve, and raced down the hallway to find her dad. Once she went out the double doors, Jim was waiting for her by the steps. 

"Daddy!" She cheered, launching herself into his arms. 

He caught her effortlessly, "There's my girl! So, how was it?" 

"Good!" She said, through a smile, "I made a friend." 

Hopper grinned, "Yeah? What's their name?" 

"Steve," Casey said innocently and her father's face fell. 

"Steve? It's a boy?" 

"Yeah!" She nodded, "He's really funny, dad." 

"Uh huh..." Hopper set his daughter onto her feet, and took ahold of her hand to begin walking towards the his cruiser, thinking to himself—just my luck. 

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