Jailbird || Stranger Things

five ➵ low expectations

Christmas was—in a word—interesting.

Teresa never really used to pay attention to headlines and newspapers and whatever else, but perhaps that was because she had a deep hatred for the way journalism seemed to make so many things into a sensation. She had a respect for the way some journalist fought for freedom of speech, and showing the general public just how corrupt some parts of the system were, but having been a product of the criminal side, she knew full well a lot of journalists were good at colouring outside the lines. That is to say; embellish the truth.

On the second day of Christmas, Jim Hopper got his jailbird daughter.

Having been such a sensation for a solid few months during her last relationship that included drama from family issues to sex scandals, she already felt like she was a product of lazy writing. Hell, when she was released and bumped into an old classmate on the beach, she could practically feel them watching her the same way she imagined movie stars were watched in public.

Except it was not for a good reason at all.

Admiration was so far from Teresa's vocabulary when it came to describing others' attention, that she'd given up on it. Of course, that thinking changed when El was introduced to her life, since she knew she couldn't be a bad role model to the girl. There were too many reminders of the type of sister she was to Sarah, and what exactly this girl deserved. It sure as hell was infinitely better than that lab she was stuck in for the first twelve years of her life.

Knowing full well that El needed to be a kid, Teresa herself found pleasure in giving her a sort of— movie education.

Family Video was the first public space she was spotted alone. It was in the small shop that she realised just how entertaining the small town mindset was.

"California. Did you hear? The chief's ex-wife really wanted to get away from him."

Perhaps it was the mentality, or perhaps it was just a testament for how boring Hawkins was to some people, but no one was quiet about their opinions on her return.

"Why the hell would she want to come back here?"

There was one group, however, who were more than relieved to have the talk of the town switch.

"Fresh out of juvie, and she comes to Hawkins?"

Talk about Will and the Byers disappeared almost overnight. It seemed as if everyone was just waiting for the green Range Rover to glide into the station's parking space. Everyone picked up on the familial connection, on the dangerous background story, and everyone ran with it. Even if it gave the group involved in Will's rescue a reason to breathe, it didn't help the conscience of a newly reformed Steve Harrington in becoming a 'better person'. The same person he thought Nancy deserved, and who he truly wanted to be.

"Teresa Hopper. Ugh, even her name—what a hoser."

Nancy didn't need to look up from the tape in her hand to notice the way Steve's fist clenched and jaw tensed. Almost reflexively, she reached her free hand to his arm, and her boyfriend immediately pulled her into his side. The immediate reactions from both of them had been built up through a lot of conversations about the events of November, but they were both appreciative of the changes.

None more than Steve, who was still a little surprised that Nancy Wheeler gave him another chance.

"I don't know, an ass like that?" Tommy Hagan laughed over the sound of the bell, arm around Carol's shoulders much the same way as Steve had his around Nancy. "Even as a Hopper, she can pull it off."