Jopper : You make my heart skip a beat

Chapter 7

Joyce, still absolutely mortified, quickly scrambled to get the door. What just happened? Did we almost kiss? Oh... I almost kissed Jim Hopper. Her mind was racing, coming up with so many reasons as to why this was bad. Why this would never work.

It was just in the heat of the moment. He wasn't actually going to kiss me. Was he? No, why would he want to kiss me? He probably would've regretted if it we had kissed. I mean, come on Joyce. Why would anyone even want my broken self.

She hastily opened the door, to see that the pizza delivery boy was getting in his car to leave when she shouted, "Hey, sorry for not answering the door." He turned around and walked back towards her. She saw him take a side glance at Hopper's chief of police truck.

He faced her with a knowing smile. What's that look for. Why is he smiling at the idea of Hopper's truck being here? It's not like she never heard the gossiping of the domestic woman in this town. All the time, while on her shift, she would catch their glances of knowing eyes and smiles. Rumours of her and Hopper dating again. This isn't true, but she knows even her, and possibly him, denying it would only increase their gossip filled with lies and half-truths. So she doesn't say anything to them about it. And she's happy they don't ask.

Does he think Hopper's here as a result of one of the many rumours about us? The thought was interrupted by the pizza delivery boy telling her the total. She handed him the money in her pocket before adding a polite "thank you" and accepting the boxes.

Before she could turn to go, the pizza delivery boy flashed the same knowing smile saying, "Have fun tonight, Ms Byers." And he was in his car and driving away before she could fully process what he just said.

What did he mean 'have fun tonight'? No. He can't mean...? No that's ridiculous. And even if Hoper was here for that, which he isn't! Why would we order four pizzas for just the two of us. Surely he must know that's not the reason he's here. Oh no... what if he tells someone he was here at this time of night, and ordering food? The rumours would spread like wildfire. Joyce and Hopper.

She tried to take a deep breath and failed miserably so tried again and again until she was breathing normally.

She pushed the door back open and saw the three of them setting the table. They we clearly just discussing something but all hushed when she walked in. 

"What's going on?" She asked innocently, genuinely curious but not wanting to push. It was probably about me considering that they all fell silent when I walked in.

"Ooooh pizza!" El rounded the table and walked over to Joyce, offering to take two boxes. El wasn't going to say anything about what they were talking about. El would be a great actor one day. Joyce lowered the stack to allow her to properly grip the top two. El gladly placed them, on the table, not waiting to open them.

"Is Jonathan still here?" Joyce asked, realising Jonathan has probably already slipped out to go to Nancy's.

"No. He left earlier when we were watching tv." Hopper answered not looking up from the pizza now stacked high on his plate. "Oh ok." She replied, wondering how she missed him passing them. And what did he see? Did he see two innocent adults watching tv together. Or two adults cuddled together like an old married couple on the couch, while watching one of their favourite movies.

She sat leaving the other pizza boxes open on the table, letting Will grab several slices. "This is delicious mom, thank you" he said while stuffing his face. "Your welcome. And be careful." She smiled, remembering Hopper's comment from earlier, they really are animals when they are hungry.

Hopper was thinking the same thing as he caught her eye with a face that said 'I told you so'. She had to stop a chuckle from escaping her lips by putting her pizza in her mouth. 

Hopper sat across from her tonight. He would normally sit beside her. He was obviously uncomfortable about what almost happened earlier and wanted to keep his distance. What does he think about me now? She sighed inwardly, her heart breaking slightly at the thought. She made it a point to avoid eye contact and not touch him at all for the rest of the night. This is so awkward.

Little did she know, all Hopper was thinking about was how he can kiss her now. His conversation with El and Will-while Joyce was outside and they were setting the table-stuck in his head. They were right.