Jopper : You make my heart skip a beat

Chapter 10

Will and El started hungrily feeding on their pizza."This is delicious mom, thank you" Will said while stuffing his face. Oh my god this is such good pizza. I wonder where mom ordered it from.  "Your welcome. And be careful." She smiled.

Mom is always so worried about me, ever since the Upside down. I get it, that place is horrible. It's dark and cold and it looks like home, but it's not home. I hated it there. The demogorgan slowly, but surely hunting me down. The shadow monster was always lurking in the shadows there. Always watching me. Always haunting me. Never leaving. And when Hopper and Joyce got me out of there, he left a piece of him inside me. In the form of that green slug. Who surprise, surprise turned out to be Dustin's new 'pet' Dart. I knew all along that Dart was not good news. It gave me the same feeling I had in the upside down. That feeling. I will never forget that feeling.

 I could never fully describe it. Like me and someone else in one body. My body. I was unable to control what I did and said. Only ever truly present in my thoughts. It was like I wasn't in control. I wasn't in control of my own body. No matter how hard I fought. He would take over. Invade my thoughts, making me do want he wanted. Things I didn't want to do. I tried to stop him. I did. But he was stronger.  He was always stronger. Never weak. Only waiting. Waiting until he needed me. And when he needed me, it was like I was looking down at myself doing something I couldn't stop or control. My thoughts would say one thing, but my mouth would say another. I'd try to do one thing, but he make me do another. And my family and friends were hurt by what he made me do and say. He hurt them! Even though they all told me it's okay. That I couldn't have done anything to stop him. I still feel guilty. Like I could have been stronger. I could have held onto control for longer. But I didn't stop him and I hate that. I hate him. I hate that place. I hate that I hurt the people I love.

El lightly elbowed Will making him redirect his attention away from his pizza and onto the two adults who had could've easily forgotten the two of them were there, while staring deeply at each other. What is that look? Something did happen earlier. They've never looked at each other like that. At least not in front of us. I think they really do love each other.

El and Will looked at each other, smiles growing on their faces. Hopper and Joyce seemed so interested in each other at that moment. Not looking away or faltering. Fully engaged in one another's eyes.

El spoke to Joyce with a smile planted on her face, "Joyce?" This brought her attention away from Hopper as she turned to El, eyes wide. Is she worried. She makes that face when she's either overwhelmed or worried. Or maybe both. "Yeah honey?" She replied, recovering herself.

"Can me and Will be excused?" She asked politely. Will was confused. Why does she want us to be excused. Does she want to tell me something. She definitely saw the look Hopper and my mom just shared. Maybe she has an idea! "Yeah sure, sweetheart." Joyce smiled at them when they stood up with their plates, heading for the kitchen sink. 

When they were out of earshot of the adults, Will whispered, "El, what's going on." "I'll tell you in your room." She whispered back to him. The sound of their plates splashing into the thick, soapy water, filled the room as Will thought. What's going on? Is she okay? I hope she's okay. Does she have an idea? Will it work?

When they retreated back into his bedroom and closed the door, Will sat down on his chair he was sitting on earlier.

"I have an idea." She told him, the biggest, mischievous smile painted on her lit up face. "Of how to get Hopper and my mom together?" Will smiled turning his chair towards hers. They are perfect for each other. I know they care about each other and they deserve each other. They deserve to be happy. And we'd all be a family. Hopper, Joyce, El, Jonathan and me.

"Yeah" she replied. It was clear as day to Will that she couldn't wait to share her thoughts. "What is it?" Will asked excitedly. This is torture. But it's seems like it'll be worth it. She excited. I hope she has a good idea of how to set them up. We need a good plan. I want them to be together, to be happy.

"If Hopper and Joyce are stuck together, with no way of avoiding each other, they might confess how they feel." Will was slightly confused. What does she mean, stuck together. How could we get them stuck together. She continued, "So what if I..." Will couldn't take it any longer. "Yeah.!?"

"What if I create a snowstorm, keeping us all inside for the next few days?"

That's brilliant! It's perfect. El can use her powers to create the snowstorm. And since it's snowing lightly, it wouldn't be totally unbelievable. They would buy it. A sudden snowstorm. Unexpected, but not rare. It's happened on occasion on many winters over the past few years. And if really bad, El and Hopper wouldn't be able to leave. Hopper and Joyce wouldn't be able to avoid each other. And me and El could push them together. It's so perfect!

"El! That's brilliant! It could really work perfectly." He had to remind himself not to shout in excitement. Her smile grew as they started to plan. 

Ideas were thrown out in the open. 

What would be the best time to do it. Should the snowstorm be gradual. Or a sudden blaze of snow hitting Hawkins on a winter night. How should they announce it to the adults. What would be their reactions. Would they believe it. Would they be suspicious. They both knew they should carry out the plan later tonight, before El and Hopper leave.

And the most important part of the plan. The part that made them doubt themselves, no matter how well they reassured themselves. How well they planned. How well they carried out their masterful plan.

Would it work? Will Hopper and Joyce be together by the time the sky cleared and the snow stopped falling? Would they be a family?