Jopper : You make my heart skip a beat

Chapter 11

El turned to Joyce with a smile and said, "Joyce?" This made Joyce realise she and Hopper had been staring at each other for... she didn't know how long. Oh... the kids just witnessed us staring at each other like complete idiots. Now what do they think? Do they know how I feel?About Hopper. What do they think of me?

She allowed all of her attention to go to El, her eyes wide, completely embarrassed but also overwhelmed. Why were we staring at each other like that. For so long. Why was he staring at me with that look in his eye. The look from earlier, filled with something she couldn't quite put her finger on. Something she had seen many times over the past month or so. But she still couldn't figure it out. "Yeah honey?" She spoke as calmly as she could manage at the moment.

"Can me and Will be excused?" She asked politely. El has always been so polite. Hopper did such a great job raising her the past year. El, never asked for help unless the world was ending. She probably learnt that from me. Feeling guilty and greedy when asking for help. So we tough through it by ourselves. Only asking for help when we are overwhelmed and unable to stand anymore. At the breaking point. I really need to work on that. Accepting help. Starting with Hopper. He always seems eager and ready to help me at any chance he gets. Maybe I should left him.

"Yeah sure, sweetheart." Joyce smiles as the two of them stand, with their plates in their hands. They are very much like animals, already finished eating before I've eaten one slice. Soon they'll be eating everything I have in the house. And not to mention, when the rest of the Party comes. Tearing through the food in an instant. They are all animals.

Joyce looked back down at the food on her plate, realising that her and Hopper were alone together for the first time since earlier. Since we almost kissed.

Her nerves were getting the better of her. Hand slightly shaking when bringing a slice to her mouth. Will was right about one thing though. This pizza is delicious. 

She was pulled out her ever-raging thoughts once again, as the chair creaks and moans as it's dragged across the polished, wooden floor. She looks up to find Hopper standing, plate of pizza in hand, moving up the table to sit beside her. Taking the seat next to her, he sits without a word. 

Not sure what else to say, she said the first thing that popped into her head. "You did a good job." She blurted out, bringing the pizza up to bite again. He caught her eye, confusion written plainly on his face.

"A good job of what?" He puzzled, completely baffled by her question. "Raising El all by yourself for the past year. You did a good job." She stated, between bites. 

He wiped the pizza grease from his mouth before speaking. "Yeah well, there were times where I got stuck in the middle of a telekinetic temper tantrum, books and furniture flying at my head." This made Joyce explode with laughter. She couldn't contain it which made him laugh too. 

The thought of El sending books flying at his head, made her stomach ache with laughter. Is that his life now with a daughter with superpowers. Maybe I underestimated his patience. "And how did you handle that" she managed to get out, now that her laughter was slowly dying down.

"Badly." He laughed again. "I bet." She chuckled, knowing all to well of his temper. Never was one to express his feelings the best way. Anger always took over during arguments, quite like El by the sound of it. I hate arguing with him. Shouting. Yelling. Accusations. Blaming. Finger pointing. Anger. Sadness. Feelings are hurt. It makes us both feel horrible. And then I have to go without his company for days. That's the worst part. A life without him my my side. Without Hopper.

"I'm offended, Joyce" he said, mock hurt clouding his expression as he clutched a hand at his heart. Joyce let out another laugh, before taking another large bite of pizza.

Soon they finished their food and started to clean up. Reaching for the pizza boxes at the same time, their hands brushed up against each other. A blush creeped up her cheeks. She pulled her hand away, never looking up into his eyes. I can't face that now. I can't face him now. Not now. What if I mess everything up? What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if I completely and utterly embarrass myself in front of him? What if he doesn't want to be friends anymore? I can manage to live with him, never telling him how I....maybe. But I definitely can't live without him in my life. He is my only true friend. The only one who understands me. The only one who knows me for me. The only one. Sure I still have Karen, but it's not the same. She's not Hopper.

She retreats into the kitchen, leaving the rest of the dirty dishes in the sink along with Will and El's plates. She turned around, walking back into the room, finding Hopper on the couch. The tv was still paused on the movie they were watching earlier. The movie she couldn't focus on. 

The movie they were watching when it happened. 

She travelled around the couch, sitting beside him. Not pressed against him this time. Although the couch was still comfortable, it wasn't as comfortable and comforting as being pressed up against his side. Against him. In his warmth, with his arm nearly around her shoulders. With him.

They got engrossed in the movie once again. Her thoughts never silent. Somehow they ended up closer. She wasn't fully pressed up against him. But still closer than before. Why am I torturing myself like this? Just keep your distance, Joyce! But no matter how much she knew she should stay away, she couldn't help but inch closer and closer to him, over time. She couldn't stay away from him.

Enjoying each other's company was cut short when the familiar creak of Will's bedroom door, filled the nearly silent house. "Will, honey, if everything ok?" She asked looking over the back of the couch at him and El standing in the doorway.

"Have you looked outside?" He asked them, looking towards the window. "No why?" Joyce turned to face the window, Hopper doing the same. All she could see out of the small window was white. 

"There's a huge snowstorm outside!" El exclaimed pointing out at the snow falling rapidly, piling al least several feet high above the ground.

Hopper looked to Joyce and spoke directly to her. No hint of disappointment or anger or frustration in his voice. "I think we're snowed in."