Meant to Be: Chapter Two
Eleven and Hopper make their way to the school, El almost bouncing out of her seat in excitement.
"Okay kid, here we are."
Suddenly, El only feels nervous. She sees many faces of people she doesn't know, but Hopper nods his head and walks along with her. They enter a room with a big desk with two women wearing big glasses and a few chairs in front of the desk. Hopper speaks up.
"Good morning ladies."
"Seriously Hop? You have a lot of balls showing up here, especially after not calling me back." The first lady grunts.
"You're kidding me, right? He did the same exact thing with me!" El looks at the second lady with confusion, and then back at hopper.
"Not right now, okay? I'm here to see the principle because it's my daughters first day of school" The first lady looks up at him and then back down at the girl. She lets out a sigh.
"What is her name?"
"Jane. Jane Hopper."
"Okay. Give Principle Wells two minutes and he will be out to see you all" Hopper nods and motions his head for El to sit in one of the waiting room chairs.
"Dad, why were those ladies angry at you?"
"Oh goodness El, I'd rather not explain this to you. Just take my word- find one person and stick with them, okay?" El tilts her head but decides not to question him anymore.
"Okay dad." That's when she heard a booming voice say her name with enthusiasm.
"Jane Hopper! You and your father can head on into my office. Good morning chief!" It was the principle.
El went over everything in her head that Hopper told her in the car. Do not mention anything about the lab, bad men, or momma. Do not tell them where you have been all this time and that you have been with me for over a year. I fostered you this summer, and then it just clicked and I adopted you. Your biological parents died in a car wreck, and that is why you are with me. Hoppers voice repeated in her head. Repeat. A word Aunt Becky taught her. El shakes her head and stops thinking about that, she is Jane Hopper right now.
"Good morning Principle Wells!" El says with a smile on her face.
"Good morning Jane! How has your morning been?" Principle Wells asks as he raises his eyebrows.
"Great! I've been super ready for school all day!"
"Fantastic. Well let's get started so we can get together your schedule and get to class." He shuffles through a few papers. "Okay, well it says here that you were previously homeschooled. Is that correct?" El nods. "Okay… seems you're good to go on all of your past grades… your SOL scores look marvelous." SOL's? What are SOL's? El looks up at Hopper. He nods his head and raises his eyebrows, and El knows he must've done something to get her in this grade.
"Yep, she's a smart one!" El smiles. Principle Wells smiles back.
"Okay Jane, well you have requested to be in classes with Michael Wheeler. Is there a specific reason for that?" El blushes.
"Well… when my parents died Mike was the only person I knew around here, and he helped me through a lot. I really would not like to be alone, and I thought maybe my first year would be easier if I were with him!" Hopper looks at El, surprised that she could come up with such a thing. Principle Wells tilts his head a little, but then nods.
"Okay Jane, well I have worked it out so you have about every class with Michael. But there is one class you cannot have with him due to high school regulations. You are required to take gym with the girls, but I'm sure you will be able to find a friend!" Els expression completely changed. You could see the nervousness in her eyes, and she looked up at Hopper for help. He was nervous too, but he couldn't show that to El. He was now her father! He needed to show her how to be strong in tough situations, that even though this may seem like the end of the world to her, that she'll survive.
"I think Jane will be okay, right Jane?" El was nervous, but it was better having one class without Mike than being alone in the cabin waiting until Saturday so she can again see her friends.
"Yep! I'll be completely fine." El added way more enthusiasm to that that she didn't have.
"Okay, well you're safe to go to class! Have a good day Jane, and come to me if you need anything!" El nodded and walked out with Hopper, back into the main waiting room with the two ladies. Hopper gave her a bear hug and then put his hands on her shoulders.
"Okay El. It's the day you've been waiting for! If you need me you know how to find me, okay?" Hopper pulled her closer, whispering in her ear. "And remember, do not use your powers unless it's a life or death situation, and with the likeliness of that happening, that means don't use them at all. Got it?" El shivered but knew what she had to do.
"I'll remember dad. See you at 3:15!" El ran towards the door as Hopper walked out of the school. Little did she know, Hopper set up a little treat for her… she opened up the door, ready to zoom out to her first class bumping into a skinny figure, looking up to see pale skin with freckles, dark eyes, and curly hair.
"Mike!" She smiled and threw her arms around him.
"El!" He loved seeing her, and loved seeing her happy even more. She looked so cute today with her bright pink outfit and noticeably short skirt… Mike tried to keep his gaze up. He looked into her deep brown eyes and spoke again. "Hopper set it up so I can give you a tour of the school! He thought it would be good since it's your first day and you need to know where to go. After we finish, we'll go to our first class! Is that okay?" El looked up at him.
"Sounds fun!"
And with that, they headed down the hallway, Mike explaining every room, El giggling with excitement. It's her first day of school.