"WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO?!" Hopper shouted into the phone. Dr. Brenner braced himself. He found out about the attack earlier in the morning. He decided not to contact the parent, mostly due to situations like this.
"Mr. Hopper, your daughter was in a confrontation with another girl, I usually let them resolve things themselves." Brenner said. That was not a calming answer. "CONFRONTATION? THOSE LITTLE BITCHES POSTED PICTURES OF HER ONLINE! I FOUND THOSE BEFORE I HEARD FROM THIS FUCKING SCHOOL!" Hopper yelled.
"Mr. Hopper, your daughter is going to be in a competitive world, if she can't handle a little setback…." Brenner began but was interrupted. "THAT WAS A GOD DAMN CRIME! NOW AR EYOU GOING TO DO SOMETHING OR AM I GOING TO WITHDRAW HER?" Hopper shouted. "My hands are tied regarding this matter. And if you try and withdraw your daughter, a clause in her enrollment is one year, failing to maintain that will result in legal consequences. Now I have a school to run, good day Mr. Hopper." Brenner said as he hung up the phone.
Hopper was furious. First thing in the morning, he gets a call from a fellow detective telling him about some pictures and videos online. When Hopper managed to get on his computer, he saw his daughter tied up in her underwear having her head shaved. When Hopper tried to call El, she didn't answer. Hopper was almost dressed and headed to Hawkins when El contacted him. The RA found her at bed check and untied her. The woman stayed with El until morning. Hopper was furious. Adding to his anger, not one member of staff contacted him. It was past nine in the morning and he had to call Dr. Brenner himself. Hopper almost wanted to call the Hawkins police department, but he wanted to check on his daughter. He looked at the time, she would still be in class.
"Fuck, gone a day and some assholes harm my little girl." Hopper said, looking at the video again. They didn't even try to hide their faces. They got away with this before, and because Hopper was so far away, he felt helpless. The look of fear in her face was going to haunt him for a while. "I need to get to work, gotta get my mind off this shit." Hopper said as he headed for his truck.
El was having a miserable first day of classes. After Robin found her at midnight, she was freed and brought to Robin's room on the campus. She could barely sleep after the ordeal. In her mind she wondered what the others would think of it all. Maybe Mike would be laughing at seeing her in such a state.
That morning, after she reported to one of the administrators, she reluctantly called her dad, stopping him from tearing the school down. The disheartening thing was the way none of the adults seemed to treat this as an assault, but rather as something that happens all the time. El avoided the AV club at breakfast, opting to look through her clothes for a means of covering her head.
When classes started, the other students would look at her and laugh. El knew they posted this online. Even that creep Jeffery seemed to have a smug look on his face. When she was going to get books for another class, he approached her. His cold presence made her uneasy. "Mind if I get a picture with you now?" Jeffery said with a hint of laughter. Before El could turn around and punch him, he was gone in the gaggle of students.
El's class before lunch was the absolute worst. Jennifer and Stacey were there, along with Max. El kept a strong face as she entered. Max looked up at her and had her sit next to her. "What the fuck. We were looking for you all morning." Max said, her voice full of worry. El kept her composure. "I didn't want to see anyone. I could barely tell my dad what happened." She said fighting back tears. Max grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Well, I guess since you look like a dyke you decide to just run with it?" Stacey said as she walked up to the pair. "Be careful with this one Mayfield, I hear she moves through guys quick." Stacey said. Max sent a hateful glare to the blonde. "Last I checked that was you." Max retorted. Stacey snorted with laughter. "Whatever, you two are losers anyway. But Hopper." Stacey said, lowering herself to a whisper. "Next time some dumb boy speaks to you, remember what I can do to you." She said. El avoided her gaze, and Stacey left with a satisfied smirk.
"What a fucking cunt." Max said. El was grateful to the redhead. "Let me guess, Eddie went and spoke to you?" Max asked. El nodded her head. "Yea, he knew what he was doing. He hates when girls other than his get a little spotlight." Max said. El was now feeling less sorry for herself and more furious. "So, they did this to justify attacking me?" El asked. Max nodded. El could barely contain the rage bubbling up. She barely made it through the first lesson.
Lunch was going to be a tortuous affair. The other students would smirk and point at her. A few boys kept staring at her with lust in their eyes. El wanted to hide, she wanted to fight. She wanted to pull off he rlothes and scream for everyone to get a good look. A hand gently touched her shoulder. El looked over and saw Mike with a sympathetic look. Not pity, not leering. Just there to help. "Cmon, we usually sit over here." He said, leading her to his table.
El noticed the boys and Max were setting up what looked like a barricade around the square table. Lucas was laying out rocks while setting up a slingshot around his wrist. "Mike, are you sure we need more shit thrown at us?" Lucas asked. Mike gave him a sour look. "Didn't Dustin have to stop you from running to the girls dorm to punt Stacey in the head?" Mike asked. El looked at Lucas who looked away embarrassed. "Mike, don't shame him. Cause didn't Coach Josh have to bring you back to the dorm after that video went up?" Will said. Now it was Mike's turn to be embarrassed. El smiled at him. They barely knew her a day and they already were defending her. The cynic in her thought they were just trying to impress her, but something else told her they were good people.
"Well, lets hope lunch doesn't turn out like the rat incident." Lucas said, sending a glare at Dustin. "And I told you before, that wasn't my damn fault." Dustin exclaimed. Max smacked him upside the head. "You were in charge of them, they got out on your watch!" She exclaimed. El looked at them confused.
"Erica Andrews, a junior at the time, had some pet rats that Dustin volunteered to watch. Somehow they escaped and the little lady declared war on us." Will explained. "And we got shit for a month." Lucas said.
"Look, I don't wanna give you guys any trouble." El said as she grabbed her tray. Mike's hand on her shoulder stopped her. He was gentle but firm. "We have a rule. It's a stupid rule but it helps us out. If a party member needs assistance, then we give that assistance." Mike said. El thought that was cheesy as hell. It was sweet that they already accepted her.
"I just don't want to cause you guys trouble." El said. Lucas looked at her. "After all the time we spent mounting our defenses?" Lucas said with a smile. Max shrugged. Will kept drawing in his notebook but looked up at them. "We kind of need a new member, Brenner has been threatening to shut us down for years." Will said. El smirked at him. "So your just using me as a means to an end?" She joked. Will shrugged. "Pretty much." Will said. "Well I guess I can put up with you lot for the sake of the AV Club." El said. They all laughed, and began eating. Nobody lobbed anything at them the entire time, but Lucas and Mike kept an eye out.
After classes, El found herself back in her room. The chair was put up to a desk and her hair was swept up. She looked around and saw her roommate was gone. El took a breather and laid down on her bed. It was funny, it felt like her first time actually laying down in her bed. Her thoughts were interrupted by her phone ringing. El looked and saw it was Jake. He wanted to video chat. El steeled herself and answered.
"Hey baby." She said, giving a sweet smile. El was nervous, his tanned face was looking decidedly angry. "So, your gone a couple of days and some bitches attack you?" Jake said. El smiled, at least he cared. "Yea, apparently I made a commotion they didn't like. I threw a bottle of moisturizer at a racist in front of the cafeteria." She said. Jake was annoyed. "Dumbass preppies." Jake said.
"This is all a little awkward though." Jake said. El looked confused. "What do you mean?" El said. "I dunno if I can do a long distance relationship. Its already difficult and with this stuff going on…." Jake trailed off. El was floored. Jake wasn't exactly the love of her life but she did like him a lot. But El did notice over the summer he was distant. "So, that's it huh?" El asked, tears streaking her face. "Look Ellie, I didn't want to do this like this, just there never was a good time. And don't think I am not pissed off about what happened. I decked a few guys showing off that video at school." Jake said. El was still crying. "And I hate I am making a bad day worse. I'm sorry Ellie." Jake said.
El was barely holding it together. "Look, I need to be alone right now. I can't handle all this shit at once." El said and promptly ended the call before Jake could say anything. She walked out, and headed for the old church.
El didn't care much for religion. It was never a strong suit for her. But she oddly felt calm the first time she came in here. She guessed it was because she made friends quick with the AV Club. She just needed to be alone though, to process her feelings.
She didn't know how long she stayed before She heard a noise. Looking up, she saw a janitor enter the building. He was fairly young, maybe his mid twenties. His hair was styled very well and he was humming a wonderful tune as he worked. "I'm sorry, I didn't know this place was closed." El said. The man kept sweeping, while humming his song. It sounded like "Africa" by TOTO. As El began making her way out, he spoke.
"You don't need to leave, just sweeping the place." He said. He had a nice voice. "This place is sanctuary for everyone lost." He said. El grew comfortable and resumed sulking in the pews. "So what brings you to churh an hour before curfew?" He asked. El looked down at the floor. "My picture ended up all over the internet. I'm sure you saw it." She said. "I don't have the internet." He said. El looked at him weird. "All I ever need, is my broom and a song." He said.
"You must love your job." El said. The man smiled. "Oh I hate my job. I just love what I do." He said. "Steve Harrington, janitor." He said extending a hand. El smiled and shook his hand. "El Hopper." The pair both laughed. "You should try coming here after classes. Dr. Brenner cut some budgets and so the AV Club meets here." He said. El kicked herself, she forgot about joining them. "Yea, I meant to sign up with them." El said. Steve smiled. "They take all lost souls." Steve said. El thought he was a little weird. "And always remember. This place Is sanctuary for all who need it. Good night El Hopper." Steve said as he made his way out. El smiled as the man left. "What a weirdo." EL said as she checked her phone.
A video call came in, and this time it was from her Dad. She answered and a very exhausted Hopper was on the other end. "Dad, how are things?" She asked. Hopper took a deep breath. "So I spoke with Hawkins PD about reporting the assault. Apparently they never heard of professional courtesy and just said they couldn't do anything about what happens in the school. And when I spoke with the school's head of security, some jackass rusky motherfucker named Gregori, he told me to call the police." Hopper said. El shared his annoyance.
"It's almost like they don't want to do anything." El said. Hopper nodded. "Yea, and I can't remove you without facing legal troubles. Some stupid clause says I guarantee you stay a year." Hopper said. El groaned in annoyance. "So what should I do?" El asked. Hopper looked deep in thought before answering. "Kid, you know how I tell you to follow the rules and respect authority?" Hopper said. El nodded. "Yea, I want you to forget that shit. If the administration won't do anything, then you take back your own safety. If they condone attacks on their students, well two can play at that game. I left a self defense kit in your belongings. Use it smart." Hopper said. El nodded. "Be smart at all times." El repeated an old saying when she was younger. "I will take care of some stuff. Good night dad." El said. "Remember, be careful. I love you kid," Hopper said and the call ended. El thought about what he said. Last time they caught her off guard. El realized she needed to not just get mad. She was going to get even.
El made her way back to her dorm and began looking through her stuff. She found a small black bag and found a collapsible baton in the bag. She smiled at seeing it. Her dad taught her self defense since an early age. Last time they took her by surprise. She thought maybe she should even the playing field.
The two larger girls that held her down were standing outside their rooms. It was fortunate they were the only ones in the hallway. Covering her eyes, El hit the hallway light switch and then removed her hand. It made her adjustment to the dark easier. The two girls, large by virtue of being tall and somewhat muscular, were caught off guard by the sudden darkness.
Without warning, El struck one behind the leg with her baton, then hit her in the face several times, knocking her down. The other was close to recovering from the sudden attack but El smacked her across the face, knocking teeth out. El hit her shin, then finished her with an uppercut. Both girls were down for the count.
"You two should pick better friends." El said as she walked away to her dorm. She caught the eye of Robin, who merely nodded at her, and she got into her bed and went to sleep.
Roland was still fuming from the other day. How dare they challenge his views like that! That creature and that faggot were the worst ones. He was so angry he could barely concentrate on his homework, or the fact Jeffery entered the room with a smug look on his face. "You still upset Roland?" Jeffery asked. Roland turned around trying to not take his anger out on Jeffery. "Yea, I just hate that we have to cowtow to those creatures." Roland said. Jeffery smiled at him. "I mean, its not enough I have to change with that faggot in my locker room, but I also have to compete with a creature for the white girls?" Roland ranted.
"I agree with you." Jeffery said simply. Roland looked surprised. "Oh yes sir, I agree with you. We have to give up so many things. They and the Jew disease that runs rampant in the world. Can you imagine that redhead doing things with that boy that she should be doing with you?" Jeffery asked. Roland thought about the redhead, Max, and how she should be his. Jeffery could see in his heart, an anger that was fostered by his family. "You work hard my good Roland. You should take what you want. You are a knight after all." Jeffery said. Roland was listening and feeling his superiority. Yes! He was a knight, a kings knight. And he was going to show them all how a kings knight gets even.
"Get some rest, Sir Roland. I see us making incredible work." Jeffery said. Roland looked to him and saw a hint of red in his eyes. Roland was gleeful, he now had a friend.
AN: I hope you guys enjoy the new chapter. I do once again wish to apologize for language used. I feel because my villains are kind of white supremacists they tend to use degrading terms for people that are not like them. I do appreciate any feedback given and I hope you all have a good day.