Authors note :

Hi everyone! This is a Stranger Things AU fanfiction that takes place primarily at "Hawking High Boarding School". This is also a mileven fanfic, but it's slow burn. I'm intending for this to be pretty long, and I will hopefully be updating every second Wednesday (starting with chapter 1 today). Although this story doesn't happen at any specific time during the series, I am giving a spoiler warning that if you haven't finished everything that has been released as of now, there may be spoilers that work their way into the story. Also, I'm giving this a rating of probably M, because although most chapters should be very mild there may be some with lots of violence, gore or suggestive themes. So, proceed at your own discretion. Other than that, enjoy!

Chapter 1: Eggos anyone?

I wake to the smell of Eggos, but not even they could get me out of bed today. Lying in my bed, I will myself to go back to sleep. Maybe if I never wake up, I don't have to face today. But of course, I do, and now Hopper is knocking on my door.

"Hey kiddo, you up yet?" he calls out, turning my door handle. I slam the door shut in his face. From the other side of the door, I hear a chuckle.

"I made Eggos." He tempts. When I don't respond he says, "Look kid, I know you don't want to go, but there is no other choice. You are leaving today whether you like it or not, so you may as well get up now while breakfast is warm so we can have a good start to the day."

I know he's right, so I call back "5 more minutes" before burying my head under my pillow in one last, desperate attempt to soak up the goodness of being in my own bed. Tonight, I will have arrived at Hawkins Boarding School where I'll have to share a generic dorm room and attend classes with people I have never met before. Hopper, my adoptive father (it's a long story), is taking a temporary job up north so he's sending me to a boarding school a few hours away from where we live. I am heavily opposed to this idea, but I guess it's not like I have any friends at my current school anyway.

Grudgingly, I roll out of bed and make my way downstairs, where Hopper has piled a table full of our favourite food, triple-decker Eggo extravaganza's. I'll admit, they do look good, and immediately my mood lifts.

"Dig in kid, you've got a big day ahead of you!" Hopper says, smiling from across the table. I sit down and we both make quick work of the Eggos. Hopper tries to make small talk and to begin with, I avoid acknowledging him, but then I remember that this is the last time I will see him for a while so I relent and answer his questions.

"No, I'm not nervous. No, I don't need you to come in with me. No, I don't hate you for this… okay maybe just a little bit." I say between mouthfuls of food. He seems happy enough with my answers, and we talk a bit about the weather and his new job before cleaning up the table.

"Go on, don't worry about this mess," Hopper says to me. "Bring your suitcase down to the car and then you can do whatever you want for a bit. Hell, you can make more Eggos if you really want!"

I move my suitcase out to the car with ease, wiping the blood that spills from my nose with the sleeve of my pyjama shirt. When Hopper sees the fresh blood later, he shakes his head and hands me a pack of tissues. It's his pet peeve, me wiping my blood on my clothes. He says it's a pain to get the stains out and I ruin perfectly good shirts far too often.

I choose an outfit for today out of the clothes I have left in my wardrobe. Black jeans, a black and yellow shirt, black suspenders and yellow converse. Simple, but hopefully nice enough to make a good first impression.

"Now Eleven," Hopper says in a spare moment before we leave. "I know I've said this before but I just want to make sure you understand me. You are not to use your powers- for anything. Need to reach something on a high shelf? Ask for help. Someone says something mean to you? Suck it up. You can't afford to get caught by someone. I mean it kid. You and I both know what could happen if word gets out about you."

I nod reluctantly. My first year after escaping the laboratory where I had been experimented on was hard, trying to avoid attention and always being worried that Papa was around the corner waiting for me. In some ways, Hopper is far too paranoid about my safety. But at the same time, it's me who will face the consequences if I get kidnapped again.

The car ride to Hawkins Boarding School is painful. I look out the window, knowing that soon I will be alone in a strange place. The time passes far too quickly, and before I know it Hopper is pulling up the pebbled driveway of an old school. He smiles grimly at me when he finishes parking, glancing at his watch.

"Here's what's gonna happen kiddo. I'll help you get your suitcase out of the car but then you're gonna have to go in there and face the world." Hopper goes to open the door, but out of instinct I lock it.

"I'm not ready yet." I say without looking at him. I'm concentrated on the view ahead of me, tracing the outline of trees and buildings with my eyes, trying to distract myself long enough to force away the tears burning in my eyes. Hopper is looking at me, I can feel it. I should say something, but I don't know what.

"Kid…" he says, scratching his neck and glancing at me. "If you really don't like it, I can always come get you. But it won't be as bad as your thinking, I promise."

"Promise?" I ask, finally looking at him. He nods his head solemnly. Somehow, this gives me the courage to open the door.

Hopper unloads my suitcase, and even though its small I have a hard time dragging it away from the car. He hugs me for a long moment, one that I wish didn't have to end. I breathe in his smell. Cigarettes and Eggos. When he pulls away, I can't breathe.

"You'll do great kid." He says, kissing my head awkwardly.

I begin to walk away from the car, lugging my suitcase behind me. Hopper watches as I go, and if I didn't know better, I would say he was holding back tears too. Finally, I turn around a corner and I can't see him anymore. And that's that. Now he's gone and I'm completely alone.

Authors Note:

So, this is chapter 1. Originally posted on the 12/10/2022 (12th of October). Tell me what you think!